The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) has declared Wayanad landslides as a ‘calamity of severe nature’.

Calamity of Severe Nature

• Legal provision: No specific criterion is given in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) or National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines for declaring a natural calamity as a calamity of severe nature.
  • However, based on the intensity and magnitude of losses to life and property, the Central government treats it as a calamity of severe nature, mostly based on the recommendations of the IMCT.
• Funding Support: For a "calamity of severe nature," additional funding comes from the NDRF in excess of the balances available in the state's own SDRF.

Recently, Egypt completed a trial run of new Suez Canal channel extension.

• The channel's two-way section now extends from 72 km to 82 km, with a total length of 193 km. 

About Suez Canal

• Opening Date: Construction Began in 1859, completed in 1869
• Location: Man-made waterway in Egypt, crossing the Isthmus of Suez
• Connects: Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea.
• Significance: Handles about 12% of global trade and is accessed by vessels travelling from Asia via the 30km wide Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

The 17^th Lok Sabha spent only 9.08 hours on Private Members’ Bills. 

Private Members’ Bill

• It is a legislative proposal initiated by an individual Member of the Parliament, who is not a Minister.
• Allotment of time: Last two and a half hours of a sitting on Friday in Lok Sabha is allotted for Private Members Bills.
  • In Rajya Sabha last two & a half hours of a sitting on alternate Friday is allotted.
• Period of notice to introduce a Bill is 1 month.
• Till date, only 14 Private Members’ Bills have been passed & received assent. 
  • No Private Members’ Bill has been passed by Parliament since 1970. 

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Monday announced an extension of the deadline for taxpayers participating in Vivad Se Vishwas scheme.

About DTVSV scheme

• In her Budget 2024 speech, Union Finance Minister announced the scheme to help taxpayers resolve disputes with the income tax department.
• It enables taxpayers to settle their outstanding tax liabilities by paying the disputed amount along with a specified percentage.

H1-B visas were in news recently as Indians continue to dominate the list of recipients with more than 70% of total approvals.

About H1-B Visas

• Purpose: Initiated in 1990 to fill skill gaps in the U.S. by allowing employers to hire immigrant workers in specialized occupations requiring "a high level of skill".
• Duration: valid for up to six years. After this period, the visa holder must either leave the U.S. for at least 12 months or apply for permanent residency.

As per reports, During a recent review of Coastal Security Scheme's phases I and II, 13 coastal states flagged critical shortages.

Coastal Security Scheme

• Scheme implemented in Phase I (2005-2011) and Phase II (2012-2020) in all Coastal States/UTs.
• Objective: Providing additional infrastructural support to the Coastal States/UTs for marine patrolling and to supplement other coastal security initiatives
  • Scheme involves infrastructure supports like jetties, Marine Operational Centres, motorcycles, etc.
• Current Status: Under the scheme around 204 Coastal Police Stations have been operationalized.

The West Bengal has decided to supply water to farmlands through pipelines from the Teesta river.

About Teesta River

• Length: It is an about 400 km long right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River, flowing through India and Bangladesh.
• Origin: It originates as Chhombo Chhu from a glacial lake Khangchung Chho in Sikkim. 
  • Teesta river is lifeline of people of Sikkim and North West Bengal.
• Major Tributaries: Lachung Chhu, Chakung Chhu, Zemu Chhu, Rangit etc.

Indian Army installs Shivaji statue on the banks of Pangong Lake.

About Pangong Lake

• Location: Situated at the height of 4350 m in eastern Ladakh, Pangong Lake is World’s highest saltwater lake. 
• Area: Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and other two-thirds in China.
• Features:
  •  It is endorheic (landlocked) lake and is known to change colors, appearing blue, green and red at different times.
  • It derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.