Tea Tribes and Jhumur Dance

Why in the News? Prime Minister witnessed the largest-ever Jhumur dance performance in Guwahati, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Assam’s tea industry. What are Tea Tribes/Tea Garden Communities of Assam? The Tea Tribes or Tea Garden Communities of Assam are descendants of laborers brought by the British in the 19th century to work in… Continue reading

Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement

Why in the News? On February 23, 2025, farmers protesting at the Punjab and Haryana borders are observing Pagri Sambhal Diwas in honor of Ajit Singh, a freedom fighter, revolutionary, and Bhagat Singh’s paternal uncle. About the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement (1907) The Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement was a peasant uprising in Punjab against the… Continue reading

What are Zonal Councils?

Why in the News? Union Home Minister chaired the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Pune. About Zonal Councils in India: Details Origin & Purpose Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 to promote cooperation among states after reorganization. Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, with the goal of resolving inter-state disputes and… Continue reading

Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site in Odisha

Why in the News? On December 1, 2024, a team of archaeologists, students, and laborers began excavation at the Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site in Jajpur, Odisha. About the Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site Located in Jajpur district, Odisha, Ratnagiri is part of the “Diamond Triangle” along with Udayagiri and Lalitgiri. It flourished as a Vajrayana Buddhist… Continue reading

USAID meddling charge ‘deeply troubling’: MEA

Why in the News? Recently the Indian government said that it is seriously investigating claims made by the U.S. government that USAID planned to spend $21 million to influence voter turnout in India. What is USAID, and how did it originate? USAID (United States Agency for International Development) was founded in 1961 by President John… Continue reading

Concept of sexual equality must be part of syllabus: SC

Why in the News? On Friday (February 21, 2025), the Supreme Court told the Centre that schools should teach students about gender equality and how men should treat women with respect. Is the lack of basic education about gender equality the root cause of the surge in rape cases and crimes against women? Perpetuation of… Continue reading

Supreme Court’s Ruling on Remission

Why in the News? In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that prisoners eligible for remission under state policies must be considered for release even if they do not apply for it. This decision comes as part of the suo motu case “In Re: Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail”, initiated… Continue reading

[pib] Ministry of Mines classifies Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as Major Minerals

Why in the News? The Ministry of Mines has reclassified Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz as major minerals, aligning with the National Critical Mineral Mission to boost India’s industrial growth. Major and Minor Minerals in India What are Major Minerals? Major minerals are those with high economic value, used in industrial applications, energy production, and… Continue reading

Assam to recognize Bathou Faith

Why in the News? The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government in Assam has officially included ‘Bathouism’ as an option in the religion column of key application forms, including admission forms, birth and death certificates. What is Bathouism? Bathouism is the traditional faith of the Bodo people, primarily practiced in Assam and the foothills of Bhutan.… Continue reading

SC stays Lokpal order on power over judges

Why in the News? The Supreme Court recently halted a Lokpal order that sought to include High Court judges under its jurisdiction, calling the anti-corruption body’s interpretation “very disturbing.” Why did the Supreme Court stay the Lokpal order? Violation of Judicial Independence (Article 50 & Article 121): The Supreme Court held that bringing High Court… Continue reading

What is Article 101(4)?

Why in the News? Amritpal Singh’s detention has raised concerns over his parliamentary position, as Article 101(4) states that an MP’s seat can be vacated after 60 consecutive absences without permission. He has missed 46 sittings so far. About Article 101(4) and its Feature Article 101(4) states that if a Member of Parliament (MP) is… Continue reading

Microsoft unveils ‘Majorana 1’ Chip for Quantum Computing

Why in the News? Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 1, a groundbreaking quantum chip that introduces a more stable and scalable approach to quantum computing. What is Microsoft’s Majorana 1 Chip? Majorana 1 is Microsoft’s latest quantum processor that introduces a new type of stable and scalable qubit based on Majorana fermions. Microsoft believes that this… Continue reading

NGT Report on Ganga Water Quality

Why in the News? The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised concerns over the water quality of the Ganga at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The river is failing to meet bathing standards due to high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and faecal coliform contamination. Key Findings of the Ganga Water Quality Assessment at Triveni… Continue reading

Why global sea ice cover has dipped to record low — what this means

Why in the News? Between February 8 and 13, the total area of sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic shrank to 15.76 million sq km, breaking the previous record low of 15.93 million sq km from early 2023, according to a BBC analysis of data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center… Continue reading

[pib] Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin

Why in the News? The latest edition of PLFS report (October-December 2024) has highlighted key labour market indicators. About Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) The PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to assess employment and unemployment trends in India. Launched in April 2017, PLFS provides… Continue reading

New study challenges the age of Saturn’s Rings

Why in the News? A new study has challenged previous assumptions, suggesting that Saturn’s rings could be as old as the Solar System (~4.5 billion years old). About Saturn and Its Rings Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, is famous for its iconic ring system, made up of billions of ice and rock particles… Continue reading

Iron Age in India

Why in the News? Tamil Nadu CM recently proclaimed that the Iron Age began on Tamil soil over 5,300 years ago (4th millennium BCE), based on findings from Mayiladumparai, Sivagalai, Adichanallur, and Kilnamandi. Iron Age in India The Iron Age in India was initially thought to have begun around 700-600 BCE. Radiocarbon dating pushed the… Continue reading

Nocturnal Bull Ants Navigate Using Polarized Moonlight

Why in the News? Scientists at Macquarie University, Sydney, have discovered that two species of nocturnal bull ants (Myrmecia pyriformis and Myrmecia midas) rely on polarised moonlight for navigation. What is Polarised Moonlight? Polarised moonlight refers to moonlight that has undergone scattering in Earth’s atmosphere, causing its waves to oscillate in a specific direction. Unlike… Continue reading

[19th February 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: India, Qatar elevate ties to strategic partnership

PYQ Relevance: Q) The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyze India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian Countries. (UPSC CSE 2017) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on Energy Security (2017), and uneven distribution of mineral oil (2021). Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met… Continue reading

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