1. HURRICANE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Hurricane Beryl became the earliest storm on record during the Atlantic hurricane season to have reached the highest Category 5 classification.

Hurricane

• About: Hurricanes, known generically as tropical cyclones, are low-pressure systems with organised thunderstorm activity that form over tropical or subtropical waters. 

o They gain their energy from warm ocean waters.

• Development of Storm Systems: As the warm, moist air continues to rise, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and thunderstorms. This system gains strength from the ocean's heat and water evaporation.
• Other elements affect hurricanes:

o Strong vertical wind shear can inhibit the development of hurricanes by tilting the structure of a storm and by forcing cool, dry air into its core.

o Vertical wind shear is a measure of how much the wind changes in speed or direction at increasing heights in the atmosphere. 

• Classification: Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which ranges from Category 1 to Category 5 based on sustained wind speeds.

5 Category Of Hurricanes

• Category 1: A wind speed of 74-95 mph (119 to 153 mph). 
• Category 2: Wind speeds are between 96-110 mph (154 to 177 mph). 
• Category 3: 111 to 129 mph (177 to 207 kmph) wind speeds. There would be no water or electricity.
• Category 4: Winds of 130 to 156 mph (210 to 251 mph).
• Category 5: Wind speeds would be 157 mph (253 km and above).

Hurricane Beryl

• About: It emerged as the earliest Category 4 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, with sustained winds exceeding 130 miles per hour.
• Path: Currently, Hurricane Beryl is moving across the Windward Islands, including Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

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2. NEW PROVISIONS FOR POLICE OFFICERS (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The new criminal laws have recently become effective, and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has issued SOPs to guide police officers in their implementation.

New Provisions for Police Officers

• Rules for Registering FIRs: The officer in-charge of a police station cannot refuse to register an FIR on the basis of lack of jurisdiction or disputed jurisdiction.

o Electronic Submission: Information for an FIR can be submitted orally, in writing, or electronically, but must be signed by the informant within three days.

• Videography Mandate: The BNSS mandates videography during searches, crime scene examinations, and property possession processes under section 185, 175 and 105..
• Provision of Arrest: Section 37 of the BNSS requires a police officer in every police station, not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector, to be responsible for maintaining and prominently displaying information about the arrested persons.

o Timeline: In case of medical examination of a victim of rape, the registered medical practitioner is mandated under Section 184 (6) of the BNSS to forward the medical report to the IO within seven days, who shall forward it to the magistrate concerned.

o Section 193(3)(h): It requires the IO to maintain the sequence of custody of an electronic device.

o This sub-section also imposes a duty to inform the progress of the investigation within 90 days to the informant or victim.

• Section 113 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: It defines what is a ‘terrorist act’ and imposes the duty on an officer, not below the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), to decide whether to register a case under this Section or the UAPA.

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3. MAHADAYI RIVER (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Environmental concerns and tiger conservation claims complicate Goa-Karnataka tensions over the Kalasa-Banduri project, triggered by a central body's inspection of the Mahadayi basin.

Mahadayi River

• Origin and Name: Mahadayi or Mhadei, originating in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, is a significant west-flowing river.
• Rain-fed Nature: It is primarily rain-fed and is known as Mandovi once it reaches Goa.
• Formation of Mandovi: In Goa, Mahadayi is formed by the confluence of several streams, including the Zuari river, making it one of Goa's major rivers.
• Course: The river flows 35 km through Karnataka and 82 km through Goa before emptying into the Arabian Sea.

Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project

• Project Objective: Undertaken by Karnataka, the project aims to enhance drinking water supply to Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag districts.
• Water Diversion: It involves constructing dams on Kalasa and Banduri tributaries to divert water to the Malaprabha river.
• Beneficiary Districts: The Malaprabha river supplies drinking water to Dharwad, Belgaum, and Gadag districts.
• Controversy and Resolution: Initially planned in 1989, the project faced objections from Goa, leading to the establishment of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal in 2010.
• Tribunal Involvement: Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra are all parties involved in the tribunal to resolve disputes over Mahadayi river water sharing.

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4. GALLANTRY AWARDS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – ART & CULTURE)

Context: President of India awarded 36 Gallantry Awards to personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State and Union Territory Police in recognition of their exceptional bravery.

Gallantry Awards

• About: These are a recognition of acts of courage and self-sacrifice performed by members of the Armed Forces, legally constituted forces, and civilians.
• Ministry: Ministry of Defence
• Announced: Twice in a year
• Categories of Awards: Wartime Gallantry Awards and Peacetime Gallantry Awards.
• Wartime Gallantry Awards: Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Mahavir Chakra (MVC), and Vir Chakra
• Peacetime Gallantry Awards: 

o Ashok Chakra: It is awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.

o Kirti Chakra: It is comparable to the Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest gallantry award awarded during peacetime.

o Shaurya Chakra: An Indian military honor bestowed for acts of gallantry, bravery, or selflessness in situations not involving direct engagement with the enemy.

• Other Recognitions: Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal, and Vayu Sena Medal.

Major facts:

• All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
• Persons recommended for the award shall not be involved in any adverse report or should not have been conveyed any displeasure or censure or given any punishment in a court martial proceedings or through administrative action.

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5. GUIDELINE FOR DISABLED PERSONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Vulnerable Sections)

Context: In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court of India has issued guidelines governing the portrayal of people with disabilities in films and visual media, aiming to promote accurate and respectful representation.

Guideline for Disabled Persons in Films

• Authentic Representation: The Supreme Court (SC) emphasized the need for authentic and respectful portrayal of individuals with disabilities in films and media.
• Boundaries of Creative Freedom: The court clarified that artistic freedom under Article 19(1)(a) does not extend to mocking, stereotyping, or disparaging marginalized groups, aligning with constitutional and RPwD Act 2016 objectives.
• Influence of Cinema: Recognizing cinema's influential role, the court highlighted that inaccurate or stereotypical portrayals can perpetuate harmful misconceptions about people with disabilities.
• Avoidance of Stereotypes: Chief Justice of India (CJI) underscored that resorting to stereotypes diminishes the diverse experiences of disabled individuals, contrary to the anti-discrimination principles under Article 14.
• Impact of Language on Perception: The court noted that terms like "cripple" and "spastic" contribute to devalued societal perceptions of persons with disabilities, reinforcing institutional discrimination.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

• About: The Act implemented the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 2006 and ratified by India in 2007.
• Replacing the Previous Legislation: The 2016 Act superseded the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995, initiating significant changes in disability rights legislation.
• Mandates for Accessibility: The Act mandated the central government to establish guidelines and standards for public buildings to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities, with provisions for periodic review and updates.
• Free Education Provision: Every child with benchmark disability between the age of 6 to 18 years entitled to free education.
• Recognition of Disabilities: 21 types of disabilities recognized, including intellectual disability, acid attack victims, etc.

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6. REGENERATIVE BRAKING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: State-led incentives and subsidies are driving significant changes in the electric vehicle sector. One key innovation is regenerative braking, which enhances energy use efficiency in these vehicles.

Braking

• About: It is the mechanism through which a moving automotive vehicle decelerates.
• It primarily reduces the vehicle's kinetic energy, translating its motion into other forms.
• Energy Conversion: Vehicles in motion possess kinetic energy proportionate to their speed.

o Braking involves converting this kinetic energy into other forms due to the law of energy conservation.

• Types of Brakes

o Mechanical Brakes (Disc Brake)

o Utilizes brake pads pressing against a rotating disc.

o Friction generated converts kinetic energy into heat.

o Features like disc perforations aid in heat dissipation.

• Induction Brake

o Involves inducing electric currents in a conducting wheel.

o These currents create a magnetic field opposing an external magnet's field.

o Resulting drag slows down the wheel, dissipating energy as heat through metal resistance.

Regenerative Braking

• About: It is a brake system designed to convert the kinetic energy of the wheels into a form that can be stored and used for other purposes.
• Mechanism: During braking, the traction motor in electric vehicles functions as a generator, converting kinetic energy back into electrical energy.
• Comparison: Contrasted with rheostatic braking, regenerative braking stores recovered energy rather than dissipating it as heat.

How Does a Motor Become a Generator?

• Motor Basics: A motor comprises a stationary stator and a rotating rotor, generating motion through interaction with a magnetic field.
• Operation: When a motor operates in reverse, as a generator, mechanical energy turns the rotor to induce electrical current in the stator.
• Application: Switching the motor's function allows electric vehicles to implement regenerative braking, converting kinetic energy into stored electricity.

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7. EARTH’S INNER CORE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recent studies by scientists indicate that the Earth's core has slowed down significantly, potentially reversing its direction of movement.

Earth’s Inner Core

• About: The innermost part of Earth, located approximately 5,150 kilometers beneath the surface.
• Composition: Primarily of iron and nickel, forming a solid metallic ball.
• Mass: Makes up around 20 percent of Earth’s total mass.
• Size: Has a radius of about 759 miles (1,221 kilometers).
• Temperature and Heat Sources: Extremely hot, with temperatures ranging from 7200–9000℉ (4000–5000℃).
• Heat generated by radioactive decay, residual heat from planetary formation, and heat from outer core solidification.
• Pressure: Under intense pressure of about 3.6 million atmospheres, which maintains its solid state despite high temperatures.
• Surrounding Layers: Outer core, a superhot layer of molten metals, and further by the mantle and crust.

o The boundary with the outer core is known as the Lehman Seismic Discontinuity.

• Magnetic Field: Generates its own magnetic field.

o Contains about 10% of the Earth's total magnetic field energy despite its small volume.

Rotation speed of Earth's core slowing down

• Discovery of Earth's Inner Core: Danish seismologist Inge Lehmann discovered the planet's inner core in 1936, sparking ongoing scientific inquiry into its properties.
• Challenges: Direct observation and sampling of Earth's deep interior are impossible, leading scientists to rely on indirect methods for understanding core dynamics.
• Seismographic Evidence: Data from seismograms, measuring waves from earthquakes and explosions, provide crucial insights into the Earth's core rotation.
• Recent Findings: A study published in June found that the solid inner core's rotation speed has been consistently decreasing relative to the Earth's surface.

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8. COGNITIVE TEST (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Amid concerns over the US President's fitness for the White House race, calls have arisen for him to undergo a cognitive test to assess his mental acuity.

Cognitive Test

• Definition: Cognitive testing assesses brain functions like thinking, learning, memory, judgment, and language to detect any impairments.
• Process: It follows a methodical approach to identify deficits in cognitive functions and determine their causes.
• Determining Cognitive Impairment: Results help diagnose conditions like cognitive impairment, dementia, or pseudo-dementia.
• Treatment Decisions: Results guide decisions on interventions such as behavior therapies and cognitive therapies.
• Recommended: People who have memory deficits, or who think they are losing memory or becoming forgetful, have difficulty in focusing or in judgment, or whose mind is not working as they think it should be working, should take the test.
• Age and Cognitive Decline: Age is a significant factor in cognitive decline. The risk of dementia increases with each decade after 60, becoming notably higher after age 75.
• Purpose of Testing: Cognitive tests help differentiate between dementia, cognitive impairment, and pseudo-dementia by assessing memory, language, calculation, and organizational skills.

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9. COPERNICUS CLIMATE CHANGE SERVICE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), June marked the hottest on record globally, with temperatures averaging 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 average.

Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)

• About: C3S is one of six thematic information services under the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme of the European Union.
• Operational Framework: It operates as part of an established programme leveraging existing research infrastructures and knowledge across Europe and globally.
• Societal Impact: C3S provides authoritative climate information covering historical, current, and future climate trends globally, supporting informed decision-making.
• Support for European Policies: The service aims to bolster European climate policies and actions, enhancing societal resilience against anthropogenic climate change.
• Scientific Foundations: C3S bases its outputs on climate research conducted within the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and responds to user needs outlined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).
• Implementation Structure: The service is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission.

Copernicus Programme

• Purpose: Copernicus is the European Union’s comprehensive Earth Observation Programme aimed at providing reliable environmental data.
• Data Collection Systems: It integrates data from diverse sources including earth observation satellites, ground stations, airborne and sea-borne sensors.
• Service Areas: Copernicus delivers information through services focused on land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency management, and security.

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10. CLASSICAL LANGUAGES IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: Amid a clamour for classical status for many languages, the Central government has decided to tweak the criteria for giving this special tag.

Classical Languages in India

• Criteria: The Government of India has established specific criteria for declaring a language as classical, including a high antiquity of early texts, a valuable literary heritage, originality, and distinctiveness from modern forms.
• Currently Classical Languages: As of now, six languages hold the prestigious 'Classical' status in India: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
• Demand of classical language tag: Marathi, Bengali, Assamese and Maithili.
• The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages.

Present Criteria for Declaration of a Classical Language

• Antiquity Requirement: A language must demonstrate a high antiquity of its early texts or recorded history spanning 1,500-2,000 years.
• Body of Ancient Literature: It should possess a substantial body of ancient literature or texts that are considered valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
• Original Literary Tradition: The literary tradition of the language should be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
• Distinct from Modern Format: The classical language and its literature should be distinct from its modern format, possibly showing discontinuity with its later forms or offshoots.

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