United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)    
International Film Festival of India (IFFI)    
Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) System    
PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme    
India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)    
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)    

1.    United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Background
•    UNICEF, originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1946 to provide emergency food and healthcare to children and mothers in countries affected by World War II.
•    In 1950, UNICEF’s mandate was extended to address the long-term needs of children and women in developing countries everywhere.
•    Initially, UNICEF’s mandate was limited to
the assistance of children in Europe.
•    In 1953, it became a permanent part of the United Nations System, and the words “international” and “emergency” were
dropped from the organisation’s name, though it retained the original acronym, “UNICEF”.

•    Headquarters: New York City, USA
•    It works in over 190 countries and territories with 7 regional offices.

Objectives and Operations
•    UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for protecting children’s rights, helping meet their basic needs, and expanding their opportunities to reach their full potential.
•    UNICEF is formally controlled by the UN General Assembly, which regularly reviews its activities.
•    It reports to the Economic and Social Council, which also appoints its Executive Board.
Funding
•    UNICEF is entirely funded by voluntary contributions, with no direct financial support from the UN budget.
•    Public-sector grants make up approximately three-quarters of the agency’s annual income.
Key Milestones
•    UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to
establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

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•    In 1965, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.
Regional Offices of UNICEF with their Headquarters
•    East Asia and Pacific: Bangkok, Thailand
•    Eastern and Southern Africa: Nairobi, Kenya
•    Europe and Central Asia: Geneva, Switzerland
•    Latin America and Caribbean: Panama City, Panama
•    Middle East and North Africa: Amman, Jordan
•    South Asia: Kathmandu, Nepal
•    West and Central Africa: Dakar, Senegal
Prelims Question
Question: Consider the following statements regarding UNICEF:
1.    UNICEF is entirely funded by voluntary contributions with no direct financial support from the UN budget.
2.    The Convention on the Rights of the Child serves as the guiding framework for UNICEF's operations.
3.    UNICEF's regional office for South Asia is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    2 and 3 only
C)    1 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 2 only
Mains Question
Question: Discuss the role of UNICEF in advocating and protecting children’s rights globally. Highlight the challenges it faces in
ensuring effective implementation of its mandate in developing countries.

2. International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
About
•    The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), established in 1952, is one of Asia's most prestigious cinematic events.

•    Held annually in Goa, it provides a global platform to showcase the creativity and artistry of films from across the world.

Vision and Objectives
•    The festival draws inspiration from the Vedic scripture Maha Upanishad, emphasizing the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—"The World is One Family."
•    Aims to bridge cultural divides, promote global understanding, and foster friendship and collaboration among nations through cinema.
Permanent Venue and Dates
•    Since the 35th edition in 2004, Goa has been the permanent venue for IFFI.
•    The festival is held annually during November and December, with varying dates to allow for flexibility.
IFFI Awards
•    The festival recognizes outstanding contributions to cinema with prestigious awards, including:
o    Golden Peacock Award for Best Feature Film
o    Silver Peacock Awards for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress
o    Special Jury Award
o    Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award

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Prelims Question
Question: With reference to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), consider the following statements:
1.    Goa has been the permanent venue of the festival since its inception in 1952.
2.    The festival's vision is inspired by the Vedic concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
3.    The Golden Peacock Award is presented for the Best Feature Film.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    2 and 3 only
C)    1 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: B) 2 and 3 only
Mains Question
Question: Discuss the role of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in promoting cultural diplomacy and fostering global understanding. How does it contribute to India's soft power?

3. Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) System
Background
•    Origin: First recommended in 2014 by an FSSAI expert committee formed in 2013.
•    Draft Notification (2019): Issued by FSSAI under Food Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations; proposed color- coded labels on food items.
•    Decoupling from General Labelling (2019): FOPL was delinked from other labelling regulations.
•    Recent Development (2022): FSSAI proposed the Health Star Rating (HSR) System for FOPL in its draft regulations.
What is the Health Star Rating (HSR) System?
•    Rating Scale: Rates packaged foods from
½ a star to 5 stars based on their salt, sugar, and fat content.
•    Objective: Aimed at guiding consumers towards healthier food choices amidst rising lifestyle diseases in India.

•    Implementation: Ratings will be displayed on the front of food packaging.

What is a Front-of-Pack (FoP) Labelling System?
•    Definition: A globally recognized practice to nudge consumers into healthier eating habits by placing clear nutrition information on the front of food packages.
•    Similar to Cigarette Labels: Works to deter unhealthy consumption through clear visual warnings.
•    India’s Dietary Shift: Increasing reliance on processed and ultra-processed foods makes FoP labelling critical.
•    WHO Definition: Labels that provide simple, often graphic information on nutrient content to complement detailed declarations on the back.
Need for FOPL in India
•    Healthcare Cost Savings: Countries like Chile and Brazil have demonstrated reductions in healthcare expenses through FoP labelling.
•    Promoting Healthier Lifestyles: Helps consumers identify high sugar, salt, and fat content in foods to combat Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Challenges
•    Positive Nutrient Masking: The inclusion of "positive nutrients" (e.g., vitamins) could overshadow the negative effects of high sugar, salt, and fat content.
•    Limited Target Audience: The format may primarily benefit literate and nutritionally aware individuals, leaving out a significant portion of the population.
 

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•    Nutritional Literacy Gaps: Many consumers may find the text-intensive nutrient information hard to comprehend.
Suggestions
•    Pictorial Representation: Given India’s high illiteracy rate, pictorial or symbol- based labels, including food images and health logos, would enhance accessibility.
•    Stronger Research and Development: Effective front-of-pack labelling must be backed by robust research and tailored to the needs of diverse populations.
Prelims Question
Question: Consider the following statements about the Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) System in India:
1.    It mandates color-coded labels on food items.
2.    It is being implemented under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
3.    The proposed Health Star Rating (HSR) System rates food products based on their price and popularity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    2 and 3 only
C)    1 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 2 only
Mains Question
Question: Discuss the role of Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) in promoting public health in India. What challenges does the system face, and how can they be addressed?

4.    PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme
Objective:
•    Supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to provide collateral- free and guarantor-free loans to meritorious students for higher education.
Eligibility Criteria:
•    Students enrolled in institutions ranked within the top 100 by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

•    Includes students from institutions ranked 101-200 by state governments and all central government-governed institutions.

Beneficiaries:
•    Expected to benefit over 22 lakh students, with annual updates based on NIRF rankings.
Procedure:
•    A dedicated PM-Vidyalaxmi portal will facilitate loan applications and interest subventions.
•    Payments will be processed through E- vouchers and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets.
Supplementing Existing Schemes:
•    Complements the Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans (CGFSEL) and Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) under the PM-Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM- USP) scheme.
•    PM-USP CSIS provides full interest subvention for loans up to ₹10 lakh for students from families earning up to ₹4.5 lakh annually, pursuing technical courses.
Significance:
•    Enhances access to quality education by reducing financial barriers.
•    Encourages talent from economically weaker sections to pursue higher education in top-ranked institutions.
Prelims Question
Question: Which of the following is correct about the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme?
1.    It provides loans with collateral requirements to students in top NIRF- ranked institutions.

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2.    The scheme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
3.    It uses E-vouchers and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets for payments.
Options:
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    2 and 3 only
C)    1 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: B) 2 and 3 only
Mains Question
Question: Discuss the potential impact of the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme on access to higher education in India. How does it complement existing financial assistance programs for students?

5. India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)
Key Features:
•    Comprehensive Coverage:
o    Encompasses almost all tariff lines
handled by both countries.
o    Preferential Market Access:
    Australia provides preferential market access on 100% of its tariff lines to Indian exports.
    India offers preferential access on over 70% of its tariff lines to Australian exports.
•    Post-Study Work Benefits:
o    Indian graduates in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) gain extended post-study work visas, enhancing opportunities for skill development and employment in Australia.
•    Zero-Duty Access:
o    Provides zero-duty access to 96% of India's exports to Australia.
o    Offers zero-duty access to 85% of
Australia’s exports to India.

Expected Outcomes:
•    Boost in Bilateral Trade:
o    Expected to raise trade in goods and services to USD 45-50 billion over five years, from the current USD 27 billion.
•    Job Creation in India:
o    Anticipated to generate over one million jobs in India, fostering economic growth.

Significance:
•    Enhances economic ties and trade diversification, particularly for key sectors like agriculture, textiles, gems, and engineering goods.
•    Strengthens people-to-people linkages through education and professional opportunities.
•    Promotes investment flows and fosters collaboration in emerging sectors like green energy and technology.
Prelims Question:
Question: What is correct about the India- Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)?
1.    It offers zero-duty access to 100% of Australian exports to India.
2.    It grants extended post-study work visas for Indian STEM graduates.
3.    It covers all tariff lines between India and Australia.
Options:
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    2 and 3 only
C)    1, 2, and 3
D)    None of the above
Answer: B) 2 and 3 only

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Mains Question:
Question: Discuss the significance of the India- Australia ECTA in strengthening bilateral trade and its potential impact on employment and economic diversification in India.

6. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
About NATO:
•    Establishment: NATO was established by the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) in April 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
•    Headquarters:
o    Political HQ: Brussels, Belgium.
o    Allied Command Operations HQ:
Mons, Belgium.
•    Current Membership:
o    32 member states.
o    Original Members (1949): Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
o    Subsequent Members: Greece and Turkey (1952), West Germany (1955; now Germany from 1990), Spain (1982), Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland (1999), seven Eastern European nations (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017), North Macedonia (2020), Finland (2023), and Sweden (2024).
•    Special Notes:
o    France: Withdrew from NATO's integrated military command in 1966 but remained a member and rejoined military command in 2009.
Objectives of NATO:
•    Political Objectives:
o    Promote democratic values and foster consultation and cooperation on defense and

security-related issues to build trust and prevent conflicts.
•    Military Objectives:
o    Committed to peaceful resolution of disputes but has the military capacity to undertake crisis- management operations when diplomacy fails.
o    Operates under:
    Collective Defense Clause (Article 5) of the Washington Treaty.
    United Nations mandates.
    Cooperation with other countries and international organizations.

Article 5 - Collective Defense:
•    Purpose: An attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all.
•    Historical Usage: Invoked only once, following the 9/11 attacks (September 12, 2001) in the United States.
Recent Developments:
•    Expansion:
o    Finland joined in 2023.
o    Sweden became the 32nd member in 2024.
•    Geopolitical Context: Increased interest in NATO membership from European countries due to heightened security concerns.
Significance of NATO:
 

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•    Acts as a collective defense mechanism, deterring external aggression.
•    Strengthens international cooperation in defense, fostering global stability.
Prelims Question:
Question: Which of the following statements about NATO is correct?
1.    NATO was established by the Washington Treaty in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
2.    NATO’s collective defense clause (Article 5) has been invoked multiple times since its establishment.
3.    Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Options:
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    1 and 3 only
C)    2 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: B) 1 and 3 only
Mains Question:
Question: Evaluate the role of NATO in maintaining global security and the implications of its recent expansion to include Finland and Sweden.