Third Edition of Unmesha – International Literature Festival
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
In News
- The Vice-President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan, graced the valedictory session of the third edition of Unmesha – International Literature Festival in Patna, Bihar, as the Chief Guest.
Unmesha
- It is Asia’s largest and most inclusive international literature festival.
- It is a celebration of literature in multiple languages, offering an excellent platform for writers, scholars, publishers, and poets from 15 countries, representing more than 100 languages.
- It was organized by the Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Government of Bihar
- It featured over 550 writers, poets, scholars, translators, and other cultural figures from more than 100 languages and 15 countries, across 90 sessions.
- It included poetry readings, panel discussions on diverse themes like Dharma literature, Dalit literature, literary feminism, machine translation, tribal and LGBTQ+ writing, cinema, and education.
Source :PIB
Rani Rashmoni
Syllabus :GS1/History
In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Rani Rashmoni on her birth anniversary.
Rani Rashmoni
- She was born on 28 September 1793 into a Mahishya zamindar family in Kona village (now North 24 Parganas) and emerged as a formidable figure in 19th-century Bengal’s male-dominated society.
- Her deep spirituality and commitment to justice earned her the title “Rani.”
Major Roles
- Rani Rashmoni took charge of her family’s zamindari and business, showcasing exceptional administrative and supervisory skills.
- She expanded her enterprises and became a champion of public welfare.
- She was Known for her bold defiance against British authorities—such as blocking Hooghly river traffic to protect fishermen.
- She also made lasting contributions through philanthropy, including building ghats, funding educational institutions, and most notably founding the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, where she appointed Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa as priest.
Legacy
- Her legacy continues to inspire generations, commemorated by a bicentennial postage stamp issued by India Post.
Source :PIB
PM E-DRIVE Scheme
Syllabus: GS2/ Schemes
In News
- The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has released comprehensive operational guidelines for the deployment of EV public charging stations under the PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme.
About
- The scheme was launched in 2024, and was initially active from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026, with an extension announced up to March 2028 for certain components.
- It builds on previous schemes like FAME-I and FAME-II with a larger budget and broader focus.
- Objectives: To promote faster adoption of EVs across segments such as electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws), three-wheelers (e-3Ws), ambulances, trucks, and buses.
- To incentivize advanced battery-powered EVs through demand subsidies.
- Major Components:
- Demand Incentives / Subsidies: Financial support for purchase of electric 2-wheelers & 3-wheelers, E-ambulances, E-trucks & e-buses
- Other emerging EV categories: Demand incentives are capped at 15% of the ex-factory price or fixed limits, applicable only to vehicles priced below specific thresholds.
Operational Guidelines
- Operational guidelines issued for setting up Public Charging Stations under the scheme include:
- Standardization of charging protocols for interoperability.
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to attract private sector participation.
- Integration with renewable energy sources to make EV charging greener.
- Emphasis on smart metering and digital payments for user convenience.
Source: TH
UN Imposes Sanctions on Iran
Syllabus: GS2/IR
Context
- The United Nations has reimposed sanctions, including arms embargo on Iran over its nuclear program.
About
- Britain, France and Germany accused Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal.
- The sanctions on Iran have been reimposed via a mechanism known as “snapback” which was included in the 2015 nuclear deal.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) 2015
- Participants:
- Iran
- P5+1: Five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, UK, U.S.) plus Germany.
- EU: Participated in negotiations.
Iran’s Commitments:
- Nuclear Restrictions: Iran agreed not to produce highly enriched uranium or plutonium for nuclear weapons and to ensure its nuclear facilities (Fordow, Natanz, Arak) focus on civilian purposes.
- Centrifuge Limits: Iran limited the number, type, and level of its centrifuges, and reduced its stockpile of enriched uranium.
- Uranium enriched to 5% is for nuclear power; 20% for research or medical use; 90% for weapons.
- Monitoring and Verification: Iran agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unfettered access to nuclear facilities, including undeclared sites.
- A Joint Commission monitors the deal’s implementation and resolves disputes, including granting IAEA access to suspicious sites.
- Violation of the Deal: If any signatory suspects Iran is violating the deal, the UN Security Council can vote on whether to continue sanctions relief.
- This “snapback” mechanism remains in effect for ten years, after which the UN sanctions are set to be permanently removed.
Goals of the JCPOA:
- Delay Iran’s Nuclear Weapon Development: The goal was to delay Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapon by at least one year, compared to a few months without the agreement.
- Prevent Regional Crisis: Fears that Iran’s nuclear program could lead to preemptive military action by Israel or a nuclear arms race within the region.
Source: IE
Astrosat: India’s First Space Observatory
Syllabus :GS3/Space
In News
- India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength Space Astronomy Observatory, AstroSat completed a decade of operations.
AstroSat
- It was launched by PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota in 2015.
- It was designed to observe the universe in the Visible, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously with the help of its five payloads.
- The payloads including Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager (CZTI), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM).
- Although initially designed for a five-year mission, AstroSat continues to deliver valuable scientific data a decade later.
- It has made significant discoveries across the electromagnetic spectrum, including studies on black holes, neutron stars, Proxima Centauri, and the first-time detection of far-ultraviolet photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away.
Source:TH
Himachal Cold Desert Enters UNESCO Biosphere Reserve List
Syllabus: GS3/Environment Conservation
Context
- The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR) in Himachal Pradesh has been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) by UNESCO.
About
- UNESCO has designated 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries — the highest number in 20 years.
- The WNBR now includes 785 sites in 142 countries, with an additional one million sq km of natural areas brought under protection since 2018.
- India has a total 18 biosphere reserves, of which 13 are now in the Unesco’s world network with the latest addition.
- The global designation helps these sites adopt comprehensive measures to foster harmony between people and nature for sustainable development.
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR)
- The 7,770-sq km area spread across the state’s Lahaul-Spiti district was established in 2009.
- It spreads in the Trans-Himalayan region, integrates Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, and the Sarchu plains.
- Its wildlife includes 17 mammal and 119 bird species including snow leopard, Tibetan antelope and Himalayan wolf.
| World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) – The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) was formed in 1971. – It covers internationally designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, which are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. – They are created under the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB). Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) – MAB is an intergovernmental scientific program, launched in 1971 by UNESCO. – The programme enhances the human-environment relationship through combining natural and social sciences to improve livelihoods, safeguard ecosystems, and promote sustainable economic development. |
Source: IE
Multi-Messenger Astronomy
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
- Multi-messenger astronomy has emerged as a bridge extending traditional light-based observations to uncover hidden cosmic processes.
About
- Multi-messenger astronomy is the study of cosmic events by observing them with multiple types of signals or “messengers,” including photons (light), gravitational waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays, to gain a more complete understanding than any single signal could provide.
- What are the “Messengers”?
- Light (Electromagnetic radiation): Reveals the structure and surface details of celestial bodies.
- Gravitational waves: Ripples in spacetime generated by cataclysmic events such as neutron star collisions or black hole mergers, as detected by instruments such as the LIGO and Virgo observatories.
- Neutrinos: Subatomic particles that pass almost unhindered through matter, carrying information from deep inside stellar interiors and supernovae.
- Cosmic rays: High-energy charged particles, such as protons and atomic nuclei, that trace extreme astrophysical environments.
Landmark Discoveries
- 2017 Neutron Star Collision: Gravitational wave detectors and telescopes simultaneously observed two neutron stars merging.
- This confirmed theories about the origin of heavy elements like gold and platinum and marked the first major success of multi-messenger astronomy.
- India’s Astrosat (2015): The country’s first dedicated multi-wavelength observatory integrated ultraviolet, optical, and multiple X-ray bands.
- It enabled simultaneous tracking of stellar flares, black hole outbursts, and neutron star activity, advancing India’s role in multi-messenger astronomy.
Source: TH
An Engels’ Pause in An AI-Shaped World
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) pioneer Geoffrey Hinton recently warned that AI could enrich a few while leaving most behind, signaling the possibility of an Engels’ pause in the modern AI economy.
What is an Engels’ Pause?
- The term, coined by economist Robert Allen after Friedrich Engels, refers to early 19th-century Britain where industrial output surged but wages stagnated, food consumed most of household budgets, and inequality widened.
- Decades later, living standards improved as institutions, reforms, and complementary innovations evolved.
- In the current scenario the concern is whether AI could trigger a modern Engels’ pause where productivity rises but welfare gains are delayed.
- AI as a General-Purpose Technology (GPT): AI has transformative potential but requires complementary innovations, skills, and institutional adaptation to yield broad benefits.
- Falling Cost of Prediction: AI reduces prediction costs but the gains may be captured by a few firms and entrepreneurs.
Source: TH
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