GREENLAND
News – Greenland’s prime minister says island isn’t for sale as Trump seeks control ‘one way or the other
- Greenland is the world’s largest island
- Location – located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canada
- Sovereignty – Autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark
- Capital – Nuuk
- Highest Point – Gunnbjorn’s Fjeld
- Climate – Extremely cold, reaching upto -50°C
- Greenland has 2nd Largest ice sheet in world after Antarctica
- Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals, which are crucial for modern technologies
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
News – RJD’s Sunil Kumar returns as Bihar MLC
- It is also known as the – Vidhan Parishad
- It is the – Upper House in the bicameral legislature
- Article 169: Allows the creation or abolition of a Legislative Council in a state by Parliament
- Six states have Legislative Councils:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Composition-
- Maximum – one-third of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly
- Minimum of – 40 members.
ELAVYA SCHOOLS
News – Little progress in centralising administration of Eklavya schools
- Model – “Eklavya Model Residential Schools” (EMRS)
- Objective: EMRS aims to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas
- Introduced in – 1997-98
- Criteria – to establish schools in every block with more than 50% ST population
- Implementing Agency: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Features-
- Schools include hostels, staff quarters, playgrounds
- They focus on the holistic development of students
D-Voters
- D-voters, or Doubtful Voters, is a term unique to Assam
- About – It refers to individuals whose citizenship status is under dispute.
- They are People who couldn’t provide sufficient proof of their Indian citizenship were marked as “D” in the electoral rolls.
- Resolution:
- If a D-voter is declared an Indian citizen by the tribunal.
- Then, their name is removed from the “D” category, and they regain their voting rights.
- Impact –
- D-voters are barred from voting in elections.
- They cannot contest elections or hold public office.
TUNISIA
News – 40 opposition figures on trial in Tunisia
- Location: Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa
- Bordered by – Algeria, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea.
- Capital: Tunis.
- Strategic Importance: it is a key player in trade and migration routes.
- Historical Significance – Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spring in 2010-2011
- Economy – Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and tourism
- Member of organizations like – United Nations, African Union, and Arab League.
BOFORS
News – CBI sends judicial request to U.S. seeking information on Bofors Case
- Bofors Scandal-
- A major political and defense procurement scandal in the 1980s
- It involved allegations of corruption in a deal between the Indian government and the AB Bofors.
- Political Impact – Led to fallout of Rajiv Gandhi govt.
- About Bofors howitzer guns-
- Used in Kargil War
- Caliber – 155 mm
- Range – 42 Km
- Elevate up to 70 degrees
G-Sec
News – Reserve Bank to buy ₹1 lakh crore G-Secs
- Defn – G-Secs are tradable debt instruments issued by the Central Government or State govt
- Types of G-Secs-
- Treasury Bills – Short-term securities
- Dated securities – Long-term securities
- State Development Loans – Issued by state govt
- Importance of G-Sec-
- Helps govt in Borrowing
- Provides a safe investment option for investors
- Helps RBI to control Economy
MCQs
1. Greenland is autonomous territory under which country?
A. Russia
B. USA
C. United Kingdom
D. Denmark
2. Which state does NOT have legislative council?
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Bihar
D. Sikkim
3. Eklavya Model of school is specially made for whom?
A. Mentally Challenged Students
B. Sportspersons
C. Scheduled Tribes
D. Entrepreneurs
4. D-Voters are termed in the context of which state?
A. Assam
B. Odisha
C. Pakistan
D. Afghanistan
5. What is the capital of Tunisia?
A. Copenhagen
B. Algiers
C. Tunis
D. Budapest