On March 8, The Economist released its Glass-Ceiling Index, ranking 29 countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),on women’s workplace conditions, while the day is also globally observed as International Women’s Day, highlighting women’s achievements and the ongoing fight for gender equality.

Glass-Ceiling Index: Basis of Ranking

• Evaluates factors such as education, workforce participation, pay gap, women in leadership (management, boards, government), childcare costs, and parental leave policies.

Key Insights from the 2024 Ranking

1. Sweden replaced Iceland as 1, excelling in gender equality at work.
2. Iceland dropped to 2nd place due to a decline in women in management roles (from 39.6% to 36.8%).
3. Women’s workforce participation rose to 66.6% (up from 65.8%), though still lower than men’s 81%.
4. Women on corporate boards increased to 33%, signaling progress in leadership.
5. Women’s representation in parliaments averaged 34%, with:
6. Britain at 41% (notable increase).
7. Japan at 16% (slight improvement).
8. USA at 7% (decline).
9. South Korea improved to 28th place, its first rise in 11 years.

Turkey ranked lowest, struggling with deep-rooted societal norms restricting women’s career growth.

• Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated GRIDCON 2025 on March 9, 2025, in New Delhi.
• Organiser:Organized by POWERGRID under the Ministry of Power.
• Theme: “Innovations in Grid Resilience”, focusing on renewable energy integration, grid stability, smart asset management, and digital transformation.
• Key Discussions: AI-driven grid solutions, energy storage, automation, and cybersecurity to enhance power infrastructure.
• Exhibition: Showcasing next-gen power technologies, smart metering, and green hydrogen solutions.
• Significance: Aims to drive grid modernization, policy formulation, and India’s transition to a low-carbon economy

On International Women’s Day 2025, the newly elected BJP government in Delhi introduced the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, offering ₹2,500 per month to financially disadvantaged women.

Key Aspects of the Scheme

• Open to women aged 21 to 60 with an annual income of ₹3 lakh or less.
• The Delhi government has earmarked ₹5,100 crore for the scheme’s rollout.
• Designed to support women from economically weaker backgrounds.

Application & Execution

• A dedicated online portal will soon be launched for applications.
• A monitoring committee, headed by CM Rekha Gupta, along with ministers Kapil Mishra, Ashish Sood, and Pravesh Verma, will oversee its implementation.
• Impact & Importance:The initiative seeks to promote gender equality and financial empowerment, ensuring a better quality of life for women from underprivileged sections of society.

The United States has withdrawn from the Loss and Damage Fund, meant to aid developing nations facing climate change impacts. The move has drawn criticism, particularly from the African Group of Negotiators, citing US historical responsibility.

About the Loss and Damage Fund

• Established during COP27 (2022) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
• The Loss and Damage Fund provides financial aid to vulnerable nations affected by climate change.
• It addresses economic and non-economic losses, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss.
• The fund supports the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming and enhancing climate adaptation efforts in developing countries.

US Contributions & Impact:

• The US contributed $17.5 million to the fund, part of a $750 million global pledge.
• The withdrawal raises concerns about financial support for small island states and developing countries most affected by climate change

The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP) in Karnataka, aimed at generating 2,000 MW and supplying drinking water to Bengaluru, faces strong opposition from environmentalists due to its impact on the Western Ghats ecosystem.

About the Project:

• Location: The project is proposed on the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district,
• Reservoirs: It will utilize the existing Talakalale and Gerusoppa reservoirs for pumped storage operations.

Key Facts:

• Project Details: Involves upper and lower reservoirs, five tunnels, and eight pumping stations, modeled after Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project.
• Environmental Concerns: Threatens 360 acres of forest land in a wildlife sanctuary, home to endangered species like the Lion-tailed Macaque and Great Indian Hornbill. Violations of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are alleged.
• Technical Issues: The project consumes more power than it generates (12,000 MWH vs. 14,833 MWH), raising doubts about its economic viability.

Legal and Political Disputes: The Karnataka High Court has issued a stay order over allegations of corruption in the bidding process, favoring Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL).

• Russian troops have initiated a large-scale military operation to reclaim significant areas of the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. The offensive marks an escalation in the conflict, with intense clashes reported in the region.
• Location: Administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, about 450 km south of Moscow, on the upper Seym River.
• Geography: Part of the Black Earth region, known for highly fertile soil.

History:

• First mentioned in 1032, one of Russia’s oldest cities.
• Destroyed by Tatars in 1240, rebuilt in 1586 as a military outpost.
• World War II & Battle of Kursk: Site of the largest tank battle (July–August 1943), leading to German defeat.

• Leaders of the Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilita Joutha Mancha recently submitted a 15-point memorandum to BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia, highlighting their long-pending demands for recognition and welfare.
• Origin & Identity: An ancient tribe from the Koch Kingdom, also known as Rajbanshi/Rajvanshi, meaning “royal community.”
• Geographical Presence: Found in Lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Bhutan—historically part of the Kamata Kingdom.
• Caste Classification: Classified as OBC in Assam, SC in Bengal, and ST in Meghalaya.
• Language: Rajbongshi/Rajbanshi language is spoken by 1 crore people (2001 Census) and has a complete grammar.
• Religion: Predominantly Hindu, with some followers of Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism.
• Livelihood: Mainly agriculture and farming, with a strong connection to nature and animist

• The Jadayaswamy Festival was recently celebrated in Tamil Nadu by the Badagas community of the Nilgiris.

About Jadayaswamy Festival

• Community Involved: Celebrated by the Badagas, an aboriginal tribal group in Tamil Nadu.
• Location: Observed in Jackanarai village near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district.
• Significance: Dedicated to Jadayaswamy, a revered deity of the Badagas, symbolizing faith, devotion, and ancestral tradition.

Rituals and Traditions

• Procession & Offerings: Eight villages organize a grand procession to the Jadayaswamy temple.
• Firewalk Ritual: Devotees perform a firewalk as an act of devotion and endurance.
• Cultural Significance: The festival preserves Badaga heritage and strengthens community bonds.

About the Badagas

• Settlement Pattern: The Badagas live in villages called “Hattis”.
• Language: They speak Badugu, a distinct Dravidian language.
• Occupation: Primarily engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops like millets, potatoes, and tea.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The Minister of Science and Technology has said that India’s Space technology is playing a major role in revolutionising governance at the “Good Governance” Conclave.

What is Space Technology?

• Space technologies designate technologies used to enable activities conducted in outer space:
  • such as Earth observation, satellite communication, satellite navigation or even robotic and human space exploration beyond Earth’s orbits.
• Governments use space technology, geospatial data, and field information for planning, monitoring, and evaluating developmental activities.

Use of Space Technology in Governance

• Disaster Management and Response: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) provides satellite data that helps in identifying flood-affected areas, mapping damage, and planning rehabilitation.
  • The Indian National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) uses it for disaster relief operations.
• Agriculture and Rural Development: FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agrometeorology, and Land-based observations) uses satellite data to predict crop yields, helping farmers make informed decisions.
  • Soil Health Management and irrigation management are optimized using remote sensing technologies.
• Efficient Land Management: Initiatives like “Swamitva Yojana” use satellite mapping for land record management.
  • This initiative simplifies land verification and promotes transparency in land ownership.
• Environmental Monitoring: Bhuvan an Indian web-based application developed by ISRO provides satellite data for various environmental and land-use applications.
  • Satellites like the Oceansat series provide data on sea surface temperatures, sea level rise, and coastal erosion.
• Security and Defense: Satellites help in remote sensing for border surveillance.
• Administrative Efficiency: Satellite data helps in the implementation of the Digital India initiative by enabling access to e-governance services.

Challenges

• High Costs: The development, maintenance, and launch of satellites are expensive.
• Technical and Infrastructure Gaps: Lack of adequate ground infrastructure, technical expertise, and trained personnel in remote areas.
• Data Interpretation and Accuracy: Space-based data requires accurate interpretation and analysis, and errors in data processing can lead to wrong decisions in governance.
• Privacy Concerns: Increased surveillance and monitoring through space technology raise privacy and security concerns among citizens.
• Environmental Impact: Increased space missions and satellite launches can contribute to space debris and environmental pollution.

Way Ahead

• Develop and upgrade ground infrastructure, data centers, and communication systems to support space-based services effectively.
• Encourage collaboration between the government and private sector to reduce costs, foster innovation, and improve the application of space technology.
• Increase the number and diversity of satellites for better coverage, particularly in remote and underserved regions of the country.
• Encourage research in space technology and its applications to address emerging governance challenges, including climate change and urban planning.
• Adopt sustainable practices for satellite launches and space missions to minimize environmental impacts and manage space debris effectively.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign in Limbayat, Surat, to provide food security benefits under the National Food Security Act to over 2.3 lakh

Key Goals

• The campaign aims for comprehensive food security, focusing on inclusivity and fairness.
• Over 5 lakh new beneficiaries, including elderly and differently-abled individuals, have been identified to receive free rations and nutritious food.

Government Initiatives for Food Security

• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana – Support for the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• PM Poshan Scheme – Nutritious meals for school children.
• Saksham Anganwadi Program – Focus on mothers and young children.
• PM Matru Vandana Yojana – Financial aid for pregnant women.

Importance of Nutrition & Hygiene

• The government prioritizes eliminating malnutrition and anaemia. Surat’s hygiene efforts, supported by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, have improved public health.
• The Har Ghar Jal campaign ensures clean drinking water access.

Financial Inclusion & Support for the Poor

• One Nation, One Ration Card – Nationwide access to food rations.
• Mudra Yojana – Collateral-free loans for small businesses.
• PM SVANidhi Yojana – Financial aid for street vendors.