News In Short 25-08-2026

Vaishya Tekri

Syllabus: GS1/History

Context

• The Madhya Pradesh government has begun restoring Buddhist monuments linked to the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, starting with a fresh excavation at Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain.

About

• The largest stupa, popularly called Vaisya Tekri, is about 350 feet at its base and 100 feet high. Nearby is a smaller stupa, called Kumbhar (or Kumhar) Tekri. 
• Initial excavations by the Department of Archaeology of the erstwhile Gwalior State in 1938–39 unveiled large bricks and punch-marked coins, prompting archaeologists to date the structures to the Mauryan period.
• A stupa is a dome-shaped structure traditionally used as a Buddhist religious monument, symbolizing the burial mound of the Buddha.
  • The term “stupa” originates from Sanskrit, meaning “to heap” or “pile up,” reflecting the mounded design of these monuments.

Ashoka’s years in Ujjain

• Ujjayini (modern Ujjain), on the banks of the Sipra, a tributary of the Chambal, was the capital of Avanti and an important commercial centre.
• Historians note that Ujjain was a major crossroads, linking trade routes to western coastal ports such as Broach and Sopirà, as well as to Pataliputra. 
• Ashoka was sent to Avanti as viceroy by his father, Bindusara.
  • He is believed to have spent about a decade in Avanti, with Ujjain as his headquarters.
  • He was then appointed to the viceroyalty at Ujjain in recognition of his work.

Source: IE 

Right to Walk: Strengthening Pedestrian Safety in India

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• After the Supreme Court’s order recognising the right to walk on footpaths as a fundamental right, Andhra Pradesh became the first state in the country to formulate a dedicated Pedestrian Safety & Universal Accessibility Policy in 2026.

About the Policy

• The policy mandates a three-step system to address the issue — road safety audits, fixing footpath infrastructure (including removal of encroachments) and behavioural change.
  • Footpath Audits: At least 15–20 pedestrian black spots with frequent injuries or deaths during the previous 2–3 years will be prioritised.
  • Authorities must survey 20% of roads within one year to identify additional pedestrian-crossing requirements.
• The policy will apply to all local body areas, including urban fringes, peri-urban areas, satellite towns and rural areas. 
• The policy invokes section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, under which officials, contractors, and consultants can be fined Rs 1 lakh if infrastructural or design failures cause pedestrian death or disability.

Status of Pedestrian Safety in India

• In 2024, pedestrians accounted for 36,526 of the 1.77 lakh road accident deaths in India, constituting around one-fifth of all road fatalities.
• Around 31% of pedestrian deaths occur on National Highways, highlighting the risks associated with high-speed corridors and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.
• Two-wheelers accounted for more than 28% of pedestrian fatalities, followed by cars and taxis at around 25%, while trucks/lorries and buses also contributed significantly.

Source: IE

Garbhini Mitra Course

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has introduced the Garbhini Mitra Course for the 2026–2027 academic session. 

Garbhini Mitra Course

• It is a structured healthcare skill-development programme aimed to create trained personnel to provide appropriate health education, lifestyle guidance, and community-level support to women during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
  • It admits 20 students per batch.
• It is rooted in the traditional Ayurvedic concepts of Garbhini Paricharya (antenatal care), Sutika Paricharya (postnatal care), and Garbhadhana Vidhi (pre-conceptional care).
• It equips participants with practical skills in trimester-specific dietetics, lifestyle modifications, pregnancy-safe yoga, emotional support during labour, newborn massage, and basic life support protocols. 
• It is offered at the AIIA campus in Sarita Vihar, New Delhi

Eligibility

• Candidates who have passed the Senior Secondary (10+2) examination from any recognized board in India and are at least 18 years of age are eligible to apply.
• Candidates currently awaiting their 12th-grade results may also submit provisional applications.

Source:PIB

Polysilicon Manufacturing in India

Syllabus: GS3/Science & Technology

Context

• The government is considering a new Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for polysilicon manufacturing to develop an integrated domestic solar PV supply chain.

India’s Solar Manufacturing Position

• India has around 163 GW of installed solar power capacity, making solar the country’s largest source of renewable energy.
• India has developed substantial downstream manufacturing capacity, with around 173 GW of solar module capacity and 25–30 GW of cell manufacturing capacity.
• However, domestic manufacturing remains incomplete because producers largely depend on imported polysilicon, ingots and wafers.
  • China accounts for more than 85% of global PV supply capacity and has an integrated presence across the entire solar manufacturing chain.

What is Polysilicon?

• Polysilicon is a highly purified form of silicon used as the basic material for manufacturing crystalline silicon solar cells.
• It is produced from silicon-bearing raw materials such as quartz/silica through energy-intensive purification processes.
• Solar-grade polysilicon requires very high purity, as impurities can affect the performance of solar cells.

Source: The Print

INS Mangrol

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• ‘Mangrol’, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, was delivered to the Indian Navy.

About

• Mangrol derives its name from the coastal town and minor port of ‘Mangrol’, located in Gujarat, which is a prominent harbour for the marine fishing industry.
  • The ship also encapsulates the legacy of erstwhile INS Mangrol, an Indian Naval Minesweeper which remained in service till 2004.
• The ship comprises over 80% indigenous content and is equipped for underwater surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in coastal waters, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), along with mine warfare capabilities.
  • The ship is propelled by waterjets and equipped with state-of-the-art Torpedoes, Anti-Submarine rockets, along with advanced radars and sonars.
• The delivery of Mangrol is yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding journey and a reaffirmation of the Government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. 

Source: PIB