CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• In a significant enhancement of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) authority, the Supreme Court ruled that the agency’s powers are not limited to investigating only the offences listed in the schedule of the NIA Act or those accused of committing such “scheduled offences.”
• About the NIA:
  • The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, as a central agency for counter-terrorism law enforcement.
• Creation and Purpose:
  • The NIA was formed following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, recognizing the need for a dedicated central agency to combat terrorism.
  • It is responsible for investigating and prosecuting offences that threaten the sovereignty, security, and integrity of India, as well as those involving friendly relations with foreign states, international treaties, and other national security concerns.
• Jurisdiction and Powers:
  • The NIA investigates serious offences related to explosive substances, nuclear energy, terrorism, hijacking, and unlawful activities.
  • The NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019 expanded its powers to investigate offences involving Indian citizens or interests committed outside India.
  • The agency's mandate now also includes investigating crimes under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, human trafficking, cyber terrorism, and the Arms Act, 1959.
• Request for Investigation by State Governments:
  • A State Government may request the Central Government to transfer the investigation of a case to the NIA if there is reasonable evidence suggesting the commission of a scheduled offence under the NIA Act.
• Powers of NIA Officers:
  • NIA officers have the authority to investigate scheduled offences and arrest individuals involved in such crimes.
  • These officers hold all the powers, duties, privileges, and responsibilities that regular police officers possess during an investigation.
• Leadership and Administration:
  • The NIA is managed by its Director-General (DG), who holds equivalent powers to those of a Director-General of Police.
  • The NIA operates under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Headquarters:
  • New Delhi

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• Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology emphasized that combining traditional knowledge with modern technology could provide India with a unique advantage, during the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI).
• About SHRI:
  • SHRI is a new program focused on Heritage Research.
• Program Overview:
  • SHRI aims to bring together experts from various fields for data collection and analysis, fostering new collaborations, and providing advanced technology to address issues related to cultural heritage.
• Aims and Objectives: The initiative has been designed to:
• Build capacity in human resources and inspire new researchers to work in the field of cultural heritage.
• Promote scientific research and development (R&D) activities for the conservation of heritage objects, including understanding material deterioration, developing preservation techniques, restoration processes, new materials, and diagnostic technologies.
• Safeguard the diverse representations, expressions, knowledge, and techniques that form an integral part of India’s cultural heritage, protecting communities, groups, and individuals involved.
• Explore innovative approaches and state-of-the-art technologies to preserve heritage and artworks from past generations, highlighting the evolution and growth of human civilization.
• Promote the application of advanced archaeometric science in various fields.
• Foster R&D activities and technological advancements in Tribal Arts for enhanced value addition.
• Implementation:
  • The initiative is intended to be carried out nationwide, involving widespread participation and collaboration.
• Nodal Ministry:
  • Ministry of Science & Technology

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• Researchers have recently discovered that orcas' blubber (the fat layer beneath their skin) contains high concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)—harmful chemicals used in industrial and agricultural activities.
• About POPs:
  • POPs are organic chemical compounds primarily composed of carbon.
  • These toxic chemicals have been widely used in various sectors, including pesticides, industrial processes, and can also be released into the environment as unintended by-products.
  • POPs are resistant to decomposition and persist in the environment for extended periods, sometimes decades. They spread across vast distances through water, air, and wind, eventually entering the food chain by accumulating in the fatty tissues of animals.
• Characteristics of POPs:
  • POPs remain stable in the environment for years without breaking down.
  • They are distributed globally through natural processes involving soil, water, and especially air.
  • These chemicals accumulate in living organisms, including humans, with concentrations increasing as one moves up the food chain.
  • POPs are toxic to both humans and wildlife.
• Stockholm Convention on POPs:
  • Enacted in 2004, the Stockholm Convention aims to reduce or eliminate the global release of POPs.
  • Signatory countries commit to stopping the production and use of the chemicals listed in the Convention's annexes.
  • As of now, 185 countries have ratified the Stockholm Convention, which includes 34 listed POPs—comprising 17 pesticides, 15 industrial chemicals, and 7 unintended by-products.