Current Context : The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed recently in the Lok Sabha, despite disruptions.

About Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024:

Objective: The Bill integrates the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, into the Railways Act, 1989, to simplify the legal framework by eliminating the need to refer to two separate laws.​

Features :

• Statutory Backing for Railway Board: Provides legal authority to the Railway Board, which has operated without statutory support since its inception.​
• Independent Regulator: Proposes the creation of a regulator to oversee tariffs, safety, and private sector participation, ensuring transparency and competition.​
• Enhanced Autonomy: Decentralizes decision-making powers, granting railway zones more authority to manage budgets and infrastructure, improving efficiency.​
• Board Composition: Empowers the central government to decide the number of Railway Board members, their qualifications, terms, and roles.​
• Operational Improvements: Aims to streamline approvals for new train services and infrastructure projects, facilitating superfast train operations and modernisation.​
• Regional Development: Enhanced railway connectivity is expected to spur economic growth, particularly in underserved regions like Bihar.​

Celebrated on December 16th each year.

Aim :  to mark India’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

It honors the bravery and sacrifices made by the Indian armed forces during the war.

Background

• The 1971 Indo-Pak War culminated in the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka, marking a decisive victory for India and leading to the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
• The day is observed with various ceremonies, memorials, and tributes to the fallen soldiers.

Current Context : Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes to Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on his Birth Anniversary.

About C. Rajagopalachari:

• Full Name: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji.
• Born: 10 December 1878, in Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Conferred Bharat Ratnain 1954 for contributions to politics and literature.

Role in the Independence Movement:

• Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi in 1919, he left his legal career to join the freedom struggle.
• Participated in significant movements:
  • Rowlatt Act agitation.
  • Non-Cooperation Movement.
  • Vaikom Satyagraha.
  • Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Jailed five times between 1912 and 1941 for his activism.

Contribution to Governance:

• Served as a member of the Constituent Assembly representing Madras under the Congress Party.
• Played a key role in debates on religious freedom and citizenship in the Assembly.

Literary Contributions:

• Renowned for retelling the Mahabharata and Ramayana in English and Tamil.

Authored “Ramayana – Chakravarti Thirumagan” in Tamil.

Current Context : Recently, the Minister of Cooperation informed the Lok Sabha about the Yuva Sahakar Scheme.

About Yuva Sahakar Scheme:

Objective : Encourages cooperative societies with new and innovative ideas, focusing on youth entrepreneurs.

Eligibility:

• Cooperative societies operational for a minimum of 3 months.
• Special incentives for cooperatives in the North-Eastern region, aspirational districts, women-led cooperatives, and those involving Scheduled Caste (SC)and Scheduled Tribe (ST)

Financial Features:

• Provides long-term loans (up to 5 years).
• Includes 2% interest subvention on applicable NCDC loan rates.
• Loans can be combined with subsidies from other Government of India schemes.
• Linked to a ₹1000 crore Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund managed by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Implementation:

• Run by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)across India.
• NCDC provides project-based funding tailored to the specific activities of cooperatives.

Mission Alignment:

Part of the Sahakar 22 Mission, which aims to double farmers’ income.

Current Context : Recently Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024 has been released.

Released By: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Relevant Data  :

• In 2022, known victims of trafficking rose by 25% compared to pre-pandemic levels (2019).
• Women and girls made up 61%of victims globally, emphasizing the gendered nature of trafficking.

Impact of the Pandemic:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted anti-trafficking measures, leading to vulnerabilities in identification and protection efforts.

About UNODC:

• Established: 1997.
• Role: Leads global initiatives against illicit drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.

Current Context : Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has become the youngest-ever world chess champion after defeating Ding Liren from China on Thursday at the World Chess Championship 2024 held in Singapore.

• At 18, Gukesh has ascended to the throne as the youngest chess champion in history.
• He became the second Indian after Vishwanathan Anand to win the prestigious crown.

He prevailed over Liren 7.5-6.5 in a mentally exhausting 14-match contest.

Current Context : Recently, Marbled duck spotted at Sultanpur National Park after 30 years.

About Marbled Duck:

• Medium-sized duck species found in Southern Europe, Northwest Africa, the Middle East, Russia, India, and China.
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened, due to habitat loss and other environmental pressures.
• Sighting: Recently spotted at Sultanpur National Park after 30 years, emphasizing its rarity in the region.

Sultanpur National Park:

• Location: Gurgaon, Haryana.
• Recognition: Declared a Ramsar site in 2021, denoting its global importance as a wetland.
• Migratory Birds: Hosts species like bar-headed geese and Indian spotted eagles, which migrate for wintering and feeding.
• Flora: Features mixed forests with acacia, jamun, neem trees, and grasslands.
• Fauna: Renowned for its diverse bird species, making it a key bird-watching site in India.

Current Context : Recently, World Malaria Report 2024 released by World Health Organization (WHO.)

Global Findings:

• Malaria Cases: Increased to 263 million in 2023, with an incidence of 4 per 1,000 population at risk, up from 58.6 in 2022.
• African Region: Contributed 94% of global malaria cases, highlighting the disproportionate impact​

India’s Progress:

• Decline in Cases: Reduced by 69%, from 4 million (2017)to 2 million (2023).
• Decline in Deaths: Decreased by 68%, from 11,100 (2017)to 3,500 (2023).
• HBHI Exit: In 2024, India exited the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI)group, marking significant progress in malaria control​

About Malaria:

• Cause: Life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted via female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Key Species: Five species, with  falciparum and P. vivax posing the greatest threat.
• Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.
• Geography: Common in tropical regions​
• Vaccines: RTS,S/AS01: WHO’s first approved malaria vaccine (2021).
  • R21/Matrix-M: Second WHO-approved vaccine (2023), enhancing global prevention efforts​

Government Initiatives:

• WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016–2030): A framework for malaria-endemic countries, updated in 2021.

India’s National Strategic Plan (2023-27): Focuses on malaria elimination through integrated vector control, early detection, and treatment.​

Current Context : State government is working to expand the reach of Him-Ira products by listing them on major e-commerce websites like Amazon and Flipkart.

• Aim : empowering over 2.80 lakh women involved in SHGs, providing them with access to national and even global markets.

About  Him Ira

Him Ira is a program in Himachal Pradesh that aims to provide a platform for self-help groups (SHGs) to sell their products and promote local products. The program includes Him Ira shops, weekly markets, and Him Ira kitchens:

• Him Ira shops : These shops are set up in various locations across the state to provide a single platform for SHGs to sell their products.
• Him Ira weekly markets :These markets are set up in places where SHGs and local people can easily reach out to sell and buy their products.
• Him Ira kitchens : These kitchens are set up in educational institutions and government offices by SHGs to prepare hygienic food. The Department of Technical Education in Himachal Pradesh has agreed to provide space to SHGs to set up Him Ira kitchens in its 14 educational institutions.
• Him Ira brand : This brand includes a variety of products from Himachal Pradesh, such as Kinnaur’s rajmaah, Kullu’s shawl, Chamba’s chuk, and more. These products are also sold online through Amazon and Flipkart.

Current Context : The National Panchayat Awards Conferment Ceremony 2024, organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

About the Awards

• Organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), the awards recognize Panchayats for exemplary contributions to rural development.
• Focuses on achievements in areas like poverty alleviation, health, water conservation, governance, women empowerment, and infrastructure development.
• Encourages Panchayats to foster sustainable and inclusive growth in rural communities by aligning with the Local Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).

Award Categories :

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP):

1. Awarded to the top three Gram Panchayats/Equivalent Bodies for performance in each of the nine themes.

Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar:

1. Recognizes the top three Gram, Block, and District Panchayats for overall excellence across all nine themes.

Special Category Awards:

1. Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Recognizes use of renewable energy.
2. Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Rewards adoption of carbon-neutral practices.
3. Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: Acknowledges institutions aiding Gram Panchayats in achieving LSDGs.