Author: Ramvilas

Taj Mahal

History and Culture

Context

• The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition seeking a survey of the Taj Mahal, claiming it is a Hindu temple called “Tejo Mahalaya.”

Taj Mahal

• • The Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum located on the right bank of the Yamuna River  in Agra and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
  • It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal  (Arjumand Bano Begum) with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
  • In Mughal records, it was referred to as “Rauza-i-Munavvara” (Illuminated Tomb).

• Chief architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

• The land for the monument was acquired from Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber, who was compensated by Shah Jahan.
• Architectural Features: The Taj Mahal represents the zenith of Mughal architecture, combining Persian, Timurid, and Indian architectural traditions.

Key features include:

• White Makrana marble
• Perfect bilateral symmetry
• Charbagh garden layout
• Quranic calligraphy
• Islamic funerary design elements
• Extensive Pietra dura, a decorative technique in which semi-precious stones are inlaid into marble to create intricate floral and geometric patterns.

Birth Anniversary of Mangal Pandey

History

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary.

Mangal Pandey

• Born on 19 July 1827 in Nagwa village, Ballia (present-day UP), into a Bhumihar Brahmin family. 
• He joined the East India Company’s army at 22, serving in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.
• The spark of Revolt: The British had just introduced the Enfield rifle, whose cartridges had to be bitten open to load  and word spread that they were greased with beef and pork fat.
• For Hindu and Muslim sepoys alike, this was deeply offensive. Mangal Pandey refused to use it, and on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore, he fired the first shot of rebellion at his Sergeant Major.
• That one act set off the Revolt of 1857  variously called the Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence. 
• Pandey was court-martialled and hanged on 8 April 1857. His regiment was disbanded later.
• Aftermath: On 10 May 1857, sepoys in Meerut rose up, and things escalated quickly into a full-blown national revolt. They marched to Delhi and convinced the elderly Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor to become their symbolic leader.
• The British recaptured the Red Fort by September 1857, and Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
• As a Result: The revolt ended East India Company rule for good. The British Crown took direct charge through Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858 and the Government of India Act, 1858 replacing the Governor-General with a Viceroy. Lord Canning became India’s first Viceroy.

Museum of Word

Polity

Context

• The Union Home Minister inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Museum of Word’ in Kolkata.

About

• It is developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry.
• It is the first immersive language museum in the country, also known as Shabdalok.
• It celebrates India’s 22 official languages and traces their journey from oral traditions and ancient manuscripts to printed works and modern electronic texts.
• The museum features nine galleries exploring different facets of the history of languages and their influence on India’s civilisation and culture. 
• Significance – It seeks to present language as a living entity that has continuously shaped society while also being shaped by it.

Eighth Schedule

• The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
• Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.

The Eighth Schedule includes the recognition of the following 22 languages:

• Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri are the 22 languages presently in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
• Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. 
• Subsequently, Sindhi was added in 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in 1992; and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

Right to Protest

Polity

In News

• Recently, Delhi Police stated that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has no permission to continue the protest at Jantar Mantar or to hold the proposed march to Parliament.

Laws governing the right to protest

• • In India, the right to protest is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression and

• Article 19(1)(b) that guarantees the right to assemble peacefully without arms. 

• But it is subject to such reasonable restrictions as are necessary for maintaining public order, security and other constitutional interests.
• Conditions : Law and order is a State subject and each state has its own rules for granting permission for protests and public gatherings.
• Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) too allows authorities to issue prohibitory orders and bar any continuing protests.
• But there must be reasons for any refusal or withdrawal of permission, stating the risks or threats involved.

72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024

Miscellaneous

Context

• The 72nd National Film Awards, which honoured films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year, were announced.

About

• National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent across the country. 
• It aims at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
• The awards are given in three sections – Features, Non-Features and Best Writing on Cinema.

History 

• The awards were first presented in 1954 and were known as the ‘State Awards’.
• At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded. 
• Separate awards for artists and technicians were instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967. 
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.

Key Recipient of the Awards

• Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi)

• Best Non-feature film: Bhangaar (Marathi & English)

• Best Documentary: Ram-Nami (Hindi)

• Best Actor: Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion).
• Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)

Manasbal Lake

Environment

Context

• Manasbal Lake is on the path of ecological recovery with the return of migratory birds.

About – 

• Located in – Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district

• It is India’s deepest natural freshwater lake, reaching depths of 13 meters (43 feet). 
• Known as  – Supreme Gem of all Kashmir Lakes. 
• Uniqueness – It is famous for its crystal-clear waters, extensive summer lotus blooms, and bird-watching opportunities.

Features- 

• Location & Elevation: Situated in the Jhelum Valley at an altitude between 1,585 and 1,600 meters.
• Hydrology: It is a warm monomictic lake (circulates completely only once a year). 
• Topography: The lake is flanked by the Baladar Mountains (east), the Karewa plateau (north), and the Ahtung Hills (south).
• Biodiversity: It is a significant natural stamping ground for migratory aquatic birds in Kashmir, supporting dozens of species including Mallards, White-headed Ducks, and Golden Eagles.
• Economic Value: It supports local livelihoods via fisheries and the harvesting of lotus rootstocks, locally known as Nadru.

World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO)

Polity

In News

• China formally launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai, at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

WAICO

• • It is an intergovernmental body for AI cooperation, capacity building, and shared governance standards among developing nations, 

• Headquarters – Shanghai.

• • Uniqueness – It’s the first standing institution of its kind aimed squarely at the Global South.  

• Members – 29 countries. 

Significance – 

• China will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities and establish joint AI cooperation centres with ASEAN, African Union, BRICS, SCO, League of Arab States.
• It will promote open-source AI models, technology sharing, and collaborative AI development.
• The platform will strengthen China’s influence in global AI governance with the Global South.

Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)

Polity

Context

• NITI Aayog has released the report titled “Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)”.

About

• Objective – It assesses how effectively States and Union Territories create, enable, and sustain an environment conducive to investments. 
• Parameters – Infrastructure, Business climate, Resources, Government policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health; and Environmental Resilience.
• State Categorisation: States and Union Territories have been classified into four performance categories:

1. Top Performers (scores above 50).
2. Frontrunners (45–50).
3. Emerging Performers (≥40 – <45).
4. Aspiring States (below 40).

• Among the Large States, Gujarat secured the first rank, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which are also the top three performers in the overall Index.
• In the Hilly and North-Eastern States category, Uttarakhand emerged as the highest-ranked State, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh. 
• Among the City States and Union Territories, Goa secured the top position, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.

National Commission for Minorities

Polity

Context

• The Union government appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

• • The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. 
  • The first Statutory National Commission was set up in 1993.
  • Initially five religious communities, viz., Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) were notified as minority communities by the Union Government.

• In 2014, Jains were also notified as another minority community.

• Composition – The Commission consists of: A Chairperson, a Vice- Chairperson, and Five Members.
• Objective: The organisation is set-up to safeguard and protect the interests of minorities as provided in the Constitution of India and laws enacted by the Parliament and the State Legislatures.

ICMR i-DRONE Initiative

Science & Technology

News

• Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under its i-DRONE initiative has successfully demonstrated the use of drone-assisted transport of TB sputum samples to improve access to tuberculosis diagnosis in remote areas. 

i-DRONE initiative

• Full form – ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach for North East (i-DRONE)

• • It was launched in 2021.
  • Objective – It aimed to evaluate the use of drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies to remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland. 
  • The i-DRONE project developed a hub and spoke drone network to connect 60 sub-centres, 11 primary health centres and four TB units in Telangana to transport sputum samples for TB diagnosis. 

• Outcomes:  The median time to diagnosis was reduced from 15 days to 5 days.

• Average out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) dropped from ₹9,451 to about ₹91 with a large number of patients having zero travel costs.

ASW Shallow Water Craft Malvan

Science & Technology

Context

• The Indian Navy is set to commission Malvan, the second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).

About

• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.
• Malvan has more than 80 per cent indigenous content.
• It reflects India’s growing self-reliance in warship design, construction and systems integration under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Function – to operate effectively in coastal and shallow waters, enhancing the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. 
• The Mahe-class ASW-SWC vessels are being inducted to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes.

7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA

Environment

News – 

• The 7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA in Coimbatore marked a shift from conventional compensatory afforestation toward landscape-based ecological restoration.

Outcomes – 

• Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana (AVSY) was approved with an initial corpus of ₹3,000 crore (2026–31) to conserve nearly 15,000 sacred groves (Aastha Vans).
• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) was extended for three years until 2029, with an added ₹500 crore, taking the total outlay to ₹600 crore.

Four wildlife recovery programmes were approved 

• Objective – to strengthen scientific monitoring, anti-poaching measures, and habitat restoration:
• Gangetic Dolphins: Recovery action plan focused on major freshwater river systems.
• Project Snow Leopard Phase-II: Including the 2nd nationwide population estimate in the Himalaya.
• Indian Rhinoceros: Conservation plan for habitat protection and anti-poaching enforcement.
• Wild Water Buffalo: Scientific habitat management to secure the remaining population.
• Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer): Continued financial and operational support for conservation.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA)

• It was established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (in force 2018).
• Objective – to collect and administer funds for ecological compensation of diverted forest land.
• Genesis: Supreme Court, in T.N. Godavarman, constituted an ad hoc CAMPA by its 2006 order to manage unspent afforestation collections.
• Two Tiers: (1) National CAMPA Authority, headed by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, sets policy, while (2) State CAMPA Authorities execute field operations.
• Liability: Agencies diverting forest land must provide alternative land, fund compensatory afforestation, and pay the Net Present Value (NPV) of the lost forest ecosystem. 
• Fund Uses: Artificial and natural regeneration, wildlife management, catchment treatment, village relocation from protected areas, and human-wildlife conflict management.

Cyclosporiasis

Science & Technology

News – 

• A widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been reported in the United States.

About – 

• • Responsible pathogen- Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne intestinal illness caused by the microscopic, single-celled protozoan parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
  • Transmission: Strictly fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.
  • No Direct Person-to-Person Spread: Excreted parasite eggs require days to weeks in the environment to mature and become infectious.

• Host Range: Humans are the only known hosts.

• Symptoms: Severe, explosive watery diarrhea, fatigue, cramps, and weight loss.
• High-Risk Groups: Immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and young children.
• Diagnosis: Missed by routine stool cultures; requires special staining, UV fluorescence microscopy, or PCR.
• Treatment: Treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). No vaccine exists.

98th Foundation Day of ICAR

Polity

News – 

• Marking ICAR’s 98th Foundation Day, the Union Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the “Developed Agriculture and Prosperous Farmers” roadmap as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Outcomes- 

• 100 Climate-Smart Villages: Developing at least 100 villages before ICAR’s centenary to demonstrate climate-resilient farming, water conservation, and risk-reduction models.
• One Institute-One Grand Innovation: Mandating every ICAR institute deliver at least one breakthrough technological innovation, vaccine, or crop variety within two years.
• Mission ICAR-100: Transforming Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) into innovation hubs for large-scale demonstrations, with each KVK visiting at least 100 villages.
• ICAR Open Digital Knowledge Platform: Creating a mobile-first platform providing free crop advisories, soil-test results, and instructional videos via smartphones.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• Established in 1929 (originally as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research), 
• ICAR is the apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
• It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Union Agriculture Minister serves as the ICAR Society’s ex officio President, and the Minister of State for Agriculture serves as Vice-President.

Abathsahayeswarar Temple

History and Culture

In News

• The 12th-century Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi  was restored after decades of neglect.

Abathsahayeswarar Temple

• It is situated  at Thukkachi, near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the most significant monuments of the later Chola period—closely associated with Kulotunga I and Vikrama Chola
• It is designed as a Kara Kovil—a temple conceived in the form of a chariot
• It  also houses the idol of Lord Sarabeshwarar which is considered one of the oldest depictions of the deity.

Temple’s restoration 

• The temple’s restoration earned the UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Distinction (2024) for its attempt to maintain the temple’s heritage while reinforcing its structural integrity.
• The project combined traditional temple building practices (Sthapatya Veda, Agama Shastra, lime mortars) with modern technologies like drone surveys, digital mapping, photogrammetry and structural engineering.
• Every granite block was numbered, disassembled and then reassembled in its original position to preserve historical authenticity.

Jagannath Rath Yatra

Art & Culture

Context

• The world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath has commenced in Puri, Odisha.

Rath Yatra

• Known as – Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra and Navadina Jatra.
• It is a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. 

Jagannath Puri Temple

• • Shree Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the most impressive monuments of the State of Odisha.
  • The temple was built in the 12th Century AD by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
  • Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath, popularly known as Lord Krishna.

• It is one of the Dhammas (Holiest of the holy place) out of four Dhamas i.e. Puri, Dwarika, Badrinath & Rameswar, in India.

• This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).

Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS)

Economy

In News

• The Union Cabinet approved a new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹62,500 crore.

Objective – 

• It has been launched to scale up domestic production, deepen component localization, and foster indigenous smartphone design and R&D. 
• Launched by: It has been launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 
• Duration: It is a five-year scheme, which will run from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
• Budget Outlay: Its budgetary outlay is of Rs. 62,500 crore.

Features

• Production-Linked Incentives: The scheme provides incentive support on eligible sales of mobile phones manufactured in India, with differentiated incentive rates ranging from 2.25% to 5%, based on the applicable eligibility criteria.
• Incentive for Domestic Value Addition: Manufacturers can receive an additional incentive of up to 1.5% for increasing domestic sourcing of key components and sub-assemblies, thereby promoting local manufacturing ecosystems.
• Support for Design and Innovation: To foster indigenous innovation and brand creation, the scheme offers an additional 3% incentive on eligible sales for companies undertaking product design and R&D activities in India.

Semicon 2.0

Economy

Context 

• The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission 2.0) with a ₹1,27,500 crore outlay to develop India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Six Strategic Pillars:

1. Design: 
2. Machines & Materials: 
3. Fabrication: 
4. Expanding Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP) and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) units to establish India as a global alternative.
5. R&D
6. Talent Development

India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 

• Launched by – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

• Aim – To build a vibrant semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

Connect with the basics – Semiconductor Chips

• These are materials which have a conductivity between conductors and insulators. 
• Example – They can be pure elements, silicon or germanium or compounds; gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide.
• Significance of Semiconductor Chips – They are the basic building blocks that serve as the heart and brain of all modern electronics and information and communication technology products.
• Applications – These chips are now an integral part of contemporary automobiles, household gadgets and essential medical devices such as ECG machines.

12th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting

International

Context – 

• • India hosted the 12th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Hyderabad.

• Theme 2026 – “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability“.

Outcomes – 

• BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration – to promote decent work, broaden social protection systems, and support inclusive, resilient economic growth.
• BRICS CONNECT, a collaborative, tech-driven platform, was launched by India to modernise, align, and strengthen labour frameworks (South-South cooperation) across member states.

Additional Information – BRICS 

• • Founded in – 2009
  • HeadQuarters – Shanghai
  • It is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (included in 2010)
  • Origin – The term “BRIC” was coined by the British Economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

• Recent Expansion (BRICS+): In 2024–2025, the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia has received an invitation but has not yet formalized its membership.

• Share of BRICS – BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP, and 16% of the global trade (By 2028, BRICS is expected to make up 35 percent of the global economy)
• Chairmanship – The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members. 

Initiatives of BRICS 

1. New Development Bank (NDB) 
2. Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) 
3. BRICS Payment System 
4. Customs Agreements 
5. Constellation of Remote Sensing Satellites