21 June 2024

• History: PM Modi inaugurated the new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir, Bihar. A joint India-East Asia Summit initiative reviving the ancient university tradition.
• Economy: GST marked 7 years (July 2017 to June 2024). April 2024 collections hit a record 2.10 lakh crore rupees.
• Environment: State of Global Air 2024 report: 99 per cent of global population lives in areas with unhealthy PM2.5 levels. India shares over half the global disease burden from air pollution with China.
• International: WEF Energy Transition Index 2024: India ranked 63rd of 120 countries. Globally 1.8 trillion US dollars invested in clean energy in 2023.

GS area: History (Ancient), Governance, International Relations

PM Modi inaugurated the new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir, Bihar on 19 June 2024. The university is a joint initiative of India and the East Asia Summit member nations.

• Ancient Nalanda: one of the world's greatest centres of learning. Founded by Emperor Kumaragupta I in the 5th century CE. Operated for approximately 800 years until destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in the late 12th century.
• Academic scope: attracted students from China, Tibet, Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and Southeast Asia. Had approximately 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers at its peak.
• Notable scholars: Chinese travellers Xuanzang (studied under Chancellor Shilabhadra in the 7th century) and I-Qing visited and wrote extensively about Nalanda. Xuanzang's accounts are an important historical source.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: the ruins of ancient Nalanda were inscribed in 2016.
• Modern revival: the Nalanda University Act 2010 re-established Nalanda as a central university. The East Asia Summit countries co-fund it as a symbol of regional cooperation.
• New campus features: net-zero energy, solar-powered, with water recycling systems and a green building design. Designed to accommodate approximately 1,700 students.
• East Asia Summit: includes ASEAN members plus India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It is a forum for strategic and economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Static linkage: ancient history, international relations, governance.

GS area: Economy, Polity

The Goods and Services Tax completed 7 years on 1 July 2024. April 2024 GST collections hit a record 2.10 lakh crore rupees.

• Implementation date: 1 July 2017, through the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act 2016.
• Constitutional basis: Article 246A (concurrent power to levy GST), Article 269A (inter-state supply), Article 279A (GST Council).
• Structure: four main slabs: 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%. Essential items are exempt or at 0%. Luxury and sin goods attract the highest slab plus a cess.
• GST Council: a constitutional body where the Centre has one-third weight and states together have two-thirds weight in voting. Decisions require a three-fourths majority.
• April 2024 record: 2.10 lakh crore rupees. This was the highest single-month collection since GST's launch.
• MSME benefits: quarterly return filing relaxations under the Composition Scheme and QRMP scheme have brought more small businesses into formal taxation.
• GSTN: the Goods and Services Tax Network is the IT backbone for GST. It manages e-waybills, e-invoicing, returns and analytics.
• ITC (Input Tax Credit): a key GST benefit. A business can claim credit for GST paid on inputs, reducing the cascading tax effect (tax-on-tax) that prevailed under the earlier regime.

Static linkage: economy, polity.

GS area: Economy, Environment, International Relations

The WEF's Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2024 report ranked 120 countries. India ranked 63rd.

• Energy Transition Index (ETI): evaluates countries on their progress in transitioning to clean energy while maintaining energy security and access.
• Global clean energy investment: 1.8 trillion US dollars in 2023. But 90 per cent was concentrated in advanced economies and China. This inequality is a major obstacle to global climate goals.
• Top performers: Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and France. Nordic countries lead because of policy consistency and grid infrastructure.
• Net-zero achievers: eight countries achieved net-zero emissions in 2022, including Bhutan and Panama.
• India's position: ranked 63rd. India has added significant renewable capacity (solar and wind) but coal remains dominant in electricity generation.
• India's renewable capacity: India reached 150 GW of renewable energy installed capacity by mid-2024. The target is 500 GW by 2030.
• ISA (International Solar Alliance): India's solar diplomacy through the ISA, co-founded with France, is a tool for helping developing countries access solar technology.

Static linkage: environment, economy, international relations.

GS area: Environment, Health

The Health Effects Institute and UNICEF published the State of Global Air 2024.

• Global PM2.5 exposure: 99 per cent of the global population lives in areas where PM2.5 concentration exceeds WHO guidelines (5 micrograms per cubic metre annual average).
• PM2.5: fine particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller. It penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream, causing cardiovascular and respiratory disease. It is the most important air quality metric.
• India's burden: India and China together account for over half the global disease burden from air pollution. India bears nearly half of ozone-related COPD deaths globally (as of 2021).
• Disparity: low- and middle-income countries face 1.3 to 4 times higher PM2.5 exposure than high-income countries, despite lower per capita emissions.
• CPCB: the Central Pollution Control Board monitors ambient air quality at over 800 stations across India under the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme.
• NCAP: the National Clean Air Programme targets a 40 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in 131 cities by 2026, using 2017-18 as the base year.
• Ozone and health: ground-level ozone (different from stratospheric ozone which protects from UV) is formed by NOx and VOC reactions in sunlight. It causes COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) exacerbation.

Static linkage: environment, health.

GS area: Economy, Geography

The World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence's Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2023 ranked Indian ports.

• CPPI methodology: measures the time a vessel spends in port relative to its size and operations. Shorter port time = higher ranking. It reflects port efficiency and logistics quality.
• Nine Indian ports in global top 100: including Mundra, Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Visakhapatnam and Chennai.
• Global leader: Yangshan Port (Shanghai), China ranked first. Asian ports dominate the top positions.
• Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: India's blueprint for the maritime sector. Targets doubling port capacity, developing six mega ports, and enhancing coastal shipping.
• Vadhavan Port: India's first mega port, under construction in Palghar district, Maharashtra. Planned capacity: 23.2 million TEUs. Will be one of the world's top 10 ports by capacity when complete.
• JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust): India's largest container port by volume. Handles approximately 55 per cent of India's containerised cargo.

Static linkage: economy, geography.

GS area: Science and Technology, Health, International Relations

Denmark recalled certain Korean instant noodle brands (Samyang Buldak) citing excessive capsaicin levels beyond safe thresholds.

• Capsaicin: the compound in chilli peppers responsible for the sensation of heat. It acts on TRPV1 receptors in the mouth and digestive tract.
• Health effects at high doses: inflammation, digestive tract irritation, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. At very high exposure: risk of aspiration and, theoretically, cardiovascular stress.
• FSSAI threshold: India's food safety regulator has spice-related labelling requirements but no specific capsaicin concentration limit.
• Trade implications: food safety regulations that restrict imports create non-tariff barriers. WTO's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) governs when such restrictions are valid.
• SPS Agreement: allows countries to set food safety standards that exceed the international Codex Alimentarius baseline only if based on scientific risk assessment.

Static linkage: science and technology, health, international trade.

• Superhydrophobic biodiesel catalyst: a global research team developed a water-repellent catalyst from cellulose that reduces biodiesel production cost from 1.2 US dollars per litre to 37 cents. A step towards commercially viable biodiesel.
• Excessive Deficit Procedure (EU): the European Commission opened procedures against France, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia for fiscal deficits exceeding 3 per cent of GDP under the Stability and Growth Pact.