18th February 2025

Explanation - Kashmir Stag is also called Hangul which is a subspecies of Central Asian red deer endemic to Kashmir and surrounding areas. It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northern Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it is found primarily in the Dachigam National Park where it receives protection. A small population has also been witnessed in Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in south Kashmir.  Conservation status

• IUCN — Critically Endangered
• CITES — Appendix I

Explanation - Recently, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment (SJ&E)  distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and Ayushman health cards to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers under the flagship scheme of National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE).

The scheme is a joint venture of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It aims to achieve outcomes like zero fatalities in sanitation work in India, no sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter and all Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods.

The Ministry has shortlisted type of machineries and core equipments required for maintenance works, safety gear for Safai Mitras. The same is also available on the Government eMarketplace (GeM) portal for ease of their procurement by States and Urban Local Bodies. Skill Development and trainings of Safai Mitras is being taken up with the support of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through the National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation.

Explanation - According to the Transparency International report India ranked 96 out of 180 countries (it was 93rd in 2023) in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024. It is the most widely used global corruption ranking in the world. It is published annually by the non-governmental organisation Transparency International since 1995. It is an index which ranks countries "by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.” The index, which lists countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, ranked Denmark at the top, followed by Finland, and Singapore. This year’s Index highlighted the connection between climate action and corruption, linking it to the broader theme of climate  financing. It gave India a CPI score of 38. In 2023, India’s overall score was 39 while in 2022, it was 40. There is a decline in the score of India on CPI. In the Asia-Pacific region, the average score for the region has dropped by one point to 44 as the countries are still failing to deliver on anti-corruption pledges. Corruption not only undermines development in a country but is also a key cause of declining democracy, instability, and human rights violations as highlighted by the report.

Explanation - Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is the usage and licensing fee that telecom operators are charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). As per DoT, the charges  are calculated based on all revenues earned by a telco – including non-telecom related sources such as deposit interests and asset sales. Telcos, on their part, insist that AGR should comprise  only the revenues generated from telecom services.

Explanation - The Devolution Index evaluates decentralisation progress across six dimensions: Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity Building, and Accountability. The Index assesses the independence of Panchayats in decision-making, aligning with Article 243G of the Constitution. Article 243G empowers State legislatures, not the Central Government, to devolve powers and responsibilities to Panchayats. The Index strengthens cooperative federalism and local self-governance by helping States identify areas for improvement.