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1. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna recently emphasized that "no voter should be turned down," highlighting the court's commitment to ensuring accessible voting for all citizens. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has raised concerns by increasing the maximum voter limit per polling station to 1,500, up from 1,200 in rural and 1,400 in urban areas. A petition has challenged this decision, citing overcrowding and longer wait times. With a voter taking about 90 seconds to vote, a polling station can accommodate only 495 voters in 11 hours, potentially leading to inefficiency. The petition argues the ECI's decision lacks updated data, such as census information. The Representation of People Act, 1951 mandates sufficient polling stations within 2 kilometers for voters, with exceptions in sparsely populated areas. ECI's initiatives like SVEEP and the Voter Helpline App aim to increase voter turnout.
2. Recently, DNA profiling for an organ transplant revealed that a father was not the biological parent of his son, uncovering a case of levirate marriage. This discovery raised concerns about genetic privacy and the unintended consequences of DNA analysis. DNA profiling is a technique used to identify individuals by analyzing variations in their DNA sequences. While 99.9% of human DNA is identical, the remaining 0.1% variation, particularly in Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), enables precise identification. Levirate marriage is a custom where the brother of a deceased or incapacitated man marries his brother's widow to ensure the continuation of the family line. This practice has been followed by tribes in India, including the Santhal and Munda. Historically, during Vedic times, a similar practice called niyoga was followed, where a younger brother or kinsman married the widow of the elder brother, but it was later disallowed during the Gupta period. Additionally, sororate involves a man marrying his wife's sister if his wife dies.
3. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reimposed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas of Manipur due to a volatile security situation and the active involvement of insurgent groups in violence. Manipur has been under AFSPA since 1980, with periodic reviews reflecting the changing security landscape. The Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance was initially issued by the British on 15th August 1942 to suppress the Quit India Movement, which led to ordinances for "Assam disturbed areas" in 1947. The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958, succeeded the Assam Disturbed Areas Act of 1955 and later replaced the earlier act with AFSPA. A disturbed area is declared under Section 3 of AFSPA, and the Act currently remains in effect in parts of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Governor, administrator of Union Territories, and MHA can enforce AFSPA and declare any area as disturbed. Additionally, the Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976, stipulates that a region declared as disturbed remains so for at least three months.
4. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), launched in 2014, focuses on the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds in India. It aims to enhance milk production and conserve valuable genetic resources. The mission is part of the Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna (2021–2026) with a budget of Rs. 2400 crore. Indigenous breeds, like Punganur from Andhra Pradesh, are climate-resilient, produce high-quality milk, and adapt well to local environments, making their preservation crucial. Key objectives include improving bovine productivity, promoting high-quality breeding, and strengthening Artificial Insemination (AI) services. The mission enhances genetic merit through bull production, pedigree selection, genomic selection, and germplasm import, alongside supporting AI networks and breed multiplication farms. Other components include the National Digital Livestock Mission, Gokul Grams, and the National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre. It also offers awards for farmers managing indigenous cattle and funds initiatives like AI and the National Bovine Genomic Center. The mission is funded through 100% grant-in-aid, with partial subsidies for certain components like IVF and breed multiplication farms.
5. On 4th December 2024, India celebrated Navy Day, commemorating the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War and Operation Trident, which demonstrated the Indian Navy's strategic success in attacking Pakistan's Karachi port. The theme for this year, "Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenization", highlights the Navy's crucial role in safeguarding national security and maritime interests. The Indian Navy traces its roots back to 1st May 1830, when the East India Company became a part of the British Crown. It was later renamed Her Majesty's Indian Navy in 1858. The Navy adopted the Vedic motto to Lord Varuna: "Sam no Varunah" ("Be auspicious unto us, O Varuna"). Navy Day, celebrated since 1972, marks the successful 1971 operations in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Karachi missile attack, while honoring war martyrs. The Navy is structured into three commands: the Western (HQ - Mumbai), Eastern (Visakhapatnam), and Southern (Kochi) Naval Commands, each headed by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief.