News In Short-12-06-2025

UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture

Context

• A proposal for Creative City Lucknow under the category Gastronomy for Awadhi Cuisine has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre recently.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a global network of cities that recognize culture and creativity as drivers of sustainable urban development.
  • UCCN was created in 2004.
• The network focuses on seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

Indian cities in UCCN

• India has several cities recognized by UNESCO as part of the Creative Cities Network.
• The network currently includes;
  • Jaipur and Srinagar (Crafts and Folk Arts), 
  • Varanasi, Chennai and Gwalior (Music), 
  • Mumbai (Film), 
  • Hyderabad (Gastronomy), 
  • Kozhikode (Literature).

Source: HT

Shipki La

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography and GS3/ Internal Security

Context

• Recently, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh launched border tourism activities at Shipki-La.

About Shipki La

• Location: A high-altitude motorable mountain pass (3,930 m) in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, on the India-China border.
• Strategic & Cultural Significance:
  • Situated on the ancient Silk Route, blending geopolitical importance, cultural heritage, and Himalayan landscapes.
  • Historically served as a trade route between India and Tibet, until it was closed for trade in 2020.
  • The Sutlej River (Tibetan name: Langqen Zangbo) enters India through this pass.
• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Potential: Shipki La has been proposed by the Himachal Pradesh government as the easiest route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, pending approval from the Centre.

Source: TH

Lokpal

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity

In News

• The Full Bench of Lokpal of India has adopted a new motto “Empower Citizens, Expose Corruption”.

Lokpal

• About: It is an anti-corruption authority or ombudsman in India that was established to address grievances regarding corruption in public offices.
• Legal Status: The Lokpal is not a constitutional body but a statutory body created through legislation Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013.
• Chairperson: Retired Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge.
• Appointment of Lokpal: Appointed by a selection committee consisting of Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India (CJI), Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha & One Eminent Jurist (appointed by the above members).
• Tenure: The Lokpal is appointed for a 5-year term or until they attain the age of 70 years.
• Powers and Functions: To investigate and prosecute corruption cases against public servants, including government officials, ministers, and the Prime Minister (except on matters related to national security).
  • The Lokpal has supervision over CBI’s investigations in corruption cases.

Source: AIR

Malta’s Golden Passport Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• The European Court of Justice ruled that Malta may no longer sell citizenship through its ‘golden passports’ scheme, as it is contrary to European law.

About

• Launched in 2014, Malta’s Individual Investor Programme (IIP), known as the Golden Passport scheme, allowed wealthy foreigners to acquire Maltese citizenship, and by extension EU citizenship, through financial contributions.
• Applicants were required to:
  • Contribute €600,000–€750,000 to Malta’s national development fund.
  • Purchase or lease real estate in Malta.
  • Make a €10,000 donation to a registered NGO.
• It attracted investors from Russia, China, the Middle East, and others, including politically exposed persons and celebrities.

Why the Scheme Was Controversial

• Security concerns: Citizenship grants included access to the EU’s visa-free Schengen Area, raising risks of money laundering and infiltration by criminal networks.
• Lack of transparency: Many successful applicants remained unnamed.

Source: BS

Hortoki-Sairang line

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

In News

• The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved the Hortoki-Sairang line .

Hortoki-Sairang line

• It is the final leg of the Bairabi-Sairang railway project in Mizoram.
• It  enables the first-ever rail connection to the state capital, Aizawl, via the 33.86-km Hortoki–Sairang section. 
• It lies in hilly terrain and includes 32 tunnels and 35 major bridges.
  • Sairang is a satellite town of Aizawl, around 20 km from the city.
    • Bairabi in Kolasib district, near the border with Assam, has so far been the only railhead in Mizoram.

Importance 

• The Bairabi-Sairang project is part of a broader push by the Ministry of Railways to connect all northeast state capitals by rail.
• This involves numerous new line and doubling projects across Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur and Tripura.
• It is a key infrastructure initiative under the Centre’s Act East Policy to enhance connectivity and economic integration in the northeast region. 

Source :IE

Symposium on ‘Discovery and Development of Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics’

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology

Context

• The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) hosted a national symposium on the Discovery and Development of Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Therapeutics, to foster collaboration in advancing India’s Biopharmaceutical sector.

What are Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)?

• Monoclonal antibodies are lab-engineered proteins designed to target specific antigens (foreign substances like viruses, bacteria, or cancer cells).
• They are derived from a single clone of a B-cell and hence are identical in structure and specificity.
• mAbs mimic the natural immune response but are highly specific, making them powerful tools in treating diseases.

Applications of mAbs

• Healthcare and Medicine: 
  • Infectious diseases (e.g., mAbs used for COVID-19 therapy like Casirivimab and Imdevimab).
  • Organ transplantation (preventing rejection).
• Diagnostics: Used in pregnancy tests, ELISA kits, and disease markers.

Source: PIB

International Organisation of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• India, as the Vice President of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), actively participated in the 2nd Session of the IALA Council, held in Nice, France.

About IALA

• Established: In 1957, originally as the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).
• Headquarters: Based in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, France.
• Members: IALA currently has 39 members.
• Status: Transitioned from a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) in August 2024, following ratification by 30 states through a Convention.
• Objective: IALA aims to improve safety at sea, reduce marine accidents, and protect the marine environment by developing common practices, technical standards, and recommendations for maritime navigation.

Source: AIR

Eco-Sensitive Zone (BESZ)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• A municipal solid-waste incinerator set up in Gangotri (Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand) within the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (BESZ) has triggered criticism among environmental activists.

What are Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)?

• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are areas notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• ESZs are designated areas around protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. 
• Their primary purpose is to protect the fragile ecosystems of these protected areas by regulating human activities in the surrounding areas.
• The extent of ESZ can go up to 10 km around the protected area. In exceptional cases, even beyond 10 km.
• Activities in ESZs are classified as:
  • Prohibited: commercial mining, setting up of major hydroelectric projects, setting up of polluting industries (red category).
  • Regulated: construction, tourism, tree felling, vehicular traffic.
  • Permitted: agriculture, organic farming, local community use.
• In June 2022, the Supreme Court of India mandated that all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries within protected forests must have a minimum Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of 1 km.

Source: TH

Exercise ‘Khaan Quest’

Syllabus: GS3/Defence 

In News

• The Indian Army contingent arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to participate in the multinational military Exercise Khaan Quest.

Exercise  ‘Khaan Quest’

• It began as a bilateral initiative between the United States and the Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003, evolved into a multinational peacekeeping endeavour from 2006 onwards. 
• It is an annual exercise that brings together military forces from across the globe to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities. 
• It will enable the participating countries to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conduct of joint operations. 
• It aims to prepare the Indian armed forces for peacekeeping operations in a multinational setting, thereby “increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.”

Source :TH