CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) recently kicked off with an impressive opening ceremony at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji, Goa.
• About the International Film Festival of India (IFFI):
  • Established in 1952 under the patronage of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, IFFI was initially organized by the Films Division of the Government of India. The inaugural festival took place in Mumbai, and over the years, it was held in Calcutta, Delhi, Madras, and Trivandrum.
  • From its third edition onward, IFFI has been a competitive event. In 2004, the festival was permanently relocated to Panaji, Goa, where it has been held annually and competitively ever since. The Government of Goa and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting jointly oversee the festival.
  • IFFI is the only film festival in South Asia accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers and Associations (FIAPF). Its mission is to offer a platform for global cinema, showcasing the art of filmmaking and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse film cultures within their social and cultural contexts. The festival also aims to promote international friendship and cooperation and to inspire Indian cinema to reach international standards and demonstrate its potential.

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• The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) recently reported the rescue of 662 undocumented migrants off the coast of Libya.
• About the International Organisation for Migration (IOM):
  • Founded in 1951, IOM is the premier inter-governmental organization dedicated to migration. The IOM defines a migrant as "a person who moves away from his or her place of usual residence, whether within a country or across international borders, either temporarily or permanently, for various reasons."
  • At the request of states, IOM provides support to migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and other displaced individuals. Its work spans four main areas: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and addressing forced migration.
• IOM's objectives include:
  • Ensuring the orderly and humane management of migration.
  • Promoting international cooperation on migration issues.
  • Assisting in finding practical solutions to migration challenges.
  • Providing humanitarian aid to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
  • In 2016, IOM entered into a formal agreement with the United Nations, becoming a related organization. Since 2018, IOM has served as the coordinator of the United Nations network on migration, established by the Secretary-General.
• As the UN agency responsible for labor mobility and migration in general, IOM has 172 member states and 8 observer states, with India among its members. Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

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• A division bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently granted the state government additional time to submit the guidelines for construction activities in the vicinity of the Narmada River in both urban and rural areas through which the river flows.
• About the Narmada River:
  • The Narmada River is the largest west-flowing river in peninsular India.
  • Origin: The river begins at Narmada Kund, a small reservoir located on Amarkantak Hill in Anuppur District of East Madhya Pradesh, at an elevation of 1,057 meters (3,467.8 feet).
  • Course: It flows westward through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, running between the Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges before emptying into the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea, approximately 10 kilometers north of Bharuch, Gujarat.
  • Length: The total length of the river from its source to its mouth is 1,312 kilometers (815 miles).
  • The Narmada is notable for flowing through a rift valley, serving as a natural divider between North and South India. It is also known for its stunning waterfalls, including the Dhuandhar Falls, located southwest of Jabalpur.
• Tributaries:
  • The Narmada River has several significant tributaries, including the Tawa, Barna, Hiran, and Orsang rivers. Among these, the Tawa River is the longest tributary and joins the Narmada at Bandra Bhan in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.

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• The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Sessions Court or High Court with jurisdiction to grant interim or transit anticipatory bail should be determined based on where the FIR is registered, even if the FIR pertains to an offense committed outside the state where the accused is currently located.
• What is Bail?
• Bail is a legal process that allows an accused individual to be released from custody with the condition that they will appear in court at a later date. The provisions for bail are outlined in Sections 436 to 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Bail can be granted either by a police officer or a judicial magistrate under the CrPC.
• What is Anticipatory Bail?
• Anticipatory bail is a type of bail granted to a person who anticipates arrest for a non-bailable offense. Under Section 438 of the CrPC, an individual who fears arrest can apply for anticipatory bail to the High Court or Sessions Court where the alleged crime took place. This type of bail is granted before the actual arrest occurs, thereby preventing the police from arresting the individual if anticipatory bail is granted. It serves as a protective measure for those facing false accusations, often due to personal or professional disputes, ensuring their release even before arrest.
• About Transit Anticipatory Bail:
• Transit anticipatory bail is applicable when a person faces a case in a different state from where they are currently residing or are likely to be arrested. This type of bail is designed to facilitate the accused in obtaining anticipatory bail in the state where the case has been filed. Without transit anticipatory bail, law enforcement from another state could arrest an individual in their home state without allowing them the opportunity to apply for anticipatory bail in the state where the charges are pending.

The procedure for applying for transit anticipatory bail mirrors that of any other anticipatory bail application. While not explicitly codified in Indian law, the concept of transit anticipatory bail has been established through judicial practice and legal precedents.

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• Scientists have recently detected traces of a new isotope named nitrogen-9 by colliding beams of oxygen isotopes with beryllium atoms at the U.S. National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
• Nitrogen-9 is distinguished by having seven protons and two neutrons, resulting in an unusually high proton-to-neutron ratio. This imbalance significantly affects the isotope's stability, impacting both its decay processes and overall behavior. Specifically, the high number of protons pushes nitrogen-9 atoms beyond the traditional stability limits.
• While nitrogen is commonly found as the isotope nitrogen-14, which has seven protons and seven neutrons, this newly discovered variant with just two neutrons is much rarer and more elusive.
• What are Isotopes?
• Isotopes are variations of a particular element that differ solely in the number of neutrons they contain. This neutron variation differentiates one isotope from another. Many isotopes are inherently unstable, particularly those with an insufficient number of neutrons relative to their protons. Unstable isotopes have short lifespans and often decay by emitting energy to attain a more stable state.