Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- The Government has approved the release of 25 lakh additional LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), raising the total number of beneficiaries to 10.58 crore.
- About PMUY
- Implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, PMUY is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. Initially targeting 8 crore families, the scheme expanded under Ujjwala 2.0 in 2021, adding 1.6 crore connections with special provisions for migrant households. In 2023, the government approved 75 lakh more connections for the period 2023–26, setting a cumulative goal of 10.35 crore.
- Benefits include financial assistance of ₹1,600 for a standard cylinder, free first refill, stove, and targeted subsidies of ₹300 per cylinder (up to 12 refills annually). Only households without an existing LPG connection and with an adult female member are eligible.
- Why in News?
- Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a joint declaration, the three West African nations criticized the ICC as an “instrument of neo-colonial domination” allegedly influenced by imperialist powers.
- About ICC
- Headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICC is the first permanent international tribunal established to prosecute individuals accused of grave offenses such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. It was created under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and effective from 2002. Currently, 125 countries are members, while major powers like the US, Russia, China, India, and Israel remain outside. The Court’s rulings are binding, and funding comes primarily from state parties.
- Challenges
- The ICC faces criticism for selective targeting, limited jurisdiction, and dependence on states for enforcement. Allegations of bias and neocolonial intent have further undermined its credibility among developing nations.
- Why in News?
- Astronomers have recently detected a small quasi-moon named 2025 PN7, which has been accompanying Earth in its orbit for nearly six decades. Unlike a natural satellite, this object does not directly circle our planet but maintains a stable trajectory that makes it appear as though it is orbiting alongside Earth.
- About Quasi-Moons
- Also known as quasi-satellites, these are celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun, not the planet itself. Their orbital period is synchronized with the planet, creating the illusion that they are gravitationally bound companions. In reality, their motion is governed primarily by the Sun’s gravity, with only minor influence from the planet. For this reason, they are not considered true moons.
- So far, astronomers have identified six quasi-moons of Earth, and 2025 PN7 adds to this intriguing list, offering further insight into the complex gravitational dynamics of near-Earth space.