- CENTRE SCRAPS NO DETENTION POLICY FOR CLASSES 5, 8 LAYS STRESS ON REMEDIAL MEASURES
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The Centre has done away with the “no detention” policy for Classes 5 and 8, paving the way for schools to hold back students who are unable to clear year-end examinations.
- While the Right to Education Act, 2009had been amended to scrap the no-detention policy as early as 2019, the Rules have been notified only now.
- At the same time, no student should be expelled from school until Class 8
- The Rules further state that if a child fails to fulfil the promotion criteria, as notified from time to time, they shall be given additional instruction and opportunity for re-examination within a period of two months, from the date of declaration of results. If the child fails to clear the re-exam, they should be held back
2. INDIA’S RELIANCE ON CHINA FOR CRITICAL MINERALS
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
- Critical Minerals :In 2023, India identified 30 critical minerals essential for economic growth and national security.
- Dependency on China:India imports heavily from China due to China’s dominance in mining, refining, and processing of minerals
- CHINA DOMINANT
- Resource Base: China has discovered 173 types of minerals, including energy, metallic, and non-metallic types.
- Processing Capacity:Controls over 87% of rare earth processing, 58% of lithium refining, and 68% of silicon processing.
- Strategic Approach:Investments in refining capabilities and supply chain control.
- Export Restrictions:China has imposed restrictions on exports like antimony and gallium to protect domestic industries
- India’s Dependence on Imports
- High Import Dependency: For minerals like bismuth (85.6%), lithium (82%), silicon (76%), titanium (50.6%), tellurium (48.8%), and graphite (42.4%).
- Challenges in Mining:Structural gaps in mining, refining, and processing technologies.
- Lithium Deposits Issue:Despite recent discoveries in Jammu and Kashmir, India lacks the capability to extract lithium economically.
3. ICAI PANEL PROBING ALLEGED AUDITING LAPSES IN BYJU’S CASE
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- It is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, viz., the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country.
- It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- It is the second largest professional body of chartered accountants in the world.
- The affairs of the ICAI are managed by a Council in accordance with the provisions of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, and the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988.
- Regulates the profession of Accountancy.
- Examination and education of Chartered Accountancy course.
- Continuing professional education of members.
- Conducting post-qualification courses.
- Formulation of accounting standards.
- Prescription of standard auditing procedures.
- Laying down ethical standards.
- Monitoring quality through peer review.
- Ensuring standards of performance of members.
- Exercise disciplinary jurisdiction.
- Financial reporting review.
- Input on policy matters to the government
4. BSF USING TECH TO PLUG GAPS ON BANGLADESH BORDER
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards the border along India and Bangladesh, has deployed a host of technological solutions to prevent infiltration and smuggling in patches of the border that is unfenced. Technological solutions means the deployment of cameras, drones, and other equipment to monitor movement along the border
- BSF was established in 1965following the India-Pakistan war to enhance border security.
- It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India and was raised in December 1965.
- It is the only CAPF which has its own Water Wing, Air Wing and other ancillary units.
- The Force Headquarters is in New Delhi.
- It works under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Earlier, the BSF could exercise its powers within 15 kilometres of the border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
- Later, through a notification issued in October 2021, the Centre expanded this to within 50 kilometres of the border
5. QUANTUM COMPUTING
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Quantum computers leverage quantum mechanics principles, unlike classical computers that use binary bits (0s and 1s).
- They operate on qubits, which utilize superposition (existence in multiple states simultaneously) and entanglement(instant connection between qubits).
- Proposed by Richard Feynman in 1982to simulate quantum systems more effectively than classical computers
- Superposition: A qubit can represent 0, 1, or both states simultaneously, increasing computational power.
- Entanglement: Enables qubits to influence each other instantly, enhancing parallel processing.
- Quantum Supremacy: Demonstrated by Google’s 53-qubit Sycamore processor, solving problems in seconds that would take classical computers thousands of years.
- Quantum computers outperform classical computers in solving specific tasks like factorizing large numbers (Shor’s algorithm) and optimization problems.
- Example: IBM’s Q System One, the first commercial quantum computer, marks progress in making quantum computing accessible.
