09 Sep 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Gegeneophis chandgadi and Caecilians

Why in News: Scientists discovered a new species of legless, worm-like amphibian from Maharashtra and named it Gegeneophis chandgadi.

About Gegeneophis chandgadi

·       It belongs to the caecilian group of amphibians.

·       The species name 'chandgadi' comes from the Chandgadi language, a distinct dialect of Marathi spoken in the region where it was discovered.

·  The name recognises the local culture and linguistic heritage of the area.

·   It was found in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, an important hotspot for caecilian diversity and endemism.

Key Identification Features

·       It has a slender, flesh-coloured body.

·       Its body shows a distinctive pattern of annuli, or ring-like grooves.

·       Primary annuli are present throughout the body.

·       Secondary annuli occur mainly in the posterior half.

·       It is a legless, burrowing amphibian.

Caecilians: What to Know

·       Caecilians are limbless amphibians belonging to the order Gymnophiona, also called Apoda.

·       They resemble large earthworms or small snakes but are amphibians.

·       They are among the least-studied vertebrates because of their secretive underground lifestyle.

·       They lack both forelimbs and hindlimbs.

·       Their smooth, moist skin is marked by annuli.

·       They possess a hard, pointed skull adapted for burrowing.

·       Most species have reduced eyesight because they spend much of their lives underground.

·       They have sensory tentacles between the eyes and nostrils that help detect prey.

Habitat and Distribution of Caecilians

·       They mainly inhabit moist tropical and subtropical regions.

·       Most species are fossorial and live in underground tunnel systems.

·       Moist soil is essential for their survival.

·       Globally, they occur in South and Central America, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

·       South and Central America have the highest diversity.

·       India is an important centre of caecilian diversity, especially the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot.

·       Several Indian species are endemic to the Western Ghats.

Quick Recall

·       Gegeneophis chandgadi -> newly discovered caecilian from Maharashtra.

·       Caecilians -> limbless amphibians, not worms or snakes.

·       Order -> Gymnophiona / Apoda.

·       Key adaptation -> pointed skull + sensory tentacles for underground life.

·       Indian hotspot -> Western Ghats.

India-China Talks in Arunachal Pradesh

Why in News: India and China held their first-ever Corps Commander-level talks at the Vacha-Damai Border Personnel Meeting Point in Arunachal Pradesh. Such talks had mostly been held at the Chushul-Moldo Border Meeting Point in Ladakh.

Vacha-Damai BPM Point

·       A Border Personnel Meeting Point is a location where military commanders from both countries meet face-to-face.

·       It is used to directly de-escalate tensions without routing every issue through formal diplomatic channels.

·       The Vacha-Damai, or Wacha-Damai, BPM Point is located in Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh.

·       It is considered India's easternmost BPM Point.

McMahon Line vs Line of Actual Control

·       India treats the McMahon Line as the legal international boundary in the Eastern Sector between Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh.

·       The McMahon Line was drawn at the Simla Convention of 1914 between British India and Tibet.

·       It is named after Sir Henry McMahon, then Foreign Secretary of British India.

·       The Line of Actual Control is different: it is the line separating areas actually controlled by India and China on the ground.

·       The LAC is not a boundary formally agreed to by both sides.

·       It runs across the Western, Middle and Eastern sectors of the India-China border.

Quick Recall

·       Vacha-Damai BPM Point -> Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh.

·       BPM Point -> direct military-level engagement for de-escalation.

·       McMahon Line -> drawn at Simla Convention, 1914.

·       LAC -> line of actual control on the ground, not a mutually agreed international boundary.

·       LAC spans -> Western + Middle + Eastern sectors.

Bar Council of India (BCI)

Why in News: The Supreme Court held that the Bar Council of India and its Chairperson do not have jurisdiction to discipline or penalise law students, as their regulatory powers extend to advocates and legal education institutions.

What is the BCI?

·       The Bar Council of India is a statutory body that regulates and represents the legal profession in India.

·       It was constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961.

·       It was created on the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee.

Core Objectives

·       Safeguard the rights, privileges and interests of advocates.

·       Regulate the legal profession and legal education in India.

Major Functions

·       Prescribes standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates.

·       Exercises disciplinary jurisdiction over advocates for professional misconduct.

·       Safeguards the rights and interests of advocates.

·       Prescribes standards of legal education.

·       Recognises universities and law colleges whose degrees qualify students for enrolment as advocates.

·       Inspects law institutions and promotes improvements in legal education.

·       Conducts the All India Bar Examination.

·       Grants the Certificate of Practice to eligible advocates.

·       Promotes welfare schemes for advocates.

·       Provides assistance to economically weaker and differently-abled advocates.

·       Recognises certain foreign law qualifications on a reciprocal basis for enrolment in India.

Composition

·       Members are elected by the State Bar Councils.

·       The Attorney General of India is an ex-officio member.

·       The Solicitor General of India is an ex-officio member.

·       Members elected from State Bar Councils hold office for five years.

·       The BCI elects its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

·       The Chairman and Vice-Chairman have a two-year tenure.

State Bar Councils

·       State Bar Councils are also established under the Advocates Act, 1961.

·       They function at the State level.

·       They enrol advocates on the State roll.

·       They conduct disciplinary proceedings against advocates.

·       They provide welfare measures for advocates.

·       They elect representatives to the Bar Council of India.

Quick Recall

·       BCI -> statutory body under Advocates Act, 1961.

·       Regulates -> advocates + legal education.

·       Exam -> All India Bar Examination.

·       Ex-officio members -> Attorney General + Solicitor General of India.

·       State Bar Councils -> enrol advocates and handle disciplinary proceedings.