Pachathuruthu Project
Recently, Kerala’s Chief Minister asserted that the Pachathuruthu initiative will key a role in achieving ambitious Net Zero Carbon target of State.
- Aim – To create man-made mini-forests by planting variety of indigenous plants in barren lands.
- Benefits – Will aid in carbon sequestration, mitigate the impact of urban heat island etc.
- Planned by mobilizing the masses through participatory campaigns and through coordination and leadership of the Local Self-Government Institutions
Speedy Trial
The Supreme Court affirmed that the constitutional right of a speedy trial, as enshrined in Article 21, applies to all cases regardless of the crime’s gravity.
- Emphasizes that defendant should be tried for their alleged crimes within a reasonable time period.
- Important Judgements –
- Kartar Singh Vs State of Punjab (1994) – Constitution bench of the Supreme Court held right of speedy trial as a fundamental right.
- Abdul Rehman Antulay vs RS Nayak
- Presently dealt under – Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the new code that has replaced Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)
New Zealand has denied India’s request for a certification trademark equivalent to a geographical indication (GI) tag on basmati rice as it is grown outside of India also.
- Established under – Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act,1985.
- Functions –
- Promotes exports and takes care of GI registration for Indian products abroad, filing the certification of trademark applications.
- Serves as the Secretariat to the National Accreditation Board, overseeing the accreditation of Certification Bodies for organic exports under the National Programme for Organic Production.
Metal-organic frameworks
Researchers have carried out an analysis of the mechanisms underlying the flexibility of crystals of MOFs.
- Large class of crystalline materials
- Usage –
- Has the ability to absorb gases, such as carbon dioxide, and store them
- Can act as filters for crude oil purification.
- Issue – Limited stability and mechanical weakness have hindered their broader applications.
National Medical Commission
New Chairperson of National Medical Commission (NMC) has been appointed.
- Genesis – A statutory body constituted under National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
- Aim – Improve access to quality and affordable medical education
- Functions –
- Lay down policies for regulating medical institutions, medical researchers and medical professionals.
- Ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards