Geography

Annular Solar Eclipse (Indian Express)

An annular solar eclipse was visible in parts of South America recently, with a partial solar eclipse observable in parts of South America, Antarctica, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii. The solar eclipses were not visible in India.

Solar Eclipse Details:

• Occurrence: Happens when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light partially or fully.
• Timing: Only occurs during a new moon, about 29.5 days apart, 2-5 times annually.
• Moon's Orbit: The Moon's orbit is tilted by about five degrees, causing its shadow to usually miss Earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sahara Desert (Indian Express)

The Sahara Desert, known as one of the driest places on Earth, is witnessing an extraordinary transformation as heavy rainfall breathes life into its arid landscape.

Key Facts:

• Location: Northern Africa; the largest hot desert and the third most extensive after Antarctica and the Arctic.
• Area: Covers 9,200,000 sq. km, about 8% of Earth's land area, and 31% of Africa.
• Countries: Includes Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Chad, Niger Republic, and parts of Sudan, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.
• Boundaries: Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and Atlas Mountains (north), Red Sea (east), Atlantic Ocean (west), and Sahel region (south).
• Features: Rocky plateaus, salt flats, sand dunes, mountains, and dry valleys.
• Water Sources: Nile and Niger rivers, seasonal lakes, and aquifers provide water for oases.
• Highest Peak: Emi Koussi (3,415 m) in the Tibesti Mountains, Chad.
• Sahel Region: Transition zone between the desert and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Little Prespa Lake (The Hindu)

The waters of Little Prespa Lake on the Albanian-Greek border are receding, causing plants and reeds to sprout, overshadowing the painful truth that the lake is slowly dying.

Key Information:

• Location: At the junction of three geological masses—granite massif (East), karstic massif (West), and Suva Gora (South).
• Significance: One of the oldest tectonic lakes in Europe and the highest on the Balkan Peninsula.
• Geology: Features rocks from the Paleozoic to Neogene era.
• Components: Includes Great Prespa Lake (Albania, Greece, North Macedonia) and Small Prespa Lake (mainly in Greece, partly in Albania).
• Environmental Issues: Affected by rising temperatures, mild winters, and low precipitation.

 

Society

SARTHIE 1.0 Initiative Launched (PIB)

Objective:

To empower disadvantaged communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Senior Citizens, Transgender Persons, Victims of Substance Abuse, Beggars, and Denotified and Nomadic Tribes.

Key Details:

• Alignment: Supports the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on poverty eradication, reducing inequality, and social protection.
• Collaboration: Aims to bridge the awareness gap and provide legal assistance for effective implementation of social welfare programs.
• Synergy: Promotes coordination between the executive and judiciary to strengthen social justice.

 

Polity

Caste Bias in Prisons (The Hindu)

The Supreme Court recently declared that caste-based discrimination of prisoners, segregation of their work according to caste hierarchy, and the treatment of inmates from denotified tribes as “habitual offenders” within prison walls across India are oppressive to fundamental human dignity and personality.

 

Classical Language Status for Marathi and Others (The Hindu)

The Union Cabinet recently approved classical language status for Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.

Classical languages 

 

 

World Affairs

USCIRF Report on Religious Freedom in India (The Hindu)

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a report highlighting “collapsing religious freedom conditions” in India, worsening throughout 2024, especially around national elections.

Key Issues Highlighted:

• Legal Changes: Strengthening of discriminatory laws like anti-conversion and anti-terrorism laws, implementation of the 2019 CAA, and passing of a State-level UCC Bill in Uttarakhand.
• Expropriation of Places of Worship: Authorities facilitated the expropriation of worship sites, violating the Places of Worship Act.
• Anti-conversion Laws: Targeted against religious minorities; arrests of several Christians for alleged forced conversions.
• Anti-cow Slaughter Laws: Exploited by vigilante groups targeting Muslims, Christians, and Dalits.
• Hate Speech: Cites speeches by MLAs Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain.
• Recommendation: USCIRF recommends the U.S. State Department designate India as a "Country of Particular Concern" for severe religious freedom violations.

About USCIRF:

• Establishment: Under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
• Functions: Reviews violations of religious freedom internationally, makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress, monitors religious freedom using international standards, and publishes an annual report.

 

UNAIDS Urges Indian Action on AIDS (The Hindu)

UNAIDS emphasizes that without substantial contributions from India, the global objective of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is unlikely to be met.

About UNAIDS:

• About: Organisation leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Establishment: 1996.
• Vision: Zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, and a principle of leaving no one behind.
• UN Political declaration on ending AIDS: Adopted in 2016, it seeks to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
• UNAIDS Secretariat: Geneva, Switzerland.

 

UK to Return Chagos Islands to Mauritius (The Hindu / Indian Express)

The UK recently announced plans to cede sovereignty of the strategically important Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Background Information:

• Location: 58 islands in the Indian Ocean, about 500 km south of Maldives.
• History: French brought slaves from Africa and India in the late 18th century; ceded to Britain in 1814.
• Strategic Military Base: Diego Garcia became a military base in 1986 for US operations.

Dispute and Resolution:

• Mauritius' Claim: UK occupation deemed illegal; raised in international forums.
• UN Involvement: In 2017, UNGA referred the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
• UK-Mauritius Agreement: Mauritius can resettle in Chagos (excluding Diego Garcia); UK to create a trust fund for Chagossians.

Broader Implications:

• China Factor: Unresolved disputes could lead Mauritius to seek support from China.
• India's Position: Supports Mauritius' claim; strengthening ties through development initiatives.

 

 

Bangladesh, Nepal, India Electricity Trade Pact (Indian Express)

Nepal, India, and Bangladesh signed a tripartite agreement to facilitate cross-border electricity trade.

Key Details:

• Countries Involved: Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
• Purpose: Facilitating cross-border electricity trade.
• Provisions: Nepal will export 40 MW of hydroelectricity to Bangladesh via Indian territory annually from June 15 to November 15.
• Signatories: NEA Executive Director, NTPC Vidyut Byapar Nigam CEO, and Bangladesh Power Development Board Chairman.

 

 

Economy

Internship Portal Launched (The Hindu)

The Union government opened a portal for India’s top 500 companies to participate in a one-year internship scheme aimed at bridging the skill gap for unemployable youth.

 

Merger of Central Agriculture Schemes (The Hindu)

The Union Cabinet decided to merge all central schemes in the agriculture sector into two new schemes, namely Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY).

Key Details:

• Budget: Total expenditure of ₹1,01,321.61 crore; Central share ₹69,088.98 crore, States' share ₹32,232.63 crore.
• Objectives:
  • PM-RKVY: Promoting sustainable agriculture (₹57,074.72 crore).
  • KY: Addressing food security and agricultural self-sufficiency (₹44,246.89 crore).
• Implementation: Through State governments, focusing on nutrition security, sustainability, climate resilience, and private sector participation.
• Rationalization: Aims to avoid duplication, ensure convergence, and provide flexibility to States.
• Comprehensive Plan: States can prepare a strategic plan for agriculture with Annual Action Plan (AAP) approved in one go.
• Merged Schemes: Includes Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agro Forestry, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds)