PRELIMS
Tiger corridors
Why in News: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has issued a clarification limiting the number of officially recognised tiger corridors to 32 “least-cost pathways” identified in 2014.
Body: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) – statutory body under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Decision: Limited recognition of tiger corridors to 32 “least-cost pathways” identified in 2014.
Earlier Stand: NTCA had told Bombay HC corridors must consider multiple scientific studies.
Effect: Many projects (e.g., mining in Maharashtra) will not require SC-NBWL clearance if outside these 32 pathways.
Concern:
- 2014 NTCA report itself said these corridors were only “minimal requirement” and alternative connectivities exist.
- Excludes new studies like Wildlife Institute of India (2016, 2021) and All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) models.
- Legal Context: Projects in tiger reserves/corridors require clearance from the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL).
- Conservation Angle: Corridors ensure animal movement, gene flow, long-term survival of tigers.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
Type: Statutory body under MoEFCC.
Established: 2006, under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amendment).
Objectives
- Provide statutory backing to Project Tiger → compliance of directives becomes legal.
- Ensure Centre–State accountability in Tiger Reserve management (MoUs with States).
- Provide Parliamentary oversight in tiger conservation.
- Address livelihood concerns of people around Tiger Reserves.
Composition
Chairperson → Minister in charge of MoEFCC.
Vice-Chairperson → Minister of State, MoEFCC.
Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)
Why in News:The Union Budget 2025 announced a new Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) of ₹1 lakh crore to modernise city infrastructure
Announced: Union Budget 2025.
Corpus: ₹1 lakh crore.
Objective: Shift from entitlement-based grants to competitive, performance-linked funding for urban infrastructure.
Focus Areas: Sustainable growth, innovation, private sector participation.
Funding Model
- 25% central funding support.
- Cities must raise ≥50% project cost via bonds, loans, PPPs.
- Rewards ambitious, innovative projects with strong revenue models.
- Avoids overlap with other schemes; targets high-impact projects (e.g., transit hubs, smart water systems).
Background/Need
- By 2027 Census → >60% population urban (vs 31% in 2011).
- Kerala urbanisation projected 96% by 2036.
- Urban infra spending low: 0.6% of GDP (2011–2018).
- Weak ULB capacity + poor municipal creditworthiness.
- 74th Amendment (devolution to ULBs) not fully effective.
Lessons from Past
- Smart Cities Mission: Only 6% projects via PPP, financial closure for just 12% projects (till 2023).
- Viability gap funding → bureaucratic delays.
- Municipal bonds underutilised due to weak creditworthiness of ULBs.
Recommendations for UCF Success
- Lifecycle management with operations & citizen satisfaction.
- De-risk investments via credit guarantees, revenue protection.
- Improve cities’ own revenues (property tax, user charges).
- Build capacity in Tier-2/3 cities (technical + financial).
- Incentivise innovation (e.g., water security, zero waste).
- Avoid duplication with other schemes; focus on revenue-backed projects.
- Ensure lean governance with competition + autonomy
Regulated venue
Why in News: SEBI has proposed a “regulated venue” for trading shares of pre-listing companies to curb grey market activity, improve price discovery, and ensure tax revenue.
Body: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Proposal: Creation of a “regulated venue” where pre-listing companies (before IPO) can trade shares with mandatory disclosures.
Objective:
- Regulate the grey market (currently informal, buyer-seller understanding based).
- Aid in better price discovery before IPO.
- Ensure government revenue/tax collection from such trades.
Status: To be discussed in SEBI’s Primary Market Advisory Committee.
Other Points:
- SEBI is also considering extension of equity derivatives tenure (currently weekly/monthly expiry).
- Clarified that reports of removing weekly expiry were “speculative.”
- Action ongoing against market influencers misleading investors or engaging in unfair practices.
Modular Biosensors
Why in News: Researchers from Imperial College London and Zhejiang University developed genetically engineered bacteria to build cheap and programmable bioelectronic devices.
Key Concepts
- Biosensors: Analytical devices combining biological detecting elements + sensor + transducer → give qualitative/semi-quantitative data.
- Whole-Cell Biosensors: Use living microorganisms to detect and quantify substances; can self-maintain, repair, and work in contaminated samples.
- Issues with Traditional Biosensors: Enzyme-based → fragile, costly, slow in complex environments.
Modular Biosensor (New Development): Uses engineered E. coli as containers hosting 3 biosensor modules:
1. Sensing module → detects target chemical.
2. Information processing module → amplifies/ processes signal.
3. Output module → produces phenazines, measured by voltammetry.
Experiments/Applications
1. Arabinose Sensor:
- Simple plant sugar detected.
- Produced phenazine-1-carboxylic acid → measurable current in ~2 hours.
2. Mercury Ion Sensor:
- Mercury binds with protein MerR, activates polymerase → boosts phenazine production.
- Detects 25 nanomoles mercury (below WHO safety limit) → signal within 3 hours.
3. Logic Gate:
- ‘AND’ gate designed in E. coli.
- Produced signal only when two molecules present together.
Significance
- Proof of concept for living, electronically integrated biosensors.
- Can detect compounds, process signals, and supply measurable data.
- Potential for environmental monitoring, healthcare, and low-cost bioelectronics.
India–EAEU Free Trade Agreement Talks Begin
Why in News: Prime Minister of India visited Cyprus after 23 years. India and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) signed Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).Marks the formal commencement of FTA negotiations.
Potential Benefits of India–EAEU FTA
Trade Expansion: Unlock untapped trade, boost investments, durable partnership.
Bilateral trade turnover: USD 69 billion (2024) → 7% rise from 2023.
Market Access: Wider opportunities for Indian exporters, especially amid US tariff hikes.
Competitiveness: Strengthen India vs non-market economies; big boost for MSMEs.
Energy Partnership: EAEU rich in natural resources.
Strategic Angle: Deepening ties with Russia-led bloc supports India’s policy of multi-alignment.
About Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
- Type: Regional economic integration organisation.
- Established: 2014 (Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union).
- Members: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.
Features: Provides for free movement of goods, services, capital, and labour among members.
Reservation in Private HEIs
Why in News: Department-related Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth & Sports (370th Report) supported reservations in private Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) citing constitutional validity and SC judgments.
Current Status (2024–25)
- Very low representation: BITS Pilani → 10% OBC, 0.5% SC, 0.8% ST (out of 5,137 students).
- High fees → barrier for marginalized communities.
Need for Reservation
- Private dominance: 65.3% of colleges are private unaided; 517 private universities (AISHE 2021–22).
- Public incapacity: Public HEIs cannot alone meet NEP’s 50% GER target in higher education.
Constitutional Mandate
Article 15(5): State can make special provisions for SCs, STs, SEBCs in admissions to all institutions including private (except minority institutions).
Judicial backing: Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust v. Union of India (2014) upheld the validity of Art. 15(5).
Key Recommendations
- Legislation: Mandate reservations in private HEIs – 27% OBC, 15% SC, 7.5% ST.
- Financial support: Govt. to bear cost, like 25% RTE quota model.
- Creamy Layer: Apply and update regularly for OBCs.
- Awareness campaigns: Govt. + NGOs to spread information in marginalized communities.
