Union Home Minister Amit Shah, warned that any further violation by insurgent groups would be considered a violation of the SoO agreement. Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact

• The Centre and state government signed the SoO pact to reach an agreement with 25 Kuki insurgent groups in Manipur in 2008.
• Of these 25 insurgent groups, 17 come under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and 8 belong to the United People's Front (UPF).
• The Kuki outfits who were initially demanding a separate Kuki state have come down to a Kukiland territorial council.
• Kuki Territorial Council – It would have financial and administrative powers independent of the Manipur Assembly and government.

Terms of the SoO Pact

• While the period of the Suspension of Operation agreement is 1 year, it is extendable according to the progress of its implementation.
• To oversee the effective implementation of the SoO pact, a committee called the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), with representatives from all the signatories, has been formed.
• According to the pact, the Centre and state governments agreed that the security forces would not launch any operations against these groups.
• In return, the insurgent groups will also not launch any such operation.
• The pact also requires these groups to abide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land and the territorial integrity of Manipur.

TP Rajendran Committee

• Rajendran said that all chemicals and pesticides including the toothpaste we use is harmful for human health.
• What matters is the dosage, the formulation composition and the way humans have been asked to use the product.
• One cannot simply say that all pesticides are harmful and all pesticides are to be banned based on hearsay.
• What is important here is what Indian medical records say on the harm that a particular pesticide has done to human beings or to those who are exposed to it over a reasonable period of time.
• He said monocrotophos, has been in use in India for the past 30 or 40 years and there is absolutely no data provided by agencies to claim that there has been any adverse health impact due to their use.
• All pesticides have a label in them specifying good agriculture practices, with right dosage, time of application, precautions to be taken and so on.
• If somebody violates that, it is that individual’s problem and not a national or a government issue.
• Govt notifies draft ban on 27 pesticides and gives 45 days for public feedback.
• It also forms another panel under T P Rajendran.

Zardosi Artisans made two lakh car hangers like the crown that was to be worn by King Charles III at his coronation.

Zardosi Embroidery

• Zardozi embroidery is a metal embroidery, which once used to embellish the attire of the Kings and the royals in India.
• It was also used to adorn walls of the royal tents, scabbards, wall hangings and the paraphernalia of regal elephants and horses.
• Zardozi embroidery work involves making elaborate designs, using gold and silver threads.
• Further adding to the magnificence of the work are the studded pearls and precious stones.

Main Center of Zardozi Embroidery in India

• Zardosi embroidery work is mainly a specialty of Lucknow, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Delhi, Agra, Kashmir, Mumbai, Ajmer and Chennai.

History of Zardozi Embroidery in India

• The word 'Zardozi' is made up of two Persian terms, Zar meaning gold and Dozi meaning embroidery.
• Zardosi embroidery has been in existence in India from the time of the Rig Veda.
• A Persian embroidery form, Zardosi attained its summit in the 17th century, under the patronage of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
• Under the rule of Aurangzeb, the royal patronage stopped and this led to the decline of the craft.

A leading Argentine meteorologist has been elected as the first female head of the United Nations weather agency.

UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), the roots of which were planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
• Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate).
• Headquarters – Geneva.
• The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General.
• Its supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress.
• National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) –It work around the clock to monitor Earth Systems and provide vital weather and climate information worldwide.
• WMO supports NMHS in meeting their international commitments in the areas of disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development.

The 22nd Law Commission has said in its report that Sedition law can be retained but with safeguards.

The 22nd Law Commission Report on Sedition

• The report says that the Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with sedition needs to be retained but with certain amendments.
• The Commission has recommended that the scheme of punishment under the law should be increased.
• At the moment, the punished prescribed is imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine.
• The report now says this should be increased to life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 7 years or a fine.
• Sedition – Offence against state.
• Section 124A is a non-bailable offence.
• Definition - Whoever by words or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, attempts to bring disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India, with a tendency to incite violence or cause public disorder shall be punished.
• The Commission said, Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code could be amended.
•  The amendment is the first information report (FIR) under Section 124A would be registered only after a police officer, not below the rank of Inspector.
• They conducts a preliminary inquiry and on the basis of the report made by the officer, the central government or the state government grants permission for registering the FIR.