1) Marine Energy Conversion Systems Sectional Committee (MECSSC): Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) formed a dedicated technical committee MECSSC to promote standardization in the field of Marine Energy Conversion Systems (MECS).
- BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act, 2016.
- Objectives of MECSSC
- Set comprehensive standards and guidelines for various aspects related to MECS.
- Foster collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange in MECS.
- MECSs are a group of technologies designed to extract energy from the ocean and convert it into electricity.
- Marine energy sources include waves, tides, ocean thermal energy, etc
2) Eurasian otter: Recently, Eurasian otter was found in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
- Features: Shy, nocturnal, good swimmer and fish catcher etc.
- Habitat: Semi-aquatic, lives in water bodies, marshes, swamp forests, coastal areas etc.
- Distribution:
- World: Europe, Asia and Africa.
- India: Northern, northeast and southern India.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN List: Nearly Threatened
- Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
- Threats: Pollution, poaching, habitat loss, accidental trapping etc.
3) Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999: RBI released a draft Licensing Framework for Authorised Persons (APs) under FEMA, 1999. APs are entity authorized by RBI to deal in forex.
- Objective: Facilitate external trade and payments; promote orderly development and maintenance of forex market in India.
- Major provisions: Related to holding of forex, power of RBI to inspect APs etc.
- Forex transactions under FEMA have been classified into :
- Current Account Transaction.
- Capital Account Transaction.
- FEMA replaced Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1973.
4) International Court of Justice (ICJ): South Africa filed a case at ICJ against Israel accusing it of crimes of genocide acts in Gaza.
- Genesis: Established in 1945 by Charter of UN and began work in 1946.
- One of the 6 principal organs of UN, it is the only one not located in New York.
- Role:
- Settle legal disputes submitted to it by States.
- Gives advisory opinions on legal questions.
- Composition: 15 judges (eligible for re-election) elected to nine-year terms by UNGA and UNSC.
Places in News:
1) Nicaragua (Capital: Managua):
- Recently a Nicaragua-bound plane carrying Indians was grounded in France over concerns of “human trafficking”.
- Political features:
- It is a country in Central America.
- Bordering nations: Honduras (north) and Costa Rica (south).
- Bordering water bodies: Caribbean Sea (east) and Pacific Ocean (west).
- Geographical features:
- Major mountains: Yolaina, Amerrique, HuapÃ.
- Major volcanoes: Momotombo, San Cristóbal, Concepción.
- Major rivers: Negro, Estero Real, Tamarindo.
- Major lakes: Nicaragua, Lake Tiscapa etc.
- Highest point: Mogotón Peak (2,103 metres).
