The centre is in the process of integrating the e-Shram portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment with the One Nation One Ration Card scheme.

About the e-Shram Portal:

• Launched in August 2021 by the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• It is a national database to register unorganised workers.
• Each registered worker will be issued an identity card, which can be used across the country to avail any benefits announced by the Government.

What is One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)?

• The ONORC scheme is aimed at enabling migrant workers and their family members to buy subsidised ration from any fair price shop anywhere in the country under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• ONORC was launched in August, 2019.
• Implementing Agency: Department for the nation-wide portability of ration cards under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• Eligibility: Any citizen, who is declared under Below Poverty Line (BPL) category is eligible to get the benefit of this scheme across the country.

• National Cyber Forensic Laboratory’ (NCFL) was inaugurated on the premises of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad.
• The NCFL plans to expedite the resolution of cybercrime cases in the country.

• The Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary in Rajasthan was notified as India’s 52nd tiger reserve.
• This is Rajasthan’s fourth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundra.
• The newly notified tiger reserve includes the tiger habitat between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in the northeast and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve on the southern side and facilitates dispersal of tigers from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

• Various amenities were inaugurated at ancient Kanheri Caves on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
• They are located in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, in the western outskirts of Mumbai.
• They cover the period from 2nd to 9th century AD. It has around 100 caves.
• They belong to the Hinayana phase of Buddhist architecture.
• However, additions were made when Mahayana Buddhism was gaining ground. Ex: 5th century image of Buddha.
• Kanheri was mentioned in the travelogues of foreign travellers. The earliest reference of Kanheri is ascribed to Fa-Hein who visited India during 399-411 CE.

• The Supreme Court has slammed the Kerala government for State’s inaction in providing relief to the Endosulfan pesticide exposure victims.
• From the mid-70s, Kerala villages used aerial spraying of endosulfan on 4,600-ha. cashew nut plantation. Locals reportedly experienced illnesses, palsies and deformities.
• This also amounts to a breach of the apex court’s 2017 judgment, which had ordered the State to pay ₹5 lakh each to the victims in three months.

What is endosulfan?

• It is a widely-banned pesticide with hazardous effects on human genetic and endocrine systems.
• It does not occur naturally in the environment.
• It is listed under the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent.
• Use of endosulfan is banned by Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
• The Supreme Court in India has banned the manufacture, sale, use, and export of endosulfan throughout the country, citing its harmful health effects in 2011.
• Uses: Sprayed on crops like cotton, cashew, fruits, tea, paddy, tobacco etc. for control of pests in agriculture such as whiteflies, aphids, beetles, worms etc.
• Effects on humans: This pesticide is a known carcinogen, neurotoxin and genotoxin (damages DNA).
• Environmental effects: Endosulfan in the environment gets accumulated in food chains leading to higher doses causing problems.

• At a conference hosted by New Delhi, India, Pakistan, and other members of the Shanghai Collaboration Organisation (SCO) discussed enhancing cooperation in fighting various regional security problems.
• The conference is being held as part of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
• India assumed chairmanship of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO) on October 28 last year for a period of one year.

About RATS:

The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Andrew Symonds, former Australian all-rounder, died in a car accident outside Townsville in Queensland state of Australia.

• The Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Communications (MoC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) launched the GatiShakti Sanchar portal for Centralised Right of Way (RoW) approvals. It was launched on the lines of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
• This portal will provide a robust mechanism to achieve the goal of Broadband for All as envisaged in the National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP)-2.
• The portal has been developed keeping in view the vision areas of the National Broadband Mission, which is majorly about providing broadband infrastructure to every citizen.
• The portal shall act as an enabler to the objective of “Ease of doing business” for telecommunications infrastructure works.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (popularly known as MBZ) has been unanimously Elected President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the Federal Supreme Council. He is also the Ruler of  Abu Dhabi (UAE).

• According to the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (UAE), he will succeed the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former President of the UAE, and his appointment is made in accordance with Article 51 of the Constitution.

 Dr. Manik Saha, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Tripura and a Rajya Sabha member, was sworn in as the Chief Minister (CM) of Tripura.