1. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). 

2. Women, Business and Law Index. 

3. Project Seabird. 

4. ADITI Scheme. 

5. Bribes for Votes Case: SC Ruling. 

6. India’s Nuclear Programme. 

1. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

News: Germany recently announced that it would allow carbon capture and offshore storage for certain industrial sectors.

About CCS:

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) encompasses a variety of technologies designed to capture CO2 emissions from large point sources like refineries or power plants and sequester them beneath the Earth.

CCS differs from carbon dioxide removal (CDR), where CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere.

It's a three-step process, involving capturing the carbon dioxide produced by power generation or industrial activity, such as steel or cement making, transporting it, and then storing it deep underground.

CCS involves three different techniques of capturing carbon: post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxyfuel combustion.

1. Post-combustion: CO2 is removed after the fossil fuel has been burnt. Using a chemical solvent, CO2 is separated from the exhaust or ‘flue’ gases and then captured.
2. Pre-combustion: Involves removing CO2 before burning the fossil fuel. Initially, the fossil fuel is partially burned in a ‘gasifier’ to form synthetic gas. CO2 can be captured from this relatively pure exhaust stream. Additionally, this method generates hydrogen, which can be separated and used as fuel.
3. Oxyfuel combustion: The fossil fuel is burnt with almost pure oxygen, producing CO2 and water vapor. After cooling, water is condensed, and CO2 is separated and captured. While oxyfuel combustion is the most efficient method, the oxygen burning process requires a significant amount of energy.

Following capture, CO2 is compressed into a liquid state and transported to suitable storage sites.

Potential storage sites for carbon emissions include saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

General Studies Paper 3 (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management): CCS technology is a significant aspect of sustainable development and environmental conservation. It addresses concerns related to climate change mitigation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Women, Business and Law Index

News: India's ranking improved to 113 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law index.

About the Index:

The Women, Business and Law Index is a comprehensive tool developed by the World Bank to assess how laws and regulations impact women's economic opportunities. It uses a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 signifies equal legal rights for men and women.

The index covers eight key areas: Mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pension.

This data provides objective benchmarks for evaluating global progress towards achieving legal gender equality.

Highlights of the 2024 Index:

• The 2024 edition marks the 10th iteration of the report, demonstrating its significance as a long-standing tool for assessing gender equality.
• Notably, none of the countries evaluated in the index achieved a full score, indicating that women still do not enjoy equal legal rights in any country worldwide.
• India's ranking showed improvement, rising to 113 out of 190 countries. However, there's room for further enhancement to ensure gender equality in legal frameworks.
• According to the report, Indian women currently enjoy 60% of the legal rights afforded to men, which is slightly below the global average of 64.2%.

General Studies Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations): Understanding the Women, Business and Law Index contributes to the broader discussion on governance, constitution, and social justice by highlighting the legal frameworks governing gender equality and economic opportunities for women.

1. Project Seabird

Context: The Defence Minister will inaugurate two significant piers and seven towers with 320 homes for Navy officers and Defence civilians as part of Project Seabird at Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka.

Overview:

Project Seabird is the largest naval infrastructure endeavor in India, aimed at establishing a naval base at Karwar, Karnataka, on the west coast of India.

History:

• The necessity for an additional naval base became apparent during the post-Indo-Pak War of 1971, when Mumbai Harbour faced congestion, posing security challenges for the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy.
• Initially sanctioned in 1985, the foundation stone for Project Seabird was laid on October 24, 1986, by the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
• This ambitious project encompasses various components, including the creation of a deep-sea harbor, breakwaters dredging, a township, a naval hospital, a dockyard uplift center, and a ship lift.
• The first phase of Project Seabird was commissioned in 2005, marking a significant milestone in India's naval infrastructure development.

Phase 2 Development:

• The development of Phase 2 of INS Kadamba commenced in 2011, further expanding the facilities to accommodate additional warships and establishing a new Naval Air Station, among other initiatives.
• Phase 2 is subdivided into 2A and 2B, with plans to enhance the base's capabilities to dock more warships and submarines, reinforcing India's maritime defense posture.

Future Prospects:

• Upon completion, Project Seabird will emerge as the largest naval base in the Eastern Hemisphere, equipped to accommodate approximately 32 warships, 23 submarines, and provide hangars for several aircraft.
• This strategic development underscores India's commitment to bolstering its maritime capabilities and securing its maritime interests in the Indian Ocean region.

General Studies Paper 3 (Security Issues):

• Project Seabird exemplifies India's efforts to enhance its security infrastructure, particularly in maritime defense, thereby addressing topics related to security challenges and the country's defense preparedness.

General Studies Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations):

• Understanding the strategic significance of Project Seabird contributes to discussions on governance, infrastructure development, and India's role in international relations, aligning with the syllabus's focus on governance and international issues.

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1. ADITI Scheme

Context: The Union Minister of Defence recently launched the ADITI scheme during DefConnect 2024.

Overview:

The Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme is designed to foster innovations in critical and strategic defense technologies, contributing to India's defense capabilities.

Aim:

The scheme aims to develop approximately 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies within the proposed timeframe, thereby enhancing India's indigenous defense technology capabilities.

Eligibility:

Start-ups are eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore under this scheme, supporting their research, development, and innovation efforts in defense technology.

Duration and Budget:

ADITI is allocated a budget of Rs 750 crore for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26, indicating a significant commitment to fostering innovation in defense technology.

Alignment with iDEX Framework:

The scheme operates within the framework of iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, reinforcing the government's focus on promoting indigenous defense innovation.

Technology Watch Tool:

ADITI also envisions the creation of a 'Technology Watch Tool' aimed at bridging the gap between the expectations and requirements of modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defense innovation ecosystem.

Challenges and Initiatives:

In its first edition, ADITI has launched 17 challenges, including those from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Defence Space Agency, fostering innovation across various domains of defense technology.

iDEX Prime Expansion:

To incentivize young innovators, the scope of iDEX has been expanded to iDEX Prime, with the assistance increasing from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 10 crore, further encouraging participation in defense innovation initiatives.

General Studies Paper 3 (Security Issues):

• The ADITI scheme underscores India's efforts to bolster its defense capabilities through indigenous innovation.
• General Studies Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations):
• Understanding government initiatives like ADITI sheds light on governance strategies, innovation policies, and India's defense cooperation framework, relevant to the syllabus's focus on governance and international relations.

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1. Bribes for Votes Case: SC Ruling

Context: A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court recently declared that Members of Parliament and state legislatures are not immune from prosecution for accepting bribes to vote or speak in a certain manner in the House, overturning its 1998 judgment.

Privileges and Immunities:

• Meaning: Privileges refer to special rights, immunities, and exemptions enjoyed by the Houses of Parliament, legislatures, and their members, extending to individuals entitled to speak and participate in their proceedings.
• Constitutional Provisions: Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution grant privileges and advantages to MPs and MLAs, respectively, and these privileges are defined by law.
• Purpose: These privileges are essential for democratic functioning, ensuring unimpeded parliamentary proceedings and protecting members from obstruction.

Background of the Case:

• 1998 P.V. Narasimha Rao Case: The SC, in a 3:2 majority, granted immunity from prosecution to MPs accused of taking bribes to vote in favor of a no-confidence motion against the government.
• Recent Development: The matter resurfaced when an MLA was accused of accepting bribes for voting during the Rajya Sabha elections, leading to a reconsideration by a larger bench.

Key Highlights of the Judgment:

• No Immunity for Bribery: The SC ruled that lawmakers cannot claim immunity under Articles 105 and 194 for accepting bribes as it pertains to a separate crime unrelated to their legislative duties.
• Threat to Democracy: Granting such immunity would undermine the democratic process, creating a group immune to legal scrutiny, and risking corruption's prevalence in parliamentary democracy.
• Completion of Bribery Offense: The offense of bribery is considered complete upon the offer or agreement, irrespective of whether the vote is cast as agreed.

General Studies Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations):

• Understanding parliamentary privileges, immunities, and their legal implications contributes to the comprehension of constitutional provisions and democratic governance.

General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude):

• Analyzing the ethical dimensions of legal immunities and their potential implications on democratic values is crucial for understanding integrity in public life.

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1. India’s Nuclear Programme

Context: The commencement of core loading for India’s indigenous 500 Mwe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam underscores India's significant strides in its nuclear energy endeavors.

Background of India’s Nuclear Energy Programme:

• Inception: The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in 1948, marking the beginning of India’s nuclear journey under the guidance of Homi J. Bhabha.
• Milestones: The Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), founded in 1954, led to India's first nuclear power plant in 1969 at Tarapur, Maharashtra.
• Pokhran Tests: India showcased its nuclear capabilities with peaceful nuclear explosions in 1974 and 1998, navigating international embargos to develop indigenous technology.

India’s 3 Stage Nuclear Program:

1. Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs): Utilizing natural uranium, PHWRs generate plutonium-239 alongside power, forming the foundation of India’s nuclear energy production.
2. Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR): FBRs, employing mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, breed plutonium-239 from spent fuel, showcasing India's pursuit of self-sufficiency in fuel supply.
3. Thorium-Based Reactors: The final phase envisages deploying self-sustaining reactors powered by uranium-233 and thorium-232, leveraging India's thorium reserves for long-term energy security.

Advancements and Initiatives:

• Indian Accelerator Driven Systems (IADS): Collaborating with Fermilab, India explores innovative accelerator-driven systems to harness thorium.
• Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR): AHWR, ready for deployment, utilizes uranium-thorium MOX and plutonium-thorium MOX fuel, offering substantial electricity production.
• Molten Salt Reactor: Experimentation with the Indian Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (IMSBR) explores thorium utilization potential.

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR):

• Significance: PFBR, the cornerstone of Stage II, exemplifies India’s commitment to efficient resource utilization and nuclear waste reduction.
• Design and Construction: Developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), PFBR showcases India's indigenous technological prowess.

Status of Nuclear Power in India:

• Contribution: Nuclear power stands as India’s fifth-largest source of electricity, with an installed capacity of 7,380 MW across 22 reactors in 8 nuclear power stations.
• Energy Security: FBRs play a pivotal role in India's energy security by leveraging abundant thorium reserves and reducing reliance on imported fuel.

General Studies Paper 3 (Science and Technology):

• Understanding India’s nuclear energy program and technological advancements aligns with the Science and Technology syllabus, emphasizing developments in the field.

General Studies Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations):

• Nuclear energy policies and initiatives contribute to discussions on governance, energy security, and international relations, as nuclear cooperation involves diplomatic engagement.

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