Europe’s Eutelsat

Context: Speculation about Ukraine losing access to Starlink has raised concerns about its military communications and has focused investor interest on Starlink’s smaller European rival Eutelsat.

About Eutelsat

• Eutelsat S.A. is a French satellite operator. 
• It provides satellite coverage across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Services and Operations
  • Supports TV contribution services, corporate networks, mobile communications, and broadband access for terrestrial, maritime, and in-flight applications.
• Satellite Coverage:Eutelsat vs. Starlink
  • Starlink operates over 7,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for high-speed, real-time global communication.
  • Eutelsat, after merging with OneWeb, has 630 LEO satellites and 35 geostationary satellites, ensuring Europe-wide connectivity.

Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)

Context: The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) is set to be held between June 30 and July 3, 2025, in Seville, Spain,

About the Financing for Development (FfD) summit 

• It is a series of global conferences to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
• This summit  brings together countries, international institutions, and private sector actors to address financial challenges in achieving sustainable development.
  • So far, three conferences have been held
    • 2002 – Monterrey Consensus: Established a framework for financing development.
    • 2008 – Doha Declaration: Reaffirmed commitments and emphasized international cooperation.
    • 2015 – Addis Ababa Action Agenda: Focused on aligning finance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and innovative financing mechanisms.

Election Commission to Strengthen Communication and IT Systems for Efficient Poll Management

Context: The Election Commission (EC) is implementing a unified IT architecture with customized dashboards to address claims of voter list anomalies raised by Opposition parties.

About new IT system of Election Commission

• The new IT system will streamline the flow of information through a single-window platform with role-based access. 
• This will facilitate smoother communication between functionaries while incorporating cross-verification mechanisms to reduce errors. 
• The decision was made after a two-day conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from various States and Union Territories.
• As part of this initiative, an integrated dashboard will be developed for 28 identified stakeholders based on statutory requirements and EC guidelines.

Gum Arabic

Context: Smuggling of gum arabic from war-torn Sudan is disrupting global supply chains.

About Gum Arabic

• Definition: A water-soluble natural resin derived from Gum arabic tree (Acacia senegal).
• Gum arabic is a neutral or slightly acidic salt of a complex polysaccharide containing calcium, magnesium, and potassium cations.
• Source: Acacia trees grow across Africa’s Sahel region, known as the “gum belt.”
• In India  it is found in some parts of India mainly in the dry rocky hills of south east Punjab, in the northern Aravalli hills and other drier parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Properties: Excellent emulsifying, stabilizing, and thickening agent.

Uses of Gum Arabic

• Food and  Beverages:
• • Prevents ingredient separation in soft drinks, candies, and baked goods.
  • No direct substitute in soft drinks.
  • Key ingredients for companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
• Cosmetics: Ensures consistency in lotions, creams, and makeup.
• Pharmaceuticals: Used as a binding agent in medicines and capsules.
• Printing and Textiles: Enhances adhesion in inks and dyes.

Production Regions

• Sudan: Dominates the global supply with over 70% production.
• Other Countries: Chad, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali contribute smaller quantities.

Threats Global Supply Change

• Political Instability: Conflicts in Sudan disrupt production and exports.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: War impacts stockpiles and export reliability.
• Market Risks: International buyers seek stable sources, making Sudan’s instability a concern.
• Environmental Factors: Sustainable acacia cultivation is crucial for long-term supply.

Eklavya Schools

Context: The government’s 2020 plan to upgrade EMRS to the level of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) has seen limited progress.

About Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

• It is an initiative by the Government of India to provide quality education to tribal students in remote areas.
• The scheme was introduced in 1997-98
• Established in the States/UTs from the grants received under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.
• Implemented by: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Objective: To ensure that tribal students have access to quality education from upper primary to senior secondary levels.
• Managed by: The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS).
  • It is an autonomous organization, set up under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to establish and manage EMRS across the country.

West Bengal’s Deocha Pachami Coal Block

Context: Fresh protests among local villagers has halted the ongoing basalt mining work at the Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harisingha (DPDH) coal project

• Villagers from the Mathura Pahari, Sagarbandi and Chanda villages in Birbhum’s Mohammed Bazar block are protesting. 
• Symbolic Charka: Villagers put up a charka, a tribal tradition of planting sticks in the soil in protest to mark the stoppage of work till the charka is taken out.
• Demands: The villagers demanded a permanent stoppage of the coal mining project and improvement of civic amenities and living conditions in the area.

About the Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsingha (DPDH) coal block

• Location: The coal block is situated in West Bengal’s Birbhum district India.
• The coal mine project is considered the largest in Asia and the second-largest globally
• Reserves: The estimated reserves are to the tune of 40.7 billion tons.
• Agency: The West Bengal Power Development Corporation was allotted the coal block for development.

India’s High-Net-Worth Individuals Population (HNWI)

Context: The recently released Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2025 forecasts an increase of 9.4% in India’s HNWIs (those with assets exceeding $ 10 million).

Key Highlights of the Report

• India’s high-net-worth individuals population (HNWI) estimated at 85,698 in 2024 is expected to rise to 93,753 by 2028.
  • In 2024: The number of Indian HNWIs increased by 6% year-on-year (YoY) to 85,698 from 80,686 in 2023.
• India’s Rank: India is home to 3.7% of the wealthy individuals globally,
  • It currently stands at 4th position after the US (905,413 HNWIs), China (471,634 HNWIs) and Japan (122,119 HNWIs).
• Reasons: The result highlights country’s strong long-term economic growth, increasing investment opportunities, and evolving luxury market
• Billionaire Population: It has seen a YoY growth of 12% in 2024 over 2023. 
  • India has a total of 191 billionaires of which 26 joined the ranks in 2024. 
  • India ranks 3rd globally with a combined wealth estimated at $950 billion and stands behind the U.S. ($5.7 trillion) and Mainland China ($1.34 trillion).
• Global Growth: The number of HNWIs rose by 4.4% YoY in 2024 to 2,341,378 from 2,243,300 a year earlier.
  • Region wise: North America led in HNWI numbers followed by Asia with 5% increase, followed by Africa at 4.7%. Australasia at 3.9%, the Middle East at 2.7%, Latin America at 1.5% and Europe at 1.4% YoY growth.

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