1. SAPNIDA MARRIAGE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)

Context: Recently, the Delhi High Court dismissed a challenge to the constitutionality of Section 5(v) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA), which bars marriage between two Hindus if they are "sapindas" of each other, unless their respective customs or usages permit such a union.

Sapinda Marriage

• About: It is a marriage between individuals who are related to each other within a certain degree of closeness. Sapinda relationships for the HMA are defined in Section 3 of the Act.
• HMA Prohibitions on Marriages

oMother's side: Marriage is prohibited within three generations (siblings, parents, and grandparents).

oFather's side: Prohibition extends to five generations, including grandparents' grandparents.

oExceptions to Prohibition: The sole exception is when individual customs permit sapinda marriages.

• Conditions for Custom Legitimacy: Custom must be continuously and uniformly observed for a long time.
• Legal Challenge and Background: In 2007, a sapinda marriage was declared void due to a lack of community custom proof.

oDelhi HC dismissed the appeal in October 2023, challenging the constitutional validity of the prohibition.

oThe petitioner argued the right to equality under Article 14.

• HC Ruling on Custom Proof: Delhi HC held that stringent proof of an established custom was lacking.

oNo cogent legal grounds were presented to show the prohibition violated the right to equality.

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2. END-TO-END ENCRYPTION Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: End-to-end encryption has revolutionized the perspectives of human rights organizations, law enforcement agencies, and technology companies regarding their access to and utilization of information by safeguarding it comprehensively.

Encryption

• About: It is the act of changing some consumable information into an unconsumable form based on some rules.

E2E Encryption

• About: E2E is encryption that refers to particular locations between which information moves.
• Encryption in Data Privacy: The term "encryption" is commonly associated with ensuring the privacy of stored data.
• Data Protection: Encryption safeguards data from unauthorized access or tampering by converting it into a secret code decipherable only by the intended recipient.
• Versatile Applications: Encryption proves beneficial in securing online communications, storing sensitive information, and verifying digital identities across various scenarios.
• Symmetric Encryption: In this encryption, the same key is used for both encrypting and decrypting data, ensuring that the key used for encryption is also required for decryption.
• Asymmetric Encryption: In this encryption utilizes a pair of keys - one public and one private. The public key can be shared openly, while the private key must be kept confidential.

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3. SUPREME COURT OF INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court of India

• About: The Supreme Court of India is the Apex Court and is the final interpreter of the Constitution and the laws.
• Articles: 124 to 147 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the organisation, independence, jurisdiction, powers and procedures.
• Structure: 31 judges (one chief justice and thirty other judges)
• Appointment by: President
• Other judges are appointed by: President after consultation with the CJI
• Tenure: Age of 65 years
• Collegium System: In this system, decisions about choosing judges or promoting lawyers to the Supreme Court and moving judges between High Courts and the Supreme Court are made by a group consisting of the Chief Justice of India and the four most experienced judges of the SC.

Power and Functions

• Writ Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court has the authority to issue directives, orders, or writs, such as habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari, for their enforcement.
• Appellate jurisdiction: It seems to handle appeals against the decisions of lower courts and possesses extensive appellate authority.
• Advisory jurisdiction: The advisory jurisdiction, as outlined in Article 143 of the Constitution, empowers the President to request the Supreme Court's opinion in two specific categories:

oRegarding any question of law or fact of public significance that has emerged or is likely to arise.

oConcerning disputes arising from pre-constitutional treaties, agreements, covenants, engagements, sanads, or similar instruments.

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4. EEL SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Researchers of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have discovered two eel species

Eel Species

• About: The recently found Congrid eels belong to the Ariosoma genus, and authoritative research articles on these species have been published and approved.
• Species Naming: Eels from the Gulf of Mannar are named 'Ariosoma kannani' after the late Prof L Kannan, while those from the Kerala coast are named 'Ariosoma gracile' based on morphological characteristics.
• Growing in Indian Waters: The discovery contributes to the understanding of marine biodiversity in Indian waters, especially regarding the less-explored group of eels (Anguilliformes).
• Understanding Species Evolution: Researchers emphasize the necessity of a comprehensive study to understand the species and its evolution, including protein profiling for potential public consumption recommendations.
• Recognition: The holotype specimens of the new species are registered at the National Fish Museum, Lucknow, and published in 'Zoosystematics and Evolution,' further registered in ZooBank for zoological nomenclature.

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5. NAUSHERA TUNNEL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure)

Context: The Border Road Organisation recently achieved a major milestone by breaking through Naushera tunnel on the highly strategic 200 kilometers long stretch.

Naushera Tunnel

• About: NH 144A is a dual-lane road established by the central government in 2015, connecting Jammu to Rajouri and Poonch districts.
• Road Connectivity: Originating from Jammu, NH 144A provides vital road links to Akhnoor sub-division and a portion of Reasi district.
• Significance of Upgradation: The national highway is undergoing a transition from two to four lanes to enhance year-round, efficient connectivity for the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, as well as parts of Jammu and Reasi.
• Socio-economic Impact: The upgradation is expected to foster socio-economic development in Jammu, Reasi, and the Pir Panjal region, reducing travel time between Poonch-Rajouri and Jammu to 4.5 hours from the current 6-7 hours.
• Strategic Importance: The upgraded highway facilitates rapid movement of defense vehicles along the Line of Control, bolstering connectivity from Akhnoor to Poonch district, even during wartime.
• Reduction in Travel Time: The project aims to cut travel time between Poonch-Rajouri and Jammu, benefiting residents and enhancing overall regional accessibility.
• Four Major Tunnels: Kandi tunnel, Sungal tunnel, Naushera tunnel and Bhimber Gali tunnel

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6. PURPLE REVOLUTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research's Republic Day Tableau highlighted the unleashing of a Purple Revolution ushered through Lavender cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir.

Purple Revolution 

• About: The Union Ministry of Science & Technology launched the Purple Revolution in 2016 through CSIR's Aroma Mission.
• Free Lavender Saplings for New Farmers: First-time farmers received free lavender saplings under the mission, while experienced growers were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.
• Economic Shift to Aroma Crops: High monetary returns prompted farmers in Jammu and Kashmir's hilly areas to transition from traditional farming to aroma crops like lavender.
• Resilience of Aroma Crops: Aroma crops, including lavender, demonstrate resistance to both drought and pests.
• CSIR's Technical Support for Agri Start-ups: CSIR is actively providing technical support to promote the Agri Start-up trend in the Union Territory.
• Expansion to Other Hilly States: CSIR plans to extend the cultivation of aroma crops to hilly states with similar climates, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the North-Eastern states.

Lavender Cultivation in India

• About: It is primarily focused in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Ideal Lavender Hub: Agriculture experts highlight Himachal Pradesh in northern India as the most suitable region for lavender cultivation.
• Climate Advantage: Himachal Pradesh boasts a mild climate with low humidity and abundant sunshine, creating an ideal environment for lavender growth.
• Soil Conditions: The region's well-drained soils play a crucial role in supporting successful lavender cultivation.

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7. POEM-3 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday informed that the space agency has performed all experiments in Payload Orbital Experiment for Microgravity (POEM-3) mission launched.

PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) 

• About: It is India's cost-effective space platform created from the spent PS4 stage of the PSLV-C58 vehicle, which successfully launched XPoSat on January 1, 2024.
• Launched by: PSLV-C58 vehicle
• Objectives: Deploying XPoSat into a 650 km orbit, followed by a descent to a 350 km circular orbit to minimize orbit decay time post-experiment completion. 
• It is a three-axis-attitude controlled platform equipped with power generation, telecommand & telemetry capabilities to support various payloads.
• Orbital: By its 25th day in orbit, POEM-3 completed 400 orbits and currently orbits at approximately 322 km by 352 km. 
• Payload Operations: POEM-3 carried nine payloads from VSSC, PRL, Academia, and Space start-ups through IN-SPACe. All payloads, including ARKA200, RUDRA, LEAP-TD, WeSAT, BeliefSat0, RSEM, DEX, 100 W Fuel Cell Power System, and Si-C based High Power Li-Ion Battery, met their objectives with data collection during every orbit.
• Debris-Free Mission: With POEM-3's anticipated orbital decay and re-entry in three months, the PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission stands out for leaving zero debris in space, contributing to responsible space exploration practices.

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8. IPCC (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: India along with other developing countries has flagged serious concerns over attempts by developed nations to shorten the timeline for the delivery of the seventh assessment cycle report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), people familiar with the matter.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• About: The IPCC, created in 1988 by the WMO and UNEP, assesses climate change science for the United Nations.
• Membership: Boasting 195 member countries, the IPCC serves as a universal body for climate-related evaluations.
• Objective: To evaluate scientific, technical, and socio-economic data pertaining to human-induced climate change and propose mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Key Activities: Primarily, the IPCC produces assessment reports, special reports, and methodology reports, influencing global climate change negotiations.
• Research Approach: The IPCC does not conduct original research but synthesizes global scientific literature, involving scientists worldwide in drawing logical conclusions.
• Working Groups: Comprising three working groups, the IPCC focuses on climate physics, impacts and adaptation, and mitigation strategies.
• Working Group Responsibilities: Working Group I examines climate change physics, Group II assesses impacts and adaptation, and Group III concentrates on climate change mitigation.
• Reports Compilation: The three working groups release individual reports, later synthesized into a comprehensive document known as the synthesis report.

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9. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues -Education)

Context: Recently, the Education Ministry and UGC clarified that centrally funded universities will not de-reserve reserved faculty positions, amidst uproar over draft guidelines proposing vacancy opening for SC, ST, OBC candidates to general candidates in "rare and exceptional cases."

University Grants Commission

• About: Established in 1956, this statutory body's primary responsibilities include the coordination, determination, and maintenance of higher education standards in India.
• Coordination and Standards: Charged with coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards in higher education.
• Recognition and Funding: Provides recognition to Indian universities and disburses funds to recognized universities and colleges.
• Pre-Independence Roots: Originally formed in 1946 to oversee three Central Universities, expanding to all existing universities after independence.
• Post-Independence Evolution: University Education Commission in 1948 recommended the UGC's reconstitution, aligning it with the UK's University Grants Commission model.
• Function: Granting recognition to universities and colleges across the country.

oIt is responsible for disbursing funds to the universities and colleges that have received recognition.

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10. INS VISHAKHAPATNAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, deployed in the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress call from MV Marlin Luanda.

INS Visakhapatnam

• About: Commissioned on November 21, 2021, it is the flagship and first in the Indian Navy's Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers.
• Symbol: Make in India initiative towards achieving 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
• Size: Measures 163m in length, 17m in breadth.
• Displacement: Weighs 7,400 tonnes, making it one of the largest destroyers in the Indian Navy.
• Propulsion: Driven by four robust Gas Turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration.
• Speed: Capable of achieving speeds exceeding 30 knots.
• Stealth Features: Reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) through efficient hull shaping, full beam superstructure design, plated masts, and use of radar-transparent materials on exposed decks.
• NBC Warfare Capabilities: Prepared for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

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