Explanation

• Recently, The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, was passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and received the assent of the President.
• The new set of Rules and Orders give effect to a system for regulating the entry, stay, and exit of foreign nationals.
• It also identify exemptions available to certain classes of foreigners.
• The previous legal framework was widely seen as being fragmented, complicated, and frequently subject to ambiguous interpretation.
• Some important provisions – Foreign nationals must register with designated Registration Officers.
• Valid visa is mandatory for a foreigner, unless explicitly exempted by the Act or by special orders of the central government.
• Officers at notified immigration posts have the final authority on entry, exit, and admissibility, and the power to validate or refuse entry or exit on national security grounds etc.

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Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct – “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” scheme of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• The scheme aims to expand the reach of AIR FM transmitters, increase the capacity of the Doordarshan Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform.
• Statement 2 is correct – It is the vehicle for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to – expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure,
• Content development and civil work related to the organization.
• Additional information – Prasar Bharati is the public broadcaster of the country.
• It is an autonomous statutory body established by an Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, serving as India’s public broadcaster.
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Explanation

• Polymetallic nodules are mineral concretions found on the deep ocean floor, formed primarily from iron and manganese hydroxides.
• They form slowly on the deep seafloor by the hydrogenetic and diagenetic precipitation of manganese and iron hydroxides around a central core, such as a fossil or rock fragment.
• Recently, India has got an exploration contract from International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore the underwater at Carlsberg ridge, in the north-west Indian Ocean.

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Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct – Escheat originates from the Old French word “eschete,” meaning “to fall to,” referring to property that reverts to the feudal lord in the absence of legal heirs.
• Doctrine of Escheat ernsures no property is left without ownership, reverting it to the state if the original owner dies without legal heirs or fails to make a will.
• In India, escheat is governed by both personal laws and statutory provisions, including the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 and Article 296 of the Indian Constitution.
• Statement 2 is incorrect – Recently, the Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment clarifying  that states cannot invoke Doctrine of Escheat against a valid will with probate.
• This judgment upholds the sanctity of a person’s last wishes as expressed in a valid will and protects legatees (those named in the will) from arbitrary government claims.
• Statement 3 is incorrect – Article 296 deals with property accruing to the state through escheat, lapse, or bona vacantia (ownerless goods or property).
• Article 356 deals with failure of constitutional machinery and imposition of president’s rule (State emergency).

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Explanation

• Recently, India has got an exploration contract from International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore the underwater at Carlsberg ridge, in the north-west Indian Ocean.
• Carlsberg Ridge is a 3,00,000-sq km stretch that lies in the Indian Ocean.
• It forms the boundary between the Indian and Arabian tectonic plates, extending from near Rodrigues Island to the Owen fracture zone.
• ANS mount – It is located in the Central Indian Ocean to the  southeast of Sri Lanka.

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