News In Short 11-2-2025

La Nina

Syllabus: GS1/Climatology

Context

• Despite the arrival of the La Niña phase, the global average surface air temperature breached the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold.

What is La Nina?

• It means Little Girl in Spanish. La Niña is also sometimes called El Viejo, anti-El Niño, or simply “a cold event.”
• The trade winds become stronger than usual, pushing more warmer waters towards the Indonesian coast, and making the eastern Pacific Ocean colder than normal.

Impact on Weather Patterns

• North America: La Niña is often associated with colder winters in the northern U.S. and Canada and warmer, drier conditions in the southern U.S. (such as in the southwestern states).
• South America: La Niña often causes droughts in countries like Peru and Ecuador while bringing more rain to Brazil.
• Asia and Oceania: La Niña tends to bring increased rainfall and a higher risk of flooding to countries like Indonesia, Australia, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Impact on India

• More rainfall in most regions, leading to a stronger monsoon.
• Increased risk of flooding and waterlogging in many parts of the country.
• Cooler temperatures during the post-monsoon and winter months.
• More cyclones in the Indian Ocean, increasing risks for coastal areas.
• Possible agricultural disruptions due to heavy rainfall, floods, and delayed harvesting.

Source: IE

Lymphatic Filariasis

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, launched the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Elimination.

Lymphatic Filariasis

• Commonly known as elephantiasis (Haatipaon), it is a serious debilitating disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. 
• It is transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito that breeds in dirty/polluted water.  
• Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system with visible manifestations (lymphoedema, elephantiasis, and scrotal swelling/hydrocele) which occur later in life and can lead to permanent disability.
• It is a priority disease that is targeted for elimination by 2027. 
• In India, 90% of LF burden is contributed by 8 states – Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. 
• Currently there is no vaccination available for it.

Source: PIB

‘Bombay’ Blood Group

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• In a rare and complex medical procedure, a 30-year-old woman with the extremely rare ‘Bombay’ (hh) blood group underwent a successful kidney transplant in India.

About ‘Bombay’ Blood Group

• It is one of the rarest blood groups in the world and was first discovered in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, in 1952 by Dr. Y.M. Bhende.
• In the Bombay blood group (hh phenotype), individuals lack the H antigen completely. This means they cannot receive blood from any ABO group, including O.
  • Most blood groups (A, B, AB, and O) depend on the presence of the H antigen, which forms the basis of the ABO system.
• It is more commonly found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and some Middle Eastern regions due to genetic inheritance patterns.

Blood Transfusion

• People with this blood group can donate blood to any ABO group, but they can only receive blood from another Bombay blood group individual.

Source: IE

Lumpy Skin Disease Vaccine

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• Biovet, a Bharat Biotech group company, has received Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) licensing for its Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccine, Biolumpivaxin.
  • It is the world’s only marker vaccine for LSD.

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)

• Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a viral disease that primarily affects cattle and water buffaloes.
  • It is caused by the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), which belongs to the family Poxviridae.
• Symptoms: Fever, Nodules on the skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs, Enlarged lymph nodes, Skin edema and Emaciation.
• Transmission: LSD is primarily spread through;
  • Biting insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and ticks,
  • Direct contact between infected and healthy animals,
  • Contaminated feed, water, and transport vehicles,
  • Reproductive material from infected animals.
• Treatment: There is no treatment for the virus, but vaccination is the most effective way to control it.
  • Secondary infections can be treated with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).

Source: DH

PM-AJAY Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Schemes

In News

• Centre reviews progress of PM-AJAY scheme, emphasises inclusive growth for SC communities.

About PM-AJAY Scheme

• Definition: PM-AJAY is a Central sponsored scheme launched in 2021 for the upliftment of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in India. 
• Objectives: Reduce poverty through skill development and income-generating initiatives.
  • Increase literacy rates and encourage SC enrolment in educational institutions, especially in aspirational districts.
• Core Components:
  • Adarsh Gram Development: Converts SC-majority villages into model villages with integrated development.
    • Focuses on essential infrastructure and socio-economic progress across ten domains, including education, healthcare, and financial inclusion.
  • Grants-in-Aid: Funds district and state-level projects for SC livelihood development.
    • Supports sustainable income opportunities for SC communities.
  • Hostel Construction: Establishes hostels to support SC students in accessing quality education.
    • Aims to reduce dropout rates and promote higher education.

Source: BS

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Two of the four-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries—Switzerland and Liechtenstein—are pushing for a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with India.

About

• EFTA signed a trade agreement with India last year, committing to a $100 billion investment over 15 years.
• Switzerland is the largest trading partner of India among the countries in the EFTA region.
• Last year, Switzerland suspended the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) clause in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) originally signed between India and Switzerland in 1994.

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

• It is the intergovernmental 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.
• Trade with India: In 2022, the combined EFTA-India merchandise trade surpassed USD 6.1 billion. 
  • The primary imports to the EFTA States consisted of organic chemicals (27.5%), while machinery (17.5%) and pharmaceutical products (11.4%), constituted the main exports to India. 

Source: IE

PM’s New 15 Point Programme for Minorities

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance

In News

• Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Minorities is designed to ensure that minority communities benefit from government welfare programmes.

About 15 Point Programme

• It is a programme which covers various schemes/initiatives of the participating Ministries/Departments .
• It aims to ensure that the underprivileged and weaker sections of six centrally notified minority communities have equal opportunities for availing the various Government welfare Schemes and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the Country.
• Key schemes
  • Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
  • Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
  • Merit-cum- Means based Scholarship Scheme
  • National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC) Loan Schemes
  • Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (M/o Education)
  • Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM)- (M/o Rural Development)
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyay – Gramin Kaushalya Yojana (M/o Rural Development)
  • Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (M/o Rural Development)
  • Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (M/o Housing & Urban Affairs)
  • Priority Sector Lending by Banks (Department of Financial Services)
  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (Department of Financial Services)
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan (Ministry of Women & Child Development)
  • National Health Mission (Department of Health & Family Welfare)
  • Ayushman Bharat (Department of Health & Family Welfare)
  • National Rural Drinking Water Programme (Jal Jeevan Mission), (Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation)
• Objectives: Enhancing opportunities for education
  • Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, through existing and new schemes, enhanced credit support for self-employment, and recruitment to State and Central Government jobs.
  • Improving the conditions of living of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share for them in infrastructure development schemes.
  • Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence.

Source :PIB

US’s DEI policies

Syllabus :GS2/IR

In News

• Donald Trump has worked to dismantle DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies established by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

About DEI policies

• DEI refers to workplace policies aimed at promoting:
  • Diversity which  includes various communities, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
  • Equity which  deals with Fair and impartial treatment of individuals, especially those from underserved communities.
  • Inclusion which recognizes  and utilizes the talents and skills of all employees.
• DEI policies also emphasize accessibility, ensuring facilities and services are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.
  • Trump and many conservatives view DEI as discriminatory against white Americans.

History of DEI: – DEI efforts have existed since World War II and gained further traction with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. – The Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, following George Floyd’s death, spurred further DEI support in workplaces. – A 2023 Pew survey revealed that 56% of US workers view DEI efforts positively.

Scenario in India

• India does not have a systematic DEI approach like the US, as DEI originated from different socioeconomic contexts.
• India has long had affirmative action policies, including reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Communities in education and employment.
• The Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination in public employment based on caste, religion, sex, or place of birth.
• DEI efforts in Indian companies have been in response to movements like #MeToo and the decriminalization of homosexuality.

Source :IE

Liquidity Coverage Ratio

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to defer the implementation of the revised Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) norms.

About Liquidity Coverage Ratio

• It is a key regulatory requirement under the Basel III framework, designed to ensure that banks maintain an adequate level of high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) to meet short-term liquidity needs during financial stress.
  • HQLA: Cash, government securities, and highly liquid instruments that can be quickly converted to cash.
• LCR aims to enhance the banking sector’s resilience by ensuring that banks hold sufficient liquid assets to survive a 30-day period of severe liquidity stress.

Basel III Requirements

• The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) introduced LCR in 2010, post the 2008 financial crisis, to improve banks’ liquidity risk management.
• Initially set at 60% in 2015, it gradually increased to 100% by 2019 for full compliance.

Source: LM

Seva Bhoj Yojana

Syllabus :GS 3/Economy 

In News

• Many Religious Institutions Benefitted under Seva Bhoj Yojana.

About Seva Bhoj Yojana

• It is a Central Sector Scheme which was launched by the Ministry of Culture in August, 2018.
• It provides reimbursement of CGST and Central Government’s share of IGST paid by charitable/religious institutions on purchase of specific raw food items for serving free to at least 5000 people in a calendar month.
  • It is reimbursed by the concerned GST Authority.
• Eligibility Criteria: Institutions must have been distributing free food to the public/devotees for at least three years and submit a certificate from the District Magistrate.
• Reimbursement Process: After verifying the claims, the concerned GST Authority forwards them to the Ministry, which provides the funds to the GST Authority for reimbursement to the institutions.

Source :PIB

Government Revises Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) Guidelines

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has revised guidelines for the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)

• MIS is a component of the PM-AASHA scheme. 
• It is implemented on the request of the State/UT Government for procurement of various perishable agricultural/horticultural commodities such as tomato, onion and potato etc. for which Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not applicable.

Revised MIS Guidelines 

• MIS will be implemented only when there is a minimum reduction of 10% in the prevailing market price as compared to the previous normal year.
• The procurement/coverage limit of production quantity of crops has been increased from the existing 20 percent ​​to 25 percent.
• The State has also been given the option to pay the difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price directly into the bank account of the farmers in place of physical procurement.

Source: PIB