Society 

How have Big Tech companies back- tracked on their DEI goals? - The Hindu

As Trump settled into his role for the second time, notable U.S. companies including Google, Meta, and Amazon announced (or quietly made) changes to their existing DEI initiatives. They either rolled back ongoing programmes and goals, or decided to stop pursuing new DEI plans.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

• Definition: Ensures representation (diversity), fairness (equity), and support (inclusion) in workplaces.
• Purpose: Addresses past discrimination based on race, gender, caste, disability, and other biases.
• Global Influence: Gained momentum post-George Floyd’s 2020 killing.
• Implementation: Hiring diverse individuals, funding their training, and reserving opportunities for underrepresented groups.
• Criticism:
  • Opposition: Some see it as ineffective in addressing systemic injustice while others argue it discriminates against majority groups.
  • Elon Musk’s View: Claims DEI harms industries, reduces merit-based hiring, and "kills art."
  • Political Stance: Right-wing leaders view DEI as unnecessary and discriminatory.
• Tech Companies Scaling Back DEI:
  • Amazon: Ending DEI programs but maintaining employee-led groups.
  • Meta: Scrapped fact-checking, relaxed content moderation, and dropped diversity goals.
  • Google: No longer pursuing diversity hiring targets, removed DEI references from reports.
  • Other Companies: Disney, Comcast, GE, Intel, PayPal, Regeneron have revised DEI policies.
• Companies Still Supporting DEI:
  • Apple: Opposes attempts to abolish its DEI programs.
  • McKinsey: Continues diversity and merit-based hiring.
  • Microsoft: Maintains DEI, citing business advantages.
  • Others: Costco, Pinterest also reaffirm DEI commitments.
• Employee Benefits:
  • Visa sponsorships, dietary accommodations, accessible facilities.
  • Hybrid/remote work options for caregivers and disabled individuals.
  • Protection from discrimination based on identity, religion, or marital status.
• Challenges:
  • Some DEI hires face bias, assumed to lack merit.
  • Global DEI policies may overlook region-specific biases like casteism and colourism.
  • Immigrants and refugees may still face hiring barriers despite DEI commitments.

PRIME MINISTER DHAN-DHAANYA KRISHI YOJANA: SCHEME'S NEED, AIMS - Indian Express 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman while presenting the Union Budget recently announced the launch of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY).

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY)

• Announcement: Launched by the government, inspired by ADP’s success.
• ADP:
  • Launched in January 2018 to transform 112 underdeveloped districts.
  • Based on 3Cs: Convergence (schemes integration), Collaboration (official coordination), Competition (district ranking).
  • Ranking based on 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across five sectors:
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Education
    • Agriculture & Water Resources
    • Financial Inclusion & Skill Development
    • Infrastructure
• Coverage: 100 districts based on:
  • Low productivity
  • Moderate crop intensity (Measures land-use efficiency (% of gross cropped area to net sown area)).
  • Below-average credit availability
• Data Collection: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare collecting data; NABARD and Financial Services Department providing farm credit data.
• Objectives of PMDKY:
  • Enhancing agricultural productivity
  • Crop diversification & sustainable farming
  • Improving post-harvest storage at local levels
  • Upgrading irrigation facilities
  • Ensuring availability of long-term & short-term credit
• Beneficiaries: 1.7 crore farmers.
• Funding: No separate allocation; funds pooled from existing schemes under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare & Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying

Polity 

Why is a new Bill on foreigners coming? - The Hindu

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is all set to introduce the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 in the second half of the Budget session that begins on March 10. The Bill repeals all four existing legislations — The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, The Foreigners Act, 1946, and The Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000 — that deal with immigration and the movement of foreigners.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Structure: 6 chapters, 35 clauses, consolidates existing laws.
• Immigration Framework: Defines roles of Immigration Officer, passport/visa requirements, and foreigner registration.
• Legal Backing: Formalizes Bureau of Immigration (BoI) functions.
• Institutional Obligations: Universities, hospitals, and medical institutions must admit foreigners.
• Registration & Reporting: Hotels/guest houses must share foreigner details with police.
• Restricted Movement: Regulates foreigner movements and areas they frequent.
• Carrier Liability: Transport providers responsible for compliance.
• Burden of Proof: Individual must prove they are not a foreigner.
• Entry and Stay Provisions
  • Grounds for Denial: Threat to national security, sovereignty, integrity, foreign relations, or public health.
  • Final Authority: Immigration Officer’s decision is binding.
• Existing Rules:
  • Foreigners Order, 1948 – Denial for public safety, infection, mental illness, invalid documents, extradition.
  • Foreigners Act, 1946 & Passport Act, 1920 – Regulate entry, exit, and removal.
• Centre’s Powers: Issue removal orders, delegate authority, grant exemptions.

Penal Provisions

• Illegal Entry: 5 years imprisonment or ₹5 lakh fine or both.
• Fake Documents: 2-7 years imprisonment, ₹1-10 lakh fine.
• Overstaying: 3 years imprisonment, ₹3 lakh fine.

State Powers for Detection & Deportation

• Responsibility: State police handle detection and deportation.
• Guidelines (2014 & 2019): Deportation allowed after sentence if valid documents exist.
• Lack of Documents: To be obtained from embassy/high commission.

Detention Centres

• Terminology: Not explicitly mentioned; Clause 13 refers to “supervised residence.”
• Centre’s Authority: Controls access to such places.
• 2019 Manual: States need no approval to set up detention/holding camps outside jails.
• State Discretion: Size and number based on foreigner count and deportation progress.

Tracking Foreigners

• Committees: States to identify foreigners overstaying pre- & post-January 1, 2011.
• e-FRRO Portal: Logs visa violators, accessible to police.
• Document Verification: Cross-checked with welfare schemes, PAN, and driving licenses.
• Aadhaar Fraud: UIDAI to maintain a negative list for fraudulent Aadhaar cards.
• Foreigners Identification Portal: Allows biometric uploads to detect and prevent illegal document procurement.

World Affairs 

Why US President can't serve beyond 2 terms: tradition that became law - Indian Express

A week after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump floated the idea that the two-term limit for American Presidents could be negotiable. The development came while Trump spoke to House Republicans during their annual retreat in Florida.

22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

• About: Limits the U.S. President to two terms.
• Exception: If a Vice President assumes the presidency and serves less than half of their predecessor’s term, they can still serve two full terms.
• Example: Lyndon B. Johnson served 14 months after Kennedy’s assassination and could have served two additional terms if elected.
• Rationale: Preventing excessive concentration of power.
• Historical Background:
  • Debate since 1803: Congress repeatedly discussed term limits, but no consensus was reached.
  • George Washington (1796): Set the two-term precedent by refusing a third term.
  • Thomas Jefferson (1809): Reinforced the tradition by voluntarily stepping down.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945): Only President to serve four terms due to World War II.
  • Republican push for amendment (1940 & 1944): Efforts failed as Roosevelt remained popular.
  • After Roosevelt’s death (1945): Momentum increased to legally cap Presidential terms.
  • Republicans regained Congress (1946): Pushed for term limits to prevent another extended presidency.
  • Final Decision: Two four-year terms were approved after debate on a single six-year term.
• Impact: Legally restricted U.S. Presidents to two terms, ensuring democratic transitions of power.

Economy 

To switch or not to: The old IT regime vs the new - The Hindu

The Union Budget 2025 has once again brought the debate between the old and new tax regimes into focus. While the government continues to promote the new tax regime with simplified tax slabs and lower rates, the old tax regime remains attractive for many taxpayers due to extensive exemptions and deductions. 

Old and New Tax Regimes

• Old regime: Applies to all taxpayers, including salaried individuals, self-employed, and business owners.
• New regime: Simplifies taxation with lower tax rates but fewer exemptions and deductions.

Key Factors for Selection:

• Tax-saving investments: Beneficial for those investing in tax-saving schemes (old regime).
• Simplicity & compliance: New regime eliminates multiple deductions, making tax filing easier.
• Tax liability comparison: Evaluating liabilities under both regimes helps in decision-making.
• Revised tax slabs (New Regime): Income up to ₹12 lakh exempt due to rebates & revised slabs.
• Marginal relief for higher earners: Prevents sudden tax jumps for those earning slightly above ₹12 lakh.

Switching Restrictions:

• Business owners & professionals: Can switch back to new regime only once after choosing old regime.
• Salaried individuals: Can switch between regimes every financial year for tax planning.

What are India's sovereign green bonds, and why is demand for such bonds weak? - Indian Express

While green bonds help governments raise capital for clean energy and infrastructure, India’s issues have struggled to secure a meaningful ‘greenium’— lower borrowing costs typically associated with such bonds. As a result, planned allocations for key schemes, including grid-scale solar, have been slashed. With muted investor interest, India is relying on general revenue to bridge funding gaps.

Green Bonds

• Definition: Debt instruments issued by governments, corporations, and multilateral banks to fund projects.
• Aim: Reducing emissions or enhancing climate resilience.
• Financial Mechanism: 
  • Offered at lower yields than conventional bonds to encourage green investments.
  • The difference in yield between green and conventional bonds is called green premium (greenium).
  • Higher greenium allows issuers to raise funds at lower costs, making green projects more attractive.
• Challenges in Attracting Investors:
  • Muted demand has limited greenium.
  • Small issue sizes and low secondary market trading reduce liquidity.
  • Lack of social impact funds and responsible investing mandates.
• Funding Shortfall Impact:
  • Lower-than-expected proceeds reduce available funds for green projects.
  • Revised funding estimate for 2024-25 cut from ₹32,061 crore to ₹25,298 crore.
  • Grid-scale solar project allocation slashed from ₹10,000 crore to ₹1,300 crore.
  • ₹3,600 crore shortfall covered through general government revenue.
• Way Forward:
  • Sustainability bonds (combining green & social projects) could attract more investors.
  • Faster post-issuance allocation & impact reports to enhance investor confidence.
  • Partnering with multilateral banks to leverage higher credit ratings for better market positioning.

Environment 

AI-enabled cameras in Similipal Tiger Reserve send poaching plummeting  - The Hindu

As part of an early alert system called TrailGuard AI, the Similipal Tiger Reserve was fitted with 100-150 cameras loaded with an artificial intelligence (AI) model. The cameras relay images of people and wildlife entering the forest to the model, which looks for poachers among them.

Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)

• Location: Mayurbhanj District, Odisha.
• Terrain: Surrounded by plateaus and hills, with Khairiburu and Meghashini as the highest peaks (1515m).
• Topography: Undulating landscape with open grasslands and forests.
• Designation: Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1956 and included in Project Tiger (1973).
• Recognition: Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009.
• Vegetation: Northern tropical moist deciduous forests with semi-evergreen patches.
• Special feature: Only habitat for melanistic (black) tigers in the world.
• Flora: Rich flora with 1078 plant species, including 94 orchid species; sal is the dominant tree species.

• Large Mammals: Leopard, Gaur, Elephant, Sloth Bear, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer.
• Small Mammals: Langur, Mongoose, Pangolin, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine.
• Reptiles: Python, Monitor Lizard, Turtle.
• Birds: Numerous species inhabit the reserve.

• Tribal communities: Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia, and Sahara

Carbon capture: a pricey fix? - The Hindu

The human response to climate change has two prongs: adaptation and mitigation. Adaptation deals with how the world, its people, and their activities can adjust to an increasingly warming world. Mitigation is concerned with reducing CO2 emissions. An important type of technology that straddles both these efforts is carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). 

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

• Definition: Captures CO₂ emissions from industrial sources like power plants and refineries and stores them underground.
• Different from Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): It removes CO₂ directly from the atmosphere.
• Three-Step Process
  • Capture: Extracting CO₂ from power generation or industries.
  • Transport: Moving compressed CO₂ via pipelines or other means.
  • Storage: Injecting it into underground reservoirs.
• Methods of Carbon Capture:
  • Post-combustion: CO₂ is removed from flue gases after burning fossil fuels using a chemical solvent.
  • Pre-combustion: CO₂ is extracted before combustion by converting fossil fuels into synthetic gas.
  • Oxyfuel combustion: Fossil fuel is burned with pure oxygen, producing only CO₂ and water vapour; CO₂ is then separated (most efficient, but requires high energy).
• Storage & Implementation:
  • CO₂ is stored in saline aquifers or depleted oil & gas reservoirs.
  • Few operational projects globally despite decades of research.
  • 2023 data (IEA): 40 CCS projects capturing over 45 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Sci and Tech 

What is the cancer vaccine Russia is offering? - The Hindu

In December last year, Russia announced that it had developed a new, mRNA-based personalised ‘vaccine’ for cancer which would be available free for patients by early 2025. The vaccine’s pre-clinical trials had shown that it suppresses tumour development and potential metastases.

mRNA Cancer ‘Vaccine’

• About: Uses mRNA to instruct cells to produce antigens, triggering an immune response.
• Role: Helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
• Working:
  • Cancer cells evade immune detection; mRNA vaccines help the body target and destroy them.
  • Unlike chemotherapy, this targets only cancer cells.
  • These vaccines target specific antigens in a patient’s tumour.
• Ongoing Global Research:”
  • U.K.: Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad to speed up clinical trials.
  • U.S.: CureVac’s CVGBM vaccine for brain cancer in phase 1 trials.
  • Worldwide: 120+ clinical trials underway.
• Challenges:
  • Unlike traditional vaccines, mRNA cancer vaccines do not prevent cancer, they treat existing cases.
  • Russian mRNA treatment lacks publicly available clinical trial data.
  • Immunotherapy is promising but not effective for all cancer types; research continues.