Supreme Court Designates 47 Former High Court Judges As Senior Advocates

Senior Advocate

• Under Section 16 of the Advocates Act 1961,two classes of advocates are classified: Senior Advocate and Junior or those who are not designated as seniors.
• The senior advocates play the role of legal experts in India who have significant knowledge in the field of law.
• They are associated with many prominent cases as they are good contributors to the principle of the Rule of Law.
• Special Provisions:
  • A senior advocate shall not appear without an advocate on record in the SC or without an advocate in any other court.
  • A senior advocate shall not accept instructions to draft pleadings or affidavits, advice on evidence, or to do any drafting work of an analogous kind in any Court or Tribunal or before any person or other authority.
  • A senior advocate shall not accept directly from a client any brief or instructions to appear in any Court or Tribunal or before any person or other authority in India.

Designation of Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court of India, 2023

• The candidates need to be at least ten years'' standing as an Advocate or ten years'' combined standing as an Advocate and as a District and session Judge or as a Judicial Member of any Tribunal in India to be designated as Senior Advocates at the SC.
• They must practice mainly in the Supreme Court, but advocates with domain expertise in practising before specialised tribunals may be given concession.
• The age limit for applying for the designation of senior advocate is now 45 years, unless the age limit is relaxed.
• The age limit can be relaxed by the Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates or if the name has been recommended by the Chief Justice of India or a SC judge.
• Criteria:
  • The new guidelines have a revised point system for evaluating candidates.
  • The new criteria include the number of years of practice and the body of work.
    • Number of years of practice: Applicants will get a maximum of 20 points, 10 points for 10 years of practice, and 1 point each for every additional year of practice.
    • Judgements reported and unreported; pro bono work; domain expertise (such as constitutional: 50 points
    • Publication of academic articles, experience of teaching assignments in the field of law, guest lectures delivered in law schools and professional institutions connected with law: 5 points
    • Test of personality and suitability based on the interview: 25 points
• Selection:
  • The selection for the designation of senior advocates will be done by the Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates. The Committee is headed by CJI as the Chairperson.
  • The applications will be invited once a year, and the committee will meet twice a year.
  • It will also have a permanent secretariat, whose members will be selected by the CJI and the committee.

Paintbrush swift butterfly is photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh

Paintbrush Swift Butterfly

• It is a butterfly species of the Hesperiidae family.
• The species has never been photographed in Himachal Pradesh since its discovery in 1878.
• This is the first time that we have photographed and documented it.
• It was first described by lepidopterist Frederic Moore more than 145 years ago.
• It is identified based on two separated spots in the upper forewing cell.
• The species’ larvae feed on bamboo and some other grass species.
• Habitat: Its habitat is distributed in northeast, central and south India, and rare in Uttarakhand.
• Threats: Habitat loss and scarcity of larval host plants are major causes of the decline in the butterfly population. An increase in pesticide use, deforestation, and climate change.
• Conservation status
  • This species is legally protected in India under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

China restricts exports of graphite as it escalates a global tech war

Graphite

• It is an opaque, non-metallic carbon polymorph that is blackish silver in colour and metallic to dull in sheen.
• Since it resembles metal lead, it is also known colloquially as black lead or plumbago.
• It is formed by the metamorphosis of sediments containing carbonaceous material.
• It is a naturally occurring form of crystalline carbon.
• It is extremely soft, cleaves with very light pressure, and has a very low specific gravity.
• In contrast, it is extremely resistant to heat and nearly inert in contact with almost any other material.
• These extreme properties give it a wide range of uses in metallurgy and manufacturing.
• Molecular structure
  • It consists of a ring of six carbon atoms closely bonded together hexagonally in widely spaced layers.
  • The bonds within the layers are strong, but the bonds between the layers are less in number and therefore weaker.
  • Graphite is a stable form of carbon.
• Applications: It is used in pencils, lubricants, crucibles, foundry facings, polishes, arc lamps, batteries, brushes for electric motors, and cores of nuclear reactors.
• It is mined extensively in China, India, Brazil, North Korea, and Canada.

Risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome 6 times higher after Covid infection

Guillain-Barre syndrome

• It is a rare autoimmune disorder where the body''s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves.
• It is more common in adults and males, but it can affect people of all ages.
• Symptoms
  • The first symptoms of this syndrome include weakness or tingling sensations. They usually start in the legs, and can spread to the arms and face.
  • For some people, these symptoms can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, or muscles in the face.
• Causes
  • It is often preceded by an infection.
  • This could be a bacterial or viral infection.
  • The most frequently associated infections include Campylobacter jejuni, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and the bacteria responsible for pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
  • It may also be triggered by vaccine administration or surgery.
• Diagnosis
  • There is no known cure for this syndrome.
  • The most commonly used treatment is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which is made from donated blood that contains healthy antibodies.
  • This helps calm down the immune system''s attack on the nerves.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary reopens for tourist

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is located on the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra in Morigaon district, adjacent to Guwahati in Assam.
• It was declared a reserve forest in 1971 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1987.
• It is home to the highest population density of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros species (around 102 rhinos in an area of 38.8 sq. km).
• Landscape: It is dominated by alluvial lowlands and marshland.
• The Brahmaputra River offers a natural boundary to the premises of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary on the north, while the Garanga Beel offers a natural boundary to its south.
• Flora:
  • 72% of Pabitora consists of wet savannah of Arundo donax, Erianthus ravennae, Phragmites karka, Imperata cylindrica, and Saccharum spp.
  • Water hyacinth(Eichornia crassipes) is a major problem, especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.
• Fauna:
  • Besides rhinoceros, the other animals are leopard, wild boar, Barking deer, wild buffalo, etc.
  • It is also home to more than 375 species of resident and migratory birds, such as the Indian pied Hornbill, Osprey, Hill Myna, Kalij Pheasant, etc.

Indian One Horned Rhinoceros

• The greater one-horned rhino (or “Indian rhino”) is the largest of the rhino species.
• Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis
• Distribution:
  • It can be found in India and Nepal, particularly in the foothills of the Himalayas, in riverine (floodplain) grasslands, and adjacent woodland.
  • Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has the largest population with 2,613 animals.
• Features:
  • It is identified by a single black horn about 8-25 inches long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives it an armor-plated appearance.
  • It weighs approximately 2,200 kg, ranges in height from 170 to 186 cm, and is 368 to 380 cm long.
  • The species is solitary, except when adult males or rhinos nearing adulthood gather at wallows or to graze.
  • They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

2.9-crore project to improve amenities around Edakkal Caves

Edakkal Caves

• These caves are located 3,900 feet above sea level in the majestic Ambukuthi Hills.
• The name Edakkal itself means “a stone in between”.
• The unique, intricate stone carvings date back to the Neolithic and Mesolithic ages.
• The caves are two natural formations that are believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock.
• These feature Neolithic-era pictorial writings believed to date to at least 6,000 BCE.
• Features:
  • The caves sport human and animal figures besides symbols and letters.
  • Inside the caves are pictorial drawings and engravings that indicate the presence of ancient human settlements in the region.
  • Despite their name, the Edakkal Caves are not actually caves. They are part of a prehistoric rock shelter that was formed naturally when one huge boulder got wedged between two bigger ones.
  • Human figures, animals, tools, vehicles, day-to-day occurrences, and scripts in different languages have been discovered here.
  • The diversity of the engravings suggests that the Edakkal caves were inhabited several times at different points in history.
  • The Muniyaras, or ancient burial sites that have been discovered in these hills have yielded a rich collection of ancient earthenware and pottery.

CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship 2023 registration extended to October 31

CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child

• It was launched by the Ministry of Education.
• The scheme is aimed at recognising the efforts of parents in promoting education among girls and providing encouragement to meritorious students.
• The objective of the scheme is to provide scholarships to meritorious single girl students who are the only children of their parents, have passed the CBSE Class X Examination with 60% or more marks, and are continuing their further school education in Classes XI and XII.
• It provides financial aid every month to the selected students, so they can continue their higher education.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • The applicant should be the single girl child of her family.
  • The applicant should have secured 60% or more marks in the CBSE Class 10th Examination and be studying Class 11th and 12th in school (affiliated with CBSE).
  • The tuition fee should not be more than ₹1,500/- per month during the academic year. In the next two years, the total enhancement in tuition fees in such a school shall not be more than 10% of the tuition fee charged.
  • The applicant must be an Indian National.
  • The student must continue her school studies in Classes 11th and 12th.
  • Applicants who have the status of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) are also eligible to apply. The tuition fee for the NRIs has been decided maximum of Rs. 6,000/- per month.
• Benefits:
  • The scholarship offers a maximum of Rs. 500 per month.
  • The amount is payable for a maximum period of two year Payment will be made through ECS/NEFT.
  • The scholarship is eligible for renewal annually upon successful completion of class XI, contingent upon the scholar''s achievement of 50% or more aggregate marks in the exam determining promotion to the next class.
  • Renewal or continuation of the scholarship requires the prior approval of the Board if the scholar discontinues the current course of study or changes schools.
  • Satisfactory conduct and regular attendance are necessary for maintaining the scholarship.

Delhi High Court rebuked the RBI Ombudsman for passing an unreasoned order, observing that the Reserve Bank- Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021, under which the official is appointed, cannot be reduced to a "tantalising promise.”

Reserve Bank - Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021:

• It was launched on November 12, 2021.
• The Scheme simplifies the grievance redress process at RBI by enabling customers of Regulated Entities (REs) like banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Payment System Participants (PSPs), and Credit Information Companies to register their complaints at one centralised reference point.
• The objective of the RB-IOS is to provide cost-free redress of customer complaints involving ‘deficiency in service’ on the part of entities regulated by the RBI, if not resolved to the satisfaction of the customers or not replied to within a period of 30 days by the regulated entity.
• It integrates the erstwhile three Ombudsman schemes of RBI namely, (i) the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006; (ii) the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018; and (iii) the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019.
• In addition to integrating the three existing schemes, the Scheme also includes under its ambit additional REs, namely, Non-Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks with a deposit size of ₹50 crore and above and Credit Information Companies.
• The Scheme adopts the ‘One Nation, One Ombudsman’ approach by making the RBI’s Ombudsman mechanism jurisdiction neutral.
• Who is a Banking Ombudsman?
  • The Banking Ombudsman is a senior official appointed by the RBI as an appellate body where customers can escalate complaints if the financial institution fails to address the complaint within 30 days.
  • Even when customers are not satisfied with the resolution offered or explanation given by the financial institution, they can approach the ombudsman.
  • The Reserve Bank may appoint one or more of its officers as Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman to carry out the functions entrusted to them for a period not exceeding three years at a time.
• Features of RB-IOS:
  • The Scheme will have one portal, one email, and one address for customers to lodge their complaints.
  • It has done away with the jurisdiction of each ombudsman office.
  • The Scheme defines ‘deficiency in service’ as the ground for filing a complaint, with a specified list of exclusions. A deficiency of service is a shortcoming or an inadequacy in the financial service or some other service related to it that the RE is supposed to provide.
  • It will no longer be necessary for a complainant to identify under which scheme he/she should file a complaint with the Ombudsman.
  • A centralised Receipt and Processing Centre has been set up at RBI, Chandigarh, for receipt and initial processing of physical and email complaints in any language.
  • The responsibility of representing the RE and furnishing information in respect of complaints filed by customers against the RE would be that of the Principal Nodal Officer in the rank of general manager in a Public Sector Bank or equivalent.
  • The RE will not have the right to appeal in cases where an Award is issued by the ombudsman against it for not furnishing satisfactory and timely information/documents.
  • The Executive Director-in charge of Consumer Education and Protection Department of RBI would be the Appellate Authority under the Scheme.

Ghatiana sanguinolenta, a new crab species, found in Western Ghats

Ghatiana sanguinolenta

• It is a newly discovered species of freshwater crab.
• The crab gets its name from the Latin word ‘sanguinolenta’, meaning ‘red’ or ‘blood-coloured’.
• The crab’s blood-red colour and the outwardly curved article of the first part of the male ‘gonopod’ (genetalia) distinguish it from other species in the Ghatiana subgenus.
• It is currently known only from the type locality, which is situated in the Central Western Ghats of India.
• Features:
  • It is about 1.1 inches wide and about 0.7 inches long.
  • It has a “broad,” “strongly arched” body and small eyes.
  • Its body has a rich and relatively uniform burgundy red colouring, while the tips of its claws are a lighter cherry red.
  • It predominantly resides in water collected within tree trunks and exhibits heightened activity during the rainy season.
  • Their diet consists of insects and algae.
  • Male and female crabs share the same coloration.

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and Skill Council

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs

• It was registered as a society on September 12, 2008, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It is an institution established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) of the Government of India.
• It is an autonomous body that acts as a think-tank and a Centre of Excellence to support the growth of the corporate sector in India through an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach.
• It offers its capacity-building and advisory solutions through various Schools and Centres.
• The School of Business Environment at IICA works in the areas of Environmental-Social Governance (ESG), Corporate Social responsibility (CSR), and Business & Human Rights (BHR).

The significance of the recent MOU

• It will synergise the expertise of the SCPwD and the IICA with the aim of equipping the corporates in terms of knowledge, skills and competencies for building and managing a diverse workforce through the various entities created under the aegis of SCPwD and IICA.
• SCPwD, in collaboration with the IICA, will take the initiative through skill courses on “Qualification – Job Coach for Inclusivity (JCI)” programmes or otherwise in diverse areas.