World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released the latest edition of its biennial ‘Living Planet’ report.

Key findings: 

• Biodiversity loss: Wildlife population declined by 73% Over the past 50 years (1970–2020). 
  • Freshwater populations have suffered heaviest declines followed by terrestrial and marine populations. 
• Reasons for decline: Habitat loss, degradation, climate change, invasive species. 
• Findings on India
  • Adopting India's consumption patterns worldwide would need less than one Earth by 2050.
  • Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) is a good example of the positive socio-economic impacts of nature-positive food production. 
  • Praised India’s millet mission. 

NCBC tendered advice to Union Government for inclusion of certain Castes from Maharashtra, in the Central List of OBCs.

• Article 342 A empowers the President to specify socially and educationally backward classes for States and UTs.

About NCBC

• Constitutional Body: Established under Article 338B of Constitution (inserted through 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018). 
• Composition: A Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and three other Members
• Functions:
  • to investigate and monitor all matters relating to constitutional safeguards for the socially and educationally backward classes, 
  • to inquire into specific complaints concerning the deprivation of their rights and safeguards, etc. 

Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation released annual CAMS (July 2022-June 2023) Report, conducted as part of 79^th round of National Sample Survey. 

Key Findings

• Drinking water & Sanitation: 97.8% of households have toilet facilities and 95.7% have access to improved sources of drinking water. 
• Clean Fuels: Only 63.4% of households use clean fuel for cooking.
• Education: Among persons aged 15-24 years, around 96.9% are able to read and write simple statements and perform simple arithmetic calculations.
• Health: Average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household on hospitalization during last 365 days are Rs 4,129/- in rural areas and Rs 5,290/- in urban areas.

Researchers documented a new kind of sedimentary rock made from coastal slag deposits in the U.K.

About Slag

• It is a composite material containing metal oxides and silicon dioxide, and is a by-product of the steelmaking process in the iron and steel industries. 
• It is chemically stable and has the ability to neutralise acidity.
• It is a major component of artificial ground. 
  • The lithification process hardens slag (and other industrial wastes), into sedimentary rocks, creating artificial ground.
  • Sedimentary rocks with slag are relatively more abundant in the U.K. due to historical industrial activities.

Reserve Bank of India has proposed to create the Reserve Bank – Climate Risk Information System (RB-CRIS). 

• It will be a data repository comprising of two parts – 
  • First part will be a web-based directory, listing various data sources (meteorological, geospatial, etc.).
  • Second part will be a data portal accessible only to regulated entities, comprising of standardized datasets.
• It aims to address the gaps in available climate related data such as fragmented and varied sources, differing formats, frequencies and units etc.
• It will help regulated entities to undertake climate risk assessments for ensuring stability of their balance sheets and that of the financial system.

Department of Posts, India has released commemorative postage stamps to mark the 150^th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union.

• India Post, world’s largest postal network is also observing 170 years of its formation.

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

• Established as General Postal Union on October 9, 1874, through Treaty of Bern.
  • Second oldest international organization after International Telecommunication Union (ITU), formed in 1865.
  • World Post Day is celebrated on anniversary of establishment of UPU. 
• HQ: Bern, Switzerland.
• Members: 192 countries. India is one its oldest and most active members.
• UPU is a United Nations specialized agency.

To encourage wider adoption of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RBI enhances transaction limits for UPI123Pay, UPI Lite.

UPI123Pay

• Started in March 2022 to enable feature-phone users to use UPI.
• It is available in 12 languages.
• Technology alternatives include IVR number, app functionality, missed-call and proximity sound-based payments. 
• RBI enhanced the per-transaction limit from ₹5000 to ₹10,000. 

UPI Lite 

• It allows users to make low-value transactions without entering a UPI PIN.
• RBI enhanced per-transaction limit to ₹1,000 from ₹500 and overall wallet limit to ₹5,000 from ₹2000.

Taiwan’s navy recently claimed that China's military is employing an 'anaconda strategy' to constrict the island.

About Anaconda strategy

• It refers to a military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott during early stages of the American Civil War.
  • Its key objective was to suffocate the Confederacy economically and militarily, similar to how an anaconda snake coils around and asphyxiates its prey. 
• China's 'anaconda strategy’ against Taiwan involves a mix of military manoeuvres, psychological tactics, and cyber warfare. 
  • Its goal is to force Taiwan into submission without engaging in a full-scale invasion.