As per the IMD, there are chances of early onset of the southwest monsoon. The normal onset date of the monsoon over Kerala is June 1 and it usually takes about 10 days for the system to reach Kerala from the Nicobar islands.
Mechanism of the Indian Monsoon: The Driving Forces
Differential Heating of Land and Sea: In summer, India’s landmass heats faster than the ocean, creating low pressure over land and drawing in moisture-laden winds from the sea.
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): The ITCZ, where trade winds meet near the equator, shifts north during summer, intensifying low pressure over the Indo-Gangetic plain and drawing in monsoon winds.
Tibetan Plateau: Its high elevation heats up, creating an upper-air low-pressure zone that strengthens vertical circulation and attracts monsoon winds.
India and the United Kingdom have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after nearly three years of negotiations.
What is a Free Trade Agreement or FTA?
FTAs are arrangements between two or more countries or trading blocs that primarily agree to reduce or eliminate customs tariff and non tariff barriers on substantial trade between them.
They can cover both goods and services.
FTAs also address issues such as investment, mobility of professionals, and regulatory cooperation.
The India–UK FTA negotiations were formally launched in 2022, as part of efforts to deepen economic cooperation and boost bilateral trade.
The Supreme Court recently termed Punjab’s de-notification of land acquired for the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal an act of “high-handedness”.
About
The court reminded Punjab of its 2017 order to maintain status quo on canal-related land and property.
The SYL canal was conceptualised for the effective allocation of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers.
The project envisaged a 214-km canal, of which 122 km was to be constructed in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has accorded its approval for the Revised SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) Policy for Coal Allocation to Power Sector.
SHAKTI Policy
It was introduced in 2017 and there was a paradigm shift of the coal allocation mechanism from a nomination-based regime to a more transparent way of allocation of coal linkages through auction / tariff-based bidding.
The current revision with innovative features will further enhance the scope and impact of the SHAKTI policy and support the power sector through:
Recently, the Supreme Court of India has initiated a review of its 2022 ruling on the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which granted extensive powers to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).
About the PMLA 2002
It is India’s primary legislation to combat money laundering and financial crimes, enforced since July 1, 2005.
It empowers authorities to investigate, prosecute, and confiscate assets linked to illicit financial activities.
It aligns with global anti-money laundering frameworks, including recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Delhi Cabinet approved a Rs 3.21-crore project for conducting five cloud-seeding trials across the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the fight against pollution.
What is Cloud Seeding?
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at enhancing precipitation from clouds by introducing substances that act as cloud condensation or ice nuclei.
Method: Aircraft or rockets disperse seeding agents like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), or liquid propane into the atmosphere.
Purpose: Stimulate rainfall, reduce dust, suppress hailstorms, and improve air quality by settling particulates.
Operation Sindoor marks a shift in India’s approach to naming military actions, moving from traditional displays of power to a more emotional tribute.
Operation Riddle (1965 Indo-Pak War)
It was the Indian military’s response to the offensive launched by Pakistan under the code names of Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam in 1965.
As Pakistan violated the Line of Control (LoC) and entered Jammu and Kashmir, India launched this operation, targeting Lahore and Kasur on September 6, 1965.
The operation had a crippling effect on the Pakistan military.
