Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has recently approved the project for the design and development of India’s fifth-generation fighter jet, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

• Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will be India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft.
• It will be stealth fighter jet
• The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be the nodal agency for executing the programme and designing the aircraft.
• It will be manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Features of AMCA – It is a 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft, which will be bigger than other fighters in the Indian Air Force.
• It has a diverter-less supersonic inlet for controlling air flow into the engines and a serpentine air intake duct to shield the engines from radar emission are likely to be part of the AMCA.
• Stealth features such as an internal weapons bay and a bigger internal fuel tank are part of it.
• Engine – The AMCA Mk1 variant will have the US-built GE414 engine of the 90 kilonewton (kN) class, while the more advanced AMCA Mk2 will fly on the more powerful 110kN engine.
• The AMCA Mk2 will be developed indigenously by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in collaboration with a foreign defence major.
• The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is a 4.5-generation single-engine multirole aircraft.
• Fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft – At present, only USA, Russia and China have built fifth-generation fighters.

Gothic Architecture

Recently the Maharashtra State archaeological department has taken up the project of restoring Gothic architecture in the 116-year-old St Crispin’s Church in Erandwane, Pune to its original form.

• Gothic Architecture is a European style architecture that flourished in the Late Middle Ages between mid-12th century to the 16th century.
• Common features – Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, domes, rose windows and spires.
• Gothic architecture has Eastern influences – The pointed arches, ribbed vaults, domes, rose windows, and spires all have roots in Islamic architecture.
• It is not exclusively limited to the construction of churches and is also seen in the collegiate architecture, notably at Oxford and Cambridge.
• St Crispin’s Church – It is a Gothic Architecture church that is located in Erandwane, Pune of Maharashtra.
• The church dates back to British-era India in 1900 when a plague had spread through the city.
• Along with the church, a residential home was also built for orphans and children.
• The church is a protected monument as notified by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• After receiving 3% of Pune district’s funds in 2024, the department has taken up conservation and restoration work of 12 such monuments in the city.
• The church was designed by the British-era architect Sir Niniam Comper.
• It is a very unique structure that has an influence of defence architecture with vaults and carvings on baptism tanks and minarets.
• It is completely constructed in basalt stone and the doors are made of teakwood.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)

Recently Shri Kishor Makwana assumed charge of Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SCs) is a constitutional body established by Article 338 of the Constitution.
• It is established with a view to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Anglo Indian communities to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.
• The separate National Commission for SCs came into existence in 2004.
• Composition – It consists of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and three other members.
• They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
• Their conditions of service and tenure of office are also determined by the President.
• Reports – The commission presents an annual report to the
  President.
• The President places all such reports before the Parliament, along with a memorandum explaining the action taken on the recommendations made by the Commission.
• The President also forwards any report of the Commission pertaining to a state government to the state governor.
• The governor places it before the state legislature, along with a memorandum explaining the action taken on the recommendations of the Commission.
• Functions of the Commission – To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the SCs and to evaluate their working.
• The Central government and the state governments are required to consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the SCs.
• Making sure the laws protecting them (SC) are working properly.
• Investigating complaints of unfair treatment.
• Advising the government on improving education, jobs, and other aspects of life for SCs.
• Suggesting ways to better protect SC rights and help them succeed.
• Powers of the commission – Calling for witnesses and examining them under oath.
• Demanding documents related to an investigation.
• Accepting sworn statements and obtaining government records.
• Issuing summons for evidence.
• Using additional powers granted by the President.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019

Recently the Union government have notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 that grants citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

• The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) is a legislative enactment that the Parliament of India passed on December 11, 2019 to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955.
• It aims to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
• The persecuted minorities includes from the communities such and entered India before December 31, 2014.
• The amendment reduced the residence requirement for naturalisation from 11 years to 5.
• Exemption from CAA – Autonomous councils created under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution are exempted from the purview of CAA.
• Autonomous councils under this special status include Karbi Anglong, Dila Hasao and Bodoland Territorial Council areas in Assam, Garo Hills in Meghalaya and tribal areas in Tripura.
• Areas where the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required for a visit by people from other parts of the country in North-eastern states are excluded.
• The ILP is in place in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.
• CAA 2024 rules – This rules is in line with the 2019 amendment to The Citizenship Act, 1955.
• It aims to provide citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities who entered India before December 31, 2014, from Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh.
• An online system for application, processing, and grant of citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is being explored by the Home Ministry.
• Eligible applicants for this application include individuals of Indian origin, spouses of Indian citizens, minor children of Indian citizens, individuals with registered Indian citizen parents, and Overseas Citizens of India Cardholders among others.
• Legal issues – It violates Article 14 of the Constitution.
• It contradicts the Assam Accord which has different timeline (March 24, 1971) to determine who is an outsider.

One horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

The increasing climate changes may be a threat to the Rhinos including One horned Rhinoceros since they cannot sweat.

• The One horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is also known as the Indian rhinos.
• The Indian rhino has a single horn, which is present in both the sexes.
• In 1996, Indian rhinos were classified as endangered by the IUCN.
• Due to conservation efforts, the IUCN changed their status to vulnerable in 2008, and the current status is vulnerable.
• It is the largest rhino species on Earth that are confined to India and Nepal.
• Geographic habitat – Indo- Nepal terai and Northern West Bengal, and Assam.
• The preferred habitat of an Indian rhinoceros are primarily areas that contain grasslands and wetlands located in the foothills of the Himalayas and the Brahmaputra and Ganges valley.
• Breeding takes place at all times of the year, and the gestation period is about 16 months.
• They are excellent swimmers that cannot sweat.