Ali AI Ligang Festival
Syllabus: GS1/ Art & Culture
In News
- The Mising tribe, Assam’s largest tribal community, recently celebrated Ali Ai Ligang festival.
About Ali AI Ligang Festival
- Celebrated on the first Wednesday of Fagun (February-March), the festival is deeply rooted in agriculture, tradition, and cultural heritage.
- Ali Ai Ligang has been celebrated for centuries in rural Mising villages. The Mising people have transitioned to settled wet paddy farming and practicing Jhum Cultivation.
- The festival begins with the hoisting of the Laitom Tomchar (festival flag). Offerings are made to Donyi Polo (Sun and Moon gods) for agricultural prosperity.
- Men and women perform Gumrag Dance, symbolizing joy and prosperity.
Source: ANI
Forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Syllabus: GS1/ History and Culture
Context
- A high-level delegation led by Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister is in Paris to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for 12 forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
- The forts of Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi and Jinji have been included in the proposal.
Major Forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
- Raigad Fort: It was the capital of the Maratha Empire from 1674 to 1818.
- It is located on a hilltop in the Sahyadri Mountains.
- Rajgad Fort: First capital of Shivaji Maharaj before shifting to Raigad.
- Pratapgad Fort: It is the site of the famous battle between Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan in 1659.
- Sindhudurg Fort: It is located on an island off the Konkan coast.
- Vijaydurg Fort: It is known as the ‘Gibraltar of the East’ due to its strong coastal defense.
Source: TH
Lepakshi Temple
Syllabus : GS 1/Culture
In News
- Historians urged the government to take steps to get Lepakshi temple included in UNESCO heritage list.
Lepakshi temple
- It is located in Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh, is a remarkable 16th-century architectural and historical site.
- It is famous for its Dravidian-style architecture, intricate stone carvings, and monolithic structures.
- It is dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, a form of Lord Shiva.
- In March , 2023, UNESCO included the Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple complex in its provisional list of Heritage Sites.
Present Status
- The State and Central governments are now tasked with conducting a detailed study of the temple’s architecture, sculptures, mural paintings, and the world’s largest monolithic bull (Nandi) statue, and submitting a report to the Central government.
Source: TH
Honduras
Syllabus: GS1/Places in News
Context
- India dispatched humanitarian assistance of 26 tons to Honduras in the wake of the recent Tropical storm SARA.
About
- Honduras is a country of Central America situated between Guatemala and El Salvador to the west and Nicaragua to the south and east.
- In the north, the country shares a vast stretch of coast with the Caribbean Sea. On the south, it shares a small stretch with the Pacific Ocean.
- Honduras is the second largest country in Central America, following Nicaragua.
- Official Language: Spanish.
- Major Rivers: Patuca, Ulúa
- Major Mountain Ranges: Volcanic Highlands, Central American Cordillera.
Source: AIR
Gulf of Tonkin
Syllabus: GS 1/Places in News
In News
- Vietnam’s foreign ministry has published a map defining its baseline claim in the Gulf of Tonkin.
- This move aims to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction in the region. In March 2023, China unilaterally published a new maritime baseline, leading to diplomatic protests from Vietnam.
The Gulf of Tonkin
- It is a northwest arm of the South China Sea, bordered by China, Hainan Island, and northern Vietnam.
- The gulf receives the Red River, with key ports in Vietnam (Ben Thuy and Haiphong) and China (Beihai).
- The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) played a crucial role in escalating the Vietnam War, as alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels led to direct American military intervention.
- In 2000, Vietnam and China signed the Gulf of Tonkin Agreement, establishing exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundaries in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.
Source: TH
BOBP-IGO
Syllabus: GS2/Regional Grouping
Context
- India Assumes Chairmanship of Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation at the 13th Governing Council in Malé, Maldives.
About Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO)
- Established: 2003 to support sustainable coastal fisheries development in the Bay of Bengal.
- Purpose: Provides technical and management advice to member countries (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka) on fisheries management.
- Area of Competence:
- Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of member states.
- Contiguous areas beyond national jurisdiction.
- Mandate:
- Enhance cooperation among member states, third countries, and organizations.
- Focus on small-scale and artisanal fisheries.
Source: PIB
Shaktikanta Das Appointed New Principal Secretary
Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance
Context
- Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was appointed the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
About
- He is only the second RBI Governor to have a six-year tenure, apart from Bimal Jalan (1997-2003).
- The Principal Secretary is the administrative head of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and is considered the most important aide to the PM.
- He is tasked with preparing notes on matters to be discussed between the PM and foreign dignitaries, ensuring coordination among various ministries and departments, sharing important orders before the PM, and so on.
- The PMO also includes the National Security Advisor, Advisor to PM, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries and other senior bureaucrats.
Source: IE
Traumatic Asphyxia
Syllabus: GS2/ Health
Context
- Recently Five of the 18 victims of the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station died due to traumatic asphyxia.
About
- Traumatic asphyxia is a rare and serious condition that occurs when the upper chest or abdomen is subjected to severe compressive force, restricting respiratory function and blood flow.
- Causes: Commonly seen in stampedes, vehicular accidents, building collapses, and industrial accidents.
- Symptoms: It is characterized by symptoms such as cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin), edema (swelling), and hemorrhages in the face, neck, upper extremities, and upper parts of the thorax.
- Treatment: Supportive care, such as oxygen and fluid supplementation and treatment of associated injuries, such as fractures.
Source: BS
Stagflation
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
In News
- President Donald Trump’s hard-line trade policies have revived concerns about stagflation.
What is Stagflation?
- Stagflation is an economic condition where high inflation, slow economic growth, and high unemployment occur simultaneously.
Causes of Stagflation
- Supply Shocks: Events like oil price spikes (e.g., 1970s oil crisis) increase production costs, leading to inflation and slow growth.
- Poor Economic Policies: Excessive money supply, high government spending, or trade restrictions can fuel inflation without boosting productivity.
- Structural Issues: Declining industrial output, labor market inefficiencies, and low investment contribute to economic stagnation.
How to Combat Stagflation?
- Supply-Side Policies: Boosting production efficiency and reducing bottlenecks.
- Monetary & Fiscal Balancing: Managing interest rates and government spending to control inflation without stalling growth.
- Energy & Trade Policies: Ensuring stable energy supplies and reducing trade barriers.
Source: LM
V.O.Chidambaranar Port
Syllabus: GS3/ Infrastructure
Context
- The VOC Port Authority is exploring the possibility of setting up a shipbuilding facility in Thoothukudi.
About
- Location: V.O. Chidambaranar Port, formerly known as Tuticorin Port, is located on the southeastern coast of India in the Gulf of Mannar, at latitude 8° 45’N and longitude 78° 13’E.
- Strategic Significance: It lies close to the East-West International sea routes, making it a crucial hub for maritime trade.
- Natural Advantages: It is well-sheltered from storms and cyclonic winds, ensuring minimal disruptions in port operations.
- Deep-water, all-weather port, operational round the clock, 365 days a year.
Source: BL
Perovskite-Based LEDs (PeLEDs)
Syllabus: GS3/ S&T
In News
- Indian scientists at CeNS, Bengaluru, have developed an innovative method to enhance the stability of perovskite nanocrystals, addressing key challenges such as color degradation and heat sensitivity.
What are PeLEDs?
- Perovskite is a class of compounds with a crystal structure similar to Calcium Titanate (CaTiO₃).
- Perovskite-based LEDs (PeLEDs) are light-emitting diodes that use perovskite nanocrystals as the light-emitting material.
- They exhibit high luminescence, emitting bright, tunable light with superior color purity.
- They combine the advantages of OLEDs (Organic LEDs) and QLEDs (Quantum Dot LEDs) for high brightness, energy efficiency, and color tunability.
Source: BS
Reclassification of Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz
Syllabus: GS3/S&T
Context
- The Ministry of Mines has shifted minerals Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz from the list of minor minerals to the category of major minerals.
About
- Quartz, Felspar, and Mica occur in pegmatite rocks and are used in electronics, energy storage, aerospace, and healthcare industries.
- Barytes is widely used in industrial applications such as oil and gas drilling, electronics, TV screens, rubber, glass, ceramics, paints, and medical applications.
- It is also used in high-density concrete to shield against X-ray emissions in hospitals, power plants, and laboratories.
- The lease terms for mining these minerals have been extended to 50 years from the date of grant or until the completion of the renewal period, ensuring long-term stability for mining operations.
Source: PIB
False Killer Whales
Syllabus: GS3/ Species In News
In News
- Australia has begun euthanising the false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania.
About False Killer Whales (Pseudorca crassidens)
- False killer whales are large, social marine mammals from the dolphin family, found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.
- They prefer deep offshore waters but sometimes venture near coasts.
- They use echolocation and complex vocalizations for communication.
- Pollution, overfishing, hunting, and bycatch threaten the population of them.
Source: BBC
Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
Syllabus : GS 2/Governance
In News
- The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration, 2024, received more than 1,500 nominations.
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
- It was instituted in 2006 and it recognizes extraordinary work by Districts/Organizations of the Central and State Governments.
- The scheme was restructured in 2014, 2020, and revamped in 2021 to focus on good governance, qualitative achievements, and last-mile connectivity.
- For 2024, the awards will recognize contributions in three categories:
- Holistic Development of Districts
- Aspirational Blocks Programme
- Innovation
Source: PIB
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