News In Short 27-11-2024

Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day 

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History

Context

• Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is observed every year on 24 November to honour the sacrifice of the ninth Sikh Guru. 

About Guru Tegh Bahadur

• Early Life: He was born on 1 April 1621 in Amritsar and was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Sikh Guru.
  • Guru Teg Bahadur was known as Teyag Mal in his youth and he later earned the title “Tegh Bahadur” by his father.
  • In 1664, he became the ninth Sikh Guru.
• Contributions: He established Anandpur Sahib, strengthened Sikh institutions, and added over 700 hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib, leaving a profound spiritual legacy.
• Teachings: His hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib emphasize spiritual liberation, human rights, and equality. 
  • Guru Tegh Bahadur advocated tolerance and opposed tyranny.

Historical Significance

• Guru Tegh Bahadur, revered as Hind ki Chadar (Shield of India), sacrificed his life to protect religious freedoms. 
• In 1675, he was martyred in Delhi, defending the Kashmiri Pandits against forced conversions under Aurangzeb’s rule. 
• The site of his martyrdom is now marked by Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib.

Source: IT

Reang Community

Syllabus: GS1/Tribal Groups

Context

• Members of the Reang community, requested the government to grant recognition to their language, Kaubru.

About

• The ethnic Reang community has demanded that Tripura declare a holiday on Hojagiri Day, which celebrates the traditional Hojagiri dance.
• Reang are the second largest tribal community of Tripura.
• It is one of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.
• Kaubru is the oral language of the Bru ethnic people.
  • The Bru are an indigenous ethnic group living in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
• By religion they are Hindus and most of their deities are akin to gods and goddesses of Hindu faith. 

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission set up a separate category for Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
  • In 1975, the Union identified 52 tribal groups as PTGs. 
  • In 1993, 23 more groups were added to the list. Later, in 2006, these groups were named PVTGs.
• PVTGs are a more vulnerable group among tribal groups in India.
  • These groups have primitive traits, geographical isolation, low literacy, zero to negative population growth rate and backwardness. 
  • Moreover, they are largely dependent upon hunting for food and a pre-agriculture level of technology.
• According to the 2011 Census, Odisha has the largest population of PVTGs followed by Madhya Pradesh.

Source: IE

Gelephu Mindfulness City

Syllabus :GS 1/Places 

In News

• Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay highlighted the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) as Bhutan’s largest “co-operative project” during the Global Conference of The International Co-operative Alliance in New Delhi.

About Gelephu Mindfulness City(GMC)

• It is a Special Administrative Region in Bhutan, envisioned by His Majesty King Jigme, blending economic growth with mindfulness, holistic living, and sustainability. 
• It is strategically located at the crossroads of South Asia, ASEAN, and China.
• It aims to become a hub for regional connectivity and economic exchange. Leveraging Bhutan’s stable governance, rich spiritual heritage, and commitment to sustainable development
• Importance : It is poised to set a global standard for mindful and harmonious urban growth.
  •  The city integrates economic progress with Bhutan’s cultural values and strong governance to foster a secure, transparent environment for businesses and residents.

Source: TH

National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS)

Syllabus :GS 2/Governance 

In News

• The 5th Anniversary of the Web portal of the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) was observed.

About National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS)

• The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs launched the web portal of the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) on 26th November, 2019, to expand the outreach of the Youth Parliament Programme of the Ministry to all the recognized educational institutions of the country.
• NYPS 2.0 has been introduced so that all the citizens of the country can participate on the portal through –
  • Institution Participation:Through Institution Participation, all the educational institutions of the country can conduct Youth Parliament Sitting (YPS)
  • Group Participation : Through Group Participation, all the citizens of the country can conduct YPS by forming formal or informal Groups.
  •  Individual Participation: Through Individual Participation, all the citizens of the country can participate in the Quiz on the theme of “Bharatiya Democracy in Action”.

Source: PIB

Surface Hydrokinetic Turbine (SHKT) Technology

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has recognized the indigenously developed Surface Hydrokinetic Turbine (SHKT) technology under the Hydro Category.

About

• SHKT, uses kinetic energy of flowing water with practically zero potential head for generation of electrical energy.
  • Conventional units  utilize potential energy of water through construction of dam, diversion weir and barrages for creation of necessary ‘Head’.
• Significance: 
  • Surface Hydrokinetic turbines are easy to install and cost-effective, with generation cost of ₹2-3 per unit. 
  • This technology provides a win-win situation both for renewable energy buyers and generators.
  • This technology has huge potential in GW scale with a lot of opportunities to harness renewable energy, leading to overall growth of the power sector.

Central Electricity Authority 

• It is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Power.
• Functions:
  • Provides technical and policy advice to the government on matters relating to the planning, development, and management of the electricity sector.
  • Prepares the National Electricity Plan (NEP) and the Transmission Plan. 
  • Responsible for setting standards for electrical equipment, grid performance, and safety.
  • Ensures the stability of the national grid, coordinating with grid operators to maintain balance between electricity supply and demand.

Source: PIB