PRELIMS
Impeachment of Judges
Why in News: LS to take up motion to remove HC judge
Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 124(4) (SC judges) & 218 (HC judges).
Grounds:
- Proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
Procedure Regulated By: Judges Inquiry Act, 1968
Initiation:
- Motion signed by 100 LS or 50 RS MPs.
- Admitted by Speaker/Chairman.
- Inquiry Committee Composition: SC judge (or CJI), HC Chief Justice and Eminent jurist
Parliamentary Approval: Both Houses must pass with:
- 2/3rd members present & voting
- Majority of total membership
Final Step:
- President orders removal if passed.
Previous Impeachment Cases (Examples):
- Justice Ramaswami (1993) – Motion failed.
- Justice Soumitra Sen (2011) – Resigned after RS passed motion.
- Justice Dipak Misra (2018) – Motion rejected at initial stage.
New Wart Sea Slug Species Discovered – Indonesia
Why in News: Two new wart sea slug species — Phyllidia ovata and Phyllidia fontjei — have been discovered in the waters of North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Discovered by:
- Five women scientists from Germany, Indonesia, and Wales.
Family:
- Belong to Phyllidiidae — known for bright colours and chemical defences (from sponge prey).
Phyllidia ovata:
- Distribution: Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Australia
- Identified after 23 years of underwater photography
- Size: Medium (up to 5 cm)
- Name origin: Oval or egg-like shape
Phyllidia fontjei:
- Found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Andaman Sea
- Size: Small (up to 16 mm)
- Identified from a single holotype specimen
Marine Biodiversity Significance:
- North Sulawesi has ~350 sea slug species, 100+ yet unnamed
- Important for ecological studies and conservation
Escalating Border Dispute Reignites Thailand–Cambodia Tensions
Why in News: A renewed border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has sparked rising tensions, centering on territorial claims along their shared boundary.
Cambodia – Political & Geographical Features
- Location: Mainland Southeast Asia
- Capital: Phnom Penh
- Groupings: Member of ASEAN
Political Boundaries:
Borders:
- West & Northwest – Thailand
- North – Laos
- East & Southeast – Vietnam
Maritime Boundary:
- Southwest – Gulf of Thailand
Geographical Features:
Major Rivers:
- Mekong River
- Tonle Sap River
Lakes:
- Tonle Sap Lake – Largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia
Mountain Ranges:
- Dangrek Mountains – Natural border with Thailand
- Krâvanh (Cardamom) Mountains
- Dâmrei Mountains.
Thailand geographical features
Location: Southeast Asia; borders Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia.
Regions:
- North: Mountains (Doi Inthanon – highest peak).
- Northeast: Khorat Plateau (dry, Mekong tributaries).
- Central: Chao Phraya Basin – fertile “rice bowl”.
- West/South: Tenasserim Hills, narrow coastal strip.
Rivers:
- Chao Phraya – lifeline of central Thailand.
- Mekong – NE border with Laos.
- Other tributaries: Ping, Nan, Wang, Yom.
Mountains:
- Dângrêk Range (Cambodia border),
- Luang Prabang & Phi Pan Nam (North).
Key islands: Phuket, Koh Samui.
Kala Utsav 2025
Why in News: Artists of Sohrai, Pattachitra & Patua Art Call on President under Kala Utsav 2025
About the Art Forms:
Sohrai Art (Jharkhand):
- Linked to the Sohrai harvest festival.
- Practiced by Sadan, Oraon, Munda, Santal communities.
- Known for mud wall paintings using natural pigments and brushes made of twigs.
Pattachitra (Odisha):
- Traditional cloth-based scroll painting.
- “Patta” = Cloth, “Chitra” = Picture (Sanskrit origin).
- Known for mythological themes, especially stories of Jagannath, Krishna, and Vishnu.
Patua Art (West Bengal):
- Folk scroll painting on cloth called pati or patta.
- Often combined with oral storytelling or songs (Poter Gaan).
- Practiced by Patua community, merging Hindu and Muslim traditions.
