National Endangered Species Day
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- National Endangered Species Day is observed annually on the third Friday of the month of May.
- National Endangered Species Day for the year 2026 is observed on the third Friday of May, on May 15, 2026.
- Theme for the year 2026: “Celebrating America’s Wildlife Recovery Stories; Advancing the Endangered Species Act.”
- Thirukkural
- “There is no age for a drunkard; he will slander and destroy his honor”
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- Meaning: There is no such thing as an opportune time for those who work to elevate their family/lineage. If they indulge in laziness and worry about their self-respect/pride, the greatness of the family will be ruined.
- Thirukkural (No. 1028) Chapter: Kudiseiyal Vagai (The Way of Elevating the Family)
- State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu
- SIPCOT was established in 1971 under the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Act, 1965 to promote medium and large-scale industries in the state.
- It was created to develop industrial parks, especially in industrially backward regions, with the aim of balanced regional development and employment generation.
- SIPCOT’s first project was the establishment of the Cuddalore Industrial Complex, inaugurated in 1972.
- SIPCOT has nurtured the development of 50 Industrial Parks including 8 SEZs, spread over 24 districts in a total extent of about 48,926.48 acres.
- The 16th Finance Commission has, recommending that heatwaves be notified as a national disaster — a designation that would unbolt the door to dedicated central funding.
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous, self-sustained body under the Ministry of Education established to conduct transparent and standardized entrance examinations.
- It was established in 2017 and is registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and is not a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament.
- NTA conducts major national-level entrance examinations such as JEE Main, NEET UG, and CUET UG. also conducts postgraduate and eligibility examinations including CUET PG, UGC NET, and CSIR UGC NET.
- It is headed by a Director General (DG), who functions as the Chief Executive Officer, usually of Joint Secretary rank in the Government of India.
- Part XV, Article 324 (2) – The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fix and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament, be made by the President.
- Part V, Article 141 – Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all courts
- Part V, Article 145 (3) – The minimum number of Judges who are to sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution or for the purpose of hearing any reference under article 143 shall be five:
- Provided that, where the Court hearing an appeal under any of the provisions of this Chapter other than article 132 consists of less than five Judges and in the course of the hearing of the appeal the Court is satisfied that the appeal involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the appeal, such Court shall refer the question for opinion to a Court constituted as required by this clause for the purpose of deciding any case involving such a question and shall on receipt of the opinion dispose of the appeal in conformity with such opinion.
- Article 142 of the Constitution confers discretionary power on the Supreme Court, according to which, it states that the Supreme Court, in the exercise of its jurisdiction, may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it.
- Tamil Thai Vaazhthu
- Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, written by the scholar Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai in 1891, has been sung at Tamil Nadu government functions since 1970 following an order by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
- The song is considered secular as it praises Tamil language and culture without promoting any religion.
- Later, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government led by M. K. Stalin declared Tamil Thai Vaazhthu as the official State song on December 17, 2021 and made standing mandatory, except for persons with disabilities.
- Historical Background of Vande Mataram
- Vande Mataram originated in the 1882 Bengali novel Anandamath written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji.
- The novel was translated into English as Abbey of Bliss by Nares Chandra Sen-Gupta in 1906.
- The original novel’s context was the Sannyasi rebellion (1763 to 1800 ).
- A revised translation in 1941 by Basanta Koomar Roy removed several communal references to align with the freedom movement.
- In 1937, a Congress committee decided that only the first two stanzas praising the motherland should be used publicly.
- Provided that, where the Court hearing an appeal under any of the provisions of this Chapter other than article 132 consists of less than five Judges and in the course of the hearing of the appeal the Court is satisfied that the appeal involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the appeal, such Court shall refer the question for opinion to a Court constituted as required by this clause for the purpose of deciding any case involving such a question and shall on receipt of the opinion dispose of the appeal in conformity with such opinion.
