Kerala did virtually nothing for Endosulfan victims for 5 years: SC

• Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide that is being phased out globally.
• Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor.
• Because of its threats to human health and the environment, a global ban on the manufacture and use of endosulfan was negotiated under the “Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants” in 2011. The ban has taken effect in 2012.
• Supreme Court passed an interim order in 2011 in the backdrop of the incidents reported in Kasargode, Kerala, and banned the production, distribution and use of endosulfan in India.

PM Modi to virtually address silver jubilee celebrations of TRAI

• TRAI was established in 1997 through the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.
• The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.
• During the programme, Prime Minister will also launch a 5G Test Bed, developed as a multi institute collaborative project by a total of eight institutes led by IIT Madras.
• The Test Bed will enable a supportive ecosystem for Indian industry and startups which will help them validate their products, prototypes, solutions and algorithms in 5G and next generation technologies.

Inauguration Of Amenities At Kanheri Caves

• The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on the former island of Salsette in the western outskirts of Mumbai.
• The Kanheri caves comprise more than 110 different rock-cut monolithic excavations and is one of the largest single excavations in the country.
• These excavations were primarily undertaken during the Hinayana phase of Buddhism but also has several examples of the Mahayana stylistic architecture as well as few printings of the Vajrayana order.
• The name Kanheri is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ in Prakrit and occurs in the Nasik inscription of the Satavahana ruler Vasisthiputra Pulumavi.
• They contain Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century CE to the 10th century CE.
• Kanheri was mentioned in the travelogues of foreign travellers. The earliest reference of Kanheri is ascribed to Fa-Hein who visited India during 399-411 CE.

''Surat'' and ''Udaygiri'': Two indigenously built warships launched

• The Project 15B class of ships are the next generation stealth guided missile destroyers of the Indian Navy being built at the Mazgaon Docks Ltd, Mumbai.
• ‘Surat’ is the fourth ship of Project 15B Destroyers which heralds a significant makeover of the P15A (Kolkata Class) Destroyers and is named after the commercial capital of the state of Gujarat and also the second largest commercial hub of western India after Mumbai.
• ‘Udaygiri’, named after a mountain range in the state of Andhra Pradesh, is the third ship of Project 17A Frigates.
• These are follow on of the P17 Frigates (Shivalik Class) with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
• Under the P17A program, a total of seven ships, with 04 at MDL and 03 at GRSE are under construction.
• Both 15B and P17A ships have been designed in-house by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND).

SC asks Varanasi DM to ensure ‘shivling’ area protected without impeding Muslims’ access

• Section 3 of the Act bars the conversion, in full or part, of a place of worship of any religious denomination into a place of worship of a different religious denomination — or even a different segment of the same religious denomination.
• Section 4(1) declares that the religious character of a place of worship “shall continue to be the same as it existed” on August 15, 1947.
• Section 4(2) says any legal proceeding with respect to the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship existing on August 15, 1947, pending before any court, shall abate — and no fresh suit or legal proceedings shall be instituted.
• The proviso to this subsection saves suits, appeals and legal proceedings that are pending on the date of commencement of the Act, if they pertain to the conversion of the religious character of a place of worship after the cut-off date.
• Section 5 stipulates that the Act shall not apply to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, and to any suit, appeal or proceeding relating to it.

MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan to lead Indian delegation for First International Migration Review

• It will serve as the primary inter-governmental global platform to review the progress made at the local, national, regional and global levels in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
• It will consist of four interactive multi-stakeholder round tables, a policy dialogue and a plenary.
• In the General Assembly resolution A/RES/73/195, Member States agreed to review the progress made at the local, national, regional and global levels in implementing the GCM in the framework of the United Nations.

President Kovind arrives in Kingston on two-nation visit to Jamaica and Saint Vincent & Grenadines

• The President, who is on a historic visit to Jamaica will inaugurate a street named after Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and a garden dedicated to India-Jamaica friendship.
• It is the first-ever visit by an Indian President to Jamaica.
• India and Jamaica have enjoyed cordial relations based on common linkages of history, a Parliamentary democratic system, membership in the Commonwealth, use of the English language and the love for cricket.
• There have been regular bilateral tournaments between India and the West Indies cricket team.
• The Indian Diaspora, of about 70,000 whose forefathers came from India (mainly from Eastern UP and Bihar) as indentured labour from 1845-1917, make up around 3% of the Jamaican population.
• Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Kingston is the country''s capital and largest city.

Ramgarh Vishdhari notified as India''s 52nd tiger reserve

• This is Rajasthan''s fourth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundra.
• Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas as tiger reserves on July 5 last year.
• The newly notified tiger reserve includes the tiger habitat between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in the northeast and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve on the southern side and facilitates dispersal of tigers from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
• According to "Status of Tigers in India" report released in 2019, there are 2,967 tigers in 20 states across the country.