CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• India recently marked a significant achievement in its space exploration efforts with the launch of its inaugural reusable hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1.
• About RHUMI-1:
• First of Its Kind: RHUMI-1 is India's debut reusable hybrid rocket.
• Collaborative Development: It was created by Tamil Nadu-based startup Space Zone India in partnership with the Martin Group.
• Innovative Propulsion: The rocket features a hybrid propulsion system that merges the benefits of both liquid and solid fuels.
• Safety and Efficiency: The hybrid design incorporates solid propellant and a liquid oxidizer, minimizing the risk of accidental detonation by mixing these components solely during combustion. This approach enhances efficiency and lowers operational costs.
• Eco-Friendly Features: It includes a CO2-activated parachute system, which is both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, ensuring the safe recovery of the rocket’s components post-launch.
• Sustainable Technology: The RHUMI rocket is devoid of fireworks and does not use TNT.
• About the Launch:
• Launch Site: RHUMI-1 was launched from East Coast Road Beach in Thiruvidandhai, Chennai.
• Payload: The rocket carried 3 Cube Satellites and 50 Pico Satellites, entering a suborbital trajectory.
• Launch System: It utilized India’s first hydraulic mobile launch system, which allows for versatile launch operations from various positions and angles ranging from 0 to 120 degrees.
• Cube Satellite Mission: The Cube Satellites are designed to monitor and gather data on atmospheric conditions, including cosmic radiation, UV radiation, and air quality.
• Pico Satellite Mission: The Pico Satellites will analyze environmental parameters such as vibrations, accelerometer data, altitude, ozone levels, and the presence of toxic substances, offering valuable insights into atmospheric dynamics.

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• In a recent communication to all States, the Ministry of Education has clarified the concept of ‘literacy’ and the criteria for achieving ‘full literacy’ within the framework of the renewed emphasis on adult education under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).
• About the New India Literacy Programme (NILP):
  • Objective: The NILP aims to assist States and Union Territories in advancing literacy among individuals aged 15 and above who are currently non-literate.
  • Financial Scope: The programme is centrally funded with a budget allocation of Rs. 1037.90 crore for the fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27.
  • Target: It seeks to enroll one crore learners annually above the age of 15 across all States and Union Territories.
  • Components: The scheme comprises five key areas:
  • Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
  • Critical Life Skills: This includes financial literacy, digital literacy, legal literacy, healthcare and awareness, childcare and education, family welfare, etc.
  • Basic Education: Encompassing equivalency for preparatory (classes 3-5), middle (classes 6-8), and secondary stages (classes 9-12).
  • Vocational Skills: Skill development integrated into continuous learning to facilitate local employment opportunities.
  • Continuing Education: Includes adult education courses in arts, sciences, technology, culture, sports, recreation, and other topics of local interest.
  • Beneficiary Identification: Beneficiaries are identified through door-to-door surveys conducted by surveyors using a mobile app in States/UTs. Non-literates can also register directly through the mobile app from any location.
  • Volunteer Involvement: The programme emphasizes volunteerism for teaching and learning. Volunteers can register via a mobile app to participate.
  • Technological Integration: The scheme is largely technology-driven and operates predominantly online. Educational materials and resources are available on the DIKSHA platform of NCERT and can be accessed via mobile apps. Additionally, other media such as TV, Radio, and Samajik Chetna Kendra will be used to disseminate foundational literacy and numeracy.

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• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is currently piloting the Unified Lending Interface (ULI), envisioned as a transformative tool in the lending sector.
• About Unified Lending Interface (ULI):
• Purpose: ULI is designed to streamline the credit process by reducing the time needed for loan appraisal, particularly benefiting rural and smaller borrowers.
• Functionality: It acts as a connector among banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), fintech firms, and borrowers, fostering a more efficient and transparent credit disbursement system.
• Target Audience: ULI aims to address the significant unmet credit needs across various sectors, with a particular focus on agricultural and MSME borrowers.
• Information Flow: The platform ensures the smooth transfer of digital information, including state-specific land records, from multiple data service providers to lenders.
• Borrower Experience: It allows borrowers to access credit more seamlessly and receive quicker responses without the need for extensive paperwork.
• Technology Integration: ULI features standardized application programming interfaces (APIs) for a plug-and-play setup, facilitating digital access to relevant information for loan processing.
• Consent-Based: The platform operates on a consent-based model, where borrower approval is required for data sharing.
• Simplicity and Transparency: By minimizing technical integration challenges and enabling real-time tracking of loan applications, ULI enhances both transparency and user experience in the lending process.

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• Despite the introduction of plea bargaining nearly twenty years ago, its use in India remains limited, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• About Plea Bargaining:
• Definition: Plea bargaining is a legal process where a defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for some form of concession from the prosecutor or court.
• Concessions: These concessions may include a reduced sentence, a lesser charge, dismissal of certain charges, or other agreements advantageous to the defendant.
• Objective: The primary goal of plea bargaining is to settle a criminal case without proceeding to trial, thereby conserving time, resources, and costs for both parties involved.
• Plea Bargaining in India:
• Legal Framework: In India, plea bargaining is regulated by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which incorporated this mechanism in 2005.
• Eligibility: It applies to offenses punishable with imprisonment for a term of 7 years or less. The accused must voluntarily choose to engage in plea bargaining, and the court must ensure that this choice is made with full awareness of its implications.
• Process: Plea bargaining can occur at any stage of the criminal justice process, from the initial charge to the trial phase.
• Initiation: The process begins when the accused files an application with the court expressing their willingness to plead guilty.
• Court Review: The court reviews the application and may either approve or reject it based on the specifics of the case.
• Negotiations: If the court approves the application, it will refer the matter to the prosecutor for negotiations. The prosecutor may offer concessions such as a reduced sentence in return for the guilty plea.
• Acceptance: The accused can accept or reject the prosecutor's offer. If accepted, the court will record the guilty plea and impose a sentence in accordance with the plea-bargaining agreement.
• Discretion: The court retains the discretion to reject the plea-bargaining agreement if it considers it unjust, unreasonable, or contrary to the interest of justice.
• Breach of Agreement: If the accused violates the terms of the plea agreement, the court may annul the agreement and proceed with the trial.
• Withdrawal: The accused can withdraw their plea at any time before sentencing. If withdrawn, the trial resumes as if the plea-bargaining process had not occurred.
• Finality of Sentence: Once the sentence is pronounced, it is final, and the accused can appeal only on grounds of manifest injustice.