NATIONAL:
1. Uniform Civil Code
Why in news – Uttarakhand tabled the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state Assembly on February 6, 2024.
Key Points –
• The state-appointed committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana P Desai submitted its draft on February 2.
• The law will govern personal law subjects such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, and adoption uniformly across communities.
• This Article was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 23, 1948.
Historical Background (Debate) –
Arguments against -
• Mohammad Ismail Khan of All India Muslim League (AIML) argued that a secular state should not interfere with long-standing religious practices as it could breed discontent and subvert harmony in the country.
• Naziruddin Ahmad of AIML claimed that the UCC would “undo” the freedom of religion by giving the state the room to “break the guarantees given in article 25”.
Arguments in favour –
• K M Munshi (Congress) said that while the state must endeavour not to interfere in religious practice, certain matters should be governed by secular legislation, not religion.
• Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer said the aim of the UCC was to achieve unity and amity by removing factors that contributed to differences between communities.
• Dr B R Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, underlined the fact that uniform laws were in place for “almost every aspect of human relationship”, barring the “little corner” of personal laws relating to marriage and succession, which the UCC is meant to address.
• The Assembly voted against the amendments proposed by Mohammad Ismail Khan and Naziruddin Ahmad and adopted Article 44 of the Constitution as we know it today.
2. UPI in France
Why in news – India officially launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the iconic Eiffel Tower in France.
Key Points –
• It is a significant step towards realising “vision of taking UPI global.”
• France became the first European country to accept UPI.
• NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) in partnership with Lyra, a French leader in securing e-commerce and proximity payments, announced acceptance of UPI payment mechanism in France.
• UPI, launched by NPCI in 2016, is an instant payment system which acts as interface to facilitate inter-bank transfers.
• UPI is an integral part of Payments layer of India Stack.
3. Exemptions under RTI Act, 2005
Why in news – The Delhi High Court has ruled that intelligence and security organisations are not exempted under the RTI Act when the “information sought pertains to allegations of corruption and human right violation”.
Key Points –
• Section 24 of the RTI Act bars disclosure of information by the organizations mentioned under the Second Schedule of the Act.
• Section 8(1) lists exemption from disclosure of information. e.g. Information which
(a) Would prejudicially affect sovereignty and integrity of India.
(b) May constitute contempt of court or breach of privilege of Parliament etc.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Atmospheric River
Why in news – California (the USA) has been hit by two back-to-back Atmospheric River storms.
Key Points –
• These atmospheric rivers have been named “Pineapple Express” because they originated near Hawaii.
• Known as a ‘river in the sky’, the weather phenomenon can produce torrential amounts of rain.
About Atmospheric Rivers –
• Atmospheric rivers are relatively narrow plumes of moisture that form over an ocean.
• Appearing as a trail of wispy clouds, they can produce torrential amounts of rain as they move over land.
• Atmospheric rivers can be between 400 and 600 kilometres wide. They can be over 1,600 kilometres long.
• These “rivers in the sky” are relatively common, with about 11 present on Earth at any time.
• They are associated with extratropical cyclones.
2. Messinian Event
Why in news – Israel uncovered an underwater canyon near Cyprus that dates back to the Messinian Event.
Key Points –
• Deep-sea canyons (underwater canyons) are steep-sided valleys cut into the seafloor of the continental slope, sometimes extending well onto the continental shelf.
• The Messinian event is also known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC).
• It was a geological event during which the Mediterranean Sea went into a cycle of partial or nearly complete desiccation (drying up).
3. Hindu Kush Himalaya Region
Why in news – International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) declared the Hindu Kush Himalaya region a biosphere on the brink of collapse.
Key Points –
• 130 global experts of ICIMOD convened in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• They called for bold action and urgent finance to prevent nature loss in one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.
• Hindu Kush Himalaya region stretches 3,500 kilometres and spans eight countries i.e., Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
• Hindu Kush is the source of ten large Asian river systems – the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow River, and Tarim.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. SagarSetu (NLP-Marine)
Why in news – Union Minister for the Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) launched two digital modules within the SagarSetu (NLP-Marine) platform.
Key Points –
• These pioneering modules are Maritime Single Window (MSW) and the Mercantile Maritime Department (MMD).
• Maritime Single Window (MSW) Module is a cutting-edge digital platform designed to emphasize harmonization and standardization of maritime -related information.
• Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) allows officials to efficiently monitor the status of ships at ports, facilitating the planning of vessel inspections.
• With this, MoPSW aligns with global standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Fission Surface Power Project
Why in news – NASA is wrapping up the initial phase of its ambitious plan to build a small electricity-generating nuclear reactor on the Moon.
Key Points –
• Solar power systems have limitations on the Moon because a lunar night lasts nearly 14 Earth days.
• But a nuclear reactor, even when placed in permanently shadowed areas (where there might be water ice), could generate continuous power without external dependence.
• It could be used in future missions and outposts on the Moon.
• It could play an important role in bolstering NASA’s ambitions to have a sustained human presence on the Moon for at least 10 years.
SECURITY:
1. INS Sandhayak
Why in news – INS Sandhyak, first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) Ship, commissioned into Indian Navy in Visakhapatanam.
Key Points –
• It is first in a series of four SVL ships.
• Equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment including Deep & Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo-Sounders, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, etc.
• It can offer limited defence capabilities and serve as hospital ship during wartime or emergencies.
STATES/UTs:
1. Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor
Why in news – PM laid the foundation stone for Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor.
Key Points –
• It was done under the PM’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.
About Kamakhya Temple –
• It is situated on Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, Assam, it is one of the 51 Shakti peethas.
• It is an important pilgrimage center for tantric worshippers.
• The present temple was rebuilt in 1565 CE by Chilarai.
• Architecture is a combination of Nagara style and Saracenic style.
• Annual festival Ambubachi Mela commemorates yearly menstruation of goddess Kamakhya.
BIHAR:
1. Internship Policy
Why in news – Bihar government approved the internship policy regarding financial incentive for students.
Key Points –
• It includes one-time payment of Rs 10,000 for students of government engineering colleges for eight-week internship.
• The proposal had been moved by science and technology department.
Other Decisions –
• Construction of 2,165 Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans (PSBs) was sanctioned.
• Rs 140.74 crore alloted for the implementation of the central sector scheme called ‘raising and accelerating MSME performance’ (RAMP) to strengthen MSMEs.
• Rs 41.38 crore would be spent on the purchase of 207 animal ambulatory vans and eight animal lifting and carrying vehicles.
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