UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 10-03-2025

Vanuatu’s Golden Passport Scheme

Why in News?

Fugitive former IPL chief Lalit Modi has applied to surrender his passport to the Indian High Commission in London, and acquired the citizenship of Vanuatu recently.

• Vanuatu has a citizenship by investment (CBI) or “golden passport” program, which allows wealthy individuals to purchase its passport.
• It allows individuals to acquire citizenship in a country by making significant financial contributions to its economy.
• It is the fastest and most simple citizenship program available in Vanuatu.
• The applicant does not even have to set foot in the country to become a citizen, all documentation can be provided digitally.
• Cost - The cost of Vanuatu citizenship ranges from $135,500 to $155,500 (Rs 1.18 cr to 1.35 cr), with options to also purchase citizenship for a family of 4.
• Processing time - Vary from 30 to 60 days after the filing of the application.
• The BBC reported in 2019 that passport sales account for roughly 30% of the country’s revenue.
• Other countries having CBI - Malta, Turkey, Montenegro, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Egypt.
• Advantages - At present a Vanuatu passport allows visa-free entry to 113 countries.
• Vanuatu is, for all intents and purposes, a tax haven (offers foreign businesses and individuals minimal or no tax liability, along with a politically and economically stable environment).
• It is a zero-tax jurisdiction that is free of personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and wealth tax.
• While Vanuatu does charge indirect taxes such as VAT, as well as tax on property transactions, rates are typically lower than other countries in the South Pacific.
• It also has lax reporting requirements, which make it a strategic jurisdiction for tax purposes.
• Offshore financial services is one of the biggest revenue-generators for the country.
• Henley Passport Index – It ranks the Vanuatu passport as the 51^st strongest in the world (out of 199 countries), ahead of Saudi Arabia (57), China (59), and Indonesia (64). India ranks 80^th.

Reference

The Indian Express | Golden passport schemes

Hantavirus

Why in News?

The recent passing of Betsy Hackman, wife of renowned American actor Gene Hackman, has drawn attention to deadly Hantavirus.

• Cause – It is a family of viruses carried by certain rodents, such as deer mice, white-footed mice, rice rats, and cotton rats.
• Transmission - Humans typically contract Hantavirus through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, and saliva.
• The most common way the virus spreads is through aerosolisation, when fresh rodent waste is disturbed, the virus particles become airborne and can be inhaled.
• This often happens during activities like sweeping infested areas, cleaning long-closed spaces such as sheds, or handling contaminated materials.
• Additionally, Hantavirus can enter the body if a person touches their eyes, nose, or mouth after handling contaminated materials or if the virus enters an open wound.
• Though extremely rare, the virus can also spread through rodent bites. 
• They do not typically transmit from person to person, although rare cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported with certain strains, such as the Andes virus.
• Strains - Several strains exhibiting varying degrees of severity.
• Stages - Prodromal phase - Appears one to eight weeks after exposure.
• It begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches (often in the thighs, hips, and back), fatigue, headaches, and abdominal pain. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur.
• Second Phase - Signals the onset of HPS, brings more severe symptoms.
• These include a sudden shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid.
• This stage can escalate quickly, causing acute respiratory distress and, in some cases, heart failure. Without prompt medical intervention, the condition can be fatal.
• High risk groups - People who live or work in areas where rodent populations are more prominent. This includes farmers, construction workers, and those involved in cleaning old or unused spaces.
• It also includes children under 5, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
• Prevention – It remains the most effective way to combat hantavirus.
  • Keeping homes and workplaces rodent-free by sealing entry points,
  • Safely disposing of food and garbage, and
  • Wearing protective gear when cleaning areas with rodent activity can significantly reduce the risk.
• Treatment - Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment or cure for Hantavirus.
• Patients are often given oxygen therapy to ease breathing difficulties. Severe cases may require intensive care, including mechanical ventilation to assist lung function.

Reference

The Hindu | Hantavirus

Koch-Rajbongshis

Why in News?

Leaders of the Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilita Joutha Mancha recently submitted a 15-point memorandum to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Assam unit president Dilip Saikia highlighting their demands.

Mancha is an umbrella body comprising 12 organisations of the Koch-Rajbongshi community, which once ruled large swathes across present-day Assam, West Bengal, and Bangladesh.

• Demands
  • They demanded Scheduled Tribes status for their community.
  • Re-establishment of the historic Kamatapur State.
  • Creation of a Chilarai Regiment in the armed forces in honour of the community’s legendary warrior.

• Related Committees – Mahesh Kumar Singla Committee.
• Koch-Rajbongshis – Koch Rajbongshi is an ancient tribe originally from the ancient Koch kingdom.
• Koch Rajbongshi are an indigenous tribe of South Asia who live in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also known as the Rajbanshi or Rajvanshi.
• The Koch-Rajbongshis are one of 6 ethnic groups seeking ST status for decades and currently enjoy Other Backward Classes status.
• The others are Adivasis, Ahoms, Chutias, Mataks, and Morans.

• Origin - The Koch Rajbongshi's called themselves Kamateshwars (the rulers of Kamata/Kamatapur Kingdom).
  • But their influence and expansions were so extensive and far reaching that their kingdom is sometimes called the Koch kingdom.
• Language - Rajbongshi/Rajbanshi language spoken by one crore people, according to a 2001 census report for West Bengal.
• Religion - The Rajbongshi were primarily animist, but later on they followed Hinduism/Sanatana (both Shaiva and Vaishnabhite).
• A few section of Rajbongshi pleople were also found to be followers of Christianity, both Roman Catholic and protestant.

Reference

The Hindu | Koch-Rajbongshis

Preventive Detention

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has allowed a plea against preventive detention of a man allegedly engaged in organized smuggling, as the detaining authorities failed to consider conditions imposed on him.

• Recent SC Ruling - Preventive detention prescribed safeguards must be strictly observed to ensure due compliance with constitutional and statutory norms and requirements.
• Preventive detention – It is the act of detaining someone without a court trial or conviction.
• It is used to prevent someone from committing a crime or disrupting public order.
• Purpose - To prevent someone from committing a crime,
• To prevent someone from disrupting public order,
• To prevent someone from escaping prosecution, and
• To maintain national security.
• Constitutional provisions - Article 22(3) of the Constitution allows preventive detention for reasons of state security and public order.
• The Constitution provides safeguards for people in preventive detention.
• Both Parliament and State Legislature have powers to enact a law for preventive detention while Parliament has exclusive power over reasons connected with defence, foreign affairs, or security of India.
• Related Laws
  • Foreign Exchange Conservation and Prevention of Smuggling Activities, 1974 (COFEPOSA)
  • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2008 (UAPA)
• Previous rulings of Supreme Court -The Supreme Court has ruled that advisory boards should prevent the state from using power capriciously
• The Supreme Court has ruled that the grounds for preventive detention should be communicated to the detainee as soon as possible
• Landmark case - The A K Gopalan v/s State of Madras case related to the Preventive Detention Act of 1950.

Reference

Hindustan Times | Preventive detention

Madhav National Park

Why in News?

Madhav National Park becomes India’s 58^th tiger reserve and 9^th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh recently.

• Location - It is situated in Shivpuri region of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is situated on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands of India forming a part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills intermixed with plateaus, and valley sections.
• Notified in - 1958.
• The park named after Madho Rao Scindia, the former Maharaja of Gwalior was formerly a royal hunting area.
• Vegetation - The Park represents the Northern Tropical dry deciduous mixed forest as well as dry thorn forest, typical of North-Western Madhya Pradesh.
  • Kardhai is the dominant tree species.
• Lakes - Sakhya Sagar, man-made (Ramsar site in 2022) and Madhav Sagar
  • Marsh Crocodiles are in abundance in Sakhya Sagar lake.
• Aquatic Life - Includes a variety of water basins, meadows, and woodlands.
• Fauna - The forest is home to antelopes like Nilgai, Chinkara and Chowsinga and Deer including Chital, Sambar and Barking Deer.
• Animals like the Leopard, Wolf, Jackal, Fox, Wild Dog, Wild Pig, Porcupine, Python etc are also sighted in the park.

Reference

Outlook | Madhav National Park