Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot sanctioned an investigation against the Chief Minister. Also, he returned 11 bills, over the past eight months, that had been passed by both Houses of the legislature and sent to him for assent.
About Governor:
His role is quite similar to that of the President of India. He performs the same duties as the President, but for the State. He stands as executive head of a State and the working remains the same as of the office of President of India.
He is the constitutional head of the state, bound by the advice of his council of ministers.
He functions as a vital link between the Union Government and the State Government.
Constitutional Provisions:
The appointment and powers of government can be derived from Part VI of the Indian constitution. Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for each State. One person can be appointed as Governor for two or more States.
Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor. They are as follows:
A governor must:
Be a citizen of India.
Be at least 35 years of age.
Not be a member of either house of the parliament or house of the state legislature.
Not hold any office of profit.
His term of office is normally 5 years but it can be terminated earlier by:
Dismissal by the president on the advice of the council of minister headed by the prime minister of the country
Dismissal of governors without a valid reason is not permitted. However, it is the duty of the President to dismiss a governor whose acts are upheld by courts as unconstitutional and malafide
Resignation by the governor
International Relations
Topic: Southeast Asia
2.Brunei
Why in the news?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, as part of a two-nation tour this week, which will also take him to Singapore.
Building trade and technological ties will be at the top of the agenda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to hold discussion on space cooperation with Brunei’s Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah
About Brunei:
It is an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
It is bounded to the north by the South China Sea and on all other sides by the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.
The western segment is the larger of the two and contains the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan.
Brunei achieved independence in 1984, having been a British protectorate since 1888.
It is a member of the Commonwealth and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
It consists of a narrow coastal plain in the north, which gives way to rugged hills in the south.
Its highest point is Pagon Peak (1,850 m.), in the southeast.
It is drained by the Belait, Tutong, and Brunei rivers in the western segment and by the Pandaruan and Temburong rivers in the east; all flow generally northward to the South China Sea. The Belait is the largest river in the country.
The soils of Brunei are deeply weathered, highly leached, and generally infertile.
Topic: Multilateral Forums
3.Forum on China–Africa Cooperation
Why in the news?
The ninth edition of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is to take place from September 4-6, 2024, in Beijing.
The event comes at a time when African nations are facing multiple issues such as high inflation, currency depreciation, a heavy debt burden, unconstitutional military takeovers and geopolitical challenges such as the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, and attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.
About Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC):
It is an official forum between the People's Republic of China and all states in Africa with the exception of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
It is the primary multilateral coordination mechanism between African countries and China and since 2018 is viewed by those countries as a cooperation platform within the Belt and Road Initiative.
As of 2022, the members of FOCAC are 53 African countries (all except Eswatini), China, and the African Union Commission.
Although the African Union has increasingly played a coordinating role since joining CASCF in 2012, each African state represents itself in FOCAC and activities are implemented bilaterally between China and individual African countries.[1]: 57
Each meeting results in a three-year action plan and Chinese pledges of loans, grants, and export credits.
It emphasizes political cooperation between Africa and China. The core political norms that China advocates within FOCAC are its Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence:
mutual respect for territory and sovereignty
mutual nonaggression
mutual noninterference in internal affairs
equality and mutual benefit
peaceful co-existence
Geography
Topic: Rivers
4.Krishna river
Why in the news?
People near Krishna river bank pack their bags in anticipation of the worst
Though an 11 m. tall retaining wall has been a source of some comfort for them, the unprecedented levels of flood discharge from Prakasam barrage has robbed them of their sleep
About Krishna river
It is a mighty east flowing river of peninsular India.
It originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra.
It is the second biggest river in peninsular India after the Godavari River.
It drains into the four Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.
Tributaries:
Its right bank tributaries are the Ghatprabha, Malprabha and Tungabhadra rivers.
Its left bank tributaries are the Bhima, Musi and Munneru rivers.
The major Hydro Power stations in the basin are Koyna, Tungabhadara, SriSailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Almatti, Naryanpur, Bhadra.
It is also known as Kanhapenna in Jatakas and Kanhapena in the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela.
Topic: East Asia
5.Kamchatka Peninsula
Why in the news?
Russian emergency officials had recovered all 22 dead from a helicopter that crashed with tourists on board in Russia's Far East.
The crash occurred in Kamchatka, a pristine peninsula with numerous volcanoes, known for its rugged beauty and rich wildlife.
A Mi-8 helicopter with 19 passengers and three crew members on board took off close to the Vachkazhets volcano and rescuers located the wreckage.
About Kamchatka Peninsula:
It lies in far eastern Russia, between the Sea of Okhotsk on the west and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea on the east.
It is one of the world’s most concentrated areas of geothermal activity, with about 30 active volcanoes.
It is about 1,200 km long north-south and about 480 km across at its widest.
It is one of the largest peninsulas in the world.
About 300,000 people live on the peninsula. Its population density is one of the lowest in the world, at less than a person per square km.
It faces a severe climate with prolonged, cold, and snowy winters and wet, cool summers.
Its regional capital is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The Kuril island chain runs from the southern tip of the peninsula to a short distance from Japan's northern Hokkaido Island.
Environment and Ecology
Topic: Protected Areas
6.Sultanpur National Park
Why in the news?
The Sultanpur National Park is under threat due to violations of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) zonal plan and notification, stated by a panel set up by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for evaluating the impact of construction activities going on in the areas around the Ramsar site on its fragile ecosystem.
About Sultanpur National Park:
It was formerly known as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary.
It spans 1.42 sq km consisting primarily of marshy lakes and floodplains.
It is located in the Gurgaon district of Haryana, 46 km from Delhi.
It was recognised as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance in 2021.
Biodiversity: The vegetation is characterized by tropical and dry deciduous types such as grasses, dhok, khair, tendu, jamun, neem, berberis, and species of Acacia.
Over 320 bird species have been recorded at Sultanpur, making it a vital wintering ground. Some iconic species found here are the Common Hoopoe, Purple Sunbird, Black Francolin, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Siberian Crane and Greater Flamingo.
Other migratory birds that flock seasonally include Common Teal, Common Greenshank and Ruff.
Large wild mammals are absent. The park's terrestrial fauna is represented by animals like the nilgai.
As part of the Union government’s Amrit Dharohar initiative, to promote tourism at Ramsar sites, the sanctuary has been included in a pilot project for skill development of facilitators, tourism service providers, and stakeholders.
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):
It is a statutory Board constituted in 2003 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
It is responsible for promotion of conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
It serves as an apex body for the review of all wildlife-related matters and for the approval of projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
It is ‘advisory’ in nature and can only advise the Government on policy making for conservation of wildlife.
Its standing committee is chaired by the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change. The standing committee approves all the projects falling within protected wildlife areas or within 10 km of them.
Topic: Biodiversity
7.Tilapia Fish
Why in the news?
Tilapia Fish continues to spread through Thailand's waterways, so far impacting 17 provinces.
It has been described as the most invasive species to ever hit Thailand, one which risks enormous damage to the environment, according to officials.
Attempts to control it have seen crowds wading out into lakes, and genetic modification.
About Tilapia Fish:
It is a common name used for certain species of fishes belonging to the family Cichlidae, represented by numerous, mostly freshwater species native to Africa.
It has emerged to be one of the most productive and internationally traded food fish in the world.
The culture of tilapia has become commercially popular in many parts of the world and the fishery experts have dubbed the tilapia as “aquatic chicken” due to its quick growth and low maintenance cultivation.
Invasive species:
These are non-native species (plants, animals, microbes, or other organisms) that are introduced into a new ecosystem or habitat and have the potential to cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.
These species can outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystem functions, and lead to ecological imbalances.
Science
Topic: Government schemes and missions
8.Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM)
Why in the news?
The Union Cabinet approved seven schemes for the agriculture sector, the most important among them being the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM).
About Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM):
It is a consolidated database on a single platform linking multiple databases and platforms from different Union Territories and States, as well as Ministries and Departments.
It aims to create Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agriculture sector, similar to other e-governance initiatives like Aadhaar, DigiLocker, eSign, UPI, and electronic health records.
Components of DPI:
AgriStack:
A comprehensive digital platform integrating various agricultural services.
Facilitates access to information, services, and benefits related to farming and agricultural practices.
Centralizes agricultural data to improve accessibility and efficiency.
Krishi Decision Support System (DSS):
Provides data-driven insights and recommendations for farmers.
Assists in decision-making related to crop management, pest control, and resource optimization based on real-time data.
Utilizes advanced analytics to enhance productivity and mitigate risks.
Soil Profile Maps:
Detailed digital maps on a 1:10,000 scale covering approximately 142 million hectares.
Provides comprehensive information about soil characteristics and health.
Supports precision agriculture by offering targeted soil data for optimal crop planning.
Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES):
A tech-based system to provide accurate estimates of agricultural production.
Aims to offer reliable data for policy decisions, agricultural planning, and resource allocation.
It will enable farmers to access a range of digital services, improve decision-making through data analysis, enhance productivity with detailed soil information, and provide accurate crop estimations to better manage agricultural practices.
It has a total outlay of ₹2,817 crore with Rs 1,940 crore from the Centre and the remaining amount from states and Union Territories (UTs)
It is rolled out across the country over the next two years (until 2025-26).
Topic: Biotechnology
9.Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Why in the news?
The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) is working to decode the genetic blueprints for conservation of indigenous cattle breeds using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data and genotyping technology to establish molecular signatures for registered cattle breeds.
This process will help in the cattle breeds purity for identification and conservation.
The focus has also been on developing new generation vaccine platforms against livestock diseases crucial for animal health and reducing economic losses due to disease outbreaks, such as brucellosis in livestock and its impact on public health.
About Next Generation Sequencing (NGS):
It is a cutting-edge technology that can potentially transform the ability to decipher the genetic code with speed and precision.
It is a modern DNA sequencing technology that has revolutionized genomic research by allowing the sequencing of DNA and RNA much more quickly and cheaply than the previously used Sanger sequencing.
The concept of a liquid biopsy is a revolutionary technique that offers a less invasive alternative to surgery.
Advantages of NGS:
Speed: Enables rapid sequencing of large amounts of DNA/RNA.
Cost-Effective: Lower cost per base compared to traditional sequencing methods.
Comprehensive: Can detect a wide range of genetic variations, including SNPs, insertions, deletions, and structural variations.
Scalability: Can be scaled to fit a variety of experimental needs, from small targeted studies to large genome-wide analyses.
Art and Culture
Topic: Temples
10.Meenakshi Temple
Why in the news?
Changes suggested to make Meenakshi temple disabled-friendly.
Tamil Nadu Differently Abled Welfare Board member visited the Meenakshi temple along with several disability rights activists for inspecting the prevailing facilities to make them more PwD-friendly, following complaints of lack of infrastructure for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the temple.
About Meenakshi Temple:
It is also known as Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Thirukkovil.
It is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi Amman, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva.
It is at the center of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th-century CE texts.
It is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, which are 275 temples of Shiva that are revered in the verses of Tamil Saiva Nayanars of the 6th-9th century CE.
The west tower (gopuram) of the temple is the model based on which the Tamil Nadu State Emblem is designed.
It was built by Pandyan Emperor Sadayavarman Kulasekaran I (1190 CE–1205 CE).
Topic: Protection of historical monuments
11.Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
Why in the news?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been involved in copying important stone inscriptions on the walls of two temples at Srirangam and Manachanallur taluks in Tiruchi district.
It has also recently completed a similar exercise at two temples at Periyakulam taluk in Theni district.
About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
It was established in the year 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
After independence, it was established as a statutory body under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).
It is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Its activities include carrying out surveys of antiquarian remains, exploration and excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and maintenance of protected monuments etc.
It works under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
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