Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 against several celebrities for promoting illegal betting apps and violating the Public Gambling Act, 1867.

• PMLA was enacted to combat money laundering. FIU-IND(Financial Intelligence Unit)  and the Enforcement Directorate have been conferred with exclusive and concurrent powers to implement the provisions of the Act.

Public Gambling Act, 1867

• Betting and gambling are strictly prohibited under the Public Gambling Act, 1867. 
• Applicable States: Covers states like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
• Exemption: Games of skill are allowed.
• State Control: States can amend the Act as gambling is a state subject under the 7th Schedule.
• Betting and gambling are generally considered illegal in most regions across the country.

Union Education Minister introduced the “Panch Sankalp” (Five Resolutions) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

• NEP 2020 aims to: Improve the quality of education (school, higher education and technical education) in India.
• Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability are its foundational pillars.

 About Panch Sanklapa

• These will be the guiding principles for transforming higher education institutions.
• It incorporates: 
  • Next-Gen Emerging Education, 
  • Multidisciplinary Education, 
  • Innovative Education, 
  • Holistic Education, 
  • Bharatiya Education

Status of Higher Education in India

• Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER): 28.4% (Target: 50% by 2035)
• Female GER: 28.5% (higher than male); Gender Parity Index: 1.01
• Government Universities contribute 73.7% of total enrollment

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF India launched TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self-Esteem Hub) Initiative.

About TALASH

• It is a national- program to support the all-round development (both educational and personal growth) of students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).
  • EMRS is a central sector scheme under Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide residential schooling to tribal children in blocks having more than 50% of Scheduled Tribes(ST) population
• It  is an innovative digital platform which offers-
  • Psychometric Assessments: Inspired by NCERT’s ‘Tamanna’ initiative
  • Career Counselling 
  • Life Skills & Self-Esteem Modules
  • E-Learning for Teachers

Governor’s rule has been imposed in Chakma Autonomous District Council in Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule.

What are Autonomous District Councils (ADCs)?

• ADCs are administrative bodies, established under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, to govern tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• Objective: ADCs ensure tribal autonomy, preserve their distinct identity, and promote development in tribal-dominated regions.
• Functions: 
  • Enact laws on matters like land, forests, social customs, etc.
  • Manage local governance, including education, health, etc.
  • Establish village or district Council Courts to adjudicate disputes based on customary laws.
• Structure: Not more than thirty members (in general), of which four (maximum ) can be nominated by the Governor.

The Union Environment Ministry has extended the validity of infrastructure projects approved under the 2011 Islands Protection Zone (IPZ) notification.

About IPZ

• Notified in 2011 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• IPZ is a regulatory framework to safeguard the ecological integrity of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep groups of islands.
  • It is similar to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) except that CRZ is notified for the protection of coastal areas of mainland India.
• Regulation includes:- 
  • Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) for Middle Andaman, North Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, etc.
  • Integrated Islands Management Plans (IIMPs) applicable to all other islands of Andaman and Nicobar and all islands of Lakshadweep.

A 42% quota for Backwards Classes in local body polls was approved by Telangana.

• Article 243D (for Panchayats) and Article 243T (for Municipalities), inserted through 73rd and 74th (respectively) Constitutional Amendments of 1992, allow States to reserve seats and Chairperson posts for Backward Classes.

Other Provisions Under Article 243D and Article 243T

• SCs/ STs: Seats are reserved for SCs/STs based on their population (as nearly as possible), with rotation among constituencies.
  • At least 1/3rd of these seats is reserved for SCs/STs women. 
• Women: At least 1/3^rd of the total seats are reserved for women (including reservation of women for SC/ST seats)
• Seats for Chairperson could be reserved for SCs, STs, and women as per the law enacted by States.

Ministry of Defence has identified Indian firm to establish a maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the S-400 air defence system. 

About S-400 system

• Long-range urface-to-air missile (SAM) in the world
• It is acquired from Russia. 
• Called Sudarshan Chakra in India.
• Equipped with a command-and-control system, phased array radars and electronic warfare countermeasures.
• Offers complete 360-degree radar and missile coverage.
• Multi-missile compatibility enables layered defence.
• Can track and engage multiple targets at once
• Range & Capability
  • Speed: Around 13-14 Mach
  • Tracking: Up to 600 km
  • Engagement: Up to 400 km
  • Altitude Coverage: From 30 meters to 30 km 

Central Government has released ₹1000 crore to Assam, Manipur, and Uttarakhand as the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for flood and landslide relief.

Financial Aid Under SDRF And NDRF

• According to the National Policy on Disaster Management, the primary responsibility for disaster management and on-the-ground relief lies with the State Governments.
• States use the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for relief measures, based on norms approved by the Government of India.
• In case of severe disasters, extra funds are provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) after assessment by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
• Note: Assistance from SDRF/NDRF is for relief only, not for compensation of individual losses.

The Indian Railways has signed a MoU DFCCIL to enhance train safety with the installation of MVIS inspection systems.

Machine Vision-Based Inspection System (MVIS)

• It is a modern technology solution based on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Language
• It is equipped with technologies that capture high-resolution images of the under-gear of moving trains and automatically detect any hanging, loose, or missing components.
• It generates real-time alerts to facilitate prompt response and preventive action.