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- Why in News?
- India’s Maratha Military Landscape has been inscribed as the country’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its cultural continuity, distinct architectural style, and deep-rooted historical relevance. This inclusion highlights India’s position as 6th globally and 2nd in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of World Heritage Sites. The Archaeological Survey of India is the central body managing heritage-related affairs.
- Key Provisions:-
- The Maratha Military Landscape comprises a strategic network of twelve forts from the 17th to 19th centuries CE, showcasing military foresight, regional adaptation, and architectural innovation. Spread across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the forts—such as Raigad, Pratapgad, Sindhudurg, and Gingee—are located in varied terrains, from hilltops to coastal areas.
- World Heritage Sites must demonstrate outstanding universal value and fulfill at least one of ten selection criteria. Nominations are reviewed by ICOMOS and IUCN, with final decisions made by the World Heritage Committee, of which India is a member (2021–2025).
- Why in News?
- India has launched its first-ever e-Truck Incentive Scheme under the PM E-DRIVE initiative to promote cleaner, more efficient freight transport.
- Key Provisions:-
- This scheme offers financial incentives to support the adoption of electric trucks (e-trucks), encouraging domestic manufacturing while cutting logistics costs and carbon emissions. Despite comprising just 3% of total vehicles, diesel trucks account for 42% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions.
- The scheme targets N2 (3.5–12 tonnes) and N3 (12–55 tonnes) category e-trucks, offering incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle as an upfront discount. It forms part of the broader PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE), led by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
- PM E-DRIVE expands beyond the FAME-II scheme, covering e-trucks, e-ambulances, public charging infrastructure, and EV testing. It mandates scrappage-linked incentives for e-trucks and prioritizes them in e-bus deployment, while also supporting testing agency upgrades to build a robust EV ecosystem.
- Why in News?
- Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) recently convened the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) to advance discussions on the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
- Key Provisions:-
- This proposed agreement aims to enhance global collaboration and coordination in preventing, preparing for, and responding to future pandemics.
- The agreement outlines key principles, strategies, and tools to improve the international health framework. A major focus is ensuring fair and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for all countries, especially during global health emergencies.
- At its core, the agreement is rooted in principles of equity, solidarity, and respect for international humanitarian law. It emphasizes the protection of human rights, dignity, and fundamental freedoms. By promoting shared responsibility and stronger global coordination, the WHO Pandemic Agreement seeks to create a more resilient and inclusive health system capable of addressing future pandemics more effectively and fairly.