Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Scheme

Context: Recently, WTO praised India’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme for significantly increasing MSME participation in international trade and promoting inclusive, secure, and efficient customs operations.

About AEO Scheme

• The Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme recognises businesses that meet specific compliance and security standards as ‘trusted traders’, entitling them to faster customs clearance, reduced inspections, and deferred duty payments.
• It aims to ease customs compliance and enhance global trade competitiveness for MSMEs.
• The AEO programme was launched as a pilot in 2011 by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
• It was revised in 2016 to merge India’s earlier Accredited Client Programme with the AEO scheme under the World Customs Organization’s SAFE Framework of Standards, providing a global model for secure and efficient customs operations.

Impact and Reforms for MSMEs

• The WTO highlighted India’s liberalised MSME package (2021) as a model initiative for making trusted trader programmes inclusive and accessible to smaller businesses.
• Reforms simplified certification: MSMEs now need 10 customs documents/year instead of 25, and two years operational history instead of three.
• Reduced Processing time: Reduced from one month to 15 days (tier-I) and from six months to three months (tier-II).
• Relaxed bank guarantee norms: MSME tier-I certificate holders now furnish only 25% of the standard requirement, tier-II firms provide 10% which is  up to 50% for non-certified traders
• Benefits: Direct port entry, fast-tracked refunds, priority adjudication, and dedicated port relationship managers, reducing logistics costs and turnaround times.

‘Ajit’ and ‘Aparajit’

Context: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) achieved a major milestone with the launch of two new Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) named ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

About ICGS Ajit & ICGS Aparajit

• These vessels are the seventh and eighth in a series of eight indigenously built FPVs being constructed by GSL for the ICG, 
• Significance: It marks an important step forward in enhancing the nation’s coastal surveillance and response capabilities.
• Built by: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)
  • Designed and built entirely in India, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding expertise.
• Primary Missions: Coastal patrol, fisheries protection, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search & rescue (SAR) operations.
• Operational Area: Particularly effective around India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and island territories, ensuring round-the-clock maritime security.

Features

• Dimensions and Design: Length: 52 metres & Displacement: 320 tonnes
• Propulsion System: It’s equipped with Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP)
• CPP: It’s the first of their kind in this class in India which ensures superior manoeuvrability, speed, and fuel efficiency.

Survey Vessel ‘Ikshak’

Context: The Indian Navy will commission ‘Ikshak’, the third Survey Vessel (Large) (SVL), at the Naval Base Kochi. 

About Survey Vessel ‘Ikshak’

• Construction By: Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., Kolkata, under the supervision of the Directorate of Ship Production and the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata).
• Indigenisation: Features over 80% indigenous content, highlighting the success of collaboration between GRSE and India’s MSME network in defence manufacturing.
• Series: Third vessel in the Survey Vessel (Large) class, following INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak.

Design and Capabilities

• Purpose: Designed to conduct high-precision hydrographic surveys, contributing to:
  • Maritime safety and navigation.
  • Production of nautical charts and publications.
  • Supporting both defence and commercial maritime operations.
• Dual-Role Functionality: 
  • Can be deployed for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
  • Configurable as a Hospital Ship during emergencies, expanding its utility beyond defence roles.
• Women’s Accommodation: Ikshak is the first vessel in the SVL series to feature dedicated accommodation for women personnel.
• Symbolism of the Name: The name “Ikshak” translates to “The Guide”, symbolising the vessel’s mission to chart uncharted waters.

Military Communication Satellite CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

About CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)

• Type: Multi-band communication satellite for defence services.
• Launch Vehicle: Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) 
• Orbit: To be launched into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
  • A GTO is an elliptical orbit used to transfer a satellite from low Earth orbit (LEO)to a geosynchronous orbit (GEO)
• Weight: Approximately 4,400 kg, making it the heaviest communication satellite launched from Indian soil.
• Coverage: Designed to provide secure communication services over a wide oceanic region, including the entire Indian landmass.

About Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)

• LVM3 is India’s most powerful launch vehicle, developed by ISRO.
• It is a three-stage heavy-lift rocket designed to carry communication, navigation, and deep-space missions (like Chandrayaan & Gaganyaan).
• Stages:
• • Stage 1 – Solid Propellant – Provides initial thrust after boosters separate
  • Stage 2 – Liquid Propellant – Two large strap-on boosters for liftoff
  • Stage 3 – Cryogenic (Liquid Hydrogen + Liquid Oxygen) – Final stage which injects satellite into orbit

About Geostationary satellite

• A geostationary satellite is one that orbits the Earth at the same rotational speed and in the same direction as Earth’s rotation, appearing stationary over a fixed point on the equator.
• Orbital Altitude: A geostationary satellite orbits at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers above the Earth’s equator.
• Orbital Period: The satellite completes one full orbit every 24 hours, matching the Earth’s rotational period.
• Orbital Plane: The satellite’s orbit is circular and lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.
• Coverage:  Provides continuous coverage of a large area (~1/3 of Earth’s surface).
  • Three satellites can cover most of the globe (except polar regions).
• Applications: 
  • Communication satellites: e.g., INSAT series (India).
  • Weather monitoring: e.g., METEOSAT, INSAT-3D.
  • Broadcasting: TV, radio, and internet services.
  • Navigation augmentation: e.g., GAGAN system in India.

NSC Seed Processing Plants

Context: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development inaugurated the National Seeds Corporation’s (NSC) at Pusa Complex, New Delhi.

About the Seed Processing Plant

• New Delhi (Pusa Complex): Vegetable and flower seed processing plant with a capacity of 1 tonne per hour.
• Other Five Plants: Located at Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh, and Raichur, each with a capacity of 4 tonnes per hour.
• Technology and Features: Equipped with advanced processing and packaging technologies to ensure:
  • Enhanced seed purity, viability, and quality control.
  • Improved efficiency in seed production and distribution.
• Objective: To strengthen India’s seed production ecosystem and ensure farmers, especially small and marginal ones, have access to reliable, high-quality seeds.

Other Digital Initiatives Launched

• Seed Management 2.0 System: A digital platform launched to streamline seed production, storage, and distribution processes.
• Online Seed Booking Platform: 
• • Enables farmers to book seeds online, ensuring transparency, accessibility, and convenience in procurement.
  • Aimed at eliminating spurious and substandard seed distribution, which has been a major concern among farmers.

About National Seeds Corporation (NSC)

• Established: 1963.
• Ownership: Fully government-owned Schedule ‘B’ Mini Ratna Category-I company under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
• Role: 
  • Production, processing, and distribution of high-quality certified seeds of various crops.
  • Plays a pivotal role in seed multiplication, certification, and research collaboration to boost productivity.
• Network: Operates multiple seed farms, testing laboratories, and processing units across India.

Benzene

Context: Two hundred years after its discovery by Michael Faraday in 1825, benzene remains a cornerstone of industrial chemistry.

What is Benzene ?

• Benzene (C₆H₆) is an aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of six carbon atoms forming a hexagonal ring with alternating single and double bonds between them. 
• It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor.
• It is primarily derived from petroleum and natural gas.
• Early Uses: Initially derived from coal tar — used as a solvent, in perfumes, and even to decaffeinate coffee before toxicity was known.
• Industrial Transformation: The 20th-century petrochemical revolution made benzene production scalable using crude oil and natural gas as feedstocks.

Applications of Benzene

• Industrial Uses: Benzene became a key feedstock for multiple high-demand materials:
  • Styrene → Polystyrene plastics (cups, foams, packaging).
  • Cumene → Phenol and Acetone (polycarbonates, epoxy resins).
  • Cyclohexane → Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 (textiles, engineering plastics).
  • Solvents: It is used as a solvent in the production of paints, coatings, and adhesives.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Used in the synthesis of various drugs like paracetamol, aspirin, and other organic compounds.
  • Explosives and Dyes: Benzene is used in the manufacture of explosives (such as TNT) and dyes.
• Fuel Additives: Benzene is sometimes present in gasoline and serves as an octane booster.
• Laboratory Use: Used in laboratories for various chemical reactions and as a solvent.
• Benzene in Advanced Materials:
  • Polymers: Benzene’s delocalised electrons enable the creation of conducting polymers such as:
    • Polyaniline – used in sensors and anticorrosion coatings.
    • Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) – used in polymer LEDs.
  • Organic Electronics: OLEDs, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and organic photovoltaics (OPVs) — crucial for flexible electronics, displays, and solar cells.

Hazards and Risks

• Health Risks:
  • Carcinogenicity: Benzene is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Long-term exposure can cause leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming tissues.
  • Blood Disorders: Chronic exposure can lead to aplastic anemia, affecting bone marrow and red blood cell production.
  • Neurological Effects: Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can lead to dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, and unconsciousness.
• Environmental Impact:
  • Air Pollution: Benzene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that contributes to air pollution and the formation of ground-level ozone (smog).
  • Water Contamination: Benzene can leach into water sources from industrial waste, leading to contamination and posing health risks to communities dependent on water sources.

CRYODIL

Context: Scientists at the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have developed CRYODIL, a solution for cryopreserving buffalo semen.

About CRYODIL

• Nature: A ready-to-use, egg yolk-free semen extender.
• Longer Shelf Life: 18 months, compared to a few hours for egg yolk-based extenders.
• Cost-Effective: Cheaper to produce than conventional formulations.
• Developed by: ICAR–NIANP, Bengaluru.
• Biosecure: Eliminates microbial risks associated with egg components.
• Patent: Filed for both the product and its preparation method.
• Testing: Conducted on 24 buffalo bulls, showing significantly improved post-thaw motility and viability of sperm compared to conventional extenders.
• Significance: CRYODIL marks the first indigenously developed product of its kind in India, designed to improve buffalo breeding efficiency and dairy productivity.

Problem with Traditional Egg Yolk-Based Extenders

• Short Shelf Life: Fresh egg yolk lasts only a few hours and varies in composition between eggs.
• Variable Composition: Differences between eggs lead to inconsistent sperm survival and motility.
• Contamination Risk: Egg Yolks can carry harmful microbes, posing biosecurity risks to animal health.

Redrawing Boundaries of Wildlife Sanctuaries

Context: The Ladakh State Wildlife Board (LSWB) has proposed a major redrawing of boundaries for the Karakoram and Changthang Wildlife Sanctuaries.

About Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Situated in the Karakoram Range of Ladakh, in Jammu & Kashmir, near the Indo-Pakistan border.
• Geographical Significance: One of the highest-altitude wildlife sanctuaries in India (~4,000–5,800 m).
• Climate: Cold desert climate – long, harsh winters and short summers with very low precipitation.
• Rivers: Part of the Shyok River basin, a tributary of the Indus River system.
• Vegetation: Sparse alpine and cold desert vegetation; mostly grasses, sedges, cushion plants, and hardy shrubs.
• Flora: Includes Artemisia, Caragana, Ephedra, and Juniper species adapted to arid conditions.
• Fauna: Home to Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Blue Sheep (Bharal), Ibex, Eurasian Lynx.

About Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Situated in southeastern Ladakh, extending along the Changthang Plateau, bordering Tibet (China).
• Geographical Significance: Contains Tso Moriri, Tso Kar, and Pangong Tso lakes — major Ramsar sites.
• Climate: Extreme cold desert climate — subzero temperatures, high wind, and low rainfall (<100 mm annually).
• Rivers: Drained by small streams feeding the Indus River system
• Vegetation: Dominated by alpine steppe vegetation; grassy meadows near lakes, sparse shrubs elsewhere.
• Fauna: Important habitat for Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass), Snow Leopard, Tibetan Gazelle, Argali (Great Tibetan Sheep), and Tibetan Wolf.

53rd Chief Justice of India

Context: Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has formally recommended Justice Surya Kant, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor and the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Appointment Procedure

• Legal Framework: The appointment of the Chief Justice of India follows the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), a convention developed in consultation between the judiciary and the executive.
• Process:
• • Initiation: The Law Ministry writes to the outgoing CJI approximately a month before retirement, seeking a recommendation for the next CJI.
  • Recommendation: The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court (in accordance with convention) is recommended for the post.
  • Executive Process: The recommendation is forwarded to the Prime Minister, who advises the President of India to make the appointment.
  • Oath of Office: The President administers the oath of office to the incoming CJI under Article 124(6).
• Convention: The practice of appointing the senior-most judge is a constitutional convention, not explicitly written in law, but upheld for judicial independence and institutional continuity.

About Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for Appointment of Judges

• The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) is a convention that outlines the process for appointment and transfer of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts in India.
• It is not a law, but a set of guidelines agreed upon between the Judiciary and the Executive.

Background

• The MoP derives from Article 124 (Supreme Court judges) and Article 217 (High Court judges) of the Constitution.
• It evolved through the “Three Judges Cases” (1981, 1993, 1998), which established the Collegium System.
• The Collegium recommends names, while the Executive formally appoints them.

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