1. Cabinet Secretary
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context:
- Dr. T.V. Somanathan has taken over as the new Cabinet Secretary after Shri Rajiv Gauba’s retirement.
About the Cabinet Secretary:
- The highest-ranking civil servant in India, heads the Cabinet Secretariat.
- Ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
- Leads the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
- Key role in policy implementation, inter-ministerial coordination, and administrative oversight.
Roles and Functions:
- Cabinet Meetings: Ensures smooth conduct of Cabinet meetings for decision-making on policies and administrative matters.
- Inter-Ministerial Coordination: Acts as a link between different ministries to resolve conflicts and ensure effective policy implementation.
- Advising the Prime Minister: Provides expert advice on administrative and governance issues.
- Administrative Leadership: Leads the bureaucracy, impacting the entire administrative machinery.
Cabinet Secretariat:
- Administers the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961.
- Provides secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and its committees.
- Facilitates decision-making by coordinating between ministries.
- Manages crisis situations and coordinates activities across ministries during emergencies.
2. Listeria
Syllabus: GS2/Health
Context:
- A Listeria outbreak in the US has resulted in over 50 illnesses and nine deaths.
About Listeria and Listeriosis:
- Listeria monocytogenes: A bacteria that can survive on surfaces and in foods, even at refrigerated temperatures.
- Listeriosis: An infection caused by Listeria-contaminated food, dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and the elderly.
- Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, which can take up to ten weeks to appear.
Prevention and Treatment:
- Reheat foods to high temperatures to kill the bacteria.
- Listeriosis is treatable, with Ampicillin being a commonly prescribed antibiotic
3. University of Southampton
Syllabus: GS2/Education
Context:
- The University of Southampton (UK) is set to open a new campus in Gurgaon, India.
Key Details:
- Location: Gurugram, NCR.
- Expected Start: July 2025.
- Part of NEP 2020, enhancing India’s educational standards by providing world-class education domestically.
- Courses: Business, management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biosciences, and life sciences.
- Degrees from the Indian campus will be equivalent to those from the UK campus.
- Regulation: UGC regulations notified in November 2023 for setting up foreign institutions in India.
4. Central Financial Assistance for Hydro Electric Projects
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context:
- The Union Cabinet has approved CFA for State Governments in the North Eastern Region to develop Hydro Electric Projects.
Key Details:
- Scheme: Joint Venture (JV) between Central PSU and State Governments.
- Capacity: 15,000 MW hydro capacity supported under the scheme.
- Funding: Rs. 4,136 crore outlay from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32.
- 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for North Eastern Region from the Ministry of Power’s total outlay.
Significance:
- Encourages State Government participation in hydro projects, reducing issues like land acquisition and law & order problems.
- Supports India’s goal of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.
- Helps integrate Renewable Energy sources into the national grid, enhancing its flexibility, security, and reliability.
Other Initiatives:
- Large hydro projects classified as Renewable Energy sources.
- Hydro Power Purchase Obligations (HPOs) and tariff rationalization.
- Budgetary support for flood moderation and infrastructure development.