During 12th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers Meeting in Lao PDR, India called for expeditious review of the AITIGA. 

About AITIGA

• Genesis: Signed in 2009 and entered into force in 2010.
• Mandates: Each party shall accord National Treatment to goods of other parties in line with GATT, 1994.
• Need for review:  Goods from China and other non- ASEAN nations routing to India taking advantage of duty concessions under AITIGA. 
  • ASEAN constitutes for about 11% share in India's global trade
• ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) is collaborating on conducting a joint study on AITIGA.

The 7th edition of the Exercise Eastern Bridge between Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) concluded.

• It was held at Masirah (Oman).

According to Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs’ Data, only 16% of land is reclaimed under ‘legacy waste management project of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0’.

• SBM 2.0 mandates all cities to clear legacy waste sites. 

Legacy Waste

• Definition: Although there is no official definition of ‘legacy waste’, it typically refers to the aged municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills or dumpsites.
• Impact: Releases greenhouse gases, contamination of soil and groundwater, etc. 
• Ways to deal: Sustainable SWM management plan, maximum utilisation of recovered fractions, building capacity of urban departments, reusing reclaimed land sustainably. 

Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare jointly issued an advisory to all States and UTs for the rigorous implementation of the ToFEI manual in line with COTPA, 2003.

• Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) was launched as part of the National Tobacco Control Program. 
• 8.5% of school students in the age group of 13 to 15 consume tobacco in different forms across the country (Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 2019)

About COTPA, 2003

• Prohibit advertisement, regulate trade, production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
• Prohibits the sale of tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institution. 

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is holding a workshop for scientists on using ‘infrasound’ for monitoring nuclear tests with the industry.

• Set up in 1996, CTBTO is an interim organization tasked with building up the verification regime of the CTBT (India is not a signatory).

About Infrasound

• Refers to low-frequency sound waves with a spectrum between 0.002 and 20 Hz that are below the range of human hearing. 
• Microbarometers are used to detect minute changes in atmospheric pressures caused by infrasounds.
• Sources: Natural (Earthquakes, volcanic explosions, etc.) and non-natural (mining, chemical explosion, nuclear explosions, etc.)
• Applications: Detection of distant nuclear explosions (CTBTO’s International Monitoring System (IMS)), checking structural health of infrastructure, wildlife tracking, etc.

A CSIR-CLRI study has found that nanozymes can ensure collagen’s integrity and enhance resistance to enzymatic degradation. 

• Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is found in the bones, skin, muscles, and tendons.

About Nanozymes 

• Nanozymes are nanomaterial-based artificial enzymes with intrinsic enzyme-like properties. 
• Unlike biological enzymes, nanozymes are typically inorganic materials, i.e., metals, metal oxides, or carbon-based nanostructures.
• Advantages: High stability, easy modification, designability, ease of preparation, and low cost. 
• Applications: Biomedical (Biosensing, Drug delivery, diagnosis and therapy, etc.), Environmental Remediation (Water Purification, Air Purification, etc.), among others.

Recently, Indian contingent won Gold in both open and women’s category at the 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Olympiad.

About 45^th FIDE Chess Olympiad

• Organised in:  Budapest, Hungary.
  • 44th Chess Olympiad took place for the first time in India (Chennai).
• Trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
• Trophy for the winning team in the women’s section is the Vera Menchik Cup.

About FIDE

• It’s the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions. 
• Constituted as a non-governmental institution, it was recognized by International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999.

111 Nagar Vans have been sanctioned within the last 100 days.

About Nagar Van Scheme

• Launched in: 2020.
• Aim: To develop 1000 Nagar Vans by the year 2027 with financial support of National Fund of National Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA).
• Launched by: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to promote urban forestry/ greenary by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.
  • Provision has been made on MeriLiFE Portal for uploading details of plantations done. 
• Significance: Protecting urban forests, addresses environmental concerns like air pollution, urban heat islands, biodiversity loss etc.