🔆  The United Nation Security Council (UNSC)  :

✅ Established - by the UN Charter in 1945
✅ It is one of the five principle organizations of the United Nations (UN).
✅ Takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression. 
✅ Headquarters - New York 
✅ Members - It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote
🔸 5 permanent members known as P5, including the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States.
🔸 The P5’s privileged status has its roots in the United Nations’ founding in the aftermath of World War II.
🔸They have veto power over decisions of UNSC.
✅ 10 non-permanent members : Each year the 193-member General Assembly elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term at the UNSC.
✅ Recently, Pakistan, Somalia, Denmark, Greece, and Panama have been chosen as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), serving a 2-year term from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2026.

🔆 Asian Development Bank (ADB) :
✅ Founded - 1966
✅ Principal international Development finance institution for the Asia-Pacific region.
✅ Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
✅ Membership - 68 members, including 49 regional members from Asia and the Pacific and 19 non-regional members from other parts of the world.
◽️ The regional members include countries from Asia and the Pacific region, such as India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and many others.
◽️ The non-regional members include countries from Europe, North America, and other regions.
✅ Functions - The ADB provides assistance to its members through grants, loans, technical assistance, and equity investments
✅ Representation - The ADB's board of governors represents the member countries and is vested with all of the ADB's powers
✅ Largest shareholders - Japan holds the largest share in ADB with 15.677%, followed by U.S.A (15.567%), China (6.473%), and India (5.812%)

1098 - emergency service for children in need of care and protection

181 - helpline number for the Women Helpline (WHL) in Tamil Nadu. It is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential service that provides support and assistance to women and children who have experienced violence.

14417 - that provides information and guidance to students on education

14567 - National Helpline for Senior Citizens (Elderline), a toll-free service that provides support and assistance to senior citizens

14446 - Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan(Drug Free India Campaign)

A New Era in Solar Energy: Advancements Through the International Solar Alliance (ISA)

🔹 Global Initiative: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was established in 2015 by India and France during the COP21 summit in Paris to advocate for solar energy as a sustainable solution for energy access and combating climate change.

🔹 First of Its Kind: Headquartered in India, the ISA is the first international organization set up in the country, symbolizing India’s dedication to multilateral partnerships and striving for a carbon-neutral world.

🔹 Widespread Membership: With 120 member and signatory countries, the ISA is instrumental in promoting global cooperation on solar energy, boosting energy security, and facilitating the transition to sustainable and clean energy systems.

Org's And their HQs

• UN-New York
• UNICEF-New York
• UNDP-New York

• WHO-Geneva
• WTO -Geneva
•  ILO-Geneva

• UNESCO-Paris

• BRICS-Shanghai
• ADB-Manila
• ASEAN-Jakarta
• NATO-Brussels

• CHOGM-Londan
• OPEC-Vienna
• FAO-Rome
• IMF-Washington
• UNEP-Nairobi
• ICJ-The Hague

🔆PANCHAYATI RAJ Introduction

✅Term Panchayati Raj – rural local self-governance
✅ Constitutionalised through 73rd CAA,

▪️ 1992 Evolution of Panchayati Raj

1. Balwant Raj Mehta Committee
✅Recommended scheme for democratic decentralisation
✅Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayati Raj – 1959. 
✅ Followed by Andhra Pradesh-1959

2. Ashok Mehta Committee
✅ Recommended 132 changes to revive the declining PR system 
✅Three tier system of PR – replaced by two tier system – Zila Parishad at district and Mandal Panchayat below it.
✅ District should be first point for decentralisation. 
✅PR institutions have compulsory powers of taxation and managing on finances
✅Nyaya panchayats are to be kept separate bodies – preside over by qualified judge.
✅ Minister for PR to be appointed and state answer of ministers. 
✅Seats for SC/ST reserved on the basis of population
✅ Could not be implemented due to the collapse of Janata government.

3. GVK Rao Committee 
4. L M Singhvi Committee
5. Thungon Committee

6. Gadgil Committee
✅Constituted in 1988 – “how best PR institutions could be made effective”
✅Constitutional status bestowed on PR. 
✅Three tier system – Village, block and district levels. 
✅Fixed term of five years for members – elected directly – reservation for SC/ST/woman
✅ The state finance commission, State election commission for management

▪️73rd CAA 1992

✅ Part 9 to the Constitution – the Panchayats – Article 243 to 243 O
✅ Landmark in evolution of grassroot democracy.
✅ Salient Features: 
a. Gram Sabha
b. Three tier system 
c. Election of members and chairperson
d. Version of seats. 
e. Duration of Panchayat fixed. 
f. Disqualification prescribed. 
g. State election commission. 
h. Finance commission - audits and accounts.

▪️PESA Act, 1996 Provisions of the Panchayats (extensions to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 - Objectives:

✅ Extend provisions of Part 9 to scheduled areas with certain modifications. 
✅ Self-rule for the bulk of tribal population. 
✅ Safeguard and preserve traditions and customs of tribal communities. 
✅ Empower panchayats for tribal requirement
✅ Provide village governance with participated democracy
Reasons for ineffective performance
1. Of adequate devolution. 
2. Excessive control of bureaucracy. 
3. Tied nature of funds. 
4. Overwhelming dependence on government funding. 
5. Status of gram Sabha. 
6. Creation of parallel bodies. 
7. Poor infrastructure