News In Short-25-03-2025

Pay Hike for MPs

Syllabus :GS 2/Governance 

In News

• The Centre notified a 24% increase in the salaries of MPs with effect from April 1, 2023.
  • The salaries and allowances were last revised in April 2018. 

About Pay hike

• The increase in the salary has been notified in exercise of the powers granted under the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act on the basis of the Cost Inflation Index specified in the Income Tax Act of 1961.
• A Lok Sabha or a Rajya Sabha member will get ₹1.24 lakh a month, up from the ₹1 lakh they receive at present.
• The daily allowance has been increased from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500.
• The pension for former MPs has been increased from ₹25,000 a month to ₹31,000. 
• During their term, MPs are provided with rent-free housing in New Delhi.

Do you know? – The Rajya Sabha consists of not more than 250 members – 238 members representing the States and Union Territories, and 12 members nominated by the President.  1. It is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. However, one third of the members retire every second year, and are replaced by newly elected members. Each member is elected for a term of six years. – The Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of people chosen by direct election on the basis of Universal Adult Suffrage.  1. The Constitution of India allows for a maximum of 550 members in the House, with 530 members representing the States and 20 representing the Union Territories.

Source :TH

PM VIKAS Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Union Minister of Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, reaffirmed that the PM VIKAS Scheme focuses on upliftment of minority communities.

About

• The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, focusing on the upliftment of six notified minority communities (Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zorastrians (Parsis).
• Merges five schemes: ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’, ‘USTTAD’, and ‘Hamari Dharohar’.
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Skilling and Training: Both non-traditional and traditional skills.
  • Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship: Empowering women through leadership and business opportunities.
  • Education: Provided through the National Institute of Open Schooling.
  • Infrastructure Development: Through Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram.
  • Credit Linkages: Connecting beneficiaries with loan programs from the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC).
• Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is a knowledge partner of the Ministry under the scheme.
• EPCH’s Role: 
  • Providing marketing linkages and branding.
  • Developing training content and course modules.
  • Organizing awareness programs and mobilizing artisans for producer groups.
• Under the PM VIKAS Scheme, the implementing partners are to ensure placement of 75 per cent of total candidates trained under NSQF aligned skill programs.

Source: PIB

Govt Proposes to Abolish 6% Equalisation Levy

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The government proposed to abolish the 6% Equalisation Levy (digital tax) on online advertisements, effective April 1, 2025.

About

• Platforms: This move benefits advertisers on digital platforms like Google, X, and Meta.
• Equalisation Levy: The Equalisation Levy on online ads was introduced in 2016, and the Finance Act 2020 extended it to e-commerce services.
  • It was designed to tax online advertising services, digital ad space, and related facilities.
  • The levy is charged at 6% in respect of the sum received or receivable by a non-resident for online advertisement services.
  • In 2020, Equalisation Levy was also imposed on non-resident e-commerce operators. The rate was 2%, but it was removed in 2024.
• Aim: The proposal aims to show a more accommodative stance toward the US, which has threatened reciprocal tariffs starting April 2.

Source: TH

Dalle Chilly

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has successfully exported the first consignment of Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands.

About

• Dalle Chilly is known for its pungency, bright red color, and high nutritional value, with Scoville Heat Units (SHU) ranging from 100,000 to 350,000.
  • The Scoville scale is a measurement of the pungency (spiciness) of peppers and other hot foods. 
  • The scale is based on the concentration of capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers that produces a burning sensation when it touches the tongue or skin.
• Dalle Chilly received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2020, enhancing its marketability and identity.
• Government Support: The Indian government promotes organic farming in North East India through the MOVCD-NER scheme, boosting organic Dalle Chilly production.
• Significance: This export boosts Sikkim’s global spice profile and highlights India’s growing prominence in the organic agricultural market.

What is a GI Tag?

• It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. 
• Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that come under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
  • They are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years, it can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.

Benefits of GI Tag

• It confers legal protection to Geographical Indications in India which in turn boost exports.
• Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others.
• It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.

Source: PIB

AIKEYME and IOS Sagar

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Indian Navy is set to launch two maiden initiatives—AIKEYME and IOS Sagar—aimed at strengthening India’s position as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

AIKEYME (Africa India Key Maritime Engagement)

• ‘AIKEYME’, which means ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, is a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise with African nations.
• The first edition will be co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF).
  • It will take place off the coast of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, over six days in mid-April 2025.
• Participating nations include Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside the co-hosts.

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar

• As part of this initiative, the Indian Naval Ship (INS Sunayna) will be deployed to the Southwest IOR with a combined crew from India and nine Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
  • Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka , and South Africa.

Source: TH

Black Carbon

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• A new report warns black carbon is a major driver of glacier melt, monsoon disruption and extreme weather.
  • India is the second-largest black carbon emitter globally, after China.

About Black Carbon

• Also known as soot. A major component of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5).
• Classified as a Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP), meaning it stays in the atmosphere for only days to weeks.

Impacts

• Global Warming: It’s a significant contributor to global warming, alongside methane, responsible for about half of the total warming.
• Regional Climate Impact: Darkens snow and ice, reducing their reflectivity (albedo).
  • This leads to increased absorption of solar radiation and accelerates ice melting, particularly in the Arctic and glaciers.
  • Black carbon is estimated to be responsible for 39% of the Yala glacier’s mass loss in the Tibetan Plateau.
• Disruption of Hydrological Cycle: Can disrupt Asian and West African monsoon precipitation patterns. This disruption increases the risk of flooding and drought.

Source: TH

Blue Flag Tag

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam wins back the Blue Flag tag.
  • India currently has 13 beaches with Blue Flag certification.

About Blue Flag Tag

• The Blue Flag is an international eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.
• It is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Recognized globally as a symbol of cleanliness, safety, and environmental sustainability.
• To earn the Blue Flag, a beach/marina must meet 33 strict criteria across four main categories:
  • Environmental Education and Information
  • Water Quality
  • Environmental Management
  • Safety and Services

Source: TH

Permafrost Thawing in Kashmir Himalaya

Syllabus :GS 3/Environment  

In News

• A recent study highlighted  the growing environmental threat posed by melting permafrost in the Kashmir Himalaya.

Permafrost

• Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years straight. 
• These permanently frozen grounds are most common in regions with high mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes—near the North and South Poles.

Concerns 

• Thawing permafrost can degrade infrastructure like roads and hydropower projects and destabilize glacial lakes, increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
• In J&K, 332 proglacial lakes were identified, with 65 posing significant GLOF risks. The thawing of permafrost could exacerbate these risks.

Impacts 

• Human activities like deforestation, land-use changes, and infrastructure development (roads, dams, tourism) can destabilize permafrost, worsening its degradation.
• Permafrost degradation could affect groundwater and river flow, as it plays a role in maintaining the base flow of rivers. However, comprehensive studies on this are still lacking.

Recommendations

• Future infrastructure projects should consider the presence of permafrost.
• Environmental impact assessments should better account for GLOF and cryospheric hazards.
• Monitoring of permafrost through both satellite data and in-situ data loggers is needed for more accurate risk assessment.
• More studies are required to understand the full extent of permafrost degradation and its impacts, particularly in relation to water resources and infrastructure.

Source :TH

India’s Heat Action Plans

Syllabus: GS 3/Environment  

In News 

• According to a recent study, most Indian cities’ Heat Action Plans (HAPs) lack long-term strategies to address the growing threat of extreme heat, and those with such strategies have not implemented them effectively.
  • Heat Action Plans (HAPs) is an early warning system and preparedness strategy aimed at reducing health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations.

About

• The study, titled “Is India Ready for a Warming World?”, was conducted by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative (SFC) and several international universities (King’s College London, Harvard, Princeton, and UC Berkeley).
• The study focused on cities with populations over 1 million that are expected to experience significant increases in dangerous heat index values.

Key Findings

• Short-term measures like access to water and adjusted work schedules are in place in most cities.
• Long-term measures (e.g., cooling options, insurance for lost work, fire management, and electricity grid retrofits) are mostly absent or poorly implemented.
• Many actions, such as expanding green cover and urban shade, are not effectively targeting the most heat-exposed populations.
• Gaps in planning could lead to higher heat-related deaths in the future, as heat waves become more frequent, intense, and prolonged.

Do you know? – Heatstroke deaths increased from 530 in 2020 to 730 in 2022, but decreased to 269 suspected and 161 confirmed deaths in 2024, according to NDMA. – The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been implementing HAPs in 23 heatwave-prone states in collaboration with state authorities.

Suggestions 

• The study emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen both immediate responses and long-term strategies to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat.
• Adequate funding is required to implement long-term measures.

Source :IE