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1. The 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill proposes to enhance the powers of tribal autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, including the establishment of Village and Municipal Councils in addition to existing District and Regional Councils. Key changes include:
The Bill, introduced in 2019, is pending after committee review. The Sixth Schedule ensures tribal governance and protection of rights through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Northeast India, which handle local administration and legislation on tribal issues.
2. A recent Nature study found that the Gulf Stream was much stronger during the last ice age (about 20,000 years ago), driven by more intense winds in the subtropical North Atlantic. This suggests the Gulf Stream is sensitive to wind changes, which could impact future climates if these winds weaken due to climate change.
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3. A recent study uncovered magnetofossils—fossilized magnetic particles from magnetotactic bacteria—in rock varnish layers in Ladakh. Rock varnish, a dark coating found on stable rock surfaces in arid regions, revealed high levels of oxidized manganese and organic compounds, indicating that the magnetic minerals are likely of biotic origin. This finding is significant for astrobiology as it demonstrates how life can thrive in extreme environments, providing valuable insights for future Mars missions and the search for extraterrestrial life. Magnetofossils are remnants of magnetotactic bacteria, which use magnetic minerals to navigate. The discovery enhances our understanding of potential biosignatures on other planets.
4. The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Towers in Mumbai, which will serve as the central hub for the newspaper industry. The INS, originally established in 1927 as the India, Burma & Ceylon Newspapers’ London Committee, was renamed the Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (IENS) in 1935 and headquartered in London. It functioned as the official representative body for newspapers, magazines, and journals across India, Burma, Ceylon, and other Asian countries.
5. Typhoon Gaemi has recently caused widespread destruction and fatalities across Eastern China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Making landfall in Taiwan as the strongest typhoon in eight years, it led to severe flooding in Taichung, the island's second-largest city. In the Philippines, Gaemi intensified seasonal rains, resulting in floods and landslides. In China, the typhoon caused severe flooding in Zhejiang province and prompted the highest rainstorm warning in Wenzhou city. Typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones are all types of tropical cyclones—intense storms originating over warm tropical oceans with winds exceeding 119 km/hr and heavy rains. They rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and are known by different names depending on their location: typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean, hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, and tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean region.
6. The Union Budget 2024-25 introduced the National Pension Scheme (NPS) Vatsalya, a pioneering pension scheme designed for minors. This initiative allows parents or guardians to open NPS accounts for their children, fostering early financial discipline. The scheme is contributory, with contributions made by parents or guardians, and transitions into a regular NPS account when the child turns 18, encouraging ongoing saving habits. The NPS, a voluntary pension system for residents and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) aged 18 to 70, is a market-linked scheme that helps citizens save systematically for retirement while offering tax benefits.