Dhammachakra Pravartana Divas
Syllabus: GS1/ History and Culture
Context
- The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, celebrated Ashadha Purnima—the day that marks the Dhammachakra Pravartana Divas.
About Dhammachakra Pravartana Divas
- Celebrated on Ashadha Purnima (full moon day of Ashadha month), it commemorates the first discourse of Lord Buddha after attaining enlightenment.
- The sermon was delivered to his five ascetic disciples (Pañcavargiya) at Deer Park (Ṛiṣipatana Mrigadaya) in Sarnath, near Varanasi.
- The day symbolizes the “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma” (Dhammachakra Pravartana), initiating the propagation of Buddhist teachings.
Cultural and Religious Significance
- It is the second most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar after Vaishakha Purnima (Buddha Purnima).
- It also marks the start of Varsha Vassa—the monastic rain retreat, a period of self-discipline and spiritual introspection.
- It is also known as;
- Esala Poya in Sri Lanka
- Asanha Bucha in Thailand.
Source: PIB
Lotus Blooms in Kashmir’s Wular lake
Syllabus: GS1/ Geography, GS3/ Environment
Context
- After a gap of nearly three decades, the lotus has bloomed in Kashmir’s Wular Lake.
About
- The lake witnessed a return of lotus bloom after 30 years, following a severe flood in 1992 that buried lotus rhizomes under layers of silt.
- This revival is attributed to desilting and ecosystem restoration efforts undertaken by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), which began in 2020.
Wular Lake
- Location: It is located in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir and is situated on the foothills of Haramuk Mountain.
- It is spread in a total area of 200 square km covering almost 24 km in length while its breadth is 10 km.
- The main source of water for Wular Lake is River Jhelum.
- Wular Lake is India’s largest freshwater lake and the second largest in Asia (after Lake Baikal).
- The lake is also said to be a remnant of Satisar Lake that existed in ancient times.
- The lake also has a small island in its centre called the ‘Zaina Lank’. This island was constructed by King Zainul-Abi-Din.
- It was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.
Source: IE
Turkana Basin
Syllabus: GS1/ Places In News
In News
- Recent studies extracted 18–20 million-year-old enamel proteins from extinct mammal fossils in the Turkana Basin, Kenya.
About Turkana Basin
- The Turkana Basin is a vast endorheic region in northwestern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, centered around Lake Turkana—the world’s largest desert lake—renowned for its rich fossil record, unique biodiversity, and critical contributions to the study of human and mammalian evolution.
Source: TH
Zonal Councils of India
Syllabus: GS2/ Polity and Governance
Context
- Union Home Minister chaired the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
What are Zonal Councils?
- The Zonal Councils are the statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
- The act divided the country into five zones (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern) and provided a zonal council for each zone.
- Members: Each zonal council consists of the following members:
- Home minister of the Central government, the common chairman of the five zonal councils.
- Chief ministers of all the States in the zone.
- Two other ministers from each state in the zone.
- Administrator of each union territory in the zone.
- Each chief minister acts as a vice-chairman of the council by rotation, holding office for a period of one year at a time.
- North-Eastern Council: In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
- Its members include Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim.
- The zonal councils are only deliberative and advisory bodies. They aim at;
- Promoting cooperation and coordination between states, union territories and the Centre.
- Discuss and make recommendations regarding matters like economic and social planning, linguistic minorities, border disputes, interstate transport, and so on.
- Each Zonal Council has also constituted a Standing Committee at the level of Chief Secretaries.
Source: AIR
TALASH Initiative
Syllabus: GS2/ Education
In News
- The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF India launched TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self-Esteem Hub).
About
- It is the first program of its kind in India, specifically aimed at supporting the holistic development of tribal students enrolled in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across 28 States and 8 Union Territories
- TALASH is designed to foster both educational and personal growth among tribal students and offers life skills, and career clarity, empowering students to discover their strengths and plan their futures.
Source: PIB
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)
Syllabus: GS3/ S&T
In News
- The Union Minister of Communications recently reviewed the progress of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), highlighting India’s ambition to become a global leader in 6G technology by 2030.
About Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)
- Bharat 6G Alliance is India’s flagship platform for collaborative 6G innovation, uniting diverse stakeholders to build an advanced, secure, and globally relevant 6G ecosystem.
- The Alliance is central to India’s “Bharat 6G Vision,” aiming for pre-commercial 6G trials by 2026 and commercial rollout by 2029–2030.
- It targets achieving 10% of global 6G intellectual property rights (IPRs), positioning India as a global technology leader.
Source: PIB
Islands Protection Zone (IPZ) Notification
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- The Union environment ministry has issued a new notification extending and amending the rules for infrastructure projects under the Islands Protection Zone (IPZ) Notification 2011.
About
- The Island Protection Zone (IPZ) Notification, 2011 is a legal framework issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and protect the coastal and marine ecosystems of India’s islands, particularly the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- As per the notification, the validity of clearances for infrastructure projects under the IPZ 2011 is now 10 years (previously 7 years).
- The notification comes amid a surge in infrastructure and tourism projects in the islands, including the ₹81,800 crore Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project (port, airport, power plant, township, trunk road)
Difference from CRZ
- CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone): Applies to mainland India’s coast.
- IPZ: Applies only to the islands.
Source: HT
Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Drones
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- To strengthen surveillance along its land and maritime borders, India has accelerated the procurement of 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones from indigenous manufacturers.
About the MALE Drones
- Role: MALE drones provide advanced, real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and can operate effectively across diverse terrains. They are equipped for both surveillance and combat operations.
- Capabilities:
- Endurance: Over 30 hours of continuous flight.
- Altitude: Can operate at a maximum altitude of at least 35,000 feet.
- Significance:
- These drones must have more than 60% indigenous content, and several major Indian defence companies are likely to be part of this procurement.
- Marks India’s first major indigenous procurement of MALE-class drones — previously, India largely depended on imports from Israeli firms.
Source: TH
INS Nistar
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- The Indian Navy has received INS Nistar, its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), from Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam.
About
- Name: Nistar, derived from Sanskrit, means liberation, rescue, or salvation.
- Built as per: Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules.
- Features: Equipped with advanced Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for diver monitoring and salvage operations up to 1000 meters deep.
- Key Role: Acts as the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), which rescues and evacuates personnel in case of submarine emergencies.
- Significance: Around 75% indigenous content — a milestone in the Indian Navy’s path towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
Source: DD News
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