Indiconema

Researchers have recently discovered a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom found in the clean water river of the Eastern Ghats.

• Indiconema is a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom found in the clean water river of the Eastern Ghats.
• It has unique features distinguishing it from other Gomphonemoid diatoms, particularly in valve symmetry and other valve features.
• It has been named Indiconema to value its restricted distribution in the country.
• Indiconema is sister to Afrocymbella, a genus endemic to East Africa.
• Indiconema was discovered by scientists of Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune.
• ARI is an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology.
• Diatoms are microscopic algae that play a crucial role in our everyday lives by producing 25% of global oxygen.
• Diatoms are the first recorded microorganisms in India, with Ehrenberg's first report dating back to 1845 in his voluminous publication Mikrogeologie.

Watch and Ward Committee

Recently an MP has complained that CISF personnel misbehaved with him in the Parliament complex which replace the Parliament Security Service (PSS).

• Security responsibilities in the complex were with the Parliament Security Service (PSS) and the almost-100-year-old Watch and Ward committee.
• The Watch and Ward Committee was set up on the initiative of Vithalbhai Patel,
• Vithalbhai patel was then president (equivalent to today’s Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly, the lower house of legislature of British India.
• This followed the incident of April 8, 1929, when revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two feeble bombs and pamphlets in the Central Assembly and raised slogans “to make the deaf hear”.
• The name ‘watch and ward committee’ continued until April 15, 2009 and it changed to Parliament Security Service (PSS).
• Article 98 of the Constitution provides for a separate Secretariat of Parliament.
• The Sectional Manual of Office Procedure published by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, defines the roles and responsibility of PSS.
• The main responsibility of PSS is to provide and maintain Pro-active, Preventive and Protective Security measures within the Parliament House Complex, for safeguarding Members of Parliament, visitors and employees”.
• Parliament security is a part of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and its job is to protect the interest of MPs and facilitate things for them.
• The PSS “is under the control of the Speaker, and if at all there arises a need to change the composition of the security system, it has to be done under the direction of the Speaker, not by any Ministry”.
• Om Birla, Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha, has said that the security of the Parliament House complex would remain under the control of the Lok Sabha.
• The Central Armed Police Force under the Union Home Ministry has replaced the PSS as the new security regime for the parliamentary complex.

Internationals Inward Money Transfer Service

Recently the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has partnered with Ria Money Transfer to offer international inward money transfer services across rural India.

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has joined forces with Ria Money Transfer to introduce innovative international remittance services throughout rural India.
• This strategic alliance aims to leverage IPPB's extensive network and Ria's global expertise to bring convenient and accessible cross-border money transfer solutions to underserved communities across the country.
• The service will be immediately available at over 25,000 post office locations, with plans to expand to over 100,000 locations.
• The service leverages biometric authentication for KYC and offers digital transaction confirmations with paperless receipts.
• IPPB's extensive network (161,000+ post offices, 143,000 in rural areas) will be utilized to reach the last mile.
• Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA) – Is a channel to receive cross-border remittances from overseas jurisdictions.
• Under this arrangement, the Authorised Category I banks enter into tie-ups with the non-resident Exchange Houses in the FATF compliant countries to open and maintain their Vostro Account.
• Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) – Is a way of transferring personal remittances from abroad to beneficiaries in India.
• Only inward personal remittances into India such as remittances towards family maintenance and remittances favouring foreign tourists visiting India are permissible.
• Under the scheme there is a tie-up between reputed money transfer companies abroad known as Overseas Principals and agents in India known as Indian Agents who would disburse funds to beneficiaries in India at ongoing exchange rates.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) – Was established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by Government of India.
• IPPB was launched on September 1, 2018.
• The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India.
• The fundamental mandate of it is to remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging the Postal network comprising 1,61,000+ Post Offices (1,43,000 in rural areas) and 190,000+ Postal employees.
• Ria Money Transfer – is a business segment of Euronet (NASDAQ: EEFT), delivers innovative financial services including fast, secure, and affordable global money transfers.
• With the second most extensive cash settlement network and the largest direct bank deposit network in the world, Ria gets money to where it matters.

Nalanda Mahavira

• The Nalanda Mahavihara site is in the State of Bihar.
• It comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.
• It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone and metal.
• It was a centre for higher learning marks the zenith in the evolution of sangharama (monastic establishment) into the earliest higher learning establishment of early medieval India.
• Nalanda remains one of the earliest and longest serving extraordinary institution-builder.
• Archaeological remains including the entire protected area of the property are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Blue Planet Prize

Recently IPBES was awarded the Blue Planet Prize, 2024 for its contribution for their contribution in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

• The Blue Planet Prize is awarded by Japan’s Asahi Glass Foundation.
• It is awarded annually to individuals and organisations.
•  It aims to recognise outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application, which have helped provide solutions to global environmental problems.
• The prize includes an award of USD 500,000.
• IPBES has been awarded as it is “the leading global authority on the state of knowledge and science about biodiversity, ecosystem services and nature’s contributions to people”.
• The work of IPBES is central to the international efforts and negotiations under a range of multilateral processes and organizations.
• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
• It aims to help conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use of natural resources, and support long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
• It was established on April 21, 2012, in Panama City by 94 governments.
• IPBES is not part of the United Nations, but it works closely with UN bodies.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides administrative support to IPBES, as requested by IPBES members and approved by UNEP's Governing Council in 2013.
• IPBES serves as a bridge between scientists studying biodiversity and ecosystem services and policymakers who make decisions affecting these areas.