Ministry of Home Affairs inaugurated the FTI-TTP at  Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. 

About FTI-TTP

• This facility will be launched at 21 major airports in the country.
•  It will provide faster, smoother and safer immigration clearance for international travellers.
• The program will run on e-gates or automated border gates which will minimise human intervention in the immigration clearance process. 
• In the first phase, Indian citizens and OCI cardholders will be covered and in the second phase, foreign travellers will be covered.

Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya temple in Assam has started. 

• The festival commemorates the yearly menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya. 

Kamakhya temple

• Located on the Nilachal hills (or Kamagiri). 
• Reconstructed in mid 16th century by the Koch dynasty (original temple was destroyed by Kala Pahar). 
• It is one of the 52 Shakti shrines (believed to be the place where the reproductive organ of Goddess Sati settled).  
  • Also a centre of Tantrik worship.
• Here the beliefs and practices of the Aryan and non-Aryan communities converge.

Several scholars have been working to restore prominence of Srikakulam’s forgotten heritage (located in Andhra Pradesh). 

About Srikakulam

• History:
  • Its former name was Chicacole, used by British colonial regime. 
  • It was once part of Kalinga Dynasty. 
    • Later it came under Gajapati Kingdom during the medieval period, followed by Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.
    • It was also part of Kakatiya and Vijayanagara Empires. 
• Cultural sites: 
  • Buddhist sites: Salihundam (Buddhism spread to Sumatra and other eastern countries from here) and Danthapuri. 
  • Jainism sites: Tangamayyakonda and Rottavalasa villages.
  • Hindu temples: Srimukhalingam, Srikurmam and Arasavilli. 
  • Neolithic era caves: Nandi Hills.

Enforcement Directorate contested a bail order, arguing that it didn't properly apply the 'twin test' required under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002.

About Twin test

• Section 45 of PMLA, which deals with bail, states that where the Public Prosecutor opposes the bail application, a twin test must be applied by the court.
• Conditions in twin tests:
  • There are reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of such offence.
  • That the accused is not likely to commit any offence while on bail.
• It was upheld by Supreme Court in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case (2022).

Russia approves the draft Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) with India.

About RELOS

• It would enable the militaries of both countries to access logistics and support facilities at each other’s bases and ports.
  • It would facilitate the replenishment of fuel, rations, spare parts and berthing for troops, warships and aircraft while operating away from home ports and bases during the war and peacetime missions. 
• Other countries with which India has similar agreements are the US, Japan, Australia, France, Singapore and South Korea. 

Recently, the 53rd GST Council meeting was concluded. 

About GST Council 

• Genesis: Established as a Constitutional Body under Article 279 (A) of the Constitution through101 Constitutional Amendment Act of 2016.
• Constituted by: President
• Chairperson: Union Finance Minister
• Members: 
  • Union Minister of State (in-charge of Revenue of finance)
  • Minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State Government
• Mandate: Make recommendations to the Union and the States on important issues related to GST. 
• Decision making: By voting

A first-of-its-kind skin bank has been opened by the Army Hospital in New Delhi.

• Skin bank has as its main functions the harvesting, processing, preservation, and supply of fine human skin allografts for burn treatment centers and polytrauma.
• This landmark initiative aims to revolutionise the treatment of severe burn injuries and other skin-related conditions among armed forces service members and their families.
• It will serve as a Centralised hub for the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of skin grafts.

Cloudburst triggers landslips and flood-like situation in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

About Cloudburst

• A cloudburst is an intense, localized rainfall event. 
• According to India Meteorological Department, rainfall over 100 mm per hour occurring in a small geographical area is referred to as cloudburst.
• In India, cloudbursts occur during monsoon season over orographically dominant regions like Himalayan region, northeastern states and Western Ghats. 
• Mountainous regions are more prone to cloud bursts due to orography; however, cloudbursts also occur on plains.