Tanzania

Context: Tanzania has reported its first confirmed case of the deadly Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease with a fatality rate of up to 88% in untreated cases.

About Tanzania

• Tanzania is a country  in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region.
• It is  in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Borders: It is bordered by 
  • Northwest: Uganda
  • Northeast: Kenya
  • East: Indian Ocean
  • South: Mozambique and Malawi
  • Southwest: Zambia
  • West: Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Capital:
  • Dodoma is the official capital and seat of government.
  • Dar es Salaam remains the largest city, commercial hub, and principal port.

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Other Important information

• Highest mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro.
  • Located in the northeast, It is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
• Lakes:
  • Lake Victoria: Africa’s largest lake.
  • Lake Tanganyika: Africa’s deepest lake, known for unique fish species.
  • Lake Malawi: Lies in the southern region.
• Waterfalls: Kalambo Falls, on the Zambia border, is Africa’s second-highest uninterrupted waterfall.
• Economy: Tanzania has a mixed economy, primarily driven by agriculture.
  • Key economic activities include:
    • Agriculture: Produces coffee, tea, cotton, and cashews.
    • Mining: Rich in gold, diamonds, and tanzanite.
    • Tourism: Attracts visitors worldwide to its natural attractions.
• Major Rivers
  • Rufiji River: The largest river in Tanzania, essential for irrigation and hydroelectric power.
  • Pangani River: Critical for generating electricity and supporting agriculture.
  • Wami River: Supports wetlands and coastal ecosystems.

Electoral Trust

Context: After the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional on February 15, 2024, electoral trusts became a key channel for political party donations.

What is electoral trust?

• Electoral trusts are non-profit organizations.
• They collect donations from people and companies and give the money to political parties.
• Objective: The main purpose is to make political donations more transparent and fair.
• Rules for Electoral Trusts
  • Governed by Law: They follow the rules of the Electoral Trust Scheme, 2013, managed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
  • Tax Benefits: Donations made through electoral trusts get tax benefits under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Who Can Donate?
  • Only Indian citizens and companies within India can donate.
  • Donations from foreign individuals or companies are not allowed.
• Restrictions on Contributions
  • ETs cannot accept contributions from:
    • Foreign individuals or entities.
    • Government companies under the Companies Act, 2013.
    • Other electoral trusts registered as companies.
    • Foreign sources as defined under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA).
    • Cash donations.
• Transparency in Donations
  • Electoral trusts must reveal:
    • The names of the people or companies donating.
    • The amount of money donated.
  • This system makes the process more open compared to electoral bonds, which allow donations to stay anonymous.

Why Are Electoral Trusts Important?

• They make sure that political parties receive funds in a clear and legal way.
• They help reduce corruption by showing who is giving money to which political party.

Vikas Liquid Engine

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently carried out a successful demonstration of restarting its Vikas liquid engine and flagged off the core liquid stage (L110) of ISRO’s LVM3 launch vehicle.

About the Demonstration Test

• Venue: The demonstration was carried out at the test facility at Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
• Significance: The Restarting demonstration test is a milestone in the development of technologies for recovery of stages, leading to reusability in future launch vehicles. 

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About the Core Liquid Stage (L110)

• Powered by: The core liquid stage (L110) of the LVM3 launch vehicle is powered by twin Vikas engines with a propellant loading of 110 tonnes
• Designed By: The stage was designed and developed by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
• Integration: The L110 core liquid stage is earmarked for the LVM3 mission under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile & Science, LLC to launch their BlueBird Block 2 satellite.

About The Vikas Rocket Engine

• The Vikas Rocket Engine is a liquid-fueled engine powering the liquid stages of all the  ISRO’s launch vehicles.
  • It powers the liquid stages of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and LVM3 for space launch use.
• It is named after the Indian scientist and father of the Indian space programme, Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai.
• Developed By: Vikas engine was developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the 1970s 
• Fuel Used: The Vikas engine uses  40 metric tonnes of Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as the fuel and Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) as the oxidizer

Entity Locker

Context: A digital platform designed to transform the management and verification of business/organisation documents named ‘Entity Locker’ has been launched recently.

About Entity Locker

• Entity Locker is a secure, cloud-based solution aimed at simplifying the storage, sharing, and verification of documents for a wide range of entities including,
  • Large organisations, corporations, micro, small, and medium Enterprises (MSMEs), trusts, startups and societies. 
• The platform is a critical component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure
• Developed by: The National eGovernance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• Use Cases:
  • Vendor verification on the procurement portal
  • Expedited loan applications for MSMEs
  • FSSAI compliance documentation
  • Vendor verification during registration in GSTN, MCA and tendering process
  • Streamlined corporate annual filings
• Features: Entity Locker integrates with multiple government and regulatory systems while offering,
  • Verification: Real-time access and verification of documents through integration with government databases
  • Sharing: Consent-based mechanisms for secure sharing of sensitive information
  • Aadhaar-authenticated role-based access management to ensure accountability
  • Cloud storage: 10 GB of encrypted cloud storage for secure document management
  • Authentication: Legally valid digital signatures for authenticating documents
• Advantages:
  • Simplified Compliance Processes: Entity Locker will seamlessly integrate with systems such as the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) etc and provide  businesses instant access to critical documents. 
  • Enhance Operational Efficiency: It aims to minimize administrative overhead, reduce processing times, and enhance operational efficiency for businesses.
  • Consolidates storage and security to reduce administrative overhead
  • Minimizes document processing times and operational bottlenecks
  • Digital India Programme: It will create a digitally empowered and efficient business environment.

Donald Trump Sworn in as 47th President of the United States

Context: Donald Trump has taken office as the 47th President of the United States, marking a return to power after losing the 2020 election.

More about the news

• Trump took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, using both a family Bible and President Abraham Lincoln’s Bible.
• Trump’s return raises questions about the shifting dynamics of U.S. politics and its global implications.
• The inauguration followed a period of partisan divides, economic challenges, and foreign policy debates.
• It underscores the resilience of democratic systems that allow leaders to make political comebacks.

• His address emphasized themes of economic recovery, “America First” policies, and border security, consistent with his earlier presidency.
• The event was attended by key political figures, highlighting the symbolic significance of the transfer of power.
• His inauguration sets the stage for a new term focused on his vision for “renewed greatness” and “America First” policies.

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Lake Naivasha

Context: Invasive water hyacinth threatens fishers’ livelihoods on popular Kenyan lake Naivasha.

About Lake Naivasha

• Lake Naivasha is a shallow freshwater lake located in the southern Rift Valley of Kenya.
• The lake is of relatively recent geological origin and is surrounded by extinct or dormant volcanoes.
• It has been designated as a Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance.
• Hydrology: The lake is fed by two perennial rivers, the Malewa and the Gilgil Rivers.
• • These rivers drain the Aberdare Mountains located in central Kenya.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

• Origin: Native to South America, introduced to other regions as an ornamental plant.
• Invasive Nature: Considered the most invasive aquatic plant species in the world.
  • Rapid growth and regeneration rate.
  • Forms dense mats on water surfaces, obstructing sunlight and airflow.
  • Displaces native species and disrupts aquatic ecosystems.
• Environmental Impact:
  • Reduces oxygen levels, affecting fish and aquatic life.
  • Blocks waterways, hindering transport and fishing.
  • Increases water evaporation rates.

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