News In Short 22-August-2025

Piprahwa Relics

Syllabus: GS1/Ancient History

Context

• During a recent Assembly session, CM Yogi Adityanath announced that the Piprahwa relics, repatriated to India after 127 years, will be returned to their original site in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, with restoration plans underway.

About

• The relics—Buddha’s ash, bone fragments, gold ornaments, and gems—were excavated in 1898 by W.C. Peppé. 
• The government now plans to develop the 20-hectare area into a theme park with a stupa for the relics, meditation zones, and attractions depicting Buddha’s early life.
  • The proposed theme park at Piprahwa will be built in front of the ASI-protected Piprahwa stupa, linked to the Shakya kingdom and Kapilvastu, Buddha’s childhood home. 
• Piprahwa village is located in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district, near Lumbini—the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
  • It is a lesser-known site on the state’s Buddhist circuit. 

Source: IE

Machine-Readable Voter Rolls 

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity and Governance

Context

• The Opposition has demanded that machine readable voter rolls be made available to all political parties by the Election Commission (EC), amid allegations of “vote theft”.

What are Machine-Readable Voter Rolls?

• Machine-Readable Voter Rolls are electoral rolls that are available in a searchable, computer-readable text format (such as text-based PDFs, CSV, or Excel files), instead of the current image-based PDFs provided by the Election Commission (EC).
• This makes it easier to detect duplicate entries, errors, or irregularities in the voter list without relying solely on manual checking.

Source: TH

Global Capability Centres

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• American e-commerce major eBay has set up its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India which will host multiple functions, including technology and engineering, AI/ML, applied research, product development, product management, and data analytics.

What are Global Capability Centers?

• Global Capability Centers are designed to leverage global talent pools and technological advancements to enhance organizational capabilities and drive business transformation. 
• GCCs connect organizations to a global pool of top-tier talent, equipped with the latest technology and training needed to stay ahead of industry trends, continually innovate, and create sustained growth.
  • GCCs also serve as hubs where technology-enabled talent strategies are implemented to streamline processes and foster innovation. 

Source: TH

Coal Gasification

Syllabus: GS3/ Energy

Context

• The Union Minister of Coal and Mines stated that while coal remains vital for India’s energy security, the government is pushing coal gasification to reduce environmental concerns from traditional combustion.

What is Coal Gasification?

• Coal gasification is a process that converts coal into synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons).
  • This syngas can be used to produce power, liquid fuels, chemicals, and fertilizers.
  • Compared to direct burning, gasification reduces emissions of particulate matter and other pollutants.

Government Initiatives to Promote Coal Gasification

• Auction Reforms: Commercial coal block auctions now include a 50% rebate in revenue share for companies that commit to a minimum threshold of gasification.
• Long-term Target: India has set a target of 100 MT coal gasification by 2030, to diversify coal usage and reduce environmental stress.
• Financial Incentive Scheme for Coal Gasification: The scheme was launched in 2024 and has a total outlay of ₹8,500 crore. 
  • It encourages participation from both public and private sector players to establish coal gasification projects across the country.

Source: ET

NASA Discovers 29th Moon of Uranus, Named S/2025 U1

Syllabus: GS3/Space

Context

• NASA announced that the James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a new, 29th satellite of Uranus, which was named S/2025 U1. 

About

• The diameter of the Moon is estimated to be only some 10 kilometres. And orbits the planet at a distance of about 56,000 kilometres. 

• S/2025 UI will get an official name from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) sometime in the future.

Uranus

• Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun, and the third-largest planet in the solar system. 
• Discovery: First identified as a planet by Sir William Herschel in 1781 (previously mistaken for a star).
• Composition: An ice giant, made mostly of hydrogen, helium, water, methane, and ammonia.
• While Uranus now has a total of 29 moons, five of them are considered major moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. 
• Exploration: Only visited once—by Voyager 2 in 1986.

Source: AIR

‘Sustainable Power 1404’ Exercise

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

In News 

• ‘Sustainable Power 1404’ was recently launched by Iran in the northern Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman.

‘Sustainable Power 1404’ exercise

• It is Iran’s first large-scale military drill since the 12-day war  with Israel in June 2025. 
• It is  a two-day missile drill  which follows Iran’s recent joint exercise named Casarex 2025 with Russia and comes in response to Israeli drills simulating strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
• It highlights Iran’s naval and missile strengths amid escalating regional tensions, featuring warships, air units, missile defense systems, and electronic warfare brigades.
  • Precision-strike cruise missiles such as Nasir and Qadir were deployed to enhance combat readiness and deterrence.

Source: AIR

NTCA Limits Tiger Corridors to Minimal Requirement

Syllabus: GS3/Environment 

In News

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has reversed its earlier stance by limiting tiger corridors to 32 “least cost pathways” from 2014, despite previously supporting a broader, science-based definition. 

Tiger (Panthera tigris)

• Tigers are highly adaptable and can inhabit a diverse range of natural environments, including forests, grasslands, mangrove swamps, and even cold, snowy regions.
• Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, and Thailand.
• Protection Status: Tigers are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Status In India : India’s tiger population rose to 3,682 in 2022 from 2,967 in 2018, growing at 6.1% annually in consistently monitored areas
  • The country has 58 tiger reserves covering about 2.5% of its land. 
  • The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has become India’s second-largest tiger reserve after the National Board for Wildlife approved an expansion of 1,044.68 sq km.

Related Initiatives 

• Tiger corridors are crucial for connecting habitats, allowing tiger movement, gene flow, and long-term survival.
  • Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, any development in or around these corridors needs clearance from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL).
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2006).
  • It is responsible for strengthening tiger conservation in India by issuing advisories and guidelines based on tiger population assessments, ongoing conservation efforts, and expert committee recommendations
• Project Tiger, initiated in 1973, has been India’s flagship conservation initiative.
  • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change that supports in-situ tiger conservation in designated reserves.

Source :IE

Khelo India Water Sports Festival at Dal Lake

Syllabus: GS3/ Miscellaneous

Context

• Dal Lake, the jewel of Kashmir, is hosting the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival.

About the Festival

• Organisers: Sports Authority of India (SAI) & J&K Sports Council.
• Events: More than 500 athletes from 36 states and union territories will be participating in competitive sports events of rowing, canoeing and kayaking.
  • The Festival will also feature demonstration events like water skiing, dragon boat and Shikara race.
• Mascot: Inspired by the Himalayan Kingfisher, symbolising adventure, energy, and connection with nature.
• Significance: This festival is a direct result of the Central Government’s Khelo Bharat policy, aimed at boosting grassroots sports, generating livelihoods and rejuvenating local infrastructure.

About Dal Lake

• Location: Situated in Srinagar, Dal Lake lies in the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountain range, with the Shankaracharya Hill providing a panoramic backdrop.
• Type: It is a Freshwater urban lake, classified as a flood lung of the Jhelum River basin.
• It is the second-largest lake in J&K, covering about 18 sq km, and features a unique wetland ecosystem with floating gardens (“Raad”) that grow vegetables and flowers.

Source: AIR