Current Affairs Exam

CAG Report on Delhi Air Pollution: Highlights concerns regarding air quality monitoring, vehicular pollution, and government accountability in Delhi.

Inaccurate Air Quality Data: Air quality monitoring stations in Delhi do not meet CPCB requirements, rendering AQI values unreliable due to inadequate data and lack of lead measurement.

Lack of Pollution Control: Discrepancies in PUC certification, a dysfunctional fitness certificate system for commercial vehicles, and failure to implement parking rules.

No Government Inspection: Absence of government inspections of pollution checking centers or third-party audits.

Constitutionally Mandated Auditor: CAG is appointed under Article 148 of the Indian Constitution and audits government accounts to ensure financial accountability, guarding the public purse.

Report Tabled: The report was tabled in the Delhi Assembly after being unaddressed by the previous AAP government.

Political Reactions: Opposition parties allege the previous AAP government failed to enforce pollution control measures, while AAP claims the report found no corruption in their environmental policies.

Role and Responsibility: The CAG audits expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India, examines government corporations, certifies net proceeds of taxes, and submits audit reports to the President for parliamentary review.

Commemorative Postage Stamp Released: The Department of Posts issued a postage stamp honoring Mata Karma on her 1009th birth anniversary (March 25, 2025).

Who was Mata Karma? An 11th-century saint (born 1017 AD) and Krishna devotee, known for her unwavering faith.

Khichdi Offering: She is best known for offering khichdi to Lord Krishna in Puri, a tradition that continues at Jagannath Temple. This selfless devotion led her to get blessings of Lord Krishna.

Jagannath Temple Connection: The stamp depicts Mata Karma offering khichdi with the Jagannath Temple in the background. This temple (12th-century) is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Vishnu).

Significance: Mata Karma’s life inspires social harmony, women’s empowerment, and religious devotion. She promoted unity and harmony in society.

Availability: The stamp, First Day Cover (FDC), and Information Brochure are available at Philately Bureaus across India and online.

Five-Year Low Water Level: Naini Lake recorded a water level of 4.7 feet, the lowest in five years.

Water Extraction: The Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan extracts 10 million liters of water daily from the lake for the city’s drinking water supply.

Increased Pressure: Population growth, tourism, and commercialization are impacting the lake’s health, with the lake meeting 76% of the city’s water demand in 2024.

Aging Infrastructure: Nainital’s aging water distribution network struggles to meet the demand.

Man-Made Manipulation: Naini Lake faces the greatest man-made pressures compared to other Kumaon lakes, including unplanned construction, encroachment, and degradation of recharge zones.

Siltation and Encroachment: Dumping debris in Sukhatal Lake and encroachments reduce the lake’s catchment area.

Pollution: Untreated wastewater, improper solid waste disposal, and sewage overflow pollute the lake.

Climate Change Impact: Rising temperatures affect rainfall and snowfall patterns, with decreased precipitation and snowfall days.

Increased Zero Level Incidents: The lake has reached zero level more frequently since 2000 compared to the 1900s due to intense rainfall and reduced land seepage capacity.

Construction Concerns: Construction continues despite bans, including homestays and construction on wetlands.

Sukhatal Lake Project: Concerns regarding the concretization of Sukhatal Lake’s bed led to a temporary suspension of construction.

Need for Ecosystem-Based Approach: Conservation plans lack an ecosystem-based approach, and rejuvenation of natural processes should be prioritized over tourism.

Report Release: The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the annual “Energy Statistics India 2025” publication. It is available on the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation website.

Data Focus: The report provides integrated data on energy reserves, capacity, production, consumption, and import/export across energy commodities (coal, petroleum, renewables, etc.).

New Addition: Includes a new chapter on Energy Account, aligned with the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) 2012 framework, including asset accounts and physical supply/use tables for FY23 and FY24.

TPES Growth: India’s Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) grew by 7.8% in FY24, reaching 903,158 KToE.

Renewable Energy Potential: India has a renewable energy potential of 2,109,655 MW, with wind power (55%) as the largest contributor. Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka hold over 50% of this potential.

Renewable Capacity Increase: Installed renewable electricity capacity grew from 81,593 MW (March 2015) to 198,213 MW (March 2024), a CAGR of 10.36%.

Renewable Generation Rise: Electricity generation from renewables rose from 205,608 GWh (FY15) to 370,320 GWh (FY24), a CAGR of 6.76%.

Per Capita Consumption Growth: Per capita energy consumption increased from 14,682 MJ (FY15) to 18,410 MJ (FY24), a CAGR of 2.55%.

T&D Losses Reduced: Transmission and Distribution losses reduced from 23% (FY15) to around 17% (FY24).

Industrial Sector Consumption: The industrial sector is the largest energy consumer, with demand rising from 242,418 KToE (FY15) to 311,822 KToE (FY24).

Rajya Sabha Passage: The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, has been passed, aiming to implement international conventions on aviation equipment leasing.

Cape Town Convention: It implements the Cape Town Convention of 2001 and its Aircraft Equipment Protocol, to which India became a signatory in 2008.

Purpose: To secure rights over high-value mobile assets like aircraft, helicopters, and engines, ensuring legal clarity in the aviation industry. It aims to protect creditors and stakeholders in aviation leasing.

DGCA Role: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is designated as the registry authority for aircraft registration and de-registration. Airlines must inform DGCA about dues to lessors, and lessors must inform DGCA about their activities.

Creditor Rights: Creditors must notify DGCA before initiating remedies in case of default. They can recover assets within two months or a mutually agreed timeframe.

Benefits: The bill is expected to provide clarity and security in the leasing industry, potentially reducing leasing costs by 8-10%, which may lead to lower airfares.

Need for the Bill: With 86.4% of planes operating in India under a leasing model, the bill aims to establish a domestic leasing industry, addressing the absence of prior legislation in this area, creating provision for intimation of dues to lessors periodically.

Indian Army Exercise: The Indian Army’s White Tiger Division recently conducted a live missile-firing exercise involving the 9K33 Osa-AK missile system, demonstrating operational readiness.

System Overview: The 9K33 Osa-AK is a Russian-built, highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air defense missile system.

Historical Context: Developed in the 1960s and introduced in 1972, it remains a crucial asset for many armies, including India’s. NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko.

Features:

• All-in-one TELAR vehicle for independent threat engagement.
• Carries six ready-to-fire missiles.
• Maximum range of 12 km.
• Amphibious and air transportable.
• Range of 500 km on road for quick relocation.
• NBC protection system.

Mobility: Its high mobility allows for rapid response to threats in dynamic combat situations and strategic deployment to various regions.

Jipmer Launches IBD Support Group: Jipmer has established a support group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients. This initiative aims to create a platform for sharing experiences, offering guidance, fostering connections among patients and families, reducing stress, and boosting self-esteem.

IBD: An Overview: IBD is a term encompassing conditions causing digestive tract inflammation, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis affects the colon and rectum lining, while Crohn’s can impact any part of the digestive tract, most commonly the small intestine.

Symptoms and Causes: Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, and weight loss. The exact cause is unknown, but it involves a weakened immune system reacting to environmental triggers or genetic factors.

IBD Management: While IBD is a chronic condition, treatments are available to manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups, including medication and surgery.

Support Group Details: The Jipmer IBD support group will meet quarterly. The inaugural event saw participation from medical professionals, patients, and their families. Experts emphasized the value of experienced patients sharing insights with newly diagnosed individuals.

SC directs Mahua Moitra to approach SEBI: The Supreme Court has instructed MP Mahua Moitra to petition SEBI regarding transparency issues within Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

Transparency Concerns: The petition highlights concerns that opaque structures of AIFs and FPIs could lead to market manipulation, money laundering, and tax evasion, unlike the transparency norms for mutual funds.

Rapid Growth of AIFs: The petition notes the significant growth of AIFs registered with SEBI, increasing 30-fold from 42 in March 2013 to over 1,528 in March 2025.

AUM Surge: Assets Under Management (AUM) of AIFs have increased dramatically, from ₹1,437 crore in March 2013 to nearly ₹13 lakh crore in December 2024.

Large FPI Holdings: The current Assets Under Custody (AUC) of registered FPIs in India was over ₹74 lakh crore as of January 2025.

FPI Definition: Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) involves foreign entities investing in financial assets (stocks, bonds) without controlling the business.

FPI Characteristics: FPI is a passive, short-term investment sensitive to market sentiments and enhances market liquidity.

FPI Regulation in India: SEBI regulates FPIs, and a foreign investor holding over 10% of an Indian company’s capital is classified as FDI.

AIFs Overview: Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) are privately pooled investment vehicles for specialized investments, regulated by SEBI.

AIF Categories: AIFs are categorized into Category I (priority sectors), Category II (diversified strategies), and Category III (high-risk investments).