THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM (SIT)
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Black Money was constituted
in May 2014 by the Government of India, following a Supreme Court
directive, to investigate unaccounted wealth stashed offshore and
combat tax evasion. The SIT reports directly to the Supreme Court
and coordinates across multiple enforcement agencies
Foreign Exchange Transactions Electronic Reporting System
(FET–ERS):––
Export Outstanding Data:––
Monitoring of Advance Remittances against Imports:––
THE AWAMI ACTION COMMITTEE
The Awami Action Committee most commonly refers to the Jammu
Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a prominent
grassroots civil-society coalition in Pakistan-administered Azad
Kashmir that has led massive regional strikes and protests over
economic grievances, political autonomy, and representation
THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST (WCT) AND THE
FISHING CAT PROJECT
The Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and The Fishing Cat Project
(TFCP) collaborate on vital ecological research and conservation in
India. Their joint initiatives—such as population distribution mapping
in the Brahmaputra floodplains—protect vulnerable wetland species
and promote human-wildlife coexistence in human-dominated
landscapes
THE GREATER HOG BADGER
Kaziranga releases first scientific report on greater hog badger
The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has released the
first scientific assessment report on the greater hog badger
(Arctonyx collaris
nocturnal burrower across diverse habitats reflects the strength
of Kaziranga’s ecosystems,
Globally, there are three extant species of this mammal—the
greater hog badger, the northern hog badger (Arctonyx
albogularis), and the Sumatran hog badger (Arctonyx hoevenii).
The first two are found in India.
contributes to ecosystem function as a highly fossorial mammal
(a term for animals adapted for digging, burrowing, or living
primarily underground)
The greater hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) is a very large
terrestrial mustelid native to Southeast Asia. It is listed as
Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The greater hog badger is considered fairly common in Thailand
and most of mainland Southeast Asia, living in tropical
evergreen forests and grasslands. They are also to be found in
the Terai of the Indian subcontinent
The UNIVAC I
The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer I) was the first general-
purpose electronic digital computer produced for commercial use in
the United States. Designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, it
debuted in 1951 and was famously used to predict the 1952 U.S.
presidential election
INJECTABLE HYDROGEL
the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have
developed a patented, injectable hydrogel made from silk cocoons
and seaweed that could transform the treatment of fibrosis and
chronic degenerative conditions.
The next phase of development will include advanced preclinical
testing in disease models and patient-derived organoids,
optimisation of dosage and release kinetics, long-term safety studies,
manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory planning for translational
use.
MINDANAO ISLAND
The 7.8-magnitude tremor in southern Mindanao island
Mindanao is the second-largest and southernmost island in the
Philippines. Known as the “Land of Promise”
THE DOCTRINE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS
The doctrine of separation of powers divides government
responsibilities into three distinct branches—legislative, executive,
and judicial—to prevent the concentration of power. Each branch
operates with defined, independent powers and duties, keeping one
from encroaching upon or dominating the others to preserve
individual liberty.
STATEMENT
Schedule VII to the Constitution prohibits the Parliament from
passing laws related to levy of taxes on agricultural income.
INVASIVE PLANTS
Invasive plants are non-native species that spread aggressively in a
new ecosystem. Because they lack natural predators and controls
from their original habitats, they outcompete and displace native
flora, causing severe ecological or economic damage.
THE RUPEE’S MOVEMENT AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR
“The rupee’s movement against the U.S. dollar is shaped by several
factors, including global economic uncertainties, U.S. Federal
Reserve policy decisions, fluctuations in major international
currencies, and foreign capital inflows and outflows.’
THE UNIFORM BAN ON FISHING FOR 61 DAYS
The uniform ban on fishing for 61 days is implemented annually
by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India beyond territorial
waters on both the coasts for 61 days (i.e., 15th April to 14th
June in the East Coast, and 1st June to 31st July in the West
Coast) based on the recommendations of the Technical
Committee and in consultation with the coastal States/Union
Territories (UTs).
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of
India, the livelihood and nutritional support for socio-
economically backward active traditional fishers is provided
during the fishing ban/lean period.
the Department of Fisheries, GoI during 2018-19 has created
the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development
Fund (FIDF)