27th April 2026

Explanation -
It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).

It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West) Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east.

The Strait of Malacca's name was derived from the Malacca Sultanate, who governed the archipelago from 1400 until 1511.

It links the Indian and Pacific oceans and is one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.

Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia control the joint patrolling of Malacca Strait.

Significance of Strait of Malacca —
Roughly 60% of India's seaborne trade and almost all of its LNG imports pass through the Malacca Strait.

Explanation -
"Nasha Mukt Bharat: Annual Action Plan (2020-21)" was launched recently by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the occasion of "International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking".

It was initially launched in most vulnerable districts and now it has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from 2023.

Based on the finding of the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India and list of districts which are vulnerable from the supply point of view provided by Narcotics Control Bureau, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment would undertake intervention programmes in vulnerable districts across the country with an aim to -

• Reach out to Children and Youth for awareness about ill effect of drug use
• Increase community participation and public cooperation
• Supporting Government Hospitals for opening up De-addiction Centres in addition to existing Ministry Supported De-addiction Centres (IRCAs)
• Conducting Training programme for participants

The Action Plan has the following components -

• Awareness generation programmes
• Focus on Higher Educational institutions, University Campuses and Schools
• Community outreach and identification of dependent population
• Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital settings
• Capacity Building Programmes for Service Provider

Explanation -
The IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping.

It was established following agreement at a UN conference held in Geneva in 1948 and came into existence 10 years later, meeting for the first time in 1958.

Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, IMO currently has 175 Member States and three Associate Members.

India joined the IMO in 1959 and the IMO currently lists India as among the 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.

The IMO's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its mandate includes

• Maritime safety
• Environmental concerns
• Legal matters
• Technical co-operation
• Maritime security
• The efficiency of shipping

Explanation -
The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985.

It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.

The law initially stated that the decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to judicial review. This condition was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992, thereby allowing appeals against the Presiding Officer's decision in the High Court and Supreme Court.

However, it held that there may not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer gives his order.

Explanation -
The RBI has doubled the limit of maximum balance that an individual customer can hold with payments banks (PBs) to ₹2 lakh from ₹1 lakh earlier, with immediate effect.

Payments banks cannot accept deposits from the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).

They can issue ATM/debit cards but not credit cards.

They can carry out payments and remittance services through various channels.