24 pairs of prehistoric footprints discovered in Kerala

• Recent archaeological findings in Kanhirapoil, Madikkai panchayat, have revealed 24 pairs of prehistoric footprints and a human figure carved into rock.
•  This discovery is believed to date back to the Megalithic period

Discovery Details

• The carvings were made using iron tools. The footprints vary in size from six to ten inches, indicating representations of both children and adults. At the end of the footprints, a human figure is intricately etched.
• Four circular pits surround this figure. These footprints represent the souls of deceased individuals and were carved to honour them. All footprints are oriented towards the west.

Cultural Interpretations

• Local beliefs attribute these footmarks to a goddess. This reflects the cultural significance of the site and how local traditions shape interpretations of archaeological findings. Such beliefs highlight the intersection of history and mythology in understanding ancient cultures.

Comparative Analysis

• The carvings show similarities to prehistoric rock art found in Avalakki Pera, Udupi district, Karnataka. This suggests a broader cultural exchange across regions. Other notable findings in north Kerala include temple decorations, animal figures, and human carvings, indicating a rich prehistoric artistic tradition.

Historical Context

• These 2,000-year-old rock art pieces provide vital information about the lives and artistic expressions of early inhabitants in Madikkai grama panchayat and Kerala. They reinforce the notion of a shared cultural heritage in prehistoric north Kerala. Previous discoveries, like those at Edakkal Caves, further illustrate the historical significance of this region.

Future Implications

• This discovery invites further exploration into Kerala’s ancient past. It encourages researchers to investigate the cultural practices and beliefs of early inhabitants. Such archaeological sites are vital for understanding the evolution of human expression and societal development in the region.

Adani Bribery Case

• Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, faces serious charges in the United States for allegedly paying bribes to Indian officials. These bribes were supposedly given to secure contracts for a large solar power project in India. The total amount of the bribes is said to be over $250 million. The project in question is related to a bid won by Adani Green Energy, a part of the Adani Group, to supply 8 gigawatts of solar power to a state-owned company in India.

What are the Charges?

• The criminal charges against Gautam Adani in the U.S. are as follows:
• Foreign Bribery: Paying bribes to foreign officials (Indian officials) to secure business deals.
• Securities Fraud: Providing false or misleading information to investors about the company''s activities.
• Wire Fraud Conspiracy: Involving the use of electronic communications to carry out fraudulent activities.
• Under U.S. law, companies can be charged for bribing foreign officials, even if the bribery takes place outside the U.S., especially if they are raising money from U.S.-based investors.

The Issue: The Solar Power Project

• In June 2020, Adani Green Energy won a major bid to supply 8 gigawatts of solar power to a state-owned electricity company in India.
• However, there was a problem—local power companies did not want to buy the power at the prices set by the government, which could have led to the deal collapsing.
• To fix this problem, U.S. authorities allege that Gautam Adani decided to bribe local officials to persuade them to buy the electricity. The bribes were allegedly worth $250 million, and the money was meant to secure the solar contracts.

How the Alleged Scheme Unfolded?

• 2020-2021:Adani Green Energy and another company, Azure Power, were awarded major contracts for solar power projects.Local power distributors did not want to buy the power at the agreed prices, which delayed the deal.Adani''s associates (including his nephew Sagar Adani) allegedly discussed paying bribes through encrypted messages (like WhatsApp) to push the local distributors to buy the power.
• August 2021:Gautam Adani reportedly promised a $228 million bribe to officials in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to get them to agree to buy the power.
• December 2021:The Andhra Pradesh government agreed to buy the power, and other states followed suit.The sudden success of the project raised suspicions in the market about how the deals were signed.
• 2022:The S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Justice Department began investigating the payments. They found evidence of misleading statements made to investors about anti-bribery practices.

Legal Actions in the U.S.

• S. Authorities: The Justice Department and SEC allege that Adani’s companies raised billions of dollars from international investors (including U.S. investors) between 2021 and 2024.
• They say that in the process, Adani’s companies lied to investors, falsely claiming that they had not paid any bribes. This, according to the U.S. authorities, was fraud.
• In March 2023, the FBI seized devices from Sagar Adani, Gautam Adani’s nephew, as part of their investigation.
• In October 2024, a grand jury indictment was issued against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and others involved. The indictment was made public in November 2024, causing a major drop in the value of Adani’s companies (a loss of $27 billion).
• The Extradition Issue: Gautam Adani is believed to be in India and not in U.S. custody. If U.S. authorities want to charge him, they would have to request his extradition (send him to the U.S. for trial).
• Extradition would be complicated, as India would have to decide whether the charges apply under Indian law and whether any political or human rights issues exist.

Ashtamudi Lake 

A large number of dead fish were found floating on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, Kerala. This event attracted attention due to the suspected causes and its environmental implications.The lake, covering 5,700 hectares, is an ecologically important site recognized by the Ramsar Convention.

Factors Responsible for Killing Fish in Ashtamudi Lake

• Algal Bloom: Algal bloom occurs when there is an overload of nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) in the water. These nutrients primarily come from pollution, particularly untreated sewage and agricultural runoff
• Algal blooms deplete oxygen in the water, suffocating fish and other aquatic life. This causes widespread mortality of aquatic organisms.
• Sewage Contamination: The lake has been heavily polluted by untreated sewage from nearby households and establishments. A significant percentage of sewage is directly discharged into the lake, increasing the nutrient load and contributing to algal blooms.
• The presence of harmful bacteria like E. coli and streptococci in water samples confirms contamination from human and animal waste.
• Plastic Pollution: A high concentration of microplastics has been found in the water, fish, and sediment of Ashtamudi Lake. Plastics pose direct threats to aquatic organisms by causing physical harm and introducing toxins into the ecosystem.
• Plastic waste comes from various sources, including fishing activities, aquaculture, and municipal solid waste dumping.
• Other Pollutants: Along with plastics, the lake is contaminated by abattoir waste, poultry waste, and chemicals from various industrial and agricultural activities. These pollutants further degrade water quality and disrupt the aquatic ecosystem.
• Sediment Build-up: Sedimentation in the lake, especially from poor waste management practices, reduces water flow, affecting oxygen levels and overall water quality. This contributes to the degradation of habitats for aquatic species.
• Invasive Species: The spread of water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant, is also limiting fishing areas. It blocks the flow of water and interferes with fishing practices, adding to the challenges faced by local fishermen.
• Deforestation and Encroachments: Illegal encroachments and deforestation around the lake’s fringes have further disrupted its ecosystem. Encroachments restrict natural water flow and contribute to pollution.

Candidatus Phytoplasma

• New microbe, Candidatus Phytoplasma, causing a strange disease in sesame crops in Midnapore, West Bengal: Bose Institute’s Prof. Gaurab Gangopadhyay and his team. 

Facts on SESAME

• Sesame, commonly known as the queen of oils, is the oldest and one of the most valued oil seed crops known to mankind since civilization period beginning with Harappan civilization. 
• Sesame oil is known for having many health benefits for the human body due to its medicinal value and for its antioxidant nature and is particularly good for the heart. 
• This means that although sesame carries a lot of benefits, it has not taken the market of edible oil in India to become the most popular. 
• Subsequent attempts have been kinetics to enhance sesame varieties, such efforts has been made in part by Prof Gaurab Gangopadhyay and his team of Bose Institute through molecular marker assisted selection. 
• However, there is a new problem which has cropped up in the sesame fields in Midnapore, West Bengal affecting the yield and quality of the crop.

Sesame fields are said to have a strange disease

• The plants of sesame from the east and west Midnapore districts in the recent year have shown an unusual disease. 
• Plants that are affected by the virus begin to show symptoms once they have matured to the flowering and fruiting stages but after this they again grow as vegetative plants. 
• The white flowers with pinkish shading become green – a condition called virescence. 
• This disease has remained a mystery to researchers and farmers since it retards the growth as well as the yield of the crop.

The discovery of the causative agent

• Prof. Gangopadhyay and his team identified the root cause of this peculiar disease: a bacterium living symbiotically in the hindgut of insects that feed on the phloem of plants including leafhoppers and plant-hoppers. 
• This armless Mollicutes bacterium dubbed Candidatus Phytoplasma is a plant microbe that feeds on the nutrient drenched phloem and sieve cells. 
• Phytoplasma is more or less restricted by vectors like leaf hoppers, plant hoppers, psyllids etc. 
• The infection results in expressions like the petal and sepal1 appearing to be leaf-like and the infection hinders the reproductive structures of the plant.

Phytoplasma: Infection, Influence and Research

• The disease is caused by phytoplasma; the critical point interrupts the metabolic pathways in sesame plants that are molecularly working in harmony to produce sesame yields. 
• As no information on Phytoplasma infestation is available, this work is a breakthrough on the understanding of molecular and physiological reaction of sesame to the pathogen. 
• Very recently, Gangopadhyay published his research conclusions in the Plant Molecular Biology Reporter in 2024. 
• Its complexity underlines the necessity of a multiple target approach as a foundation for discovering the nature of the disease and designing the further management.

Conclusion

• The identification of Candidatus Phytoplasma as an agent of disease in sesame is a significant development in protecting this important oilseed. 
• Therefore, Gangopadhyay research work not only explains the cause of the disease but also opens up further research to counter its implications. 

Nevertheless, with the increased knowledge and use of advanced methods in agriculture, sesame crops can be safeguarded.

 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

• The G20 Leaders’ Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was headlined by the official launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty (“the Alliance”).
• The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative crafted by the Brazilian Presidency of the G20.
• It aims to offer an ambitious and urgent platform for accelerating progress towards achieving the international pledges of eradicating poverty and hunger by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2) as well as to reduce inequalities (SDG 10).
• Any member country can access proven best practices from other members and identify potential partners willing to assist in the development of its own national model.
• Assistance may be in the form of technical expertise or financial support.
• The Alliance has identified an evidence-based policy basket, which comprises more than 50 policy instruments that member countries can avail support for.
• Of particular importance are the six “Sprints 2030”, high-impact areas which will see target-oriented initiatives catering to the most vulnerable.

These include:

• school meals
• cash transfers
• smallholder and family farming support programs
• socio-economic inclusion programs
• integrated maternal and early childhood interventions
• water access solutions
• Funding: Unlike many initiatives, the Alliance does not boast an exclusive fund. Rather it envisions playing a matchmaking role, connecting countries in need with motivated donors and technical support. The $2-3 million required annually for its operations will come from member countries and institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Bank.
• Participants: 81 countries (including India), 26 international organisations, 9 financial institutions, and 31 philanthropic foundations and non-governmental organisations have already joined the Alliance.
• Headquarters: The Alliance may be headquartered in Brasilia, or some other Global South country. It will also likely have an office at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

What was the need of the alliance?

• In 2015, all 193 UN Member States adopted the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ which aimed to, among other things, end poverty and hunger, and achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030.
• Pandemic:But the Covid-19pandemic led to significant reversals in the progress made towards these ends, as extreme poverty rose and nutrition standards fell, especially in the Global South.
• Global conflicts:The uneven economic recovery since, along with a rise in global conflicts, and the harmful impacts of climate change, have further weakened the fight against hunger and poverty.
• Climate change:Extreme weather events are having devastating effects on every corner of the planet. Social, racial, and gender inequalities are deepening in the wake of a pandemic that has claimed more than 15 million lives.
• Slow progress:As things stand, progress is too slow to meet the 2030 targets.
• Current projections indicate that 622 million people will live below the extreme poverty line of $ 2.15 per day by 2030 — double the target level
• If current trends persist, 582 million people will live in hunger by 2030, approximately the same number as in 2015”
• It is in this context that Brazil chose to launch the Alliance during its G20 presidency.

India expressed Disappointment at CoP29 OF UNFCCC

•  India expressed disappointment at the shift in attention from allowing Climate Finance to an emphasis on mitigation at the Plenary Session at the CoP29 of the UN Climate Change Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

India’s Intervention at the Plenary Session of the UNFCCC-CoP29

• Stance : India aligned its stance with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) and reiterated that the method of the fight towards Climate Change needs to be guided by the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, as the Global South maintains to face the intense influences of Climate Change.

Concerns approximately Mitigation Focus: 

    India emphasised the want to address both how and what in terms of mitigation,  

    urging  that adequate finance and support must be supplied for mitigation aims.

• The shift away from discussions on Climate Finance to a sole consciousness on mitigation was rejected by India.
• Climate Finance (New Collective Quantitative Goals (NCQG)): India highlighted the significance of furnish-based concessional Climate Finance for formulating and imposing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The thought for a USD 1.3 trillion mobilization goal, with USD 600 billion as offers, was burdened to ensure successful implementation of climate actions in developing countries.
• India reiterated that climate actions ought to be united states-pushed in line with countrywide circumstances and priorities.
• Mitigation Work Programme (MWP): India protested in opposition to changes in the scope of the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) within the draft text.
• India rejected the creation of 2030, 2035, and 2050 objectives within the preamble, calling them prescriptive and outside the Paris Agreement framework.
• India entreated the inclusion of concerns regarding Annex-I Parties’ emission will increase and bad influences of unilateral measures on climate motion.
• Just Transition: India rejected any renegotiation of the shared know-how on Just Transition hooked up at CoP28.
• India emphasized that Just Transitions have to start globally, with advanced nations taking the lead in mitigation and presenting the means of implementation to growing international locations.
• Global Stocktake (GST): India disagreed with the follow-up system of the GST effects and the brand new draft text on the UAE speech.
• India pointed out the shortage of integration with the textual content under negotiation on finance and emphasized that the brand new chapeau text became mitigation-centric and unbalanced.
• Adaptation: India recommend 5 key points regarding the global aim on model:
• Indicators on method of implementation need to be included to make version work meaningful.
• Incremental adaptation needs to be prioritized, with a focus on country wide occasions.
• Data has to come from Party-submitted reports, no longer third-celebration databases.
• The Baku Road Map must keep the works on the global edition goal.
• No further segregation of edition progress indicators is wanted.
• Final Statement: India reiterated that this CoP ought to cognizance of finance, enablement, and balancing.
• It highlighted that failure in offering finance could undermine the fight against climate change.

India ranks 10^th  in CCPI 2025.

•  In India ranked 10th on a list of over 60 countries assessed for efforts to fight climate change despite dropping two spots compared to last ago, thanks to its low per capita emissions and rapid deployment of renewables, a report said on 20 November 2024.

What is CCPI 2025?

• The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2025) report, released at the annual UN climate conference in Baku, leaves the first three places empty followed by Denmark (fourth place) and the Netherlands while the largest two emitters, China and the U.S., remain very low at 55th and 57th place, respectively.
• Published by think tanks Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, the CCPI tracks the progress of the world’s largest emitters in terms of emissions, renewables, and climate policy.
• The 63 countries, along with the European Union, assessed in the CCPI are responsible for 90% of global emissions.

India in report

• India ranks 10th in this year’s CCPI, remaining among the highest performers.
• However, noting that significant changes in India''s climate policy are unlikely, the CCPI report said the growth-oriented approach to climate action is expected to continue or intensify, driven by rising energy demand from industry and the growing population.
• While India is the world’s most populous country, it has relatively low per capita emissions and energy use.
• Renewables have expanded rapidly over the last decade, and India aspires to play a leading role in green energy on the global stage, the international climate think tanks observed.
• India''s per capita emissions stand at 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), far below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e.
• The country, the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and the fastest growing major economy, has pledged to reach net zero emissions (balancing emissions with removals) by 2070 and aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Indian official data shows.
• According to CCPI experts, over the past year, India has made considerable progress in renewable energy policy, particularly with large-scale solar power projects and the launch of the Rooftop Solar Scheme.
• India is among the 10 countries with the largest developed coal reserves and is currently planning to increase its production, the report said.
• India and the U.K. are the only two G20 countries among the high performers in the CCPI.

Other Countries in CCPI 2025

• Argentina (59th), which withdrew from COP29 and may pull out of the Paris Agreement of 2015, is one of this year’s biggest losers.
• Its newly elected president denies human-made climate change, contrary to scientific consensus.
• Denmark ranks at the top (but technically fourth place), followed by the Netherlands and the U.K.
• The U.K., this year’s big climber, benefitted from its coal phase out and the government’s pledge to halt new licenses for fossil fuel projects, the report said.
• China, the world’s biggest emitter, ranks 55th falling to a very low level. Despite promising plans, trends, and measures, the largest economy in Asia remains heavily dependent on coal and lacks sufficient climate targets.
• The U.S., the second-largest emitter, remains in 57th place among the very low performers.
• The four lowest-ranked countries in the CCPI are Iran (67th), Saudi Arabia (66th), the United Arab Emirates (65th), and Russia (64th), all four among the world’s largest oil and gas producers.

India’s first practical AI Data Bank

• Union Minister Jitendra Singh unveils India’s first practical AI Data Bank during the 7th Edition of the ASSOCHAM AI Leadership Meet.

• It aims to accelerate technological growth and innovation by providing researchers, startups, and developers access to high-quality, diverse datasets essential for creating scalable and inclusive AI solutions. 

• AI Data Bank is important in enhancing national security through real-time analytics of satellite, drone, and Internet of Things data. 

• This step aligns with India’s goal to utilise AI for predictive analytics in disaster management and cybersecurity.

• India’s National Strategy for AI is guided by a comprehensive approach focused on innovation, ethical governance, and global collaboration. 

• The government is fostering partnerships between academia, private enterprises, and startups to propel AI applications in critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, smart cities, and space exploration.

What is artificial intelligence?

• The term ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI) means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.

• AI is the use of digital technology to create systems capable of performing tasks commonly thought to require human intelligence.

• AI is expected to change the way we work and live. In view of its positive impact on the economy, the technology is being embraced by countries across the world. Its proliferation is being regarded as the fourth industrial revolution.

• AI presents enormous global opportunities: it has the potential to transform and enhance human well-being, peace and prosperity.

• AI promises to transform nearly every aspect of our economy and society. The opportunities are transformational — advancing drug discovery, making transport safer and cleaner, improving public services, speeding up and improving diagnosis and treatment of diseases like cancer and much more.

• However, AI should be designed, developed, deployed, and used, in a manner that is safe, in such a way as to be human-centric, trustworthy and responsible. 

• The opportunities are vast, and there is great potential for increasing the productivity of workers of all kinds. 

• However, these huge opportunities come with risks that could threaten global stability and undermine our values. 

• AI poses risks in ways that do not respect national boundaries. It is important that governments, academia, businesses, and civil society work together to navigate these risks, which are complex and hard to predict, to mitigate the potential dangers and ensure AI benefits society.

India-EFTA Trade Agreement: A New Era of Economic Collaboration

• Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal visited Norway to discuss the possibility of an early implementation of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA.

• The agreement was inked in March. The implementation date has not yet been finalised.

• The visit was aimed at furthering the objectives of and unlocking the large market in EFTA countries for Indian exports of goods and services and push for early implementation of $100 billion investment. 

• The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

What are the key features of TEPA?:

• TEPA was signed in March 2024.

• TEPA is a modern and ambitious Trade Agreement which India signed with four developed nations — an important economic bloc in Europe. 

• The agreement will give a boost to ‘Make in India’ and provide opportunities to the young & talented workforce. 

• EFTA is offering 92.2 per cent of its tariff lines which covers 99.6 per cent of India’s exports. 

• The EFTA’s market access offer covers 100 per cent of non-agri products and tariff concession on Processed Agricultural Products (PAP).  

• India is offering 82.7 per cent of its tariff lines which covers 95.3 per cent  of EFTA exports. India has offered 105 sub-sectors to the EFTA and secured commitments in 114 from Norway. 

• TEPA would stimulate our services exports in sectors of our key strength / interest such as IT services, business services, personal, cultural, sporting and recreational services, other education services, audio-visual services etc. Services offered from EFTA include better access through digital delivery of Services (Mode 1), commercial presence (Mode 3) and improved commitments and certainty for entry and temporary stay of key personnel (Mode 4).

• TEPA will give impetus to ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by encouraging domestic manufacturing in sectors such as Infrastructure and connectivity, manufacturing, machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food processing, transport and logistics, banking and financial services and insurance.

• TEPA is expected to accelerate the creation of a large number of direct jobs for India’s young aspirational workforce in the next 15 years in India, including better facilities for vocational and technical training. TEPA also facilitates technology collaboration and access to world leading technologies in precision engineering, health sciences, renewable energy, Innovation and R&D.

What is FTA?

• A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is an arrangement between two or more countries or trading blocs that primarily agree to reduce or eliminate customs tariff and non-tariff barriers on substantial trade between them. 

• FTAs normally cover trade in goods (such as agricultural or industrial products) or trade in services (such as banking, construction, trading, etc). 

• FTAs can also cover other areas such as intellectual property rights (IPRs), investment, government procurement and competition policy, etc.

What is the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)?

• The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an inter-governmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. 

 • It was set up in 1960 by its then seven Member States for the promotion of free trade and economic integration between its members.

• There were seven founding countries: Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK). They were joined by Iceland in 1970, by Finland in 1986 and by Liechtenstein in 1991. 

• Meanwhile, in 1973, Denmark and the UK joined the EU. Portugal joined the EU in 1986. Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU in 1995, consequently leaving EFTA.

• EFTA countries are not part of the European Union (EU).

• EFTA does not envisage political integration. It does not issue legislation, nor does it establish a customs union.

• It’s first objective was to liberalise trade between its Member States.

• EFTA countries enjoy access to one of the world’s largest networks of preferential trade relations, covering 80 per cent of EFTA’s merchandise trade.

• Currently, the EFTA States together have 30 FTAs in force or awaiting ratification covering 40 partner countries worldwide (outside Europe).

• EFTA is the European Union’s third largest trading partner in merchandise, and the second largest in services.

• India’s exports to EFTA countries during April-February 2022-23 stood at $1.67 billion as against $1.74 billion in 2021-22. Imports aggregated at $15 billion during the 11-month period as compared to $25.5 billion in 2021-22. 

• The EFTA Council is the highest governing body of EFTA. The Council usually meets eight times a year at the ambassadorial level (heads of permanent delegations to EFTA) and once a year at ministerial level.

• The EFTA Secretariat is situated in Geneva.

EFTA States

• Switzerland is a world leader in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, machinery, banking and insurance.

• Liechtenstein, like Switzerland, is highly industrialised and specialised in capital-intensive and research & development driven technology products. 

• The Icelandic economy benefits from renewable natural resources, not least rich fishing grounds, and has increasingly diversified into other industries and services. 

• Abundant natural resources also contribute significantly to Norway’s economic strength, including oil and gas exploration and production, and fisheries, as well as important service sectors such as maritime transport and energy-related services.

International Cooperative Alliance’s global conference

• For the first time in the 130 years long history of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the premier body for the global cooperative movement, the ICA General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference will be hosted by India.
• this event will be hosted by the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) who has been a member of the ICA since 1980, and the 18 ICA member organisations in India
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the ‘United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025’ at ICA global conference.
• The conference is scheduled to be held during November 25-30 in New Delhi.
• The theme of the event will be ‘Cooperatives Build Prosperity of All’.
• Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji Manoa Kamikamica will also attend the event as esteemed guests.
• Around 3,000 delegates are expected to attend this event and out of that 1,000 will be delegates from foreign countries.

International Cooperative Alliance

• The International Cooperative Alliance unites, represents and serves cooperatives worldwide.
• Founded in 1895, it is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations and one of the largest ones measured by the number of people represented with one billion cooperative members on the planet.
• It is the apex body representing cooperatives, which are estimated to be around 3 million worldwide, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action for and about cooperatives.
• More than 306 organisations from 105 countries are members of the International Cooperative Alliance.
• The ICA’s members are international and national cooperative organisations from all sectors of the economy, namely agriculture, banking, consumer, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry & services.
• To implement its activities, the ICA is organised with a Global Office based in Brussels, four Regional Offices (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe), eight Global Sectoral Organisations (agriculture, banking, retail, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry & services), and five Committees and Networks (gender, research, law, youth, and development).
• India was one of the co-founders of this 130-year-old association.

The cooperatives movement

• Cooperatives are people-centred enterprises owned, controlled and run by and for their members to realise their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations.
• The cooperative movement has been also recognised as a distinct and major stakeholder in both national and international affairs.
• Cooperatives’ open membership model affords access to wealth creation and poverty elimination. This results from the co-operative principle of members’ economic participation: ‘Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative’.
• Because cooperatives are people-centered, not capital-centered, they do not perpetuate, nor accelerate capital concentration and they distribute wealth in a more fair way.
• Cooperatives also foster external equality. As they are community-based, they are committed to the sustainable development of their communities — environmentally, socially and economically. This commitment can be seen in their support for community activities, local sourcing of supplies to benefit the local economy, and in decision-making that considers the impact on their communities.
• Despite their local community focus, cooperatives also aspire to bring the benefits of their economic and social model to all people in the world. 
• The cooperative movement is highly democratic, locally autonomous, but internationally integrated, and a form of organisation of associations and enterprises whereby citizens themselves rely on self-help and their own responsibility to meet goals that include not only economic, but also social and environmental objectives, such as overcoming poverty, securing productive employment and encouraging social integration.
• At least 12 per cent of people on earth is a cooperator of any of the three  million cooperatives on earth. 
• Cooperatives provide jobs or work opportunities to 10 per cent of the employed population, and the largest 300 cooperatives or mutuals generate $2,409.41 billion in turnover while providing the services and infrastructure society needs to thrive (World Cooperative Monitor).
• Cooperatives contribute to the sustainable economic growth and stable, quality employment, providing jobs or work opportunities to 280 million people across the globe, in other words, 10  per cent of the world’s employed population.
• Over 8.5 lakh out of 30 lakh cooperative societies in the world are in India and about 13 crore people are directly associated with them and 91 per cent villages in India have some form of cooperatives working in them.
• AMUL, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, etc are some of the well-known success stories of the cooperative movement in India.

NitiAayog advises Coking Coal in Critical Minerals List

The government must include coking coal in the list of critical minerals and provide special dispensation to enhance the domestic production of the key raw material for steel production, according to a NitiAayog report.

Key Highlights of the Report:

The NitiAayog report titled "Enhancing Domestic Coking Coal Availability to Reduce the Import of Coking Coal"emphasizes the importance of coking coal for India''s steel production and infrastructure development.

• Coking Coal as a Critical Mineral: The report recommends that the Indian government include coking coal in the list of critical minerals due to its central role in the cost of steel production.
• Coking coal constitutes approximately 42% of the cost of steel, which is essential for infrastructure development and employment generation in downstream industries.
• High Import Dependence: India’s import dependence on coking coal is about 85%, which is much higher than that of the EU (approximately 62%).Despite having significant domestic reserves of coking coal, India continues to rely heavily on imports, which raises concerns over national security and cost control for its steel industry.
• Underutilization of Domestic Reserves: India holds substantial geological reserves of coking coal, including 16.5 billion tonnes of medium coking coal. However, these reserves remain underutilized, with low capacity utilization in public sector washeries.
• Challenges in the Coking Coal Washing Process: The report points out that the capacity utilization of public sector coking coal washeries was below 32% in FY 2022-23, resulting in low yields of washed coal (35-36%). In contrast, private sector washeries performed better with higher yields and utilization rates. This discrepancy indicates inefficiencies that need to be addressed to optimize production.
• Policy Recommendations:
• The report advocates for the amendment of the Coal Bearing Areas (CBA) Act, 1957, to allow private sector participation in coal exploration and washing while maintaining public-private partnerships.
• The government should also enable policy changes to allow joint venture companies to sell byproducts from coking coal washeries (such as middling and tailing), which would help reduce costs for steel plants by passing on the profits from these byproducts.
• EU''s Declaration of Coking Coal as Critical: The European Union has already declared coking coal as a critical raw material, recognizing its strategic importance for the steel industry and broader economic development.
• Economic and Strategic Importance of Coking Coal: Coking coal is vital for steel production, which is essential for India''s infrastructure development and employment generation. By improving domestic production, India can reduce its import bills and achieve greater self-sufficiency, which aligns with its broader economic and energy security goals.

Critical Minerals:

• Critical minerals are resources that are essential for the functioning of a nation''s economy and are considered vital for national security.
• Government has released a list of 30 critical minerals for India. 
• These minerals are Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE,Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium,Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.

Oreshnik

• Russia tested a hypersonic intermediate-range missile in an assault on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Ukraine
• The new intermediate-range ballistic missile, Oreshnik, which means hazel tree in Russian, is a nuclear-capable weapon that has not been previously mentioned publicly.
• It is based on the “RS-26 Rubezh” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has a range of 1,000-5,500km (621 to 3,418 miles), a level below that of an intermediate-range ballistic missile.
• It is a new intermediate-range ballistic missile that officials said was experimental, and it is believed that Russia only possesses a few.
• The hypersonic missiles can change direction mid-flight, making them extremely difficult to track and intercept with air defenses.
• It is believed to have a theoretical range of below 3,420 miles, meaning it could reach past Ukraine and into Europe from where it was launched.
• Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 – five times the speed of sound – and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.
• The missile can have three to six warheads.