16th July 2026

Explanation - A trial in absentia refers to a criminal trial conducted in the absence of the accused. Under Section 356 of the BNSS, if a person declared a proclaimed offender has absconded to evade trial and there is no immediate prospect of arrest, the court may treat the accused's absence as a waiver of their right to be present. After recording reasons in writing, the court can proceed with the inquiry, trial, and pronouncement of judgment as though the accused were present. Comparison with the Earlier CrPC Framework — Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), which BNSS has replaced: Section 82(4) CrPC allowed proclamation and attachment of property of an absconding accused. Section 317 CrPC allowed trial in the accused's absence only in specific cases. Section 299 CrPC allowed recording of evidence in the accused's absence if there was no prospect of arrest. These provisions gave presiding officers discretion to proceed in-absentia only if the accused's personal attendance was not necessary for justice, or if the accused persistently disrupted proceedings. Crucially, none of these provisions allowed a full-fledged trial in absentia, causing many trials to remain pending for years until the accused was apprehended. BNSS's Section 356 addresses this gap by enabling complete trials, not just partial proceedings, in the accused's absence.

Explanation - In some genes, not all of the DNA sequence is used to make protein. Introns are noncoding sections of an RNA transcript, or the DNA encoding it, that are spliced out before the RNA molecule is translated into a protein. The sections of DNA (or RNA) that code for proteins are called exons. Following transcription, new, immature strands of messenger RNA, called pre-mRNA, may contain both introns and exons. The pre-mRNA molecule thus goes through a modification process in the nucleus called splicing during which the noncoding introns are cut out and only the coding exons remain. Splicing produces a mature messenger RNA molecule that is then translated into a protein. Introns are also referred to as intervening sequences. The length of introns differs among species and genes in the same species; mammals and flowering plants have multiple introns and are longer than exons. Introns may contain sequences that regulate how genes are expressed or transcribed and how mRNA is processed.

Explanation - The Krishna is the second largest east flowing river of the Deccan Peninsula. The Krishna Basin extends over Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka having a total area of 2.6 lakh Sq.km. It is bounded by Balaghat range on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and the east and by the Western Ghats on the west. The Krishna River rises from the Western Ghats near Jor village of Satara district of Maharashtra at an altitude of 1,337 m just north of Mahabaleshwar. The total length of river from origin to its outfall into the Bay of Bengal is 1,400 km. The major part of basin is covered with agricultural land accounting to 75.86% of the total area. The Krishna forms a large delta with a shoreline of about 120 km. The Krishna delta appears to merge with that formed by the Godavari and extends about 35 km into the sea.

Explanation - Sulphur Dioxide is an inorganic compound, a heavy, colourless, gas. It is produced in huge quantities in intermediate steps of sulfuric acid manufacture. Properties of Sulphur Dioxide — It is a colourless gas with a pungent odour. It is a liquid when under pressure, and it dissolves in water very easily. Applications — It is used to manufacture chemicals, in paper pulping, in metal and food processing. Impacts of Sulphur Dioxide: It is harmful for human health, environment and climate. Sources of Sulphur Dioxide: Burning of Coal: Sulfur dioxide in the air comes mainly from activities such as the burning of coal and oil at power plants or from copper smelting. Industries: It is usually prepared industrially by the burning in air or oxygen of sulfur or such compounds of sulfur as iron pyrite or copper pyrite. Natural Occurrence: In nature, sulfur dioxide can be released to the air from volcanic eruptions. From Fossil Fuel burning: The largest source of SO2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities.

Explanation - The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1963; however, its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, not Rome, Italy. It was created by the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in May 1963. The primary purpose of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is indeed to develop and harmonise international food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. It collaborates with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Codex Alimentarius covers various aspects of food standards, including guidelines for food labelling, packaging, and many other areas related to food safety and quality.