Shirui Lily Festival
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- The Shirui Lily festival returns to Manipur after a two-year pause because of the long-drawn conflict in the state.
About the Festival
- Organised by Manipur Department of Tourism, first held in 2017.
- Named after the Shirui Lily (state flower of Manipur), the festival coincides with the flower’s blooming season (April to June).
- Held annually in Ukhrul district, home to the Tangkhul Naga community.
- This will promote eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and awareness about the endangered Shirui Lily.
Source: IE
Jarosite
Syllabus :GS 1/Geography
In News
- Jarosite has been found to potentially serve as a natural geological clock on Mars.
Jarosite
- It is a potassium-iron hydroxysulfate mineral commonly found in acidic environments, such as acid sulfate soils (ASS) and acid mine drainage environments.
- It is a yellow-brown mineral that contains potassium, iron, and sulphate.
- It plays an important role as a scavenger of trace and major elements in ASS, as well as in other natural and engineered systems.
Recent Research
- Researchers in India analyzed jarosite veins from Gujarat, whose environment resembles that of Mars.
- By studying the mineral’s luminescence — the light it emits due to stored radiation — they discovered that jarosite could survive heating from a rover’s drill without losing its ability to luminesce.
- Given Mars’ natural radiation rate, jarosite can record events from the past 25,000 years.
Importance
- As jarosite is common on Mars, durable, and easily analyzed with small heaters and LEDs, it could be used by future rovers to date dust storms, flood deposits, and volcanic ash.
Source :TH
K. Veeraswami vs Union of India Judgment
Syllabus: GS2/ Polity and Governance
Context
- The Vice-President of India, has stated that it is time to revisit the K Veeraswamy judgement of 1991.
Background
- The case arose when K. Veeraswami, a former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
- Issue: Whether judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court can be investigated and prosecuted under anti-corruption laws, and if so, what safeguards must be observed to maintain judicial independence.
Supreme court ruling
- The Supreme Court held that judges of the higher judiciary are indeed ‘public servants’ under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Mandatory Prior Sanction: No FIR or investigation can be initiated against a sitting judge of the High Court or Supreme Court without the prior sanction of the CJI.
- If allegations are made against the Chief Justice of India, the mandatory consultation must be conducted with other senior judges of the Supreme Court.
Source: PIB
India Awarded with Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma
Syllabus: GS2/Health
Context
- India has been awarded the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
About
- Last year, the WHO declared that the Government of India had eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem.
- India also became the third country in the Southeast Asia region to reach this public health milestone.
- The government has taken various steps under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) to eliminate Trachoma.
Trachoma
- Trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
- It is a public health problem in 38 countries and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people.
- Blindness from trachoma is irreversible.
- Infection spreads through personal contact (via hands, clothes, bedding or hard surfaces) and by flies that have been in contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person.
- There isn’t a commercially available trachoma vaccine, research is ongoing to develop one.
Source: AIR
Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project
Syllabus: GS3/ Infrastructure
Context
- The Justice P C Ghose commission is investigating alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana.
About
- The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana.
- The project starts at the confluence point of Pranahita River and Godavari River.
- The objective of the project includes providing irrigation water to a large area of agricultural land, and meeting the drinking water requirements.
Lift Irrigation Projects
- In lift irrigation projects, water is not transported by gravity.
- Instead, it is lifted using pumps or surge pools to a main delivery chamber at the highest point of the project, from where it is distributed to the fields for irrigation.
| Godavari River – Origin: The River rises at Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra in the Western Ghats. – Length:The Godavari River is India’s second longest river (Dakshina Ganga) after the Ganga river, with a length 1,465 km. – Basin: The main river flows through the States of Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh and drains into the Bay of Bengal. – The river basin is considered to be divided into 3 sections: 1. Upper: Source to the confluence with Manjira, 2. Middle: Between confluence of Manjira and Pranhita and 3. Lower: Pranhita confluence to mouth. – Tributaries: Banganga, Purna, Pranhita, Indravati, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Penganga, Wardha,Wainganga, Maner and Sabri. – Dams: Jayakwadi Dam, Devadula Irrigation Scheme, Polavaram Project etc. Pranahita River – Pranahita river is the largest tributary of the Godavari river covering about 34% of its drainage basin. – It is a confluence of various other smaller tributaries like Wardha, Penganga and Wainganga Rivers. |
Source: AIR
Jayant Narlikar
Syllabus: GS 3/Achievements of Indian in Science & Technology
In News
- Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, renowned Indian astrophysicist who proposed an alternative to Big Bang theory passed away.
About Jayant Narlikar
- Early Life & Career: Born in Banaras (now Varanasi) and studied at Banaras Hindu University and later at Cambridge University, where he earned accolades like Wrangler and Tyson Medallist.
- He worked at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (1972–1989).
- He founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in 1988 and served as its Director until 2003.
- Scientific Contributions: Remembered for his collaborative work with British astrophysicist Fred Hoyle on the Hoyle-Narlikar theory, which supported the steady-state model of the universe—an alternative to the Big Bang theory.
- Steady-State Theory proposed that the universe is eternal and unchanging in density, despite its expansion, due to the continuous creation of new matter.
- It contrasts with the Big Bang theory, which posits a singular creation event 13.8 billion years ago.
- He contributed to adapting Einstein’s general relativity to accommodate continuous matter creation.
- Awards: Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan & Kalinga Award by UNESCO.
Source: TH
Metre Convention
Syllabus: GS3/ S&T
In News
- The Department of Consumer Affairs marked World Metrology Day 2025 commemorating 150 years since the signing of the Metre Convention (1875).
About Metre Convention
| Aspect | Details |
| Origin | Signed on May 20, 1875, amended in 1921 |
| Purpose | To establish a globally unified and continually evolving metric system |
| Institution Created | International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) |
| Role of BIPM | Oversees scientific accuracy, standardization, and global traceability in measurements |
| Significance | Ensures global uniformity in measurements—vital for science, trade, tech, and safety |
| Membership | 64 Member States + 37 Associate States (India is a Member State) |
Source: IE
IB Chief Gets One-year Extension in Service
Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security
Context
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has given a one-year extension to Tapan Kumar Deka, the chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) till June 2026.
About
- This is the second time his tenure has been extended by a year.
- The extension comes in the wake of the evolving security situation following Operation Sindoor.
- His extension is “in relaxation of the provisions of FR 56 (d) and Rule 16 (1A) of All India Services (Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958”.
- The rules allow the central government to extend in “public interest” the services of the chiefs of IB and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary and others, beyond 60 years age of superannuation.
Intelligence Bureau (IB)
- IB is India’s oldest intelligence agency formed in 1887 during the British colonial era.
- It is India’s internal security agency responsible for managing domestic threats.
- IB is under the governance of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- It is responsible for counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and intelligence collection in border areas, infrastructure protection, and anti-secession activities.
Source: TH
Global Environment Facility
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- A new study found that biodiversity conservation funds especially from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are not reaching the indigenous people and local communities (IPLC).
About Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- Genesis: The GEF was established in 1992 during the Rio Earth Summit, reflecting a global commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges.
- Governance: The GEF Council serves as the main governing body, responsible for developing, adopting, and evaluating operational policies and programs for GEF-financed activities.
- Functions: The GEF plays a crucial role as the financial mechanism for five major environmental conventions:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- GEF Trustee: The World Bank acts as the GEF Trustee, responsible for administering the GEF Trust Fund, mobilizing resources, disbursing funds, and preparing financial reports.
- Member Countries: The GEF has a wide global reach with 186 member countries, including India, demonstrating broad international participation in its environmental efforts.
- Secretariat: Washington, D.C., USA.
Source: DTE
Euthalia malaccana
Syllabus: GS3/Species in News
Context
- Euthalia malaccana, the newest member of India’s butterfly family, has been recorded from Arunachal Pradesh.
About
- E. malaccana was previously thought to be a subspecies of Euthalia adonia, but is now recognized as a distinct species primarily found in Southeast Asia.
- This marks the first definitive record of the species in India, supported by photographic and morphological analysis.
- The butterfly is identifiable by:
- A blue apical spot on male forewings (larger in females).
- Reduced red spots on the hindwings.
- These traits help differentiate it from similar species like Euthalia lubentina.
- This discovery extends E. malaccana’s known range into the Indo-Australian region and contributes to the growing knowledge of butterfly diversity in northeastern India.
Source: TH
Previous article
MR Srinivasan: A Key Architect of India’s Nuclear Programme
Next article
Urban Flooding
