Soapstone Mining
Syllabus: GS1/ Geography, GS2/ Governance
Context
- Uttarakhand High Court has ordered an immediate stop to mining operations in Bageshwar district after illegal activities led to cracks in houses and hills.
What is Soapstone?
- Soapstone is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of talc, a naturally occurring mineral. It is widely used for;
- Construction and interior design (e.g., countertops, sinks, hearths, sculptures).
- Industrial applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals due to its softness and heat resistance.
- According to the Indian Bureau of Mines, the states of Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%) boast substantial reserves of soapstone in India.
Regulation and Governance in India
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 governs mining activities.
- The National Mineral Policy, 2019 emphasizes sustainable mining practices.
Source: IE
Marathi language officially granted classical status
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- Months after granting classical language status to Marathi, the Union government issued an official notification to this effect.
- Recently, the Union Cabinet has granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, increasing the classical languages to eleven.
Classical Languages
- India had six classical languages — Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
- Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004, Sanskrit in 2005, Kannada in 2008, Telugu in 2008, Malayalam in 2013, and Odia in 2014.
- All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Criteria: It should have high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years,
- a body of ancient literature or texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers,
- the presence of “knowledge texts”, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence,
- the said language and literature should be distinct from its modern format.
- Benefits: The Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it such as:
- two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languages,
- a Centre of Excellence for Studies in the classical language is set up,
- and the University Grants Commission is requested to start with a certain number of Chairs for the classical language at least in the Central Universities.
Source: IE
India’s Recalculated Coastline up 48% in 53 Years
Syllabus: GS1/Geography
Context
- India’s coastline expanded by almost half in just over five decades – from 7,516km in 1970 to 11,098km in 2023-24.
About
- Major Changes:
- States like Bengal, Gujarat and Goa added significantly to their shoreline while Puducherry shrunk by 10.4%.
- Gujarat’s recalculated coastline almost doubled from 1,214km in 1970 to 2,340km in the past 53 years.
- Bengal’s was the highest increase in percentage terms during this period – up 357% from 157km to 721km.
- Nationally, the coastline increase compared to 1970 data stands at 47.6%.
- Gujarat retains its position as the state with the longest coastline, Tamil Nadu has overtaken Andhra Pradesh based on the new survey.
- Reason for Increase: It is attributed primarily to using a new methodology to measure India’s maritime parameter.
- Older methods relied on straight-line distance measurements.
- The scientifically updated approach is developed by the National Maritime Security Coordinator.
- It incorporates the measurement of complex coastal formations such as bays, estuaries, inlets, and other geomorphological features.
Source: TOI
Bhashini Project
Syllabus: GS2/ E- Governance
In News
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Bhashini project has been leveraged to upgrade the eShram portal with 22 languages.
Bhashini Project
- It was launched in 2022. It is part of the broader National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
- It aims to enable easy access to the internet and digital services in Indian languages, including voice-based access, and help create content in Indian languages.
Significance
- It empowers Indian citizens by connecting them to digital initiatives in their own language, promoting digital inclusion.
- It increases the content in Indian languages on the internet, especially in governance, policy, and science.
- It promotes self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) by enabling citizens to easily contribute through the crowd-sourcing platform, Bhasha Daan
Source: BS
Future of Jobs Report 2025
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
In News
- The Future of Jobs Report 2025 is released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Key Takeaways
- Job Disruption and Creation: By 2030, 22% of jobs are expected to face disruption. 170 million new jobs will be created, driven by technological advancements and other factors.
- Fastest Growing Jobs: Employers are increasingly looking to automation and AI to reduce workforce size and upskill employees.
- AI and big data skills will rise by 87%, followed by cybersecurity (70%).
- Fastest Declining Jobs: Roles such as postal service clerks, bank tellers, data entry clerks, cashiers, and telemarketers are expected to experience the greatest decline.
- India-Specific Insights: Digital access, geopolitical tensions, and climate change efforts will drive job trends in India.
- There is significant investment in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and energy technologies.
About World Economic Forum (WEF)
- The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international organization for public-private cooperation.
- It was founded in 1971 by Professor Klaus Schwab and is headquartered in Davos, Switzerland.
- The WEF brings together leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society to discuss and address global challenges, with the aim of improving the state of the world.
Source: IE
Androgen Signalling
Syllabus: GS3/Science
Context
- According to a study, androgen signalling plays a crucial role in the development, fertility, physiology and appearance of both sexes as well as sex-specific crowing behaviour in males.
About
- The androgen sex hormones are responsible for male sexual development while oestrogen and progesterone essay the same roles in females.
- The study found that the androgen receptors are as important for sexual development and fertility in females as in males.
Androgen signaling
- Androgen signaling refers to the process by which androgens, a group of male sex hormones including testosterone and its derivatives, exert their effects on cells and tissues.
- The activation of androgen receptors influences various biological processes, such as:
- Development of male secondary sexual characteristics: These include facial hair, deep voice, and muscle mass.
- Anabolic effects: They promote protein synthesis and muscle growth, contributing to physical strength and body composition.
- Reproductive health: Androgens play a role in sperm production, and other aspects of male reproductive health.
- Neurodevelopment and behavior: Androgen signaling also affects the central nervous system, influencing mood, cognition, and behavior.
Source: TH
Miyawaki Technique
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation has utilized the Miyawaki technique to transform barren areas into lush green forests.
Miyawaki Technique
- Origin: The Miyawaki technique, Often referred to as the ‘pot plantation method’, was developed by renowned Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s.
- It is a revolutionary method for creating dense forests in small urban spaces.
- Principle: It involves planting trees and shrubs close to one another to accelerate their growth.
- Plants grow 10 times faster with this technique, making it a practical solution for urban areas.
- Significance: In urban areas, the method is known to have successfully converted barren, polluted lands into thriving green ecosystems, simultaneously managing industrial waste and curbing pollution.
Source: PIB
Flamingo Festival 2025
Syllabus :GS3/Species in News
In News
- The flamingo festival will celebrate the arrival of migratory birds, especially flamingos, to Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, both important ecological sites located in Andhra Pradesh.
About the Festival
- It is an annual event dedicated to the migratory birds arriving at Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, with a focus on flamingos.
- Activities and Attractions:
- Bird-watching tours to observe migratory species.
- Eco-friendly biodiversity sessions to raise awareness about the local ecosystem.
- Boating activities at BV Palem to offer visitors a close view of Pulicat Lake.
About Flamingos
- Flamingos are social creatures that live in large groups of varying sizes, sometimes gathering by the thousands.
- Habitat : Flamingos live in a wide variety of habitats such as lagoons, estuaries, coastal and inland lakes, and mudflats.
- Types : The six flamingo species and their IUCN Red List status are
- The greater flamingo, – Least Concern
- Chilean flamingo, – Near Threatened
- American flamingo – Least Concern
- Lesser flamingo – Near Threatened
- Andean flamingo – Vulnerable
- James’s flamingo(puna flamingo) – Near Threatened
- Status in India : Greater flamingos usually migrate to India from Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.the greater flamingo is the State bird of Gujarat
- Lesser flamingos migrate from Siberia to Mumbai via the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
| About Pulicat Lake – Pulicat Lake is the second-largest brackish water lake in India, after Chilika Lake in Odisha. It plays a crucial role in supporting migratory birds and maintaining regional biodiversity. – Pulicat Lake spans across the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, with 96% of the lake’s area located in Andhra Pradesh. – The lake serves as a key feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds, including flamingos, pelicans, and various other species. About Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary – Nelapattu is the largest breeding site for spot-billed pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis) in Southeast Asia. It is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the region. – Situated about 20 km north of Pulicat Lake, it is also located on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border. |
Source :TH
Previous article
Dam Safety Act of 2021
Next article
Sex Ratio at Birth Dropped in Haryana