Pamban Bridge
Recently, Prime Minister of India inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, marking the opening of India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge.
- Location – Connects Rameswaram Island to mainland India across the Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu.
- The original Pamban Bridge, built in 1914, was India’s 1st sea bridge
- Vertical Lift Bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck.
- Designed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
Professional Tax
Food and grocery delivery firm Swiggy has received Rs 7.6-crore notice from Pune professional tax department.
- A tax levied by state governments on individuals earning income through employment, professions, or trades.
- Applicability – Paid by salaried employees, professionals (e.g., doctors, lawyers), and business owners
- Constitutional Basis – Governed under Article 276 of the Indian Constitution, allowing states to impose this tax.
- Deduction – Professional tax paid is deductible under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR)
India secured an uncontested position in the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting
- A UN initiative under UNCTAD, established in 1983, to improve global financial and non-financial reporting standards.
- Focus Areas – Promotes transparency in corporate governance, sustainability reporting, and comparability of financial disclosures.
- Membership – Includes 34 formal members serving 3-year terms, with India elected for the 2025–2027 term.
- Annual Sessions – Held in Geneva to address emerging issues in accounting and reporting practices.
Dokra Art
During his recent visit to Thailand, the Indian Prime Minister gifted a Dokra Brass Peacock Boat to the Thai Prime Minister
- An ancient metal casting craft using the lost-wax technique, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Practiced by tribes in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
- Unique Features – Each piece is handcrafted, often inspired by nature, mythology, and daily life, making every one-of-a-kind.
Rare Earth Elements
Kazakhstan discovered its largest deposit of rare earth elements in Central Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region
- A group of 17 elements, including lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, essential for modern technology.
- Applications – Used in electronics, renewable energy (e.g., wind turbines, EVs), defense systems, and communication devices.
- Global Distribution – India has the fifth-largest reserves, primarily in monazite sands, but extraction is complex due to associated radioactivity.
- Significance – Critical for clean energy and advanced technologies, with no viable substitutes for many applications.