Prelims Mantra (Day-43)

Indian Polity & Governance

What has the SC ruled on the T.N. Governor?

• • Supreme Court declared Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s prolonged refusal to give his assent to 10 Bills as illegal and erroneous in law.
  • Invoking its inherent powers under Article 142 (doing complete justice) of Constitution, court deemed the 10 pending Bills to have received assent.
  • Article 200 (Assent to Bills):
  • When a Bill has been passed by Legislature of State, it shall be presented to Governor and Governor shall declare either that he assents to Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves Bill for consideration of President.
  • Provided that Governor may, as soon as possible after the presentation to him of Bill for assent, return Bill if it is not a Money Bill together with a message requesting that the House or Houses will reconsider Bill or any specified provisions thereof and, in particular, will consider desirability of introducing any such amendments as he may recommend in his message and, when a Bill is so returned, House or Houses shall reconsider Bill accordingly, and if the Bill is passed again by House or Houses with or without amendment and presented to Governor for assent, Governor shall not withhold assent therefrom.
  • Provided further that Governor shall not assent to, but shall reserve for consideration of President, any Bill which in opinion of Governor would, if it became law, so derogate from powers of High Court as to endanger position which that Court is by this Constitution designed to fill.

SC Ruling:

• • Justice Pardiwala, who authored the judgment, clarified that the Governor’s option to “withhold assent” cannot be equated with an unqualified power to reject or veto legislation duly enacted by State legislature.
  • Further limiting the discretionary powers of Governor, the court ruled that a Bill cannot be reserved for the President’s consideration once it has been returned to the State legislature, reconsidered and resubmitted for assent. The only exception is if Bill, in its second iteration, is materially different from original version.
  • It also clarified that such reservation cannot be based on “personal dissatisfaction” or “political expediency” and is only permissible in instances where there is a grave threat to democratic principles.
  • Judges have set a three-month deadline for President to decide whether to assent to Bills referred by Governor.
  • A recommendation has also been made to the President to seek Supreme Court’s advice on such Bills, in line with the procedure outlined in Article 143 of Constitution, as a measure of prudence.

What are the timelines prescribed?

• • It clarified that when Governor, acting on the Cabinet’s advice, opts to withhold assent or reserve a Bill for the President’s consideration, such action must be taken forthwith and no later than one month.
  • If Governor withholds assent contrary to ministerial advice, Bill must be returned within three months, accompanied by a message detailing rationale for decision.
  • If Governor reserves a Bill for President against the Cabinet’s recommendation, this must also be done within three months.
  • If Bill is re-passed by State legislature after reconsideration, Governor is required to grant assent within one month.
  • However, the ruling noted that any departure from these timelines may be condoned if there are “reasonable grounds”.

Kerala to be declared first State to achieve total digital literacy:

• • Local Self-Government Department’s “Digi Kerala” digital literacy programme, making Kerala the first State to achieve total digital literacy.

Ecology & Environment

IMO Net-zero Framework:

• • India and 62 other countries voted in favour of world’s first-ever global carbon tax imposed on the shipping industry by shipping agency of the United Nations i.e.  International Maritime Organization (IMO).
  • It aims to reduce maritime greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner technologies.
  • This is the first time global carbon tax has been imposed on an entire industry. Commercial shipping is responsible for 3% of global emissions and excluded from the Paris Agreement.
  • The measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.
  • These measures, set to be formally adopted in October 2025 before entry into force in 2027, will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships over 5,000 gross tonnages, which emit 85% of the total CO2 emissions from international shipping.
  • Starting 2028, ships will have to shift to lower emission fuels or pay a fee for the pollution they generate.
  • The tax could generate up to $40 billion by 2030.
  • IMO Net-Zero Fund will be established to collect pricing contributions from emissions. These revenues will then be disbursed to:
  • Reward low-emission ships;
  • Support innovation, research, infrastructure and just transition initiatives in developing countries;
  • Fund training, technology transfer and capacity building to support the IMO GHG Strategy; and
  • Mitigate negative impacts on vulnerable States, such as Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
  • IMO Net-Zero Framework will be included in a new Chapter 5 of Annex VI (Prevention of air pollution from ships) to International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Caspian Sea decline threatens endangered seals:

• • Water levels in Caspian Sea are reducing as hotter temperatures cause more water to evaporate than is flowing in.

Declining water levels will leave Caspian seals with significantly reduced breeding habitat, restrict access to

• • spawning rivers for sturgeons, and lead to the loss of coastal lagoons.

 

Caspian seal, (Pusa caspica):

• • • Species of small earless seals that inhabits the waters, islands, and coastal areas of the Caspian Sea.
    • It is the only mammal that lives in the Caspian Sea, which is a saltwater lake.
    • Males have conspicuous dark spots throughout their coat (including their undersides), whereas females have lighter spots that are limited to the dorsal side.
    • Unlike Baikal seals, which dive as deep as 400 meters in search of food, Caspian seals typically dive only as deep as 50 meters.
    • IUCN Status – endangered

BatEchoMon:

• • Short for ‘Bat Echolocation Monitoring,’ it is an autonomous system capable of detecting and analysing bat calls in real-time.
  • It is India’s first automated bat monitoring system, developed by researchers at the Long-Term Urban Ecological Observatory in the School of Environment and Sustainability at Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru.

Geography/Places in the news

Ramgarh lake, Jaipur:

• • Work has started for revival of historic Ramgarh lake near Jaipur, which was once a water supply lifeline for Rajasthan’s capital city.
  • Situated 32 km from city, it has been dry since 2000 as numerous encroachments and obstructions in catchment area have halted the free flow of water to Ramgarh dam.
  • Erstwhile Jaipur ruler Sawai Ram Singh II had built lake in 1876 to provide relief to inhabitants of region.
  • The rowing events of 1982 Asian Games were held on the Ramgarh lake.
  • The water in the revived lake will be brought from Parvati-Kali Sindh Chambal link project.
  • The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project has been integrated with Parvati Kali Sindh-Chambal link project.

Study finds a shift in peak time of maximum rainfall:

• • The study found that west-central India experienced a slight increase in rainfall during last decade (2011–2020) compared to previous decade (2001–2010). This appears to be linked to increased vegetation. Along with an increase in vegetation cover, there has been a significant increase in soil moisture content over west-central India.
  • Indo-Gangetic Plain and southern most parts of country had also experienced slightly increased rainfall per day.
  • In contrast, eastern region received slightly less rainfall of about 1 mm per day during the period 2011-2020.
  • In general, peak time of maximum rainfall in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal is in the morning, while in the case of inland, the peak time of maximum rainfall is in the afternoon.
  • The study found that compared with the previous decade, the peak time of maximum rainfall in the Indo-Gangetic Plain has advanced by two-four hours, while in the west-central region, the peak time of maximum rainfall has been delayed by one-two hours.
  • In the case of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, aerosol loading is high compared with the west-central region. More aerosol loading leads to early peaking of rainfall.

Morag axis:

• • Israel takes control of key corridor in southern Gaza.
  • It is corridor mainly of agricultural land located between Khan Younis and Rafah, stretching from east to west across the Gaza Strip.
  • It was previously designated as a “humanitarian zone”.

History, Art & Culture

Pilicode Rayaramangalam temple:

• • In a landmark move, devotees from all communities entered the nalambalam — the sacred inner quarter — of the centuries-old Pilicode Rayaramangalam temple in Kasaragod district of Kerala for the first time, ending restrictions based on caste.

Vishu:

• • Also known as, Malayalam New Year, it is a significant Hindu Spring festival observed in southern India, particularly in Kerala and neighbouring territories of Tamil Nadu.
  • According to Indian astrology, the festival symbolises new beginnings and the Sun’s transition to the Mesha Rashi, which is why this festival is observed on the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam.
  • It marks the traditional spring equinox when day and night are equal – the word Vishu in Sanskrit means equal.
  • According to mythological legends, Vishu is the day when Lord Krishna killed a demon called Narakasura, signifying good over evil and marking victory.
  • The most crucial ritual of the Vishu festival is Vishukkani – i.e., seeing the most auspicious object at dawn on the day of Vishu, which is believed to bring happiness and good fortune throughout the year and Lord Vishnu’s blessings.
  • For Vishu, a display is created called the Vishukanni, which consists of flowers, vegetables, fruits, a traditional lamp, metal mirrors, coins, rice, holy text and other items placed inside a metal vessel called Uruli.

Harvest Festivals	States
Poila/Pohela Boishakh	Bengali New Year (West Bengal, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam)
Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu	Assamese New Year
Vishu	Malayalam New Year (Kerala & Tamil Nadu)
Puthandu Pirapu	Tamil New Year

Science & Technology

Type 5 Diabetes – malnutrition-induced diabetes:

• • While Type 2 diabetes, where the global numbers are largest, can arise out of unregulated intake of food, and consequently, excess weight, Type 5 diabetes is at the polar end of the weight and nutrition spectrum, understood to be associated with undernutrition and even low weight.
  • It is estimated that there are about 25 million people living with Type 5 diabetes globally.

Fruit fly larvae can sense electric fields:

• • Researchers have found that besides sharks, bees and platypus, even fruit fly larvae can sense electric fields and navigate toward the negative electric potential using a small set of sensory neurons in their head.

Mk-II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system:

• • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the successful trial of Indigenously designed and developed Mk-II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system “mastering the technology of disabling missiles, drones and small er projectiles”.
  • The trial was carried at National Open-Air Range, Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.

Once detected by a radar or by its inbuilt Electro Optic (EO) system, laser-DEW can engage tar gets at the speed of light and use an intense laser beam to cut through the target, leading to structural failure or more impactful results if the warhead is targeted

 

PRACTICE MCQs

 

Q1. Consider the following pairs:

1. 1. Pohela Boishakh – Bengalee New Year
   2. Bohag Bihu – Assamese New Year
   3. Vishu – Tamil New Year
   4. Puthandu Pirapu – Malayalam New Year

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. Only three

D. All four

Answer: B

Q2.  Consider the following statements about IMO Net-zero Framework:

1. 1. It is the first time global carbon tax has been imposed on an entire industry.
   2. IMO Net-Zero Fund will be established to collect pricing contributions from emissions.
   3. It will be included in a new Chapter 5 of Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Q3.   Which of the following statements is incorrect about recent Supreme Court ruling regarding Governor’s Assent to the State Bills?

A. When Governor, acting on the Cabinet’s advice, opts to withhold assent or reserve a Bill for the President’s consideration, such action must be taken forthwith and no later than one month.

B. If Governor withholds assent contrary to ministerial advice, Bill must be returned within three months, accompanied by a message detailing rationale for decision.

C. If Governor reserves a Bill for President against the Cabinet’s recommendation, this must be done within three months.

D. If Bill is re-passed by State legislature after reconsideration, Governor is required to grant assent within three months.

Answer:  D

Q4.  Type 5 Diabetes, sometimes mentioned in the news is –

A. Lifestyle related diabetes.

B. Genetically inherited diabetes.

C. Malnutrition induced diabetes.

D. Drug resistant diabetes.

Answer: C

Q5. Morag axis/ corridor, recently seen in the news, is located in?

A. Gaza strip

B. Lebanon

C. Syria

D. Mexico

Answer: A

 

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