• Supreme Court has highlighted the problem of affluent getting pre-trial injunctions from courts against the media and civil society, restricting free speech and public’s right to information.
  • According to bench, an injunction, particularly ex-parte (without hearing all parties to a case), should not be granted without establishing that the content sought to be restricted is ‘malicious’ or ‘palpably false’.

• Court also urged trial courts to take note of trend of Strategic Litigation against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits whereby entities with vast economic resources use litigation to prevent public from knowing about their operations involving public interest.

• A study has confirmed that Luna Structure in low-lying Banni plains of the Gujarat’s Kutch region is an impact crater.
  • It is a 1.8 kilometre wide crater which was formed when a massive object primarily made of iron struck the planet.
  • Luna region was one amongst the several settlements linked to the ancient Harappan Civilization.

• Other impact craters in India include Dhala in Madhya Pradesh, Lonar in Maharashtra, and Ramgarh in Rajasthan.

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) notified new wage rates for unskilled manual workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 for FY2024-2025.
  • MGNREGA gives legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of a rural household who are willing to do unskilled manual work.
• MoRD revises state-wise wage rates for MGNREGA workers every year, under section 6 of MGNREGA, 2005.
  • This revision is based on changes in CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index- Agriculture Labor).

• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) releases 2023-24 – List of D-SIIs. 
  • Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) and New India Assurance Company continue to be identified as D-SIIs. 

• D-SIIs refer to insurers of such size, market importance, and domestic and global inter connectedness, whose distress or failure would cause a significant dislocation in the domestic financial system. 
  • D-SIIs are perceived as ‘too big or too important to fail’ (TBTF).
  • D-SIIs are subject to additional regulatory measures.

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on ‘Usage of Embedded SIM for Machine-to-Machine Communications (M2M)’.

• M2M communications refer to automated applications which involve machines or devices communicating through a network without human intervention.
  • Sensors and communication modules are embedded within M2M devices.
  • These enable data transfer from one device to another through wired and wireless communications networks.

• Applications: Robotics and conveyor belts in factories, Smart Grid and Smart Water systems, jet engines, bus fleets, home appliances, and more.

• Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is witnessing forest fires.

• About Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Situated at near Warangal (Telangana)
  • It lies on border of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. 
  • Rivers Dayyam Vagu and Godavari flows through it.
  • Flora: Bamboo, Maddi, Dry Deciduous Teak, Thiruman, Madhuca.
  • Fauna: Sloth Bear, Chinkara, Nilgai, Black Buck etc.

• Two organizations, AgriRain and Oorja are providing IaaS in selected parts of the country. 

• About IaaS
  • It is an irrigation technology that provides hassle free, pay per use and cost effective on demand irrigation to small and marginal farmers.
  • It functions on a subscription or pay-per-use basis meaning farmers pay a fixed monthly fee or a fee based on water usage.

• Benefits: Improved water efficiency and crop yields, beneficial for water intensive crops like sugarcane, soil health monitoring etc.

• Recent study revealed that altitude and temperature play an important role in development of aroma for this rice.
• It is an indigenous rice variety variety grown in the Kashmir Himalayas.
• It is distinguished by its rich aroma and unique taste. 
• It was on verge of extinction due to rice blast disease, low yield, lack of profitability etc.

Malaysia (Capital: Kuala Lampur)

• External Affairs Minister paid an official visit to Malaysia.  

• Political features:
  • Lies in Southeast Asia. 
  • Land boundaries: Thailand (West), Brunei (North), Singapore and Indonesia (South).
  • Maritime borders: Vietnam and Philippines.
  • Surrounding Water bodies: Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, South China Sea.

• Geographical features:
  • Occupies parts of Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island. 
  • Separated by South China Sea into two regions – Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. 
  • Strait of Malacca lies between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.
  • Major rivers: Rajang (longest), Kinabatangan, Pahang
  • Highest Peak: Mount Kinabalu