• Former chairperson of Infosys Foundation Sudha Murty was nominated to Rajya Sabha.

• Rajya Sabha Nomination
  • Under Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, the subject “Nominations to the Rajya Sabha” is allocated to Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Under Article 80 (3) of Constitution, 12 members are nominated by President having special knowledge or practical experience in areas like literature, science, art, and social service.
  • In Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia Vs. Union of India through its Secretary & Ors. 2012, Delhi High Court upheld nomination of Sachin Tendulkar under Article 80(3).

• Centre has extended RoDTEP scheme to
  • Advance Authorisation Holders: Refers to manufacturer exporters or merchant exporters tied to supporting manufacturer).
  • Special Economic Zones Units: Designated duty-free enclave to be treated as a territory outside the customs territory of India (aims to promote export).
  • Export Oriented Units: Defined under Foreign Trade Policy as units undertaking to export their entire production of goods and services (some exception exist)
• Above 3 sectors constitute approximately 25% of India’s exports.
• RoDTEP was launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2021 for refunding various embedded taxes and duties on exported products.

• Ministry of Cooperation inaugurated the NCD.

• About NCD: 
  • It provides all information pertaining to Cooperative sector like number of co-operatives in states/UTs and in different sectors. 
    • There are more than 8 lakh registered Cooperatives in the country, with over 30 crore citizens connected to them.
  • Benefits: 
    • A Comprehensive, Authentic, and Updated data repository.
    • Helping in expansion of cooperative sector by identifying gaps in terms of geographical spread of Cooperative Societies.
    • Facilitate planning, policy-making & implementation for all stakeholders.

• Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd (MPVL), the sole manufacturer of indelible ink, received its largest order yet from Election Commission for 26.55 lakh vials of marker.
• Under rule 49K of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 every elector shall allow his left forefinger to be inspected by Presiding officer or Polling Officer and an Indelible ink mark to be put on it.
• Once applied, Purple-coloured ink cannot be removed by any chemical, detergent, soap or oil for several months.
• Ink contains silver nitrate, which on reaction with nail and on exposure to light gets darker.

• India has been bestowed with 'Measles and Rubella Champion Award’ by MR Partnership.
  • MR Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including American Red Cross, World Health Organisation (WHO) etc.
• Measles is a highly contagious virus, spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing.
• Rubella (German Measles) is acute, contagious viral infection transmitted by airborne droplets when infected people sneeze or cough. 
  • Humans are the only known host.

• MR are vaccine preventable diseases. MR Vaccine is part of India’s Universal Immunization Programme since 2017.

• International Commission on Stratigraphy rejected proposal to declare the start of the Anthropocene Epoch in geologic time.
• Anthropocene Epoch is an unofficial unit of geologic time. 
  • It describes the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on Earth’s climate and ecosystems, particularly since industrialization.
• Current epoch is called the Holocene which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age.
  • Currently, on geological time scale, we are living in the Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic Era, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch, and the Meghalayan Age.

• Taiwan urged China not to change the status quo around waters near Kinmen islands.
• Kinmen is the principal island of a group of 12 Kinmen Islands. 
  • It is under the jurisdiction of Taiwan and is located in the Taiwan Strait at the mouth of mainland China. 
  • The Island is hilly, with both tableland and rocky areas and the climate is monsoonal subtropical.
  • It was the site of the battle between Communist and Nationalist parties when the latter withdrew from the mainland in 1949.

• The 5th edition of annual Indo-Japan military exercise "Dharma Guardian" (held in Japan and India alternatively) concluded in Rajasthan. 

Sambhudhan Phonglo (1850-1883)

• Government paid tribute to the Janjatiya Nayak Sambhudhan Phonglo. 
• He was an Indian freedom fighter from Longkhor in North Cachar Hills of Assam's present-day Dima Hasao District. 

• Key Contributions 
  • His concern over British annexation of Cachar in 1832, led him to revolt against the regime.
  • He understood the Britisher's 'divide and rule' policy and organized the Damasi youth to deal with it. 
  • He organized his army and attacked the British army led by Major Boyad and killed him.

• Values: Courage, leadership, altruism, etc.