Recently Subordinate legislations notified under the Post Office Act, 2023 i.e. the Post Office Rules, 2024 and Post Office Regulations, 2024.

Subordinate Legislation

• Subordinate legislation is the legislation made by an authority subordinate to the legislature.
• Such legislation is to be made within the framework of the powers so delegated by the legislature and is, therefore, known as delegated or subordinate legislation.
• ‘Committee on Subordinate Legislation (15 members)’ constituted in both houses ensure that executive powers are exercised within constitutional and legislative boundaries. 

WHO and GARDP  jointly released report on policy and regulatory interventions to address antibiotic shortages in low and middle-income countries.

About GARDP

• Genesis: GARDP is a not-for-profit organization established in 2016 by the WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi). It was legally formed as a Swiss foundation in 2018. 
• Purpose: To deliver on WHO’s Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance  (2015)
• Role: Works with public, private, and non-profit sectors to preserve antibiotics for future generations.
• GARDP Strategy (2024-2028): Focuses on developing and ensuring the availability of essential antibiotic treatments globally.

NRAA organised workshop for policy discourse on rainfed areas. 

• Rainfed areas occupy about 51% of the country’s net sown area and account for nearly 40% of the total food production.

About NRAA: 

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
• Genesis: Established in 2006 as an expert body for dryland and rainfed agriculture development.
• Key Mandates: Develop a national strategy for sustainable rainfed farming, Coordinate and converge agricultural and wasteland development programs, etc.

CSIR conducted Scientific Aptitude Assessment Exercise under JIGYASA program. 

About JIGYASA Program

• Launched by CSIR in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). 
• Its key objective is to enhance classroom learning through research-based, hands-on experiences in laboratories for school students.
• It promotes curiosity and scientific temperament as part of Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR). 
• Activities include student residential programs, lab visits, onsite experiments, science clubs, and tinkering labs.

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions launched 'Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi' Initiative on Good Governance Day.

• Good Governance Day is celebrated on 25^th December to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

About Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ Initiative

• Aim: To enhance the capacity and competence of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by equipping elected representatives and officials with the tools and knowledge required for effective governance and participatory planning.
• It is part of the broader ‘Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur’ campaign.
• The program promotes decentralized governance and grassroots-level decision-making.

Recently, the Veer Baal Diwas celebrated on the 26^th December. 

About Veer Baal Diwas

• It is annually observed on December 26 since 2022. 
• It honors the bravery and sacrifice of the 10^th Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest sons - Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh.
  • Both were captured by the Mughal forces at Anandpur fort and martyred around December 26, 1705.
• The Government of India also confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) to children for exceptional achievements in seven categories.

High arsenic levels detected in staple foods like rice and wheat in 11 districts of Bihar (linked to groundwater contamination) by Patna-based Cancer Research Centre

About Arsenic: 

• Nature: Transparent, odorless, and toxic metalloid. 
• Causes for Arsenic Contamination
  • Natural: Over 50 years, River Ganga's shifting pattern has created zones where arsenic accumulates between its crests and troughs.
  • Anthropogenic: Mining and excessive groundwater extraction.
• Health Effects of Arsenic Contamination: Skin keratinization, hyperpigmentation, arsenicosis, and hyperkeratosis.

Various studies have also shown that excessive groundwater withdrawal has also increased arsenic in West Bengal and fluoride levels in Rajasthan Maharashtra.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reimpose U.S. control over the Panama Canal. 

About Panama Canal 

• It is an 82-km (51-mile) artificial waterway that connects Pacific & Atlantic Oceans through Panama.
• The canal transports ships through Gatun Lake. 
• Significance: 
  • It is one of the two most strategic artificial waterways in the world, the other being the Suez Canal.
  • It shortens the journey of ships between east and west coasts of U.S.  by 8,000 miles (around 22 days).