Current Context : The 2nd India-Australia Annual Summit was held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

• Meeting was held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia.

Major Initiatives and Agreements :

1. Extension of the Australia-India Business Exchange (AIBX):

• Program extended for 4 more years (from July 2024).
• Aims to provide businesses with market insights and foster partnerships.
• Originally launched in 2021.​

2. Launch of the India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (REP):

• Focuses on practical cooperation in renewable energy sectors such as solar PV, green hydrogen, energy storage, and workforce skills training.
• Supports two-way investments and skills upgrades for the clean energy sector.

Current Context : Ministry of Science and Technology launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Bank.

About AI Data Bank

Aim : to provide researchers, startups, and developers with high-quality datasets essential for building scalable and inclusive AI solutions.

Objective and Goals:

• Enhanced Research:To facilitate advanced AI research by ensuring access to diverse and high-quality datasets.
• National Security:Enables real-time analytics of satellite, drone, and IoT data to strengthen national security.
• Disaster Management and Cybersecurity:Supports predictive analytics for better disaster preparedness and cyber threat detection​

Features:

• Datasets will cover diverse areas like healthcare, agriculture, and urban management.
• It aligns with the broader IndiaAI mission to promote AI innovation and infrastructure.
• It fosters public-private partnerships to enhance AI ecosystem development​

Celebrated annually on November 23.

Aim :

• To promote the consumption of cashews in various forms.
• Honors the hard work of cashew farm laborers.
• Cashews originated in Brazil and were introduced to India and Africa by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century.

Current Context : Daniel Barenboim (Argentine-Israeli pianist and conductor) and Ali Abu Awwad (Palestinian peace activist) were jointly awarded the 2023 Indira Gandhi Prize for their contributions to fostering peace and non-violent resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The winners were chosen by an international jury chaired by former Chief Justice of India, T.S. Thakur.

About the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace

1. Establishment: Instituted in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
2. Purpose: Honors individuals or organizations promoting peace, disarmament, and development internationally.
3. Components:
   1. Monetary award of ₹25 lakh.
   2. A citation recognizing the recipient’s achievements.
4. Past Winners:
   1. In 2022: Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) for contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.​

Current Context : The Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government, over the “delay” in implementing stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

About Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

What is Stage IV of GRAP?

1. Stage IV represents the most stringent level of the Graded Response Action Plan, invoked when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 450, reaching the “Severe+” category. It is designed to prevent further air quality deterioration in Delhi-NCR.

Major Restrictions Under Stage IV:

1. Ban on Construction and Demolition (C&D) Activities:All non-essential C&D activities are prohibited.
2. Closure of Industrial Units:Industries using unapproved fuels are shut down.
3. Vehicular Restrictions:Entry of trucks into Delhi is halted, except for essential goods.
4. Stop on Non-Essential Activities:Brick kilns, stone crushers, and hot mix plants are prohibited from operating.

Significance:

1. Stage IV is considered disruptive due to its impact on industries, transportation, and daily life. It emphasizes cooperation from the public and enforcement agencies.

What is AQI?

• AQI (Air Quality Index) is a numerical scale used to measure and communicate the quality of air in a specific area, indicating how polluted the air is and its potential health impacts.

Features of AQI

Parameters Measured:

1. Common pollutants included:
   1. Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5)
   2. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
   3. Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
   4. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
   5. Ozone (O₃)
   6. Ammonia (NH₃)
   7. Lead (Pb)

AQI Categories and Health Impact:

The AQI scale is divided into six categories, each representing a different level of air pollution and associated health impacts:

Current Context : The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) introduces the ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative to showcase the enormous microbial potential of India.

About One Day One Genome Initiative:

Objective:

• Highlights India’s microbial diversity and emphasizes their roles in environment, agriculture, and human health

Coordinating Body:

• Managed by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (BRIC-NIBMG).

Features:

• Daily release of annotated bacterial genomes isolated in India.
• Supplemented with graphical summaries, infographics, and details on genome assembly and annotation.
• Focuses on the industrial and scientific utility of microbes.

Role of Microorganisms:

• Integral to biogeochemical cycles, soil formation, waste degradation, and pest control.

• Enhance agricultural productivity through nitrogen fixation and stress management.
• Contribute to human health by supporting digestion, immunity, and disease prevention.

Current Context : Recently, India has been ranked 23rd on the Sustainable Trade Index 2024.

Ranking Metrics:

• Economies are assessed across three pillars:
  • Economic(e.g., trade openness, economic resilience).
  • Societal(e.g., workforce resilience, universal health coverage).
  • Environmental(e.g., climate change mitigation, resource management).

Best Performing Economies:

• New Zealand leads the index, excelling in societal and environmental categories.
• United Kingdom ranks second, maintaining its position for three years.
• Australia is third, showing significant improvement in environmental performance.

What is the Sustainable Trade Index (STI)?

• It is a framework created by the Hinrich Foundation and the IMD World Competitiveness Center in 2022 to assess how well 30 economies balance economic growth, societal well-being, and environmental stewardship in their trade practices.

Objective:

• The index measures “sustainable trade,” defined as trade that supports growth, protects the environment, and enhances societal development, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes for trading nations.

Current Context : Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Quarterly Bulletin [July – September 2024] released.

Key Findings (2023-24 Report)

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):

1. Overall LFPR for persons aged 15+ increased to 1%(from 57.9% in 2022-23).
2. Female LFPR rose significantly from 37% to 41.7%, and male LFPR marginally improved to 8%.

Worker Population Ratio (WPR):

1. Overall WPR reached 2%(up from 56.0% in 2022-23).
2. Female WPR saw a notable increase from 9% to 40.3%, while male WPR rose to 76.3%.

Unemployment Rate (UR):

1. Declined overall to 2%in 2023-24, consistent for both men and women.
2. Urban female unemployment saw a slight rise, but rural areas exhibited a steady decline.

Trends in Women’s Labour Participation

1. Rural Female LFPR: Increased by 23 percentage points since 2017-18, now at approximately 48%.
2. Educated Women (Postgraduate and Above): Workforce participation rose from 35% in 2017-18 to 40% in 2023-24.
3. Self-Employed Women: Demonstrated consistent growth in earnings.

Barriers to Women’s Participation

1. Social: Childcare, household responsibilities, early marriage.
2. Economic: Limited job opportunities and dependency on household income.
3. Educational: Pursuit of higher qualifications.
4. Other: Inadequate rural infrastructure and poor support systems.

Government Initiatives Supporting Women’s LFPR

Legislative Actions:

1. Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
2. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

Schemes:

1. Skill India Mission.
2. Stand-Up India.
3. National Rural Livelihood Mission.

Key Indicators :

1. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Proportion of employed individuals in the total population.
2. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Proportion of people engaged in or actively seeking work.
3. Unemployment Rate (UR): Proportion of unemployed among the labour force.

Current Context : Recently, the Chhattisgarh government notified the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary as India’s 56th Tiger Reserve in 2024.​

About Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

Location:

• Lies on the Chotanagpur Plateau and Baghelkhand Plateau in Chhattisgarh, contiguous with Bandhavgarh TR (MP) and Palamau TR (Jharkhand).

Significance:

• Third-largest TR in India after Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam (AP) and Manas (Assam).
• Covers an area of 2,829 sq km(Core: 2,049.2 sq km; Buffer: 780.15 sq km).

Biodiversity:

• Hosts 753 species, including 55 mammals(leopards, hyenas, wolves) and 230 bird species.

Key rivers: Hasdeo, Gopad, Baranga.

Chhattisgarh’s Tiger Reserves

• With this addition, Chhattisgarh now has four Tiger Reserves:
  • Indravati TR
  • Udanti-Sitanadi TR
  • Achanakmar TR
  • Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla TR

Current Context : Victoria Kjaer Theilvig made history by becoming Denmark’s first-ever Miss Universe at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico City.

About :

• She is 21 years old, from Søborg, Denmark.
• A champion dancer, dance teacher, and advocate for mental health awareness.
• Holds a background in business and marketing.