News In Short-27-05-2025

Gond and Madhubani Art

Syllabus :GS 1/Art and Culture  

In News

• The artists of Gond art and Madhubani art met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the Artists in Residence programme- Kala Utsav. 

Madhubani Paintings

• They originated in the Madhubani district of Bihar’s Mithila region. 
• They are known for their intricate line drawings filled with bright, earthy colors and tribal motifs. 
• They were traditionally created by women on mud walls of bridal chambers.
• They featured themes from Hindu mythology and local beliefs, symbolizing marriage and fertility. 
• The paintings show human beings, animals, trees, flowers, birds, etc

Gond paintings

• Gonds are one of the prominent tribes in India. They are mainly settled in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
  •  The Akbar Nama, a history of Akbar’s reign, mentions the Gond kingdom of Garha Katanga that had 70,000 villages.
• Gond tribals belong to the Dravida race, and are very fond of dance, music and storytelling.
• Gond paintings, also called Thingna,  often feature geometrical designs and motifs like horses, elephants, birds, and human figures, painted using earth colours (white, red, yellow, black).
  • Homes are decorated with these motifs, especially around doors, windows, and courtyards, often with relief work made from cow dung and rice husk.

Source: PIB

Saraswati Pushkaralu

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture

Context

• The 11th day of the ongoing Saraswati Pushkaralu witnessed a massive turnout of pilgrims at Kaleshwaram.

Saraswati Pushkaralu

• Saraswati Pushkaram or Pushkaralu is a Hindu river festival that occurs once every 12 years, aligned with the entry of Jupiter (Brihaspati) into the Gemini (Mithuna) zodiac sign.
  • It is observed for 12 days, starting from the exact moment Jupiter enters the Mithuna rasi.
• The festival is dedicated to River Saraswati, often referred to as Antarvahini—the invisible river believed to flow beneath the Triveni Sangam.
• The Triveni Sangam at Kaleshwaram—where Godavari, Pranahita, and the invisible Saraswati are believed to meet—is a key pilgrimage site during the festival.

Source: IE

NITI Aayog’s Governing Council 

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity and Governance

Context

• PM Modi chaired the 10th meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council held on the theme of ‘Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047’.

Governing Council of NITI Aayog

• The Governing Council embodies the objectives of cooperative federalism and presents a platform to discuss inter- sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues to accelerate the implementation of the national development agenda.
• It comprises;
  • The Prime Minister of India,
  • Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories with Legislature; 
  • The Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, except Delhi and Puducherry,
  • The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog,
  • Full-time members of NITI Aayog.

Source: TH

Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Version 2.0

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj rolled out Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Version 2.0. 

About

• PAI is a multidimensional assessment framework developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to enable performance tracking of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across nine themes aligned with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
• The nine LSDG-aligned themes include: Poverty-free and Enhanced Livelihoods, Healthy, Child-Friendly Panchayat, Water-Sufficient Panchayat, Clean and Green Panchayat, Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure, Socially Just and Socially Secured, Panchayat with Good Governance, and Women-Friendly.
• The transition from PAI 1.0 to 2.0 reflects a focused refinement of the framework, with a sharper and more practical set of indicators and data points.
• Significance: It provides public representatives, policy makers, government agencies, and local authorities with valuable insights into the areas that require attention. 

Source: AIR

Sugar Boards in Schools

Syllabus: GS 2/Health 

In News

• The CBSE has directed over 24,000 affiliated schools in India to set up ‘sugar boards’ that display information educating students about the health risks of excessive sugar consumption.
  • Studies show children consume far more sugar than recommended, with 13–15% of their daily calories from sugar, compared to the advised limit of 5%.

What are Sugar boards?

• They are educational displays set up in schools to visually show the amount of sugar in popular drinks and foods, aiming to raise awareness among students about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has advocated for their introduction in all schools, citing high sugar intake from easily available snacks and drinks as a major contributor. 
• These boards include information on recommended sugar intake, health risks of high sugar consumption, and healthier alternatives.
• Sugar boards are necessary due to the rising incidence of Type 2 Diabetes among children, a condition once mostly seen in adults. 

India’s Policy & Regulatory Framework

• India’s regulatory stance on High Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) content in foods, particularly school meals, is still evolving. 
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the apex regulatory body for food safety. It has directed food companies for mandatory nutrition labelling for packaged foods, banning HFSS food in schools & creating “Eat Right India” Campaign for safe, healthy, and sustainable diets.
• Also, India imposes higher GST (18–28%) on processed, sugary items like carbonated drinks, packaged snacks, and chocolates.

Source :TH

India’s Cotton Area May Shrink Due to Low Yields

Syllabus :GS 3/Economy  

In News

• India’s cotton production is expected to decline by 2% in the 2025–26 season, according to the US Department of Agriculture, due to a shift in farmer preference toward more profitable crops like maize and groundnut. 

Cotton Industry in India

• Cotton is a vital commercial crop in India, contributing about 24% to global cotton production and sustaining the livelihoods of millions of farmers and workers.
•  It plays a crucial role in India’s foreign exchange earnings through exports of raw cotton, intermediate products, and finished goods. India holds the largest cotton acreage in the world.
• India has the largest cotton acreage globally; ranks 36th in productivity.
• India is the 2nd largest producer and consumer of cotton in the world.
• India grows all four species of cotton: G. Arboreum, G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
• Major Growing Zones: Cotton is primarily grown in the Northern, Central, and Southern zones of India.

Source :TH

Honey Production In India

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Over the last 11 years, India’s annual honey production has increased from 70,000–75,000 metric tonnes to 1.25 lakh metric tonnes, marking a 60% growth.

Key Reason for Growth

• Integration of beekeeping with horticulture and farming, supported by schemes like NBHM (National Beekeeping and Honey Mission).
• Rise in floral diversity, training programs, and modern hive technologies.

India’s Honey Industry

• India is the 7th largest honey producer globally. China remains the top global producer and exporter, dominating both production volume and international trade.
• Areas of Production: Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%) and Rajasthan (9%)
• Major Export Destinations (2023-24) : U.S.A, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Libya.  

Source :Air 

Bananas Cultivation

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• A recent report by UK NGO Christian Aid has warned that 60% of the best banana growing areas are in danger from climate change-driven rising temperatures.

About

• The report showed that extreme weather, rising temperatures and climate related pests pose a threat to banana producing regions, sparking calls for faster emission cuts and more support for farmers. 
• The report indicates that India is expected to see declining banana yields due to climate change by 2050.

Banana Production

• Bananas are the fourth most important food crop globally, following wheat, rice and maize. 
• The top  banana producing countries are India followed by China.
• Bananas thrive in temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius and require ample water to grow effectively.
• Currently, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 80% of global banana exports.
• Despite being the world’s largest banana producer, India’s export share is currently just one percent in the global market, even though the country accounts for 26.45 percent of the world’s banana production at 35.36 Million Metric Ton.
• Andhra Pradesh is the largest banana-producing state, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • These five states collectively contribute around 67 percent to India’s banana production in the fiscal year 2022-23.

Source: BL

Siemens Delivers India’s first 9000 HP Electric Locomotive

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• Siemens India has announced the delivery of India’s first 9000 HP electric locomotive, with critical components built at its Nashik, Aurangabad, and Mumbai facilities. 

About

• The D9 – 9000 HP electric locomotive is among the most powerful freight locomotives globally.
  • An electric locomotive is a type of railway engine that runs on electricity, instead of using diesel or steam power.
• It is built at the Dahod factory in Gujarat under Indian Railways, with significant involvement from Siemens India.
• It is a part of the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
• Key Features
  • Horsepower: 9000 HP.
  • Top Speed: 120 km/h.
  • Technology: ~90% made in India.
  • Safety: Equipped with Kavach (train collision avoidance system).
• Maintenance: Handled by Siemens for 35 years using Railigent X for predictive maintenance.

Significance

• Estimated 800 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions saved over the lifecycle of the locomotives.
• Powered by green propulsion technology, reducing dependence on diesel engines.
• Supports India’s goal to increase rail freight share from 27% to 45%.
• Enhances logistics efficiency, reduces carbon footprint, and supports sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Strengthens self-reliance in railway manufacturing and promotes high-tech employment.

Source: TH