Sections 271 and 272 of the BNS
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- An FIR was registered against a restaurant owner in Noida under Section 271 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
About
- Sections 269 and 270 of the Indian Penal Code, 1870, have been identically reproduced as Sections 271 and 272 of the BNS.
- These punish acts that are “likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life”.
- Section 271 of the BNS, carries a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment, punishes those who “negligently” commit such acts.
- Section 272 punishes those who do so “malignantly”, implying that the accused intended to spread the infection. It carries a punishment of six months imprisonment.
- Both are bailable offences.
- Under both provisions, the prosecution must establish that the infection is of a “disease dangerous to life” — ruling out non-lethal infections.
- It must also prove that the accused knew or that their action, whether negligent or malignant, may cause an infection to spread.
Source: IE
50 years of India-Portugal diplomatic ties
Syllabus: GS2/IR
Context
- President Murmu held delegation-level talks with the Portuguese President, commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal.
About
- President Murmu’s visit was the first by an Indian President to Portugal since President K. R. Narayanan’s trip in 1998.
- President Murmu was awarded the ‘City Key of Honour’ by Lisbon’s Mayor.
Portugal
- Portugal is the westernmost point of Europe and lies on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula.
- It is bordered by Spain to the east and north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.
- The country includes the Azores and Madeira archipelagos in the Atlantic.
- The capital city is Lisbon, which is also the largest city in the country.
- Age of Exploration: Portugal was a global maritime power in the 15th and 16th centuries, leading the Age of Exploration.
- Famous explorers like Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan played pivotal roles.
- Colonial Era: Portugal established colonies across the globe, including Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Goa (India).
- EU Membership: Portugal is a member of the European Union (EU).
Source: AIR
World Homoeopathy Day
Syllabus: GS2/ Health
Context
- In 2025, India is hosting its largest Homoeopathic symposium on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
World Homoeopathy Day
- World Homoeopathy Day is observed on April 10 every year, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy.
- In India, Since 2016, the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) has been celebrating World Homoeopathy Day.
What is Homoeopathy?
- Homoeopathy is the world’s second-largest medical system, developed in the late 18th century in Germany.
- Core Principle: “Similia Similibus Curentur” or “like cures like.”
- A substance causing symptoms of a disease in a healthy individual would cure similar symptoms in a sick individual.
Legal Framework in India
- Homoeopathy in India was governed by the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
- To reform and modernize the system, the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020 was enacted and came into force in 2021.
- The system is recognized under the National Health Policy (2017) and is governed by the Ministry of AYUSH.
Institutional Framework in India
- National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH): A statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH, the NCH is responsible for ensuring regulation of homoeopathic education and practice.
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH): It leads scientific validation and research in homoeopathy.
- It operates a network of over 35 research centres and clinical treatment facilities across the country.
- Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H): It ensures the quality and standardization of homoeopathic medicines.
Source: PIB
Niveshak Didi Initiative
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) have signed a MoA to jointly launch Phase 2 of the “Niveshak Didi” initiative.
Niveshak Didi Initiative:
- Under the initiative, women postal workers and community leaders are trained to act as financial educators in local regions.
- Phase 1: It was launched in 2018, over 55,000 beneficiaries participated in IPPB Financial Literacy Camps across India, with 60% female participants, mainly from rural areas.
- Phase 2: Over 4,000 new financial literacy camps will be set up, led by nearly 40,000 women postal workers (Niveshak Didis).
- Topics covered: Responsible investing, fraud awareness, savings habits, and digital banking tools.
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA):
- It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, established in 2016.
- Role: Promotes financial literacy, educates people on managing personal finances, and informs about rights and responsibilities as investors.
- Focus: Special outreach to rural and underserved communities to empower individuals with financial knowledge.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB):
- Established: In 2018, under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication.
- Vision: To provide accessible, affordable, and trusted banking services for all, especially the unbanked and underbanked.
- Operating Model: Focuses on paperless, cashless, and presence-less banking through smartphones and biometric devices.
Source: PIB
Artemis Accords
Syllabus: GS3/ Space
Context
- Bangladesh became the 54th country to sign the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led initiative for peaceful and cooperative space exploration.
About the Artemis Accords
- Launched: October 13, 2020
- Founding Nations: Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, UAE, UK, and the United States.
- Legal Basis: Based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST).
- Nature: Non-binding set of principles for civil space exploration and utilization.
- Key Principles:
- Peaceful purposes, Transparency, Interoperability, Emergency Assistance, Registration of Space Objects, Release of Scientific Data, Protecting Heritage, Utilization of Space Resources, Deconfliction of Activities, and Orbital Debris and Spacecraft Disposal.
- Scope of Activities: Applies to civil space operations on the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids — including their surfaces & sub-surfaces, as well as orbital, Lagrangian points, and transit operations between these bodies.
Source: AIR
Project Varsha
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
Context
- India is set to establish a new naval base under Project Varsha for nuclear submarines and warships in coastal Andhra Pradesh by 2026.
About
- Located: The new base will be located near the village of Rambilli, approximately 50 kilometers from Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam.
- Stealth capabilities: The naval base will feature underground pens and tunnels to house nuclear submarines, ensuring stealthy operations in the Bay of Bengal.
- The stealth capabilities are vital for SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines), which need to remain hidden during their long patrols.
- Similarly Karwar base in Karnataka under Project Seabird safeguards the west coast.
Nuclear-powered submarines of India
- The Indian Navy is going to commission INS Aridhaman, the third nuclear-powered submarine in India’s fleet.
- The submarine, with a displacement of 7,000 tonnes, will be slightly bigger than the first two SSBNs — INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.
Source: BS
Nilgiri Tahr Census to be Conducted
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
Context
- Kerala and Tamil Nadu will jointly conduct a Nilgiri Tahr census, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Eravikulam National Park’s establishment.
Eravikulam National Park
- Originally declared a sanctuary in 1975, it was established as Kerala’s first National Park in 1978.
- This park has numerous endangered species, including the Nilgiri Tahr (an endangered mountain goat species), Lion-tailed Macaques, and Nilgiri Langurs.
- Park’s primary aim was to safeguard the endangered Nilgiri tahr.
- It is also known as the “Land of Neelakurinji”, purplish-blue Neelakurinji flowers blossom every 12 years.
- The Nilgiri tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India. It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- It is the endemic species of the Western Ghats and is found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- It is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.
Source: TH
Ozone Pollution
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- According to a study by the IIT Kharagpur, surface ozone pollution is impacting India’s major food crops, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and central India.
What is Ozone Pollution?
- Ozone (O₃) is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms.
- It occurs both in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (stratosphere) and at ground level (troposphere).
- Stratospheric ozone is beneficial as it forms the ozone layer that shields the Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.
- Tropospheric ozone, however, is a harmful air pollutant and greenhouse gas.
- It is not emitted directly but is formed by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a maximum ozone level of 100 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), measured as an 8-hour maximum moving average within a day
Impact on Crops
- Ozone enters plants through stomata and causes oxidative stress, reducing photosynthesis and damaging cell membranes.
- According to the IIT Kharagpur study;
- Wheat yields could decline by an additional 20% under high-emission scenarios.
- Rice and maize yields may drop by around 7%.
- Exposure in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Central India may exceed safe ozone limits by up to six times.
- Ozone Pollution is hindering the country’s progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ‘no poverty’ and ‘zero hunger’ by 2030.
Source: TH