Recently, Article 329(b) was invoked by the Election Commission in the Supreme Court for restricting judicial intervention in the poll process.

Article 329(b)

• It states that No election to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State shall be called into question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as may be provided for by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature.
• SC in Ponnuswamy judgment (1952) stated that it could not interfere in an election process once it was notified by the Election Commission of India.

Statement released by WTO’s CIL showed Japan and China have formally raised concern over India’s laptop import licensing measure announced in August last year but was soon reversed.

About CIL 

• It was established under Article 4 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (ILP Agreement). 
  • ILP seeks to reduce scope for discrimination or administrative discretion in the application of import licensing procedures.
• It supervises the implementation of the ILP Agreement. 
• Its work revolves around two main areas of reviewing specific trade concerns and ensuring transparency in import licensing.

Recently, a new dispute emerged between Russia and Estonia, cantered around the removal of navigation markers on the Narva River, which forms part of the border between the two countries.

About Narva River

• Narva basin is situated in Baltic Sea basin on the eastern part of Estonia and the northwest part of Russian Federation.
• Important transboundary water bodies in River Narva basin: Lake Peipsi and Narva reservoir.
• It connects Lake Peipsi with Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea).

Recently, Zimbabwe launched the gold-backed currency called ZiG. 

About Gold backed currency 

• Gold backed currency has fixed value directly linked to gold, and is convertible into gold. 
  • Money supply is limited by available gold reserves.
  • It has its inherent value and has potential for stability in long run.

About Fiat Currency

• Fiat currency lacks intrinsic value and is established as legal tender by government. 
  • Its value is determined by supply & demand and is not supported by any physical commodity. 
  • It gives central banks more control to print required money.

Kerala government allow the Kerala Forest Development Corporation to plant eucalyptus trees

About Eucalyptus

• Belongs myrtle family and is native to Australia, Tasmania, and nearby islands.
• Tree Type: Most of its Species are evergreen. 
• Planted mainly for the fuel wood. Also, used as furniture wood, wood used in paper and pulp industry.
• Concerns related with Eucalyptus tree
  • Extensive water users and contributors to soil depletion
  • Foliage is toxic to animals and humans if ingested.
  • Its oil gives off flammable fumes which can be ignited by lightning, flying sparks, etc.

The Vice President inaugurates Centre for Carbon Fiber and Prepregs at National Aerospace Laboratories in Bengaluru.

About Carbon Fiber

• A polymer which is a form of graphite (an allotrope of carbon) consisting of thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon.
• Properties: Extremely stiff, strong, and light, high in chemical resistance; temperature tolerant to excessive heat; and have low thermal expansion.
  • Also, they can be recycled.
• Applications: Manufacturing of components for automobiles, aircrafts, etc.

Prepregs: It is the common term for a reinforcing fabric which has been pre-impregnated with a resin system (thermoset or thermoplastic).

The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER) exchanged MoU on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and technology transfer of Linear Accelerator with industry.

About Linear Accelerator or LINAC

• It’s the device used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer.
• It uses microwave technology to accelerate electrons which collide with a heavy metal target to produce high-energy x-rays.
  • Then the high-energy x-rays are directed to the patient's tumor to  destroy cancer cells.

SAMEER 

It’s an autonomous Research & Development laboratory at Mumbai under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Recently, Kabak Yano became the first woman from Arunachal Pradesh’s Nyishi tribe to scale Mount Everest.

Nyishi Tribe

• Previously known as the Daffla, it is largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Nyishi believes that they are descendants of Abo Tani (progeny of first human being on Earth). 
  • That is why Nyishi, Adi, Gallo, Apatani etc. called themselves as Tani Group of Tribes. 
• It is neither based on caste system nor stratified into classes, except a loose social distinction, which is not determined by birth/occupation.
• Polygyny is prevalent and Longte is major festival.