Biofloc , Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

• The aquaculture industry has grown and transformed greatly, pushing the country to the ranks as the world''s second-largest producer of farmed fish. The sector is adopting new technologies such as the Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to increase sustainable production. 

What are Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)?

• BFT and RAS are innovative aquaculture technologies that help to increase production while reducing environmental impact and disease risk. 
• BFT is a closed-tank system that uses beneficial bacteria to clean water and convert waste into fish nutrients, reducing the need for antibiotics and other chemicals. 
• RAS is a closed-loop system that filters and recycles water, which creates a controlled environment for fish farming and increasing biosecurity.

How does Biofloc Technology (BFT) work?

• Biofloc Technology encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms, particularly bacteria and algae, in culture water. 
• These microorganisms convert organic matter, such as uneaten feed and fish waste, into high-protein microbial biomass known as bioflocs. 
• These bioflocs provide a natural food source for cultured organisms, reducing the need for additional feed.

Advantages of Biofloc Technology (BFT)

• It improves water quality by removing excess nutrients and organic matter, leading to lower pollution levels.
• It can reduce feed costs by replacing commercial feed with a natural alternative.
• It contains beneficial microorganisms that compete with pathogens, preventing disease transmission.
• Improved water quality and nutrient recycling lead to higher stocking densities and increased production.

Challenges associated with Biofloc Technology (BFT)

• High microbial activity increases oxygen demand, requiring efficient aeration systems.
• Improper management can cause organic matter accumulation, which can negatively impact water quality.
• Biofloc systems are more complex to set up and maintain than traditional aquaculture systems.

Working principle of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

• It reduces water exchange by constantly filtering and reusing water in culture tanks. It employs mechanical and biological filtration systems to eliminate waste and maintain optimal water conditions. The process also includes water treatment to ensure that the aquaculture environment is healthy.

Benefits of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

• It recirculates water that greatly decreases overall water consumption.
• It efficiently removes solid waste, excess nutrients, and hazardous chemicals, which minimise environmental damage.
• It provides strict control over water parameters to ensure that aquatic organisms can grow.
• Its controlled environment allows year-round production regardless of climatic conditions.

Challenges associated with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

• Pumps, filters, and other equipment consume a significant amount of energy.
• Setting up a RAS facility requires a significant initial investment compared to traditional systems.
• Operating and maintaining RAS requires technical expertise and skilled personnel.

Way Forward

• While BFT and RAS provide numerous advantages in terms of sustainability and disease prevention, their high initial costs and operational challenges pose significant barriers to widespread adoption. However, with subsidies, ongoing research, and increased farmer training, these technologies have the potential to revolutionize Indian fish farming, making it more efficient and sustainable in the long run.

Centre releases 15th Finance Commission grant for Rural Local Bodies in Karnataka

• The Centre has released the first instalment of the 15th Finance Commission grants for FY 2024-25 to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Karnataka.
• The funds are meant for all the 5,949 eligible gram panchayats in the state. 
• The government of India through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Jal Shakti recommends the release of XV-FC grants to the Rural Local Bodies which are then released by the Ministry of Finance. The allocated grants are recommended and released in two instalments in a financial year.
• The grants will be utilised by the RLBs for location-specific requirements under the 29 subjects enshrined in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other establishment costs.

The grants can be used for the basic services of:

• a) Sanitation and maintenance of ODF status, and this should include management and treatment of household waste, and human excreta and faecal sludge management in particular.
• b) Supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.

Grants for local governments

• The total size of the grant to local governments should be Rs 4,36,361 crore for the period 2021-26.
• Of these total grants, Rs 8,000 crore is performance-based grants for incubation of new cities and Rs 450 crore is for shared municipal services. 
• A sum of Rs 2,36,805 crore is earmarked for rural local bodies, Rs1,21,055 crore for urban local bodies and Rs 70,051 crore for health grants through local governments.
• Urban local bodies have been categorised into two groups, based on population, and different norms have been used for flow of grants to each, based on their specific needs and aspirations.
• Basic grants are proposed only for cities/towns having a population of less than a million. For Million-Plus cities, 100 per cent of the grants are performance-linked through the Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund (MCF).

What is the Finance Commission?

• The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under Article 280 of the Constitution, mainly to give its recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the states and among the states themselves.
• The 15th Finance Commission was constituted on November 27, 2017 against the backdrop of the abolition of the Planning Commission (as also of the distinction between Plan and non-Plan expenditure) and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which has fundamentally redefined federal fiscal relations.
• In November 2020, the 15th Finance Commission, led by chairman N.K. Singh, submitted its report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 to the then President Ram Nath Kovind.

What are the functions of Finance Commission?

• Two distinctive features of the commission’s work involve redressing the vertical imbalances between the taxation powers and expenditure responsibilities of the Centre and the states respectively and equalisation of all public services across the states.

It makes recommendations on:

• The distribution between the Union and the states of the net proceeds of taxes that are to be, or may be, divided between them and the allocation between the states of the respective shares of such proceeds.
• The principles that should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the states out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
• The measures needed to augment the consolidated fund of a state to supplement the resources of the panchayats in the state on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the state.
• The measures needed to augment the consolidated fund of a state to supplement the resources of the municipalities on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the state.

What are the qualifications required for its members?

• As per the provisions contained in the Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951, and The Finance Commission (Salaries & Allowances) Rules, 1951, the chairman of the commission is selected from among persons who have had experience in public affairs, and the four other members are selected from among persons who:
• a) are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as judges of a High Court or
• b) have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of government or
• c) have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration or
• d) have special knowledge of economics.

 Chancay Port

• The Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated Peru’s Chancay Port describing it as the starting point for a “new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America”.
• Funded under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the massive $3.6 billion project has also raised concerns in US policymaking circles over Chinese influence in a region traditionally seen as its backyard.

Climate Accountability Matrix (CAM)

• To analyse countries’ climate efforts and highlight the areas for improvement, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) developed an assessment tool called the climate accountability matrix (CAM).

What is CAM?

• According to CEEW, CAM is a first-of-its-kind assessment tool from Global South that can examine a country’s performance in climate aspects beyond mitigation including adaptation and means of implementation.
• The tool evaluated the G20 members on five crucial “themes — international cooperation, national measures, sectoral robustness, enablers, and climate adaptation efforts — and 42 indicators.”
• Each indicator carried equal weight and was scored on a range of 0 to 1. These were then aggregated and then ultimately used to arrive at an overall score for each country.
• The performance was divided into categories: leader (0.90-1), reasonable effort (0.75-0.90), limited effort (0.60-0.75), and needs improvement (0-0.60).

What are the findings of the report?

• The report has found that none of the G20 members qualify as leaders as of now. All countries fall between reasonable and limited efforts — India qualifies as reasonable effort.
• In Global South, India and South Africa have done the most in terms of climate action by “actively participating in key agreements, undertaking reasonable efforts domestically and adhering to their obligations,” the report said.
• While South Africa showcases robust domestic climate governance and climate disclosures, Brazil and India perform relatively better than other developing nations in the renewables segment.
• Major fossil fuel-dependent G20 members such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey are in the limited-effort or need-improvement categories across all themes.
• Six out of 11 developed countries, including the US and Canada, have shown inconsistent engagement in key climate agreements, and weak ambitions continue to persist.
• According to the report, developed economies like the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Germany have made substantial efforts, especially via international cooperation and creating comprehensive climate governance frameworks.
• The report recommended that developed countries need to accelerate the speed of their transition to net-zero, should improve both the quantity and quality of climate finance, and consistently participate and adhere to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) obligations, among others.

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

• A group of governments and civil society organisations believe so, and are pushing the idea of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty (FF-NPT).
• The idea for an FF-NPT was launched around the time the Paris Agreement was finalised. Over the years, it has received the backing of a wide range of stakeholders, from former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to the indigenous people of Amazon to several small island states most threatened by climate change.

At COP29

• At COP29 in Baku, it was announced that 10 more countries had joined discussions on the FF-NPT this year, though their names were not announced publicly.
• FF-NPT has been endorsed by 13 Small Island Developing States of the pacific, such as Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, who were least responsible for global warming but are most vulnerable to its impact.
• Colombia, one of the largest coal producers and exporters globally, endorsed FF-NPT in December 2023, at COP28.
• Three days after COP29 began, a network of 70 sustainable banks, the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, said that 25 of its members were endorsing the FF-NPT.
• This is the first collective endorsement of the initiative by financial institutions.

What is FF-NPT?

• The FF-NPT proposes to make it legally binding on nations to end fossil fuel extraction, wind down existing production, and manage a just transition to renewable energy.
• It operates on three pillars — non-proliferation, which is a global cooperation model to end the expansion of coal, oil and gas production; a fair phase-out, which comprises an equitable plan to shut down existing fossil fuel production in a way that nations with the capacity and historical responsibility for emissions transition fastest and empowers others; and ‘just transition’, which calls for fast-tracking the adoption of renewable energy and economic diversification away from fossil fuels such that no worker, community or country is left behind.
• Since it was conceptualised in 2016 and officially launched in 2019, the FF-NPT has hit the wall of finance.

IISc product accelerator programme to make India global manufacturing hub

• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has started a special programme called Pravriddhi. It aims to bring together businesses, universities, research labs and investors to create innovative products and help India become more self-reliant.
• IISc is a public, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru.
• The institute was established in 1909 with active support from Jamsetji Tata and thus is also locally known as the Tata Institute. It was granted a deemed university status in 1958 and recognized as an Institute of Eminence in 2018.

What is Pravriddhi?

• Pravriddhi is a pan-India programme launched by the Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) at IISc. It creates a platform where different groups can work together to develop new ideas and products.

Why is it Important?

• The programme supports India’s vision called Viksit Bharat 2047 which hopes to make India’s economy worth $30 trillion by 2047. A big part of this growth (25%) will come from manufacturing. Pravriddhi helps by focusing on:
• Designing market-ready products.
• Strengthening India’s ability to innovate.
• Competing globally in product manufacturing.

Pravriddhi provides:

• Top-class laboratories and R&D support.
• A strong network of experts across India.
• Special centers nationwide to support industries and promote economic growth.

Particle Accelerators

• Particle accelerators are advanced machines that use electromagnetic fields to speed up charged particles such as electrons or protons and direct them at high speeds. These devices are used for scientific research, medical applications, industrial purposes and energy studies.

Key Principles:

• Only particles like electrons, protons or ions can be accelerated since they respond to electric fields.
• Electric and magnetic fields are used to increase the speed and direct the path of particles.
• Particles gain energy as they accelerate allowing scientists to study their properties and interactions.

Types of Particle Accelerators:

• Linear Accelerators (Linacs)
• Particles move in a straight line.
• Example: LINAC at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, USA.
• Circular Accelerators
• Particles travel in a circular path gaining energy with each turn.

Types:

• Cyclotron: Uses a constant magnetic field and alternating electric fields.
• Synchrotron: Adjusts magnetic fields to keep particles on a stable path.
• Example: Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.

Components of a Particle Accelerator:

• Source: Produces the charged particles (e.g., ion sources, electron guns).
• Accelerating Structures: Apply electric fields to increase particle speed.

Magnets:

• Dipole Magnets: Bend particle paths.
• Quadrupole Magnets: Focus the particle beam.
• Beamlines: Channels guiding accelerated particles.
• Detectors: Capture and analyze interactions of particles with targets.

Applications

• Scientific Research
• Study of fundamental particles and forces (e.g., Higgs boson discovery at CERN).
• Insights into the origins of the universe.
• Medical Uses
• Proton therapy for targeting tumors.
• Producing isotopes for PET scans.
• Industry and Technology
• Analyzing structural properties of materials.
• Ion implantation for microchips.
• Energy Research
• Study of nuclear fusion and advanced energy technologies.

Advantages

• Enables groundbreaking discoveries in physics and medicine.
• Advances technology and innovation.
• Provides valuable tools for industrial applications.

Challenges

• Building and operating particle accelerators is expensive.
• Requires advanced engineering and technical expertise.
• Large accelerators consume significant amounts of power.

 Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA)

• ISRO has signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) to enhance collaboration for the mission focusing on crew safety and recovery.

Details of the Agreement

• Enables cooperation for search and rescue operations and recovery of crew modules in case of contingencies during the ascent phase near Australian waters.
• Strengthens space collaboration between India and Australia as strategic partners.

Gaganyaan Mission

•  It is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the formative spacecraft of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capabilities.
•  In its maiden crewed mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)''s largely autonomous 5.3-metric ton capsule will orbit the Earth at 400 km altitude for up to seven days with a two- or three-person crew on board. The first crewed mission was originally planned to be launched on ISRO''s HLVM3 rocket in December 2021.
•  As of November 2024, it is expected to be launched no earlier than 2026.

 List of Manned Space Missions

Jeddah Commitments

• In November 2024, Saudi Arabia hosted the 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Jeddah.
• Representatives from 57 countries, experts and global organizations gathered to discuss urgent measures against AMR, a global health crisis affecting humans, animals, plants and the environment.

What is AMR?

• AMR occurs when microorganisms like bacteria become resistant to medicines designed to kill them such as antibiotics. This makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of severe illness and death.

Highlights of the Jeddah Conference

• Jeddah Commitments:
• A framework to transform global AMR strategies into actions under the "One Health" approach.
• Focused on improving antimicrobial use, surveillance, governance, manufacturing, and disposal systems.
• The conference called for all member states to actively work towards achieving the goals outlined in the United Nations Political Declaration on AMR by 2030.

Major Actions:

• Launch of a One Health AMR Learning Hub to promote knowledge-sharing among countries.
• Establishing an Independent Panel for Evidence on Action Against AMR by 2025.
• Setting up a Regional Antimicrobial Access and Logistics Hub to ensure fair access to safe medicines.
• Promoting sustainable food systems and reducing reliance on antimicrobials in agriculture.

India''s Contributions:

• India proposed stronger AMR detection systems, increased investments in research and the establishment of an AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund to support global efforts. Emphasis was placed on making antimicrobials and diagnostics more accessible for low-income nations.

New Announcements:

• Saudi Arabia unveiled plans for an AMR Learning Hub to assist nations in implementing action plans effectively. Additionally, emphasis was placed on fostering collaboration across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and the environment for sustainable solutions​

Global Impact

• If left unchecked, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 and lead to severe economic losses worldwide.

UNGA Political Declaration on AMR

• At a meeting in September 2024, leaders from all over the world agreed to work together to fight AMR. They set clear goals, like:
• Reducing deaths linked to AMR by 10% by 2030.
• Making sure more countries (at least 60%) have proper plans and funding to handle AMR by 2030.

Goals for Healthcare:

• Use safer antibiotics for at least 70% of patients worldwide.
• Ensure all hospitals have clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene by 2030.
• Help 90% of countries have strong infection control programs in place.

Goals for Agriculture and Animals:

• Use fewer medicines on animals and plants by improving practices like vaccinations and hygiene.
• Promote better farming methods to avoid infections without overusing antibiotics.

Protecting the Environment:

• Stop harmful medicines from polluting water and soil.
• Do more research on how the environment contributes to AMR.

Future Action to be taken:

• The next Ministerial AMR Conference will be held in Nigeria in 2026 to review progress and encourage further international cooperation.
•  By accelerating efforts through these commitments, global leaders aim to prevent a major health crisis and promote sustainable healthcare systems.

PM Modi pays tributes to Arya Samaj monument in Guyana

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the historic Promenade Gardens in Georgetown, Guyana. The statue was installed in commemoration of Gandhiji’s 100th birth anniversary in 1969.
• PM Modi also paid floral tribute at the Arya Samaj monument located close by. This monument was unveiled in 2011 in commemoration of 100 years of the Arya Samaj movement in Guyana.
• It is an important landmark celebrating the contributions of the Arya Samaj movement to the spiritual and cultural development of the Indian community in Guyana. 
• The Arya Samaj movement was introduced in Guyana in the early 20th century to revive traditional Vedic principles and challenge social practices such as caste discrimination.
• It played a pivotal role in promoting education and empowering women.
• It symbolises the resilience of the Indo-Guyanese community and their efforts to preserve their heritage in a foreign land.

What is Arya Samaj?

• The Arya Samaj is a significant socio-religious reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875, aiming to reestablish the Vedas as the ultimate and infallible truth. 
• It challenged practices and beliefs considered as later corruptions of the Vedic tradition and emphasized returning to the purity of early Hinduism.

Core Principles and Practices:

• Rejection of Later Accretions:
• Arya Samaj rejects practices like idol worship, animal sacrifices, rituals for ancestors, and caste-based discrimination by birth.
• It opposes social evils like child marriage, untouchability, and priestly dominance.
• It encourages merit-based caste systems, aligning with the varna principles described in the Vedas.

Social Reform Efforts:

• Actively promotes female education and inter-caste marriages.
• Establishes institutions such as schools, colleges, orphanages, and widow homes.
• Engages in famine relief, medical work, and other humanitarian initiatives.

Doctrinal Beliefs:

• Upholds karma (moral causation) and samsara (cycle of rebirth).
• Believes in the sanctity of the cow and efficacy of Vedic rituals like oblations to the fire.
• Emphasizes the samskaras — rituals marking life’s significant stages.

 Geographical Reach: Arya Samaj’s influence has been strongest in northern and western India, where it gained widespread support, especially during the colonial period.

•  Legacy: Arya Samaj has contributed significantly to education, cultural revival, and social progress both in India and among Indian diaspora communities globally.

Institutions established under its banner have been instrumental in spreading rational Vedic teachings, fostering equality, and improving social welfare.

Quality of Packaged Foods in LMIC raises Concerns

• A report by Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) , a non-profit global foundation, determined disparities in the high-quality of packaged food in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) as compared to high-income countries (HICs).

Key Highlights 

• The report assessed 30 of the world’s largest Food & Beverage (F&B) producers, which constitute 23% of the worldwide F&B market.
• Brands Analyzed: It analyzed products from essential producers like Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Hershey.
• Method: The report used a health star rating system to evaluate the wellbeing and health of food products.

Major Findings

• Portfolio Healthiness: It was located to be lowest in LMICs, highlighting disparities in products offered throughout special markets. 
• Affordability: Only 30% of corporations have demonstrated a strategy to price some of their ‘healthier’ products cheaply for lower earnings customers. 
• High Burden of NCDs:  In India, NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) like diabetes and weight issues are growing due to bad diets, contributing to a big sickness burden.An envisioned 10.13 crore Indians have diabetes, and as according to National Family Health Survey 5, obesity stands at 24% amongst girls and 23% amongst men.
• Affordability and Diet Changes: As per UN information over 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet.
• Malnutrition: Undernutrition, anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies continue to remain urgent troubles in India.

Food Labelling in India

• India has yet to make great progress on front-of-percent food labelling to indicate unhealthy tiers of sugar, fats, and sodium.
• While India has signed worldwide resolutions on food advertising and labelling (e.g, WHO’s guidelines on advertising bad food to youngsters), regulations on food labelling have stalled.

Other associated programs 

• FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India):
• It is the principal authority responsible for regulating food security standards.
• It units requirements for food exceptional, hygiene, and packaging.
• It also oversees food industry licensing and registration.
• Food corporations ought to check in or acquire an FSSAI license based on their scale of operations (e.g., producers, stores, importers).

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006:

• This regulation provides the framework for food safety and regulates manufacturing, storage, sale, and import of food products.
• It mandates food corporations to attain a license or registration.

Challenges of Food Safety in India

• Lack of Testing Facilities: There is a shortage of adequately equipped food testing laboratories, limiting the ability to monitor food quality and safety across the country.
• Lack of Consumer Awareness: A big part of the population isn’t always completely aware of food safety requirements, labeling necessities, or their rights to safe food, resulting in negative customer vigilance.
• Weak Monitoring and Inspections: Inadequate resources for everyday inspections and enforcement, bring about low compliance with food safety regulations.
• Street Food and Small Vendors: A big percentage of food is bought by unregistered providers who do not observe food security requirements, often due to lack of expertise, assets, or regulatory oversight.
• Non-licensed Food Producers: Many small-scale food producers and carriers function without the necessary licenses, bypassing regulatory controls.
• False Claims on Labels: Misleading claims approximately health services and natural certifications on food labels are commonplace, making it hard for customers to make knowledgeable decisions