Supreme Court has asserted that the Central Information Commission has powers to constitute benches & frame regulations.

About CIC

• Genesis: Statutory body under Right to Information Act, 2005 to ensure greater access to information to Indian citizens.
• Functions: To receive and inquire into complaints from any citizen regarding RTI act, etc.
• Members: Commission consists of one chief Information commissioner(CIC) and information commissioner(IC) (not exceeding 10)
• Appointment: CICs And ICs are appointed by President on recommendation of a committee consisting of
  • PM (Chairperson of committee)
  • Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
  • Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM.
• Tenure: CICs and ICs shall hold office for a period of three years

Union Home Minister inaugurated PM Colleges of Excellence in Madhya Pradesh (MP).

• MP is the first state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

About PM Colleges of Excellence

• These colleges are upgraded according to the parameters fixed in line with NEP.
• Flexibility in subject selection based on one’s interests in multiple disciplines without barriers of streams, this approach is referred as No compartmental education.
• Focus on diverse subjects like Biotechnology, Computer Science, Arts and Data Analytics etc. 

Over the last few years, bats made of Kashmiri willow have been attracting global attention.

About Kashmir Willow (Salix Alba)

• Tree Type: Deciduous tree which can grow up to 30 meters. 
• Distribution: Mainly found in the Kashmir region of India
• In Kashmir, willow trees were planted on a large scale by the British. 
• Key Features 
  • Willows exhibit higher productivity due to their highest capacity to convert solar radiation into chemical energy
  • Willows have extensive fibrous root system
  • Formation of symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi
• Uses: Cricket bat industry, package case industry, ply board industry, paper and pulp industry, etc.

Recently, study has highlighted that Wolbachia bacteria had manipulated the wasp Encarsia formosa to entirely get rid of its males.

• E. formosa wasps helps in controlling population of whiteflies, a major agricultural pest.

About Wolbachia Bacteria

• Commonly found in nematodes and arthropods, especially insects
• In insects, these are present in eggs but they are absent in the sperm.  Due to this, females can transmit them to their offspring whereas males can’t. 
  • As a result, Wolbachia have evolved ways to manipulate their insect hosts to produce more female than male progeny.
  • Tra gene of Wolbachia play key role in showing this feature.
• Potential Application:
  • Mosquitoes with Wolbachia can be used to reduce numbers of target mosquito species, for example, Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.

Recently, the Bihar government demanded a Minimum Support Price for makhana, the popped kernel of foxnut or gorgon nut.

About Makhana

• Tropical and subtropical aquatic crop: Grown in stagnant perennial water bodies like ponds, land depressions, oxbow lakes, etc. Its seed is also called as Black Diamond.
• Climatic Conditions: 
  • Temperature: 20 - 35 degree Celsius, 
  • Relative humidity 50% to 90% 
  • Annual rainfall 100 cm - 250 cm.
• Region: Native of South-East Asia and China & distributed to almost every part of world.
  • India is largest producer in the world (largest producing state is Bihar)
• Nutritional Benefits: Low fat content, high contents of carbohydrates, protein (15 - 20%) and minerals.

Centre has exempted the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) from the 18% GST. 

About DFCCIL

• DFCCIL is a special purpose vehicle of Indian Railways. 
• It was incorporated in 2006 under Indian Companies Act 1956. 
• Its key role: 
  • To undertake planning & development, mobilization of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs).
  • It is also expected to decongest road network & promote shifting of freight transport to more efficient rail transport

Nipah monoclonal antibody trials may begin in India in 2025.

About Monoclonal Antibodies:

• Monoclonal antibodies (moAbs or mAbs) are lab-made proteins mimicking natural antibodies. 
  • Antibodies are parts of the body’s immune system that seeks out antigens (foreign materials) and destroy them.
• Applications:
  • Diagnostics (e.g., ELISA),
  • Treating diseases (cancer, infections, autoimmune disorders, etc.) 
  • Analyzing cell types in blood/tissue (with the use of fluorescent tags).

Prime Minister inaugurates INS Towers in Mumbai.

About INS

• Genesis: Its origin can be traced back to 1927. INS is established as Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (IENS) in 1939. 
  • Mr. Arthur Moore of the Statesman was the first president of INS.
• Key objective: To act as a central organization of the Press of India and of any other country in Asia, which desires to associate itself with the Society.
• Members: Owners, proprietors and publishers of print media
• Key role: 
  • An independent body authenticating circulation figures of newspapers and periodicals in India. 
  • Protecting and promoting the freedom of press in India