CURRENT-AFFAIRS

The Indian government has initiated the auctioning of properties designated as 'enemy properties'.

• Here are the key details about enemy properties:
  • Enemy properties refer to both immovable and movable assets left behind by individuals who opted for citizenship in Pakistan and China following their departure from India during the partition era and after the wars of 1962 and 1965.
  • These assets can include real estate holdings, bank accounts, shares, gold, and other valuables belonging to such individuals.
  • Enemy properties in India are entrusted to the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), established under the Enemy Property Act of 1968.
  • The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act of 2017 clarified that descendants of those who migrated to Pakistan and China forfeit any claims over properties left in India.
  • This amendment ensures that enemy properties cannot be inherited through succession, transferred, or disposed of without adherence to the provisions of the Act.
  • According to CEPI records, there are approximately 13,252 enemy properties across India, collectively valued at more than Rs 1 lakh crore.
  • The majority of these properties belong to individuals who migrated to Pakistan, with a smaller number linked to those who migrated to China.
  • Uttar Pradesh leads with 5,982 enemy properties, followed by West Bengal with 4,354.
• The auctioning of enemy properties marks a significant step by the government to utilize these assets for public benefit in accordance with established legal frameworks.

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• In a recent study, scientists have proposed that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) likely emerged only a few hundred million years after the formation of Earth.
• Here are key insights about LUCA:
  • LUCA is theorized to be the ancestral organism from which all modern cellular life descends, encompassing everything from bacteria to complex organisms like redwood trees and humans.
  • It serves as the foundational root of the tree of life, predating the evolutionary split into the three domains recognized today: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
  • Modern life shares several fundamental characteristics inherited from LUCA, such as the use of common amino acids for protein synthesis, ATP as the universal energy currency, the presence of ribosomes and other cellular machinery involved in protein production from DNA information, and the universal reliance on DNA as the genetic information storage molecule.
  • Based on genetic analysis and evolutionary models, scientists estimate LUCA existed around 4.2 billion years ago, a mere 400 million years after the formation of Earth and the Solar System.
  • LUCA exhibits similarities to modern prokaryotes and possessed rudimentary immune mechanisms even in its early stages of existence.
• This study sheds light on the ancient origins of life and underscores LUCA's pivotal role in the evolutionary history of all life forms on Earth.

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• Recently, the Supreme Court clarified that an accused cannot be considered a witness against himself merely by being required to admit or deny the authenticity of documents presented by the prosecution under Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• Here are key aspects of Section 294 of the CrPC:
  • Section 294 deals with the procedure for filing documents by either the prosecution or the accused during a criminal trial.
  • It mandates that details of every document filed by either party must be listed, and the opposing party or their representatives must be given an opportunity to affirm or contest the authenticity of each document.
  • This section applies universally to all types of documents filed by either the prosecution or the accused, emphasizing the importance of establishing the genuineness of these documents through proper evidence.
  • Notably, Section 294 does not extend to witnesses who seek to introduce additional documents directly during their testimony or during the trial proceedings. It specifically pertains to documents submitted by the prosecution or the accused themselves, excluding third-party witnesses.
  • The primary objective of Section 294 is to expedite trials by avoiding unnecessary delays caused by recording irrelevant evidence. It facilitates the admission of documents whose authenticity is uncontested by the opposing party.
  • By ensuring both parties can present relevant documents, Section 294 aims to uphold transparency and fairness in the judicial process.

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• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) celebrated Navy Day by delivering INS Sandhayak to the Indian Navy.
• Key details about INS Sandhayak:
  • INS Sandhayak is the largest survey vessel ever constructed in India.
  • Designed and built entirely by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
  • It marks the first of four Survey Vessels (Large), or SVLs, being manufactured by GRSE.
  • This vessel succeeds a previous ship of the same name, a survey vessel commissioned in 1981 and decommissioned in 2021, offering enhanced capabilities compared to its predecessor.
• Features of INS Sandhayak include:
  • Length of 110 meters, powered by twin marine diesel engines with fixed-pitch propellers.
  • Equipped with bow and stern thrusters for precise maneuvering during low-speed survey operations.
  • Capable of conducting comprehensive coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, determining navigation channels, maritime limits, and collecting oceanographic and geographical data crucial for defence purposes.
  • Facilities include provisions for helicopter operations, support for low-intensity combat roles, medical facilities for use as a hospital ship, and capabilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
• INS Sandhayak's delivery underscores GRSE's commitment to advancing India's naval capabilities, reinforcing its role in maritime survey operations, defence readiness, and humanitarian support.