Current Context : Recently, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Halmahera Sea, near North Maluku, Indonesia.

About Halmahera Sea

• Situated in eastern Indonesia, bordered by Halmahera Island, the Pacific Ocean (east), and the Molucca Sea (west).
• Integral to the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), which moves warm water from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.
• The eastern route of the ITF through the Halmahera Sea is crucial for global ocean circulation and climate patterns.
• Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
• This seismic activity is due to the convergence of the Pacific, Eurasian, and Indo-Australian tectonic plates.

Current Context : The Z-Morh tunnel project recently faced a militant attack, near its construction site in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir.

About Z-Morh Project:

• A 4-km tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway at an altitude of about 8,500 feet.
• Provides all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a key tourist destination.
• Named after a Z-shaped road section near the construction site.​
• Strategic importance:
  • The tunnel is crucial for maintaining year-round access to the Sonamarg region, especially during winter when heavy snow often makes roads impassable.
  • Additionally, it serves as a key link for the broader Zojila tunnel project, which will connect Srinagar to Ladakh.
  • It connects Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh

Current Context : The 5th National Water Awards 2023 ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, as the Chief Guest.

• Purpose: Recognize exemplary efforts in water conservation and management, aligning with the goal of “Jal Samridh Bharat.”
• Categories : given for 09 categories viz Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School or College, Best Industry, Best Water User Association, Best Institution (other than school or college), and Best Civil Society.
• Winners: Best State (Odisha – 1st, Uttar Pradesh – 2nd, Gujarat & Puducherry – joint 3rd).
• Total of 38 winners, including joint awards.

Achievements:

• Odisha: Developed over 53,000 water conservation structures, 21,000 wastewater treatment plants, and renovated 11,000 traditional water bodies.
• Uttar Pradesh: Provided tap water to 1.91 crore rural households, constructed 133 sewage treatment plants, and established 14,679 Amrit Sarovars.
• Other Recognized Efforts: Districts like Banda (Uttar Pradesh), Ganderbal (J&K), and Indore (Madhya Pradesh) were noted for their extensive water conservation projects, including pond rejuvenation and construction of check dams.

About National Water Awards:

• The awards were established by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Aim : to recognize individuals and organizations for their contributions to water conservation and management, aligning with the government’s vision of a “Jal Samridh Bharat”.
• The first edition of the National Water Awards was introduced by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in 2018.

Current Context : The 2nd National Lighthouse Festival, including the first ‘Lighthouse Tourism Conclave 2024,’ took place in Puri, Odisha.

• It was organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW).
• Aim : to explore the tourism potential of lighthouses, enhance awareness of India’s maritime heritage, and promote conservation efforts​
• The initiative includes the transformation of 75 iconic lighthouses across 9 coastal states and 1 union territory into tourist attractions. These lighthouses have been equipped with facilities like maritime museums, amphitheaters, children’s parks, and more.
• Goal : to transform these structures into centers of tourism, culture, and learning. The initiative aligns with the Maritime India Vision 2030.​

Current Context : The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with IIT-Delhi for the development of diamond-based deep ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors marks a significant milestone in India’s technological advancements.

• Material : Utilizes lab-grown diamonds produced using Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) techniques, with diamond’s ultra-wide bandgap properties.

About UV Photodetectors

• UV photodetectors are optoelectronic devices that convert ultraviolet light into electrical signals. They generate a small current or voltage in response to UV light.
• Types : Diamond-based photodetectors are known for high sensitivity to deep UV light, making them effective for applications requiring precision.
• Applications : Widely used in fields like environmental monitoring, UV imaging, space exploration, and secure communication due to their ability to detect and measure UV light.​

Current Context : Switzerland formally joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), after approvals from the Swiss Federal Council and other government bodies.

About ESSI

• It is a collaborative project aimed at developing a common air defense system for European countries.
• Launched in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Aim : to create a coordinated air and missile defense system for Europe.
• Leadership & Key Technology : Led by Germany, ESSI focuses on a multi-layered air defense system. A central component is the Arrow 3, a missile defense system developed through Israeli-American collaboration, capable of intercepting long-range ballistic missiles​

Current Context : Ministry of Labour & Employment is set to launch the ‘eShram-One Stop Solution’

ABOUT  ESHRAM-ONE STOP SOLUTION

• It is a significant initiative by the Ministry of Labour & Employment aimed at providing unorganized workers (UW) with a centralized platform to access information about various social security and welfare schemes.
• Significance: Enhances awareness among UWs about available schemes, streamlines access, and helps ensure the inclusion of left-out beneficiaries
• Launched on August 26, 2021, the eShram portal is Aadhaar-based and has registered over 30 crore UWs as of 2024​
• Integrations: Connected with National Career Service (NCS), Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), and several welfare schemes like PMJJBY, PMSBY, Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY, and PM-SVANidhi.

Current Context : The recent death of a tigress, identified as T-102 (RVT-2), in the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) has raised concerns about tiger conservation efforts in the area.

About Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve

• Location:Rajasthan, India
• Status:Tiger reserve,  It is the fourth tiger reserve in Rajasthan state and the 52nd tiger reserve in the country.
• Area:Approximately 1,200 square kilometers (463 square miles)
• Wildlife:Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, wild boars, and various species of deer
• Flora:Sal forests, teak forests, and grasslands
• River: Mez, tributary of the Chambal River, passes through it.

Current Context : PM inaugurated Saharanpur, Rewa and Ambikapur airports in Uttar Pradesh as part of the celebrations under RCS-UDAN.

About

• RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) is a central sector scheme aimed at improving regional air connectivity in India.
• Launched:2016 as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy
• Purpose: To make air travel affordable for the masses, especially in remote areas.

Benefits:

• Subsidized seats for passengers (capped fares)
• Government support to airlines (Viability Gap Funding)
• Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) for self-financing
• The first RCS-UDAN flight was inaugurated in 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi.
• Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Implementing Agency: Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Observed on 24 October every year to mark the anniversary of the UN Charter’s entry into force.

Aim : to raise awareness of the United Nations’ mission to promote peace, security, and human rights worldwide.

About UN

• It is an Intergovernmental organization for peace, security, and human rights.
• Member states : 193
• Six principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, ICJ, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council (inactive).
• Goals : peace, human rights, cooperation, problem-solving, economic/social progress, respect for international law.
• Work through programs/agencies like WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO.