Thiruvalluvar Day
Syllabus: GS1/History
In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Thiruvalluvar, acknowledging the enduring influence of his timeless works and ideals across generations.
Thiruvalluvar
- He flourished around two thousand years ago in Mylapore, present-day Chennai. He was a born Siddha and poet, known simply as Valluvar, or more commonly as Thiruvalluvar, meaning ‘the devotee of the Valluva caste’.
- The Valluvas traditionally belonged to the Pariah community, now referred to as Harijans, and their vocation involved proclaiming royal orders by beating drums.
- Birthplace and period: some traditions state that he was born in Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, his period has been variously dated between the 4th century BCE and the early 6th century CE.
- Scholar Maraimalai Adigal dated his birth to 31 BCE, whereas Tamil scholar Kamil Zvelebil suggested that Thiruvalluvar and the Tirukkural likely belonged to the period between 500 and 600 CE.
- In January 1935, the Tamil Nadu government officially recognised 31 BCE as the birth year of Thiruvalluvar.
Teachings and Works
- Thiruvalluvar demonstrated that one could lead a divine life of purity and sanctity while remaining a householder.
- He demonstrated that renunciation of family life was not necessary for achieving spiritual excellence.
- Thiruvalluvar is considered one of the greatest poet-philosophers of the Sangam period.
- His work is held in such high esteem that it has been referred to by several names, including Tirukkural, Uttaravedam, Tamil Veda, Teyvanul (the divine book), and Potumarai (the common Veda).
- His magnum opus, the Tirukkural, is a collection of 1,330 couplets dealing with morality, governance, economics, and love.
- The text is regarded as one of the greatest works of Tamil literature and is admired for its universal values and ethical clarity.
Source :PIB
Jallikattu
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin attended the jallikattu in Alanganallur.
What is Jallikattu?
- Jallikattu, also known as Eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.
- The history of this bullfight dates back to 400-100 BCE when it was played by the Ayars, an ethnic group in India.
- The name is coined from two words, Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied). In this festival, a bull is let loose among a crowd of people, and whoever tames it will get the coins tied to its horn.
- The people who participate in the sport try to hold on to the animal’s hump to stop it. Sometimes, they run along with the bull.
- Pulikulam or Kangayam is the breed of bulls used for the sport. This festival has been part of cultural tourism in the state.
- Vadi manjuviraṭṭu, Vēli viraṭṭu, and Vaṭam manjuviraṭṭu are the variants of this sport.
| Do you know? – The practice of Jallikattu and other festivals involving animals have long been contested, with animal rights groups and the courts expressing concern over cruelty to animals and the bloody and dangerous nature of the sport that sometimes causes death and injuries to both the animal and human participants. – However, in 2023, A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by the legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, allowing bull-taming sports like jallikattu, kambala, and bullock-cart races. |
Source: IE
Chabahar Port Amidst US-Iran Tensions
Syllabus: GS2/IR
In News
- India has reaffirmed that it remains engaged with both the U.S. and Iran to continue operations at the strategic Chabahar port, countering reports that it plans to exit due to renewed U.S. sanctions.
About the Chabahar Port
- Meaning: Chabahar is made of Persian words Chahar meaning four; and bahar meaning spring.
- Chabahar city is also home to Iran’s only deep-seaport with direct access to the ocean.
- Location: Off the Gulf of Oman in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan & is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.
- Only about 170 kilometers west of the Pakistani port of Gwadar.
- Consist of two ports: Chabahar Port consists of two separate ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.
Significance of Chabahar Port for India
- Gateway to Central Asia and beyond: The port gives access to the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations’ southern coast & Central Asia and India can bypass Pakistan.
- This is partly solved by INSTC.
- This port will reduce dependency on the Suez Canal and reduce transportation time.
- Trading with Afghanistan: The INSTC allowed India to trade with the outside world via Iran, but India could not do so with Afghanistan (not a member of INSTC) in spite of being a very close neighbor.
- In May 2016, a trilateral agreement was signed between India, Iran and Afghanistan for using Chabahar Port.
- It will facilitate India’s role in Afghanistan’s development.
- Strategic Importance: Chabahar Port is also quite near the Gwadar Port of Pakistan being developed by China. It helps counter CPEC & strengthen maritime power.
Source: TH
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDP)
Syllabus: GS2/ Health, GS3/ Science & Technology
In News
- Indian researchers have developed Disobind, an open-source AI-based tool that predicts interactions of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) using protein language models.
What are Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs)?
- IDPs are protein regions that lack a single stable three-dimensional structure under physiological conditions.
- Instead of a fixed shape, they remain flexible and shapeshifting, allowing them to interact with multiple partners.
- Traditional protein prediction tools rely on stable structures, making IDPs hard to analyse.
- IDPs control which genes are switched on or off by interacting with transcription factors and DNA-associated proteins.
- IDPs are involved in cancer progression, where abnormal interactions drive uncontrolled cell growth.
Source: PIB
Central Vigilance Commission
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
In News
- Praveen Vashista was appointed as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission by the President of India.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
- It is India’s apex statutory body entrusted with ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in public administration.
- It was established in 1964 following the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
- The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, provides for the appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners. The tenure of the Vigilance Commissioner is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years.
- The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President of India on the recommendations of a High-Powered Committee (HPC) consisting of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
Power and Functions
- The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) mandated under the CVC Act, 2003 to combat corruption and ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in public administration.
- The Commission exercises superintendence over vigilance administrations of Central Government ministries, departments, and organizations.
- The Central Vigilance Commission acts as the apex vigilance institution by supervising and guiding anti-corruption inquiries, including cases referred by the Lokpal and whistleblower complaints under the PIDPI framework.
- It supervises the functioning of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in cases related to offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, issues directions for such investigations, and reviews their progress, including delays in sanction for prosecution.
- It plays a key role in senior appointments by chairing committees that recommend appointments of senior officers in the Directorate of Enforcement and the CBI (SP level and above, excluding the CBI Director).
Source :PIB
Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2026
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
In News
- The Reserve Bank of India has notified changes under the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2026.
About
- It is a unified grievance redressal framework for customers of RBI-regulated entities such as banks, NBFCs, payment system operators, etc.
- It aims to provide simple, speedy, and cost-free resolution of customer complaints.
- There is no cap on the amount involved in a dispute that a complainant can bring before the RBI Ombudsman.
- The Reserve Bank of India may appoint one or more of its officers as RBI Ombudsman and RBI Deputy Ombudsman. The general tenure is three years.
- The regulated Entity or the complainant may file an appeal within 30 days. Appeal lies before the Appellate Authority designated by RBI.
- Every Regulated Entity must appoint a Principal Nodal Officer at its Head Office.
Source: ET
Root Wilt Disease
Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture
In News
- Coconut cultivation in peninsular India is facing a serious threat due to phytoplasma-induced Root Wilt Disease (RWD).
About Root Wilt Disease (RWD)
- Root Wilt Disease of coconut is caused by phytoplasma, a cell wall–less bacterial pathogen, and is classified as a non-fatal but debilitating disease.
- It was first reported more than 150 years ago in Erattupetta, Kerala, and despite long-term research efforts, no definitive curative treatment has been developed so far.
- The disease is characterised by gradual yellowing and wilting of leaves, followed by a sharp decline in nut yield and eventual shedding of all nuts.
- Root Wilt Disease spreads through insect vectors, mainly sucking pests, and its transmission is further facilitated by wind movement and large, uninterrupted coconut plantations.
About Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
- It is a major perennial horticultural plantation crop of India, predominantly grown in the humid tropics and coastal regions.
- It thrives in well-drained sandy loam soils, high humidity, and temperatures between 27–32°C. It requires plenty of sunlight.
- India is one of the leading producers of coconut globally. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka together contribute about 82–83% of India’s coconut production.
Source: TH
Elevated Wildlife Corridor in Kaziranga
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
Context
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate a 34.5-km elevated wildlife corridor in Assam’s Kaziranga.
- This aims to enable safe animal movement, especially during annual floods.
- Also, this would improve connectivity between Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, and Numaligarh.
About Kaziranga National Park
- It is the largest undivided representative area of Brahmaputra valley floodplain grassland, where various stages of biotic succession in the grassland ecosystem are explicit.
- The Park is the abode of more than 70% of One Horned Rhinoceros in the world.
- It is one of the oldest wildlife conservancy reserves of India, first notified in 1905 and constituted as a Reserved Forest in 1908.
- It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950, and notified as Kaziranga National Park in 1974 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972.
- It was declared a World Heritage Site back in 1985. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
Source: IE
Sukhatme National Award in Statistics
Syllabus: GS2/ Miscellaneous
In News
- The Government has called for nominations/applications for Sukhatme National Award in Statistics – 2026.
About Sukhatme National Award in Statistics
- Instituted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in the year 2000.
- Named after P. C. Mahalanobis’ contemporary and eminent statistician Prof. P. V. Sukhatme, known for contributions to agricultural and official statistics.
- It is given to Indian citizens of age 45 and above only. It is awarded in alternate years.
- The award aims to recognize exceptional and outstanding lifetime contributions in the field of Statistics, especially for improving the system of official statistics in India.
- The award will be conferred on 29 June 2026, coinciding with Statistics Day.
Source: PIB
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