News In Short-08-03-2025

Golden Passport Program of Vanuatu

Syllabus: GS 1/Places 

In News

• Former IPL chief Lalit Modi has surrendered his Indian passport and acquired citizenship in Vanuatu which offers a  golden passport program. 

Do you know? – Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, located 800 km west of Fiji and 1,770 km east of Australia. – It  is situated along the seismic Ring of Fire, known for its high tectonic activity across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Golden passport program 

• Vanuatu offers a popular Citizenship by Investment (CBI) or “golden passport” program.
• It allows individuals to acquire citizenship by making significant financial contributions to a country’s economy.
  • The cost of citizenship ranges from $135,500 to $155,500, with options for a family of four.
• Processing time ranges from 30 to 60 days after application submission.

Benefits of Vanuatu’s Citizenship

• It ranks 51st in the Henley Passport Index (ahead of Saudi Arabia, China, India and Indonesia).
• Vanuatu is a tax haven with no personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or wealth tax.
• Vanuatu relies heavily on offshore financial services for revenue generation.
• Despite being a poor country, it uses its tax haven status to attract investment.

Scandals and Criticism

• Several individuals linked to criminal activities have been granted citizenship, raising concerns about exploitation of the scheme.

• Experts warn that the program is vulnerable to exploitation and could be used as a backdoor for access to the EU and UK.
• Vanuatu’s lax taxation laws are seen as a potential avenue for money laundering.

Source: IE

6 Years of POSHAN Abhiyan

Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Scheme

In Context

• POSHAN Abhiyaan which was launched in 2018, recently completed 7 years of its implementation.

About POSHAN Abhiyaan

• Objectives:
  • Prevent and reduce stunting in children (0-6 years).
  • Prevent and reduce under-nutrition (underweight prevalence) in children (0-6 years).
  • Reduce anemia prevalence among women and adolescent girls (15-49 years).
  • Reduce low birth weight (LBW) through improved maternal and child healthcare.

• Strategic Pillars of Poshan Abhiyaan:
  • Access to Quality Services: Providing essential health services through schemes like Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) , National Health Mission (NHM), and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), especially during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
  • Cross-Sectoral Convergence: Coordinating efforts across multiple ministries, including water and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission and drinking water access through the National Drinking Water Mission.
  • Leveraging Technology: Tools like the Poshan Tracker application enable real-time data collection and intervention.
  • Jan Andolan: Community engagement is key to driving mass awareness and encouraging behavioral change around nutrition.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0

• Launched in 2021, it amalgamated various programmes with similar objectives such as Supplementary Nutrition Programme and POSHAN Abhiyaan under one umbrella.
• Funding pattern: 
  • For States & UTs with a legislature: 60:40 between Union and State/ UT Government.
  • For Northeastern (NER) & Himalayan States: 90:10 between Union and State Government.

Source: PIB

Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, successfully inaugurated the first batch of the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme.

About

• It is an interactive event aimed to inspire, enlighten, and guide Central Government employees to adopt the Karmayogi Way, emphasizing a citizen-centric approach to governance.
• The initiative is launched by the Capacity Building Commission.
• The programme focused on fostering Seva-Bhav (a sense of service) and accountability.

Capacity Building Commission

• It was established in 2021.
• It is a three-member Commission, supported by an internal Secretariat headed by a Secretary. 
• Members have been appointed from diverse backgrounds such as private sector, academia, public sector, and civil society. 
• The Commission’s focus is on driving stand harmonisation across the public sector learning and development landscape.

Mission KarmaYogi – In 2020, Government of India has launched Mission Karmayogi, a National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCP). – It is anchored by an apex body and headed by the Prime Minister. – The programme aims at building a future-ready civil service with the right attitude, skills and knowledge, aligned to the vision of New India.

Source: PIB

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Source: GS2/ Regional Groupings

In News

• The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supported the Arab League’s alternative proposal opposing Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza and forcibly relocate its residents.

About Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

• It is the second largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents and represents the collective voice of the Muslim world.
• Founded: 25 September 1969
• Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Objectives of the OIC:
  • Promote Islamic Solidarity among member states.
  • Defend Muslim interests in political, social, economic, and cultural spheres.
  • Protect Islamic holy sites, particularly in Palestine.

India and the OIC

• India is not a member but has been mentioned in OIC resolutions, particularly concerning Kashmir.
• In 2019, India was invited as a guest of honor to the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
• India has criticized OIC’s stance on Kashmir, considering it an interference in internal affairs.

Source TOI

Chief of Defence Staff Visit to Australia

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, visited Australia.

About

• Focus: The visit advanced cooperation on shared priorities and interoperability between India and Australia.
• Key areas of cooperation:
  • Maritime domain awareness.
  • Reciprocal information sharing.
  • Deployments from each other’s territories.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) – Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat was appointed the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2019. – It is the highest-ranking military officer in the Indian Armed Forces.  1. It is responsible for overseeing the operations and coordination of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.  – The CDS so heads the Department of Military Affairs and plays a key role in modernization and strategic defense planning.

India-Australia Partnership

• Australia and India focus on long-term vision for enhancing collective strength and security.
• India is a key security partner for Australia, both aiming for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
• Defence & Strategic Cooperation: Major transformation in the last 8-10 years between Australia and India.
• Mutual Logistics Support Agreement: Signed in 2020 to enhance logistical cooperation.
• Navy-to-Navy Relationship: ‘Joint Guidance for India-Australia Navy to Navy Relationship’ signed in August 2021.
• Ongoing Talks: Advanced discussions on hydrography cooperation and air-to-air refueling.

Source: TH

Convention on Cluster Munitions

Syllabus: GS2/International Treaties

Context

• Lithuania withdrew from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, citing security concerns over the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • It is the first country to leave the convention.

Convention on Cluster Munitions

• Adopted: Signed in 2008 in Oslo, Norway.
• Purpose: Aimed at banning the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions.
  • Seeks to protect civilians from the indiscriminate harm caused by unexploded submunitions.
• Cluster munitions can be dropped from aircraft or fired from artillery, exploding mid-air and scattering bomblets over a wide area
  • They release smaller explosive submunitions that can remain dangerous long after conflicts end.
• Signatories: Over 100 countries have signed or ratified the treaty.
  • Some countries, including major military powers like the U.S., India, Russia, and China, have not signed the treaty.

Source: TH

Hydrogen Peroxide

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In Context

• Researchers have discovered a sustainable and energy-efficient method to produce hydrogen peroxide using sunlight and covalent organic frameworks.

About Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)

• It is a colorless liquid chemical compound known for its strong oxidizing properties.
• It is widely used in disinfection, paper bleaching, chemical synthesis, and fuel cells.
• Hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, skin, and throat. Workers may be harmed from exposure to hydrogen peroxide.

Source: DTE

ASTRA MK-III Renamed Gandiva

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• India’s latest and most advanced beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra MK-III, has been officially renamed Gandiva. 

Key Features of Gandiva Missile

• Extended Range:
  • 340 km when targeting enemies at 20 km altitude.
  • 190 km when engaging targets at 8 km altitude.
• Advanced Propulsion System:
  • Powered by a dual-fuel ducted ramjet engine (a cutting-edge technology that utilizes atmospheric oxygen as an oxidizer), ensuring sustained high-speed flight.
  • Launch speed between 0.8 to 2.2 Mach, capable of engaging targets moving at 2.0 to 3.6 Mach.
• Enhanced Target Engagement Capabilities:
  • Can neutralize fighter jets, bombers, military transport aircraft.

Source: ET

TROPEX-2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• TROPEX 25 is conducted over a period of three months from January to March 25.

About 

• It is the largest biennial maritime exercise organized by the Indian Navy, featuring substantial participation from Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard assets.
• It is executed in multiple phases—both in Harbour and at Sea—integrating various facets of combat operations, including cyber and electronic warfare, live weapon firings during the Joint Work Up Phase, and the Amphibious Exercise (AMPHEX).

Source: PIB

Modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme

Syllabus: GS 3/Environment /Economy 

In News 

• The Government has introduced a modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme to support Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs). 

About Modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme

• It facilitates the conversion of existing sugarcane-based ethanol plants into multi-feedstock plants, allowing them to use grains like maize and damaged food grains (DFG).
• Under the scheme, the government provides an interest subvention of 6% per annum or 50% of the bank interest rate, whichever is lower, for loans extended to entrepreneurs.
•  This subvention is available for five years, including a one-year moratorium.
• This aligns with the Government’s Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme.

Need of the Scheme

Do you know? – The Government of India has been implementing Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme throughout the country.  – Under the EBP Programme, the Government has fixed the target of 20% blending of ethanol with petrol by 2025.  – The Government has notified various ethanol interest subvention schemes from July 2018 to April 2022.

Source: PIB

Butterflies have been declining the last 20 years

Syllabus: GS 3/Environment 

In News

• A new study has found that butterfly populations in the U.S. have declined by 22% since 2000, due to insecticides, climate change, and habitat loss.
  • Monarch butterfly populations, in particular, have dropped significantly.

Butterflies

• Butterflies belong to the superfamily Papilionoidea within the insect order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths and skippers. They are found worldwide.
• Butterflies are cold blooded which means that they cannot regulate their body temperature. 
• The butterfly life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (imago).

Importance of Butterflies

• They are bio indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem – highly sensitive to changes in climate, pollution levels and harmful chemicals in the air.
• They are an important part of the food chain – butterflies are food for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals and parasites
• They are excellent pollinators after bees, wasps and flies – without these wonderful insects, we would have a lot fewer plants

Threats

• Human encroachment, deforestation, and climate fluctuations threaten butterfly habitats.

Do you know? – Monarch butterflies  are known for their remarkable migratory journey, traveling between 1,200 and 2,800 miles from the northeast U.S. and southeast Canada to central Mexico. – The Marbled Map butterfly is  endemic to the Eastern Ghats and Odisha. – The Common Birdwing, listed in CITES, is often found in wildlife trade. – The Nymphalidae family was the most dominant, comprising 31.58% of the species, likely due to the availability of suitable host plants and favorable ecological conditions.

Source :IE

‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’ Award

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has received the‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’ Award. 

About

• It was in recognition of his “strategic leadership” and “valuable assistance” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• It is one of the highest national honors awarded by the government of Barbados.
  • It is given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the country, its development, or to international relations in a meaningful and impactful way. 

Vaccine Maitri Initiative

• Launch Date: The initiative began in 2021, during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• Goal: To provide COVID-19 vaccines to countries around the world, especially to developing nations, to combat the spread of the virus.
• Scope: India supplied vaccines to over 90 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America, among others.

Source: PIB