1.Shyamji Krishna Varma

Context: Prime Minister Modi paid homage to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his 95th birth anniversary.

About:

Born: 4 October 1857, in Gujarat.
Roles: Indian revolutionary fighter, lawyer, and journalist.
Contributions:
- Founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House, and The Indian Sociologist (a journal advocating nationalist ideas) in London to promote Indian nationalism and freedom.

Legacy:

First President of Bombay Arya Samaj, influenced by Dayanand Saraswati.
Inspired revolutionaries like Veer Savarkar, who was associated with India House in London.
Served as Divan (Prime Minister) for several princely states in India.

2.Assam’s ‘Co-District’ Initiative

In News: Assam has launched “co-districts” as a new administrative reform to improve governance efficiency.

About:

What are Co-Districts?
- Smaller administrative units below districts.
- Headed by an officer of the rank of Assistant District Commissioner (ADC).
- Perform similar roles to District Commissioners (DC).
Purpose:
- Address administrative challenges.
- Enhance efficiency in governance under the vision of “minimum government, maximum governance.”
Responsibilities of Co-District Commissioners:
- Handle matters related to land, MLA funds, and implementation of government schemes.
- Provide services locally, avoiding the need to visit district headquarters.
Expected Impact:
- Decentralize governance.
- Improve citizen-centric services.
- Streamline development efforts across the state.

Voluntary group of medical device regulators.
Established in 2011 to accelerate international medical device regulatory harmonization.
Includes national regulatory authorities from US, Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, UK, Brazil, Russia, China, South Korea, Singapore, and WHO.

Recommends changes in methodology of MIBOR.
Proposes new benchmark: Secured Overnight Rupee Rate (SORR).
Based on secured transactions in the money market, providing more stability.
Mumbai Interbank Outright Rate (MIBOR):
- Introduced in 1998 by NSE.
- Captures overnight borrowing rate between banks.
- Serves as a benchmark for various financial instruments.
- Determines cost of capital for businesses and banks.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): Largest and most powerful space telescope, designed to study the early universe using infrared light.
Charon: Pluto’s largest moon (discovered in 1978), roughly half the size of Pluto (1200 km diameter).
Detection: JWST detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon.
Pluto: Formerly the ninth planet, reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 due to similar objects in the Kuiper Belt.
- Kuiper Belt: Region beyond Neptune (30-55 astronomical units from the Sun) with icy bodies and dwarf planets.

Program: Six-month residential cyber commando training for law enforcement by the Union Home Ministry.
Focus: Proactive cyber defense – detecting cyberattacks and using forensics to develop defenses.
IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation: Section 8 company funded by Department of Science and Technology, specializing in cyber-physical systems.

First-ever global circumnavigation by two women Naval Officers.
Duration: 240 days, covering 23,400 nautical miles across four continents, three oceans, and three capes.
Route: Goa (India) – Fremantle (Australia) – Lyttleton (New Zealand).
Scientific Collaboration: Studying marine microplastics and ferrous content across seas with the National Institute of Oceanography.