12 May 2025 Current Affairs

BRS Conventions CoPs 2025 Conclude in Geneva

The Conferences of the Parties (CoPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions concluded recently in Geneva, Switzerland.

2025 Theme: “Make visible the invisible: Sound management of chemicals and wastes” - spotlighting the often-overlooked impact of hazardous substances.

What Are the BRS CoPs?

• Biennial Global Dialogue: Held every two years, BRS CoPs bring together nations to strengthen collective action on chemical and waste management.
• India’s Active Participation: India is a party to all three conventions, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable environmental governance.

Quick Overview of the Three Conventions

1️. Basel Convention

• Focus: Control of cross-border movement and disposal of hazardous waste
• Adopted: 1989, Switzerland | In Force: 1992
• Objectives:

- Minimize hazardous waste generation

- Ensure environmentally sound management

- Regulate international waste transfers based on sustainability principles

2️. Rotterdam Convention

• Focus: Prior informed consent in global trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides
• Adopted: 1998, Rotterdam | In Force: 2004
• Objectives:

- Promote transparency in international trade

- Safeguard human health and the environment

- Encourage shared responsibility and cooperation

3️. Stockholm Convention

• Focus: Elimination of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
• Adopted: 2001, Stockholm | In Force: 2004
• Objectives:

- Eradicate the “Dirty Dozen” POPs

- Promote safer alternatives

- Expand the list of harmful POPs under regulation

India's Sovereign Credit Rating Upgraded to 'BBB' by Morningstar DBRS

Morningstar DBRS has upgraded India's sovereign credit rating from ‘BBB (low)’ to ‘BBB’, maintaining a stable outlook-a vote of confidence in the country’s macroeconomic direction.

Driving Factors Behind the Upgrade:

• Structural reforms across various sectors
• Large-scale public infrastructure investments
• Commitment to fiscal consolidation and responsible budgeting

Key Insights from the Report

1. Solid Economic Outlook: The ‘BBB’ rating reflects adequate creditworthiness, indicating India’s ability to meet its debt obligations, though with moderate economic risk.

2. Macroeconomic Strengths Highlighted:

• Robust financial regulation
• Credible inflation-targeting by the RBI
• A flexible exchange rate system supporting economic stability

What is a Sovereign Credit Rating?

• Definition: A sovereign credit rating evaluates a nation's financial trustworthiness—assessing the risk level for investors lending to the government through bonds and other instruments.
• Purpose: It helps guide investment decisions, influencing borrowing costs and capital inflows.
• Rating Tiers:

- Investment Grade: Lower risk, greater investor confidence

- Speculative Grade: Higher risk, potential for default

• Key Global Rating Agencies:

- Standard & Poor’s (S&P)

- Moody’s

- Fitch Ratings

Concerns Surrounding Credit Rating Agencies

• Subjective Methodologies: Heavy reliance on qualitative assessments by a few analysts can lead to biased or inconsistent results.
• Transparency Issues: Lack of independent funding and opaque practices raise concerns about the objectivity of these agencies.
• Bias Against Developing Economies:

- Often overlook growth potential, inflation control, and government debt management.

- As per Economic Survey 2020-21, the methodologies can unfairly penalize emerging markets like India.

Empowerment of Chief of Army Staff to Call Upon Territorial Army Personnel

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has been empowered by the Central Government, under Rule 33 of the Territorial Army (TA) Rules, 1948, to call upon the services of Territorial Army personnel when required.

What is the Territorial Army (TA)?

• Part of the Regular Army: While the Territorial Army is officially a part of India’s regular army structure, its members are not full-time soldiers.
• Civilians Serving the Nation: TA personnel are civilians who dedicate their time outside regular jobs to serve the nation. They train periodically and are called upon during emergencies or critical times.
• Nickname – "Terriers": Members of the Territorial Army are affectionately known as “Terriers” due to their commitment and role in national defense.

Primary Responsibilities of the Territorial Army

• Second Line of Defence: TA acts as a vital second line of defense, complementing the regular army in protecting the country’s security.
• Relieving Regular Army: Its role is to take over static duties, thereby freeing regular army personnel for more dynamic roles.
• Supporting Civil Administration: TA assists in natural calamities and helps maintain essential services during critical situations, playing a key role in disaster response.
• Augmenting the Regular Army: The TA also provides trained units to the regular army when additional support is needed.

Eligibility Criteria for Joining the Territorial Army

Basic Qualifications:

• Indian citizenship
• Graduation from a recognized university
• Gainfully employed (must have a regular job)

Notable Contributions of the Territorial Army

Historical Participation in Wars: The TA has actively contributed to operations during significant conflicts, such as:

• 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars
• Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka)
• Operation Rakshak (Punjab & Jammu & Kashmir)

First Asian Rice Pangenome Developed by Chinese Scientists

Chinese researchers have successfully developed the first comprehensive pangenome of Asian rice.

The pangenome was assembled by integrating genetic sequences from 144 distinct wild and cultivated rice varieties across Asia.

This ambitious genetic compilation leveraged PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) sequencing, a cutting-edge tool known for its ultra-accurate long-read sequencing capabilities.

Evolutionary Insights into Asian Rice

• Tracing the Roots of Cultivated Rice: The research backs the theory that all Asian cultivated rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) share an ancestral link with a wild rice variant known as Or-IIIa, itself a lineage of Oryza rufipogon.

Understanding the Concept: What is a Pangenome?

1. Beyond a Single Genome: A pangenome represents the full range of genetic information from multiple individuals of the same species—unlike traditional reference genomes which focus on a single representative.

2. Genetic Diversity Captured: It includes:

• Core genes common to all rice varieties
• Accessory or unique genes that contribute to distinct traits in individual strains

A Glimpse into HiFi Sequencing

1. What is HiFi (High-Fidelity) Sequencing?

• A form of Single-Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing
• Offers exceptional accuracy even with long DNA sequences
• Ideal for mapping complex or diverse genomes like rice

2. Why Long-Read Sequencing Matters: Traditional sequencing methods read short fragments of DNA, but long-read sequencing can capture entire genes or genomic regions without fragmentation—crucial for building a detailed pangenome.

India Raises Concerns Over IMF Programs Like EFF and RSF for Pakistan

India has expressed concerns regarding the effectiveness of certain IMF programs, specifically the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), which have been provided to Pakistan.

What is the Extended Fund Facility (EFF)?

• Objective: The EFF is designed to assist countries facing serious payment imbalances due to structural challenges or an inherently weak balance of payments position.
• Eligibility: Available to all IMF member countries that are experiencing actual or potential external financing needs.

What is the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)?

• Objective: The RSF aims to strengthen macroeconomic resilience and enhance the sustainability of countries, particularly in the face of global challenges like climate change or economic shocks.
• Eligibility: This facility is targeted at low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries that require financial support for long-term stability.

Other Key IMF Lending Facilities

• Extended Credit Facility (ECF): Focused on providing support to countries in need of long-term financing.
• Rapid Credit Facility (RCF): Aimed at offering quick financial assistance to countries facing urgent balance-of-payments problems.

Global Methane Tracker 2025 Released by the IEA

The Global Methane Tracker 2025 has been released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), providing critical insights into global methane emissions.

Key Findings from the Global Methane Tracker 2025

• Methane’s Role in Global Warming: Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for approximately 30% of the global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution.
• Primary Sources of Methane Emissions: The three main contributors to methane emissions are:

- Agriculture

- Energy sector

- Waste management

• Impact of the Energy Sector: The energy sector, including oil, natural gas, coal, and bioenergy, is responsible for over 35% of methane emissions from human activities.
• Opportunities for Mitigation: Methane emissions could be reduced by up to 50% through measures like:

- Utilizing methane in mines

- Deploying technologies such as flaring or oxidation

What is Gas Flaring?

Gas flaring refers to the burning of natural gas that is associated with oil extraction, often contributing to methane emissions.

Schilka Systems: Key Asset in Countering Aerial Threats

As part of air defence efforts to counter Pakistani drone threats, the Indian Army has deployed advanced systems including L-70 anti-aircraft guns, ZU-23mm guns, and the Schilka self-propelled systems.

About Schilka Anti-Aircraft System

• Type: Self-propelled, radar-guided, mobile air defence weapon system
• Origin: Russian-designed platform built for tactical mobility and rapid response
• Platform Capabilities:

- Mounted on a tracked chassis for high mobility across terrains

- Equipped with anti-aircraft guns and short-range air defence missiles

- Uses a solid-state, hydraulically controlled turret

• Advanced Targeting Technology:

- Features a 3rd-generation electro-optical system

- Integrated with phased-array 3D tracking radar

- Provides 360-degree coverage and full-spectrum visibility, day or night

• Primary Role: Protects ground forces and armored units from aerial attacks, including drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft

India's Participation in the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests

India actively participated in the 20th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), held in New York, reaffirming its commitment to the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030.

About the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

• Establishment: The UNFF was established through a Resolution by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in October 2000.
• Main Objective: The forum's primary goal is to promote the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests. It also aims to strengthen long-term political commitment toward forest-related issues.
• Membership: The forum includes all UN member states as well as specialized agencies, fostering global collaboration on forest issues.

Schuman Declaration Celebrates 75th Anniversary at Europe Day in New Delhi

The External Affairs Minister of India attended the Europe Day celebration in New Delhi, which commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration.

What is the Schuman Declaration?

• Historic Proposal: The Schuman Declaration, presented in 1950 by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This initiative aimed at pooling the coal and steel production of member states.
• Foundation for European Integration: This declaration was the first step toward building supranational European institutions, which later evolved into the modern European Union (EU).

Sarvam AI Launches Bulbul v2 Text-to-Speech Model

Sarvam AI has introduced the Bulbul v2 Text-to-Speech Model, a cutting-edge technology designed to enhance speech synthesis.

Key Features of Bulbul v2

• Multilingual Support: The model supports 11 Indian languages, making it highly versatile for a wide range of users.
• Natural and Authentic Voices: The voices generated by Bulbul v2 are crafted to sound natural and authentic, avoiding the usual robotic or mechanical tone common in many text-to-speech systems.
• Customizable Voice Characteristics: Users can fine-tune the voice output by adjusting attributes such as pitch, pace, and loudness, allowing for personalized speech generation.