Observed every year on 26 June,

• Aim : To promote awareness of the harmful effects of drug abuse and encourages action for a drug-free society.
• Established by the United Nations General Assembly.
• Aims to strengthen global cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• India has, for the first time, secured a position among the top 100 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index.

About

• The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) reviews progress made each year on the Sustainable Development Goals since their adoption by the 193 UN Member States in 2015.
• This edition also includes for the first time an assessment of which countries have made the most progress on the SDGs using a headline SDG Index (SDGi).

Major Highlights

• Global Commitment through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs): 190 out of 193 UN member states have participated in the VNR process since the adoption of Agenda 2030.
• Regional Trends in SDG Progress: East and South Asia is the fastest progressing region since 2015.
  • Drivers of progress: Rapid improvements in socioeconomic indicators.
• Top Performers in SDG Index: Finland, Sweden and Denmark hold the top three positions.
  • 19 out of the top 20 performers are European countries.
  • Challenges remain even for top countries — particularly in climate action and biodiversity goals.
• India ranked 99th out of 167 nations.
  • It places India with a score of 67 on the SDG Index, a significant improvement from its 109th rank in 2024.
  • Since the adoption of the SDGs, India has steadily improved its standing: it ranked 112th in 2023, 121st in 2022, and 120th in 2021.
• Among India’s neighbours, China ranks 49th (74.4), Bhutan ranks 74th (70.5), Nepal 85th (68.6), Bangladesh 114th (63.9), and Pakistan 140th (57).
  • Maritime neighbours Maldives and Sri Lanka stand at 53rd and 93rd places respectively.
• Global SDG Progress Remains Off-Track: None of the 17 SDGs are currently on track to be achieved globally by 2030.
  • Only 17% of SDG targets are on track worldwide.
  • Major obstacles: Conflicts, structural vulnerabilities, limited fiscal space.
• Notable progress seen in: SDG 3 (Health): Under-5 and neonatal mortality.
  • SDG 7: Access to electricity.
  • SDG 9: Mobile broadband use and internet access.
• It identified five areas of significant regression since 2015: obesity rates (SDG 2), press freedom (SDG 16), sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2), the Red List Index measuring biodiversity loss (SDG 15), and the Corruption Perceptions Index (SDG 16).
• UN-Based Multilateralism Index (UN-Mi): Barbados ranks 1st – most committed to UN-based multilateralism.
  • The United States ranks last, following the withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement (2025), Exit from World Health Organization (WHO) and Formal opposition to SDGs and Agenda 2030.
• Fiscal Constraints in Developing Countries: Around 50% of the global population lives in countries lacking fiscal capacity to invest in sustainable development.
  • Global public goods (like climate protection, global health, peace) remain underfunded.

Recommendations

• Need for Reform in Global Financial Architecture (GFA) as the current GFA favors wealthy nations with easier capital access.
• Proposes practical reforms to boost and align global financing toward SDGs and public goods.

Current Context: Recently, Thousands of devotees gather annually in mid‑June during monsoon for the Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple, Assam’s major Shakti worship event.

 ABOUT AMBUBACHI MELA:

• It is an annual Hindu fair held during Monsoon at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam.
• Kamakhya Temple is situated on the Nilachal Hills near Guwahati.
• Temple is one of the major centers for Tantric worship and is one of the biggest Shakti shrines.
• The festival symbolizes fertility, the arrival of the monsoon, and the traditional belief of the Earth as a fertile woman across cultures.

Current Context: Recently, Tripura declared fully literate (95.6% literacy) as the third Indian state, after Goa and Mizoram, achieving full functional literacy under ULLAS (2022–2027).

ABOUT ULLAS:

• Ministry:
• Type: Centrally sponsored scheme (2022‑27).
• Goal: Achieve literacy (≥95%) among individuals ≥15 yrs; foundational literacy and numeracy for ~5 crore learners.
• Implementation: Hybrid approach, volunteer-driven, multilingual, across India.
• Tripura’s Achievement: From 93.7% (2023–24) to 95.6% (2024–25); focus on vocational, digital, life skills.

Current Context: WMO’s 2024 Asia report shows record-breaking temperatures (1.04 °C above 1991–2020 average), fastest warming region, glacier melt, marine heatwaves, and sea-level rise—underscoring escalated climate risks.

 KEY FINDINGS:

• Temperature Rise: 2024 was Asia’s warmest or second warmest year; warming 2× global rate.
• Heatwaves & Deaths: India’s hottest year since 1901; heatwaves caused 44,000+ stroke cases and ~450 deaths.
• Glacial Loss: Central Himalayas & Tian Shan glaciers receding; risk of glacial floods.
• Marine Heat: Sea-surface temperatures at record highs; marine heatwave spanned ~40 million km².
• Sea-Level Rise: Coastal sea levels rising at ~4–4.6 mm/year—above global average.
• Extreme Events: Cyclones, floods, droughts impacting millions and economies.

Current Context:  National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH) launched India’s first registry to support patients needing rare blood types with frequent transfusions.

 ABOUT THE REGISTRY:

• Objective: Aid patients with rare phenotypes (e.g., Rhnull, Bombay [Oh], Jr(a–)).
• Definition: Rare donors are negative for high‑prevalence antigen (<1 in 1,000) or multiple common antigens.
• Significance: Crucial for complex transfusions and managing alloimmunisation cases.

Current Context: Recently, India rejected references made to it at the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Turkey (22–23 June 2025) as “unwarranted and factually incorrect,” citing misuse by Pakistan and lack of locus standi on India’s internal issues like Jammu & Kashmir.

ABOUT OIC:

• Genesis: Founded in 1969 at the Rabat Summit, Morocco.
• Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Membership: 57 member states across four continents—second largest intergovernmental body after the UN.
• Role: Represents the collective voice of the Muslim world.

Current Context: A French woman from Guadeloupe has been identified as the sole known carrier of a new blood group—“Gwada negative” (ISBT042).

 ABOUT GWADA NEGATIVE:

• Designation: Registered as blood group system International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) as ISBT042.

Characteristics:

• It is defined by the absence of the EMM antigen.
• EMM antigen is normally found on red blood cells and is considered a high-incidence antigen. High-incidence antigens are present in nearly all humans.
• It is now the 48th blood group system in the world.

Current Context: IFFCO plans to set up its first overseas nano‑fertiliser plant in Brazil, following the 2021 launch of Nano Liquid Urea.

 ABOUT NANO‑FERTILISERS:

• Definition: Nutrients coated in nanomaterials (<100 nm) enabling controlled and slow soil release.
• Benefits:
  • Enhanced nutrient absorption, reduced wastage.
  • Eco‑friendly: reduces soil & water pollution.
  • Cost-effective: lowers fertiliser use and application frequency.

Current Context: The Health Ministry proposes integrating the Rare Blood Donor Registry with e‑Rakt Kosh to aid patients with uncommon blood types.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE:

• Rare Donor Registry: Developed by ICMR-NIIH Mumbai to support patients needing rare blood types.
• e‑Rakt Kosh:
  • Launched April 2016 under NHM.
  • Digital platform listing blood banks, availability, donor camps.
  • Ensures compliance with the Drug & Cosmetic Act and National Blood Policy.