Bedmap3
Syllabus :GS1/Geography
In News
- Scientists have created the most comprehensive map yet of Antarctica’s landscape beneath its ice sheet, called Bedmap3.
Bedmap3
- It extends the previous Bedmap2 dataset.
- It includes data from 84 new aero-geophysical surveys, 15 data sources, 52 million additional data points, and 1.9 million line-km of measurements.
- Coverage of Gaps: It fills major gaps in knowledge, including information on mountain ranges, the deep interior of East Antarctica, and the coastlines of West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Importance
- Bedmap3 provides a clearer picture of Antarctica’s subglacial landscape and ice distribution, offering insights into the continent’s evolution and ice sheet modeling.
- It will help study how the ice sheet interacts with the bedrock and how it may behave as global warming continues, helping scientists predict future ice loss and sea-level rise.
| Do you know? – Antarctica is a continent. It is Earth’s fifth-largest continent and is covered almost completely in ice. Antarctica covers Earth’s South Pole. – Antarctica has no trees or bushes. The only plants that can survive the extreme cold are lichens, mosses and algae. – Antarctica is the coldest continent on earth. |
Source :TH
Privilege Motion
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
In News
- An opposition leader has moved a privilege motion against the Minister of State for Rural Development, alleging that he made a false statement regarding the comparative allocation of MGNREGS funds to Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Privilege motion
- A privilege motion is moved when a Member of Parliament (MP) believes that there has been a breach of parliamentary privileges.
- It must relate to a recent incident and warrant the intervention of the House.
- The motion can be admitted or rejected by the Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha).
- If admitted, it is referred to the Committee of Privileges, which:
- Investigates the matter.
- May summon witnesses or documents.
- Submits a report within one month.
- The House then considers the committee’s recommendations, and penal action is taken only in extreme cases.
Distinction from Contempt of the House
- Breach of privilege: Involves violating the special rights of the House or its members.
- Contempt of the House: Any act that obstructs the functioning of the House, even if no specific privilege is violated.
| Parliamentary Privileges – Parliamentary privileges are special rights and immunities enjoyed by Parliament and its members, enabling them to discharge their functions independently and effectively. Constitutional Backing – Article 105: Deals with the powers, privileges, and immunities of Parliament and its members. – Article 122: Bars courts from inquiring into the validity of parliamentary proceedings. Key Features Freedom of speech within the House (not absolute; restricted in cases like judicial conduct under Article 121). Immunity from legal action for anything said or any vote cast in the House or its committees. Protection from arrest in civil cases during the session and 40 days before and after it. No immunity in criminal cases. No member can be arrested or served with legal processes within the precincts of Parliament without permission from the Speaker or Chairman. |
Source :TH
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
Syllabus :GS 2/Governance
In News
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee has urged the Ministry of Education to resolve the dispute with West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu regarding the non-release of over ₹4,000 crore in funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
About
- The recommendation comes amid a conflict between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the stoppage of SSA funds after the state refused to implement the three-language formula of the National Education Policy (NEP) and sign an MoU for PM-SHRI schools.
The Samagra Shiksha scheme
- It is being implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
- It aims to provide holistic school education from pre-primary to class XII, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- It ensures quality, equitable, and inclusive education, addressing diverse backgrounds, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities.
Features
- Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for various initiatives, including free uniforms and textbooks for elementary students, reimbursement under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, support for out-of-school children, special training, and bilingual teaching materials.
- It also funds infrastructure development, such as the construction of school buildings, additional classrooms, hostels, and the strengthening of teacher education and ICT interventions.
- Additionally, support is given for the establishment and upgradation of schools and hostels for marginalized groups, including tribal and border areas.
Source :TH
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The opposition has pointed out that maternity benefits mandated under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are not being adequately implemented due to low budgetary allocation.
About
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit Programme that is implemented in accordance with the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
- Mission Shakti which encompasses the PMMVY Scheme came into operation from 2022.
- Eligibility: Women belonging to socially, economically disadvantaged, and marginalised sections of society.
- Benefits:
- Provides ₹5,000 as maternal benefit during pregnancy and lactation.
- The remaining amount (under Janani Suraksha Yojana) brings the total maternity benefit to ₹6,000 on average.
- Pregnant women & lactating mothers receive free meals during pregnancy and up to 6 months postpartum through Anganwadis, to meet nutritional standards.
- Mission Shakti: Provides ₹6,000 for a second child if the second child is a girl, promoting positive behavior towards the girl child.
Source: TH
Betting and Gambling are State Subjects
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that betting and gambling are State subjects.
- MeitY has issued 1410 blocking directions related to online betting/gambling/gaming websites between the year 2022- 25.
Regulation
- Finance Act 2023: 30% income tax on net winnings from online gaming, effective from assessment year 2024-25.
- GST at 28% on online gaming from 1st October 2023.
- Online gaming suppliers must register under the Simplified Registration Scheme of the IGST Act.
- GST Intelligence Headquarters can direct blocking of unregistered platforms violating the IGST Act.
- State Role in Betting & Gambling: Betting and gambling are state subjects under the Constitution, with states responsible for prevention, investigation, and prosecution of related crimes.
- The Central Government supports states with advisories and financial assistance for capacity building.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Punishes unauthorized betting and gambling with 1-7 years of imprisonment and fines.
- Other initiatives:
- Ministry of Education advisory for parents and teachers on managing online gaming addiction.
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting guidelines for advertisements related to online gaming, including disclaimers about financial risks and addiction.
Source: TH
MRI Technology
Syllabus: GS3/ S&T
In News
- India has developed its first indigenously manufactured MRI machine, which is set to be installed at AIIMS Delhi for trial runs.
About MRI Technology
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a non-invasive medical imaging technology used to create detailed images of the organs, tissues, and structures inside the body—especially the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and joints.
- Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI does not use ionizing radiation, making it safer for repeated use.
Source: LM
Abel Prize
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
In News
- Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara was awarded this year’s Abel Prize.
- He was honored with the Abel Prize for his groundbreaking work in algebraic analysis, representation theory, the development of D-modules, and the discovery of crystal bases.
About Abel Prize
- Named after legendary Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), the prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2002 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abel’s birth.
- First awarded in 2003, the Abel Prize is often regarded as the Nobel Prize equivalent in mathematics.
- Recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the Academy, in consultation with the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the European Mathematical Society (EMS).
- The award includes a cash award and a glass plaque designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Haugan.
Source: IE
Black Sea
Syllabus: GS1/Places in News
Context
- Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and on energy sites during talks brokered by the United States.
Black Sea
- The Black Sea is a large inland body of water located in southeastern Europe, bordered by six countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey.
- It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait.
- The Black Sea deeper water is devoid of oxygen and rich in hydrogen sulfide, which makes it unsuitable for most marine life.
- The Black Sea does have marine life in its upper, oxygen-rich layers.
- Significance: Ports like Odessa (Ukraine), Constanta (Romania), Varna (Bulgaria), and Novorossiysk (Russia) are vital for the countries bordering the sea.
- The Black Sea is also important for fishing, energy resources (including natural gas and oil), and shipping.
- It serves as a strategic point of control for access to the Mediterranean Sea and, historically, has been the site of many conflicts.
Source: TH
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