Highlights
- Climate: India's Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) showed a 36% reduction in GDP emissions intensity from 2005 levels and 46.52% non-fossil power capacity.
- Defence: All six Scorpene-class submarines of Project P-75 were delivered; INS Vaghsheer was the sixth.
- Governance: Interpol launched the first-ever Silver Notice to track and recover criminally acquired assets internationally.
- Health: NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) updated organ donation policies.
- Technology: India's first telesurgery using SSI Mantra 3 system covered a 286 km distance with 35-40 millisecond latency.
1. India's Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to UNFCCC
GS area: Environment (Climate Change)
India submitted its Fourth Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- Total GHG emissions (2020): 2,959 million tonnes CO2 equivalent.
- Net GHG emissions after forest carbon sinks: 2,437 million tonnes CO2 equivalent.
- Emissions intensity reduction: 36% decline from 2005 levels (India's NDC target is 45% by 2030, so this is on track).
- Energy sector share: 75.66% of total emissions.
- Agriculture sector share: 13.72%.
- Non-fossil fuel power capacity: 46.52% as of October 2024 (target is 50% by 2030).
- Carbon sink created (2005-2021): 2.29 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent. India's NDC commits to a 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes sink by 2030.
- PAT Scheme savings: The Perform, Achieve and Trade scheme saved 7.72 million tonnes of oil equivalent of energy and 28.74 million tonnes of CO2.
Static linkage: Climate change commitments, NDCs (Environment, GS Paper 3).
2. Scorpene Submarines (Project P-75)
GS area: Defence
India completed the delivery of six Scorpene-class submarines under Project P-75.
- Project P-75: A $3.75 billion agreement signed in 2005.
- Builder: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
- Technology partner: Naval Group, France (technology transfer).
- Six submarines and commissioning years:
- INS Kalvari (2017)
- INS Khanderi (2019)
- INS Karanj (2021)
- INS Vela (2021)
- INS Vagir (2023)
- INS Vaghsheer (2024)
- Capabilities: Diesel-electric propulsion, 50-day endurance at sea, and provision for Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) retrofit. AIP allows a submarine to stay submerged longer without surfacing to charge batteries.
Static linkage: Indian defence, Make in India in defence (GS Paper 3).
3. Interpol Silver Notice
GS area: Governance (International Cooperation)
Interpol launched the first-ever Silver Notice, a new category in its colour-coded notice system.
- Purpose: Track and recover criminally acquired assets across international borders.
- Asset types: Real estate, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses.
- Review: Each Silver Notice is reviewed by Interpol's General Secretariat for compliance with member country laws.
- Existing notice types: Red (arrest and extradition), Blue (gather information), Green (warn of criminal activity), Yellow (missing persons), Black (unidentified bodies), Orange (threats to public safety), and Purple (criminal methods).
Static linkage: International law enforcement, multilateral cooperation (GS Paper 2).
4. National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)
GS area: Governance (Health)
NOTTO updated its organ donation facilitation framework.
- Established under: Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Headquarters: Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.
- Functions: Policy formation, national coordination of organ allocation, registry maintenance, and public awareness.
- New benefit for government employees: Central government employees who donate organs are eligible for 42 days of special leave.
Static linkage: Health governance, organ transplant law (Governance, GS Paper 2).
5. Indigenous Telesurgery: SSI Mantra 3
GS area: Science and Technology (Medical Technology)
India achieved a first in telesurgery using the indigenously developed SSI Mantra 3 robotic system.
- System: SSI Mantra 3, developed by SS Innovations.
- Telesurgery distance: 286 km between the surgeon and the patient.
- Latency: 35-40 milliseconds, ultra-low for real-time surgical control.
- First approval: Received the first global regulatory approval for telesurgery from CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization), India's drug and device regulator.
- Capability demonstrated: Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB) surgery performed remotely.
Static linkage: Medical technology, Science and Technology (GS Paper 3).
6. Briefly noted
- Cuba: Located at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean. Capital: Havana. Key minerals: nickel, cobalt, iron ore, copper. Cuba was in the news over bilateral tensions with the USA.
- Gulf of Mexico: Approximately 1.6 million sq km in area. Bordered by the USA, Mexico, and Cuba. The Mississippi River is its major drainage. Contributes about 14% of US crude oil production.
- Republic Day preparations: ODOP (One District One Product) artisan products selected for gifting at the 76th Republic Day included GI-tagged Kalamkari bamboo boxes (Andhra Pradesh), Ikat-Pochampalli covers (Telangana), and Kanjeevaram silk pouches (Tamil Nadu).
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