Recently, a Privilege Motion was moved in the Parliament by the opposition members.

About Privilege Motion

• It is a formal request made by member(s) to the presiding officer of the House to address an alleged breach of Parliamentary Privileges. 
  • Parliamentary privileges are the sum of the peculiar rights enjoyed by -
    • each House collectively as a constituent part of Parliament and 
    • by members of each House individually, without which they could not discharge their functions, efficiently and effectively, and which exceed those possessed by other bodies or individuals
• Parliamentary privileges are not codified and are derived from various provisions such as Article 105, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Parliamentary Conventions, etc. 

Recently, RBI hiked the rate ceilings on Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR (B)] accounts to support foreign flows.

About FCNR (B)

• Term deposit account that can be opened by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in any permitted foreign currency which is freely convertible.
• Other types of NRI Bank Accounts:
  • Non-Resident (External) Rupee Account (NRE): Savings, Current, Recurring, Fixed Deposit account that can be opened by NRIs or PIOs in Indian Rupees.
  • Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee Account (NRO):  Savings, Current, Recurring, Fixed Deposit account that can be opened by any resident outside India for their bonafide transaction in rupees.

Recently, India has been chosen to chair the 68th Session of the UNCND for the 1^st time. 

About UNCND

• Origin: Established by UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution in 1946 to assist in supervising the international drug control treaties.
• Members: 53 member states elected by ECOSOC.
• Functions: Act as the governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).  
• Mandate: Reviews and analyses the global drug situation, considering supply and demand reduction.

RBI launched AI tool MuleHunter.AI to help financial institutions identify mule bank accounts and curb digital frauds.

• Mule accounts are used by criminals for illicit laundering of funds. 
• They are often opened by unsuspecting individuals who offer their bank accounts for a fees making detection difficult.

About MuleHunter.AI

• Developed by Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly owned subsidiary of RBI.
• Uses AI/ Machine Learning based solutions to identify suspected mule accounts efficiently on a near-real-time monitoring. 

Recent study reported that moiré materials made from semiconductor materials can be superconducting, a property once considered to be exclusive to the graphene system.

About Moire Materials

• About: They are a type of superlattice material (periodic structure formed by alternating layers of materials) with unique structures and properties. 
  • Created by stacking two layers of a semiconductor, and rotating one layer by a small angle.
• Benefits: Tunable electrical and optical properties, exhibit superconductivity, orbital magnetism, and quantum properties, etc. 

A recent outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Rwanda has killed at least 15 people, and infected at least 66.

About MVD or Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever

• Causative agents:  Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV) of the species Orthomarburgvirus marburgense.
• Human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus fruit bat colonies, most notably Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).
• Transmission: Human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people.
• Symptoms: Begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, severe malaise, muscle aches and pains, etc.

19^th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee under Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is being held in Paraguay.

About the Convention

• International agreement adopted in 2003 by the UNESCO.
• Intangible cultural heritage refers to practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and know-how, transmitted from over generations within communities.
• Identifies 5 broad domains of ICH, including: 
  • Oral traditions and expressions 
  • Performing arts 
  • Social practices, rituals, and festive events 
  • Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe 
  • Traditional craftsmanship
• India has 15 ICH elements on the UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity

Former Chile President, Michelle Bachelet is to be conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2024. 

• She would be awarded for her work to improve gender equality, human rights and democracy. 

About Indira Gandhi Prize

• Awarded annually to a person or organization in recognition of creative efforts towards promoting international peace and disarmament, etc. 
• It consists of an award of Rs.10 million and a trophy with a citation. 
• Scrutiny of proposals and final selection is made by a jury of 5 to 9 eminent persons, named by the Chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. 

Recently, Government of India launched Channel 31 on DTH, dedicated to Indian Sign Language (ISL) training for hearing-impaired students, special educators, etc., under PM e-Vidya DTH TV Channels component of PM e-Vidya scheme.

• ISL is a well-structured language that serves as the primary means of communication for hearing-impaired individuals.

About PM e-Vidya Scheme

• Launched as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan by the Ministry of Education in May 2020.
• Objective: To provide multi-mode access to education through digital, online, and on-air platforms to minimise learning losses.
• Key components: DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for School Education), SWAYAM, Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY), Virtual Labs & Skilling e-labs, etc.

Recently, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved setting up of 85 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) 28 new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs).

• Almost all KVs and JNVs have been designated as PM Shri Schools (exemplar schools that showcase the National Education Policy 2020).

About KVs

• Primarily opened to cater to educational needs of wards of transferable and non-transferable employees of Central Government and for children of floating population including those living in remote and undeveloped locations.
• Set up under Kendriya Vidyalaya Scheme (Central Sector Scheme).

About JNVs

• JNVs are fully residential, co-educational schools providing good quality modern education from Class VI to XII to the talented children, predominantly from the rural areas.
• Set up under Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (Central Sector Scheme).