Goa is considering approaching the Supreme Court on the Mhadei river water dispute against Karnataka’s Kalasa-Banduri project.

• Kalasa-Banduri Project involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri (Mhadei tributaries) to divert water to Malaprabha River. 

About Mhadei river

• It originates in Jamboti Ghat in Karnataka (Western Ghats) and flows into the eastern Arabian Sea. 
• It flows through Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu government announced to develop Chola Gangam lake.

About Chola Gangam Lake 

• Also called Ponneri (Golden) Lake, it was built by Rajendra Chola I in Gangaikondacholapuram.
  • Gangaikondacholapuram was created as the capital by Rajendra Chola I.
    • It commemorates his victorious northern campaign and conquest of the Gangetic plains.
• According to the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, the lake was the liquid pillar of victory established by the king.

RBI’s financial inclusion index shows growth across all segments in FY25.

• It improved to 67 from 64.2 for FY 2024 largely due to increased usage and better quality, reflecting deepening of financial inclusion, and sustained financial literacy initiatives.

About Financial Inclusion Index

• Overview: First introduced in 2021 and is published annually in July.
• Comprehensive index: It includes details of banking, investments, insurance, postal and pension sector.
• Aim: To measure the extent of financial inclusion in India.
• Index Range: 0 (complete exclusion) to 100 (full inclusion).
• Parameters: Access (35%), Usage (45%), and Quality (20%).
• No Base Year: FI-Index has been constructed without any ‘base year’.

Supreme Court ordered implementation of Allahabad High Court’s 2022 guidelines that restrain Police from taking any action, including arrest, during a “cooling-period” of two months in matrimonial cruelty cases.

About Section 498A

• Objective: To protect women being subjected to cruelty by the husband or his relatives.
• It provides that if a woman is treated with cruelty by her husband or his relatives, they can be punished with up to three years in jail and a fine.
• The offense is cognizable and non-bailable.
• Section 85 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 contains similar provisions.

Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX) completes 10 years of dedicated research into North India’s dense winter fog and its impact.

About WiFEX

• It is one of the world’s few long-term open-field experiments focused solely on fog.
• Institutions: Led by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Objective: To develop better now-casting (next 6 hours) and forecasting of winter fog.

Great Ruaha River in Tanzania is drying up due to climate change and mismanagement driven by increasing human activities.

About Great Ruaha River

• It is one of Tanzania's major rivers and an important tributary of Rufiji River (largest river basin in Tanzania).
• It is the main water source for the Ruaha National Park.

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Union and State Governments on a Presidential Reference (under Article 143) on powers of President and Governor in dealing with state bills.

Article 143 of the Indian Constitution

• Article 143(1) empowers the President to refer any question of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion. 
  • President makes such reference based on advice of the Union Council of Ministers. 
• Supreme Court may provide its opinion on the matter but it is not binding on the President. 

Union Agriculture Minister urged states to halt mandatory tagging of Biostimulant with Fertilisers.

About Biostimulant

• Definition: Any substance that stimulates physiological processes in plants and helps enhance the yield from a harvest.
• It is regulated under Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985.
• Biostimulants can improve: 
  • Nutrient availability and use Efficiency
  • Tolerance to stress
  • Crop quality, etc.