Observed annually on December 2

• Objective: To raise awareness about pollution and its harmful effects on health and the environment.
• Significance: Commemorates the victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy(1984), one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, caused by a leak of methyl isocyanate gas, leading to thousands of deaths and long-term environmental damage.

Observed annually on December 1.

Purpose: To raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, support those living with the condition, and remember lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses.

• First Observed: 1988, making it the first global health day.
• Theme for 2024: “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”.

Current Context :  Recently, Cyclone Fengal originated as a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal.

• The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential flooding to the region.
• Cyclone Fengal was named by Saudi Arabia.
• The naming process for cyclones in the North Indian Ocean involves a group of 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia, which contributes names that are used on a rotating basis.

About Cyclone :

A cyclone is a large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure. It is characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Types:

• Tropical Cyclones: Form over warm ocean waters near the equator (e.g., hurricanes, typhoons).
• Extratropical Cyclones: Form in temperate regions and are associated with cold and warm fronts.
• Tornadoes: Smaller, more intense cyclonic systems with very high wind speeds.

Formation:

• Cyclones typically form due to warm ocean waters (above 26°C), high humidity, and specific wind patterns in the atmosphere.

Classification (Tropical Cyclones):

• Depression: Wind speed < 31 mph.
• Tropical Storm: Wind speed 39–73 mph.
• Severe Cyclone: Wind speed > 74 mph.

Regions and Names:

• In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, they are called hurricanes.
• In the Northwest Pacific, they are known as typhoons.
• In the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, they are referred to as cyclones.

Current Context : India ranked 49^th as per the Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024) report.

About Network Readiness Index:

• Published annually by the Portulans Institute.
• Evaluates 133 economies on their readiness for a network-based economy.
• Framework: Four pillars—Technology, People, Governance, and Impact—with 54 variables assessed.

Top five countries ranked in the 2024 Network Readiness Index (NRI) are:

1. United States
2. Singapore
3. Finland
4. Sweden
5. South Korea

India’s Performance:

• Ranked 49th globallyin 2024, an improvement of 11 positions from 2023.
• India’s score rose from 93 (2023)to 53.63 (2024), showcasing progress in digital infrastructure and innovation.

Regional and Income Group Context:

• Among lower-middle-income countries, India ranks 2nd, after Vietnam.
• Stands out in Asia as a leader in digital innovation, while Singapore and South Korea are the only Asian nations in the global top 10.

Current Context : The Department of Consumer Affairs is proud to announce the successful nationwide implementation of the E-Daakhil portal, now operational in every state and union territory of India.

About E-Daakhil Portal:

• Introduced by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on September 7, 2020.
• Designed to provide an inexpensive, quick, and hassle-free mechanism for filing consumer complaints online.

Features:

• Allows consumers and advocates to file complaints and pay fees online from anywhere.
• Offers a paperless and transparent process, enabling tracking of complaints online.
• Integrated with Common Service Centers (CSCs) to assist rural consumers in filing complaints.
• Facilitates video conferencing for complaint hearings under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Current Context : For the first time in the history of India’s election process, 19 members from the Jarawa Tribe in Andaman and Nicobar Islands had been included in India’s electoral roll.

About Jarawa Tribe:

• Location: Indigenous tribe living in the Andaman Islands, specifically in Middle and South Andaman.

• Classification: Listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)due to their small population and unique lifestyle.

• Habitat: Live in areas rich in dense forests, mangroves, and beaches, which provide their livelihood.

• Origins: Believed to descend from the extinct Jangil tribe and linked to early human migrations from Africa.

Lifestyle:

• Traditionally hunter-gatherersand fishermen, known for defending their territory.
• Wear minimal clothing suited to the tropical climate.
• Recognized for their strong physique and good health.

Current Context : The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) and Algeria’s National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology of the National Gendarmerie (NICC/NG) were jointly awarded during the 29th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the OPCW in The Hague.

About OPCW-The Hague Award:

• Established in 2014 by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague.
• Recognizes significant contributions by individuals and organizations toward the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including chemical safety and disarmament.
• Recipients receive a medallion, a certificate, and a share of the €90,000 prize.

About the Indian Chemical Council

• Established in 1938, the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) is India’s premier body representing the chemical industry.
• Represents various sectors, including Organic & Inorganic Chemicals, Plastics, Petrochemicals, and Petroleum Refineries.

Role and Authorizations:

• Recognized as the apex national body for the chemical industry in India.
• Authorized by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, to issue Certificates of Origin for exporters through its offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai.

Current Context : Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has declared that the Baltic Sea is now a “high risk” area after he met Nordic and Baltic leaders days after a suspected sabotage attack on undersea cables.

About Baltic Sea:

Geographical Features:

• A semi-enclosed inland sea located in Northern Europe, part of the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Connects to the Atlantic via the Danish Straits; linked to the White Sea by the White Sea Canal and to the North Sea via the Kiel Canal.
• Covers an area of 377,000 sq. km, with a 1,600 km length and a maximum width of 193 km.

Surrounding Countries:

• Borders Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland, and Sweden.
• Key ports and cities along the sea include Stockholm, Helsinki, Gdańsk, and Tallinn.

Environmental Characteristics:

• Known as the world’s largest brackish inland water body.
• Lower salinity compared to oceans due to freshwater inflow from more than 250 rivers, including the Neva River.
• Hosts three major gulfs: Gulf of Bothnia, Gulf of Finland, and Gulf of Riga.

Current Context : The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) presented the prestigious President’s Colours to four battalions of the Mechanised Infantry during a solemn ceremony held recently.

About President’s Colours:

The President’s Colours, also called Rashtrapati ka Nishaan, is the highest honor bestowed on military units, training establishments, or police forces for exceptional service to the nation during peace and war.

Award Characteristics: The award consists of a ceremonial flag with golden borders and the unit’s insignia, motto, and key achievements. It symbolizes valor and excellence​

Background:

• The tradition traces back to ancient India, where military units carried royal banners (dhwajas) symbolizing their king. It continued during British rule with regiments carrying the British monarch’s colors.
• Post-independence, the first President’s Colour was presented to the Indian Navy by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

Current Context : Union women and child development minister recently launched the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign”.

About ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ Campaign:

• Initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on November 27, 2024.
• Aims to eliminate child marriage in India as part of the larger Viksit Bharat @2047

Focus Areas:

• Targets seven high-burden states: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Includes nearly 300 high-burden districts with child marriage rates above the national average.

Goals:

• Reduce child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029.
• Engage multiple stakeholders and communities to foster societal change.

Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal:

• Centralized platform to raise awareness, report cases, and track progress.
• Enables real-time monitoring of complaints by Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs).
• Facilitates public participation in reporting cases and raising awareness.

Achievements:

• Child marriage rates have significantly dropped from 4% in 2006to 23.3% in 2019-21.

Public Engagement:

• Encourages citizens to take a pledge against child marriage, with a target of engaging 25 crore people.
• Involves local communities, government bodies, and NGOs to enhance impact.