Syllabus:

• Prelims –  CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Cabinet approved the PAN 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department (ITD), with a cost of Rs 1,435 crore.

Background: –

• The project aims to streamline and modernise the process of issuing and managing PAN and TAN, making it more user-friendly and efficient.

Key takeaways

• PAN 2.0 Project is an e-Governance project of ITD for re-engineering the business processes of taxpayer registration services. 
• Under the project, the existing PAN system will be upgraded completely, the IT backbone will be revamped and PAN will be made as a common business identifier for all digital systems of specified government agencies.

How PAN 2.0 will be different from existing setup?

• Integration of Platforms: Currently, PAN-related services are spread across three different platforms: the e-Filing Portal, UTIITSL Portal, and Protean e-Gov Portal. With the implementation of PAN 2.0, all these services will be integrated into a single, unified portal. This one-stop platform will handle comprehensively issues/matters related to PAN and TAN, including application, updates, corrections, Aadhaar-PAN linking, re-issuance requests, and even online PAN validation. 
• Comprehensive use of technology for paperless processes: Complete online paperless process as against prevailing mode
• Taxpayer facilitation:  Allotment/updation/correction of PAN will be done free of cost and e-PAN will be sent to the registered mail id. For physical PAN card, the applicant has to make a request along with the prescribed fee

About PAN and TAN

• A 10-digit alphanumeric number, PAN, enables the Income Tax Department to link all transactions of a person with the department. These transactions include tax payments, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) / Tax Collected at Source (TCS) credits, returns of income, specified transactions.
• Once PAN is allotted, it remains the same forever. It is mandatory to quote PAN on filing of income tax return.
• TAN stands for Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number, which is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department.
• TAN needs to be obtained by all persons responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source.It is compulsory to quote TAN in TDS/TCS return, any TDS/TCS payment challan, TDS/TCS certificates.

Source: PIB

Syllabus:

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently announced intensification of the existing deep depression into a cyclone and the chances of the storm hitting the Tamil Nadu coast.

Background: –

• Flanked by the sea on three sides, India’s east and west coasts are affected by cyclones, annually.

Key takeaways

• The storm will be identified as Fengal, a name proposed by Saudi Arabia. 
• This is the second cyclone in the post-monsoon season to affect the Indian coast after Cyclone Dana, which crossed Odisha as a ‘severe’ category storm in late October.
• Climatologically, about five cyclones develop in the North Indian Ocean basin — comprising the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea — each year. Of these, an average of four cyclones develop over the Bay of Bengal and one over the Arabian Sea. This basin is most prone to cyclone development during the pre-monsoon season (April – June) and post-monsoon season (October – December) months.

About Tropical Cyclones

• A “Cyclonic Storm’ or a “Cyclone” is an intense vortex or a whirl in the atmosphere with very strong winds circulating around it in anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. 
• Tropical cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. They are the most devastating storms on Earth.
• Tropical cyclones are also referred to as ‘Hurricanes’ over Atlantic Ocean, ‘Typhoons’ over Pacific Ocean, ‘Willy-Willies’ over Australian Seas and simply as ‘Cyclones’ over north Indian Ocean (NIO).

Structure:

• Eye: Calm, cloud-free center.
• Eye Wall: Region of strongest winds and rainfall around the eye.
• Rain Bands: Spiral bands of thunderstorms extending outward.

Favourable Conditions for Formation

• Warm Ocean Waters: Sea surface temperatures >26.5°C provide the energy source.
• Coriolis Effect: Ensures rotation; absent at the equator.
• Low Wind Shear: Allows vertical development of storm clouds.
• Pre-existing Disturbance: Initial low-pressure zone.

Cyclone Formation Process (Cyclogenesis):

• Warm ocean heats the air above, causing it to rise and create a low-pressure zone.
• Moist air from surrounding areas rushes in, rises, and condenses, releasing latent heat.
• The Coriolis effect initiates rotation, forming a spiraling system.
• The cyclone intensifies as it absorbs more heat and moisture.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: India’s recent signing of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement — better known as the High Seas Treaty — has drawn both praise and scepticism from maritime observers

Background: –

• So far, 105 countries have signed the treaty which is ratified by 14 countries. The High Seas treaty would come into force 120 days after at least 60 countries submit their formal ratification documents.

About High Seas Treaty 

• The high seas comprise 64 percent of the ocean surface and about 43 percent of the Earth. They belong to no one, and everyone enjoys equal rights for navigation, overflight, economic activities, scientific research, and the laying of infrastructure like undersea cables.
• As high seas are no one’s responsibility this has led to the overexploitation of resources, biodiversity loss, pollution, including dumping of plastics, ocean acidification, and many other problems.

The High Seas Treaty has four main objectives:

• Demarcation of marine protected areas (MPAs), rather like there are protected forests or wildlife areas;
• Sustainable use of marine genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from them;
• Initiation of the practice of environmental impact assessments for all major activities in the oceans; and
• Capacity building and technology transfer.
• Marine-Protected Areas: MPAs are where ocean systems, including biodiversity, are under stress, either due to human activities or climate change. Activities in these areas will be highly regulated, and conservation efforts similar to what happens in forest or wildlife zones will be undertaken.
• Marine Genetic Resources: Oceanic life forms can be useful for humans in areas like drug development. Genetic information is already being extracted, and their benefits are being investigated. The treaty seeks to ensure that benefits arising out of such efforts, including monetary gains, are free from strong intellectual property rights controls, and are equitably shared amongst all. The knowledge generated from is also supposed to remain openly accessible to all.
• Environment Impact Assessments: The treaty makes it mandatory to carry out a prior environmental impact assessment (EIA) for any activity that is potentially polluting or damaging to the marine ecosystems, or to conservation efforts. An EIA is to be carried out for activities within national jurisdictions as well if the impacts are expected in the high sea.
• Capacity building and technology transfer: The treaty lays emphasis on this because a number of countries, especially small island states do not have the resources or the expertise to participate in the conservation efforts, or to take benefits from the useful exploitation of marine resources. At the same time, the obligations put on them by the Treaty can be an additional burden.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: India has signed Riyadh Design Law Treaty, which seeks to harmonise procedures and simplify registration processes of industrial designs in different countries.

Background:

• After nearly two decades of negotiations, the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) adopted the landmark Design Law Treaty (DLT).

Key takeaways

• The Design Law Treaty (DLT), also known as the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, is an international legal instrument adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Riyadh on November 22, 2024.

Objectives:

• Harmonize Procedural Frameworks: The DLT aims to harmonize the procedural aspects of industrial design protection globally. This includes standardizing registration processes to make it easier and more affordable for designers to protect their work both domestically and internationally.
• Promote Innovation: By simplifying the design protection process, the treaty seeks to promote innovation and creativity, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers.

Key Provisions:

• Relaxed Time Limits: The treaty introduces more flexible deadlines for filing and submissions, giving applicants greater leeway.
• Restoration of Lost Rights: There is a mechanism to restore rights in case of lapses, ensuring that applicants can recover lost opportunities.
• Priority Claims: Provisions have been added to make it easier to correct or add priority claims.
• Multiple Designs: Applicants can file multiple designs in a single application, saving time and costs.
• Electronic Systems: The treaty encourages countries to adopt electronic systems for design registration and facilitate the digital exchange of priority documents.

Impact:

• Global Competitiveness: By streamlining design protection processes, the DLT aims to boost the global competitiveness of designers and businesses.
• Environmental Benefits: The move towards electronic systems and paperless processes aligns with sustainability goals, reducing the environmental impact of design registration.
• Support for SMEs and Startups: The treaty is particularly beneficial for SMEs, startups, and independent designers, empowering them to secure design rights more easily worldwide.

Source: PIB

Syllabus:

• Prelims  – ENVIRONMENT

Context: King cobra found in the Western Ghats and known as ‘Kaalinga Sarpa’ in the local parlance is officially named Ophiophagus Kaalinga.

Background: –

• The name Kaalinga is deeply rooted in Kannada culture.

Key takeaways

• king cobra, whose habitat spreads across South Asia and Southeast Asia, was believed to belong to one species till a nearly decade-long research led by noted herpetologist, P. Gowri Shankar, brought to the fore four species of king cobra, of which Ophiophagus Kaalinga is one.
• Ophiophagus kaalinga, the Western Ghats king cobra, is a species of King cobra endemic to the Western Ghats of south-western India.
• It is found in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and parts of Maharashtra. Its range extends from the Ashambu hills near Kanyakumari through various mountain ranges, including the Agasthyamalai and Cardamom hills, reaching elevations of about 100 m to 1800 m above sea level. 
• The species is hill-dwelling and thrives in mid-elevation rainforests (500–900 m) but can also be found in lower foothills and montane forests.
• The specific epithet kaalinga comes from the Kannada language of Karnataka, India, meaning “dark” or “black”.
• As a member of the king cobra family, the Western Ghats king cobra is also considered as “vulnerable” under the IUCN Red List. 
• The king cobras are the only snakes in the world to build nests and the female king cobras are found ferociously guarding them.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) Which of the following statements about tropical cyclones is/are correct?

1. Tropical cyclones are also referred to as ‘Willy-Willies’ over the Atlantic Ocean.
2. The formation of tropical cyclones requires a pre-existing low-pressure zone.
3. Tropical cyclones rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding the High Seas Treaty:

1. The treaty aims to demarcate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) similar to protected forest zones.
2. It mandates prior Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) only for activities within national jurisdiction.
3. The treaty promotes the equitable sharing of benefits arising from marine genetic resources.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) With reference to Ophiophagus kaalinga, consider the following statements:

1. It is a newly identified species of king cobra found in the Eastern Ghats.
2. The name “kaalinga” is derived from the Kannada language and signifies “dark” or “black.”
3. The species is classified as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

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