Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar
Syllabus: GS1/Ancient History
Context
- A commemorative postage stamp in honour of the king Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II (Suvaran Maran) was released by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.
About
- Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar (705 AD-745 AD), also known as Suvaran Maran, was a ruler of the Mutharaiyar lineage, feudatories of the Pallavas.
- He belonged to the illustrious Mutharaiyar dynasty, which ruled the central regions of Tamil Nadu between the 7th and 9th centuries CE.
- He ruled from Tiruchirappalli for nearly four decades and that his reign was marked by administrative stability, territorial expansion, cultural patronage, and military prowess.
- Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar is believed to have fought bravely in several battles alongside the Pallava king Nandivarman, and is remembered as a great administrator.
- Religious Policies: The Pallava reign saw a religious revivalism of Hinduism amid the dominance of Jainism and Buddhism.
- As their feudatories, the Mutharaiyars were great temple builders.
Source: IE
PM Visit to Jordan
Syllabus: GS2/IR
Context
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day visit to Jordan.
About
- The visit marks India’s first full bilateral engagement with Jordan and comes as the two countries prepare to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
- Five memoranda of understanding were finalized covering culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and a twinning arrangement between the historic sites of Petra and Ellora.
- India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, Prime Minister Modi proposed enhancing bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years.
- He also encouraged collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s Unified Payments Interface.
- In the financial year 2023–24, total India-Jordan trade reached US$ 2.875 billion, with India’s exports to Jordan amounting to US$ 1,465 billion.
- Jordan is a leading supplier of phosphates and potash fertilizers for India.
- Both sides also discussed investments in fertilizer production to meet India’s growing demand, with Jordan being an important supplier of phosphates to India.
| About Jordan – West Asian country in the Middle East. – Borders: Israel & Palestine (West), Saudi Arabia (South & East), Iraq (East), Syria (North). A. Dead Sea is a landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan in southwestern Asia. – Landlocked except for a short coastline at Aqaba (Red Sea). – Head of State: King Abdullah II (since 1999). – The main ethnic groups in Jordan are Arabs, primarily Jordanians and Palestinians. |
Source: DD
India-ADB Sign Over $2.2 Billion Loan Agreements
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
Context
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed agreements for five loans totaling over $2.2 billion to support various development projects.
About Asian Development Bank
- ADB is a regional development bank established in 1966 for Social and Economic Development.
- Members: It has 69 members including India as a founding member.
- It is a multilateral development bank, which seeks to help its developing member countries to reduce poverty and improve their people’s quality of life through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration.
- ADB uses a weighted voting system based on members’ capital subscriptions. The current top five shareholders and their approximate share percentages are;
- Japan (15.6%), United States (15.6%), People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%) and Australia (5.8%).
- Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
Source: PIB
UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Syllabus: GS2/ Regional Groupings
In News
- The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has completed two decades of efforts aimed at bridging divides, reducing polarization, and promoting intercultural dialogue.
About UNAOC
- Secretariat: New York
- Launched: 2005
- Initiated by: Republic of Türkiye & Spain, under the auspices of the United Nations.
- Objectives: Improve cross-cultural and inter-religious relations between nations and communities.
- Counter polarisation, extremism, xenophobia and hate speech.
- Promote mutual understanding, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence.
Relevance for India
- Aligns with India’s civilisational ethos of pluralism and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
- Supports India’s engagement with interfaith harmony, south–South cooperation & multilateral peace initiatives.
Source: DD News
National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025
Syllabus: GS2/ Governance
Context
- The National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025 was introduced in Parliament to establish a dedicated legal and institutional framework for blood transfusion services in India.
About
- Blood transfusion services are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which is considered inadequate for managing blood as a life-saving public resource.
- The Bill seeks to move blood transfusion services out of regulatory grey zones into a clear, safety-first national framework.
Key Provisions of the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025
- Establishment of a National Blood Transfusion Authority (NBTA) as a statutory body.
- NBTA to prescribe uniform national standards for:
- Collection, testing and processing of blood
- Storage, distribution, issuance and transfusion of blood and blood components.
- Mandatory registration of all blood centres across the country.
- Introduction of strict penalties for unsafe, unethical or non-compliant practices.
- Promotion of voluntary blood donation through coordinated national programmes.
- Creation of a national haemovigilance system to monitor transfusion-related adverse events.
Source: TH
DHRUV64
Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology
In News
- India has launched the DHRUV64 microprocessor.
About
- Type: General-purpose microprocessor
- Developed By: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP) of the Government of India.
- Architecture: 64-bit, dual-core
- Clock Speed: 1.0 GHz
- Status: Fully indigenous (design and development in India)
- Function: Acts as the “brain” of electronic devices such as computers, mobiles, embedded systems and control units.
Significance
- Suitable for 5G infrastructure, automotive, consumer electronics, industrial automation, IoT, and strategic uses, it reduces import dependence amid India’s 20% global microprocessor consumption.
Source: TH
National Energy Conservation Award
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has won the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 under the State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (SDA Group-1) category.
- Under the SDA Group-1 Category, awards are given to the states with large energy consumption and advanced energy ecosystems.
About National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA)
- Instituted by: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
- Ministry: Ministry of Power, Government of India
- Objective: Recognise exemplary performance in energy efficiency and conservation
- Encourage States, industries and institutions to reduce energy intensity
- First instituted: 1991 (as National Energy Conservation Award scheme)
Source: TH
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