{"id":38116,"date":"2025-02-27T19:26:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T13:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=38116"},"modified":"2025-02-27T19:26:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T13:56:31","slug":"news-in-short-27-feb-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/27-02-2025\/news-in-short-27-feb-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short-27-02-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Public Accounts Committee<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Indian Polity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delhi Congress leaders welcomed the CAG report on AAP&#8217;s 2021-22 excise policy and urged the immediate formation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for review and public discussion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Public Accounts Committee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Definition: <\/strong>The PAC is a committee in the Indian Parliament responsible for auditing the revenue and expenditure of the Government of India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It ensures that parliamentary control over the executive is maintained, particularly regarding government spending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Composition: <\/strong>The PAC consists of up to 22 members: 15 from the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and 7 from the Rajya Sabha (Upper House).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No ministers can be members of the PAC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Members are elected annually by their respective houses using proportional representation through a single transferable vote.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The term of office for members is one year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Functions: <\/strong>It examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&amp;AG) after they are presented in Parliament.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It verifies whether government expenditure aligns with the budget approved by Parliament.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Deputy Speaker<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Six-time MLA Mohan Singh Bisht\u00a0 has been nominated for the Deputy Speaker\u2019s post.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Deputy Speaker<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Articles 93 (Lok Sabha<\/strong>) and <strong>178 (State Legislative Assembly)<\/strong> state that the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is mandatory under the Constitution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Constitution says the Deputy Speaker must be elected &#8220;as soon as may be&#8221; but <strong>does not specify a time frame<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generally, the Speaker is elected in the first session, and the Deputy Speaker is elected in the second session.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Deputy Speaker remains in office until the House is dissolved or if they cease to be a member.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Deputy Speaker&#8217;s Duties and Powers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Aids the Speaker in the functioning of the House.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chairs the House if the Speaker&#8217;s post is vacant and performs the Speaker&#8217;s duties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participates in debates and votes like other members but can cast a vote in case of a tie when presiding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Deputy Speaker cannot sponsor bills or table questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Deputy Speaker receives salary from the Consolidated Fund of India, not subject to a vote.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Presides over the sittings, maintains order and ensures discipline in the House during the absence of the Speaker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Deputy Speaker cannot preside over proceedings if a motion to remove him is being debated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Parliamentary Tradition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a convention that the Deputy Speaker is from the Opposition to ensure balance in proceedings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This tradition has been followed post-Emergency (1975) with only a few exceptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>SWAYATT Initiative<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Government e Marketplace (GeM) commemorated<strong> six years of Startups, Women &amp; Youth Advantage through eTransactions (SWAYATT) initiative.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Launch:<\/strong> Initiated in <strong>2019<\/strong>, aimed to boost participation of women-led enterprises, youth, and startups in public procurement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Goals:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promote social inclusion by enhancing ease of business and providing direct market linkages for startups, women entrepreneurs, MSEs, SHGs, and youth, especially from backward sections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitate training and onboarding of sellers and promote small-scale businesses in government procurement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Growth Stats:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Startups have fulfilled \u20b935,950 Crore in orders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At launch, GeM had 6,300 women-led enterprises and 3,400 startups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now, women entrepreneurs comprise 8% of the total seller base on GeM, 177,786 Udyam-verified women MSEs have fulfilled \u20b946,615 Crore in orders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Future Goals:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Aim to onboard 1 lakh startups and double women entrepreneurs\u2019 participation, increasing their share of overall public procurement from 3.78%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2106076\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>SPHEREx<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NASA is tentatively scheduled to launch its new megaphone-shaped space telescope called<strong> Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Duration: <\/strong>Two years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mission Objectives: <\/strong>SPHEREx will collect data on over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It will explore the origins of the universe, focusing on the period after the Big Bang.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will create a 3D map of the cosmos in 102 different wavelengths of light (colours).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cosmic Inflation: <\/strong>SPHEREx will measure cosmic inflation, which occurred around 14 billion years ago.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cosmic inflation is believed to explain the universe&#8217;s flatness and lack of curvature on large scales.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inflation remains poorly understood, and SPHEREx can help improve that understanding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PUNCH Mission:<\/strong> SPHEREx will launch alongside NASA&#8217;s PUNCH mission, which studies the Sun&#8217;s solar wind.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PUNCH consists of four small satellites in low Earth orbit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will make 3D global observations of the inner heliosphere to understand how the Sun&#8217;s corona becomes the solar wind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The satellites will map the transition zone where the Sun&#8217;s corona turns into solar wind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatoday.in\/science\/story\/nasa-to-launch-spherex-telescope-to-find-what-happened-right-after-the-big-bang-2685811-2025-02-26\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Black Plastic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS3\/Environment&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A study published in October last year analyzed 203 black plastic products (e.g., kitchen utensils, takeout containers, toys) sold in the U.S.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Black Plastic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Black plastic is often made from <strong>recycled electronic waste<\/strong> (e.g., computers, TVs, appliances).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These electronics contain substances like bromine (a flame retardant), antimony, and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These chemicals are toxic at high exposure levels and have been banned in many countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Findings of study\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It found that black plastic products contained <strong>decabromodiphenyl ether <\/strong>(BDE-209), a flame retardant linked to health risks, which was phased out in the U.S. over a decade ago.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Researchers advise against immediately discarding all black plastic products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is suggested to continue using items until they are no longer usable, rather than replacing them prematurely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black plastic that cannot be recycled should be handled appropriately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:IE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater (Merops persicus)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The first breeding site of the Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater in peninsular India has been discovered in the<strong> saltpans of Aandivilai <\/strong>near the <strong>Manakudy Mangroves<\/strong> in Kanniyakumari district.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Physical Characteristics: <\/strong>The Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater is a <strong>slender bird <\/strong>with a predominantly <strong>green plumage.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Its face has blue sides, a <strong>black eye stripe<\/strong>, and a <strong>yellow and brown<\/strong> throat.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The bird possesses a <strong>black beak<\/strong>, which is adapted for catching insects.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can grow up to <strong>31 cm<\/strong> in length, with its two central tail feathers extending an additional <strong>7 cm.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Habitat: <\/strong>The Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater is a migratory bird found across <strong>Northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diet: <\/strong>The species primarily feeds on insects, including bees, wasps, and hornets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IUCN Status: <\/strong>Least Concern.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a4845a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Blue Cheeked Bee Eater\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-38118\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a4845a; width:348px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater-Merops-persicus.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/first-breeding-record-of-blue-cheeked-bee-eater-discovered-in-peninsular-india\/article69242534.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 6th edition of India- Japan Joint Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN has commenced in the East Fuji Manoeuvre Training area of Japan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Genesis<\/strong>: In <strong>2018<\/strong> is an <strong>annual event<\/strong> conducted alternatively in India and Japan. Last edition in Rajasthan in 2024.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aim: <\/strong>To enhance interoperability between the two forces while undertaking joint urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under <strong>UN mandate<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>The exercise underscores the shared commitment of India and Japan towards regional security, peace and stability, while advancing their common vision of a free, open and <strong>inclusive Indo-Pacific<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2105443\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PIB<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Delhi Congress leaders welcomed the CAG report on AAP&#8217;s 2021-22 excise policy and urged the immediate formation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for review and public discussion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38116"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38120,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38116\/revisions\/38120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}