Prelims Oriented
H-1B Visa
Context: U.S. government clarified that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee will not apply to applications for change of status or extension of stay in the U.S. The fee, imposed is a one-time fee applying only to new applications.
H-1B Visa
- Definition
- Non-immigrant visa for U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Fields: Technology, finance, engineering, architecture.
- Eligibility
- Valid job offer for specialty knowledge role.
- Proof of bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- Employer must prove lack of qualified U.S. applicants.
- Annual Cap & Selection
- 85,000 visas annually: 65,000 regular + 20,000 for advanced degrees.
- Exempt: Higher education/research/non-profit workers.
- Selection via lottery system.
- Key Features
- Validity: 3 years, extendable once (max 6 years total).
- No lifetime limit on number of H-1B visas.
- Eligible for Green Card.
- Job change requires new visa.
Additional Information
U.S. L-1 Visa
- It is an Intra-Company Transferee Visa allowing large multinationals to shift employees in specialized positions to the U.S. on a temporary basis.
- Types:
- L-1A: For managers and executives (maximum stay: 7 years).
- L-1B: For workers with specialized knowledge (maximum stay: 5 years).
- Key Difference with H-1B Visa
- No education requirement for the L-1 visa, unlike the H-1B which requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Core Sectors Industries
Context: Growth in eight core sectors slowed to three-month low of 3% in September 2025, dragged down by contraction in fuel-related sectors and sharp slowdown in fertilizers.
Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)
- Prepared monthly by Office of Economic Adviser (OEA), DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Components
- Coal: Production (excluding coking coal).
- Electricity: Generation from thermal, nuclear, hydro sources; imports from Bhutan.
- Crude Oil: Total crude oil production.
- Cement: Production in large plants and mini plants.
- Natural Gas: Total natural gas production.
- Steel: Alloy and non-alloy steel production only.
- Refinery Products: Total refinery production.
- Fertilizers: Urea, ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium nitrate, complex fertilizers, single superphosphate, etc.
- Weightage of Components
- Petroleum Refinery Products (28.04%) > Electricity (19.85%) > Steel (17.92%) > Coal (10.33%) > Crude Oil (8.98%) > Natural Gas (6.88%) > Cement (5.37%) > Fertilizers (2.63%).
- Current series base year: 2011-12.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Context: Following Deepavali, pollution in Delhi neared five-year low with average PM 2.5 concentrations crossing 400 µg/m³, levels not seen since 2021. Mumbai also woke to smog with AQI levels ‘unhealthy’ to ‘severe’ due to extensive firecracker use and seasonal meteorological conditions.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a colour-coded system.
- It provides simple and accessible information on air quality.
- AQI uses a “one number-one colour-one description” model for easy understanding.
- AQI monitors eight pollutants:
- PM10 – Particulate Matter up to 10 micrometers
- PM2.5 – Particulate Matter up to 2.5 micrometers
- NO2 – Nitrogen Dioxide
- SO2 – Sulphur Dioxide
- CO – Carbon Monoxide
- O3 – Ozone
- NH3 – Ammonia
- Pb – Lead
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
Foundation and Legal Basis
- Establishment: UN specialized agency created in 1944 for peaceful global air navigation standards.
- Chicago Convention: Signed on December 7, 1944, establishing core principles for international air transport.
- Legal Framework: Convention laid foundation for standardized procedures enabling international civil aviation.
Objectives and Functions
- Primary Goal: Foster planning and development of international air transport infrastructure.
- Safety Focus: Ensure safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation worldwide.
- Standardization: Set global standards and procedures for air navigation operations.
Organizational Details
- Headquarters: Located in Montreal, Canada.
- Membership: 193 member countries including India participate in governance.
- UN Status: Functions as specialized agency under United Nations framework.
Significance
- Global Connectivity: Enables seamless international air travel through harmonized regulations.
- Safety Standards: Establishes universal aviation safety and security protocols.
- Regulatory Framework: Provides legal and technical foundation for international civil aviation sector.
