8 January 2024

• Governance: a major analysis of civil society restrictions under FCRA, 12A, and 80G renewal requirements surfaced in national coverage.
• Science: a new antibiotic class called Zosurabalpin showed effectiveness against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
• Technology: SpaceX Starlink's direct-to-cell capability was launched on 21 satellites, removing the need for special hardware.
• Conservation: Corbett Tiger Reserve's tiger population rose from 231 in 2018 to 260 in 2022.

GS area: Polity, Governance (civil liberties)

Coverage of India's civil society landscape reported that approximately 1.5 million NGOs operate across the country but face mounting regulatory pressure.

• FCRA 2010 and 2020 amendments: the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act governs receipt of foreign funds by NGOs and civil society organisations. The 2020 amendments tightened the regime by mandating that all foreign funds pass through a single designated SBI branch in New Delhi.
• 2020 changes: the administrative expense cap was cut from 50 per cent to 20 per cent of foreign funds. Sub-granting of foreign funds to other organisations was banned.
• FCRA cancellations: approximately 22,000 FCRA licences were cancelled between 2014 and 2024. Organisations including Amnesty India and Greenpeace India lost their registration.
• 12A and 80G: these are income tax exemption registrations for non-profit organisations. A 2021 rule required periodic renewal, creating compliance burden.
• Constitutional tension: Article 19(1)(c) guarantees the right to form associations. Regulatory tightening of foreign-funded civil society sits in tension with this right.

Static linkage: FCRA, civil liberties, Polity.

GS area: Science and Technology (health, antibiotics)

Researchers developed Zosurabalpin, a new antibiotic targeting carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), a pathogen classified among the most dangerous by the WHO.

• Why CRAB matters: Acinetobacter baumannii causes pneumonia and sepsis, especially in hospitalised patients. It is a leading cause of death among antibiotic-resistant infections.
• Mechanism: Zosurabalpin inhibits lipopolysaccharide transport in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. That is a novel mechanism, which is why resistance to existing drugs does not apply to it.
• Antibiotic resistance context: India has one of the world's highest rates of antibiotic resistance due to overuse and availability without prescription. Antimicrobial resistance is projected to cause 10 million deaths globally per year by 2050 if unchecked.

Static linkage: antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceutical science.

GS area: Science and Technology (earth sciences)

Following Cabinet approval, the Ministry of Earth Sciences outlined the five sub-schemes under PRITHVI Vigyan.

• ACROSS: atmosphere and climate research, modelling, and observation.
• O-SMART: ocean science and technology for maritime resources.
• PACER: polar science and cryosphere research, covering India's Antarctic and Arctic programmes.
• SAGE: seismology and geosciences, including earthquake monitoring.
• REACHOUT: research, education, training, and outreach.

India operates two Antarctic stations (Maitri and Bharati) and a summer research station in the Arctic (Himadri, at Ny-Alesund, Norway).

Static linkage: polar science, climate research, government schemes.

GS area: History (medieval), Art and Culture

A 10th-century inscription in Kannada and Sanskrit was discovered at the Mahadeva temple in Goa. The inscription connects the site to the Kadamba dynasty, medieval rulers of Goa.

• Kadamba dynasty: originally subordinate to the Chalukyas of Kalyana. King Shasthadeva was appointed as governor of Goa by the Chalukya emperor Tailapa II. He later captured Gopakapattana, the modern site of Goa, in the 10th century.
• Capital: the Kadambas made Chandravati and later Gopakapattana their capitals. They were significant patrons of Sanskrit and Kannada literature.
• Significance: UPSC frequently asks about regional dynasties and their inscriptions. Goa's medieval history is less commonly tested and deserves attention.

Static linkage: medieval history of India, regional dynasties.

• Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh: rising temperatures and logging were found to be pushing bird species to higher altitudes within the sanctuary, located in West Kameng district. The sanctuary is the discovery site of the Bugun liocichla, a critically endangered passerine first recorded in 1995.
• Corbett conservation: tiger numbers rose from 231 in 2018 to 260 in 2022 through digital patrolling (the E-eye project), wildlife corridor maintenance, and the Corbee Honey project which gives local communities a stake in forest conservation.
• MARCOS in the Arabian Sea: Indian Marine Commandos responded to a piracy incident in the north Arabian Sea, demonstrating India's maritime security reach.