• Mount Etna volcano has erupted recently.
• It is located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania.
• Mount Etna is the highest Mediterranean island mountain.
• It is the most active stratovolcano in world.
• It is the tallest active volcano in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It lies above the convergent plate margin between African plate and Eurasian plate.
• The volcano has been erupting for the past 500,000 years and is one of the most studied volcanos in the world.

• Scientists are studying how Mexican axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) manage to quickly regenerate lost limbs, gills, tail, even their eyes, and parts of the head.
  • By understanding how axolotls regenerate lost body parts, we might be able to do the same in humans.
• The axolotl is a species of salamander (lizard-like amphibians) originally found in Lake Xochimilco, near Mexico City.
• Sadly, they are now almost extinct in the wild.
• Their gene pool survives among individuals bred in captivity for the pet trade and for aquaria.
• Even though they are amphibians, axolotls remain aquatic throughout their lives.
• The name ‘axolotl’, of Aztec origin, has been variously interpreted as ‘water dog’, ‘water twin’, ‘water sprite’, or ‘water slave’.
• IUCN red list- critically endangered
• Threats- The leading causes of Axolotl decline are human development, waste water disposal, and loss of habitat due to droughts.

• The National Campaign for Updation and Verification of People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) was launched in Goa recently.
• It marks a significant step towards the documentation and preservation of India’s rich biological diversity.
• There is a plan to set up PBR in every village across the country under Mission LiFE– lifestyle for environment.

ABOUT PEOPLE’S BIODIVERSITY REGISTER

• The People’s Biodiversity Register serves as a comprehensive record of various aspects of biodiversity, including the conservation of habitats, preservation of land races, folk varieties and cultivars, domesticated stocks and breeds of animals, micro-organisms, and the accumulation of knowledge related to the area’s biological diversity.
• As per the Biological Diversity Act 2002, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) are created for “promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity” by local bodies across the country.
• BMCs have been constituted by the local bodies in the States and Union Territories and are entrusted with preparation of the People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), in consultation with local communities.

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently directed that no further mining in the Son river bed in district Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh is to be allowed until further action to protect the river and the animals in the area.
• The directive addresses illegal mining, imposing environmental compensation on mining companies.
• Local authorities of Sonbhadra and the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) have been instructed to ensure compliance of directive.

ABOUT SON RIVER

• The Son River, also spelled as the Sone River, is a perennial river that flows through central India.
• It originates near Amarkantak Hill in the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district of Chhattisgarh.
• It flows through four states: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
• It joins the Ganga near Danapur in Patna district of Bihar.
• Total length– 784 kms
• Tributaries– Rihand, North Koel, Ghaghar, Johilla, Chhoti Mahanadi, Banas, Gopad, , Kanhar
• Dams– Bansagar Dam, Rihand Dam, Indrapuri Barrage etc .

• The central government recently promulgated an Ordinance that undid the unanimous verdict of a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, which gave the elected government of Delhi control over the transfer and posting of officials in the National Capital Territory (NCT), except with regard to public order, police, and land.
• The ordinance gave the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (appointed by the Centre) power over services.
• It established a “National Capital Civil Service Authority” comprising the Chief Minister and two senior IAS officials.
• The authority would decide matters “by majority of votes of the members present and voting”.

ABOUT ORDINANCE

• Ordinances are promulgated by President of India.
• An ordinance is a law, and could introduce legislative changes.
• Article 123 of the Constitution deals with the “Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament”.
• President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers to promulgate ordinances.
• The President can only promulgate an Ordinance when both houses or either of the house is not in session.
• An ordinance can be retrospective in nature.
• Lapse
  • The Parliament has to approve the ordinance within six weeks (42 days) of its reassembly.
  • The Ordinance may lapse earlier if the President withdraws it.
  • Ordinance will also cease to operate in case resolutions disapproving the Ordinance are passed by both the Houses.
• Associated cases
  • DC Wadhwa vs. State of Bihar (1986) – “an Ordinance promulgated by the Governor to meet an emergent situation shall cease to be in operation at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of the Legislature.”
  • AK Roy vs. Union of India (1982)– The Supreme Court argued that the President’s Ordinance making power is not beyond the scope of judicial review.
  • Krishna Kumar Singh and Another v. State of Bihar (2017)- SC held that legislation should normally be done by the legislature, and the Governor’s power to issue an Ordinance is in the nature of an emergency power.

• The heritage structure of Bantony Castle is all set to become a major tourist attraction as the Department of Language, Art and Culture today started a light-and-sound show, detailing the historical importance of the state capital, Shimla.
• The 125-year-old Bantony Castle complex, located on the road connecting The Mall to the Kalibari temple, was the summer palace of the erstwhile Maharaja of Sirmaur.

• The Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuratna has successfully reached Mumbai, India, after undergoing a significant upgrade in Russia.
• INS Sindhuratna is a diesel-electric submarine belonging to the Sindhughosh-class.
• It was commissioned in 1988 and has undergone several upgrades and refits to extend its operational life and capabilities.
• It plays a significant role in operational readiness of the Western Naval Command at Mumbai.
• With its modernized weapon and sensor suite, the submarine strengthens India’s maritime capabilities and contributes to safeguarding the nation’s interests and security in the Indian Ocean Region

• Veteran actor Sarath Babu has passed away recently aged 71.
• Born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu on July 31, 1951, in Amudalavalasa in AP, he adopted Sarath Babu for the screen.
• He started his career in films in 1973 with Rama Rajyam in Telugu.
• He got a big break with K Balachander for the film Nizhal Nijamagiradu in 1978 which was remade into Idi kadha kaadu in Telugu

• Indian Railways has handed over 20 broad gauge (BG) locomotives to Bangladesh in a bid to strengthen bilateral relations.
• A commitment regarding this was made by the Indian government during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in 2019.
• The locomotives, valued at over Rs 100 crore, will help augment Bangladesh’s railway network and improve passenger and freight train

• All the 23 police stations under the Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate are likely to get e-Malkhana soon.
• e-Malkhana is a scientific way of storing property and evidence recovered from crime scene.
• The property seized and evidences collected from the crime scene can be stored in standard size cardboard boxes, which will be numbered with other details.
• A dynamic QR code will be generated and pasted on the box.
• A dedicated website is also hosted and all details pertaining to the case and property will be uploaded.