The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at 26 locations in different parts of the country and arrested an alleged operative of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), a banned terror outfit. Several suspects were picked up for questioning.
About National Investigation Agency (NIA):
It is the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency of India.
It works under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
It was created after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as the need for a central agency to combat terrorism was realized.
It was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
The NIA, with its headquarters in New Delhi, has 18 branch offices across the country.
It investigates and prosecutes offenses that affect:
the sovereignty and integrity of India;
the security of our country;
friendly relations with foreign countries; and
implementation of international treaties, agreements, etc. of the United Nations and other international organizations.
It investigates and prosecutes offenses related to explosive substances, atomic energy, nuclear weapons, unlawful activities, terrorist activities, hijacking, etc.
It has the power to regulate any offense given in the Schedule of the NIA Act.
The NIA Act was amended in 2019 to enlarge the mandate of the NIA by inclusion of offenses related to human trafficking, manufacture and sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism, and offenses under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
Jurisdiction:
The agency is empowered to deal with terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the states.
It works under a written proclamation from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
A State Government may request the Central Government to hand over the investigation of a case to the NIA, provided the case has been registered for the offenses as contained in the schedule to the NIA Act.
The Central government can ask the NIA to take over the investigation of any scheduled offense anywhere across the nation.
According to the NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019, officers of the NIA will have the power to investigate scheduled offenses committed outside India, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.
Powers:
NIA officers have the power to investigate scheduled offenses and arrest people who are involved in such offenses.
In relation to this, the officers of the NIA have all the powers, duties, privileges, and liabilities which ordinary police officers have while conducting an investigation.
The administration of the NIA lies with its Director-General (DF), who enjoys the same powers as a Director-General of Police.
While investigating any offense under the Act, the NIA can request a state government to associate itself with the investigation.
The NIA can also take the approval of the Central government to transfer a case to a state government for investigation and trial. For doing this, the NIA will take into account the seriousness of the offense and other relevant factors.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, was amended in 2019 to empower DG to seize/attach the properties related to proceeds of terrorism in cases being investigated by the NIA.
Special Courts:
Various special courts have been notified by the Govt. of India for trial of the cases arising out of offenses committed in various states of the Union.
The Central government can choose session courts in different States to function as special courts for the trial of offenses under the Act.
These Special Courts are chosen in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of the respective State.
Every offense investigated by the NIA is tried by the Special Court, which has authority in the local area where the offense was committed.
Jaish-e-Mohammed:
It is a Pakistan-based Deobandi jihadist terrorist group active in Kashmir.
Its primary motive is to separate Kashmir from India and merge it into Pakistan. Since its inception in 2000, the group has carried out several attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It maintains close relations with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and continues to be allied with these groups.
Geography
Topic: Reservoirs
2. Hirakud Dam
Why in the news?
Built six decades ago, the canal network connected to the Hirakud Dam in Odisha, one of the biggest projects in eastern India, is all set to be renovated, which is expected to minimize wastage of water meant for irrigation.
About Hirakud Dam:
It is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km. from Sambalpur in Odisha.
It is the longest earthen dam in the world, around 26 km in length.
The dam forms a vast reservoir known as the Hirakud Reservoir or Hirakud Lake. It is the biggest artificial lake in Asia.
Purpose:
It provides irrigation facilities to Rabi crops and Kharif crops of Bolangir, Subarnapur, Bargarh and Sambalpur.
The capacity of power generation installed at Hirakud dam is 359.8 MW.
More than 436,000 hectares of land in the Mahanadi delta also get irrigated by the water which is released from the powerhouse.
The delta area in Cuttack and Puri district gets flood protection because it.
Structure:
Granite, hard concrete and earth are the most used substances in building the dam.
Stretched from the Chandi Dungri hills on the right to the Lamb Dungri hills on the left, the main structure of Hirakud Dam is about 4.8 km long.
The dam is a composite structure of Concrete, Masonry and Earth.
Cattle island, a small island in the Hirakud Reservoir, is inhabited by a large herd of wild cattle, which are believed to be the descendants of cattle that were left behind by villagers when the dam was constructed in the 1950s.
Mahanadi River:
It is one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers in India.
It originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state.
It flows in a southeastern direction through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
The catchment area of the basin extends over major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
It flows a total of 860 km by distance before it ends up in the Bay of Bengal.
Its main tributaries are Seonath, Jonk, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Ong and Telen rivers.
Topic: Hills
3. Garo Hills
Why in the news?
Flash floods and landslips caused by incessant rain have claimed the lives of at least 10 people across five districts in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region. Seven people had died in the South Garo Hills and three in the West Garo Hills, the two worst-affected districts.
About Garo Hills:
These form the western part of Meghalaya and cover an area of approx. 8,000 sq km.
These are part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests eco-region.
Situated close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Garo hills are part of the Patkai hill range, which extends across the Indo-Myanmar border.
The region, one of the wettest places in the world, is drained by various tributaries of the Brahmaputra River.
These hills comprises five districts namely North Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, and South-West Garo Hills.
The Garo Hills are mostly dominated by the tribes known as Garos.
The Garos call themselves Achik-mande.
They form the second largest tribe in the state of Meghalaya.
They are one of the last remaining matrilineal tribes in the world.
Their main festival is the Wangala festival, a harvest festival, which is predominantly celebrated by the Songsareks (those following the traditional religion of animism).
The mountain ranges of Arabella and Tura, pass through the Garo Hills, forming the great Balpakram valley in between.
The highest point in the Garo Hills is Nokrek Peak, with an elevation of 1412 m, which is covered by a thick film of lush forest.
The region encompasses the Nokrek National Park.
Nokrek National Park:
It is a national park located approx. 2 km away from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve along with the Nokrek National Park was added by UNESCO to its list of Biosphere Reserves in 2009 along with the Balpakram National Park in South Garo Hills.
It had eight species of cats, ranging from the Royal Bengal Tiger to marbled cat.
There are seven species of primates in Nokrek including Stump-tailed Macaque, Pig-tailed Macaque and Hoolock Gibbon.
Gaur, Leopard, Chinese Pangolin, Ferret Badger, Asiatic Elephant are found here.
Snakes including the Burmese Python, King Cobra, Spectacled Cobra, vine snake, ornate flying snake, Banded Krait, striped Keelback, red necked keelback Bronzeback species, Viper species etc. can be seen here.
Environment and Ecology
Topic: Biodiversity
4. Halari Donkey
Why in the news?
One of the most beautiful breeds of donkeys is found in the Halar region of Gujarat. Considered endangered, the surviving population of the Halari donkey numbers fewer than 500.
Local people narrate stories about these animals being used for the building of dams, forts, hilltop temples, rest houses, and dharamshalas.
About Halari Donkey:
It is one of the important livestock in the semi-arid landscape of Saurashtra’s Jamnagar and Dwarka district of the state of Gujarat.
It is white in colour, and is larger and more resilient than other donkey breeds.
The Bharwad and Rabari pastoralists are the main communities that use this donkey as a pack animal to carry luggage during migration with small ruminants. The Kumbhar (potter) community also uses this animal for pottery work in the Jamnagar region.
Its milk is also said to be one of the most expensive in the world which can go up to Rs 1000 for its medicinal values.
It is currently in a threatened state and requires immediate steps towards conservation to reverse the declining trend in the population.
In a recent survey conducted in 2021-22, the number of Halari Donkeys came down to 439 individuals.
The reasons for their decline include unavailability of Halari Donkey males for breeding and meagre livelihood opportunities for Halari Donkey rearers.
Topic: Ecology
5. Oyster Reef
Why in the news?
New research shows that Oysters reefs once formed along much of Europe’s coastline, were destroyed over a century ago.
Based on documents from the 18th and 19th Centuries, the study reveals that European flat oysters formed large reefs of both living and dead shells, providing a habitat supporting rich biodiversity.
The researchers found evidence of reefs almost everywhere, from Norway to the Mediterranean, covering at least 1.7 million hectares, an area larger than Northern Ireland.
About Oyster Reef:
It refers to dense aggregations of oysters that form large colonial communities.
Because oyster larvae need to settle on hard substrates, new oyster reefs may form on stone or other hard marine debris. Eventually the oyster reef will propagate by spat settling on the shells of older or nonliving oysters.
The dense aggregations of oysters are often referred to as an oyster reef, oyster bed, oyster bank, oyster bottom, or oyster bar interchangeably.
Natural oyster reefs are composed of living and dead oyster shells and provide important habitat for various species. For example, the complex three-dimensional interstitial spaces within oyster reefs provide refugia for prey or juvenile species, which increases prey biomass and thereby enhances trophic transfer.
Oyster reefs also stabilize shorelines by promoting sediment deposition and buffering wave energy, thereby allowing other habitats such as seagrass beds and marsh areas to form while simultaneously decreasing erosion of the shoreline.
The filter feeding behavior of oysters can buffer against environmental degradation caused by human-induced eutrophication of estuary systems.
Oysters feed on suspended phytoplankton and other organic matter.
Disruption of filter feeding by oysters can lead to a decrease in the elimination of organic matter from the water column and increase phytoplankton abundance.
This may lead to seasonal anoxia, which could increase mortality for other estuary animals, such as fish.
Oyster reefs can also impact the carbon sequestration and excess nutrient uptake.
Nowadays, Oyster reef habitats have been recognized as green infrastructure for shoreline protection.
Science and Technology
Topic: Defense
6. Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
Why in the news?
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the completion of the development trials of the indigenously developed fourth generation miniaturized Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) after three successful consecutive flight tests at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
About Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS):
It is a fourth-generation Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) specially designed to counter low-altitude aerial threats over short distances.
It comprises short-range, lightweight, and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups.
It has been designed and developed indigenously by DRDO's Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
Features:
It is designed to provide short-range air defense capabilities to protect ground forces and critical assets from aerial threats, including helicopters and low-flying aircraft.
It has a range of up to 6-km.
The missile incorporates many novel technologies, including a Dual-band IIR Seeker, a miniaturized Reaction Control System, and integrated avionics.
It is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor.
The missile and its launcher were designed by the DRDO to be portable, which enables their quick deployment over difficult terrain.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
It is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defense technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defense technologies and systems.
It has a network of laboratories engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems.
Topic: Government policies and interventions
7. Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
Why in the news?
In a recent meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), it was proposed to attach quick response (QR) codes to every vial and strip of medication marketed in India
With reports of anti-cancer drugs being replaced by counterfeit products, the government may soon make it mandatory to attach quick response (QR) codes to every vial and strip of medication marketed in India, so as to ensure a rigorous track-and -trace mechanism.
About Drugs Technical Advisory Board:
It is the highest statutory decision-making body on technical matters related to drugs in India.
It is established as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
It is part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
It works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It advises the Central Government and the State Governments on technical matters arising out of the administration of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, of 1940 and to carry out the other functions assigned to it by this Act.
QR (Quick Response) Code:
It is a two-dimensional version of the barcode used to convey various information instantly via mobile device scans.
It stores versatile information, such as text, URLs, contact information, images and videos.
It can be scanned by a digital device, such as a smartphone or a camera, and processed using error correction algorithms to retrieve the encoded data.
It can store up to 7089 digits or 4296 characters, including punctuation marks and special characters.
QR technology has many applications in various fields, such as product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management, and general marketing.
QR codes can also be used to encode cryptocurrency wallet addresses, connect to wireless networks, or compose an email or text message.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO):
It is the regulatory authority for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India.
It operates under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and medical devices available in the Indian market.
Topic: Defense
8. Akashteer System
Why in the news?
Amid heightened global security concerns, the Indian Army has significantly enhanced its air defense capabilities with the acquisition of 100 Akashteer air defense systems.
Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), these advanced Air Defence Control and Reporting Systems (ADCRS) will serve as a critical asset in safeguarding the country from aerial threats, including missile and rocket attacks.
About Akashteer System:
It is advanced Air Defence Control and Reporting Systems (ADCRS) which will serve as a critical asset in safeguarding the country from aerial threats, including missile and rocket attacks.
It is a sophisticated, integrated control and reporting system designed to neutralize enemy threats swiftly.
It is capable of managing all aspects of air defense for the Army, integrating multiple radar systems, sensors, and communication technologies into a single operational framework.
It provides a real-time battlefield view, allowing military personnel to detect, track, and engage aerial threats such as incoming missiles or enemy aircraft.
It brings together various surveillance assets, radar systems, and communication nodes, enabling precise coordination of air defense operations.
It is suitable for a wide range of operational environments.
It is developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
It enhances the Indian Army’s ability to monitor airspace and deliver timely responses to any imminent threats.
Economy
Topic: Financial Market
9. National Stock Exchange of India
Why in the news?
The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) has settled its Trading Access Point (TAP) Architecture and Network Connectivity case by paying a penalty of ₹643 crore to the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) probing an alleged deficiency on the part of the exchange and its top officials to deal with a situation wherein some high-frequency stock traders were found to be gaming the system.
About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE):
It is India's largest financial market and the fourth largest market in the world by trading volume.
It was incorporated in 1992 to bring about transparency in the Indian equity markets.
It was the first exchange in India to provide modern, fully automated electronic trading.
It is headquartered in Mumbai.
It conducts transactions in the wholesale debt, equity, and derivative markets.
It allows for new listings, initial public offers (IPOs), debt issuances and Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) by overseas companies raising capital in India.
Some of its indices are S&P CNX Nifty, CNX Nifty Junior, India VX, S&P CNX Defty, S&P CNX 500, etc.
Art and Culture
Topic: Temples
10. Sabarimala temple
Why in the news?
In order to ensure effective crowd management on the Sabarimala hillock, authorities are taking steps to regulate the influx of pilgrims during the upcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
A high-level meeting convened by Kerala Chief Minister decided to limit the virtual queue bookings to 80,000 people per day.
Further, the pilgrims will be given the option to select their preferred travel route while booking for darshan in the Sabarimala temple, enabling them to choose less congested routes.
About Sabarimala temple:
It is an ancient Ayyappan temple located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala on top of the Sabarimala Hill.
It is dedicated to a Brahmachari (Celibate) deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Shasta.
It is situated on a hilltop amidst eighteen hills at an altitude of 1260 m above sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests which is a part of Periyar Tiger Reserve.
It is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (approx. 15 November to 26 December), Makaravilakku or Makara Sankranti (14 January) and Maha Thirumal Sankranti (14 April), and the first five days of each Malayalam month.
The pilgrimage includes a unique tradition, that of offering prayer at a mosque of Vavar, a Muslim devotee of Ayappan.
As per the custom followed, no pilgrim without Irumudikkettu can ascend the 18 sacred steps.
The devotees are expected to follow a Vratham (41-day austerity period) prior to the pilgrimage.
This begins with wearing of a special Mala which is a chain made of Rudraksha or Tulasi beads.
During the 41 days of Vratham, the devotee who has taken the vow, is required to strictly follow the rules that include follow only a lacto-vegetarian diet, follow celibacy, follow teetotalism, not use any profanity and have to control the anger, allow the hair and nails to grow without cutting.
The Temple Architecture:
The temple was rebuilt after arson and vandalism in 1950 and the earlier stone image of the deity was replaced by a panchaloha
The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum with a gold–plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams, the balikalpura which houses the altar.
The Pathinettu thripadikal or the 18 sacred steps is the main stairway to the temple.
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