Recently, Supreme Court has observed that courts must apply principle of preponderance of probability, in place of a test of proof beyond reasonable doubt, in motor accident claim cases.

Preponderance of Probabilities

• It is a legal standard used in civil cases in various countries. 
• In broad terms, it means the degree of certainty of belief in the mind of a tribunal or the Court by which it is convinced that the "existence of a fact is more-probable than its non-existence". 
• While proof on “preponderance of probabilities” followed in civil cases provides a lower standard of proof, “proof beyond reasonable doubt” followed in criminal cases provides a higher standard of proof bordering on certainty.

Recently, a redesigned statue of Lady Justice was unveiled by the Supreme Court of India. 

• Traditional statue, first constructed in 1872 in Calcutta High Court, had its origin in Greek and Roman iconography. 

About New Lady Justice Statue

• Unimpeded Vision: Unlike traditional blindfolded statue that signified impartiality of vision, the new one represents that Law is not blind and sees everyone equally.
• Constitution instead of Sword: Sword - represents the punitive power of law, replaced by Constitution- signifies that justice in India is grounded in constitutional principles rather than violence or coercion.
• Indian Attire: Statue depicts wearing a saree, moving away from Western attire.  
• Retains scales of justice in the right hand: Symbolizing the balance and fairness in Justice. 

149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly concluded recently.

About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

• About: Global organization of national parliaments (Began in 1889).
• Objective: Facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empower parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world. 
• Members: 180 Members (Including India) and 15 Associate Members.
• HQ: Geneva, Switzerland

A report titled ‘On Track or Off Course? Assessing Progress Toward the 30x30 Target in the Ocean’ showed that the world will not achieve pledges of 30x30 due to blue washing. 

• 30x30 target is a global initiative to protect 30% of the world's land and ocean by 2030.

About Blue washing

• It is a situation where marine areas are labelled as protected but do not truly safeguard marine life.
• Report states that 8.3% of ocean is designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), however, only 2.8 % of oceans are effectively protected. 

Note: Another bluewashing term is used in corporate governance, which is like greenwashing but focused more on social and economic responsibility rather than the environment.

Farmers in Idukki, Kerala are experiencing the menace of locust infestation. 

• Previously reported in 2020 in Western India majorly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

About Locusts

• About: 
  • Short-horned insects similar to grasshoppers with highly migratory habits. 
  • Capable of forming swarms varying less than 1 square kilometer to several hundred square kilometers. 
  • Exhibit voracious feeding behavior causing great devastation to natural and cultivated vegetation leading to food and fodder emergency. 
• Species: Four species including Desert, Migratory, Bombay, and Tree locust are found in India. 
• Preventive Steps: 
  • Locust Warning Organizations under Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 
  • Use of Pesticide like Malathion

Recently, European Space Agency has launched the Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS) programme.

About Moonlight Programme

• Objective: To provide services for >400 moon missions planned by space agencies and private companies over the next two decades.
• It will be a constellation of five lunar satellites.
• Benefits: Enable precise, autonomous landings and surface mobility, facilitate high-speed communication and data transfer between Earth and Moon, offer coverage at the Moon’s South Pole, etc.
• Initial services are expected to begin by the end of 2028, and the system is to be fully operational by 2030.

Russia recently tested readiness of Yars nuclear missile unit. 

About Yars Missile

• It is a modified version of the Topol-M missile system and can be deployed in silos or mounted on mobile launchers.
• It is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with range upto 11,000 km.
  • Ballistic missiles are rocket propelled self-guided weapons which follow a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target.
• It is equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) technology which enables it to deliver multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of targeting different objectives.

Recently, TRAI issued a consultation paper on ‘Regulatory Framework for Ground-based Broadcasting’.

About Ground-based Broadcasting (GBB)

• Also known as terrestrial broadcasting, it utilizes a variety of advanced technologies such as cloudbased platforms, broadband networks, fibre technology, etc., to transmit and distribute their content efficiently to Distribution Platform Operators.
  • Conventional broadcasting requires uplinking and downlinking of television channels through satellite.
• Existing guidelines from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting makes it mandatory for broadcasters to use satellite medium for uplinking and downlinking of channels.