UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Private Sector Collaborative Forum (PSCF) 2025 will be held from 25 th  -27 th  March, 2025, in Mumbai. 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. India’s Leadership in AML/CFT Efforts India’s participation in FATF initiatives has been widely recognised. India is a member of steering group of FATF and also co-chairs a working group on Risks, Trends and Methodologies work group. In November 2024, India hosted the plenary of Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) in Indore. In June 2024, India’s FATF Mutual Evaluation Report was tabled at the FATF Plenary in Singapore and subsequently released in September 2024.  India achieved the best possible outcome by being placed in ‘regular follow-up...

  Following recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has decided to place five new psychoactive substances and one medicine under international control. The recommendations were developed by WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence--ECDD, which consists of global experts analyzing health risks and benefits of psychoactive substances circulating on global markets and alerting to include them under international control if evidence found that their use can cause harm for population health in countries. substances placed in Schedule I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), as amended by the 1972 Protocol are: N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene , N-Pyrrolidino metonitazene , Etonitazepipne , N-Desethyl isotonitazene ,  Substance placed in Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971): Hexahydrocannabinol , Substance placed in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971): C...

The Global Framework on Chemicals, adopted by the ICCM5 in Bonn, Germany in 2023, provides a vision for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, for a safe, healthy and sustainable future. It is backed up by a High-Level Declaration (the “Bonn Declaration”) that provides the political drive for its implementation and to actively promote and support transitions to circular economies. The IOMC participated  at the 5th session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), as well as its preparatory sessions, and is strongly committed to playing an important role in supporting implementation of the GFC.  As a first step, this will include: IOMC and its member organizations accepted the invitation in ICCM5 Resolution V/8 to develop “Implementation Programmes” (IPs) for consideration by the first International Conference in 2026, to be done in close collaboration with stakeholders.  IOMC members will start work on “implementing actions”, both related t...

  The 353 rd  Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to March 20, 2025. The meeting brings together the tripartite constituents of ILO i.e. representatives from governments, workers, and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world of work and the governance of ILO. The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India's achievements, learnings and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality employment generation globally. Second World Summit for Social Development India extended its support to ILO on the organization of the UN led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Social Development. India’s inspirin...

Relevance: The Hindu Horseshoe crabs are arthropods of the family Limulidae and the only surviving xiphosurans. Despite their name, they are not true crabs or even crustaceans; they are chelicerates, more closely related to arachnids like spiders, ticks, and scorpions. The body of a horseshoe crab is divided into three main parts: the cephalothorax, abdomen, and telson. The largest of these, the cephalothorax, houses most of the animal's eyes, limbs, and internal organs. It is also where the animal gets its name, as its shape somewhat resembles that of a horseshoe. Horseshoe crabs have been described as "living fossils", having changed little since they first appeared in the Triassic. Only four species of horseshoe crab are extant today. Most are marine, though the mangrove horseshoe crab is often found in brackish water. Additionally, certain extinct species transitioned to living in freshwater. Horseshoe crabs primarily live at the water's bottom but they can swim i...