04 July 2025
(Current Affairs Notes - Prelims)

3 by 35 Initiative

• Launched by World Health Organisation (WHO)

• It aims to increase the real prices of three unhealthy products – tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks – by at least 50% by 2035 through tax increases.

• Expected benefits:

  • • Reduction in consumption of harmful products

    • Mobilizing $ 1 trillion in public revenue globally

• It seeks to revitalize health taxes as a powerful tool to reduce harmful consumption, save lives, and generate vital public revenue.

Global South

• Brandt Report proposed a division between North and South countries based on various parameters such as technological advancement, GDP etc.

• Global South refers to technically and socially less developed countries which are located in the Southern Hemisphere, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

• Rise of Global South

  • • Global South accounts for 40% of world trade.

    • The rapid economic growth of countries like China, India, etc. has significantly altered global economic dynamics.

    • Global South accounts for the majority of the world’s population, with many nations experiencing a demographic dividend.

    • Assertive Diplomacy as witnessed in establishment of the loss and damage fund at COP27.

    • The countries are also pushing for reforms in United Nations and other global organisations.

• Recently, the Indian Prime Minister highlighted that the post-World War II world order is changing rapidly, driven by the rise of the Global South.

Surveillance Pricing

• The practice where businesses/online retailers use data collected about individuals to adjust prices of products or services.

• This data can include browsing history, location, purchase history, etc.

Kariyachalli Island

• Located between Rameshwaram and Thhothukudi in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park region, Tamil Nadu.

• It is an uninhabited island that has sunk significantly over the past few decades due to rapid erosion and rising sea levels.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

• The apex body for strategic defence acquisition planning and oversight.

• It ensures coordinated decision-making across India's defence establishment.

• It gives ‘in principle’ approval to capital acquisitions and monitors the progress of major projects.

• The Council is chaired by the Union Minister of Defence.

• Recently, the DAC has cleared capital acquisition proposals for nearly Rs. 1 lakh crore.

Global Peace Index, 2025

• The Index uses several indicators across three domains:

  • • Level of Societal Safety and Security

    • Extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict

    • Degree of Militarisation

• Key findings:

  • • South Asia, the second least peaceful region globally

    • Iceland has been placed at first place

    • India’s rank is 115th out 163 countries

• The Index is released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

Polar Anticyclones

• Anticyclone is a high-pressure area surrounded by low-pressure zones.

• Air movement in anticyclone is outward and clockwise in Northern Hemisphere, outward and anti-clockwise in Southern Hemisphere.

• Polar Anticyclones are wind systems associated with a region in which high atmospheric pressure develops.

• They are created by the cooling of surface layers of air.

• This cooling causes the air near the surface to become denser, which causes an inflow of air at high levels to replace the denser, sinking air.

• These processes increase the mass of air above the surface, thus creating the anticyclone.

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

• An independent, non‑profit international organization acting as guardian of the Olympic Games.

• Founded in 1894, IOC is entirely privately funded.

• HQ: Lausanne, Switzerland.

• Recently, IOC flagged issues related to governance crisis in Indian Olympics Association and rise in doping violations.

Handicrafts in News

• Kashmiri Pashmina shawl: It is woven from the fine undercoat of the Changthangi goat. Known for its softness and warmth, it has been accorded GI tag.

• Bidriware vases (Bidar, Karnataka): The vases feature a zinc-copper alloy base with a distinctive black finish and fine silver inlay. It has been accorded GI tag.

• Silver filigree purse (Cuttack, Odisha): It is known for its Tarakasi work. It combines intricate floral and vine designs with modern style. It has been accorded GI tag.

• Miniature Ambawari elephant (West Bengal): It is handcrafted from polished synthetic ivory – an ethical alternative to natural ivory.

Blue Nile

• A major tributary of the Nile River.

• It originates from lake Tana of Ethiopia.

• The river flows into Sudan to meet White Nile to form Nile at Khartoum.

• It covers the countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.

• Recently, the construction of Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Blue Nile has been completed.