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- Why in News?
- Iran has initiated 'Operation True Promise 3' as a direct response to Israel's earlier military action, 'Operation Rising Lion', which had struck Iranian military and nuclear sites.
- Key Provisions:-
- The roots of the Iran-Israel conflict trace back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic with a strong anti-Israel stance.
- Former allies before 1979, their relations soured as Iran expanded its nuclear program—seen by Israel as a major threat.
- The IAEA confirmed Iran had enriched uranium up to 60%, violating NPT commitments.
- Further complicating matters, efforts by the U.S. and its allies to revive the nuclear deal have stalled. Iran’s support for proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas adds fuel to the conflict.
- The fallout is far-reaching: regional instability, threats to global trade via the Strait of Hormuz, and disruptions in energy supplies. For India, key concerns include Chabahar Port operations, trade corridor projects, and maintaining balanced diplomatic ties.
- Why in News?
- The Reserve Bank of India has granted an NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company) licence to Flipkart, allowing the e-commerce giant to offer credit directly to its users and sellers.
- Key Provisions:-
- Previously, platforms like Flipkart relied on partnerships with banks or NBFCs to provide financial services.
- With this licence, Flipkart can now extend loans via its platform and its fintech app, ‘super.money’.
- NBFCs are financial institutions registered under the Companies Act (1956 or 2013) that primarily engage in lending, investment in securities, leasing, and similar financial activities.
- However, they do not deal in agricultural, industrial, or real estate activities. Regulated by the RBI under the RBI Act, 1934, NBFCs play a key role in India’s credit landscape, contributing 12.6% to GDP in 2023 and holding a 61% share in consumer durable loans.
- Unlike banks, NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits, issue cheques, or offer DICGC insurance, making their operations distinct from traditional banks.
- Why in News?
- Authorities at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital are using DNA profiling to identify victims of the Air India flight AI-171 crash.
- Key Provisions:-
- DNA profiling, also known as DNA fingerprinting, is a scientific method used to establish individual identity based on unique genetic patterns.
- The most common technique is Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, which examines repeating DNA sequences in the cell nucleus.
- In cases where nuclear DNA is damaged or unavailable, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is used—this type is maternally inherited and can be matched with maternal relatives.
- For identifying male victims, Y-chromosome STR testing is helpful, as it traces paternal lineage. When DNA is highly degraded, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)—tiny variations at a single base in DNA—are analyzed.
- These can be compared with personal belongings like toothbrushes or razors. DNA profiling plays a crucial role in disaster victim identification by providing accurate, reliable results even in severely traumatic incidents.