Supreme Court agrees to examine constitutional provision granting immunity to Governors

About Article 361

• It’s an exception to Article 14 (right to equality) where Presidents or  governors are not answerable to any court for the exercise of  powers and duties of their office.
  • However, Parliament can review the President's conduct through designated investigative bodies. (Article 61)
• They have immunity from criminal proceedings while in office and cannot be arrested or imprisoned by court order while in office.
• Civil suits against the President/Governor require two-month notice before filing.

Bombay HC overturns Maharashtra govt’s  exemption of private schools from RTE quota admissions to disadvantaged and economically weaker students.

• HC observed that the State's decision was ultra vires of RTE Act and Article 21 of Constitution.
• The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 inserted Article 21-A.

RTE provisions

• The Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14.
• It specifies minimum norms in elementary schools. 
• It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats for children belonging to disadvantaged sections.

Recent study demonstrated that plastic waste can be converted into electronic devices. 

• Developed a chemical process that converts Styrofoam into the high-value conducting polymer PEDOT: PSS. 
  • PEDOT:PSS is a polymer that has both electronic and ionic conductivity.
  • PEDOT:PSS could be produced by sulfonating polystyrene, a synthetic plastic found in many types of disposable containers and packaging materials.

New study by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientists has concluded that concentration of uranium up to 60 micrograms per litre (µg/l) in drinking water was entirely safe. 

• However, in 2021, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had revised the acceptable level of uranium concentration in drinking water from 60 µg/l to 30 µg/l.

About Uranium Contamination

• Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element.
• It contaminates water due to geogenic processes, overexploitation of groundwater and its decline, nitrate pollution etc. 
• Harmful impact of high Uranium concentration: Nephritis (kidney damage), Cancer

As per a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), nearly two third of the funds allocated to NCAP were used for dust management.

About NCAP

• Launched by the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change  in 2019.
• Aim:
  • Ensure stringent implementation of mitigation measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution
  • Augment ambient air quality monitoring network.
• Targets: 
  • Achieve 20%-30% reduction in concentrations of particulate matter by the year 2024, keeping 2017 as the base year.
• NCAP covers Non-Attainment Cities (NACSs) wherein National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) has exceeded for 5 consecutive years. 

New plant species ‘Phlogacanthus sudhansusekharii’ has been discovered in Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the southern-west part of Arunachal Pradesh and state capital Itanagar is located inside the sanctuary. 
• Major streams: Poma, Pam, Pachin, Neorochi and Chingke.
• Habitat: Mixed evergreen to semi-evergreen forests.
• The sanctuary has also been recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International as it lies in Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area. 
• Fauna: Asian Elephant, Four species of Hornbills, Tiger, Asiatic Black Bear etc.  
• Threats: Hunting, unorganized urbanization/ settlement, encroachment.

Madhya Pradesh has secured the first place under the 'Best Performing State' category in PM SVANidhi scheme.

PM SVANidhi (Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi)

• Central Sector Scheme under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 
• Objective: To facilitate street vendors to access affordable working capital loan for resuming their livelihoods activities, after easing of Covid lockdown.
• Features
  • Initial working capital loan of up to ₹10,000. 
  • Interest subsidy on timely/early repayment @7%.
  • Monthly cashback incentive on digital transactions. 
• Targeted beneficiaries: Street vendors/ hawkers vending in urban areas, as on or before March 24, 2020.

'National Symposium on Bamboo' was held to promote sustainable rural livelihoods, women's empowerment and climate resilience through bamboo farming.

About Bamboo

• Bamboo is the perennial and most diverse plant (more than 1200 species in world) belongs to subfamily Bambusoideae of family Poaceae. 
• Found in tropical, sub-tropical, and mild temperate regions. 
• Distribution: In India, Bamboo is found naturally throughout the country except Kashmir region. 
  • North-Eastern states and West Bengal accounts for more than 50% of Bamboo resources.
• Uses: Construction material, Textile fibers, Musical instruments, Furniture etc. 
• Environmental benefits: Rapid carbon sequestration, Soil erosion control, water purification etc.