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- The Prime Minister recently launched the Bima Sakhi Yojana in Panipat, Haryana.
- About Bima Sakhi Yojana:
- This initiative is being spearheaded by the state-run Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).
- The program aims to empower women aged 18-70 years who have completed their Class 10 education.
- Participants will undergo specialized training, with a stipend provided for the first three years to foster financial literacy and raise awareness about insurance.
- As part of the scheme, female agents will receive a monthly stipend: Rs. 7,000 in the first year, Rs. 6,000 in the second year, and Rs. 5,000 in the third year.
- In addition, Bima Sakhis will earn commissions. In the first year, they will receive a commission of Rs. 48,000 (excluding bonuses).
- The objective is to appoint two lakh Bima Sakhis over the next three years.
- Upon completion of their training, these women will be eligible to work as LIC agents, and successful Bima Sakhis may even be considered for roles as development officers within LIC.
- However, relatives of current LIC agents and employees, as well as retired staff, are not eligible to apply for the scheme.
- Opposition parties have decided to submit a notice under Article 67(b) of the Constitution to seek the removal of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from office.
- About Article 67(b):
- The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- Article 67(b) of the Indian Constitution specifies the procedure for the removal of the Vice President from office.
- It states that the Vice President can be removed through a resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha, with approval from the House of the People, provided the resolution is backed by a majority of all the members of the Rajya Sabha.
- Before such a resolution can be introduced, at least a 14-day notice must be given, clearly stating the intention to move the resolution and outlining the reasons for doing so.
- The process to remove the Vice President starts in the Rajya Sabha, where the Vice President holds the position of ex-officio Chairman.
- The Constitution does not specify specific grounds for removal, leaving the decision to the discretion of the Parliament members.
- India is poised to finalize a significant defense deal worth USD 4 billion with Russia, aimed at acquiring a Voronezh ballistic missile attack early warning radar system.
- About Voronezh Radar:
- The Voronezh radar system plays a vital role in Russia's missile defense and early warning infrastructure.
- It has the capability to detect and track a variety of threats, including ballistic missiles and aircraft, from distances of up to 8,000 kilometers.
- First introduced in 2009 and fully operational since 2012, these radars are strategically located throughout Russia to ensure comprehensive coverage against missile threats.
- Using advanced phased array technology, the Voronezh radar can quickly adjust its beam electronically, making it more efficient and less mechanically complex than older radar systems.
- There are several different types of Voronezh radars, operating in various wavelength ranges, including meter (Voronezh-M), decimeter (Voronezh-DM), and centimeter (Voronezh-CM), as well as some that combine multiple ranges.
- These radars can work together as part of an integrated Missile Attack Early Warning System, offering a unified radar picture of potential missile threats and space activities.
- Crucial for detecting ballistic missile threats early, the Voronezh radar is positioned to optimize detection capabilities across multiple threat vectors.
- The Subaru Telescope recently captured an image of two interacting galaxies, NGC 5257 and NGC 5258.
- About the Subaru Telescope:
- The Subaru Telescope is an 8.2-meter (27-foot) optical-infrared telescope based in Japan.
- It is located atop the dormant Mauna Kea volcano (4,163 meters) on the island of Hawaii.
- Named after the Japanese word for the Pleiades star cluster, the telescope is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
- Construction of the Subaru Telescope began in 1992, with its first observations taking place in 1999.
- Equipped with an adaptive optics system featuring 261 actuators, it can alter the shape of its mirror to counteract deformations caused by gravity.
- With its exceptional light-collecting ability, Subaru can capture faint light from distant celestial objects.
- Unlike most observatories, Subaru’s dome is cylindrical rather than hemispherical to reduce air turbulence around the telescope.
- The Subaru Telescope has made a wide range of observations, from nearby meteor showers to galaxies situated 13.1 billion light-years away.