• The Central Government has recently conferred Navratna status upon IRCTC and IRFC, elevating them to the ranks of India’s 25th and 26th Navratna CPSEs.
• Navratna Status –
• Definition: A prestigious classification for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) recognizing exceptional financial and operational performance.
• Authority: Granted by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance.
• Benefits: Provides greater investment autonomy and decision-making flexibility to eligible CPSEs.
• Eligibility Criteria for Navratna Status:

1. A CPSE must be a Miniratna-I company with a positive net worth.
2. Have an “Excellent” or “Very Good” MoU rating in three of the last five years.
3. Score 60+ points on financial indicators (net profit, net worth, manpower cost).
4. Have at least four independent directors on its board.

• Benefits of Navratna Status:

1. Investment Autonomy: Can invest up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of net worth without government approval.
2. Expansion & Diversification: Can form joint ventures, subsidiaries, and global alliances.
3. Market Credibility: Attracts investors and strategic partnerships, boosting growth.

• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)
• Definition: A public sector enterprise providing ticketing, catering, and tourism services for Indian Railways.
• Established: 1999
• Operates under: Ministry of Railways, Government of India
• Key Functions:

1. E-Ticketing: Manages online train reservations via portal & mobile apps.
2. Catering Services: Handles onboard catering & manages railway food plazas.
3. Tourism Services: Offers rail-based tourism packages, including luxury trains (Maharajas’ Express).
4. Rail Neer: Produces & supplies packaged drinking water for railway passengers.

• Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC)
• Definition: A public sector undertaking (PSU) responsible for raising financial resources for Indian Railways’ expansion & modernization.
• Established: 12 December 1986
• Operates under: Ministry of Railways, Government of India
• Key Functions:

1. Funding Indian Railways: Provides low-cost capital for railway expansion.
2. Market Borrowings: Raises funds via bonds, external borrowings, & public offerings.
3. Rolling Stock Leasing: Finances procurement of locomotives, coaches, & wagons.

Infrastructure Development: Supports modernization & electrification of railway networks.

• India and Nepal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, including waste management, to ensure better access to clean drinking water and sanitation for their populations.
• The agreement was signed at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi in the presence of CR Patil, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, and Pradeep Yadav, Nepal’s Minister of Water Supply.
• Key Highlights of the MoU:
• Training Programs: Indian expertise will be shared with Nepali personnel in water resource management and related fields.
• Technology Exchange: Both nations will collaborate on best practices and technological advancements in the WASH sector.
• Groundwater Management: Joint efforts in monitoring, assessment, and quality improvement of groundwater resources, including rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge.

• The Union Health Minister recently presided over the 9th Mission Steering Group (MSG) meeting of the National Health Mission (NHM) to review key health initiatives and progress.
• National Health Mission (NHM)
• The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in April 2005 to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health services to the poorest households in remote rural areas.
• In May 2013, the National Health Mission (NHM) was approved by the Cabinet, incorporating the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission alongside NRHM.
• Key Achievements under NHM:

1. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): Achieved the National Health Policy target of 100 deaths per 1 lakh live births, with an 83% decline (1990–2020), surpassing the global rate.
2. Infant & Child Mortality:

• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) reduced by 69%.
• Under-5 Mortality Rate declined by 75%, both outperforming global averages.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Declined from4 (1992-93) to 2.0 (2019-21).

1. Healthcare Expenditure:

• Out-of-pocket expenditure reduced from 69.4% (2004-05) to 4% (2021-22).
• Government health expenditure increased from 22.5% to 48%.

        Healthcare Workforce: Increased from 23,000 (2006-07) to 5.23 lakh (2023-24) under NHM.

The Supreme Court has recently ordered the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, to carry out a tree census in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) to assess the region’s green cover and its impact on pollution control.

• About Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ):
• Purpose: A 10,400 sq. km trapezoidal-shaped area created to protect the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) from air pollution.
• Establishment:Formed in 1996 by the Supreme Court of India to regulate pollution affecting the Taj Mahal.
• Supreme Court Directives:
• Industries in TTZ must switch from coal and coke to cleaner fuels like natural gas.
• Strict regulations on construction, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollutants in the region.
• Significance:
  • • Helps in reducing air pollution around historical monuments.
    • Plays a role in conserving cultural heritage from environmental damage.

• International Women’s Day (IWD), observed annually on March 8, is a global celebration of women’s achievements while advocating for gender equality and women’s rights.
• Theme:For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.
• Campaign theme:“Accelerate Action“
• Purpose: Celebrates women’s achievements while highlighting the ongoing fight for gender equity.
• Key Facts & History:
  • Origins: First observed in 1909 in the United States, later adopted globally.
  • Recognition: Officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 1977.
• Significance:
  • Raises awareness about gender disparities.
  • Encourages policy changes for women’s empowerment.
  • Recognizes women’s contributions across various fields.

• India recently launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3).The initiative was announced by the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs to promote sustainable urban development.
• About Cities Coalition for Circularity
  • A multi-nation alliance for city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships.
  • Announced at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific (Jaipur).
  • Aims to promote resource efficiency and a low-carbon economy by strengthening cooperation between policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers.
• Key Details of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum
  • Theme: Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.
  • Venue: Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
• Organized by:
  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (India)
  • United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
  • Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
• Supported by:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP),
• Japan’s Ministry of Environment & Other international and regional organizations.
• Jaipur Declaration (2025-2034) to be adopted – a nonpolitical, nonbinding commitment guiding the next decade’s efforts towards resource efficiency and sustainable urban development.

• According to recent news, market experts, including Samir Arora, are strongly criticizing India’s newly introduced capital gains tax on foreign investors, deeming it a ‘significant policy misstep.
• The tax is perceived as a deterrent to Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), potentially reducing foreign investment in Indian markets.
• About Capital Gains Tax:Levied on profits from the sale of capital assets.
• Capital assets include:

1. Stocks
2. Mutual funds
3. Property
4. Gold

Types of Capital Gains Tax

• Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG):

1. Applies when assets are sold within a short period.
2. Taxed at a higher rate to discourage speculative trading.

• Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG):

1. Applies when assets are held for a longer duration.
2. Taxed at a lower rate to encourage long-term investments.

• A research team from China and Japan has discovered compelling evidence that niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) demonstrates characteristics of a Bose metal, a quantum state that has long been theorized but remains unproven.
• Definition: A Bose metal is a quantum metallic state where Cooper pairs exist but do not condense into a superconducting phase. It exhibits conductivity between that of a superconductor (infinite conductivity) and an insulator (zero conductivity) at temperatures near absolute zero.
• Key Features:

1. Formation of Cooper Pairs:Electrons experience an attractive force, forming Cooper pairs (similar to superconductors).
2. Absence of Superconducting Coherence:Despite pairing, these particles fail to establish long-range superconducting order.
3. Intermediate Conductivity:Conductivity remains finite—neither infinite (as in superconductors) nor zero (as in insulators).
4. Magnetic Field Sensitivity:Strong magnetic fields can disrupt or modify the behavior of a Bose metal.

• Limitations:

1. No Practical Applications Yet:Currently, Bose metals have no widespread industrial use, but they hold potential for future quantum electronic applications.
2. Experimental Challenges:Requires precise control of temperature, material thickness, and magnetic fields for study.
3. Ambiguous Definition:Ongoing debate whether Bose metals are a distinct quantum state or just a transition phase between superconductors and insulators.

• The Indian government launched Project Lion to conserve and expand the Asiatic lion population, with an approved budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore, showcasing its commitment to wildlife conservation.
• The Asiatic lion population is currently concentrated in Gujarat, with a census reporting 674 individuals in 2020 (29% increase from 2015).

Key Components

• Habitat Management

1. Barda Dungar Wildlife Sanctuary (100 km from Gir) developed as an alternative habitat.
2. First lion spotted in Barda in 2023, confirming its potential.
3. Additional habitats in Saurashtra: Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Hingolgadh, Rajula to Jafrabad.

• Wildlife Health Monitoring

1. Health protocols to prevent disease outbreaks.
2. Veterinary Hospital in Sasan, Gir (National Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Centre) planned.
3. Focus on diseases like Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Babesia, which posed threats in 2018 and 2020.

• Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation

1. 1,000 sq. km. exclusive lion habitat by relocating human settlements.
2. More lion habitats in Saurashtra: Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Hingolgadh, Rajula to Jafrabad.

• Other Conservation Measures

1. Community involvement to encourage coexistence.
2. Technology-based monitoring: Drone surveillance, CCTV, 33 rapid response units for lion protection.
3. 100 new tracker positions for lion rescue operations.

• Significance

1. Strengthens India’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
2. Protects the Asiatic lion, an important species in the ecosystem.
3. Promotes eco-tourism and sustainable development.

• In a recent move, the countries of the Lake Tanganyika Basin have initiated a five-year effort to analyze and combat transboundary threats to the lake’s biodiversity.
• Overview
  • Ancient lake located in East Africa.
  • Bordering Countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia.
  • One of the world’s longest and deepest lakes (over 400 miles long).
  • Forms part of the Western Rift Valley, with steep rising lands along most of its shores.
• Geographical & Ecological Importance
  • Divides Eastern and Western African floral regions.
  • Oil palms, characteristic of Western African flora, grow along its shores.
  • Major rivers feeding the lake: Malagarasi, Ruzizi, and Kalambo.
  • Lukuga River serves as the lake’s outlet, flowing into the Lualaba River.
  • Economic activities: Rice farming, subsistence agriculture, and fishing.
• Recent Biodiversity Protection Initiative
  • Led by UNEP, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
  • Enhances transboundary cooperation among the four bordering nations.
• Objectives:
  • Promote sustainable fisheries.
  • Protect biodiversity and restore degraded landscapes.
  • Establish core conservation zones in three protected areas.
  • Ensure sustainable natural resource use in protected areas and buffer zones.