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Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Brief History of UIDAI<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The UIDAI was initially a division of the Planning Commission, which is today known as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>NITI Aayog<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. But in 2015, the government changed the “Allocation of Business Rules” to include <\/span><\/span><\/span>UIDAI under the control of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
In 2010, a person residing in Nandurbar, Maharashtra, received the first UID number, also known as an Aadhaar.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The government of India officially acknowledged UIDAI on July 12, 2016, in accordance with the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aadhaar Act 2016.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
With its main office in New Delhi, UIDAI also operates eight or so regional offices across India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Objectives of UIDAI: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The main objective of UIDAI is to issue a 12-digit unique identification number (UID) to each individual in order to:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Do away with duplication of identities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Verify and authenticate identity in a cost-effective manner<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The body is now responsible for the enrolment, authentication and management of all stages in the development of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aadhaar Card<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> life cycle.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About Aadhar<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Its a 1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>2-digit unique identity for every Indian individual, including children and infants\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Enables id<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>entification for every resident Indian\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Establishes uniqueness of every individual on the basis of demographic and biometric information\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It is a voluntary service that every resident can avail irrespective of present documentation\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Each individual will be given a single unique Aadhaar ID number<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Aadhaar will provide a universal identity infrastructure which can be used by any identity-based application (like ration card, passport, etc.)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
UIDAI will give Yes\/No answers to any identity authentication queries\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
Initiatives lead to strengthening of Aadhaar ecosystem<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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As a part of Aadhaar 2.O a number of initiatives for strengthening the Aadhaar System have been taken in the recent past.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Biometrics based deduplication:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Biometric Service Providers (BSPs) presently operational use Facial image as additional biometric attribute for de-duplication along with 10 finger prints and two IRIS.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The present BSPs have capabilities to detect mixed biometrics of different persons.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Identify use of unusual Biometrics from multiple individuals for a single enrolment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Capability\u00a0 to detect attempted enrolment by using wrong fingers, non human fingers, gummy fingers, inverted IRIS images, closing of eyes, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
A robust liveliness check of fingerprints in authentication transactions is in operation. The new two factor\/layer authentication is adding add-on checks to validate the genuineness (liveness) of the fingerprint so as to eliminate chances of any spoofing attempts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
2. Strengthening Aadhaar Enrolment\/Update ecosystem:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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To discourage mischievous operators from misusing the system, GPS fencing has been embedded in the Enrolment machines. An operator is required to verify the credentials of the Enrolment machine regularly with the UIDAI data centre and only\u00a0 a limited number of enrolments are allowed per day per machine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
With Aadhaar saturation reaching near universal, Adult enrolments are now happening at a restricted number of centers. Trusted and verified\u00a0 operators of enrolment Agencies only are allowed\u00a0 to carry out new enrolments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
An updated and user friendly list of supporting documents required for Aadhaar enrolment and update has been notified.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
UIDAI regularly carries out inspections to find deviant behavior among operators. UIDAI does benching and retraining of operators on a regular basis.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Related Supreme Court Rulings<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Supreme Court of India, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Justice Puttaswamy (Retd.) and Anr. v Union of India and Ors.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> upheld the overall validity of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (the “Aadhaar Act”).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Aadhaar Act was held to be constitutional to the extent it allowed for Aadhaar number-based authentication for establishing the identity of an individual for receipt of a subsidy, benefit or service given by the Central or State Government funded from the Consolidated Fund of India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
However, the Supreme Court disallowed the use of individual Aadhaar numbers by any private entities for establishing the identity of the individual concerned for any purpose pursuant to a contract, on the basis that it was contrary to the fundamental right to privacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Supreme Court also ruled on a number of laws, circulars and directions, which required the mandatory linking of Aadhaar for receiving relevant services. For instance, it said, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aadhaar proof is not mandatory for opening bank accounts or borrowing unless the customer is a beneficiary of government subsidies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>TH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
National Statistics Day<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Achievements of Indian in S&T<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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In recognition of the contributions made by Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning, the Government of India has designated <\/span><\/span><\/span>29th June<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as \u201cStatistics Day\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
More on the News:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The objective of this Day is to create public awareness, especially in the younger generation, by drawing inspiration from Professor (late) Mahalanobis about the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The theme of Statistics Day, 2023 is <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cAlignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Contribution of P C Mahalanobis<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Mahalanobis set up the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Indian Statistical Institute(ISI)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> as a learned society on 17 December 1931, which was registered in April 1932 as a non-profit distributing learned society under the Societies Registration Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
All or nearly all the statistical work done in India during the 1920s and until the mid-1930s was done single-handedly by Mahalanobis.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Some of the findings of these early studies were of great impact in the control of floods and development of agriculture. His analysis of anthropometric data led to the famous concept in Statistics known as <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cMahalanobis Distance\u00e2€Ÿ.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Mahalanobis’s contributions to large scale sample surveys are among his most significant and lasting gifts to statistics.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The three notable contributions to the theory and practice of sample surveys by Mahalanobis are <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpilot surveys, optimum survey design and Interpenetrating Network of sub-samples technique (IPNS)\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
In addition to introducing these concepts, Mahalanobis raised important and difficult philosophical questions on randomness and representativeness of a sample, which remain relevant and challenging even today.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
He was elected Chairman of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Statistical Sampling in 1947, and held this post until 1951.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Mahalanobis received the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Weldon Medal from Oxford University<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in 1944 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, London, in 1945, for his fundamental contributions to Statistics, particularly in the area of large-scale sample surveys.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Although remembered today largely as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>architect of India\u2019s five-year plan model<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, Mahanalobis, as the honorary statistical adviser to the cabinet, had a greater contribution in building a new statistical architecture for the country. He helped establish the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), the National Sample Survey (NSS) and the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, all of which were run from ISI in the early years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He was a truly visionary leader of his times and the path shown by him has not lost its relevance even today. It has only gained in importance.\u00a0 He is rightly referred to as the chief architect of the Indian statistical system as well as father of statistical science in India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span>PIB<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chandrayaan Missions<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Space<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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ISRO will soon launch its <\/span><\/span><\/span>third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (Ch-3) with the primary objective of <\/span><\/span><\/span>executing a precise landing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> on the celestial body.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Chandrayaan is India’s lunar exploration program<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> consisting of a <\/span><\/span><\/span>series of<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>robotic missions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> that aims to explore the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Moon and its resources<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chandrayaan-1 mission<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It was launched in October 2008 and it orbited the Moon and performed a number of scientific experiments and observations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It was India’s first lunar mission and the first to discover water on the Moon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It Involved an <\/span><\/span><\/span>orbiter and an impactor<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, both of which were built by ISRO.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It was<\/span><\/span><\/span> launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and made <\/span><\/span><\/span>more than 3,400 orbits<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> around the Moon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It was operational for 312 days till August 29, 2009.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chandrayaan-2 mission<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Launched on July 22, 2019, the Chandrayaan-2 mission\u2019s Vikram lunar lander crashed on the Moon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Objective of the Chandrayaan-2 was to demonstrate the ability to soft-land a lander and rover on the unexplored south pole of the Moon, it also had other goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The mission was designed <\/span><\/span><\/span>to expand the lunar scientific knowledge<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> through a <\/span><\/span><\/span>detailed study<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of topography, seismography, mineral identification and distribution, surface chemical composition, thermo-physical characteristics of topsoil and composition of the tenuous lunar atmosphere, leading to a new understanding of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>origin and evolution of the Moon<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Despite the setback, the mission<\/span><\/span><\/span> wasn\u2019t a complete failure <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>as its <\/span><\/span><\/span>Orbiter part kept on working normally <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and produced a handsome amount of data about the Moon.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
This <\/span><\/span><\/span>helped in building upon existing knowledge of the celestial body <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>in terms of its surface, sub-surface and exosphere.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The<\/span><\/span><\/span> lander Vikram and rover Pragyaan <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>were carrying instruments to carry out observations on the surface.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
These were supposed to pick up additional information about the <\/span><\/span><\/span>terrain, composition and mineralogy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chandrayaan-3 Mission<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Chandrayaan-3 is India\u2019s third moon mission and is slated to be launched later this year by Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LMV3) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Chandrayaan-3 is an interplanetary mission which has three major modules:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The Propulsion module,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Lander module, and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Rover.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
The mission\u2019s complexity calls for establishing radio-frequency (RF) communication links between the modules.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Significance<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The mission has helped India gain <\/span><\/span><\/span>valuable knowledge and experience<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in space exploration, which can be applied to other fields, such as <\/span><\/span><\/span>satellite technology and space tourism<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The<\/span><\/span><\/span> discovery of water on the Moon by Chandrayaan-1 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>has opened up new possibilities for space exploration and resource utilization, including the potential for <\/span><\/span><\/span>future lunar colonies and space mining<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It puts India in the coveted league of being only the<\/span><\/span><\/span> 4th country in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> after the United States, Russia and China to have successfully landed on the moon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: TH<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Facts In News<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
American Bald Eagle<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Species in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The <\/span><\/span><\/span>American bald eagl<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>e was removed from the United States\u2019 list of <\/span><\/span><\/span>endangered species <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>on June 28, 2007.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Since then, the population of the bird has steadily risen.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Population decline since the 1800s<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Bald eagles were abundant <\/span><\/span><\/span>across the United States<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> when they were adopted as the US\u2019s national symbol in 1782.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
In the early 1800s, their population started to decline as they were seen as a threat to livestock, especially domestic chicken, their feathers used on hats for fashion symbols.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Later on, the appearance of <\/span><\/span><\/span>DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>used for agriculture <\/span><\/span><\/span>decimates the bald eagle population<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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DDT is promoted as an insecticide and is used to kill malaria-carrying mosquitos and agricultural pests.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How DDT decimates the bald eagle population?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Water bodies contaminated with DDT, which in turn contaminated the fish in them. The chemical would enter the bald eagles\u2019 bloodstream when they would eat these fish.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
DDT resulted in<\/span><\/span><\/span> female eagles laying extremely thin-shelled eggs<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, leading to<\/span><\/span><\/span> nesting failures.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Notably, like the <\/span><\/span><\/span>bald eagle, birds such as ospreys and peregrine falcons <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>also faced a similar dropoff in population.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
American bald eagle<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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About:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Bald eagle, the only eagle <\/span><\/span><\/span>solely native to North America<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. In 1782, it was first placed with outspread wings on the country\u2019s Great Seal as a sign of strength.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Features:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Bald eagles are <\/span><\/span><\/span>large, predatory raptors that are recognizable for their brown body and wings<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, white head and tail, and hooked yellow beak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Their feet are yellow, and are equipped with sharp black talons. Eagle nests are called <\/span><\/span><\/span>aeries (AIR-ees).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Female bald eagles are a bit bigger than males.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Bald eagles love fish. They’ll eat whatever they can catch, including small birds and rodents.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Distribution:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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They are <\/span><\/span><\/span>North American birds<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Their range extends from the Mexico border through the United States and Canada.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The birds are extremely populous in Alaska.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Conservation Steps Taken<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Rachel Carson\u2019s book Silent Spring <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>played a crucial role in documenting the detrimental effects of chemical pesticides on the environment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
US has pass the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act in 1940<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> expanding protections and prohibiting even the possession of eagle feathers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
DDT was banned<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for agricultural use in 1972.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The <\/span><\/span><\/span>Endangered Species Act<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> was enacted. This act broadened protections already in place for endangered species, particularly focussing on the protection of animal habitats.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Captive breeding programmes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> were launched in the 1970s.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Hacking Practice commonly<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> used by conservationists. Hacking is a controlled way to<\/span><\/span><\/span> raise and release bald eagles into a wild viable environment from artificial nesting towers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. This method simulates a wild eagle nesting site and aids in recovery in an area where re-population is desirable.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>IE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
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Green Credit Programme (GCP)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/Environment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the<\/span><\/span><\/span> draft \u2018Green Credit Programme (GCP)\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> implementation rules 2023 under<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span>Mission LiFE.<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The move follows the Finance Minister’s announcement of the creation of a Green Credit Programme in the union budget speech this year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The draft notification will be out on public domain for <\/span><\/span><\/span>60 days for inviting objection and suggestion after which the rules will be notified.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About GCP<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Aim:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The programme aims to create a <\/span><\/span><\/span>market-based mechanism <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>for the entities to earn incentives in the form of green credits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Sectors:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The <\/span><\/span><\/span>eight identified sectors <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>include increasing the green cover across the country through tree plantation and related activities; water conservation and harvesting, water-use efficiency; natural and regenerative agricultural practices and land restoration, soil health and nutritional value of food produced; waste management and steps for reducing air pollution and other pollution abatement activities.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The draft has also included <\/span><\/span><\/span>mangrove conservation and restoration-based green credit<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to promote measures for the conservation and restoration of mangroves.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Ecomark-based green credit<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> encourages manufacturers to obtain eco-mark labels for their<\/span><\/span><\/span> goods and services <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span><\/span>sustainable building and infrastructure-based Green Credit <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>encourage the construction of buildings and other infrastructure using sustainable technologies and materials.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Entities considered: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Individuals, industries, farmers producers organisations (FPOs), urban local bodies (ULB), gram panchayats and private sectors, among a host of other entities, will be able to earn \u201cgreen credit\u201d for undertaking environment-friendly actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Trading Platform:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The trading platform for the exchange of green credits shall be established by the trading service provider accredited by the administrator in accordance with the approved guidelines.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The green credits will be<\/span><\/span><\/span> tradable<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and those earning it will be able to put these credits up for sale on a proposed domestic market platform.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
One of the major highlights of the draft notification is to provide<\/span><\/span><\/span> regulatory provisions to account for individual and community actions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, besides corporate and businesses, and incentivise them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Significance<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It is proposed to be launched at national level to<\/span><\/span><\/span> leverage a competitive market-based approach<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for Green Credits thereby incentivising <\/span><\/span><\/span>voluntary environmental actions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of various stakeholders.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Apart from incentivising individual\/community behaviour, the Green Credit Programme will encourage private sector industries and companies as well as other entities to <\/span><\/span><\/span>meet their existing obligations<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, stemming from other legal frameworks, by taking actions which are able to converge with activities relevant for generating or buying Green Credits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Unlike carbon markets, where only greenhouse gas emissions were traded, the Green Credit Scheme was \u201ctrickier\u201d as it involved accounting for a <\/span><\/span><\/span>wide range of actions.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
There are a few examples globally but nowhere in the world is such a wide range of actions considered.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Headquarters Agreement between India and CDRI<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Disaster Management<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratification of the<\/span><\/span><\/span> Headquarters Agreement<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (HQA) between Government of India (Gol) and C<\/span><\/span><\/span>oalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> signed in 2022.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI):<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Launched by India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> during the <\/span><\/span><\/span>United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019, <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>at New York.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Secretariat<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>:New Delhi<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
CDRI<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is a global partnership of National Governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, academic and knowledge institutions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It aims<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Members<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>: <\/span><\/span><\/span>31<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Countries, <\/span><\/span><\/span>6 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>International Organizations and <\/span><\/span><\/span>2<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> private sector organizations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Headquarters Agreement (HQA):<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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In 2019, the Cabinet approved the setting up of CDRI along with its supporting <\/span><\/span><\/span>Secretariat in New Delhi<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and also gave the approval for Government of India financial support of Rs. 480 crore to CDRI over a period of 5 years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Subsequently, in 2022, the Cabinet had approved<\/span><\/span><\/span> recognition of CDRI as an International Organization<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the HQA was signed between the Gol and CDRI.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Significance of HQA:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Ratification of the Headquarters Agreement will facilitate grant of exemptions, immunities and privileges as contemplated under Section- 3 of the<\/span><\/span><\/span> United Nations (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to CDRI.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It will provide CDRI an <\/span><\/span><\/span>independent and international legal persona<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> so that it can carry out its functions more efficiently.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It is a Convention passed by the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>United Nations General Assembly<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>1946 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>in New York.Hence referred to as the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>New York Convention<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Convention defines and specifies numerous issues relating to the status of the United Nations, its assets, and officials, in terms of the privileges and immunities that must be granted to them by its member states.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
Source:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>PIB<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill,2023<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS2\/ Education<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Union Cabinet approved the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023, in the Parliament.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
NRF Bill 2023<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Bill, will establish NRF, as an apex body to provide \u201chigh-level strategic direction\u201d to scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Education Policy (NEP),<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> at a total estimated cost of \u00e2‚\u00b950,000 crore from <\/span><\/span><\/span>2023-28.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative Department of NRF which will be governed by a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Governing Board<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> consisting of eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Prime Minister will be the<\/span><\/span><\/span> ex-officio President<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the Board and the Union Minister of Science & Technology & Union Minister of Education will be the <\/span><\/span><\/span>ex-officio Vice-Presidents.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
NRF\u2019s functioning will be governed by an <\/span><\/span><\/span>Executive Council <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.The NRF will prioritize research funding and the Executive Council will decide on what areas need support.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The bill will also<\/span><\/span><\/span> repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>established by an act of Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Objective of NRF:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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NRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Significance:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n
The efforts made by higher education institutions to enhance the research ecosystem on their campuses will get an impetus.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
NRF will provide an excellent opportunity for academia, industry, and research institutions to work together on the most pressing challenges of our country to make India the frontrunner in research and innovation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source:<\/span><\/span><\/span>PIB<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\u00a0Syllabus: GS2\/ Government policies & intervention<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a warning after it found private websites and social media posts promoting and offering organs for trade.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
More on News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The organisation said that certain websites and social media posts are promoting and offering organ trading which is in violation of the provisions of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Transplantation of Human Organ and Tissue Act (THOTA), 1994 and Rules.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
India has also updated its organ donation and transplant guidelines where <\/span><\/span><\/span>domicile requirement has been done away with.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It has also maintained that with India\u2019s growing geriatric population it is critically important to update communication and awareness strategy, so that potential organ donors come forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Ministry said that despite India having 640 plus medical hospitals and colleges, transplants remain a specialised service limited to some hospitals only.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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About NOTTO<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization is a National level organization set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India located at Institute of Pathology (ICMR) Building in Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It is mandated to establish a network for organ procurement and distribution and to maintain a national registry for the purpose of surveillance of organ donation and transplantation in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It has following two divisions:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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“National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network\u201d:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> It functions as the apex centre for All India activities of coordination and networking for procurement and distribution of Organs and Tissues and registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>
It aims to fulfill the demands of tissue transplantation including activities for procurement, storage and fulfil distribution of biomaterials.The main thrust & objective of establishing the centre is to fill up the gap between \u2018Demand\u2019 and \u2018Supply\u2019 as well as \u2018Quality Assurance\u2019 in the availability of various tissues.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
Resurgence in transplant activities<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Health Ministry noted that there has been a fast resurgence in the transplant activities post COVID-19 pandemic and for the first time the country has achieved more than 15,000 transplants in a year (2022).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Along with this, there was an annual increase of 27% in transplant numbers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Way Ahead:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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There is a need to expand the number of institutions where surgeries and transplants are undertaken.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
To increase surgeries\/transplants in the country, along with sensitisation and training for healthcare professionals, our physical infrastructure must be optimally utilised.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
There is also a need to identify high case load institutions and bring them under the network NOTT program.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tam P\u00e0 Ling<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Places in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Researchers have reported more human remains found in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Tam P\u00e0 Ling in Laos.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About Tam P\u00e0 Ling<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It\u00a0 is a cave in the Annamite Mountains in north-eastern Laos.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Research Findings<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> : Humans were present in the vicinity of Tam P\u00e0 Ling Cave for roughly 56,000 years.\u00a0 The research also confirmed that the site contains sediments that accumulated steadily over some 86,000 years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Laos<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It is officially known as\u00a0 the Lao People\u2019s Democratic Republic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Capital <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>:Vientiane which is located along the banks of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Mekong River.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It is a landlocked country located in the southeast of the Asian continent in the centre of the Indo-china Peninsula.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It has borders with Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Major River<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> : Mekong River\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Important mountain chains<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> : The Annamite Mountains and Luang Prabang.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The highest point:\u00a0 Phou Bia .<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fraser Island<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Places in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The government of the Australian state of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Queensland<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> has changed the name of the Fraser island to its traditional name K’gari.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About Fraser Island<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The <\/span><\/span><\/span>island’s traditional name, K’gari, means <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>paradise<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span>in the native tongue of the Butchella People who inhabited the island for thousands of years.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It\u00a0 lies along the <\/span><\/span><\/span>eastern coast of Australia <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and is located off the southeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, separated from the mainland and the port of Maryborough by Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>largest sand island in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, with golden sand dunes that date back to ancient times.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It was inscribed on the<\/span><\/span><\/span> World Heritage List in 1992<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: TH<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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World Economic Forum Report: AI in Healthcare Syllabus: GS2\/Health\/GS3\/Science and Technology In News The World Economic Forum has released a report that highlights the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and the importance of public-private collaboration in driving its global adoption. About It aims to spur public-private collaboration to accelerate the responsible application of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-1722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/7189402images.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1722"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1722\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}