Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 125th Birth Anniversary

History & Culture

Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901- 1953)

- Initially a member of the Indian National Congress; later joined the Hindu Mahasabha in the 1930s.
- He became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at age 33 in 1934.
- He served as Finance Minister of Bengal (1941–42) in the Fazlul Haq ministry.
- He was a strong critic of the Muslim League and the partition of India.
- He joined the cabinet of the interim government as Minister for Industry and Supply after independence (1947–1950), but resigned over differences.
- Founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh: In 1951, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological predecessor of today’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
- Advocated for national unity, cultural nationalism, and economic self-reliance.
- Legacy: He is remembered as a staunch nationalist, educationist, and advocate of cultural unity.
The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata and several institutions are named in his honor.

Hindkesari Pedgaon ‘Bailgada Sharyat’

History & Culture

Context

The Hindkesari Pedgaon ‘Bailgada Sharyat’ (bullock cart race) showcased Maharashtra’s deep-rooted rural sporting tradition, attracting more than 1,000 entrants and thousands of spectators from across the region.

About

The bullock cart race is an event involving bulls or bullocks to conduct a race with the animals tied to a cart by a wooden yoke, with or without a cartman.
The rural sport is known as ‘bailgada sharyat,’ ‘chhakadi’ or ‘shankarpath’ in the state.
It is held annually in Pedgaon, Khatav Taluk, Satara district, Maharashtra.

Additional Information – Jallikattu

- It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal.
- It is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.
- The history of this bullfight dates back to 400-100 BCE when it was played by the Ayars, an ethnic group in India.
- The name is coined from two words, Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied).
- In this festival, a bull is let loose among a crowd of people, and whoever tames it will get the coins tied to its horn.
- The people who participate in the sport try to hold on to the animal’s hump to stop it. Sometimes, they run along with the bull.
- Pulikulam or Kangayam is the breed of bulls used for the sport. This festival has been part of cultural tourism in the state.

Vadi manjuviraṭṭu, Vēli viraṭṭu, and Vaṭam manjuviraṭṭu are the variants of this sport

Kambala

The annual buffalo race Kambala is a unique festival observed by the farming community between November to March.
Kambala is performed on two parallel race tracks, filled with slushy water.
Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Bhatkal of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.

MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat)

Government Schemes

Context

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the role of MY Bharat in nurturing youth potential and directing it towards nation-building.

MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat)

It was launched in October 2023 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as an autonomous body.
It serves as a digital platform that connects the Government, educational institutions, non-profit organisations and industry to create meaningful youth engagement.
It aims to place youth at the centre of nation-building by providing opportunities for volunteering, skill development, leadership, and civic participation.
The initiative, aligned with the National Youth Policy, primarily engages individuals in the 15–29 year age group while also nurturing adolescents between 10–19 years to cultivate early participation and civic awareness.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

Polity

Context

The Ministry of Home Affairs has designated 23 more individuals as ‘terrorists’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

UAPA Act

Enacted: 1967
Mandate: It is aimed at “more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations for dealing with terrorist activities”.
Unlawful activity: Unlawful activity means any conduct which constitutes a crime or which contravenes any law.
Terrorist act: Section 15 of the Act defines “terrorist act” and is punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least five years and up to life.
Power to central government – The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which the Centre deems an activity as unlawful.
Applicability: The provisions of this Act apply also to—

(a) citizens of India outside India;

(b) persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be; and

(c) persons on ships and aircrafts, registered in India, wherever they may be.

Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Amendment Act 2019

The Act empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists.
Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation

Additional Information – National Investigation Agency (NIA)

Established under: NIA Act, 2008 after 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Function: Central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency.
Mandate: Investigates offences affecting India’s sovereignty, security, international treaties, etc.

NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019:

Jurisdiction extended: Can investigate scheduled offences committed outside India involving Indian citizens/interests.
Expanded mandate: Covers offences under Explosive Substances Act, 1908 Human Trafficking, Cyber Terrorism Arms Act, 1959.
Headquarters: New Delhi
Special Courts: Total NIA Special Courts: 52
Exclusive NIA Courts: 3 (Ranchi, Jammu and Mumbai).

Right to Vote: Need for Fundamental Right Status

Polity

News –

The Opposition advocated upgrading the Right to Vote from a statutory right to a Fundamental Right, reigniting debates on constitutionalising electoral rights.

Right to Vote in India

Constitutional Basis: Article 326 grants universal adult suffrage, allowing citizens 18 or older to register to vote unless disqualified by law, making voting a constitutional right, not a Fundamental Right.
Statutory Basis: Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, governs electoral registration, while Section 62 of the 1951 Act governs voting eligibility.
Paradox: Voting is a statutory right, but ‘Right to Know’ candidate information, voting choice, NOTA (right to reject), and ballot secrecy were recognised as fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(a).

Supreme Court (SC) Judgements on Voting Rights

N.P. Ponnuswami (1952) and Jyoti Basu (1982): The SC held that electoral rights are statutory, not Fundamental or common-law rights.
Kuldip Nayar v. UoI (2006): Reaffirmed that the right to vote remains statutory.
Anoop Baranwal v. UoI (2023): A concurring opinion supported recognising voting as a Fundamental Right, indicating doctrinal evolution.

NASA’s Swift Boost Mission

Science & technology

News –

NASA launched the Swift Boost Mission, deploying the LINK spacecraft to prevent the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from burning up.

NASA’s Swift Boost Mission

It is a NASA initiative that launched on July 3, 2026,
Mandate – to rescue and reboost the aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Launched in 2004, the space telescope’s orbit had decayed due to heightened solar activity, risking atmospheric reentry and destruction.
Objective: The mission uses a robotic spacecraft called LINK to autonomously rendezvous with, dock using robotic arms, and push the Swift observatory into a higher and safer orbit.
Reboost Details: The LINK spacecraft was developed by a commercial startup, Katalyst Space Technologies, via a rapid and cost-effective $30 million NASA contract.
Launch Vehicle: LINK was launched into space aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket dropped from the belly of a Stargazer aircraft over the Pacific Ocean.
Significance: It is the first commercial robotic satellite rescue attempt of its kind.
If successful, it demonstrates crucial On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) capabilities—meaning satellites and space telescopes can be repaired, refueled, or repositioned in space rather than being abandoned, saving immense future replacement

India’s Fisheries Sector

Economy

News –

India ranks as world’s 2nd largest fish producing nation accounting for 8% of global output.

Fisheries account for nearly 7.43% Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA), highest among the agriculture and allied sectors.

Initiatives to Promote Fisheries in India

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): to usher in the “Blue Revolution” through the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY): It aims to formalise the unorganised fisheries sector and support micro and small enterprises.
Kisan Credit Card for Fisheries: Government has raised the lending limit under the scheme for fisheries and allied activities from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): It offers a credit guarantee cover of up to Rs 12.50 crore and provides an interest subvention of up to 3% per year.

Nameri Tiger Reserve

Environment

News

Tiger population in Assam’s Nameri Tiger Reserve rose fourfold, from 3 tigers in 2022 to 12 by the end of 2025.

Nameri Tiger Reserve

- It lies in northern Sonitpur district, Assam, along the Eastern Himalayan foothills.
- It is Assam’s second tiger reserve, after Manas, and is located within the Sonitpur Elephant Reserve.
- The glacier-fed Jia Bhoroli, a Brahmaputra tributary, defines the southern boundary of the core area.

It is a habitat for the endangered Golden Mahseer.

Vegetation: Tropical semi-evergreen forests, cane brakes, and riparian grasslands dominate the landscape, including Hollock, Nahor, and Simul.
Faunal Diversity: Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, clouded leopard, gaur, and dhole; it is one of the last breeding sites of the endangered White-winged Wood Duck. The Potasali pre-release facility in Nameri trains captive-bred pygmy hogs for wild reintroduction.
Its northern boundary connects the reserve with Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Tiger Reserve, facilitating transboundary megafauna movement.

e-Jagriti

Polity

News –

The Prime Minister shared an article on the role of e-Jagriti (e-Justice and Grievance Redressal through Information Technology and Innovation) in addressing consumer complaints.

e-Jagriti

e-Jagriti is the Department of Consumer Affairs’ integrated digital consumer grievance redressal platform, launched in January 2025.
It provides paperless, AI-enabled, multilingual, and end-to-end online dispute resolution by integrating legacy consumer complaint systems.
Key Components: Integrates legacy systems like OCMS, e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS & CONFONET into a single, seamless interface.
Key Features: Offers e-filing, virtual hearings, real-time case tracking, secure digital payments (Bharat Kosh/PayGov), and role-based access.