NATIONAL:
1. Governors vs State Governments
Why in news – After Punjab and Tamil Nadu, Kerala moved Supreme Court (SC) against Governor.
Key Points –
• Kerala government has claimed inaction on the part of the Governor to 8 Bills passed by the Assembly.
• The governor's assent is a prerequisite for any Bill to become law in the state.
• Article 200 – Governor can either give assent, withhold assent, or reserve it for consideration of the President.
• However, there is no set time frame within which the governors must take a decision which may lead to inordinate delay.
Value Addition –
• Shamsher Singh vs State of Punjab (1974) - SC conveyed that the governor is bound to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers of the state.
• M.M. Punchhi commission - Governor does not exercise any discretion of his own and is bound to act by the advice of the State.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano
Why in news – Eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano potentially impacted ozone layer.
Key Points –
• It is a submarine volcano in the Tongan archipelago located in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
• Volcanic eruptions inject large quantities of sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere facilitating the chemical conversion of chlorine into more reactive forms that destroy ozone.
• Volcanoes significantly contribute atmospheric bromine, and hydrogen chloride, a common volcanic gas that efficiently destroys ozone.
• Volcanic eruption can cause about 1-5% of atmospheric ozone damage.
• Earlier, 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines led to significant ozone loss in the stratosphere.
Ozone Protection Conventions –
• Vienna Convention Montreal Protocol (1985)
• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
• Kigali Agreement (2016) (amendment to 1987 Montreal Protocol).
2. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
Why in news – Russia withdrew from the ratification of CTBT to bring itself in line with the US.
Key Points –
• US has not ratified the CTBT.
• CTBT bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes.
• It was opened for signature in 1996, and has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178.
• It is yet to formally enter into force as it requires ratification by 44 specific nations 8 of which yet to do so.
• 8 nations not ratified - US, India China, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt.
• India has neither signed nor ratified CTBT because it considers the treaty discriminatory.
Other Nuclear Weapons Control Treaties –
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, 2017) - India did not sign.
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT, 1968).
• Partial Test Ban Treaty 1963 (India signed and ratified).
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Draft National Pharmaceuticals Policy 2023
Why in news – M/o Chemicals and Fertilizers released an Approach Paper on Draft National Pharmaceuticals Policy 2023.
Key Points –
• Aim - to address the challenges faced by Indian Pharmaceutical industries and provide definitive policy interventions to enhance the collective ecosystem.
• Challenges in India’s pharmaceutical sectors –
(a) The high degree of import dependence on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
(b) Low pace of development of biologics, biosimilars, and other emerging products.
(c) Regulation inefficiencies.
(d) Lack of skilled human resources and access to funding.
Value Addition –
• India’s Pharmaceutical industry –
(a) India has the 3rd largest pharmaceutical industry in the world by volume.
(b) Known as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’, India exports pharmaceuticals to around 200 countries and territories.
(c) India’s vaccine industry caters to more than 60% of global vaccine demand.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Legal Identity and Rights-Based Return Management Conference
Why in news – It was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Copenhagen (Denmark).
Key Points –
• Globally, a billion people lack a legal identity, becoming state-invisible, restricting service access and mobility.
• It was organized within framework of IOM’s Global Programme Enhancing Readmission and Legal Identity Capacities (RELICA), launched in 2022.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Why in news – Uttarakhand government established Rajaji Tiger Reserve Conservation Foundation.
Key Points –
About Rajaji Tiger Reserve –
• Named after freedom fighter C. Rajgopalachari.
• Situated along the hills of Shiwalik ranges.
• River: Ganga and Song.
• Fauna: Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Sloth Bear, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer etc.
2. Blue Flag Certification
Why in news – India has 12 Blue Flag Beaches.
Key Points –
• It is a voluntary award for beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism boats.
• It is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (international NGO, hq - Copenhagen, Denmark).
• It was started in 1985 in France.
• For the award, high standards in the four categories of water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety must be met.
• Examples in India - Golden Beach, Shivrajpur Beach, Kappad Beach, Ghoghla Beach, Radhanagar Beach etc.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Carbon Nanoflorets
Why in news – Carbon nano florets made by IIT Bombay researchers can convert incident sunlight to heat with 87% efficiency.
Key Points –
• The high efficiency of nano-florets comes from three properties –
(a) They absorb three frequencies in sunlight – infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet.
(b) The shape of carbon cones ensure that very little light is reflected back.
(c) They didn’t easily dissipate the heat generated into the environment.
2. INFUSE Mission
Why in news – Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscope Experiment (INFUSE) mission has been launched by NASA.
Key Points –
• Mission aims to spectroscopically image a region of Cygnus Loop.
• Cygnus Loop is the remnant of a star that was once 20 times the size of our Sun.
• Some 20,000 years ago, star collapsed under its own gravity and erupted into a supernova.
• Supernova is the large explosion of a star.
• It will be the first far ultraviolet integral field spectrograph (IFS) in space and will have access to the Lyman ultraviolet.
REPORTS:
1. Adaptation Gap Report 2023
Why in news – Adaptation Gap Report 2023 was released by United Nations Environment Programme.
Key Points –
• Adaptation gap is the difference between implemented adaptation and societally set goals.
• It is determined by preferences related to climate change impacts, and reflecting resource limitations and competing priorities.
• Key highlights –
(a) Adaptation finance needs are 10-18 times higher than current public flows.
(b) Adaptation finance gap is expanding, now at US$194- 366 billion annually.
(c) Action plan on loss and damage has overlooked non-economic losses like cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge.
(d) Only 2% of gender-tagged international adaptation finance is gender-responsive.
2. Crowdfunding for Terrorism Financing (TF)
Why in news – Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released report on Crowdfunding for Terrorism Financing (TF).
Key Points –
• Methods used by terrorists in crowdfunding –
(a) Humanitarian, charitable, and non-profit causes - effective cover for financial solicitation.
(b) Dedicated crowdfunding platforms.
(c) Social media platforms and messaging apps - reinforcing extremist beliefs for fundraising.
(d) Interaction of crowdfunding with virtual assets (VA) - Bitcoin, privacy coins, etc. used to conceal origin and destination of funds.
• In crowdfunding, the "crowd" funds the idea or project through an online platform, i.e., the internet, social media, etc.
• FATF established in 1989 is global money laundering and TF watchdog and India is its member.
3. Hunger Hotspots Report
Why in news – The report is launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of UN and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Key Points –
• Hunger hotspots - The population is experiencing or is expected to experience critical levels of acute food insecurity.
• Highest concern level - Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan, and Sudan.
• Very high concern - Pakistan and Afghanistan.
BIHAR:
1. Nepal Earthquake
Why in news – The tremors were also felt in Delhi, NCR and Bihar.
Key Points –
• The Indian Plate is still moving towards the north and hence upward pressure is being created under the Himalayas
Earthquake and Bihar -
• Bihar is located in the high seismic zone that falls on the boundary of the Himalayan tectonic plate near the Bihar-Nepal border.
• It has six sub-surface fault lines moving towards the Gangetic plains in four directions.
• Of the 38 Bihar districts, eight fall in seismic zone-V.
• Twenty-four districts, fall in seismic zone-IV and six districts in seismic zone-III.
2. World Food India 2023
Why in news – Bihar got first place for excellent performance in the 3-day World Food India 2023.
Key Points –
• Reasons –
(a) Today Bihar is one of the leading states of India in the field of food processing.
(b) Bihar ranks among the leading states of India in agro-based industry and exports.
(c) Today Bihar has emerged as an ideal state for investors.
POINTERS:
• Which state government will set up a Rs 237 crore graphene production facility – Kerala.
• Where did Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurate the country's first Nano DAP plant – Gandhinagar.
• The Election Commission of India appointed whom as one of their 'National Icons' - Rajkummar Rao.
• Who was honoured with the 2023 Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and CSR by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) - Nita Ambani.
• Which country has given the name to the cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ that arose from the Bay of Bengal – Iran.
• The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise - 2024) will be hosted by the Indian Navy at which place – Visakhapatnam.
• Airbus signed an agreement with which IIT to promote aerospace education and innovation in India - IIT Kanpur.
• Which state exhibits the highest incidence rate of cancer in India – Mizoram.
• Which country has become the first country in the world to sterilize all stray dogs – Bhutan.
• Who has been awarded the British Academy Book Prize for 2023 - Nandini Das.
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