Ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) has designated snakebite cases and deaths as a 'notifiable disease'.

• Earlier, Ministry launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) to halve snakebite-related deaths and disabilities by 2030

What are notifiable diseases?

• It is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities. 
  • Responsibility of notifying any disease and the implementation lies with the state government.
  • The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease, and provides early warning of possible outbreaks.
• Other notified diseases: AIDS, hepatitis, dengue, etc. 

WHO’s International Health Regulations, require disease reporting to the WHO. 

Centre approves loans for development of Ramappa Circuit under the SASCI scheme.

About Ramappa Temple

• It is an UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
• Also known as Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple, it is located in Telangana.
• It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiya period (1123–1323 CE) under rulers Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra.
• The temple is constructed with sandstone, featuring decorated beams and pillars made of carved granite and dolerite.
• It has a distinctive, pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight, porous ‘floating bricks,’ which reduces the weight of the roof.
• Kakatiyas adopted Chalukyan Style of Vesara Architecture. 

India has been re-elected to U.N. Peacebuilding Commission for 2025–2026.

About U.N. Peacebuilding Commission

• Genesis: Established in 2005, it is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries.
• Composition: 31 Member States, elected from General Assembly, Security Council, & Economic and Social Council. 
  • Top financial contributing countries & troop-contributing countries to United Nations system are also members.
• Mandate: To bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources, advise on strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding & ensure recovery from conflict. 
• India is among largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 6,000 personnel currently deployed in missions worldwide.

Indian astronauts who have been selected for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) have completed the initial phase of training.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

• Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
  • It will launch to the orbiting laboratory on a Dragon spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. 
• Axiom Mission is jointly co-ordinated by the NASA and a private US company Axiom Space.
  • Ax-1 was the first all-private mission, launched in 2022. 

The 10th Global Forum of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) adopted Cascais Declaration in Portugal.

• UNOAC was established in 2005 to serve as a soft-power political tool of UNs Secretary-General for conflict prevention & conflict resolution. 

Key Highlights 

• Objective: To promote principles of tolerance and peaceful existence and build bridges between cultures.
• Key Highlights: 
  • Recognized potential of artificial intelligence as a tool to promote intercultural & interreligious dialogue.
    • E.g., combat misinformation, hate speech etc.
  • Acknowledged the central role of inclusive, quality & transformative education in promoting dialogue, peace & human rights.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman expressed concerns about frequent use of Rule 267. 

About Rule 267

• Rule 267, part of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) allows for the suspension of rules on the day's agenda to debate an urgent matter with the Chairman's approval.
• Under the rule, Rajya Sabha MPs can give a written notice to suspend all listed business and discuss an issue of importance the country is facing.

Recently, the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 was in news due to filing of appeal to survey certain religious places.

About Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991

• It prohibits conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947.
• Exemptions:
  • Any place of worship referred to as an ancient and historical monument or archaeological sites covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
  • Erstwhile Ayodhya Land dispute. 

The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) increased by 3.1% in October 2024 compared to October 2023.

About ICI

• The ICI measures combined & individual performance of production of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement & Electricity.
  • The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 % of the weight of items included in Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is responsible for Compiling and releasing monthly ICI.