News In Short 06-1-2025

Winter Char Dham

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture, GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Uttarakhand government inaugurated the winter Char Dham circuit to boost  pilgrimage tourism in winter.

What is Char Dham?

• Four sacred places namely, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are collectively known as Char Dham.
  • Yamunotri: Located in Uttarkashi district, the Yamunotri temple is situated in a narrow gorge near the source of the Yamuna River.
  • Gangotri: Also in Uttarkashi district, Gangotri is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, revered as the most sacred river in India.
  • Kedarnath: Situated in Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
  • Badrinath: Located in Chamoli district, Badrinath houses the Badrinarayan Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Winter Char Dham

• Due to heavy snowfall, the Char Dham sites become inaccessible in winter and the presiding deities of these shrines are relocated to lower-altitude, popularly known as ‘Winter Char Dham’.
• The sites are as;
  • Yamunotri has its winter seat at Kharsali in Uttarkashi.
  • Gangotri is relocated to Mukhba in Uttarkashi during the winter.
  • Badrinath finds its winter abode at Pandukeshwar in Chamoli.
  • Kedarnath shifts to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Rudraprayag.

Source: IE

Ecuador

Syllabus: GS 1/Places in News

In News

• Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a 60-day state of emergency in seven provinces and three municipalities due to escalating internal unrest and armed conflict. 

Ecuador

• Location: It is situated in western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.

• Capital  : Quito
• Highest point:  Mount Chimborazo
• Major Rivers : The Babahoyo, Chira, Coca, Curaray, Daule, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Napo, Paztaza and the Putumayo.
• It is known for its diverse and stunning landscapes, which include the vast Amazon jungle, the towering Andean highlands, and the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its unique wildlife.
• Ecuador has also been associated with illegal drug trade activities. 

Source: AIR

CSIR Paracetamol Technology

Syllabus: GS 2/Health 

In News

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed an indigenous paracetamol drug, which would help reduce India’s dependence on imported raw materials. 

Paracetamol:

• Paracetamol, chemically known as N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, is widely used for pain relief and fever reduction. 
• In the United States and Japan, it is called acetaminophen (derived from its chemical structure), while most other countries, including India, use the name “paracetamol.“
• It works by inhibiting prostaglandins, which amplify pain, and targets the hypothalamus for fever reduction.
• Risk and Threats: Paracetamol poisoning quietly causes thousands of deaths globally, with over 60,000 emergency visits and more than 500 deaths annually in the U.S. alone.
  • The issue is underreported, especially in Asia, South America, and Africa, and is rarely discussed despite its scale.

Do you know? – CSIR’s achievements include innovations like the 108-petal Lotus, hydrogen buses, biofuels, the Aroma Mission (Lavender cultivation), and the indigenously developed paracetamol.

Source :PIB

Decline in Rural Poverty: SBI Research

Syllabus :GS 3/Economy 

In News 

• Recently, SBI’s economic research department (ERD) released a report on Rural Poverty.

About Research: Findings 

• India’s poverty rate has dropped significantly from 22% in 2011-12 to below 5% in 2023-24, with minimal extreme poverty.
  • Rural poverty fell from 25.7% in 2011-12 to 4.86% in 2023-24, and urban poverty decreased from 4.6% in 2022-23 to 4.09% in 2023-24.
• Threshold: The report sets the new poverty line for FY24 at Rs 1,632 for rural areas and Rs 1,944 for urban areas, adjusted for inflation and the imputation factor.
  • Suresh Tendulkar’s poverty line (estimated in 2011-12) was Rs 816 for rural areas and Rs 1,000 for urban areas.
• Urban-Rural Consumption Disparity: The gap in monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) between rural and urban areas decreased to 70% in 2023-24 from 84% in 2011-12, reflecting sustained rural consumption growth.
• Impact of Inflation and Consumption: Rising inflation led to lower overall consumption, with a more pronounced effect in rural, low-income states.
  • Middle-income states helped sustain consumption demand.

Factors Behind Poverty Decline

• Consumption Growth: Higher consumption growth in the 0-5% income group.
  • Rural consumption saw a 22% increase, with MPCE reaching Rs 1,677 in 2023-24, and urban areas saw an 18.7% increase to Rs 2,376.
    • Consumption inequality decreased, with the Gini coefficient dropping to 0.24 in rural areas and 0.28 in urban areas.
• Shift in the poverty line from the 5-10% to the 0-5% income group.
• Improved rural mobility due to enhanced physical infrastructure.
• Government schemes like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) contribute to reduced rural-urban income disparity.
  •  About 30% of rural monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) is explained by factors like DBT transfers, rural infrastructure development, and support for farmers’ income.

Do you know ? – India has made significant progress in reducing poverty across multiple dimensions through various government initiatives. – Poshan Abhiyan and Anemia Mukt Bharat have improved healthcare access and reduced deprivation. – The Targeted Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act serves 81.35 crore beneficiaries, providing food grains to rural and urban populations. – Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana: The government extended the free food grain distribution program for another five years, demonstrating its commitment to tackling poverty. – Other Welfare Programs: 1. Ujjwala Yojana: Clean cooking fuel distribution. 2. Saubhagya Scheme: Expanded electricity coverage. 3. Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission: Improving sanitation and water supply. 4. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: Financial inclusion through bank accounts for all. 5. PM Awas Yojana: Providing safe housing for the underprivileged.

Source:IE

Dr Rajagopala Chidambaram

Syllabus: GS3/Major Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology

Context

• Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, a prominent figure in India’s nuclear program, passed away recently.

His Key Contributions

• He was the former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
• He also served as chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (1994–1995).
• Operation Smiling Buddha: In 1974, he was part of an operation, codenamed ‘Smiling Buddha’, which carried out amidst great secrecy a “peaceful nuclear test” at Pokhran, Rajasthan.
  • This made India the sixth country to test a nuclear device.
• Operation Shakti: In 1998, as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, he led operation shakti, which solidified India’s status as a nuclear power on the global stage.
• He backed several mega science projects, including the National Supercomputing Mission, or the mission on quantum technologies.
• He was also the longest serving Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Indian government from 2002-2018.
• Awards: He was a recipient of the Padma Shri (1975) and Padma Vibushan (1999).

Source: TH

ISRO’s CROPS Experiment

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• A batch of cowpea seeds which were taken into orbit by an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission has unveiled their first leaves.

About

• CROPS payload: The space agency sent eight cowpea seeds as part of the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) experiment. 
• Aim: It is conducted by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to study plant growth in microgravity conditions.
• CROPS is part of a larger initiative to evolve ISRO’s capabilities in sustaining flora in extraterrestrial environments, with future phases expected to focus on longer-term plant growth in space. 
  • The current experiment is designed to last between five and seven days, demonstrating seed germination and plant development up to the two-leaf stage.
• Significance: The results could play a pivotal role in ensuring food security for astronauts on extended missions.

Source: TH

World Braille Day 2025

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• January 4 is marked as World Braille Day.

About

• Established: The day was adopted in 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• The day is a tribute to Louis Braille who was born on January 04 1809, the visionary behind the braille system.

• Due to an eye injury he was left completely blind at the age of 3.
• Braille System: It is used by both blind and partially sighted people worldwide to read books and periodicals.
  • It was accepted by the Institute in Paris in 1854.
• Significance:
  • Braille is used in nearly every language worldwide. 
  • It is not only a means of communication but also a bridge to education, employment, and social inclusion for people who are blind or visually impaired. 

Source: TH

INSV Tarini

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• INSV Tarini embarked on the third leg of Navika Sagar Parikrama-II.
  • INSV Tarini is designed for long-distance ocean voyages and has covered over 66,000 nautical miles (122,223 km). 
  • It participated in the first Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition in 2017.

Navika Sagar Parikrama-II

• Navika Sagar Parikrama-II is an Indian Navy expedition aiming for a double-handed circumnavigation of the Earth via the three Great Capes. 
• It was flagged off from Goa on October 2, 2024, with two women Navy officers leading the journey.
  • The expedition’s first leg took 38 days across the Indian Ocean, with a stop in Fremantle, Australia. 
  • The second leg covered 28 days, sailing from Fremantle to Lyttelton, New Zealand. 
  • The third leg, spanning 5,600 nautical miles, will take the vessel from Lyttelton to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, passing through the South Pacific Ocean and the Drake Passage.

Source: TH