Why in News?  The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Shirish Chandra Murmu as a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on September 29, 2025. This appointment is significant as he replaces M. Rajeshwar Rao, whose tenure is set to end, maintaining the mandated strength of four Deputy Governors in the central bank. Key Points Appointment: Shirish Chandra Murmu has been appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Term: His appointment is for a period of three years. Effective Date: The appointment will be effective from October 9, 2025. Predecessor: He is set to succeed M. Rajeshwar Rao, whose term as Deputy Governor concludes on October 8, 2025. Previous Role: Prior to this appointment, Murmu was serving as an Executive Director at the RBI. Structure: The RBI operates with one Governor and a maximum of four Deputy Governors. Important Terms RBI Deputy Governor: One of the four top-level executive positions in the Reserve Bank of India, responsible for specific portfolios like monetary policy, banking regulation, or supervision, and assisting the RBI Governor. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC): A committee of the Government of India that decides on top-level appointments in the central government, including those in the RBI. Executive Director (RBI): A senior internal position at the RBI, usually ranking just below the Deputy Governors, overseeing key administrative and regulatory functions.

Why in News?  A team of researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), Kochi, recently discovered and identified a new species of finless snake eel. The species, named Apterichtus kanniyakumari, was found off the Colachel coast in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, highlighting the rich yet underexplored marine biodiversity of the Arabian Sea. The discovery has been formally published in the internationally renowned peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. Key Points Species Name: Apterichtus kanniyakumari. Classification: It is a species of finless snake eel belonging to the genus Apterichtus and family Ophichthidae. Discovery Location: Colachel coast in the Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. Habitat: Collected from deep-sea trawl landings at a depth of about 100 meters in the Arabian Sea. Nomenclature: Named after the Kanyakumari district to honour its cultural and geographical significance. Distinguishing Feature: The new species has a distinct golden-yellow body with three characteristic black blotches on its head (behind the eye, at the corner of the mouth, and behind the origin of the rictus). Significance: This marks the 16th new species discovered from the Indian coast by the NBFGR team, underscoring the need for further taxonomic research to strengthen India's biodiversity catalogue. Important Terms Apterichtus: The genus of the eel, meaning "fish without fins," referring to the absence of pectoral and other typical fins. Ophichthidae: The scientific family commonly known as Snake Eels, characterized by their burrowing behaviour using a rigid, pointed tail. Finless Snake Eel: An eel that lacks pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins, giving it a smooth, serpentine appearance, and typically burrows into sand or mud substrate. CO1 Gene Analysis: Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I gene, a common technique in biology for species identification and genetic distinction. Zootaxa: A widely recognised international scientific journal for animal taxonomy.

Why in News?  The Union Cabinet, on September 24, 2025, approved the payment of a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages for eligible railway employees. This annual decision is a recognition of the "excellent performance" of the railway staff during the financial year 2024-25, in which Indian Railways recorded strong operational results, including record cargo loading and passenger traffic. The bonus is typically paid out just before the major festive season of Durga Puja/Dussehra. Key Points Approval Date: September 24, 2025. Bonus Duration: Equivalent to 78 days of wages. Beneficiaries: Approximately 10.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees. Total Outlay: The decision has a financial implication of about ₹1,865.68 crore. Maximum Payable Amount: The maximum amount payable to each eligible employee is capped at ₹17,951. Objective: To act as an incentive for employees to work towards further improvement in the performance and efficiency of Indian Railways. Performance Metrics (FY 2024-25): Indian Railways loaded a record cargo of 1,614.90 Million Tonnes and carried nearly 7.3 billion passengers. Eligible Staff Categories: Includes Track Maintainers, Loco Pilots, Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians, and other Group 'C' staff. Important Terms Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB): A performance-based bonus scheme specific to the Railways and other departmental undertakings, given to non-gazetted staff based on the overall productivity and performance of the organization. Non-Gazetted Employees: Staff who are not holding an officer-level rank in the government service (generally Group 'C' and 'D' staff in Railways). Group 'C' Staff: A category of central government employees that includes most field staff and technical workers, who are the primary beneficiaries of the PLB.