📰 Current Affairs

Article 122 of the Constitution explicitly prohibits courts from inquiring into the validity of proceedings in Parliament.

Article 50 under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) mandates the separation of the Judiciary from the Executive.

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was introduced in India in the 1980s under the leadership of Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer.

Article 226 empowers High Courts to issue writs for enforcing fundamental rights and for any other purpose.

Article 32 allows citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

The concept of Judicial Review in the Indian Constitution was adopted from the Constitution of the United States of America.

Internal administration of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha operates under the authority of the Speaker and Chairman respectively.

Article 85 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to summon and prorogue each House of Parliament.

The power to adjourn the daily sitting of the Lok Sabha rests solely with the Speaker of the House.

Article 107 of the Constitution details the procedure for the introduction and passing of Ordinary Bills in Parliament.

Article 124 of the Constitution governs the establishment, constitution, and appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court.

Under Article 100(3), the quorum required to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament is one-tenth of the total membership.

Adjournment sine die terminates a sitting of Parliament without appointing a day for its reassembly.

The RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was statutory constituted under Section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

The MPC consists of 6 members including the RBI Governor (ex-officio Chairperson) and 3 members nominated by the Union Government.

Repo Rate is the interest rate at which commercial banks borrow short-term funds from the RBI against government securities.

Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) was introduced in April 2022 to absorb liquidity without requiring collateral securities.

The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935, based on the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission (1926).

RBI was nationalised on January 1, 1949, under the Reserve Bank (Transfer to Public Ownership) Act, 1948.

The **Reserve Bank of India (RBI)** was established on **April 1, 1935**, under the **Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934**.

The **Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)** was constituted in **2016** through an amendment to the **RBI Act, 1934**.

The MPC consists of **six members**: three from the RBI and three appointed by the **Central Government**.

The primary objective of the MPC is to maintain **price stability** while keeping the objective of **growth** in mind.

The current inflation target set for the MPC is **4 per cent**, with a tolerance band of **+/- 2 per cent**.

Key monetary policy tools include the **Repo Rate**, Reverse Repo Rate, Marginal Standing Facility (MSF), and Standing Deposit Facility (SDF).

The **RBI Governor** is appointed by the **Central Government** for a term of **three years**, which can be extended.

Section 22 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 gives RBI the sole right to issue banknotes in India.

Section 25 of the RBI Act specifies that banknote design and material require Union Government approval.

Australia became the first country to issue polymer banknotes for general circulation in 1988.

The highest denomination banknote printed in India was ₹10,000, demonetised in 1978.

Currency note printing presses in India are located at Nasik, Dewas, Salboni, and Mysore.

BRBNMPL was established in 1995 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India.

Indian coins are minted by the Government of India under the Coinage Act, 2011.

The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 provides legal protection to otters under Indian environmental legislation.

Mettur Dam, officially known as the Stanley Reservoir, was constructed in 1934 across the Kaveri River in Salem district.

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is an elusive, solitary species found in the Himalayas, Western Ghats, and Central India.

Otters act as bio-indicators of freshwater aquatic ecosystems, reflecting the ecological health of rivers and wetlands.

The IUCN Red List categories range from Least Concern to Extinct, with 'Vulnerable' indicating a high risk of endangerment in the wild.

The Kaveri River originates at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats in Karnataka and drains into the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar.

SpaceX is an American private aerospace manufacturer founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, known for developing reusable rockets like Falcon 9.

Space debris or space junk refers to defunct human-made objects in space, primarily in Earth orbit, which pose collision hazards to active satellites.

ISRO launched Project NETRA (Network for space object Tracking and Analysis) to monitor space debris and protect Indian space assets.

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 forms the basis of international space law, governing peaceful exploration and state liability for space objects.

Craters on the Moon are formed primarily by hypervelocity impacts of meteorites and space debris due to the lack of a dense protective atmosphere.

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, orbiting at an average distance of approximately 384,400 km from Earth.

Originally in 1950, Article 124(1) fixed the Supreme Court strength at 1 Chief Justice and 7 other judges (total 8).

Parliament increased the judge strength to 10 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1977, and 26 in 1986 through legislative amendments.

In 2009, Parliament raised the strength to 31 (30 judges + CJI) and further increased it to 34 (33 judges + CJI) in 2019.

Article 124(2) states that every judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President of India.

Supreme Court judges hold office until they attain the age of 65 years, as per Article 124(2).

Article 145(3) mandates that a minimum of 5 judges must sit on a Constitution Bench to decide substantial questions of law.

Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on January 28, 1950, replacing the Federal Court of India under GOI Act 1935.

Article 29 of the Constitution protects the interests of minority communities regarding language, script, and culture.

Article 30 guarantees minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions.

Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission was constituted in 1989 and gained statutory status through the TN State Minorities Commission Act, 2010.

National Commission for Minorities Act was enacted in 1992 to safeguard minority rights at the central level.

Ministry of Minority Affairs was established by the Government of India in January 2006.

Six religious communities in India are notified as national minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains (added in 2014).

Tiruppur is known as the 'Knitwear Capital of India' and accounts for a major share of India's cotton knitwear exports.

Coimbatore is widely referred to as the 'Manchester of South India' due to its extensive textile industrial base.

Technical textiles refer to textile materials and products manufactured primarily for technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic features.

The Ministry of Textiles launched the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) in 2020 for a four-year implementation period.

The Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) is a nodal agency headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The State Budget is presented annually under **Article 202** of the Indian Constitution.

The **Annual Financial Statement** (Budget) must be laid before both Houses of the State Legislature.

**Article 204** deals with the **Appropriation Bill**, which authorizes the government to withdraw funds from the **Consolidated Fund of the State**.

The **Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act** aims to ensure fiscal discipline and reduce revenue deficit.

The **Tamil Nadu Economic Survey** is usually released before the Budget, providing an overview of the state's economic performance.

All revenues received by the state government are credited to the **Consolidated Fund of the State**.

The **Contingency Fund of the State** is used for unforeseen expenditures and is operated by the Governor.

Pandit Iyothee Thass (1845–1914) was a pioneer of the anti-caste movement in Tamil Nadu and a practitioner of Siddha medicine.

Iyothee Thass, along with Rettamalai Srinivasan, founded the Dravida Mahajana Sabha in the year 1891.

Iyothee Thass launched the weekly Tamil newspaper 'Oru Paisa Tamilan' in 1907 to raise social awareness.

Article 46 of the Indian Constitution mandates the State to promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections.

Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO) was established in 1974 to drive socio-economic development.

The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was constituted as a statutory body in 2021.

The Hindu Religious Endowments Act was originally enacted by the Justice Party government in 1926.

The existing Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department functions under the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Act of 1959.

Dravidian architecture style features principal elements like Garbhagriha, Vimana, Gopuram, Mandapa, and Prakara.

Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple, constructed by Rajaraja Chola I, was completed in 1010 CE.

Nataraja bronze sculptures cast using the lost-wax technique reached their artistic peak during the Imperial Chola period.

Rock-cut cave temples and monolithic rathas at Mahabalipuram were introduced during the reign of Pallava king Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I.

The Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Marriage Assistance Scheme was originally introduced in 1989 to help financial background families.

Tamil Nadu was the first Indian state to establish a Welfare Board for Transgender Persons in 2008.

Social reformer Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar authored the social reform Tamil novel 'Dasigalin Mosavalai'.

Article 41 of the Constitution directs the State to secure public assistance in cases of old age, sickness, and disablement.

The 'Pudhumai Penn' scheme launched in 2022 provides ₹1,000 monthly assistance to girl students pursuing higher education.

Tamil Nadu became the first state in India to launch free bus transport for women under the 'Vidiyal Payanam' initiative in May 2021.

Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) is the nodal agency for sports promotion in the state, established in 1993.

The Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation was launched to support underprivileged athletes competing internationally.

Tamil Nadu hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad at Mamallapuram in July-August 2022.

The 6th Khelo India Youth Games were successfully hosted across four major cities in Tamil Nadu in January 2024.

Article 47 of the Directive Principles of State Policy directs the State to improve public health and standards of living.

Tamil Nadu coastline spans 1,076 km, making it one of the leading maritime states in marine fish production.

Tamil Nadu has the 2nd longest coastline in India among coastal states after Gujarat.

Article 202 of the Constitution mandates the presentation of the Annual Financial Statement in State Assembly.

Pudhumai Penn Scheme was launched in 2022 providing ₹1,000 monthly grant to female students for higher education.

Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thittam provides a monthly entitlement of ₹1,000 to eligible women family heads.

NABARD established in 1982 serves as the apex development financial institution for agriculture and rural welfare.

Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district was selected as ISRO's second spaceport dedicated for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).

ISRO's primary spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, is located at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Under Article 202 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor causes the Annual Financial Statement (State Budget) to be laid before the State Legislature.

Tamil Nadu launched its dedicated state-level Artificial Intelligence Policy in 2020 to promote AI adoption and ethical frameworks.

TIDEL Park in Chennai, established in 2000, was the pioneer software technology park set up jointly by TIDCO and ELCOT.

ELCOT (Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu) serves as the nodal agency for ICT hardware procurement and IT infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu.

SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) was established in 1971 to promote industrial infrastructure growth across Tamil Nadu.

The Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College in Chennai, established in 1891, is the oldest law college in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University (TNDALU) was established in 1997 in Chennai as India's first specialized law university.

The School of Excellence in Law (SOEL) was established in 2002 under TNDALU to offer premium legal education.

Tamil Nadu passed the Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Act, 2021 to dispense with NEET requirements.

Education was moved from the State List to the Concurrent List under the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976.

Article 246 of the Indian Constitution distributes legislative powers between the Union and the State legislatures across three lists.

K. Kamaraj served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1954 to 1963 and introduced free education and the Midday Meal Scheme.

July 15, the birth anniversary of K. Kamaraj, is celebrated annually as Educational Development Day in Tamil Nadu.

Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme was launched in 2022 to provide nutritious morning meals for primary school students in Class 1 to 5.

Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act 2002, guarantees free and compulsory education for ages 6 to 14.

Ennum Ezhuthum scheme was launched by the Tamil Nadu government to bridge Corona learning loss and ensure foundational literacy/numeracy for children below 8.

Pudhumai Penn Scheme provides ₹1000 per month financial assistance for girl students who studied Class 6 to 12 in government schools to pursue higher education.

Naan Mudhalvan scheme was launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2022 to provide skill guidance and career placement for youth.

Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) was established in 2013 as a Section 25 non-profit company to drive skill training in the state.

Pudhumai Penn scheme provides financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month to female students who studied in government schools from Class 6 to 12.

Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme was launched in September 2022 to provide free nutritious breakfast to primary school children in Classes 1-5.

Ennum Ezhuthum mission aims to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy for all children under eight years of age in Tamil Nadu by 2025.

Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) of the UN focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth and decent work for all.

Article 202 of the Indian Constitution mandates the presentation of the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) before the State Legislature.

Article 293 of the Constitution regulates borrowings by States and details provisions for central loans and approval for executive borrowing.

Tamil Nadu Fiscal Responsibility Act was enacted in 2003 to ensure statutory bounds on fiscal deficit and debt management.

State’s Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) comprises State GST, Stamp Duty and Registration Fees, Land Revenue, and Taxes on Vehicles and State Excise.

Under FRBM norms, the fiscal deficit of states is targeting a statutory limit of 3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).