Art and Culture 

18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas - PIB 

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention (PBD), 2025 was held in partnership with the Government of Odisha in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha from 8 to 10 January 2025. This was the first PBD to be held in Eastern India. This approach is in line with Government of India's focus on ‘Purvodaya’.

Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD)

• About: Observed on January 9 to strengthen the connection between the Indian government and the overseas Indian community.
• Role: Marks Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa (1915).
• Significance: Recognizes contribution of Indian diaspora.
• Background: Recommended by the High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed by LM Singhvi in January 2002.
• First edition: January 9, 2003, in New Delhi.
• Organiser: Ministry of External Affairs, in partnership with CII and others.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA): Awarded to overseas Indians for their contributions to India by the President of India.

Indian Diaspora

• USA: 5.4 million
• UAE: 3.5 million
• Canada: 2.8 million
• Saudi Arabia: 2.4 million
• Remittances: Diaspora remitted $125 billion to India in 2023.

Categorization of Overseas Indians

• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs): Indian citizens living in foreign countries.
• Overseas Citizens of India (OCI): Foreign nationals of Indian origin registered under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIO): Abolished in 2015 and merged with the OCI category.

Society

We Need Accessibility Rules That Are Based on Principles - The Hindu 

The Supreme Court, in Rajive Raturi v. Union of India (2024), held Rule 15 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Rules, 2017, violative of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Court reasoned that the Rule was drafted in a discretionary tone whereas the corresponding provisions (Sections 40, 44, 45, 46, 89) in the Act imposed a mandatory obligation for the government.  This was significant as Rule 15 was a statutory provision under which the accessibility guidelines of respective departments and ministries were notified. 

Rule 15 of the RPwD Rules, 2017

• Focus: Awareness campaigns to promote the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Implementation: Conducted by government and local authorities.
• Mechanism: Utilizes mediums like television, radio, print, digital platforms.
• Components: Outreach through educational institutions, workplaces, and public spaces.

SC’s Observations on Rule 15 and RPwD Act, 2016

• Discretionary Nature of Rule 15 vs. Mandatory RPwD Act:
  • Rule 15 guided accessibility guidelines by ministries like Housing and Transport.
  • Discretionary implementation undermined the Act’s mandatory provisions.
  • Court invalidated it, directing the government to create mandatory accessibility standards within three months.
• Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodation:
  • Accessibility ensures standardised environments for equal participation.
  • Reasonable accommodation offers tailored solutions for specific challenges.
  • Both concepts are interdependent, with accessibility establishing inclusivity and reasonable accommodation addressing remaining barriers.

SC Observations on Evolving Thresholds for Accessibility

• Phased Realization of Accessibility: Many countries, including India, implement accessibility standards in phases due to resource and infrastructure limitations.
• Current guidelines: They lack enforceable baselines for immediate implementation, delaying accommodations for persons with disabilities.
• Minimum Standards: Initial efforts should address urgent needs like physical access, transportation, and digital accessibility.
• Harmonising Long-Term Goals with Immediate Needs: Focus on sectors like healthcare, education, and public transport, for immediate relief.

Reforms 

• Social Audits: Section 48 of RPwD Act mandates social audits to evaluate the impact of schemes on persons with disabilities.
• Issues: Lack of standardized guidelines has led to inconsistencies.
• Simplifying Rules: New guidelines should be clear, practical, and coordinated by a nodal authority.
• Broadening the Scope: Accessibility requires both physical changes and attitudinal shifts through awareness campaigns.
• Digital Accessibility: AI, IoT, and assistive technologies need updated accessibility standards.

Thus, there is a necessity for diverse sectors, both private and public, beyond social services such as financial, technological, transport, to deliberate upon the minimum rules of accessibility

The Right to Food and the Struggle with the PDS - The Hindu 

A few days ago, there was another report that was in the context of Odisha. These reports highlighted something alarming — that a substantial number of households have been removed from the rolls of the Public Distribution System (PDS). This disturbing situation is not limited to Jharkhand and Odisha. Bihar, another State in the east-central region, has its own PDS tragedy.

Exclusion Crisis in PDS

• Scale of Exclusion: Significant numbers of households removed from PDS rolls in Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar.
• Impact of Biometric Verification: Rural and marginalized communities lost access due to technical errors, infrastructure issues, or Aadhaar discrepancies.
• Disconnected Governance: Urban development and technological advancements prioritized over the welfare of rural communities.

Musahar Community's Struggle with PDS

• Crisis During COVID-19: Bihar faced severe ration shortage during the pandemic. Musahars continue to suffer from unstable ration supplies.
• Caste-Based Exclusion: Musahars, one of the most destitute communities, face socio-political marginalization due to caste.
• Issues with Ration Cards: Many Musahar households in Patna lack active ration cards. Existing cards often miss the names of all family members.

Problems with Public Distribution System (PDS)

• Corruption: Beneficiaries receive less than entitled with substandard rice.
• Barriers: Ration card enrolment requires unnecessary documents  not mandated by NFSA or PDS Control Order.
• Bureaucratic delays and digitisation challenges: It exacerbates exclusion, especially for those without digital literacy.
• Regional Issues: States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh impose additional documentation requirements.

Consequences of Exclusion in PDS

• Exploitation: Middlemen charge high fees (up to ₹3,000) for ration card applications & often disappear after receiving payment.
• Systemic Delays: Ration card issuance often takes months or years, despite a 30-day mandate.

Necessary Policy Reforms for PDS

• Simplification of Enrolment: Remove unnecessary documentation requirements.
• A single-window system: Minimal documentation and clear guidance.
• Accountability: Address exploitation by FPS dealers through stricter oversight.
• Reforms: Independent monitoring bodies & grievance redressal mechanisms.
• Local Governance: Empower local bodies (e.g., Panchayats) to oversee distribution and identify eligible beneficiaries.

The journey towards food security in India requires more than policy; it demands a commitment to equity, accountability, and the fundamental principle that no one should go hungry in a nation striving for progress.

World Affairs 

UN migration agency’s aid appeal for Syria - The Hindu 

The UN International Organization for Migration recently said it was more than doubling an appeal launched last month for Syria, from $30 million to $73.2 million.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

• Establishment: Founded in 1951; part of the UN system as a related organization.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Functions:
  • Ensures orderly and humane migration management.
  • Promotes international cooperation on migration issues.
  • Provides humanitarian assistance to migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons.
  • Coordinates the UN Network on Migration.
• Key Areas of Work: Labour mobility, migrant integration, and diaspora community development.
• Membership: 175 member states and 8 observer states.
• Publications:
  • World Migration Report.
  • Migration Health Annual Report.

Economy

Double counting error: Official gold import figures for Nov revised down by $5 billion - Indian Express 

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday revised the gold import figures for November lower by $5 billion to $9.9 billion from $14.8 billion narrowing the overall goods trade deficit for the month to $33 billion from $38 billion, revised official data showed.

Error in Gold Import Reporting

• Cause of Error: Data migration issue from SEZ Online to ICEGATE.
• Double counting: Imports into SEZs and clearances to DTAs counted twice.
• Revised Data: Gold imports for November corrected from $14.8 billion to $9.9 billion.
• Trade deficit for November: Reduced from $38 billion to $33 billion.

Technical Transition 

• Migration to ICEGATE: SEZ Online and ICEGATE initially transmitted data separately, causing discrepancies.
• Persistent Issues: Ongoing technical glitches with both platforms capturing mutually exclusive data.

Broader Implications

• Credibility Concerns: Lack of clear explanations creates uncertainty for investors and policymakers.
• Potential for Broader Discrepancies: Concerns about similar errors in other commodities or periods.

Gold Import Trends and Significance of Revised Data

• India’s Gold Imports: India is the world’s second-largest gold consumer, reliant on imports.
• Key suppliers: African nations, Peru, Switzerland, UAE.
• Import Behavior: Demand driven by festive and wedding seasons.
• Impact: Gold jewellery exports projected to exceed $12 billion by 2025.
• Market Stability: No unusual surge in gold demand post-revision.

Higher November imports had raised concerns within the bullion industry about potential import duty hikes to curb consumption. However, revised data shows no unusual rise in demand.

Environment 

2024 was the first year to breach global warming limit, show data - The Hindu/ What breaching 1.5°C means - Indian Express 

The annual average temperature of Earth’s surface in 2024 was 1.6 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times (average of the 1850-1900 period), according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service run by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF).

Analysis of the 1.5°C Threshold Breach

• Arbitrary Threshold: The 1.5°C mark is an arbitrary limit with no sudden new impacts.
• Paris Agreement Target: The 1.5°C target relates to long-term trends, not annual or monthly averages & does not signify failure of Paris Agreement.
• Predictable Breach: WMO had predicted this threshold would be crossed by 2027.
• Future Implications: Rising global emissions make missing 2030 targets almost certain.
• Rate of Warming: Current warming rate exceeds 0.2°C per decade.

Exceptional Warming in 2023 and 2024

• Record-Breaking Warm Years: 2024 became the warmest year, surpassing 2023, which was 1.45°C warmer than pre-industrial levels.
• Previous Records: 2023-24 warming outpaced 2016, previously the warmest year (1.29°C warmer), influenced by a strong El Niño.
• Possible Contributing Factors:
  • Oceanic Systems: Unprecedented El Niño-like systems in oceans.
  • Tonga Volcanic Eruption: An underwater eruption in January 2022.
  • Shipping Emissions: Lower SO2 emissions in 2024 reduced solar radiation reflection.
  • Solar Activity: Increased solar energy during the Sun’s maximum phase in its 11-year cycle.

Future Temperature Trends (2025 and Beyond)

• 2025 Projections: Unlikely to surpass 2024 as the warmest year but may remain within the recent range of 1.1–1.4°C above pre-industrial levels.
• WMO Forecast:
  • Annual temperatures might reach up to 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels in a year before 2028.
  • 50% probability of the five-year average (up to 2028) exceeding the 1.5°C threshold.

Science and Technology 

Researchers develop nanobody inhibitors to target Ebola virus - Indian Express

Researchers at the University of Minnesota and the Midwest Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Center have developed the first nanobody-based inhibitors targeting the Ebola virus.

Ebola

• About: Severe, often fatal disease caused by Orthoebolaviruses.
• Discovery: 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near Ebola River.
• Impact: Affects humans and primates (gorillas, monkeys, chimpanzees).
• Natural hosts: Fruit bats (Pteropodidae family).
• Transmission: Spread to humans through contact with blood, secretions, or bodily fluids of infected animals .
• Human-to-human transmission: Via direct contact with body fluids of infected individuals.
• Symptoms:
  • Onset: 2 to 21 days post-infection.
  • Includes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding, and high fatality (~50%).
• Treatment: No cure; experimental treatments available.