1. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme

The government has extended the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) scheme for exporters until March 31, 2026.

About the Scheme:

• Introduced through an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy 2015–20, effective from January 1, 2021.

• Aims to reimburse unrefunded taxes and duties embedded in exported goods.

• Ensures compliance with WTO norms and operates on a fully digital platform for transparency and efficiency.

• Administered by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, replacing the MEIS after a WTO dispute raised by the U.S.

• Encourages exports by reducing tax burdens on exported goods.

Tax Reimbursement:

• Covers unrefunded taxes, duties, and levies at central, state, and local levels incurred during manufacturing and distribution.

• Includes both direct and indirect costs embedded in exports.

Eligibility:

• Applicable to all sectors, with priority for labour-intensive industries.

• Both manufacturer and merchant exporters are eligible.

• No turnover threshold; goods must have India as their country of origin.

• SEZ units, EOUs, and e-commerce exports are eligible, but re-exported products are excluded.

Refund Process:

• Rebates provided as a percentage of the FOB value of exports.

• Remissions issued as transferable e-scrips in an electronic credit ledger by CBIC.

• e-scrips can be used to pay basic customs duty or transferred to other importers.

• The scheme’s IT-based monitoring and audit system ensures quick digital processing and transparency.

2. NCRB Data on Road Accidents (2023)

According to the latest NCRB report, over 1.73 lakh deaths and 4.47 lakh injuries were reported in 4.64 lakh road accidents across India in 2023, marking a 1.6% increase from 2022.

Key Findings:

• Most accidents occurred between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (20.7%), followed by 3–6 p.m. (17.3%) and 12–3 p.m. (15%).

• Two-wheelers caused the highest fatalities (79,533 deaths), followed by pedestrians (27,586) and SUVs/cars/jeeps (24,776).

• Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest two-wheeler deaths, while UP led in SUV and truck-related fatalities.

• Some states — Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jharkhand, Punjab, Bihar, and UP — recorded more deaths than injuries.

Cause-wise Data:

• Speeding caused 41.6% of deaths; dangerous driving/overtaking, 23.6%.

• Poor weather, intoxication, and animal crossings contributed to 4,952 deaths.

• National Highways accounted for 36% of fatalities, followed by State Highways (23.4%).

• Uttar Pradesh topped highway fatalities, followed by Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.

City Statistics:

• Delhi reported 5,715 accidents and 1,457 deaths — the highest among cities.

• Bengaluru (915 deaths) and Jaipur (848) followed.

3. NCRB Data on Crime Against Children (2023)

In 2023, India recorded 1,77,335 cases of crimes against children, reflecting a 9.2% rise from 2022, as per NCRB data.

Overview:

• The crime rate was 39 per lakh child population (up from 36.6 in 2022).

• Major crimes: Kidnapping/Abduction (45%) and POCSO Act offences (38.2%).

• Includes 40,434 penetrative sexual assault cases, mostly involving known offenders (39,076 cases) — often family, neighbours, or online acquaintances.

Victim Profile:

• 762 victims were under 6 years, 3,229 aged 6–12, 15,444 aged 12–16, and 21,411 aged 16–18.

• Girls formed the majority in sexual offences.

Other Crimes:

• 1,219 murders, 3,050 hurt cases, 373 abetment to suicide, 6,038 child marriage cases, and 1,390 child labour cases.

State-wise Data:

• Madhya Pradesh (22,393 cases) topped the list, followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam (10,174).

• Delhi reported 7,769 cases, one of the highest among Union Territories.

Chargesheeting Rate:

• 64.3% overall, with 1,12,290 chargesheeted cases out of 2,57,756 investigated.

4. Leyte Island (Philippines)

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake recently struck Leyte Island in the Philippines.

About Leyte Island:

• Part of the Visayas group, it is the 8th largest island in the Philippines, covering 7,056 sq. km with a 969 km coastline.

• Separated from Samar Island by the San Juanico Strait, linked via the San Juanico Bridge (2.16 km).

• Major cities: Tacloban (east coast) and Ormoc (west coast) — the latter known for geothermal power.

• Economy based on farming (rice, corn, coconuts, bananas), fishing, and mineral extraction (manganese, limestone).

• Historically, WWII’s Battle of Leyte Gulf (1944) marked a turning point as Allied forces liberated the island from Japan.

5. False Smut Disease in Paddy

Reports indicate that false smut disease has severely affected maturing paddy crops in Punjab.

About the Disease:

• A fungal infection caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, also called Haldi Rog, Lakshmi disease, or Oothupathi disease.

• Affects rice grains, causing chalkiness, reduced grain weight, and poor germination.

• Yield loss depends on the percentage of infected panicles and infection severity.

Favourable Conditions:

• Warm, humid weather (25–30°C, >80% humidity).

• Infected plant residues from previous harvests.

• High nitrogen fertilizer use increases vulnerability.

Control Measures:

• Managed using fungicide sprays, though excessive use can lead to resistance and environmental issues.

6. Lecanemab Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease

Australia has approved Lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody drug for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

About Lecanemab:

• Targets amyloid proteins in the brain to slow disease progression.

• Works by using antibodies to help immune cells clear amyloid buildup, reducing neuronal damage.

• Administered intravenously through a drip.

• Clinical trials indicate a 27% reduction in disease progression.

Challenges:

• High cost and side effects (like brain swelling) limit accessibility.

About Alzheimer’s Disease:

• A neurodegenerative disorder that destroys memory, thinking, and daily functioning.

• The most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60–80% of cases.

• Mostly affects individuals above 65 years, though 10% of cases occur earlier.

7. Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement is facing challenges in adapting its export control norms to cloud technologies, necessitating updates.

About the Arrangement:

• A multilateral export control regime for conventional arms and dual-use goods/technologies, established in 1996 (after the Cold War CoCom system).

• Named after Wassenaar, a suburb of The Hague, Netherlands, where it was conceived in 1995.

• Objective: Promote transparency, responsibility, and prevent destabilizing arms transfers.

• Comprises 42 member countries; India joined in 2017.

• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.

Functioning:

• Members exchange information on technology sales or denials to non-members.

• Maintains and updates control lists of sensitive technologies and materials.

• Aims to prevent proliferation of arms and dual-use items that may threaten global stability.

8. Key Facts about the Philippines

Recently, an offshore earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck the Cebu province in central Philippines.

About the Philippines:

• The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, located in the western Pacific Ocean.

• It shares maritime borders with Vietnam (west), Taiwan (north), Palau (east), and Malaysia & Indonesia (south).

• Surrounding water bodies:

  • North & West: South China Sea

  • East: Philippine Sea

  • South: Celebes Sea

  • Southwest: Sulu Sea

• Highest peak: Mount Apo

• Major rivers: Cagayan River (longest), Mindanao, Agusan

• Volcano: Mayon Volcano — among the country’s most active.

• Climate: Tropical and monsoonal

• Largest lake: Laguna de Bay

• Natural resources: Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, and copper.

• The Philippines ranks third globally in geothermal energy production, after the U.S. and Indonesia.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

• Capital: Manila.

9. Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP)

NASA has launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) to study how solar particles are energised and how they protect Earth from cosmic radiation.

About IMAP:

• Aims to map the heliosphere’s boundary, track energetic particles, and improve space weather forecasting.

• The heliosphere is a vast bubble formed by the solar wind, enclosing our entire solar system.

• IMAP orbits near the first Earth–Sun Lagrange point (L1), about 1 million miles from Earth toward the Sun.

• Provides near real-time data on solar wind and space weather to support scientists and satellites.

Scientific Instruments:

• Carries 10 instruments to detect a range of particles and phenomena.

• Includes energetic neutral atom detectors (IMAP-Lo, IMAP-Hi, IMAP-Ultra) that capture neutral atoms once charged as ions.

• Other tools study charged particles, magnetic fields, interstellar dust, and solar-wind patterns.

Objectives:

• Reveal fundamental physics from microscopic to cosmic scales.

• Enhance forecasting of solar storms and radiation hazards.

• Map the galactic neighborhood surrounding our solar system.

• Identify cosmic building materials that shape the universe.

• Deepen understanding of how the heliosphere shields life from cosmic rays.

10. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

India has been re-elected to Part II of the ICAO Council, reaffirming its strong global standing in civil aviation governance.

About ICAO:

• The International Civil Aviation Organization is a UN specialized agency, founded in 1944 under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

• It promotes safe, secure, and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes.

• Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.

• Members: 193 countries.

Governance Structure:

• ICAO Assembly: The supreme body comprising all 193 member states; convenes every three years.

• ICAO Council: A 36-member governing body elected by the Assembly for a three-year term to oversee implementation and coordination.

Functions:

• Establishes global aviation standards and regulations for safety, security, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

• Acts as a forum for cooperation and dialogue among member nations.

• Facilitates regional and international air transport agreements and promotes market liberalization.

• Develops legal frameworks ensuring aviation growth without compromising safety or environmental integrity.