President Murmu pays tribute to Matangini Hazra, Kanaklata Barua: Who were these freedom fighters

Matangini Hazra

• Hazra was 73 when she fell to British bullets, leading a march during the Quit India movement of 1942, in Tamluk in West Bengal.
• In the early 1900s, the Nationalist movement began gaining traction across the subcontinent and Gandhi travelled extensively across the length and breadth of the region, raising awareness about the freedom movement.
• She was arrested and sentenced to six months of hard labour. While weakened by the harsh sentence, Hazra went back to her social work immediately after her release.
• At the age of 61, she was arrested for taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and the Salt March led by Gandhi. Her participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement led to several short stints in prison. It was during this time when she became an active member of the Indian National Congress and started spinning her own khadi in Gandhi’s footsteps.
• Her involvement with the freedom struggle intensified during the Quit India Movement launched by Gandhi in August 1942. In September that year, a 73-year-old Hazra led a large procession of around 6,000 protesters, mostly women. The procession marched with the aim to take over the Tamluk police station from British authorities.
• In the skirmish that followed between protesters and the police, Hazra stepped forward to appeal to the police to not shoot at the procession. Her pleas went unheard and British police personnel shot at her thrice.

Kanaklata Barua

• One of the youngest martyrs of the Quit India Movement, Kanaklata Barua has an iconic status in Assam. Barua, then 17, led the Mrityu Bahini, a procession of freedom fighters, to unfurl the Tricolour at Gohpur police station on September 20, 1942. When police did not let them move forward, an altercation led to firing, killing Barua at the head of the procession.
• In 2020, the Coast Guard named a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) after her, the ICGS Kanaklata Barua.

Meet ''Pibot,'' the humanoid robot that can safely pilot an airplane better than a human

Pibot

• It is the world’s first humanoid pilot.
• It can fly an aeroplane just like a human pilot by manipulating all the single controls in the cockpit, which is designed for humans.
• Features:
  • It combines artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, can process the natural language of the flight manual and control the flight’s operation in real-time.
  • Pibot can control its arms and fingers to dextrously operate flight instruments, even with severe vibration in an aircraft, using high-precision control technology.
  • Its external cameras allow Pibot to monitor the current state of the aircraft and the internal ones help it manage essential switches on the control panel.
  • It is capable of memorizing global flight charts to conduct mistake-free flight missions on any air route.
  • It can memorise aircraft operation and emergency manuals (QRH, an in-cockpit manual for the flight crew to refer to in case of in-flight problems) and respond immediately.
  • The humanoid robot can also communicate with air traffic controllers and humans in the cockpit using voice synthesis, allowing it to act as a pilot or a first officer.

Invoke pre-trial detention only to maintain public order: Kerala HC

Preventive Detention

• Preventive detention refers to the detention of an individual without a trial or conviction by a court.
• The primary objective of preventive detention is not to punish an individual for a past offence but to prevent them from committing an offence in the future.
• Preventive detention laws are enacted by governments to ensure public safety and maintain social order.
• Constitutional Provisions and Safeguards:
  • Article 22 of the Indian Constitution grants protection to individuals who are arrested or detained.
  • It has two parts—the first part deals with cases of ordinary law, which includes situations where an individual is detained as part of a criminal investigation.
  • The second part deals with cases of preventive detention law, which pertains to the detention of individuals without a trial or conviction.
  • **Article 22 (4)**states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than three months unless an Advisory Board reports sufficient cause for extended detention.
  • The detainee is entitled to know the grounds of his detention. The state, however, may refuse to divulge the grounds of detention if it is in the public interest to do so.
  • The detaining authorities must give the detainee earliest opportunities for making representation against the detention.
• Who can make laws under Preventive Detention?
  • Parliament has the exclusive power to enact a law for preventive detention for the reasons connected with defence, foreign affairs, or security of India.
  • Both Parliament and State Legislature have powers to enact a law for preventive detention for the reasons related to the maintenance of public order or the maintenance of supplies or services essential to the community.
• Laws that provide for Preventive Detention:
  • In India, various laws provide for preventive detention, including the National Security Act (NSA) of 1980, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967, and state-specific laws like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and the Public Safety Acts (PSA) in certain states.
  • Under these laws, authorities can detain an individual for a specific period, typically up to 12 months, without presenting formal charges or conducting a trial.
  • The detention order is issued by a designated authority or government official and is subject to periodic review by an advisory board.

India accounts for 35% of cargo handled by Murmansk this year

Murmansk Port

• The seaport of Murmansk is one of the largest ice-free ports in Russia.
• It is located on the Kola Peninsula at the coast of Barents Sea.
• It is about 2,000 km northwest of Moscow.
• The port is navigated all year round. The dimensions of vessels calling at the port of Murmansk are not limited.
• The main port capabilities are located on the western coast of Kola Bay, among them the mooring berths of the commercial port (including passenger area), fishing port, ship-repair yard, shipyard, oil terminal, and FSUE Atomflot premises.
• On the eastern coast of Kola Bay there is a number of small fish and fleet maintenance terminals.

Kola Peninsula

• It is situated in northwest Russia which is one of the most important economic regions in the circumpolar North.
• The region contains valuable natural resources, including a wide variety of mineral and fish resources, and is proximate to the large gas fields of the Barents Sea.
• A large population, industrial complexes, and military infrastructure are also characteristic of the region.

Vitamin D intake ‘may reduce cancer mortality in the population by 15%’

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the proper functioning of the body.
• Functions:
  • It helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
  • It also plays many other important roles in the body, including regulating inflammation and immune function.
• There are different forms of vitamin D, including ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
• Sources:
  • Sunlight Synthesis: It is made in the skin when exposed to sunlight. During periods of sunlight, vitamin D is stored in fat and then released when sunlight is not available.
  • Dietary Sources: Vitamin D can also be obtained from dietary sources, including fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna), fortified dairy products, fortified cereals, egg yolks, and certain mushrooms.
• Deficiency:
  • Vitamin D deficiency can lead to weakened bones, a condition known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
  • It may also increase the risk of certain chronic diseases.
  • People who have limited sun exposure, are elderly, have dark skin, or have specific medical conditions may be at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and may require supplementation.
• Vitamin D toxicity:
  • Getting too much vitamin D (known as vitamin D toxicity) can be harmful.
  • Signs of toxicity include nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss.
  • It can lead to toxic levels of calcium in the blood, causing a condition known as hypercalcemia.
  • Very high levels of vitamin D can damage the kidneys.

Nehru Memorial renamed as Prime Ministers’ museum and library

Prime Ministers'' Museum and Library (PMML) Society

• Status: It is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Location: It is housed in the historic Teen Murti campus located south of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
• PMML is dedicated to the objective of promoting advanced research on Modern and Contemporary India.
• History:
  • Designed by Robert Tor Russel and built in 1929-30 as part of Edwin Lutyens'' imperial capital, Teen Murti House was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief in India.
  • In August 1948, after the departure of the last British Commander-in-Chief, Teen Murti House became the official residence of independent India''s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who lived here for sixteen years until his death on May 27, 1964.
  • On Jawaharlal Nehru''s 75th birth anniversary on November 14, 1964 Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, President of India, formally dedicated the Teen Murti House to the nation and inaugurated the Nehru Memorial Museum.
  • On 1 April 1966, the Government set up the Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Society to manage the institution.
• PMML has four major constituents, namely-
  • Memorial Museum;
  • Library on modern India;
  • Centre for Contemporary Studies;
  • Nehru Planetarium;
• Administration: The General Council and the President and the Vice-President of the PMML Society are nominated by the Central Government.

Scientists discover new salamander species in the mountain lakes of Manipur

Tylototriton zaimeng

• This had earlier been mistaken for its close relatives — the T. himalayanus and the T. verrucosus.
• Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new salamander is a sister species of the T. panwaensis and T. houi found in northern Myanmar and southern China,
• Appearance:
  • It was found to be a medium-sized salamander.
  • Its head is massive and wide, with a rounded snout and protruding supratemporal bony ridges, while a well-developed sagittal ridge adorns its crown.
  • The creature’s limbs, short and elegantly formed, did not overlap when adpressed along its body.
  • A wide and unsegmented vertebral ridge ran along its back, accompanied by 13-14 pairs of rib nodules, marking a clear distinction from its kin.
  • It displayed a stunning brown colouration, embellished with dull orange to yellowish-brown markings on its head, vertebral ridge, rib nodules, palms, soles, vent, and ventral tail ridge. Vomerine teeth, elegantly organized in two distinctly curved bell-shaped series, further differentiated this mysterious creature.

Zaimeng Lake

• It is situated on top of Khongtheng mountain ranges.
• Zaimeng in the Liangmai Naga dialect means “puzzle” or “mystery”.
• The greater part of the lake is basically a marshy mass of thick grass like weeds, mixed with reeds and green mosses.
• The estimated height of this lake is 2176 metres above sea level.

ODOP teams up with DAY-NRLM to introduce ‘ODOP Wall’ showcasing India’s unique artistry

One District One Product wall

• The One District One Product (ODOP) program is an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
• Under this Collaboration- products are being identified from all districts to be promoted for their unique qualities and cultural significance which include various handicrafts, handloom, and agricultural products that have been associated with the identity of their place of origin.
• Objectives of ODOP: To help districts reach their full potential, foster economic and socio-cultural growth, and create employment opportunities, especially, in rural areas.
• This initiative aims to turn every district in India, into an export hub through promotion of the product in which the district specialises.
• The initiative plans to accomplish this by scaling manufacturing, supporting local businesses, finding potential foreign customers and so on, thus helping to achieve the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.

DAY-NRLM

• It is one of the flagship poverty alleviation program.
• It aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
• Key Features:
  • Universal Social Mobilisation: At least one woman member from each identified rural poor household, is to be brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner.
  • **Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP):**All households identified as poor through the PIP process is the NRLM Target Group and is eligible for all the benefits under the programme.
  • Community Funds as Resources in Perpetuity: NRLM provides Revolving Fund (RF) and Community Investment Fund (CIF) as resources in perpetuity to the institutions of the poor, to strengthen their institutional and financial management capacity.

Centre pushes for faster admission of IBC cases at NCLT

National Company Law Tribunal

• It is a quasi-judicial authority incorporated for dealing with corporate disputes that are of civil nature arising under the Companies Act,2013.
• It was constituted on 1 June 2016 under the Companies Act,2013.
• It was established based on the recommendation of the Balakrishna Eradi committee on law relating to the insolvency and the winding up of companies.
• Composition: It shall consist of a President and such number of Judicial and Technical Members as may be required.
• What are the Powers of NCLT?
  • It is not limited or bound by the rules laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure and is guided by the principles of natural justice, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules that are made by the Central Government.
  • It can enforce any order that it gives in the same manner as a court would enforce it.
  • It has the power to scrutinize its own orders.
  • It has the power to regulate their own procedure.
  • It is the adjudicating authority for the insolvency resolution process of companies and limited liability partnerships under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

Two critically endangered, four vulnerable, and two endangered species found during bird survey at Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital

• As per the report, two species, namely white-rumped vulture and red-headed vulture, considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list, have been documented in the survey,
• Two endangered species — Pallas’s fish-eagle, Egyptian vulture were also counted by the researchers in the survey.
• Four vulnerable bird species — great hornbill, great slaty woodpecker, grey-crowned prinia and river tern — have also been counted in the survey.

Corbett Tiger Reserve

• It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand which encompasses the Patli Dun valley.
• The Ramganga, Sonanadi, Palain and Mandal, and Kosi rivers form the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.
• The core area of the reserve contains the Corbett National Park and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is part of its buffer area.
• Flora: The trees which contribute to the Flora of Corbett consist of evergreen Sal and its combined trees, the Sheesham, and the Kanju found extensively on the ridges.
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Hog deer, spotted deer, Samber etc.

Madras High Court bats for right of animals to live without fear and distress; orders relocation of 495 families in Thengumarahada

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

• Location:
  • It is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, spread over 321 sq. km. at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
  • It lies on the Northeastern and Northwestern slopes of Nilgiri hills which is a part of the Western Ghats.
  • It is part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, the first Biosphere Reserve in India.
  • It has a common boundary with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary(Kerala) on the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) on the North, the Nilgiris North Division on the South and East, and Gudalur Forest Division on the South West.
• The name Mudumalai means ” the ancient hill range”. Indeed, it is as old as 65 million years when the Western Ghats were formed.
• Terrain: The terrain is undulating, with the elevation ranging from 960m to 1266m.
• Habitat: A variety of habitats ranging from tropical evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, moist teak forest, dry teak forest, secondary grasslands, and swamps are found here.
• Flora:
  • It has tall grasses, commonly referred to as “Elephant Grass”, bamboo of the giant variety, and valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc.
  • It has wild relatives of cultivated plants, viz. wild rice, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, etc.
• Fauna: Includes Tiger, Elephant, Indian Gaur, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Mangoose, Hyena, among others.
• The recent Oscar-winning ‘Elephant Whisperers’ was filmed at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, located inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.