News In Short-24-03-2025

Shaheed Diwas

Syllabus: GS1/History

Context

• The Prime Minister paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on Shaheed Diwas.
  • March 23 marked the execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev in 1931.

Background

• Simon Commission, an all-British panel arrived in India in 1928, to decide on governance, which sparked protests.
  • Lala Lajpat Rai led a protest in Lahore against the Simon Commission.
  • Police Superintendent James A. Scott ordered a baton charge, severely injuring Lajpat Rai, who died on November 17, 1928.
• Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev sought to avenge Lajpat Rai’s death and targeted James Scott, but mistakenly killed British officer John Saunders instead.
• The three were arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for Saunders’ murder.
• Their martyrdom became a symbol of resistance and inspired countless others to continue the struggle for freedom.
  • The day is observed to remember their courage, patriotism, and ultimate sacrifice.

Bhagat Singh (1907–1931), Sukhdev (1907–1931), Rajguru (1908–1931)

• All three of them were the members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), a radical revolutionary organization aimed at overthrowing British rule through direct action and armed rebellion.
• Bhagat Singh was deeply influenced by Marxist and anarchist thinkers such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky.
• Bhagat Singh became known for his bold actions, including the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi in 1929. 
  • The goal was not to kill but to protest against repressive laws. 

Source: PIB

Lapis Lazuli

Syllabus :GS1/Geography /GS3/Economy 

Context 

• Lapis Lazuli is prized for its striking color and use as a semi-precious gemstone.

Lapis lazuli 

• It is a vibrant blue rock, often with golden streaks. 
• Its blue hue comes from lazurite (25-40%), with the intensity of the color depending on the sulfur content.
• The golden sparkle is due to pyrites, and other minerals like diopside and sodalite are found in smaller amounts.

Distribution 

• Lapis lazuli has been found in many countries so far, including Chile, Russia, and the US, but the highest quality rock comes from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, where people have been mining it for more than 6,000 years.

Do you know ? – In ancient times, traders in India imported lapis lazuli from Badakhshan, perhaps as long ago as 1000 BC.  – Archaeologists have also found ornamental lapis lazuli ornaments in the remains of Indus civilisation sites including Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.  – The ancient Egyptians were also known to use it to make jewellery and to powder it to use as eye shadow. – In the Renaissance period, artistes in Europe ground lapis lazuli down into ultramarine, an expensive pigment they used in their paintings

Source :TH

Anti Dumping Duty

Syllabus :GS 3/Economy 

In News

• India has imposed anti-dumping duties on five Chinese goods, including aluminium foil, to protect domestic industries from the impact of cheaper imports from the neighbouring country.
  • India and China are both WTO members. Anti-dumping duties are imposed under the WTO framework.

Do you know ? – Dumping occurs when goods are sold at unfairly low prices in foreign markets, distorting trade.

Anti-dumping duties 

• Anti-dumping duties are imposed to correct this trade pattern and restore fair competition. While not a protectionist measure, they aim to protect domestic industries from injury caused by dumping, and their use is allowed by the WTO.
• Duties were imposed based on recommendations from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) under the Commerce Ministry.
• They are imposed as per the multilateral regime of Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO), which aims to ensure fair trading practices and a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
• Article 6 in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) allows countries to take action against dumping.
  • The Anti-Dumping Agreement clarifies and expands Article 6, and the two operate together.

Source :TH

Tavasya

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched Tavasya, the second frigate under Project 1135.6 Additional Follow-on Ships.

About

• In 2016, India and Russia signed an agreement for four additional Krivak-class frigates, with two imported and two built in India under technology transfer.
  • The first frigate, Triput, was launched in 2024, with both ships set to be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2026 and 2027.
• Tavasya is the second of the two follow-on Krivak-class stealth frigates.
  • ‘Tavasya’ named after Bhima’s mace, symbolising naval strength
  • Designed to perform surface, sub-surface, and air combat operations.
• Frigate Specifications: Both ships are 124.8 meters long, 15.2 meters wide, with a draught of 4.5 meters and a displacement of approximately 3,600 tonnes. They have a maximum speed of 28 knots.
• Indigenous Contributions: Triput and Tavasya feature indigenous equipment, weapons, and sensors.
• End of License-Built Ships: Tavasya marks the likely end of license-built warships in India, as the country is moving towards designing and constructing its own warships.

Source: TH

Anthurium Flowers

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News 

• Mizoram exported its first consignment of Anthurium flowers to Singapore marking  a significant step in boosting agro-based exports from the North Eastern Region (NER).

About Anthurium Flowers

• Scientific Name: Anthurium
• Geographical Distribution: Native to the Americas – from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, including the Caribbean.
  • In India, it is widely cultivated in Mizoram and other North Eastern states due to suitable climatic conditions.
  • Also commercially grown in states like Tamil Nadu (21%), Karnataka (16%), Madhya Pradesh (14%), and West Bengal (12%).
• Botanical & Morphological Features: It is a herbaceous plant and grows as epiphytes (on other plants) or terrestrially.
  • These are characterized by a spadix (central spike) and a colorful spathe (leaf-like bract), often in shades of red, pink, orange, etc.
  • It contains calcium oxalate crystals; sap is irritant to skin and eyes.

Economic & Cultural Significance

• Exports: Contributes to India’s floriculture exports, which stood at USD 86.62 million in FY 2023–24.
  • Major importing countries: USA, Netherlands, UAE, UK, and Canada.
• Tourism & Cultural Promotion: Mizoram hosts the annual “Anthurium Festival”, promoting tourism, local enterprise, and the flower’s commercial value.
• Livelihood Support: Plays a vital role in rural income generation, particularly among women farmers and cooperative societies in the Northeast.

Source: PIB 

Eucalyptus

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• Introduced from Australia, eucalyptus trees are common in Karnataka however, their introduction has led to environmental challenges.

About

• The British introduced eucalyptus in the 1840s for timber production. 
  • Karnataka continued this practice in the 1960s-1980s, creating large plantations. 
  • Karnataka banned eucalyptus cultivation in 2017 due to environmental concerns, but a 2019 court stay paused enforcement. 
• Concerns of Eucalyptus: 
  • They demand high amounts of water, depleting groundwater and altering local hydrological cycles. 
  • Their allelopathic properties harm soil fertility and biodiversity, replacing native vegetation with monocultures.
  • Eucalyptus plantations encroach on grasslands critical for species like blackbucks, lesser floricans, and Great Indian Bustards. 
• Future Outlook: Grasslands and ecosystems like savannahs are crucial to India’s biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
  • Development and conservation can coexist, with Karnataka setting an example of sustainable ecological and economic practices.

Source: DTE

Jnanpith Award

Syllabus :Miscellaneous 

In News

• Vinod Kumar Shukla, poet-writer from Raipur, was announced as the recipient of the 59th Jnanpith Award for 2024. 

Do you know? – Vinod Kumar Shukla  is the first writer from the state to receive the prestigious award.  – His career began in 1971 with his poetry collection Lagbhag Jaihind, followed by several other acclaimed works, including novels like Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi and Naukar Ki Kameez, which was adapted into a film.

Jnanpith Award

• It is considered the highest literary award in India, given annually for the best creative literary output to writers in any of the 22 languages recognized by the Constitution of India and, from 2013, in the English language.
• The award idea was proposed by Rama Jain to select the best literary work in Indian languages.
• It carries a citation, a bronze replica of ‘Vagdevi,’ and a cash prize of ₹11 Lakh.

Source :TH