Syllabus:

• Prelims – HISTORY

Context: A decade after Nalanda University came up in the foothills of Rajgir, work is on to revive another ancient centre of learning in Bihar — Vikramshila.

Background: –

• The ASI has been developing the ancient Vikramshila University site since December to boost tourism, while the Bihar government recently allocated 202.14 acres in Antichak, Bhagalpur, for the proposed Central University. Despite the Centre’s 2015 approval and a ₹500 crore sanction, the project had stalled due to land allocation delays.

Key takeaways

• Vikramshila University was an ancient center of learning established during the Pala Empire in medieval India. It was renowned for its focus on Buddhist education, particularly the Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism.

Key Facts:

• Founded by: Dharmapala (c. 8th–9th century), a ruler of the Pala Dynasty.
• Location: Present-day Bhagalpur, Bihar.
• Notable Scholars: Atisha Dipankara Srijnana – A key Buddhist scholar who spread Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet.
• It had a rigorous selection process for scholars and focused on Buddhist philosophy, logic, grammar, and metaphysics.
• Supported by Pala rulers, who were great patrons of Buddhism.
• Destroyed by: Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1203 CE, during the Turkish invasions, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri universities.

Comparison with Nalanda

• While Nalanda university flourished from the Gupta Period (320-550 AD) to the 12th Century, Vikramshila thrived during the Pala Period (8th to 12th century). 
• While Nalanda got more international fame for teaching varied disciplines, Vikramshila was the only university that specialised in tantric and occult studies. In fact, during Dharmapala’s reign, Vikramshila reigned supreme and is known to have controlled Nalanda’s affairs as well.
• At its peak, subjects such as theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics and logic were taught at Vikramshila. But the most important branch of learning were the tantras because Vikramshila flourished in the days of tantricism, when occult sciences and magic were subjects of study both in Buddhism as well as Hinduism.
• While Nalanda is the older of the two universities, at one point, the two centres of learning, who had a common patron in King Dharmapala, exchanged knowledge and even teachers, who were called Acharyas.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Union Government has expressed “serious concern” over hospitals not sharing data on organ transplantation activities with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Background: –

• In a communication sent to Health Secretaries of all States/Union Territories, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), which functions under the Directorate General of Health Services, called for urgent intervention of the competent authority to check the non-compliance of the transplant hospitals in updating the organ transplantation data which was undermining the purpose of the National Transplant Registry.

Key takeaways

• The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is India’s apex body responsible for overseeing organ donation, procurement, and transplantation. It functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Governing Law: Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 (amended in 2011)
• Objectives of NOTTO:
  • Promote organ donation awareness in India
  • Ensure equitable distribution of organs
  • Maintain a national registry of organ donors and recipients
  • Coordinate organ and tissue transplant activities across India
  • Set guidelines for organ transplantation and procurement
• Structure of NOTTO: – It operates at three levels:
  • National Level – NOTTO (New Delhi)
    • Manages the National Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplant Registry
    • Coordinates inter-state organ allocation
    • Promotes national policies and awareness
  • Regional Level – ROTTOs (Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations)
    • 5 ROTTOs covering North, South, East, West, and Northeast India
    • Coordinate between NOTTO and SOTTOs
  • State Level – SOTTOs (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations)
    • Implement organ donation and transplant programs at the state level
    • Register hospitals and maintain state donor lists
• Types of Organ Donations Regulated by NOTTO:
  • Living Donor Transplantation: A living person donates an organ (e.g., kidney, liver segment).
  • Deceased Donor Transplantation: Organs retrieved from brain-dead patients.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – ECONOMY

Context: The Reserve Bank issued revised guidelines on Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to facilitate better targeting of bank credit to the priority sectors of the economy. The new guidelines will come into effect from April 1, 2025, the RBI said.

Background:

• The major changes include the enhancement of several loan limits, including housing loans for enhanced PSL coverage, and the broadening of the purposes based on which loans may be classified under ‘renewable energy.’
• There is also a revision of the overall PSL target for urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to 60% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (CEOBSE), whichever is higher. The revised norms also expand the list of eligible borrowers under the category of Weaker Sections.

Key takeaways

• Priority Sector Lending (PSL) is a policy initiative by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) aimed at ensuring that certain sectors of the economy receive adequate credit. These sectors are considered crucial for economic development and include agriculture, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), education, housing, renewable energy, and weaker sections of society.

Key Features of PSL

• Targets: Banks are required to allocate a specific percentage of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (CEOBSE) to priority sectors. For example, commercial banks must allocate 40% of their ANBC to PSL.
  • Categories: PSL covers various categories such as:
  • Agriculture: Loans for farmers, agricultural infrastructure, and allied activities.
  • MSMEs: Credit for small businesses and startups.
  • Export Credit: Loans to exporters.
  • Education: Loans for students pursuing higher education.
  • Housing: Loans for affordable housing projects.
  • Renewable Energy: Financing for solar, wind, and other clean energy projects.
  • Weaker Sections: Loans for economically disadvantaged groups.
• Monitoring and Penalties: Banks are monitored for compliance, and penalties are imposed for failing to meet PSL targets.

Source: Money Control

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Private Sector Collaborative Forum (PSCF) 2025 will be held from 25th -27th March, 2025, in Mumbai.

Background: –

• The forum is being hosted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, reaffirming India’s responsible leadership in global efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Key takeaways 

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization established to combat money laundering (ML), terrorist financing (TF), and other financial crimes at the global level.
• Established: 1989 (G7 Summit) to combat money laundering (ML).
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Membership: 39 countries (including India) + 2 regional organizations (EU, GCC).
• India became a member in 2010.

Key Functions of FATF

• Sets International Standards to combatant money laundering and terror financing
• Monitors Compliance:
  • Conducts Mutual Evaluations (peer reviews) of member countries.
  • Rates countries as Compliant (C), Largely Compliant (LC), Partially Compliant (PC), or Non-Compliant (NC).
• Identifies High-Risk Jurisdictions:
  • Grey List: Countries with strategic deficiencies (e.g., Pakistan, Syria).
  • Black List: Non-cooperative nations (e.g., North Korea, Iran).
• Issues reports on cryptocurrencies, hawala, and NGOs misused for terror funding.

FATF maintains two types of lists to monitor countries with weak AML/CFT laws:

• Grey List (Increased Monitoring List)
  • Countries placed here have deficiencies in AML/CFT measures but are cooperating with FATF.
  • These nations face economic scrutiny & restrictions from international financial institutions.
  • Example: Pakistan was on the Grey List (2018–2022).
• Black List (High-Risk Jurisdictions)
  • Countries that fail to curb money laundering & terror financing.
  • Severe economic sanctions & restrictions are imposed.
  • Current Blacklisted Countries: North Korea, Iran, Myanmar.

Source: PIB

Syllabus:

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT

Context: Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam wins back Blue Flag tag.

Background: –

• The Blue Flag tag was temporarily withdrawn by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education (FEE) after it received complaints of poor maintenance of amenities at Rushikonda.

Key takeaways

• The Blue Flag Certification is an internationally recognized eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators that meet high environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility standards.
• It is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a Denmark-based non-profit organization.
• Validity: One year (renewable based on compliance)

Criteria for Blue Flag Certification:

• To receive the Blue Flag Tag, a beach/marina must comply with 33 criteria under four categories:
  • Environmental Education & Information
    • Displaying Blue Flag information
    • Conducting environmental awareness activities
  • Water Quality
    • No industrial or sewage discharge
    • Regular water testing
  • Environmental Management
    • Waste disposal & recycling systems
    • Prohibiting activities harming ecosystems
  • Safety & Services
    • Availability of lifeguards, first-aid stations, and clean toilets
    • Accessibility for differently-abled visitors

Source: New Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the Blue Flag Certification:

1. It is awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The certification is valid for a period of five years.
3. India’s BEAMS program is linked to Blue Flag Certification.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) In the context of Priority Sector Lending (PSL), which of the following is NOT classified as a priority sector by the RBI?

(a) Agriculture
(b) Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
(c) Real Estate Development
(d) Renewable Energy

Q3.) Which of the following countries are currently on the FATF Blacklist ?

(a) Pakistan and Afghanistan
(b) Iran and North Korea
(c) Russia and Syria
(d) Venezuela

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – a