News In Short 28-1-2025

Lezim 

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• The Hindi film ‘Chhaava’ based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj landed in a controversy with people objecting to a Lezim dance sequence.

About

• Lezim or lazium is a folk dance form, from the state of Maharashtra.
• It gets its name after a musical instrument- a unique wooden stick, with jingling cymbals attached to it that the dancers carry while performing the dance.
  • Lizem was earlier traditionally used as an instrument in all folk dances but today it is primarily used in Ganesha procession.

• Traditionally, it was performed as a sport by Maratha warriors to build their muscles and fitness drills in Maharashtra.
  • Lezim folk dance originated in the year 1986, when some of the communities started performing it.

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj 

• Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 
• He came to power following a bloody succession battle with his half-brother Rajaram in 1681. 
• The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was a contemporary and his plan to extend his empire towards the Deccan often resulted in clashes with the Marathas.

Source: IE

Lala Lajpat Rai

Syllabus: GS 1/History 

In News

• India is remembering Lala Lajpat Rai on his 160th Birth Anniversary.

Birth and Early Life:

• Born on 28th January 1865 in Dhudike, Ludhiana district, Punjab.
• He was one of the “Lal Bal Pal” trio, along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
  • He  supported the Shuddhi movement.
• Contributions :  Joined Arya Samaj in 1882 and became one of its prominent leaders.
  • Played a key role in social welfare, famine relief, and abolition of untouchability.
    • Founded the Hindu Relief Movement in 1897 to help famine-stricken people and prevent missionary influence.
    • He founded Punjab National Bank, Lakshmi Insurance Company, and the Servants of the People Society.
    • He was associated with the establishment of DAV College for educational purposes.
• Writing and Advocacy: Wrote biographies on Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji, and Swami Dayanand.
  • Authored “Unhappy India” in response to Katherine Mayo’s “Mother India.” and Young India: An Interpretation.
    • Used his writings to advocate for India’s freedom and culture.
• Political Activities and Nationalism: Opposed British colonial policies, became a prominent leader in Indian National Congress.
  • Advocated for Swadeshi and opposed British repression after the partition of Bengal in 1905.
  • Criticized “Moderate” politics, advocating for more direct action and self-reliance.
  • He was  widely recognized as Punjab Kesari.
• Exile and International Efforts: Went into exile in 1907, toured England and the USA, speaking against British colonialism.
  • Started “Indian Home Rule League of America” to support India’s independence movement.
• Return to India and Later Contributions:  In the special session of the Congress held in Calcutta (1920) Lala Lajpat Rai was elected President by the All India Congress Committee.
  • It was under his leadership that the Congress adopted the resolution of Non-cooperation with the British Government after the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy.
• Final Struggle and Death: Led the boycott procession against the Simon Commission in 1928.
  • Received fatal injuries from police lathi charges on 30th October 1928, dying on 17th November 1928.
• Legacy: Lala Lajpat Rai’s contributions to the freedom movement, social reforms, and education continue to inspire generations.
  • Left a legacy of patriotism, sacrifice, and inspiration for India’s freedom struggle.

Source :Air 

Lake Victoria

Syllabus: GS1/Places in News

Context

• An international team of researchers from North America and Kenya has completed a genetic survey of cyanobacteria in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya. 

About

• Cyanobacteria, formerly known as blue-green algae, form dense and sometimes toxic blooms in freshwater and marine environments.
  • These blooms disrupt ecosystems, degrade water quality, and pose serious risks to humans, livestock, and aquatic life.  
• The Winam Gulf, known for its prolific year-round cyanoHABs, is one of Lake Victoria’s most productive fishing basins.
  • The study investigated cyanobacterial assemblage, function, and biosynthetic potential across different regions of the gulf.

Victoria Lake

• It is the world’s largest tropical lake. It’s also the largest lake in Africa, and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area  (after Lake Superior in North America).
• The lake was named in honour of Queen Victoria of England. 
• It is located in East Africa, spanning towards the borders of three countries: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. 

• The lake serves as the chief reservoir of the River Nile.
• The lake is a vital resource for millions of people who rely on fishing as their primary livelihood. 

Source: DTE

Tidal Flooding

Syllabus: GS1/ Physical Geography

Context

• Tidal flooding has become frequent in Ernakulam district of Kerala lately.

Tidal Flooding

• Tidal flooding, also known as “nuisance flooding” or “sunny day flooding,” happens when high tides cause water levels to rise and flood low-lying coastal areas. 
• Causes: Changes in prevailing winds, shifts in ocean currents, and strong tidal forces (which occur during full or new moon) can all cause high tide flooding.
• High tide flooding falls into three levels of severity: minor, moderate, and major. 

• Concerns:
  • Tidal flooding disrupts daily life by flooding roads and services, damages infrastructure, and causes economic losses for businesses. 
  • It accelerates coastal erosion, harms habitats, and contaminates freshwater supplies with saltwater. 
  • Repeated flooding forces communities to relocate. 
  • Over time, rising sea levels due to climate change will make tidal flooding more frequent and severe.

Source: TH

Unified Pension Scheme

Syllabus :GS 2/Governance 

In News

• The Finance Ministry notified the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS ) for workers covered by the National Pension System (NPS), effective from April 1, 2025.

Unified Pension Scheme(UPS)

•  The UPS was recommended as an alternative to the NPS by a panel led by former Finance Secretary T.V. Somanathan.
• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will determine the mechanism for retirees opting for the UPS, addressing top-up amounts relative to their NPS payouts.
• It will offer employees an assured pension of 50% of their average basic pay over the last 12 months before retirement, for a minimum service of 25 years. 
• Additional Benefits: The UPS includes a family pension of 60% of the government worker’s pension upon their death, a lumpsum superannuation payout, and gratuity benefits.
  • A minimum pension of ₹10,000/month is promised for those with at least 10 years of Union government service.

Source :TH

Piezoelectricity 

Syllabus :GS3/Science and Tech 

In News

• Recently, the author at IIT Kanpur,  explained the role of piezoelectric materials in the functioning of stove lighters and their ability to create sparks.

About Stove-Lighter 

• The stove-lighter creates a small spark when clicked. This spark, though seemingly harmless, is a result of electrical charges.
  • An electric spark occurs when there is a difference in electron quantity between two points. 
  • One point has a surplus of electrons (negative), and the other a deficiency (positive), causing electrons to move and create a spark.
• Lightning is essentially a large-scale electric spark caused by extreme electron imbalances between charged clouds in the sky, creating a spark through the air after breaking molecules.

Piezoelectricity 

• Piezoelectricity is the generation of electrical charge in a solid material by an applied mechanical stress and vice versa. 
• The piezoelectric effect is exhibited in materials that develop a net electric dipole moment.
  • In such materials, the dipole density or polarization changes in response to mechanical strain resulting in a net accumulation of charge.
• How Piezoelectric Materials Work: In their natural state, piezoelectric materials have alternating positive and negative ions. When pressure is applied, the ions shift, creating a charge imbalance and generating a high voltage, which causes a spark.
• Applications:  Piezoelectronics are crucial for energy conversion, sensing, and applications in energy harvesting, health monitoring, and more.
  • Lighters use piezoelectric materials that generate a surplus and deficiency of electrons when pressure is applied. These materials have a specific atomic structure that allows them to generate electric charge under pressure.

Source :TH