Four new sites have been added to the IUCN Green List.

• These include Sharaan Nature Reserve and King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve of Saudi Arabia, Aqaba Marine Reserve of Jordan and Sir Bu Nair Protected Area from UAE.

About IUCN Green List 

• It is a global programme of certification aiming to achieve and promote effective, equitable, and successful protected and conserved areas.

• Focus: Highlights best practices, and sets benchmarks for progress in conservation management.
• Objective:
  • increase number of protected and conserved areas that are effectively and equitably managed.
  • deliver conservation outcomes,  contributing to SDG 15 “Life on land” and towards meeting Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

ISRO and Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) of Chandigarh have developed 32-bit microprocessors VIKRAM3201 & KALPANA3201 for space applications.

• VIKRAM3201 is the first fully “Make-in-India” 32-bit microprocessor for use in the harsh environmental conditions of launch vehicles. 

About Microprocessors:

• It is a multipurpose, programmable, clock-driven, register-based electronic device.
• It consists of millions of small transistors, resistors and diodes assembled on a semiconductor material (Integrated Circuit (IC) chips), creating key components of a Central Processing Unit (CPU).
• Components: Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit and register array. 
• Function: Read binary instructions from a storage called Memory, accept binary data as input, process data and provide results as output.
• Examples: Intel 4004, 8085, Pentium etc.

Supreme Court has issued a notice to central government regarding a PIL filed for neutral process to appoint CAG.

About CAG

• Article 148-151 of Indian Constitution deals with CAG.
  • Appointment: by President by warrant under his hand and seal.
    • Not eligible for further office either under the Government of India or any State after he has ceased to hold his office.
  • Salary and other conditions of service:  determined by Parliament by law or until so as specified in the II^nd Schedule
  • Removal: On like manner and grounds as a Judge of Supreme Court
• Administration of Oath of Office: by the President or some person appointed on that behalf by him.
• Powers & Duties of CAG as per Article 149: Audits accounts of the Union, States, and other bodies as prescribed by law made by the Parliament. 

The Minister of Finance launched a dedicated mobile app for the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme (PMIS).

About PMIS

• Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Objective: Provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth (aged 21 to 24) in India’s top 500 companies over 5 years.
  • Bridges the gap between academic learning and industry requirements.
  • Enhances employability of participants by fostering skill development and professional growth through practical exposure.
• Duration and Compensation: 12-month paid internships with monthly financial assistance of ₹5,000 per intern, and a one-time financial assistance of ₹6,000.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister highlighted the role of OAMS in managing Government Assurances.

About OAMS

• Implemented by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA), it is a digital platform for ensuring that assurances made by Ministers in Parliament are systematically tracked, monitored, and fulfilled. 
  • Assurances (in the form of promises, undertakings, etc.,) are given during the course of answers to Questions or debates, by Ministers on the floor of the House. 
  • Given due to non-availability of information at that time and are to be fulfilled within a period of three months. 
  • MoPA is assigned the function of implementation of assurances under Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961. 

As per the Union Home Minister, Over 80% of 2020 Bodo Peace Accord conditions have been implemented. 

• The Accord was signed between the Centre, Assam Government and Bodo Groups giving greater autonomy to Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). 

About Bodo Tribe

• Largest ethnolinguistic group in Assam. 
• Concentrated mainly in the BTR. 
  • An autonomous region in Assam having four districts. 
• Language: Bodo (or Boro) is recognized as one of India’s 22 scheduled languages.
• Constitutional Status: Recognized as a plain tribe under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules.

BIS cracks down on E-Commerce platforms selling unsafe Non-Certified products.

About BIS (Hq: New Delhi)

• It is a National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016. 
• Purpose: Harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods. 
• Benefits: Provides safe, reliable quality goods; minimizes health hazards to consumers; promotes exports and imports substitute, etc. 
• Bureau Members: 25 members representing both Central and State governments.

Recently, first photographic record of Caracal was shared from Rajasthan’s  Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.

About Caracal

• Native: To many countries across Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, including India.
• Characteristics: It is a primarily nocturnal cat species known for its distinct and pointy ears, which give the animal its name.
  • Caracal is a Turkish word (karakulak)  meaning ‘black ears’.
• Among the 22 species under the Species Recovery Programme.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Least Concern
  • WPA, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I (Asian Population)