NISAR Mission

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Satellite) mission will be launched in June 2025.

Key Highlights 

• NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. 
• NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, ground water and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides. 
• It carries L and S dual band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which operates with Sweep SAR technique to achieve large swaths with high resolution data.

Igla-S Missiles 

The Indian Army has received fresh supplies of the Russian-made Igla-S missiles. 

Key Highlights

• They are the Russian-made man-portable airdefense system (MANPADS) designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. 
• The missile uses infrared (IR) homing to lock onto the heat signatures of aerial targets. 
• It has enhanced ability to resist jamming and decoy flares due to its dual-band IR seeker. 
• It can engage targets at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3.5 km. 
• The Igla-S is an advanced version of the Igla missile system, which has been in service since the 1990s.

Exercise Desert Hunt 2025

The Indian Air Force held Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 at the Air Force Station in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Key Highlights

• It is an integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise that brings together the Para (Special Forces) of the Indian Army, the Marine Commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy, and the Garud (Special Forces) of the Indian Air Force.
• Objective: The goal was to improve collaboration and coordination among the three Special Forces units, enabling them to respond quickly and effectively to security challenges.
• Key operations:
  • Airborne insertion
  • Precision strikes
  • Hostage rescue
  • Counter-terrorism operations
  • Combat free falls
• Importance: The exercise provided a platform for fostering seamless inter-service cooperation.

Lepakshi Temple

Historians urged the government to take steps to get the Lepakshi temple included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Key Highlights

• Location: Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh 
• Architecture: Dravidian-style architecture 
• This temple is devoted to Lord Veerabhadra, a form of Lord Shiva.
• In March 2023, UNESCO added the Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple complex to its provisional list of Heritage Sites.

Current Status  

The State and Central governments are now responsible for conducting a detailed study of the temple's architecture, sculptures, mural paintings, and the world's largest monolithic bull statue, known as Nandi. They will compile their findings into a report for the Central Government.

Z-Morh Tunnel

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the strategic Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir.

About Z-Morh tunnel

• It is a key project for creating a year-round strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh.
• “Z-Morh” refers to the Z-shaped road section.
• Location:  Ganderbal district of  Kashmir 
• The tunnel will enhance all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg, the route to Leh, which was previously cut off in winter due to snow and avalanches.
• Important Features: It features an intelligent traffic management system to control traffic, and a dedicated escape tunnel to facilitate traffic.

Significance:

• The tunnel is part of a strategic route to Ladakh, ensures seamless connectivity between Gagangir and Sonamarg and will ease summer travel to Ladakh.
• Connectivity: The Z-Morh tunnel will connect to the Zojila tunnel, Asia’s longest, reducing travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil from 3 hours to 20 minutes.
• It is important for the movement of military resources to border areas.

5th National Water Awards

Recently, the President of India conferred the 5th National Water Awards in New Delhi.

Key Highlights 

• The National Water Awards focus on the good work and efforts made by individuals and organizations across the country in attaining the government’s vision of a Jal Samridh Bharat. 
• The Awards were introduced in 2018 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and first were given in 2019. 
• The awards were presented to 38 winners in nine categories including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Water User Association and Best Civil Society. 
• Significance: The awards aim to recognize efforts in water management and conservation, promoting public awareness of the importance of water usage practices.

Winners: 

Best State- Odisha (1st), Uttar Pradesh (2nd), Gujarat and Puducherry (joint 3rd).

Winners in best District category:  

• Banda (Uttar Pradesh) from North Zone and Ganderbal (J&K) from north zone (joint winner)  Indore (Madhya Pradesh) from west zone  Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) from south zone  Balangir (Odisha) from east zone  Dhalai (Tripura) from the North East zone

70th National Film Awards

Recently, the President of India conferred the 70th National Film Awards to the winners in various categories. 

Key Highlights

• National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent in the country.
• Objective: To encourage the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
• The National Film Awards are given in three categories– Features, Non-Features and Best Writing on Cinema.

► Key Recipient of the Awards

• Best Feature Film: Aattam (The Play) —  A Malayalam film
• Best Non-Feature Film:  Ayena (Mirror)
• Best Actor: Rishab Shetty for a leading role in Kantara movie.
• Best Actress: Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrambalam) and Manasi Parekh (Kutch Express)
• Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2022.

History

• The awards were first presented in 1954 and were known as the ‘State Awards’.
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.

Fast Track Immigration - Trusted Traveller Program (FTITTP) 

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India initiated the Fast Track Immigration - Trusted Traveller Program (FTITTP) to enhance the immigration clearance process.

Key Highlights

• It aims to speed up the immigration clearance for eligible travellers from the following categories:
  • (i) Indian Nationals
  • (ii) Foreign Nationals holding OCI Card
• The program is similar to the United States’ Global Entry Program, which enables fast-tracked clearance for pre-approved and low-risk travellers upon their arrival at select airports in the US.
• It will reduce crowding at Indian airports by facilitating faster immigration clearance for pre-verified travellers.

BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025

India hosted the 1st BIMSTEC youth summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking a significant step in fostering youth engagement and regional cooperation.

Key Highlights

• BIMSTEC – Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
• Headquarter: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Objective: To promote youth participation in regional development, aligning with India’s “Neighborhood First” and “Act East” policies, and its vision for regional security and growth (SAGAR).
• The summit aimed to strengthen ties between countries and encourage more teamwork among BIMSTEC nations.
• Theme: ‘Youth as a bridge for intra-BIMSTEC exchange’
• Member Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmyar, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Thailand
• Organisers: Jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports with CII YI as the knowledge partner.

BRICS

Brazil has recently announced Indonesia’s admission as the a full member of BRICS.

Key Highlights

• BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa)  is an intergovernmental informal grouping of emerging economies that fosters cooperation and enhances global influence.
• BRIC was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and South Africa joined in 2010, renaming it BRICS. 
• Current members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. 
• The 1st BRIC Summit 2009 took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• Objective: To Reform global governance institutions and contribute positively to deepening South-South Cooperation.
• The 17th BRICS Summit 2025 will be presided over by Brazil.

Significance of BRICS

The BRICS countries together account for

• 23% of global GDP
• 30% of the world’s territory
• 42% of the world’s population
• 18% of world trade.

New Development Bank (NDB):

• BRICS established a multilateral development bank to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging and developed countries.
• Headquarters: Shanghai, China
• Regional offices: South Africa and Brazil.

Interpol’s Silver Notice

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has recently published a "Silver Notice", as part of a pilot project involving 52 countries and territories including India.

Key Points

• It is the latest addition to Interpol’s colour-coded alert system, designed to assist member countries in identifying, tracing, and recovering criminal assets.
• Objective: It’s aimed at helping trace and recover criminal assets for combating transnational organised crime through enhanced international police cooperation.
• Interpol Notices
  • Red Notice: Wanted Person
  • Yellow Notice: Missing Person
  • Blue Notice: Additional Information
  • Black Notice: Unidentified Bodies
  • Green Notice: Warning & Intelligence
  • Orange Notice: Imminent Threat
  • Purple Notice: Modus Operandi
  • Silver Notice (Pilot Phase): Identification & Tracing of Criminal Assets
  • Interpol- UN Security Council Special Notice: Entities & Individuals Subject to UNSC Sanctions

These notices are international alerts or requests for cooperation that enable police in its 195 member countries to share crime-related information.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)

HMPV is a respiratory virus that causes infections in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, common during winter and early spring, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.

Key Highlights

• Family:Part of the Pneumoviridae family, related to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
• Spread: Through respiratory droplets, close contact, or contaminated surfaces.
• Symptoms: Mild: Runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever.
• Moderate: Persistent cough, wheezing, fatigue.
• Recovery: Most people recover within a few days.
• Diagnosis: Difficult but commonly done using Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
• Treatment: Currently there is no specific treatment or vaccine available to prevent HMPV.
• Precautions: Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• HMPV affects people worldwide and is similar to the flu and RSV in its seasonal pattern and symptoms.

Igla-S Missiles 

The Indian Army has received fresh supplies of the Russian-made Igla-S missiles. 

Key Highlights

• They are the Russian-made man-portable airdefense system (MANPADS) designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. 
• The missile uses infrared (IR) homing to lock onto the heat signatures of aerial targets. 
• It has enhanced ability to resist jamming and decoy flares due to its dual-band IR seeker. 
• It can engage targets at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3.5 km. 
• The Igla-S is an advanced version of the Igla missile system, which has been in service since the 1990s.

Exercise Desert Hunt 2025

The Indian Air Force held Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 at the Air Force Station in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Key Highlights

• It is an integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise that brings together the Para (Special Forces) of the Indian Army, the Marine Commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy, and the Garud (Special Forces) of the Indian Air Force.
• Objective: The goal was to improve collaboration and coordination among the three Special Forces units, enabling them to respond quickly and effectively to security challenges.
• Key operations:
  • Airborne insertion
  • Precision strikes
  • Hostage rescue
  • Counter-terrorism operations
  • Combat free falls
• Importance: The exercise provided a platform for fostering seamless inter-service cooperation.

BrahMos-NG (Next Generation)

The BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) missile system represents a significant advancement in India's defence capabilities and global presence. 

Key Points 

• BrahMos Next Generation (NG) is an advanced supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia.
• Development: Jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
• Range: 290 km 
• Speed: Mach 3.5 
• Weight: 1.6 tonnes (reduced from 3 tonnes in the previous version)
• It is lighter, smaller and adaptable for various platforms, including the Sukhoi-30MKI and Tejas fighter aircraft.
• First flight test: Scheduled for 2026.

TROPEX-25

The 2025 edition of the Indian Navy’s Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX) is underway in the Indian Ocean Region.

Key Highlights

• TOPEX is conducted biennially and spans three months.
• Participants: All operational Indian Naval units, along with Indian Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard assets.
• Approximately 65 Indian Naval Ships, 9 Submarines, and over 80 Aircraft of various types are participating.
• Objective: It centres on coordinated planning, precise targeting, combat effectiveness, and credible joint operations.
• The exercise aims to validate the Indian Navy's core warfighting skills, ensuring a synchronised and integrated response for national maritime security against conventional, asymmetric, and hybrid threats.

NISAR Mission

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Satellite) mission will be launched in June 2025.

Key Highlights 

• NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. 
• NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, ground water and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides. 
• It carries L and S dual band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which operates with Sweep SAR technique to achieve large swaths with high resolution data.

India’s first Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Plant

The Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India has launched India’s first indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Plant - Srjanam at AIIMS, New Delhi.

About Srijanam 

• Developed by : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST).

Features:

• The system disinfects pathogenic waste such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables without using incinerators.
• Odor Neutralisation: Neutralizes odors from waste.
• The system facilitates non-incineration-based solution for disposal of biomedical waste.
• Capacity: It has an initial capacity to handle 400 kg of biomedical waste per day and can handle 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in the initial phase.

Significance

• As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report 2023, India generates 743 tonnes of biomedical waste daily.
• The new innovative technology offers an alternative method to traditional incineration, reducing environmental risks.

IRIS (Indigenous RISC-V Controller for Space Applications)

IIT Madras and ISRO have jointly developed IRIS (Indigenous RISC-V Controller for Space Applications).

Key Highlights

• Developed By: IIT Madras and ISRO
• Based on: SHAKTI semiconductor architecture using RISC-V
• Key Features: 
  • Fault tolerance for enhanced durability
  • High reliability crucial for space missions
  • Optimized for space applications
• This marks a significant effort towards self-reliance in space and semiconductor technology.

Chandrayaan-4 Mission

Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology, confirmed that India will launch Chandrayaan-4 to bring back samples from the moon’s surface to the Earth in 2027.

• It will involve at least two separate launches of the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket that will carry five different components to be assembled in orbit.

Chandrayaan-1

• It was launched by ISRO in 2008.
• It was India’s first lunar mission which made India the fifth country to reach the Moon.
• Findings: Confirmed the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-2

• It was launched in 2019.
• It consists of an indigenous orbiter, a lander (Vikram), and a rover (Pragyan).
• Objective: To achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
• ISRO lost communication with the lander just before touchdown, resulting in a crash landing.
• Findings: Confirmed the findings of Chandryaan 1 and provided crucial data on the Moon’s surface and atmosphere.

Chandrayaan-3

• It was launched in 2019.
• It was a follow-up of mission Chandrayaan-2.
• It consists of a Lander (Vikram), a Propulsion, and a Rover (Pragyan).
• Objective: To demonstrate India’s ability to soft landing on the Lunar Surface
• Outcome: It has successfully achieved a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole in 2023.

Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is the largest living land animal in Asia, playing an important role in maintaining forest ecosystems. 

Key Highlights

• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
• Habitat: Found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia,
  • Wet tropical evergreen forests
  • Tropical deciduous forests
  • Semi-arid thorn and scrub forests
• Subspecies: Sri Lankan, Indian, and Sumatran elephants

Appearance

• Small, rounded ears (unlike the large ears of African elephants)
• Double-domed head with two humps
• Hump on the back
• Single finger-like projection on the trunk (used for grasping)

Major Threats

• Habitat loss due to deforestation and urbanization
• Human-elephant conflict, leading to casualties on both sides
• Illegal wildlife trade, particularly for ivory and skin

Lake Victoria 

Researchers from North America and Kenya have finished a genetic study of cyanobacteria in Kenya’s Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria. 

Key Highlights  

• In freshwater and marine environments, cyanobacteria create dense blooms, which may be toxic. 
• The name “blue-green algae” for cyanobacteria comes from the greenish hues their colonies create in water. 
• These blooms harm ecosystems, reduce water quality, and are a serious threat to humans, animals, and aquatic life. 
• A new study investigated cyanobacteria in various Gulf regions, focusing on their community structure, roles, and biosynthetic capacity. 
• The Winam Gulf is one of Lake Victoria’s most productive fishing basins. 

About Lake Victoria 

• Geographical Location: East Africa 
• Bordering Countries: Kenya (6%), Uganda (43%), and Tanzania (51%). 
• The world’s largest tropical lake, Lake Victoria, is the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area, after Lake Superior. 
• Other Names: It is also known as Victoria Nyanza in Kenya, Nalubaale in Uganda, and Ukerewe in Tanzania. 
• The White Nile River originates here, flowing north to join the Blue Nile in Sudan, forming the Nile River, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea. 
• It was named after Queen Victoria of England. 

Tree Aadhar Mission

The Jammu & Kashmir government has launched the Tree Aadhaar Mission to protect Chinar trees using a GIS-based, QR-enabled system.

About Tree Aadhar Mission

• Objective: To conserve Chinar trees from urbanization, deforestation, and habitat loss.
• QR Code Tagging: Each chinar tree gets a unique QR code that provides relevant details on health, age, growth, and risks.
• Public Access: Scanning the QR code provides real-time tree data.

About Chinar Tree

• Named by Mughal Emperor Jahangir; also called Oriental Plane Tree (Platanus orientalis var. cashmeriana).
• It is the State Tree of Jammu & Kashmir; native to Greece and Southern Europe but flourishes in Kashmir.
• Height: Grows up to 30 meters, taking 150 years to mature.

Applications of Chinar 

• Medicinal Use
• Wood can be used for making interior furniture due to its long durability and aesthetic appearance.
• Preparation of natural dyes.

Blue Flag Certification 

Recently, Kerala’s Kappad (Kozhikode) and Chal (Kannur) beaches received the Blue Flag Certification from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for adhering to stringent environmental and safety standards.

About Blue Flag Certification

• Criteria: Awarded to beaches, marinas, and boating operators meeting 33 stringent standards.
• They are broadly divided into four categories:
  • Water quality
  • Environmental management
  • Safety
  • Environmental information and education
• The Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) established the standards in 1985.
• The certification is updated annually, and locations must continue to meet the criteria to retain their Blue Flag certification status.

Blue Flag Beaches: 

• There are more than 5000 Blue Flag-certified beaches, marinas and tourism boats across the world, with Spain leading with a total of 729 Blue Flag sites, followed by Greece.
• India: 13 beaches hold Blue Flag Certification
• Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odisha is Asia's first beach to get the Blue Flag certification.

Significance

• Promotes sustainable tourism and protects ecosystems.
• Protect ecosystems, 
• Encourage environmental stewardship at recreational sites. 
• India's increasing number of Blue Flag-certified beaches underscores its dedication to preserving natural beauty while ensuring sustainable development.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India has recently launched multiple projects to expand capacity at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai.

Key Highlights 

• It is also known as the Nhava Sheva Port 
• Location: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 
• It was commissioned in 1989.
• This port is India’s first 100% landlord major port and largest container port, accounting for approximately 50% of the total containerized cargo volume across the major ports of the country.
• The latest projects include a solar-powered boat, two indigenous tugs, and three fire tenders, improving the safety and efficiency of the port.
• Ranking: It is ranked 26th among the top 100 container ports in the world.
• Global connections: Connects to over 200 ports worldwide. 
• Objective: To become India’s first port to handle 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units)  by 2027. 

RBI Ombudsman Scheme

The Reserve Bank of India’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme witnessed a significant rise in complaints during the year ending March 2024, with a 32.81% increase.

Key Highlights

• RBI Ombudsman Scheme was launched in 2021 to efficiently resolve customer grievances related to services provided by the Regulated Entities of RBI. 
• It integrated three existing RBI Ombudsman schemes into one unified system. 
  • Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006
  • Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018, and
  • Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019.
• Aim: It aims to resolve customer complaints against regulated entities regarding deficiencies in services provided by the regulated entities.  
• Coverage: The scheme covers all Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Payment System Participants, Primary (urban) Cooperative Banks, Non-Scheduled Primary (urban) Cooperative Banks with deposits above ₹50 crore, and Credit Information Companies (CICs).

Advantages

• Enhanced Customer Service.
• Faster and efficient grievance resolution.
• Broader accessibility and transparency.

About RBI Ombudsman

• An RBI Ombudsman is a senior official appointed by the RBI to redress customers’ complaints about service deficiencies.

Credit Deposit Ratio 

Banks in India added more deposits than loans last year, leading to a softening of the credit-deposit ratio. 

Key Points

• The Credit Deposit Ratio is the ratio of assets and liabilities of the banks.
• Credit Deposit Ratio: It is a financial metric used to assess a bank’s liquidity by comparing its total loans to total deposits for the same period.
• It indicates the percentage of deposits utilised for issuing loans.
• It helps in assessing a bank’s liquidity and indicates its health.
• High CDR: A higher CD ratio indicates that the loans disbursed are more than the deposits and vice versa, but there is also a higher risk if loan repayments are not met.
• If the ratio is too high, the lender does not have enough liquidity for any unforeseen fund requirements
• Low CDR: Suggests that the bank is more conservative, lending less and holding more reserves, which reflects caution or an inability to find suitable lending opportunities.

Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), 2024

According to the TTDI 2024, India is ranked 39th among 119 countries.

Key Highlights

• Released by: the World Economic Forum.
• The 2024 edition of the TTDI was produced in collaboration with the University of Surrey.
• It provides a strategic benchmarking tool for businesses, governments, and organisations to develop the Travel & Tourism sector.
• It measures the policies and factors that enable the sustainable development of travel and tourism.
• It allows for cross-country comparison and benchmarking on travel and tourism sector development, informing policies and investment decisions for the sector.
• It offers insights into the strengths and areas for improvement of each country to enhance sustainable and resilient growth of the travel and tourism sector.
• It provides a comprehensive view of the tourism economy, including the interconnectedness of both internal and external enablers of travel and tourism development.

Lepakshi Temple

Historians urged the government to take steps to get the Lepakshi temple included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Key Highlights

• Location: Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh 
• Architecture: Dravidian-style architecture 
• This temple is devoted to Lord Veerabhadra, a form of Lord Shiva.
• In March 2023, UNESCO added the Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple complex to its provisional list of Heritage Sites.

Current Status  

The State and Central governments are now responsible for conducting a detailed study of the temple's architecture, sculptures, mural paintings, and the world's largest monolithic bull statue, known as Nandi. They will compile their findings into a report for the Central Government.

Role of Women in the Chola Empire

Historian Anirudh Kanisetti’s book, Lords of Earth and Sea: A History of the Chola Empire, highlights different aspects of the Chola Empire, especially emphasizing the important contributions of women like Sembiyan Mahadevi.

Key Points 

• The Chola dynasty (9th to 13th centuries CE), one of the longest-ruling empires in Indian history, 
• Founded by: Karikala Chola 
• Region: Primarily Tamil Nadu
• Rise of Chola Dynasty: The Chola Dynasty began its significant rise during the reign of the Vijayalaya Chola
• The dynasty reached its zenith under Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE) and his son Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE).

Role of Women in the Chola Empire

• Sembiyan Mahadevi, a queen of Gandaraditya Chola (circa 950–957 CE), was a pivotal figure during a transformative period in the Chola dynasty.
• Following the untimely demise of Gandaraditya, she emerged as a regent for her son, Madhurantaka Uttama Chola 
• She is credited with commissioning the construction of various temples, including the Kailasanathar Temple in Tamil Nadu.
• Kundavai, the sister of Rajaraja I, was a trusted advisor to her brother and played a crucial role in supporting his administration.
• She generously donated to the establishment of Vedic schools and medical institutions. 

About Chola Administration

• The Chola empire was divided into 
  • Mandalams (provinces), 
  • Valanadus (districts), and 
  • Nadu (villages). 
• The local self-government system in villages, known as the ur, sabha, and nagaram, was a hallmark of their administration.

Entity Locker 

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has introduced Entity Locker, designed to empower organisations by providing a secure, cloud-based platform for storing, sharing, and verifying digital documents and certificates.

Key Highlights 

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), GOI
• Developed by: National eGovernance Division (NeGD).
• It offers a 'Digital Empowerment' solution that grants organisations access to authentic digital documents through their digital document wallet and enables real-time document access and verification through integration with various government agencies and regulatory bodies. 
• Stakeholders will be able to access entity-related documents such as registration certificates, tax returns, and provident fund-related documents.
• Entity Locker is a part of India’s Digital public infrastructure (DPI), aimed at enhancing digital governance and ease of doing business.
• It exemplifies the innovative use of technology to solve complex administrative challenges and promote economic growth. 

Key Features of the Entity Locker

• Real-time access and verification of documents 
• Consent-based mechanisms for sharing sensitive information
• Aadhaar-based authentication 
• 10 GB encrypted cloud storage
• Digital signature authentication

National Sports Awards

The President of India recently presented the National Sports Awards 2024, honouring outstanding contributions to sports and adventure in India.

Award Categories

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

• It is considered India’s highest sporting honour, established in 1991-92.
• It recognises outstanding performance over four years.
• The award was named after Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an iconic hockey legend who led India to three consecutive Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, and 1936).

2024 Awardees

• Manu Bhaker (Shooting)
• Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
• Gukesh D (Chess)
• Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)

Arjuna Award

• It was established in 1961 for consistent performance over the past four years.
• Named After: Arjuna, the legendary warrior from the Indian epic Mahabharata.
• First Recipient: P.K. Banerjee (Football).

Dronacharya Award

• Instituted in 1985, this is India’s highest honour for coaches.
• Awarded for producing medal winners at prestigious international events.
• Named After: Dronacharya, the guru of Arjuna in Mahabharata.
• First Female Recipient: Renu Kohli (Athletics).

Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement

• Instituted in 2002 for lifetime contributions to sports.
• First Recipients:
  • Shahuraj Birajdar (Boxing)
  • Ashok Diwan (Hockey)

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy

• The oldest National Sports Award was instituted in 1956–57.
• Named in honour of Shri Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister and a freedom fighter.
• First Recipient: Bombay University.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar

• Instituted in 2009, it was awarded to organisations, corporations, and individuals for significant contributions to sports promotion and development over the past three years.

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award

• Introduced in 2004 to honour achievements in adventure sports.
• Recognizes contributions across land, water, air, and lifetime adventure categories.

President’s Rule in Manipur

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), GOI has announced the imposition of the president's rule in Manipur, this marks the 11th time the president’s rule has been imposed in the state of Manipur.

About President Rule

• Article 356 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President of India to impose President’s Rule in a state in case of the failure of the constitutional machinery.
• Duration: 6 months if approved by both houses of the parliament.
  • Extendable up to 3 years with the approval of Parliament every six months.
• Parliamentary Approval: The President’s rule requires approval from both Houses of Parliament within 2 months from the date of its imposition.

Effects of President Rule

• State government dismissed.
• Governor becomes executive head.
• State-administered on behalf of the President.

Grounds for Imposition 

• Article 356: Failure of constitutional machinery in the state.
• Article 365: Non-compliance of state government with central government directions.

Enemy Property Act 

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed Saif Ali Khan’s petition challenging the central government’s decision to classify the Pataudi family’s assets as enemy property.

Key Highlights

• Enemy property refers to assets in India owned by individuals or entities from enemy countries.
• Mainly linked to the Indo-Pak wars (1947, 1965, 1971) and the Indo-China war (1962).

Enemy Property Act, 1968

• Regulates the management and control of such properties.
• Prevents transfer, use, or exploitation by enemy nations.
• Original owners or heirs cannot reclaim these properties unless approved by the Government of India.

8th Pay Commission

Recently, the Union government announced the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries of the central government employees and allowances of pensioners.

About Pay Commission

• Pay Commission determines the pay scales, allowances, and other benefits for central government employees, considering inflation and its impact on remuneration and cost of living.
• Objective: Proposing formulas for dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) adjustments to mitigate inflation’s impact.
• The government of India, under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, establishes a new Pay Commission every 10 years.
• Chairperson: Usually headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.
• The recommendations of the pay commission are not binding on the government.
• The 7th Pay Commission was implemented in 2016.
• Justice A.K. Mathur was the chairperson of the 7th Pay Commission.

SVAMITVA Scheme

Recently, the Prime Minister distributed SVAMITVA Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme to property owners.

Key Highlights 

• Full-Form: SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas)
• It was launched on National Panchayati Raj Day, 24th April 2020.
• Nodal Ministry: It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India.
• It aims to provide legal ownership records to rural property owners by issuing legal ownership cards.
• It promotes economic growth and financial inclusion in rural areas.

Implementation of the scheme

• Accurate Land Demarcation: The scheme ensures precise demarcation of land boundaries using drones and prepares GIS-based maps for each village.
• Property Ownership Rights: It provides a Record of Rights (RoR) through SVAMITVA Property Cards, granting legal recognition to property owners in inhabited rural areas.