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1. The recent increase in the Opposition's strength in the Lok Sabha has reignited their interest in securing the Deputy Speaker's post, which has remained vacant throughout the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). Constitutionally, Article 95(1) and Article 93 mandate the election of a Deputy Speaker with the same powers as the Speaker, to be chosen as soon as possible after the House is constituted. The election is governed by Rule 8 of the Lok Sabha Rules, requiring a simple majority of members present and voting. Historically, the post has often been held by opposition party members, emphasizing its role in ensuring parliamentary balance and representation. Despite the lack of a specific timeline for the election, the use of "shall" in the constitutional articles indicates the urgency and necessity of appointing a Deputy Speaker promptly.
2. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) recently held a workshop to prepare for the 21st Livestock Census, set for September to December 2024. The workshop aimed to equip State and Union Territory officers with tools like a mobile app and software for efficient data collection. Participants were trained on data collation strategies and familiarized with various livestock breeds. Since 1919, India has conducted a livestock census every five years. The 20th Census in 2019 recorded a total livestock population of 535.78 million, including 302.79 million bovines. The National Livestock Mission (NLM), launched in 2014-15, focuses on breed development, feed and fodder development, and innovation and extension to support livestock development.
3. The government has amended the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, to grant maternity and paternity leave benefits for government employees with children born through surrogacy. Women government employees who have children via surrogacy, including both surrogate and commissioning mothers (with fewer than two surviving children), are entitled to 180 days of maternity leave. Male government employees who are commissioning fathers (with fewer than two surviving children) are granted 15 days of paternity leave, which can be taken within six months of the child's birth. Commissioning mothers with fewer than two surviving children are eligible for childcare leave under the existing provisions of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules.
4. Srinagar has become the fourth Indian city recognized as a ‘World Craft City’ by the World Craft Council (WCC), joining Jaipur, Malappuram, and Mysore. Previously, Srinagar was designated a creative city by the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN) in 2021 for its crafts and folk arts. Renowned crafts from Srinagar include papier-mâché, walnut wood carving, carpets, Sozni embroidery, and Pashmina and Kani shawls. The WCC-World Craft City Programme, launched in 2014 by the World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-International), recognizes the significant role of local authorities, craftspeople, and communities in global crafts development. The WCC-International, founded in 1964 with Smt Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay as a founding member, aims to protect and enhance craft heritage worldwide. Smt Chattopadhyay also established the Craft Council of India in 1964.
5. Recently, an exhibition featuring 115 oil paintings of Shivaji Maharaj was organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji. These paintings were created under the guidance of Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, born on February 19, 1630, at Shivneri Fort in Pune District, was crowned as the king of the Marathas on June 6, 1674, at Raigad. His father, Shahaji Bhonsle, served as a Maratha general under the Bijapur Sultanate, and his mother was Jijabai. Shivaji Maharaj assumed several titles during his reign, including Chhatrapati, Shakakarta, Kshatriya Kulavantas, and Haindava Dharmodhhaarak.
6. Recently, the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to rename the state as “Keralam” in the Constitution. Kerala, derived from the Malayalam word "Keralam," finds its earliest mention in Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edict II of 257 BCE, where it refers to "Keralaputra," meaning "son of Kerala." This term historically denotes the Chera dynasty, one of the prominent kingdoms in southern India alongside the Chola and Pandya dynasties. The demand for a unified Malayalam-speaking state emerged in the 1920s, leading to the formation of the state of Travancore-Cochin in 1949, which integrated the princely states of Travancore and Cochin. Following the recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission, Kerala was eventually established as a state based on linguistic principles after independence.