Published on: April 19, 2025
Snippets : 19 APRIL 2025
Snippets : 19 APRIL 2025
- A recent study conducted by the Hampi Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Circle and Goa-based Samvardhan Heritage Solutions has revealed that almost all ASI-protected monuments within the World Heritage Site of Hampi are vulnerable and require urgent restoration. The study, aimed at outlining conservation priorities over the next decade, involved photographic documentation and structural assessments of each monument. Hampi, once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and spread across 4,187 hectares in the Tungabhadra basin, houses around 1,600 monuments, with 57 protected by the ASI. The monuments were categorized into three levels of concern: “Major Concern” for nine highly unstable structures such as the Vijaya Vittala Temple and Lotus Mahal; “Moderate Concern” for 11 monuments showing signs of decay; and “Minor Concern” for those needing periodic attention. The two-month study included environmental impact analysis and found threats from human activities like mining and tourism, natural factors such as rainfall and vegetation, and financial constraints noted in a June 2024 report, which highlighted funding shortages impeding restoration efforts.
- Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has nominated Justice B R Gavai as his successor, recommending him to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Currently the second senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai is expected to take oath on May 14, 2025, a day after Justice Khanna’s retirement on May 13, and would serve until November 23, 2025. If appointed, he would become the second Dalit Chief Justice of India, after Justice K G Balakrishnan. Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, he is the son of R S Gavai, a former Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala, and a former Rajya Sabha MP. Justice Gavai joined the Bar in 1985, initially working with Barrister Raja S Bhonsale, and began independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987, later focusing on Constitutional and Administrative Law at the Nagpur Bench. He has served as Standing Counsel for various municipal bodies and universities and held roles such as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor (1992–1993), and Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor (2000). He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, became a Permanent Judge in 2005, and was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019.
- The ancient Indian texts Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra have been inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, acknowledging India’s deep intellectual and artistic legacy. The register preserves valuable documentary heritage such as books, manuscripts, and recordings. The Bhagavad Gita, part of the Mahabharata and dating to the 2nd or 1st century BCE, consists of 700 verses in the form of a dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna. It explores concepts such as duty (Dharma), righteous action (Karma), devotion (Bhakti), and knowledge (Jnana), offering practical spiritual wisdom. The Natyashastra, authored by Bharatmuni, is a foundational Sanskrit text on the performing arts with 36 chapters and over 6,000 verses. It serves as a manual for dramatists, actors, dancers, and musicians, focusing on performance techniques, audience impact, and the emotional essence of art through the concept of Rasa. Together, these texts reflect India’s significant contributions to global culture, spirituality, and artistic expression.
- Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India. The Law Commission is a non-statutory, advisory body constituted by the Union Government and functions under the Ministry of Law and Justice. Although not defined under the Constitution, it aligns with Article 39A which promotes equal justice and free legal aid. It is an ad hoc body, set up for a specific purpose and tenure. The first Law Commission in India was established in 1834 during British rule under the Charter Act of 1833, chaired by Lord Macaulay. Post-independence, the first Law Commission was formed in 1955, headed by M.C. Setalvad, India’s first Attorney General. Since then, 22 commissions have been formed, with the 22nd chaired by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi. A new Law Commission is constituted by a government resolution, requiring Presidential assent, and its Chairperson is typically a retired Supreme Court judge. The Commission includes legal experts, academicians, senior advocates, and sometimes former bureaucrats, appointed for a three-year term. Its primary functions include reviewing existing laws to identify obsolete ones, proposing new legislation, simplifying legal processes, and recommending judicial reforms to improve the delivery of justice and reduce delays in the system.
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) executed a major operation dubbed ‘Operation Chakra-V’ to clamp down on digital arrest scams, resulting in the arrest of four individuals.
- On April 11, 2025, the CEA launched the STELLAR Model for advanced electricity planning in India. The STELLAR Model aids states in resource adequacy planning per 2023 Ministry of Power guidelines. It ensures optimal generation, transmission, and storage planning for future electricity demand. The model supports integrated planning with demand response as a core feature. It helps states comply with dynamic resource adequacy requirements. Developed in India, it’s user-friendly, transparent, and regularly updated based on feedback. The software is free for all states and discoms, ensuring uniform access. Collaboration with TLG and ADB enhances the model’s development.
- The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) recently signed an official agreement with the Government of India, establishing India as the headquarters and secretariat of the alliance. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger and formally approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2024, the IBCA aims to conserve seven major big cat species—Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah. It is implemented through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The alliance currently has five ratifying members: India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia. Membership is open to all UN member states, including range countries where big cats naturally occur, and non-range countries interested in supporting global big cat conservation. India formally joined the IBCA in September 2023 by ratifying the framework agreement, and with five ratifications, the IBCA gained status as a treaty-based intergovernmental organization. India has also committed ₹150 crore for the period 2023–2028 to support the alliance’s operations, including creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure, and covering recurring expenses.
- The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has partnered with IIT Bombay to launch a pilot Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) project aimed at evaluating the technology’s feasibility. V2G technology allows Electric Vehicles (EVs) to send stored electricity back to the grid when not in use, utilizing bi-directional chargers for two-way energy flow. During charging, EVs serve as a load on the grid, with energy consumption managed through Time of Use (ToU) tariffs to alleviate peak demand. Conversely, during discharging, they can provide energy to the grid during high-demand periods or when renewable energy generation is low. While V2G is part of a broader framework that includes Vehicle to Home (V2H) and Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) applications, it remains the most extensively explored aspect of this technology.
- A recent study commissioned by the Principal Scientific Adviser has recommended that the Union Environment Ministry reconsider its 2015 policy requiring all 537 coal-fired power plants in India to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) equipment. FGD systems are designed to remove sulfur compounds, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO2), from the exhaust of fossil-fueled power stations, achieving up to 95% removal efficiency through industrial processes that use absorbents. The predominant method employed in large power plants is the wet process, where flue gases are treated with an aqueous absorbent solution, commonly involving lime or limestone slurry. The need for FGD arises from the fact that many fossil fuels, including coal, contain sulfur, which is released into the atmosphere during combustion; some coals can have sulfur content as high as 4%, leading to substantial emissions, particularly in facilities that burn over 5,000 tonnes of coal daily.
- an automated teller machine (ATM) aboard the Panchvati Express, in coordination with the Bank of Maharashtra. Under the initiative by the Central Railway’s Bhusawal division, an ATM kiosk was installed in an unutilised space in one of the coaches on the Manmad-Mumbai train. The move is also aimed at generating non-fare revenue
- The Anti-Piracy Challenge is a key initiative under the “Create in India” initiative, aimed at promoting indigenous innovation in Digital Content Security. This flagship challenge is part of the upcoming WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit) 2025, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, set to take place from May 1–4, 2025, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The challenge focuses on advancing technologies such as fingerprinting and watermarking to address the growing issue of digital piracy in India. WAVES 2025 is a global summit that positions India as a hub for media innovation, intellectual property creation, and content development, encompassing sectors like broadcasting, films, TV, radio, animation, gaming, comics, advertising, and emerging technologies such as Generative AI and AR/VR/XR. The event supports India’s $30 billion Creative Economy, which employs nearly 8% of the workforce, and contributes to the growth of the Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector, projected to reach $44.2 billion by 2028, making India the fifth largest globally in this field.
