24 November 2023

• Governance: India was removed from the UN Report on Children and Armed Conflict 2023 for the first time since 2010, following suspension of pellet gun use in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Science: CCRAS launched AGNI (Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative), a platform for Ayurveda practitioners to report innovative clinical practices for evidence-based documentation.
• Governance: Karmayogi Prarambh celebrated its first anniversary; the iGOT platform now has 26 lakh registered government learners and 815 courses.
• Environment: Scientists developed a 2D protein monolayer using lysozyme to study amyloidosis, a rare disease causing amyloid protein accumulation in organs.
• Biodiversity: The new music frog species Nidirana noadihing was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh, the first Nidirana genus occurrence in India.

GS area: International Relations (Governance, Internal Security)

India was removed from the UN Secretary-General's Report on Children and Armed Conflict in 2023, the first time since 2010. India had been listed since 2010 due to recruitment of boys in armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir. The removal followed the suspension of pellet gun use in J&K.

• Six grave violations recognised by the UN: killing and maiming of children, recruitment and use of child soldiers, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, denial of humanitarian access, abduction.
• Relevant frameworks: Juvenile Justice Act 2015 (India), POCSO Act 2012, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by 196 nations, only the USA has not), Rome Statute (child soldier recruitment as a war crime).
• WHO INSPIRE strategy: seven evidence-based components for violence prevention against children.

Static linkage: International Relations (Governance), Internal Security, Polity.

GS area: Environment (Biodiversity)

A new music frog species, Nidirana noadihing, was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh and named after the Noa-Dihing River where it was found. It is the first species of the genus Nidirana confirmed in India.

• Distinctive feature: both male and female frogs are vocal. In most frog species, only males call. The call pattern of two to three notes resembles wild duck sounds.
• Geographic range of genus: previously found only in Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
• Arunachal Pradesh biodiversity: the state is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, part of the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot. It has among the highest species richness of any Indian state.

Static linkage: Environment (Biodiversity, Ecology), Indian Geography.

GS area: Governance (Health, Government Schemes)

The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, launched AGNI (Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative). It is a platform for practitioners to report innovative clinical practices that have shown results.

• Purpose: creating an evidence base for Ayurvedic practices through systematic documentation of practitioner experiences. Bridges traditional knowledge and modern evidence requirements.
• CCRAS: the apex body for Ayurveda research in India, under the Ministry of Ayush.
• Complementary programmes: SPARK (research funding), PG-STAR (postgraduate standardisation), SMART (systematic review methodology).
• Ministry of Ayush: established in 2014, covers Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy.

Static linkage: Governance (Health, Government Schemes).

GS area: Governance (Civil Services, Human Resource Development)

The iGOT (integrated Government Online Training) Karmayogi Platform's Prarambh module completed one year. It provides online orientation for new government recruits.

• Scale: 26 lakh registered learners, 815 courses available.
• Karmayogi Prarambh: eight curated courses for new government appointees. Covers Code of Conduct, Sexual Harassment Prevention, stress management, motivation, communication skills and Microsoft Office basics.
• Mission Karmayogi: the national capacity building programme for civil servants, launched in 2020. Creates a civil servant competency framework.
• National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building: the policy framework behind Mission Karmayogi.

Static linkage: Governance (Civil Services, Digital India).

GS area: International Relations

The second CII India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave was held. The NB8 group of eight northern European nations is an important trading and technology partnership for India.

• Nordic nations: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden.
• Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
• Areas of collaboration: clean energy, maritime technology, information technology, sustainability and digital governance.
• Trade significance: the Nordic and Baltic nations are among the world's highest-performing economies in innovation, digital governance and renewable energy, areas where India seeks technology partnership.

Static linkage: International Relations (Europe, Economy).

GS area: Science and Technology (Health)

Scientists from the Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology, Guwahati, fabricated a 2D protein monolayer using lysozyme to study the mechanisms of amyloidosis.

• Amyloidosis: a rare disease caused by accumulation of abnormal amyloid proteins in organs including the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract.
• Lysozyme: an enzyme found in tears, saliva, milk, sweat, mucus, egg white, nasal mucus and gastric secretions. It has natural antibacterial properties.
• 2D monolayer significance: understanding how proteins aggregate at surfaces helps in designing therapies to prevent amyloid formation.

Static linkage: Science and Technology (Health, Biotechnology).

• Mitti Café at Supreme Court: Chief Justice DY Chandrachud inaugurated a Mitti Café at Supreme Court premises. The 750 sq ft café employs 41 persons with disabilities. The Mitti Café network operates 41 cafés across India, has sold 11 million meals and employs 4,000 persons with disabilities. Menus are available in Braille.
• WHO Commission on Social Connection: a three-year initiative (2024-2026) co-chaired by US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy and African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba, with 11 commissioners. It will develop policies addressing loneliness as a global health threat.