1. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)

Senior defense officials from Quad nations have raised concerns about China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific during a panel discussion on “Deepwater Perils: Securing Trade.”

What is the QUAD?

The Quad is a strategic partnership between India, the US, Japan, and Australia, focusing on maritime security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is not a military alliance but rather a diplomatic coalition committed to maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. The Quad operates through annual summits, foreign ministers’ meetings, and six working groups covering Health, Climate, Critical & Emerging Technology, Space, Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity.

Evolution of the Quad:

• 2007: Japan’s Shinzo Abe introduced the Quad concept at an informal ASEAN meeting.
• 2012: The idea of a "Democratic Security Diamond" comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia was introduced.
• 2017: The Quad was revived due to China’s expanding influence, with its first formal meeting held in Manila.
• 2020: The Malabar naval exercises were expanded to include Australia, marking the first joint military exercise involving all Quad nations.
• 2021: Quad leaders held a virtual summit and released a joint statement titled "The Spirit of the Quad."

What is the Indo-Pacific Region?

The Indo-Pacific refers to the interconnected waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a region of immense strategic, economic, and geopolitical importance. It serves as a critical trade route, facilitating 60% of global maritime commerce.

2. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

LIC Agents Protest Against New Insurance Regulations

About LIC:

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is the country’s largest public-sector life insurance provider and institutional investor. Headquartered in Mumbai, it plays a pivotal role in India's financial market.

• Motto: "Yogakshemam Vahamyaham" (From the Bhagavad Gita) – "Your welfare is our responsibility."
• Founded in 1956 through the Life Insurance of India Act, which nationalized the sector by merging 245 private insurers and provident societies into a single entity.
• Operates through eight zonal offices in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kolkata, Bhopal, and Patna.

Historical Background of India’s Insurance Industry:

• 1818: Oriental Life Insurance Company, the first life insurance provider in India, was established.
• 1870: Bombay Mutual Life Assurance Society became the first Indian-owned insurance company.
• 1912: The Indian Life Assurance Companies Act was introduced to regulate the sector.
• 1928: The Indian Insurance Companies Act enabled the government to collect statistical data on life and non-life insurers.
• 1938: The Insurance Act, 1938, was enacted to protect policyholders and regulate the industry.
• 1956: LIC was formed by consolidating 245 Indian and foreign insurance companies with an initial government investment of ₹5 crore.
• General Insurance in India started with the British-founded Triton Insurance Company Ltd. in 1850, based in Calcutta.

Regulatory and Governing Bodies:

Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)

• Established in 2022 by the Indian government to oversee appointments of directors and chairpersons in public-sector financial institutions.
• Provides guidance on personnel management policies.
• Aims to promote corporate governance excellence in the public financial sector.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

• A statutory body created under the IRDAI Act, 1999, for regulating and supervising the insurance industry.
• Roles & Responsibilities:
  • Encourages market competition to enhance consumer options and fair pricing.
  • Ensures financial stability in the insurance sector.
  • Regulates entities under the Insurance Act, 1938.

Other Key Insurance Laws:

• Marine Insurance Act, 1963 – Governs marine insurance policies.
• Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 – Covers liability insurance policies.

3. Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)

Trade Ministry Proposes 12% Duty on Steel Imports to Address ‘Trade Diversion’

About DGTR:

• Established: May 17, 2018 (formerly the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties).
• Governing Ministry: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Purpose: Serves as India’s anti-dumping watchdog, ensuring fair competition for domestic industries by addressing unfair trade practices such as dumping, import surges, and subsidization.

Key Functions:

• Conducts anti-dumping investigations and provides recommendations to the government.
• Handles anti-subsidy (Countervailing Duty - CVD) investigations and advises the government.
• Examines safeguard measures to protect Indian industries.
• Manages litigation in CESTAT, High Courts, and the Supreme Court of India.
• Represents India at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on trade-related matters.
• Organizes awareness programs on trade remedies.

Why Impose a 12% Steel Import Duty?

1. Global Trade Restrictions:

   • The US imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports (effective March 12, 2025), revoking prior exemptions.
   • 129 trade remedial measures have been implemented by the EU, Canada, the UK, and other countries.
   • This has resulted in excess steel being diverted to India, harming domestic producers.

2. Overcapacity in Steel-Producing Nations:

   • Japan, South Korea, and China produce steel far beyond their domestic demand.
   • Excess production is redirected to export markets, driving down Indian steel prices.

4. APAAR ID – India’s Digital Student Identification System

What is APAAR ID?

• Full Form: Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
• Part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at streamlining student records.
• Functions under the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ initiative.
• Linked to Aadhaar and stored in DigiLocker for easy access.
• Generated through the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).

Objectives of APAAR:

• Centralized storage of students' academic achievements.
• Facilitates seamless institution transfers.
• Enables standardized digital mark sheets and records.
• Supports education policy planning and analysis.

Is APAAR Mandatory?

• Officially voluntary, as per government statements.
• However, CBSE and some state education boards (e.g., Uttar Pradesh) are pushing for full enrollment.
• Parliament confirmed in December 2024 that APAAR registration is not legally required.

Relation to Other Digital Initiatives:

• Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): Stores academic credits for easy transfer between institutions.
• DigiLocker: A government-backed cloud storage platform for educational certificates.

5. Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

About Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: Sangli district, Maharashtra.
• Significance: India’s first manmade wildlife sanctuary.
• Area: 10.87 sq. km.
• Unique Feature: An artificially cultivated forest without a perennial water source, with wildlife species artificially introduced.
• Named after the ancient Sagareshwar temple, which houses multiple Lord Shiva temples.

Flora & Fauna:

• Vegetation: Southern dry mixed deciduous and thorn forests.
• Flora: Tamarind, Neem, Eucalyptus, Acacia, Agave, Khair.
• Fauna:
  • Large animals: Sambar deer, Blackbucks, Muntjac, Chital, Wild boar, Peacocks.
  • Small carnivores: Hyenas, Foxes, Porcupines.

6. Sonic Weapons

The Serbian government has been accused of deploying a banned ‘sonic weapon’ to disperse protesters in Belgrade.

What are Sonic Weapons?

Sonic weapons, also known as Acoustic Weapons, are devices that emit powerful sound waves over long distances. They can generate both audible and inaudible frequencies to disrupt, disorient, or incapacitate individuals. Some versions function as voice amplifiers, allowing authorities to issue commands over large areas. Initially developed for military and crowd control purposes, these weapons were first used in Iraq (2004) by the U.S. military.

How Do Sonic Weapons Work?

• Utilize multiple transducers (devices that convert energy into sound waves) to create concentrated and amplified sound.
• Can be directed at specific targets to cause discomfort, pain, and disorientation.
• Authorities control the frequency, volume, and duration of the sound waves.
• The narrow sound beam can inflict severe physical and psychological effects on those exposed.

Types of Sonic Weapons:

• Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD): Used by law enforcement and military for crowd control, capable of projecting sound up to 8,900 meters at 160 decibels (dB). It can cause ear pain, hearing loss, nausea, and dizziness.
• Mosquito Device: Emits high-frequency sounds audible only to individuals under 30 years old. Used to deter loitering in public spaces by causing discomfort.
• Infrasonic Weapon: Emits low-frequency sounds, inaudible to humans, that induce physical pain and disorientation. Research suggests potential effects such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, and internal organ damage.

7. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)

Under a recently introduced incentive scheme to encourage low-value BHIM-UPI transactions, small merchants will not be charged a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), while banks will receive an incentive of 0.15% per transaction.

What is the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)?

MDR, also referred to as the Transaction Discount Rate (TDR), is a fee that merchants pay to payment processors for accepting digital payments via credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and other platforms.

Key Features of MDR:

• It compensates the issuing bank, the acquiring bank (which installs the Point of Sale (PoS) terminal), network providers, and payment gateways for their services.
• MDR includes all charges and taxes related to digital transactions.
• The fee is typically a percentage of the transaction amount, usually ranging between 1% and 3%.
• MDR rates depend on transaction volume, the type of card used (debit or credit), and the average transaction value.
• Merchants must set up an agreement with payment service providers before accepting digital payments.
• MDR charges are automatically deducted from the merchant’s account during transaction settlement.
• As per RBI regulations, businesses cannot pass MDR fees onto customers.

8. Exercise Bongosagar 2025

The India-Bangladesh naval exercise ‘Bongosagar 2025’ and a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) were recently conducted in the Bay of Bengal.

About Exercise Bongosagar:

• A bilateral naval exercise between India and Bangladesh.
• Aims to enhance interoperability and operational expertise in maritime security.
• Launched in 2019, with Bongosagar 2025 marking the fifth edition of the exercise.
• Participants: INS Ranvir (Indian Navy) and BNS Abu Ubaidah (Bangladesh Navy).
• The exercise focuses on joint operational planning, coordination, and real-time information sharing to improve maritime cooperation.

Key Operations:

• Surface firing drills, tactical maneuvers, and underway replenishment.
• Visit-Board-Search-Seizure (VBSS) operations and cross-boarding exercises.
• Communication drills and professional training for operational teams and junior officers.

INS Ranvir:

• A Rajput-class guided missile destroyer upgraded with advanced indigenous weaponry and sensors.
• The fourth of five Rajput-class destroyers, commissioned into the Indian Navy on October 28, 1986.

9. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

India is making significant strides toward eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) through political commitment, community engagement, and regional cooperation.

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)?

NTDs are a group of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, or toxins that lead to severe health, social, and economic consequences. These diseases primarily affect underprivileged communities in tropical regions with inadequate water safety, sanitation, and healthcare access.

Why Are They Called "Neglected"?

NTDs have historically received low priority on the global health agenda, leading to insufficient funding and awareness.

Common NTDs in India:

• Guinea Worm Disease
• Chikungunya
• Dengue
• Kala Azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis)
• Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis)
  India is home to around 12 Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Challenges in Controlling NTDs:

• Many NTDs have complex transmission cycles involving animal and human hosts.
• Vector-borne transmission complicates prevention and eradication.
• More than 1 billion people globally suffer from NTDs, with 1.5 billion requiring treatment or preventive interventions.

Global Efforts:

• January 30th is observed as World NTDs Day, reaffirming global commitment to tackling these diseases.

10. Sansad Bhashini Initiative

The Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have signed an MoU to develop the Sansad Bhashini initiative.

What is the Sansad Bhashini Initiative?

A collaborative project between Parliament and MeitY to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools for multilingual support, documentation optimization, and improved parliamentary processes.

Key Features:

• Real-time speech-to-text transcription for parliamentary debates.
• AI-driven speech-to-speech translation, enabling seamless communication in multiple Indian languages.
• AI chatbots to assist in document retrieval and information processing.
• Automated summarization of parliamentary discussions, facilitating quicker decision-making.
• Enhanced transcription tools with background noise reduction and customizable vocabulary for improved accuracy.

Impact:

• Ensures greater accessibility to parliamentary proceedings for citizens.
• Facilitates efficient documentation of legislative debates and committee reports.
• Strengthens digital governance and transparency in India’s parliamentary system.