• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Raising Day is celebrated every year on 10 March.
• The day is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices and contributions of CISF personnel in safeguarding the nation’s critical assets and ensuring the safety and security of the people.

ABOUT CISF

• CISF was established under the CISF Act, 1968 on March 10, 1969.
• CISF’S Motto- “Protection and Security”
• The force started with just three battalions and 2,800 personnel.
• Now, it has grown to become one of the largest security forces in the country with over 1,65,000 personnel.
• CISF comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headquartered in New Delhi.
• The force was created to provide security to various industrial installations, government infrastructure projects, and public sector undertakings in India.
• Presently, CISF is also providing security to the protected persons classified as Z Plus, Z, X, Y.
• CISF is the only force with a customized and dedicated fire wing.

• Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova won the coveted Miss World 2024 title at a grand event in Mumbai.
  • Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was named the first runner-up.
  • Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska from Poland crowned her successor at the star-studded finale here.
• Pyszkova is the second Miss World from Czech Republic after 2006 pageant winner Tatana Kucharova.
• Pyszkova is a Czech model who is pursuing separate degrees in law and business administration.
• Pyszkova, who is in her 20s, is also the founder of the Krystyna Pyszko Foundation.
• The model, who is fluent in English, Polish, Slovak, and German languages, is an advocate for sustainable development through education.

ABOUT THE EVENT

• India hosted the event after 28 years
• India was represented by 22-year-old Sini Shetty.
  • Mumbai-born Shetty was crowned Femina Miss India World in 2022.
• India has won the prestigious title six times — Reita Faria Powell (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017).

• A “mass bleaching event” is unfolding on Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef, authorities said recently, as warming seas threaten the spectacular home to thousands of marine species.
• The damaging mass bleaching event — the seventh since 1998 — was confirmed by government scientists following aerial surveys of 300 shallow reefs.
• Before this event, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffered mass coral bleaching in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022.
• The World Heritage Committee has considered to put the reef on a list of “in danger” global heritage sites

ABOUT GBR

• Often dubbed as the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300 km (1,400 mile) expanse of tropical corals that house a stunning array of biodiversity.
• It is made up of around 3,000 individual reefs and reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps.
• It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1981.

ABOUT CORAL BLEACHING

• Coral bleaching occurs when underwater temperatures are more than one degree warmer than the long-term average.
• As corals come under heat stress, they expel algae living within their tissues — draining them of their vibrant colours.
• Corals have the ability to recover, depending on the intensity of heat stress and its duration. However, prolonged or intense heat can prove fatal to corals.

• Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu.
• At 73, Sudha Murty is a renowned philanthropist, author, and former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation.
• Her husband, Narayana Murthy, is the founder of the IT giant Infosys, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is her son-in-law.
• Murty is also a writer in English and Kannada.
  • With 30 books and over 200 titles, including novels, non-fiction, children’s books, travelogues, technical books, and memoirs to her name. Her works have been translated into major Indian languages, selling over 26 lakh copies across the country.
• Awards
  • In 2006, Sudha Murty was awarded the Padma Shri – the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
  • In 2023, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan – the third-highest civilian award.
  • Literary awards- RK Narayan Award for Literature, the Attimabbe Award for Excellence in Kannada Literature in 2011, and the Lifetime Achievement by Crossword Book Awards in 2018 reflect her significant impact.

NOMINATION TO RAJYA SABHA

• Under Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, the subject “Nominations to the Rajya Sabha” is allocated to Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The President of India nominates 12 members to the Upper House of Parliament for their outstanding contributions to arts, literature, sciences, and social services. (Under Article 80 (3) of Constitution)

• In recognition of country’s tireless efforts to combat Measles and Rubella, India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by The Measles and Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington D.C., USA.
• The Measles and Rubella Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO, all dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness.

ABOUT MEASLES

• Measles is a highly contagious virus, spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing.
• It is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype.
• It is particularly dangerous for children from the economically weaker background, as it attacks malnourished children and those with reduced immunity.

ABOUT RUBELLA

• Rubella (German Measles) is acute, contagious viral infection transmitted by airborne droplets when infected people sneeze or cough.
• Humans are the only known host.
• Rubella and measles share some signs and symptoms, such as the red rash but are caused by different viruses and rubella isn’t as infectious or as severe as measles.

About vaccine

• Measles and Rubella are vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs).

MR Vaccine is part of India’s Universal Immunization Programme since 2017

• Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd (MPVL), has received its largest ever order from the Election Commission for 26.55 lakh vials of indelible ink worth ₹55 crore.
  • MPVL is an enterprise started by the Mysore Maharajas and has been supplying ink for every election in the country for over six decades.
  • It is the sole manufacturer of indelible ink.
  • MVPL also exports the ink to other nations.
• The country will need 26.55 lakh vials of the marker for upcoming general elections.
• Each 10 mg vial of indelible ink can mark approximately 700 voters, ensuring a free and fair electoral process by preventing duplicate voting.

ABOUT THE INK

• The ink is used under Rule 49K of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 that provides putting an indelible ink mark on the left forefinger of the elector as a safeguard against impersonation.
• It was developed by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi – a constituent laboratory of CSIR – in 1961.
• It was patented by CSIR-National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi.
• The NRDC issued the license and know-how to Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL), a Government of Karnataka undertaking, in 1962.
• Working
  • The ink contains silver nitrate that reacts with the chemicals on the skin and nail to leave a semi-permanent mark.
  • The ink dries up on the skin and leaves the black/purple mark in less than one minute and can stay for several weeks.
  • This ink is skin safe and is resistant to water, detergents, soaps and other solvents.

This ensures that a voter cannot easily erase the mark and vote again within a short timeframe.

• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur grandly inaugurated the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh 3.0 at the Luhnu Cricket Ground in Bilaspur, Hamirpur constituency.
• The Union Minister said as many as 40,000 athletes participated in the first edition of Sansad Khel Mahakumbh in 2018 while 45,000 aspiring sportspersons took part in the second edition of the event.

The target for the third edition is the participation of 75,000 players.

• The Union Cabinet decided to extend the subsidy of ₹300 per LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills per year till the end of next financial year.
• About 27 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will get the benefit of the scheme with its continuation set to incur ₹12,000 crore.
  • The Centre had started a targeted subsidy of ₹200 per cylinder for up to 12 refills per annum to the PMUY consumers in May 2022.
  • In October 2023, the Centre increased the subsidy to ₹300 per cylinder for up to 12 refills per year.

About PMUY

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in 2016, with the aim to provide Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to five crore women members of below poverty line (BPL) households in the first phase.
  • The scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories (SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, Most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers, Islands).
  • In the second phase the target was expanded to eight crore LPG connections.
• Objective- to provide clean cooking fuel to rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels.
• Nodal Ministry- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• Government provides financial support of Rs. 1600 for each LPG connection.

• Tokyo Olympian Sai Praneeth has formally announced his retirement from competitive badminton.
• He will be shifting to the US with his family for a new role as Badminton Coach.

• Puneri Paltan won Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League after defeating Haryana Steelers 28-25 to secure their maiden championship.
• The final was held at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad.
• Puneri Paltan had finished second in the previous edition, losing 33-29 to Jaipur Pink Panthers.
• Now, they have secured their first title in 10 attempts.

Meanwhile, the Steelers lost their first final in the competition.