1) 9th schedule of the Constitution: Bihar government asked Centre to include recently amended laws (raising caste-based quotas from 50% to 65%) in 9th schedule.
- It was added to Constitution by 1st Constitutional Amendment (1951) under Article 31B.
- Central and state laws included in 9th schedule cannot be challenged in courts for violation of Fundamental Rights.
- However, Supreme Court in I R Coelho v State of Tamil Nadu (2007), ruled that any law added to 9th Schedule after April 24, 1973, violating fundamental rights can be challenged if it undermines the basic structure, as outlined in Article 21 along with Articles 14 and 19.
2) Coseismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP): A study has revealed that even smaller earthquakes have their reflection in the ionosphere.
- Earthquakes generate ionospheric disturbances that are referred to as CIP.
- Coseismic vertical crustal movements excite acoustic waves in the atmosphere.
- These waves propagate to reach the ionosphere, causing disturbances in electrons along the line of sights connecting ground Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and satellites.
- The CIPs can help to observe earthquake sources from space and may pave the way for deciphering earthquake precursors using space-based observations
3) Cashew crop: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), facilitated the export of over 30 tonnes of cashew on National Cashew Day (23rd November).
- Origin: Native to Brazil; it was introduced in the Malabar coast in the 16th century.
- Soil: Well-drained deep sandy loam soils.
- Temperature: Range of 20 to 38 degree Celsius.
- Relative humidity: 60 to 95%
- Annual precipitation: 2000 to 3500 mm.
- India is the second largest producer and exporter of Cashew Nuts.
- Major Cashew producing states: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
4) Avian influenza A (H9N2) virus: Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the reported outbreak of H9N2 in China.
- H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which causes human influenza (rare) as well as bird flu.
- H9N2 viruses are found worldwide in wild birds and are endemic in poultry in many areas.
- Transmission of virus infection can take place due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments.
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD) has developed an ‘Inactivated low pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2) vaccine for chickens’
