Veer Savarkar
Syllabus: GS1/Modern History
Context
- Savarkar Jayanti is celebrated on May 28, marking the birth of Vinayak Savarkar in 1883.
About
- Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966), also known as Veer Savarkar, was a freedom fighter, poet, writer, and political ideologue.
- He urged Indians to embrace revolution to achieve independence.
- While studying at Fergusson College in Pune, he founded the secret society “Abhinav Bharat” in 1904, advocating armed resistance against British rule.
- In London, he established the “Free India Society” and authored The First War of Independence, highlighting the 1857 revolt.
- He was arrested in 1910 for his revolutionary activities (opposition to the Morley-Minto reforms), and was sentenced to 50 years in the Cellular Jail.
- After his release in 1937, he joined the Hindu Mahasabha and served as its president for about seven years.
- He worked relentlessly for the removal of untouchability.
- In 1951, he dissolved the revolutionary organisation “Abhinav Bharat” and devoted his time and energy to the ideals of the Hindu Mahasabha.
| Hindu Mahasabha – Founded: 1915 in Haridwar, during the Kumbh Mela by Madan Mohan Malviya. – Originally formed as a response to rising influence of Muslim League, especially after the 1909 Morley-Minto Reforms that granted separate electorates to Muslims. – Key Objectives: 1. Unite Hindus under one political and cultural banner. 2. Promote Hindu religious, social, and cultural causes. 3. Safeguard Hindu rights in education, employment, and governance. |
Source: TH
Njattadi Festival
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- Kerala’s Agriculture Minister inaugurated the ‘Njattadi festival’ (sapling festival).
About
- Njattadi Festival is a traditional agricultural festival celebrated in Kerala, particularly among the farming communities.
- The term “Njattadi” comes from the Malayalam word “Njattuvela”, which refers to a period in the Malayalam calendar that is considered ideal for sowing paddy (rice) seeds.
- The festival marks the beginning of the paddy cultivation season.
- Njattadi often features folk songs (Vanchipattu, Njattu Pattu) and traditional dances.
Source: TH
Defence Minister Approves AMCA Fighter Jet Execution Model
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
About
- The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is set to execute the programme through industry partnership.
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will compete with the private industry to manufacture the indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet.
- AMCA: It is the country’s only fifth gen fighter programme, received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 2024 at an approximate cost of ₹15,000 Crore as a 25-tonne twin engine stealth aircraft.
- The execution model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis.
- They can bid either independently or as joint ventures or as consortia.
- The entity/bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country.
- The design of AMCA is ready and the first prototype is expected to roll out by 2028-29 and production is expected to begin from 2032-33.
- The target is to have the aircraft ready for induction in 2034.
Significance
- Self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in aerospace and defense is central to this initiative.
- India faces increased regional security concerns, especially post Operation Sindoor and growing Chinese-Pakistani military ties.
- AMCA is essential for maintaining future air superiority and technological parity with China.
- Successful development and induction of AMCA would place India among a small group of countries with fifth-gen capabilities.
Source: TH
Kangchenjunga Mountain
Syllabus: GS1/ Geography
Context
- The Chief Minister of Sikkim has urged the Central Government to declare Mount Khangchendzonga, sacred to the people of Sikkim, as out of bounds for mountaineers.
- The Sikkim government banned all climbing activities on Mt. Khangchendzonga through notifications in 1998 and 2001 under the Sacred Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
About Kangchenjunga
- It is the third-highest mountain in the world at an elevation of 8,586 metres.
- It is located on the border between Sikkim in India and eastern Nepal.
- It is part of a section of the Himalayas known as the Kangchenjunga Himal. This section is geographically bounded by the Tamur River in the west and the Teesta River in the east.
UNESCO World Heritage Status
- The Khangchendzonga National Park, located in Sikkim, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 under the Mixed category, both cultural and natural.
- Numerous glaciers, such as the 26 km long Zemu Glacier, and high-altitude lakes further enhance the park’s ecological diversity.
- The park lies in the Eastern Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot and covers 25% of the total area of Sikkim.
Source: TH
RoDTEP scheme
Syllabus :GS 3/Economy
In News
- The Government of India has announced the restoration of benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for exports made by Advance Authorization (AA) holders, Export-Oriented Units (EOUs), and units operating in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
- The benefits will be applicable for all eligible exports made from 1st June 2025 onwards.
RoDTEP scheme
- Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme was launched in January 2021.
- It reimburses exporters for embedded Central, State, and local taxes that were previously non-refundable.
- It follows the principle that taxes on exported goods should be exempted or refunded.
- It complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and uses a fully digital platform for transparent and efficient implementation.
- The rebate is issued as a transferable electronic scrip by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) through a fully digital system.
Source :PIB
India’s first gene-edited sheep
Syllabus :GS3/Science and Technology
In News
- Researchers at a Kashmir-based Agricultural university have produced India’s first gene-edited sheep, marking a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology.
- The team of researchers led by Riaz Ahmad Shah had previously cloned India’s first Pashmina goat- ‘Noori’- in 2012, a milestone that garnered global acclaim.
About the development
- The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and adhered to international biosafety protocols.
- The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India’s evolving biotech policy framework,
- The gene editing targeted the myostatin gene to increase muscle mass by about 30%, a trait absent in Indian sheep but present in some European breeds.
- The team aims to apply this technology for disease resistance and other improvements.
Gene Editing
- Genome editing involves technologies that enable precise changes to an organism’s DNA by adding, removing, or altering genetic material.
- The first genome editing technologies were developed in the late 1900s.
- A new genome editing tool called CRISPR, invented in 2009, has made it easier than ever to edit DNA.
- CRISPR-Cas9 is a popular and efficient method adapted from a natural bacterial immune system, where bacteria capture viral DNA snippets to recognize and cut viral DNA during future attacks, disabling the virus.
- This system has revolutionized genome editing due to its speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
Source :IE
Conservation of Dugongs
Syllabus :GS3/Species
In News
- World Dugong Day is celebrated on May 28 to raise awareness about dugongs.
Dugongs((Dugong dugon)
- They are also called ‘Sea Cow’ and are one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia.
- They are the only herbivorous mammals found in India’s marine ecosystems.
- They depend on seagrass meadows for food and habitat, consuming large quantities daily to meet nutritional needs.
- Distribution : They resemble a cross between a whale and a seal and are found in shallow Indo-Pacific waters, especially in India’s Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- IUCN Red List status : They are listed as being ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species.
- In India, they are classified as “regionally endangered”.
- Threats : Habitat loss due to coastal development, pollution, destructive fishing practices (like mechanized boats, gill nets, and trawl nets), climate change, and accidental entanglement leading to drowning. Illegal hunting and boat collisions also pose risks.
- their numbers have dwindled to an estimated 200 individuals.
- Conservation Efforts: India has taken steps such as creating its first dugong conservation reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, protecting key seagrass habitats.
- NGOs and government bodies have worked on seagrass restoration and monitoring for over a decade.
- Promoting sustainable fishing, community involvement, awareness campaigns, research support, and alternative livelihoods like eco-tourism are critical for dugong survival.
Source : TH
Stingless Bees
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- Study finds that stingless bees can help farmers improve vegetable and crop yields by up to 29 percent.
About Stingless Bees
- A stingless bee is a bee that appears very similar to a honeybee, but is incapable of stinging.
- Like honeybees, stingless bees are eusocial, meaning they live in highly organized perennial colonies with a queen, drones, and numerous worker bees.
- They are generally smaller than typical honeybees. Instead of stinging, they defend their nests by biting attackers.
- Their distribution spans India, Africa, Australia, and other tropical regions. In India,they are widespread in the North East, South and Eastern parts.
- Scientific domestication of stingless bees has been done in Nagaland and subsequently extended to Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Stingless bees play an ecological and economic role by enhancing crop pollination while producing high-value medicinal honey known for its therapeutic properties.
Source: TH
Interpol Issues 2 Silver Notices
Syllabus: GS3/ Internal security
Context
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that the Interpol has issued its first two silver notices against two individuals wanted by India.
What is Interpol?
- Interpol is an intergovernmental organization, which stands for International Criminal Police Organization.
- Background: It was founded in 1923 at the International Police Congress in Vienna as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC). In 1956, the ICPC adopted the name Interpol.
- Members: It has 196 member countries, including India.
- Headquarters: Lyon, France
- Mandate: It connects police around the world – both technically and in person. It is the world’s largest and only organization with the mandate and technical infrastructure to share police information globally.
Governance of Interpol
- The General Secretariat coordinates the day-to-day activities to fight a range of crimes. Headed by the Secretary General, it is staffed by both police and civilians.
- The General Assembly is the governing body and it brings all countries together once a year to make decisions.
- In each country, an Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) provides the central point of contact for the General Secretariat and other NCBs.
- An NCB is run by national police officials and usually sits in the government ministry responsible for policing.
India’s record
- India joined the Interpol in 1949.
- The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) is the National Central Bureau for Interpol in India and coordinates all international police cooperation requirements of Indian law enforcement agencies via Interpol channels.
- India hosted the 90th Interpol General Assembly in Delhi in 2022. Interpol’s first global crime trend report was released during the Delhi Session.
Interpol Notices
- Interpol Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.
- Notices are published by the General Secretariat at the request of a National Central Bureau and are made available to all our member countries.
About Silver Notice
- Silver Notice was launched by the Interpol in January 2025 as part of a pilot phase involving 51 countries and territories.
- The new colour-coded notice enables sharing of alerts and requests for information on assets of wanted criminals worldwide,
- Under the programme, each country can get nine Silver Notices published.
Source: TH
Kilauea Volcano
Syllabus: GS1/ Physical Geography
Context
- The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island released lava fountains over 1,000 feet high, marking the 23rd eruption episode since December 2024.
About Kilauea
- It is one of six active volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands. It is a shield volcano, known for effusive lava flows rather than explosive eruptions.
- It is located within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, alongside Mauna Loa (the largest volcano in the world).
- Although smaller than Mauna Loa, Kilauea is more active and draws frequent attention due to its consistent volcanic activity. It has been erupting frequently since 1983.
Source: IE