Current Context : Banu Mushtaq’s Kannada short-story collection Heart Lamp, was announced as the winner of the International Booker Prize 2025 at a ceremony in London’s Tate Modern.

About

• What is it?
• The International Booker Prize is awarded annually for a work of fiction translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Heart Lamp is a collection of 12 stories originally written in Kannada.

About the Book

• Title: Heart Lamp
• Author: Banu Mushtaq
• Translator: Deepa Bhasthi
• Publisher: And Other Stories
• Language: Originally in Kannada
• Themes: Women’s rights, caste, faith, power, and oppression
• Content: A collection of 12 short stories written between 1990 and 2023, portraying the lives of women and girls in patriarchal communities in southern India.

• Significance : It is the first Kannada-language book and the first short-story collection to win the International Booker Prize, and Deepa Bhasthi is the first Indian translator to receive this award.

Current Context : Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ initiative during the International Day for Women in Maritime celebrations in Mumbai to boost women’s representation at all levels of the maritime sector.

About

• What is it?
• ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ is a policy framework of the Government of India, launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aimed at creating a gender-equitable maritime workforce from dockside roles to decision-making boards.
• Background : The initiative aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030 and the government’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) objectives, addressing the historical under-representation of women in the sector.
• Objectives : Empower women through inclusivity, safety, leadership training, skill development, and the dismantling of gender-based barriers within maritime professions. A target of 12% female representation in technical maritime roles by 2030 has been set.
• Growth in Women Seafarers : Women seafarers in India grew from 341 in 2014 to 2,557 in 2024, a 649% increase, with nearly 2,989 women receiving government financial assistance during this period.
• Linkages with SDGs : Supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by fostering equitable employment and leadership opportunities for women.

Current Context : Dr. M. R. Srinivasan, a pioneering Indian nuclear scientist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, passed away, at the age of 95 in Ooty, Tamil Nadu.

About

• Who was he?
• Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan was instrumental in developing India’s nuclear power programme, contributing significantly to the nation’s self-reliance in nuclear energy.
• Education
  He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in 1950 and completed his master’s and Ph.D. in gas turbine technology from McGill University, Canada, by 1954.
• Institutional Roles : As the founding Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), Dr. Srinivasan oversaw the development of 18 nuclear power units, significantly advancing India’s nuclear energy capabilities.
• Awards and Honours : He was honored with the Padma Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (1990), and Padma Vibhushan (2015) for his outstanding contributions to science and engineering.
• Global Recognition : Srinivasan served as a senior adviser at the International Atomic Energy Agency and was a founding member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

Current Context : Renowned Indian astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar passed away at the age of 86. He was renowned for his contributions to theoretical physics, particularly the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity

About Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity

• What is it?
• The Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity is a conformal theory of gravity that incorporates Mach’s principle, proposing that the gravitational constant is determined by the mean density of matter in the universe.
• Background / History
• Developed in the 1960s by Fred Hoyle and Jayant Narlikar, the theory was inspired by the Wheeler–Feynman absorber theory for electrodynamics and aimed to provide an alternative to the Big Bang theory.
• Scientific Impact
• The theory contributed to the development of the quasi-steady state model of the universe and sparked discussions on the nature of gravity and cosmology.

Observed globally on May 23.

• Theme : “Dancing Turtles Rock!”
• Objective : The day encourages human action to help turtles and tortoises survive and thrive, focusing on habitat preservation and protection from illegal trade and other threats.
• Background : Established in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a nonprofit organization founded in 1990, the day aims to raise awareness about the threats faced by these reptiles.

Current Context : Thousands of locals in the Canary Islands protested against the negative impacts of mass tourism, demanding sustainable tourism policies.

About

• The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa (approx. 100 km from Morocco).
• Largest and most populated Macaronesian archipelago.
• Major islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura.
• Capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• Area: 7,447 sq.km.
• Formed from volcanic activity; includes Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak (3,718 m).
• Has a subtropical climate with minimal seasonal variation.

Current Context : Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) demolished 36 illegal bungalows in the River Villa project built within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River, following NGT orders.

About

• Indrayani River: Rain-fed tributary of the Bhima River (which flows into Krishna River), originates from the Western Ghats near Lonavala.
• Flows through Pune district and merges into Bhima River at Tulapur.
• Length: 103.5 km. Known for religious towns like Alandi (samadhi of Dnyaneshwar) and Dehu (birthplace of Sant Tukaram).
• Important for irrigation and local agriculture in Pimpri-Chinchwad area.
• Valvan Dam at Kamshet on Indrayani River is a hydroelectric station.

Current Context : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released revised draft guidelines concerning investments made by Regulated Entities (REs) in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

About

• Regulated Entities (REs): Financial institutions regulated by authorities like RBI, SEBI, IRDAI (e.g., Banks, NBFCs, Insurance Companies).
• REs ensure financial stability, regulatory compliance, and prevent financial crimes like fraud and money laundering.
• Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs): Privately pooled investment vehicles regulated by SEBI under the 2012 AIF Regulations.
• AIFs collect capital from high-net-worth and institutional investors, investing in various asset classes.
• AIFs can be set up as trusts, LLPs, companies, etc.

Categories of AIFs

• Category I: Invest in start-ups, SMEs, infrastructure, social ventures (e.g., Venture Capital Funds, Angel Funds).
• Category II: PE Funds, Debt Funds, Real Estate Funds; cannot use leverage (except operationally).
• Category III: Hedge Funds, PIPE Funds; can use complex strategies and leverage; can be open or close-ended.

Current Context : Operation Olivia, initiated by the Indian Coast Guard, has successfully protected over 8 lakh Olive Ridley turtles this nesting season along Odisha’s Gahirmatha coast.

About Operation Olivia

• Started in the 1980s by the Indian Coast Guard.
• Conducted annually from November to May to monitor and safeguard the turtles’ mass nesting, known as Arribada.
• Key Locations:
  • Gahirmatha Beach
  • Rushikulya River Mouth
  • Devi River Mouth
• Objective: To protect nesting grounds, prevent poaching, and ensure safe hatching and return of the turtles to sea.

About Olive Ridley Turtles

• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea.
• Habitat: Circumtropical distribution – across tropical oceans, excluding the Gulf of Mexico.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I (highest protection against international trade)

Current Context : President Droupadi Murmu has referred 14 legal questions to the Supreme Court of India under Article 143, invoking the constitutional provision for seeking the Court’s advisory opinion on important legal matters.

About the Presidential Reference

• It is a constitutional tool under Article 143 of the Indian Constitution that empowers the President to seek the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court.
• Two-fold Provision of Article 143:
  • Article 143(1): Allows the President to refer any question of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court.
  • Article 143(2): Pertains to disputes involving pre-Constitutional treaties or agreements, enabling reference for judicial clarification.
• Nature of the Opinion: The Court’s advice is not binding, but holds strong persuasive value and is generally respected by the executive and judiciary.
• Procedure:
  • The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
  • As per Article 145, a minimum 5-judge Bench hears the matter.
• Historical Origin: The concept derives from the Government of India Act, 1935, which authorized the Governor-General to refer questions to the Federal Court.
• International Comparisons:
  • Canada: Allows advisory opinions by the Supreme Court.
  • United States: Does not allow advisory opinions due to a strict separation of powers.