News Context

• The UNGA adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution on September 4, 2026, supporting the Equal Earth projection. A UN map published in July 2026 showed Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as disputed areas — India objected, stating its vote was only for fair area representation, not any boundary claim.

Key Facts for Prelims

• Resolution A/80/L.104, sponsored by Togo on behalf of the African Group, backed by the African Union; adopted 164 in favour, 1 against (USA), 6 abstentions.
• Promotes the Equal Earth projection (2018) over the Mercator projection, which distorts land area near the poles — the resolution is non-binding.
• The 2011 UN map marked Arunachal Pradesh/Aksai Chin as “claim lines”; the 2026 map dropped this — J&K, however, still shows the LoC with a clear disputed-status explanation.

Key Boundary Terms

• LAC: separates Indian- and Chinese-controlled territory; not a mutually agreed border; three sectors — Western (Ladakh), Middle (HP/Uttarakhand), Eastern (Arunachal Pradesh).
• LoC: separates Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir; from the 1972 Simla Agreement, based on the 1949 Ceasefire Line.
• McMahon Line: India-China (Tibet) boundary agreed at the 1914 Shimla Convention; China does not recognise it — central to the Arunachal dispute.

News Context

• The UK recognised India’s CCTS under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), reducing carbon-related costs for Indian exporters of steel, aluminium and cement.

Key Facts for Prelims

• CBAM is a carbon tariff on carbon-intensive imports to prevent “carbon leakage.” The EU was first to implement CBAM; the UK is second, effective 2027.
• Without recognition, Indian goods faced an extra 14–24% tax under UK CBAM; recognition avoids double taxation of the same carbon cost.
• CCTS is India’s domestic carbon market, notified under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power — builds on the earlier PAT scheme.

News Context

• MoEFCC announced Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (SVS) 2026 results on Swachh Vayu Diwas (Sept 7) — Lucknow ranked 1st among million-plus cities, followed by Indore and Jabalpur.

Key Facts for Prelims

• SVS ranks cities mainly on policy implementation and action (waste, road dust, vehicular/industrial pollution) — PM10 improvement carries only 2.5% weightage, a common exam trap.
• SVS is linked to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched January 2019, covering 131 non-attainment cities that failed NAAQS for 5 consecutive years.
• Original NCAP target: 20–30% reduction in PM2.5/PM10 by 2024 (base year 2017-18), later revised to 40% by 2025-26.
• Assessment involves self-evaluation, State-level review, CPCB evaluation, and field verification.

News Context

• An ICMR study found antibiotic-resistant infections are more likely to cause death and cost more to treat than normal infections, highlighting growing resistance to carbapenems.

Key Facts for Prelims

• AMR covers resistance in bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites — not bacteria alone (a common trap).
• Carbapenems are broad-spectrum antibiotics reserved as a last-resort treatment, not a first-line one.
• Resistant infections showed higher mortality (up to 43% higher for P. aeruginosa) and nearly double the treatment cost for resistant E. coli.
• Over 85% of the bloodstream infections studied were healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).