SpaceX’s Falcon-9 deploys India’s GSAT-N2 satellite into orbit. 

About GSAT-N2 (Geostationary Satellite-20) 

• It is a communication satellite of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). 
  • NSIL is commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Features: Geosynchronous transfer orbit; Life span - 14 years; Mass around 4,700 kg. 
  • India’s primary launch vehicle, LVM-3, can carry payloads up to 4,000 kg, thus rendering it incapable of carrying the GSAT payload (SpaceX’s Falcon-9 
• Significance: It will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region. It offers pan-India coverage, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. 

DIPAM issues revised capital restructuring norms for CPSEs. 

• Financial sector CPSES like NBFCs are mandatory to pay a minimum annual dividend of 30% of net profit or 4% of the net worth, whichever is higher. 
• These guidelines do not apply to public sector banks, public sector insurance companies and also to the body corporate. 

About DIPAM 

• DIPAM comes under the Ministry of Finance. 
• Functions: Deals with matters relating to management of Central Government investments in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) 
• Three major areas of its work relate to Strategic Disinvestment and Privatisation, Minority Stake Sales and Capital Restructuring, bonus, dividends, etc. 

Recently Grievance Redressal Assessment And Index (GRAI) 2023 has been released by DARPG. 

About GRAI 

• Conceptualized : by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) based on recommendation of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. 
  • Index is Based On Four Dimensions(Efficiency, Feedback, Domain and Organizational Commitment) And 11 Indicators Assessing Grievance Redressal Mechanism Adopted By Central Ministries And Departments. 
• Objective : Highlight strengths and areas of improvement regarding grievance redressal mechanisms of various organizations.  
• Ranking : Department Of Agriculture And Farmers Welfare Topped The Ranking Followed By Department Of Posting Group A. 

Senior IAS officer, K Sanjay Murthy appointed as next CAG of India.

About CAG: 

• Art 148:
  • Appointment: By President of India by warrant under his hand and seal.
  • Salary and service condition: Determined by Parliament by law, and charged on Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
  • Reappointment: Not eligible for both central and state government.
• Art 149: Duties and powers of CAG to be determined by parliament.
• Art 151: Reports of CAG shall be submitted to President, who shall cause them to be laid before each House of Parliament.
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Duties, Powers, and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971:
  • Tenure: 6 years or up to age of 65 years whichever is earlier.
  • Removal: Removed by President on same grounds and in same manner as a judge of Supreme Court. 

Recently excavations began at Ramgram, led by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), to discover Buddha’s eighth relic.

About Buddha’s Relics:

• These are Lord Buddha’s cremated remains.
• Stupas were constructed over them at:
  • Rajagraha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethadipa, Pava, Kushinagar and Pippalvina.
• As per buddhist beliefs, lord Buddha attained salvation (Mahaparinirvana) in Kushinagar district (U.P) and was cremated by Mallas of Kushinagar.

Recently, Supreme Court issued notice to Ministry of Finance highlighting critical vacancies in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) across India.

• Nearly one-third of the 39 DRTs in the country are currently non-functional 

About Debt Recovery Tribunals:

• Statutory judicial bodies established under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act (RDB Act), 1993 having original jurisdiction.
• Purpose: Expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts due to banks and financial institutions, insolvency resolution etc.
• Debt Amount: Rs.20 lakh or more.
• SARFAESI Act, 2002: Simplified the recovery procedure of secured debts from borrowers without intervention of Courts at the first stage.  

India has been ranked 23rd on the Sustainable Trade Index 2024.

About Sustainable Trade Index

• It was created in 2022 by IMD World Competitiveness Center and the Hinrich Foundation.
• It evaluates the readiness of 30 economies for global trade, promoting growth, environmental protection, and societal development across three key pillars: economic, environmental, and societal.
• Sustainable Trade: Trade that provides mutually beneficial outcomes for trading partners while effectively balancing economic, social, and
  environmental considerations.
• Best Performing Nations: New Zealand followed by UK,Japan etc.

Miners have extracted gold and other metals from discarded electronics)   by using bioleaching.

About Bioleaching

• It is a method used to extract metals(Copper, gold Etc.) from various minerals and waste materials using biological processes, particularly microorganisms.
• Microorganisms Involved: E.g.  Heterotrophic bacteria (Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp.) autotrophic bacteria (Thiobacilli sp.), and heterotrophic fungi (Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp.)
• Advantages:
  • Environmentally Friendly: Reduces air pollution as compared to smelting, Minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Cost-Effective: Ideal for low-grade ores.
  • Energy-efficient: Uses lower energy compared to high-temperature pyrometallurgy or chemical-intensive hydrometallurgy.