About Black Carbon

• It is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
• It comprises a significant portion of particulate matter or PM, which is an air pollutant.
• It is a short-lived climate pollutant with a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the atmosphere.
• It is an important contributor to warming because it is very effective at absorbing light and heating its surroundings. It contributes to warming by converting incoming solar radiation to heat.
• It also influences cloud formation and impacts regional circulation and rainfall patterns.
• When deposited on ice and snow, black carbon and co-emitted particles reduce surface albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight) and heat the surface.
• Impacts:
  • It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks. Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
  • It has a warming impact on climate that is 460-1,500 times stronger than CO2.
• Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as cow dung or straw, in traditional cookstoves.

Q1) What Is Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (GGGW)?

It is a new greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring initiative of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). It will fill critical information gaps, providing an integrated, operational framework under all space-based and surface-based observing systems under one roof, along with modelling and data assimilation capabilities.

Source: The need to curb black carbon emissions | Explained

About Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)

• It is a law enacted by the Parliament in 1958 which gives the armed forces special powers and immunity to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. 
• When is it applied? It can be applied only after an area has been declared “disturbed” under section 2 of the Act.
• What is a Disturbed area? An area can be considered to be disturbed due to differences or disputes among different religious, racial, language, or regional groups or castes or communities.
• Who declares an area as disturbed?
  • The Central Government, or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory, can declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.
  • It can be invoked in places where “the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.
• The ‘special powers’ of armed forces under AFSPA are: 
  • They have the authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area, can use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law. 
  • If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant, enter or search a premises without a warrant, and ban the possession of firearms.
  • Any person arrested or taken into custody may be handed over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station along with a report detailing the circumstances that led to the arrest.
• These armed forces are immune from prosecution unless the Union Government provides sanction to the prosecuting agencies.
• Where is AFSPA in force now? Apart from Nagaland, the AFSPA is currently in force in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur except Imphal, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Q1) What is a warrant?

Warrants are legal documents issued by courts authorising the police, or other permitted authority, to make an arrest, seize property, conduct a search, or execute a judgment.

Source: Centre To Consider Revoking AFSPA, Pull Back Troops From J&K: Amit Shah

About Magentofossils

• These are the fossilised remains of magnetic particles created by magnetotactic bacteria, also known as magnetobacteria, and found preserved within the geological records.
• What are Magnetotactic bacteria?
  • These are mostly prokaryotic organisms that arrange themselves along the earth’s magnetic field.
  • These organisms were believed to follow the magnetic field to reach places that had optimal oxygen concentration.
  • These bacteria contained “novel structured particles, rich in iron” in small sacs that essentially worked as a compass.
  • These magnetotactic bacteria create tiny crystals made of the iron-rich minerals magnetite or greigite. The crystals help them navigate the changing oxygen levels in the water body they reside in.

What did the study find?

• The three-metre-long sediment core from the southwestern Bay of Bengal consisted mainly of “pale green silty clays,”.
• Researchers reported finding abundant benthic and planktic foraminifera — single-celled organisms with shells found near the sea bed and free-floating in water.
• The microscopy also confirmed the presence of ‘conventional’ magnetofossils along with giant ones. 
• At a depth of around 1,000-1,500 m, the Bay of Bengal has a distinctively low oxygen concentration.
• Analysis of the sediment sample confirmed fluctuations in the monsoon took place as the scientists found particles of magnetic minerals from the two distinct geological periods.
• The rivers Godavari, Mahanadi, Ganga-Brahmaputra, Cauvery, and Penner, which empty into the Bay of Bengal, played a crucial role in the formation of the magnetofossils.
• The nutrient-rich sediment carried in by these rivers provided a sufficient supply of reactive iron, which combined with the available organic carbon in the suboxic conditions of the Bay of Bengal to create a favourable environment for the growth of magnetotatic bacteria.
• The freshwater discharge from these rivers along with the other oceanographic processes, like eddy formation, rendered the oxygen content in these waters that isn’t usually found in other low-oxygen zones.
• The scientists also said the presence of the magnetofossils showed that the suboxic conditions of the Bay of Bengal persisted for a long time, allowing the bacteria to thrive.

Q1) What are Prokaryotes?

These are organisms whose cells lack a nucleus and other organelles. Prokaryotes are divided into two distinct groups: the bacteria and the archaea, which scientists believe have unique evolutionary lineages. Most prokaryotes are small, single-celled organisms that have a relatively simple structure.

Source: Goa scientists find 50,000-year-old magnetic fossils in Bay of Bengal

About Ex-parte Injunction

• It is a court order that is issued without hearing from the other party involved in the case. It is also known as a temporary restraining order.
• This type of injunction is only granted in emergency situations where there is a risk of irreparable harm if immediate action is not taken.
• The court will consider the evidence presented by the person requesting the injunction and decide whether to grant it or not.

What is an Injunction?

• In India, an injunction is a legal remedy available to parties who wish to prevent the other party from carrying out a certain action or behavior. 
• Injunctions can be granted in a variety of situations, such as in cases of intellectual property infringement, breach of contract, or defamation.
• An injunction is a powerful legal tool that acts as a court order requiring a party to do or cease doing specific actions. 
• It plays a crucial role in many legal battles, serving as a preventive measure to stop legal wrongs or as a remedy to enforce rights. 
• Injunctions are a discretionary remedy, and the court will consider various factors before deciding whether to grant an injunction. These factors may include the urgency of the matter, the balance of convenience, and the likelihood of success in the underlying lawsuit.
• Types of Injunctions in India:
  • Temporary Injunctions: They are granted to preserve the status quo until a final decision can be reached. These are usually granted at the start of a case and can last for the duration of the legal proceedings.
  • Permanent Injunctions: They are granted after the court has made a final determination in the case. They prohibit the defendant from continuing a particular action or behavior.
  • Mandatory Injunctions: They require the defendant to carry out a particular action. They are often granted in cases of breach of contract, where the plaintiff requires the defendant to fulfill their contractual obligations.
  • Prohibitory Injunctions: They prohibit the defendant from carrying out a particular action or behavior. They are often granted in cases of intellectual property infringement or defamation.
• In India, the law regarding injunction is provided under the Specific Relief Act, 1963 and the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. 
• What happens if the party violates the injunction? If a party violates the injunction, they may be held in contempt of court and could face penalties such as fines or imprisonment.

Q1) What is the Specific Relief Act, 1963?

It is a legal statute dealing with reliefs or recovery of the damages of the injured person. This Act was enacted in 1963 following the approach that when a person has withdrawn himself from the performance of a particular promise or a contract with respect to another person, the other person so aggrieved is entitled to a relief under Specific Relief Act, 1963. This Act is considered to be in one of the branches of the Indian Contracts Act, 1872.

Source: Pre-trial injunction against news publication may have severe ramifications for freedom of speech: SC 

About National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)

• It is an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
• It was established in 1994 in pursuance of the recommendations made by the National Policy of Education, 1986, and the Programme of Action (POA), 1992, which lay special emphasis on evaluating the quality of higher education in India.
• Head Quarter: Bengaluru.
• Function: Evaluation, assessment, and accreditation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country. 
• Assessment is a performance evaluation of an institution and its units and is accomplished through a process based on self-study and peer review using defined criteria.
• Accreditation refers to the certification given by NAAC, which is valid for a period of five years.
• The ratings of institutions range from A++ to C. If an institution is graded D, it means it is not accredited.
• Eligibility Criteria: HEIs with a record of at least two batches of students graduated or been in existence for six years, whichever is earlier, are eligible to apply for the process of Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) of NAAC, and fulfill all the specified conditions.
• At present, the Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.
• NAAC has identified seven criteria: i. Curricular aspects, ii. Teaching-learning and evaluation, iii. Research, Consultancy and extension, iv. Infrastructure and learning resources, v. Student support and progression, vi. Governance and leadership and vii. Innovative practices as the basis for its assessment procedure.
• Composition:
  • It functions through its General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC), comprising educational administrators, policymakers, and senior academicians from a cross-section of the Indian higher education system.
  • The Chairperson of the UGC is the President of the GC of the NAAC.
  • The Chairperson of the EC is an eminent academician nominated by the President of the GC (NAAC).
  • The Director is the academic and administrative head of NAAC and is the member-secretary of both the GC and the EC.
  • NAAC is advised by the advisory and consultative committees constituted from time to time.

Q1) What is the University Grants Commission (UGC)?

The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory body under the provisions of UGC Act, 1956. It is responsible for coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education. It provides recognition to universities in India, and disburses funds to such recognized universities and colleges. Nodal Ministry: Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education

Source: NAAC’S accreditation system needs change to be creditable

About Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre

• It is a tech-based solution involving multiple IT applications and platforms, which is designed to help in making informed decisions.
• It is housed in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
• Objectives: It will enable comprehensive monitoring of the farm sector by making available at one place geospatial information received from multiple sources, including remote sensing; plot-level data received through soil survey and weather data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) etc.
• Working: It uses state of the art technologies such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect and process large amounts of granular data — on temperatures, rainfall, wind speed, crop yields and production estimations — and presents it in graphical format.
• Features of this centre
  • It provides information on crop yields, production, drought situation, cropping patterns (geographic region-wise and year-wise) in map, timeline, and drill-down views.
  • Here one can also see the relevant trends (periodic and non-periodic), outliers, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and receive insights, alerts, and feedback on agriculture schemes, programmes, projects, and initiatives.
  • It uses platforms including the Krishi Decision Support System (DSS) to collect micro-level data, process it, and present the macro picture.
  • It can create an ecosystem based on which individual farmer-level advisories can be generated through apps like Kisan e-mitra, a chatbot developed for PM-Kisan beneficiaries.
  • The AI-/ machine learning-based system will identify a farmer through his/ her mobile number or Aadhaar, and match it with the farmer’s field information obtain through land records, historical crop sowing information from the crop registry, weather data from IMD, etc.
  • It will then generate a customised advisory in the local language of the farmer. For this, the system will use the Bhashini platform that allows translation into several Indian languages.

Q1) What Is Kisan e-Mitra?

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has developed Kisan e-Mitra (AI Chatbot) – Farmers’ digital assistance to address the queries related to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme (PM-KISAN) in their own languages. This initiative empowers farmers through technological interventions whereby existing technological and language barriers of the farmers are removed.

Source: ICCC: Integrated farm data dashboard for customised solutions

About ICGS Samudra Paheredar

• It is a specialised Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) of the Indian Coast Guard.
• It is the second PCV of India (the first being ICGS Samudra Prahari).
• It was indigenously built by ABG Shipyard, Surat.
• It was commissioned in 2012. 
• It is stationed on the East Coast of India in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• Features:
  • The ship is 94.10 metres long, draws 4,300 tons at maximum displacement, and is propelled by 3,000-kilowatt twin diesel engines, producing power that is further enhanced by twin shaft generators for a maximum speed of 21 knots. 
  • At economical speed, the ship has an endurance of 6,500 nautical miles and can stay at sea for 20 days.
  • The ship’s primary role is pollution response at sea and is equipped with the most advanced and sophisticated pollution response and control equipment for mitigating oil spills, which includes containment equipment like hi-sprint booms and river booms, recovery devices like skimmers, and side sweeping arms.
  • The ship is capable of unhindered oil-recovery operations, with a storage capacity of 502 kilolitres.
  • The special features include an integrated platform management system, a power management system, and a high-powered external firefighting system.
  • It is capable of operating one twin-engine ALH/ Chetak helicopter. 

Q1) What is the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)?

It is an armed force that protects India's maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. It was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India. It operates under the Ministry of Defence. The organization is headed by the Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG).

Source: EAM Jaishankar visits Indian Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar in Philippines

About Monuments of National Importance (MNI)

• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), 1958 (amended in 2010), provides for the declaration and conservation of ancient and historical monuments, and archaeological sites, and remains of national importance.
• Presently, there are 3,693 MNI in India. Uttar Pradesh (745 monuments/sites) have the highest number.
• Declaration:
  • The Central Government issues a notification of its intention to declare any ancient monument which archaeologically, historically, or architecturally qualifies to be of national importance by giving two months’ notice, inviting views/objections from the public.
  • After considering the views/objections received within the stipulated period, the Central Government may declare the ancient monument to be of national importance by publishing a notification in the official gazette.
• Once a monument or a site is declared to be MNI, their protection and upkeep is the responsibility of the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Ministry of Culture.
  • ASI undertakes the conservation, preservation, and maintenance of MNI throughout the country.
  • The One-hundred-meter radius of the monument is then considered a ‘prohibited area’ where there is a ban on construction activities. Further 200 meters (i.e., 100+200 meters) are considered a ‘regulated area’ where there are regulations on construction.
• The ASI also has the power to delist monuments it deems to "have ceased to be of national importance" under Section 35 of the Act. Once a monument is delisted, the ASI becomes no longer responsible for protecting these monuments.

Q1) What is the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)?

ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India is the premier organization for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides, it regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

Source: Why Centre won't 'protect' these 18 'lost' monuments

About Border Roads Organisation

• It is a road construction executive force in India that provides support to Indian Armed Forces.
• Establishment: It was formed on 7 May 1960 to secure India's borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and north-east states of the country.
• In order to ensure coordination and expeditious execution of projects, the Government of India set up the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) with the Prime Minister as Chairman of the Board and Defence Minister as Deputy Chairman.
• It develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring countries.
• This includes infrastructure operations in 19 states and three union territories (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.
• Officers and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of the BRO.
• It is also staffed by Officers and Troops drawn from the Indian Army's Corps of Engineers on extra regimental employment (on deputation).
• BRO is also included in the Order of Battle of the Armed Forces, ensuring their support at any time.
• Motto of the organization: Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (everything is achievable through hardwork)

Q1) What is the Project Beacon?

It was launched in the 1960s by the Border Roads Organisation and it is the oldest initiative of the organisation which is overseeing the development and maintenance of vital road infrastructure in key Kashmir regions.

Source: BRO connects 298-km long Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road to Ladakh region

About Meme Coins

• These are a unique category of cryptocurrencies, have gained significant popularity in the digital currency space. These coins trace their origin to the growth of meme culture on the internet.
• These are also known as ‘memetic tokens’ or ‘community coins’, meme coins are digital currencies created as a form of satire or humorous tribute to the internet culture.
• They often feature quirky names, logos, and branding that reference popular memes, jokes, or internet phenomena.
• Key characteristics
  • These are highly volatile in nature, subject to extreme changes in value over short periods, driven by the current buzz surrounding the token.
  • They typically have a massive or uncapped supply, leading to very low values per token.
  • These coins leverage blockchain technology, often utilising smart contracts on platforms like Ethereum and Solana.
  • Creating a meme coin is relatively easy compared to traditional cryptocurrencies.
  • With the proliferation of blockchain platforms and decentralized finance (DeFi) tools, virtually anyone can launch a meme coin with minimal technical expertise and resources.
  • These coins are primarily driven by speculation and community engagement, lacking fundamental value or unique use cases. Also, the prices of meme coins can experience rapid fluctuations, making them risky investments. 

Q1) What Is Cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Most cryptocurrencies exist on decentralized networks using blockchain technology—a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers.

Source: Explainer: What are meme coins and should you add them in your portfolio?