Context: Germany’s newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz has raised concerns about the future of NATO following recent statements by the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump.
About NATO
- It refers to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- It is a political and military alliance established to ensure collective security and defence among its members.
- The principle of collective responsibility in NATO is that an attack on one member country is considered an attack on all member countries.
- This principle is enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
- Foundation (1949): Formed with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) to deter Soviet expansion in Europe after World War II.
- Headquarters: Based in Brussels, Belgium.
- Membership: Initially 12 founding members; now 32 countries from Europe and North America.
- Recent additions include Finland (2023).
Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement
Context: The protesting farmers at the Punjab and Haryana borders observe February 23 as the Pagri Sambhal Diwas, in honour of the birth anniversary of Freedom fighter Ajit Singh.
- Pagri Sambhal Diwas has been observed since 2021, when farmers protested at the now scrapped 3 farm laws at the Delhi borders.
About the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement
- Meaning: ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ literally translates to ‘take care of your turban, o farmer’ is a slogan coined by Banke Dayal (a nationalist poet) and became the symbol of resistance invoking self respect and honour.
- Date: The Movement was started by Ajit Singh in 1907.
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- Bharat Mata Society: Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father) formed the Bharat Mata Society, a revolutionary group for farmers.
- Reason: To protest against three agricultural laws imposed by the British. The three laws were,
- The Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900: It restricted the rights of farmers to sell or mortgage their land freely and favored moneylenders and landlords, making it difficult for peasants to escape debt.
- The Punjab Land Colonisation Act, 1906: It gave the British control over land ownership in the newly developed Chenab Colony with the land being transferred to the British government upon death instead of passing it to their heirs.
- The Doab Bari Act, 1907: It took away farmers’ ownership rights over their lands, effectively reducing them to contract workers.
- Impact: It was one of the first major farmer movements against British rule in Punjab.
- The agitation led to mass protests and civil disobedience.
- Withdrawal of some oppressive clauses of the laws.
- It inspired future protests, including the Ghadar Movement and Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary activities.
About Ajit Singh
- Ajit Singh was a prominent freedom fighter, revolutionary, and nationalist leader and the paternal uncle of Bhagat Singh.
- Born: In the year 1881 at Khatkar Kalan village in Punjab (now part of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district)
- Exile: Ajit Singh remained in exile from 1907 (arrested and exiled to Myanmar) to 1947
- He worked closely with revolutionaries in Europe and was associated with Lala Hardayal and Madame Cama.
Gulf of Tonkin
Context: Vietnam’s foreign ministry published a map defining its baseline claim in the Gulf of Tonkin, where it shares a maritime border with China
- The lines were mapped with 14 points running from offshore Quang Ninh province to Quang Tri province.
- Baselines: They are used to determine limits to territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
- Legal Basis: As per the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement on the Delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin signed between Vietnam and China in 2000.
- Baselines are the basis for determining the boundaries and scope of Vietnam’s maritime zones
- Significance: To create additional legal basis to protect and enforce Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, serving economic development, marine management, and promoting international cooperation.
The Gulf of Tonkin
- It is a crescent shaped gulf situated at the northwestern portion of the South China Sea, located off the coasts of Tonkin (northern Vietnam) and South China.
- Native Names: The gulf is known as “Beibu Gulf” in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in native Vietnamese.
- Area: The gulf is a shallow portion of the Pacific Ocean with a total surface area of 126,250 km2 (48,750 sq mi).
- Neighbours: It is defined in the west and northwest by the northern coastline of Vietnam down to the Cồn Cỏ district. In the north by China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and to the east by the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island.
- River: The Red river drains into the gulf.
- Ports: Main ports in the gulf include Haiphong, Ben Thuy, and Beihai.
- Conflict Site: It was the site of the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964.
- The U.S. Navy sent ships to the Gulf of Tonkin to support South Vietnam.
- The Gulf of Tonkin was also the site of increased naval activity in 1972 when the U.S. Navy mined the entrances to North Vietnamese ports.
Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz classified as Major Minerals
Context: The Ministry of Mines has reclassified Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz as major minerals through a gazette notification on 20th February 2025.
What are major and minor minerals?
Minerals are categorised as major and minor based on its economic importance.
- Major minerals are of high economic value.
- It plays a major role in heavy industries such as steel, cement, and energy production.
- Governed by: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 at the central level.
- Minor minerals
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- These minerals have low economic value.
- Primarily use: construction, decorative, and local industries
- Regulated by: it is governed by state government
Reason for Reclassification
- Critical Minerals in Pegmatite Rocks
- Quartz, Felspar, and Mica are found in pegmatite rocks, which also contain critical minerals like Lithium, Beryllium, Niobium, and Tungsten.
- These minerals are vital for renewable energy, healthcare, electronics, and aerospace industries.
- Under-Reporting and Wastage
- Earlier, as minor minerals, leaseholders focused only on extracting Quartz, Mica, etc., for construction or ceramics, ignoring critical minerals.
- Critical minerals like Lithium were neither reported nor extracted, leading to waste.
- Baryte’s Hidden Value
- Baryte (used in oil drilling, medical, and electronics) is often found with metals like Copper, Silver, and Antimony.
- Mining Baryte or associated metals inevitably produces other minerals, but these were not utilized earlier.
Health Ministry bars export of Unapproved Drug Combination
Context: The Health Ministry has taken strict action against Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, for exporting an unapproved combination of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol to West African countries.
What is a combination drug or a fixed-dose combination (FDC)?
- This type of drug comprises two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in single dose form.
- Examples: Cough syrups like Phensedyl and Corex,
Key actions taken
- Immediate Ban and License Cancellation
- The government has issued a stop activity order to Aveo Pharmaceuticals.
- Maharashtra FDA has issued a stop production order
- Regulatory Findings
- Tapentadol: Approved in India in tablet forms of 50, 75, and 100 mg, and extended-release tablets of 100, 150, and 200 mg.
- Carisoprodol: Approved individually, but not in combination with Tapentadol.
- Regulatory Processes
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- CDSCO (the Indian Regulatory Authority) is updating the export NoC checklist to ensure compliance.
Bhavani River
Context: Recently, the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department of Tamil Nadu found that the Bhavani River water at Palaiyur village in Jadayampalayam village panchayat was unsafe for drinking due to pollution.
About Bhavani River
- Origin of Bhavani River: Originates in the upper regions of the Nilgiris in the Western Ghats and enters the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala before flowing into Tamil Nadu.
- Flow Across Tamil Nadu: The river flows across three districts of Tamil Nadu: Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and Erode.
- Major Tributary of Cauvery River: The Bhavani River is a significant tributary of the Cauvery River and contributes to its water flow.
- Confluence with Cauvery River: The Bhavani River merges with the Cauvery River at Bhavani Kooduthurai near the Sangameshwarar Temple in Erode.
- Drainage Basin Distribution: The drainage basin of the Bhavani River is spread across three states:
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- 87% in Tamil Nadu
- 9% in Kerala
- 4% in Karnataka
- Tributaries of Bhavani River: The largest tributaries of the Bhavani River are West Varagar and East Varagar, which originate from the Nilgiris.
- Bhavanisagar Dam: Constructed on the Bhavani River, is one of the world’s largest earthen dams, playing a crucial role in irrigation and water supply.
February 24, 2025
