75 Years of National Sample Survey (NSS)

Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will observe the 19th Statistics Day on June 29, to honour the birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis

• Theme: “75 Years of National Sample Survey” – recognizing the critical contribution of the NSS in providing reliable, timely statistical data to support evidence-based policymaking.

About the National Sample Survey (NSS)

• Established: First survey conducted in 1950–1951, focused on land utilisation, daily wages, and more.
• Formalisation: Since 1972, NSS has been run under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Scope:
• • Conducts large-scale sample surveys on socio-economic subjects, Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), etc.
  • Collects rural and urban price data
  • Aids in improving crop statistics via area enumeration and crop estimation surveys in coordination with state agencies

P.C. Mahalanobis

• Known as the chief architect of the Indian statistical system and father of statistical science in India.

Major Contributions

• Established the Statistical Laboratory at Presidency College.
• Founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata in 1931.
• Played a pivotal role in setting up: Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), National Sample Survey (NSS), Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).
• Developed the Mahalanobis Model, a key framework for the Second Five Year Plan, focusing on industrialisation and economic development.

Asiatic Wild Dog

Context: The dhole (Cuon alpinus), or Asiatic wild dog, once believed to be locally exterminated, has made a confirmed return to the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL) in Assam.

• Discovery was made through camera-trap evidence in the Amguri corridor.
• Last confirmed sighting in northeast India was from Nagaland in 2011.
• The Amguri corridor is part of the 25,000 sq. km KKAL, a region within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.

About Asiatic Wild Dog

• It has a wide and massive head giving it a hyena-like appearance.
• The general tone of the fur is reddish.
• The gestation period of the species is usually 60 to 63 days, with litter sizes averaging four to six pups. The litters remain at the den site for 70 to 80 days.
• They are diurnal hunters and hunt in the early hours of the morning.

Habitat

• Historically found across southern Russia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
• Now restricted to South and Southeast Asia, with the northernmost populations in China.
• In India, dholes are found in three clusters:
  • Western and Eastern Ghats
  • Central Indian landscape
  • North East India
• According to a 2020 study, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh lead in dhole conservation efforts.

Ecological Role

• Dholes are apex predators.
• Known for social pack behavior, but also hunt solo or in pairs based on prey availability.
• Play a crucial role in maintaining forest ecosystem balance.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Endangered
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): Appendix II
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India): Schedule II

Manasarovar Lake

Context:  The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra has resumed after a 5 year hiatus with the first batch of Indian pilgrims arriving in Mansarovar lake in  Tibet.

• The pilgrimage to the two sites was suspended in 2020 due to border issues between India and China.

About Manasarovar Lake

• Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yun Tso) is world’s highest freshwater lake
• Location: The lake is situated in Western Tibet, Ngari Province  at the southern foot of Mount Kailash
• Altitude: The lake is situated at an altitude of 4590 meters with an area of 410 square kilometers
• Peak: The highest peak in the surrounding range is Gurla Mandata (7694 meters). 
• Religious Significance: The lake is revered by devotees of Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and the followers of the Tibetan religion of Bön.
• Monasteries: There were 8 monasteries around Lake Manasarovar in all cardinal directions, 
  • The Chiu Gompa (Northwest); Cherkip Monastery (now in ruins), Langbona (North), Seralung (East), Yerngo (ruins), Nyego Monastery (now in ruins), Trugo (South), and Gotsuk/Gossul (South-West)
• River Source: The Lake is source of Asia’s four greatest rivers named as the Ghaghara, Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Indus

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

Context: The U.S. Health Secretary announced the decision to stop supporting Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

(Gavi) citing the organization had “ignored the science” and “lost the public trust.”

• Gavi is facing a significant funding gap of over $9 billion for the 2026-2030 period. 

What is Gavi?

• Gavi refers to Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization
• It is a global vaccine alliance formed through a public-private partnership.
• Founded: 2000; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Key partners include:
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • UNICEF
  • The Gates Foundation
  • The World Bank
• Objective: The goal of Gavi is to provide vaccines to children in low-income countries.

India and GAVI

• India’s relationship with Gavi has evolved significantly over the past decade. 
• Having graduated from Gavi’s support framework in 2017, India is no longer a recipient of assistance but has emerged as a key vaccine supplier and contributor.
• India pledged $10 million during the previous funding cycle as part of its commitment to global immunization efforts.

Kishenganga Ratle Hydropower Projects

Context: Recently, India “categorically rejected” the “supplemental award” by the Court of Arbitration on Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects

India’s Position

• India has never recognized the Court of Arbitration constituted by the World Bank, asserting that its creation is a serious breach of the Indus Waters Treaty.
• The Treaty is in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.
• India describes Pakistan’s appeal to the World Bank as a unilateral action and regards the creation of the Court as violating the Treaty’s stipulations.

Court of Arbitration: It can be constituted by World Bank under Indus Water Treaty for disputes involving legal interpretations or the validity of treaty provisions

Kishenganga Hydroelectric Project

• A 330 MW run-of-the-river project located in Jammu and Kashmir, diverting water from the Kishanganga River to the Jhelum River basin.
  • Run-of-the-river scheme: Utilizes the natural flow of the river without a large reservoir.
• Status: Completed and operational.
• Pakistan’s Concerns: Pakistan has raised objections regarding the project’s impact on the Kishenganga/Neelum River and its downstream hydroelectric project. 

Ratle Hydroelectric Project

• An 850 MW run-of-the-river project on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Status: Under construction. 
• Pakistan’s Concerns: Concerns about the project’s design, particularly the spillway gates, fearing it gives India excessive control over river flow. 
• India’s Argument: The project is within the permissible limits defined by the Indus Waters Treaty.

Operation Deep Manifest

Context: Recently, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched an operation codenamed “Operation Deep Manifest”.

Operation Deep Manifest

• Objective: To target the illegal import of goods originating from Pakistan, routed through third countries (primarily Dubai, UAE), violating India’s import policy.
• Outcome: The operation resulted in the seizure of 39 containers containing 1,115 metric tonnes of goods valued at around ₹9 crore.
• Operation Sindoor: This operation is part of DRI’s broader efforts under Operation Sindoor, aimed at combating illicit trade and upholding India’s national and economic security.

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