Biofloc Fish Farming Technology

Giving a fillip to homestead aquaculture and nutritional security, a self-help group in Kochi (Kerala) has reaped a bumper harvest from biofloc fish farming, an innovative aquaculture practice. About Biofloc Technology It is a technique of improving the quality of water by balancing carbon and nitrogen in the system. The principle

GI Tag to Agricultural Products

Recently, five agricultural products of Kerala- Attappady Attukombu Avara, Attappady Thuvara, Onattukara Ellu, Kanthalloor-Vattavada Veluthulli, and Kodungalloor Pottuvellari have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status. With the latest five GIs, 17 agricultural products of Kerala facilitated by the Kerala Agricultural University have received the GI status. Attappady Attukombu Avara (Beans) It is curved

Draft National Retail Trade Policy

Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has sought the views of 16 departments and ministries on its Draft National Retail Trade Policy. The primary aim of the policy is to formulate strategies for the overall development of all formats of the retail sector. Objectives Ensuring easy and

ODOP merged with ‘District as Export Hub’ Initiative

Recently, One District One Product (ODOP) initiative operationally merged with ‘Districts as Export Hub (DEH)’ initiative of DGFT, Department of Commerce, with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder. About One District One Product (ODOP) It is an initiative which is seen as a transformational

Surety Bond Insurance

On 19th December, 2022, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways launched one of India’s first-ever Surety Bond Insurance product from Bajaj Allianz. About Surety Bond Surety bonds are a contract or a three-way agreement that are guarantees of payment, which insurers issue. The surety (insurance companies/banks) provides the financial guarantee to the

Share Buyback

Recently, the parent company of Paytm has decided on a proposal for buyback of its shares. About Share buyback Share buyback is when a listed company buys its own shares from the existing shareholders. Share buyback is also called as share repurchase. The process reduces the number of outstanding shares in the open market

Domestic Systemically Important Banks

On 2nd January, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released 2022 list of Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs). State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank has again been named as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) by RBI in 2022 list. About D-SIBs These are also referred to as “Too Big

Bharat Bill Payment System

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to expand the scope of the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). Need BBPS currently does not enable non-recurring payments or collection requirements of individuals even if they are recurring in nature. Consequently, some categories of payments/collections remain outside the ambit of the BBPS — professional

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

On 27th December, 2022, Ministry of Railways has formulated a new policy for modernization of stations named –Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. About Amrit Bharat Station Scheme It envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term vision. It is based on Master Planning for long term and implementation of the

Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem Program

Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million policy-based loan to support the Government of India’s wide-ranging reforms that aim to strengthen and modernize the country’s logistics infrastructure, improve efficiency, and lower the cost in the logistics sector. The loan will finance the first subprogram of the Strengthening

India’s Startup Boom

According to figures presented in Parliament, the success rate of startups in India is relatively higher than the rest of the world and there were 84,012 recognised startups in the country at the end of November, 2022. Current Status The data also reveals that there is at least one Department for Promotion

KALYANI FeRRESTA: India’s First Green Steel Brand

Recently, India’s first Green Steel Brand “KALYANI FeRRESTA” was launched by the government. This first-of-its-kind steel has been manufactured by a Pune-based Steel company, Kalyani group by using renewable energy resources, leaving zero carbon footprints in the environment. Kalyani Ferresta has a very low GHG emission intensity of < 0.19 tCO2e per

Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)

It is managed by the IEPF Authority, set up in 2016 under the provisions of Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013. IEPF Authority has responsibility of administration of IEPF and promotes awareness among investors, makes refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, matured deposits and debentures to rightful claimants. It will

Rights Issue

A rights issue is a mechanism to raise money by offering existing shareholders, new equity shares typically offered at a discount by listed firms. If an existing investor does not intend to participate in the rights offering, there is an option to renounce the shares in favour of others. Rights

Rules of Origin

Rules of origin are the rules to attribute a country of origin to a product in order to determine its "economic nationality". The WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin arising out of the Uruguay round of WTO negotiations was an attempt to harmonize the rules of origin for different

Agriculture Investment Portal

Launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It is a centralized one stop portal for agri-investors to avail benefits of various government schemes implemented by various departments related to agriculture and allied sectors. The portal highlights the steps for ease of doing business in India, the market entry

Mahila Coir Yojana(MCY)

It is a women oriented self-employment programme in the coir industry, which aims to providing self-employment to rural women artisans in regions producing coir fibre. The scheme is being implemented by the Government through the Coir Board under its Coir Vikas Yojana. The scheme is prevalent in coir producing coastal

Stress Testing

It is commonly described as the evaluation of a bank’s financial position under a severe but plausible scenario to assist in decision making within the bank. It enables a bank in forward looking assessment of risks, which overcomes the limitations of statistical risk measures or models based mainly on historical

Kasturi Cotton

The Kasturi cotton was launched in 2020 as a brand with a logo. A unique brand identity for 'Kasturi' Indian cotton was created by highlighting its specifications-based benefits. The Kasturi Cotton brand will represent Whiteness, Brightness, Softness, Purity, Luster, Uniqueness and Indianness. Authorities - The Kasturi brand owned by the

Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is developing Krishi-DSS, a decision support system, on the lines of Gati Shakti, using RISAT-1A and VEDAS of Department of Space. This will enhance the evidence-based decision-making capability of all the stakeholders in the agriculture sector by way of integration with MOSDAC

Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP)

QIP is a mechanism used by publicly traded corporations to raise capital by selling stocks or other equity-convertible instruments to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs). Conditions - Qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) are the only entities allowed to purchase QIPs. For a QIP to take place, the company must already have its

Triple Test

Recently, the Allahabad High Court (HC) ordered the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to hold urban local body elections without reservation for OBCs as the 'triple test' requirement for the quota had not been fulfilled. In response, the UP government set up a five-member commission to conduct a survey to ensure that

EC proposes Remote Voting for Migrant Workers

Recently, the Election Commission (EC) announced that it is ready to pilot remote voting for domestic migrants. For this, the commission has developed a prototype for a Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM). In 2020, the EC set up a four-member panel of experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology and

Delegated Legislation

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) observed that a delegated legislation which is ultra vires the parent Act cannot be given any effect. The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal filed by the Kerala State Electricity Board against a State High Court decision which upheld Regulation 153(15) of the Kerala Electricity

Golden Jubilee of North-Eastern Council

The Golden Jubilee of the North Eastern Council (NEC) was observed on the 18th December 2022 in Shillong, Meghalaya. About NEC It came into being by an Act of Parliament, the North Eastern Council Act, 1971 to act as an advisory body in respect of socio-economic development and balanced development of the

Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha Rule Book

Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook has become a bone of contention in the Upper House as not a single notice under the rule moved by the Opposition has been accepted in the Winter Session. About the Rule 267 The Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook gives special power to

The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2022

On 20th December, 2022, the Lok Sabha referred the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to a joint committee of Parliament. It proposed to amends the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. Need As per the present law, enacted 20 years ago, only multi-state cooperative societies can amalgamate themselves and form a new multi-state

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2022

On 22nd December, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022, was introduced in Lok Sabha. It seeks to amends 42 Acts to reduce the compliance burden on individuals and businesses and ensure ease of doing business. Some Acts that are amended by the Bill include: the Indian Post Office Act, 1898,

Revision of One Rank One Pension Scheme

On 24th December, 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the revision of the pension for family pensioners of armed forces under One Rank One Pension (OROP) from July 1, 2019. Revision Pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of average of minimum and maximum pension of Defence Forces retirees

Criteria for National Party Status

A party will be considered as a national party-If it is ‘recognised’ in four or more states; or If its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least four MPs

Dredging Corporation of India (DCI)

DCI was incorporated as a public sector organisation in March 1976 under Companies Act 1956. It is headquartered at Visakhapatnam and has project offices at many seaports in India. It reports to the Ministry of Shipping.It is ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008 certified.

New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC)

NDIAC was setup in 2019 under the provisions of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) Act, 2019 for better management of arbitration in India. The Act declared NDIAC as an institution of national importance. NDAIC has replaced the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR), an existing institution established in

Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)

HEFA incorporated on 31 May 2017, is a joint venture of Ministry of Education, and Canara Bank with an agreed equity participation in the ratio of 90.91% and 9.09% respectively. It is registered under Section 8 [Not-for-profit] under the Companies Act 2013 and as a Union Government Company and as

Article 170

Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census. Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

It is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in

National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL)

NeSL is India’s first Information Utility and is registered with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under the aegis of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The company has been set up by leading banks and public institutions. The primary role of NeSL is to serve

Right-to-Repair Portal

The Ministry of Consume Affairs launched the ‘right to repair’ portal. On the portal, manufacturers would share the manual of product details with customers. This makes the customer either repair by self, by third parties, rather than depend on original manufacturers. Initially, mobile phones, electronics, consumer durables, automobile and farming

Prahari App

The Prahari App will enable jawans to access personal information and information related to accommodation, Ayushmann-CAPF, and leaves on their mobile.The App will also provide access to GPF, Bio Data, or grievance redressal on the ‘Centralized Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System’ or Information on various welfare schemes.The app also

Content Regulation in Government Advertising (CCRGA)

It was formed by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2016.It was set up as per the directions of Supreme court in its judgment in the Common Cause vs. Union of India case in 2015.It is set up to regulate government advertisements in all media platform.It can summon

17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting

Recently, the 17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was held in Singapore. The meeting was held at an important juncture for the world of work as the region faces multiple challenges, including the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded by the global food, energy

Currency Swap Agreement with MMA

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework. This is to provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short term foreign exchange liquidity requirements. This agreement will enable the MMA to make

Ukraine’s Peace Formula

Recently, India's Prime Minister spoke to Ukraine's President to discuss India’s ongoing G-20 Presidency, and Ukraine’s 10-point Peace Plan. Apart from discussing the G20, the Ukrainian President thanked India for its help during the war. Ukraine’s President has been promoting his 10-point peace plan, and urging world leaders to hold a Global

EU Adopts Global Minimum Tax

On 15th December, 2022, the European Union (EU) adopted a plan for a global minimum 15 percent tax on multinational businesses. The tax will come into effect across the block at the end of next year. About Global Minimum Tax Global minimum tax, a landmark agreement between nearly 140 countries, establishes a

UNSC Resolution on Myanmar

Recently, India abstained from voting on a resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). China and Russia also abstained from voting. The Resolution The resolution was proposed by the United Kingdom, and was passed with 12 members voting in its favour. It demanded an immediate end to violence in Myanmar and

Urban-20 Event

Under India’s G20 presidency, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organizing Urban-20 event from December 01, 2022 to November 30, 2023. In the process of organizing the event, the Chief Minister of Gujarat unveiled the logo, website, and social media handles of Urban-20 on December 19, 2022. About Urban-20 Urban-20

United Nations-Water Summit on Groundwater

Recently, the United Nations-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 was held in Paris, France. It highlighted the role of groundwater in alleviating poverty, food and water insecurity and other socio-economic development hurdles. Groundwater management is imperative to meet the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) of providing clean water and sanitation

Group of Friends

India has launched a ‘Group of Friends’ to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers during India’s current presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal are co-chairs of the ‘Group of Friends. It represents the political will of member states, particularly of the

EAGLE Act

Recently, the White House supported the US Congress pass a legislation whose aim is to eliminate the per-country quota on issuing green cards. If passed, the legislation will allow US employers to focus on recruiting people based on ‘merit’ over ‘birthplace’, and is likely to benefit Indian-Americans. The

Global Pandemic Treaty

Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced during the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) that they will discuss the ‘zero draft’ of the legally binding pandemic accord in February 2023. In December 2021, the World Health Assembly agreed to start a global process to draft

Paris Club

The Paris club is a group of officials from 22 countries who find sustainable solutions for challenges faced by debtor countries. As debtor countries undertake reforms to stabilize and restore their macroeconomic and financial situation, Paris Club creditors provide an appropriate debt treatment. Recently, Paris Club creditor nations have proposed

International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC)

IEC is an international standard setting body that publishes international Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies, collectively known as “electrotechnology”. It was established in 1906 in London, UK. The IEC also manages four global conformity assessment systems that certify whether equipment, system or components conform to its

Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU)

It is an intergovernmental organisation of 32 member countries of the Asian-Pacific region. It was founded through the Asian-Oceanic Postal Convention, which came into force on 1st April 1962. It is the only restricted union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region, which is a specialised agency of

SWOT Mission to Survey Earth’s Water

Recently, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The spacecraft was launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Key Points About: SWOT is an advanced radar satellite jointly developed and operated by NASA and CNES, the French

HAKUTO-R Mission

Recently, Japanese space startup ispace Inc launched its own private lander M1 to the Moon under its HAKUTO-R mission. The launch was carried out by SpaceX in Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida. Key Points About: HAKUTO-R is Japan’s first-ever lunar mission and the first of its kind by a

‘Pralay’ Ballistic Missile

On 25th December, 2022, the Ministry of Defence cleared a proposal to procure around 120 Pralay ballistic missiles, which will be deployed along the borders with China and Pakistan. The missile will be first inducted into the Indian Air Force, followed by the Indian Army. India had earlier successfully conducted the second

New Gene Therapy for Cancer Treatment

In a major scientific breakthrough, scientists in the United Kingdom have successfully tested a new form of gene therapy, ‘Base Editing’, for the first time in a patient with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), a type of blood cancer. The researchers used this tool to engineer a new type of T-cell

New Artificial Nanostructures for Infrared Absorption Technologies

Recently, researchers in Bengaluru’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have demonstrated for the first time infrared light emission and absorption with Gallium nitride (GaN) nanostructures. The development could lend itself to multiple useful applications. Context GaN, a widely used

Nuclear Fusion: US Scientists Reach New Milestone

Recently, in a major scientific breakthrough, scientists in the US for the first time achieved a net gain in energy from a nuclear fusion reaction. Net energy gain has been an elusive goal because fusion happens at such high temperatures and pressures that it is incredibly difficult to control. The Experiment Scientists

Brain-eating Amoeba

On 26th December, 2022, South Korea reported its first case of infection from Naegleria fowleri or ‘brain-eating amoeba’. Naegleria fowleri is found in all continents and is declared as the cause of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a dangerous brain infection, in over 16 countries, including India. About Naegleria fowleri Naegleria is an amoeba,

OpenAI’s ChatGPT

Recently, OpenAI, a San Francisco-based non-profit Artificial Intelligence (AI) research lab, introduced a new chatbot called ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a ‘conversational’ AI and answers queries just like humans. It can answer follow-up questions, and can also admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. GPT-3 stands for Generative

Ruthenium−Ferrocene Bimetallic Agent

Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have discovered a Ruthenium−Ferrocene bimetallic agent that shows a highly potent antitumor effect in platinum-resistant cancers. Platinum drugs are the frontline treatment option for many cancers. But their broad applicability is severely limited due to the fast development of resistance against these

Gelbots

Recently, scientists have built soft robots named Gelbots. Gelbots are made out of gelatin. They are created by 3D printing. They are capable of moving without requiring an extra power source because of the way their shape, dimensions and patterning of gel are designed. This is because the gels swell

Incovacc

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine, BBV154 or Incovacc is the world’s first intranasal vaccine to be approved as a booster dose for COVID-19. The nasal vaccine is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein. As the vaccine is given nasally, it triggers an immune response in

Deep-tech Startups

Deep tech or deep technology refers to a class of startup businesses that develop new offerings based on tangible engineering innovation or scientific discoveries and advances. Deep technology (deep tech) or hard tech is a classification of organisation, or more typically startup company, with the expressed objective of providing technology

Widefield ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky Blind survey (WALLABY)

It is a radio telescope in Western Australia that is helping astronomers build a three-dimensional map of the night sky, mapping galaxies as far as a billion light years away. It is hosted by the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP)

UN Recognition for Namami Gange Programme

Recently, the United Nations (UN) recognized Namami Gange initiative to rejuvenate India’s sacred River Ganga as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world. Key Highlights The Award was received at a function during the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in

Cryomesh Technology to Freeze Corals

Recently, scientists working on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef successfully tested a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae. This new method could eventually help rewild reefs threatened by climate change. Need for Freezing Corals Scientists have been trying to protect coral reefs as rising ocean temperatures destabilise delicate ocean ecosystems. The

Tal Chhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary

Recently, the famous Tal Chhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Churu district received a protective cover against a proposed move of the State government to reduce the size of its eco-sensitive zone. Through a suo motu public interest litigation, the Rajasthan High Court intervened to protect the sanctuary, taking cognisance of reports

National Energy Conservation Day

The National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 14th December. The purpose is to showcase India’s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation. To recognise the contribution of industries and establishments in reducing energy consumption while maintaining their production, the Ministry of Power launched the National Energy Conservation Awards in

State of Finance for Nature 2022

Recently, the second edition of the State of Finance for Nature 2022 report was launched. It reveals that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are still significantly under-financed. The report was released jointly by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative. Key Highlights Finance for NbS: If the world wants

UN-Water GLAAS Report 2022

Recently, the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report was released. The report has been prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN-Water. About the Report The report compiles new data on drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) from 121 countries and territories and 23 external support agencies

Polar Bears

According to a Canadian government survey, Polar bears in the country’s Western Hudson Bay, an inland sea connected to the Arctic Ocean, are dying at a fast rate. Western Hudson Bay has witnessed a drop of around 50% in the population of polar bears since the 1980s. The Arctic sea

Nilgiri Tahr Project

The Tamil Nadu government has recently launched an initiative for the conservation of the Nilgiri Tahr, the State animal. Under the project, the government plans to develop a better understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through surveys and radio telemetry studies; reintroduce the Tahrs to their historical habitat; address proximate

Purse Seine Fishing

Seine fishing is a method of fishing that employs a surrounding net, called a seine, that hangs vertically in the water with its bottom edge held down by weights and its top edge buoyed by floats.Seine nets can be deployed from the shore as a beach seine, or from a

Orans

The orans are open stretches of land in Rajasthan, which receive long hours of sunlight and brisk winds. They have become a hub of green energy with windmills and solar photovoltaic installations dotting them. They are listed as ‘wastelands’ in the revenue records. Orans are hotspots of biodiversity with

Restoration Barometer 2022 Report

Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the Restoration Barometer 2022 Report. Restoration Barometer was launched in 2016 as the Bonn Challenge Barometer. The Barometer has eight indicators that build a comprehensive picture of a country’s restoration progress. It is the only tool already used by

Arctic Report Card 2022

Recently, the Arctic Report Card 2022 was released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The report card is being published annually since 2006 by NOAA, an American scientific and regulatory agency. Arctic Report Card is a peer-reviewed source for clear, reliable and concise environmental information on the

UN-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022

Recently, the United Nations-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 was held in Paris, France. It was organised by UN-Water, UNESCO and the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre. The five pillars of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework released in June 2020 — data and information, capacity development, innovation, finance and

​Captain Shiva Chouhan

Captain Shiva Chouhan of the Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps became the first woman officer to get operationally deployed at the world's highest battlefield,

Lula da Silva

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office on January 1, 2023 for a third term as Brazil’s President. Lula's presidency builds up global hopes of saving Amazon

Justice Hemant Gupta

Former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Hemant Gupta has been appointed as Chairperson of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre.Recently Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju introduced a Bill to rename the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre as the India International Arbitration Centre in the Upper House

Praveen Kumar Srivastava

Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava has been appointed as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).Mr. Srivastava's appointment comes after Suresh N. Patel completed his term as the chief of the anti-corruption watchdog Central Vigilance Commission on December 24, 2022.The commission is headed by a CVC and can have a maximum

Santosh Kumar Yadav

He has been appointed as the chairman, National Highways Authority of India

Anil Kumar Lahoti

He has taken over the charge of the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Railway

Meghna Chautala

The wife of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, has become (the first woman) president of the Table Tennis Federation of India

Suhail Ejaz Khan

He has been appointed as the new Ambassador of India to Saudi

Ashwini Vaishnab

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnab has been appointed as the first Chancellor of Gati Shakti University,

Meenesh C Shah

He has been appointed as the Managing Director of the National Dairy Development Board

Ganji Kamala V Rao

He has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Maithili Thakur

Well-known folk singer Maithili Thakur has been appointed the state icon for Bihar by the Election Commission.

Nityanand Rai

He will head a high-powered 17 Member committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to “ensure protection of land and employment” for the people of Ladakh.

Qin Gang

He replaced Wang Yi as China’s foreign

Pope Benedict XVI

Former Pope, Benedict XVI has passed away on 31st December 2022.Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. He led the Catholic Church for fewer than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since

Yoginder K Alagh

Noted economist and former member of erstwhile Planning Commission Yoginder K Alagh passed away on 6th December 2022.During the 1980s, he headed the Agricultural Prices Commission (APC) as well the Bureau of Industrial Costs & Prices (BICP). As chairman of APC (now called the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Price),

Manohar Devadoss

Renowned artist and a writer from Tamil Nadu Manohar Devadoss has passed away on 7th December 2022.He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020 for his inspirational work in art and

Kenneth Lawrence Powell

Kenneth Lawrence Powell, popularly known as "The Gentleman Sprinter" has passed away on 11th December 2022.He was an Indian track and field athlete from the state of Karnataka. He competed in the 1964 Olympics and the 1970 Asian Games. He was the first sportsperson from Karnataka to win the Arjuna

H. R. Keshava Murthy

Gamaka exponent and guru H. R. Keshava Murthy has passed away on 21 December 2022.He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of arts.He publicised Kannada epics Kumaravyasas Bharatha and Jaiminis Bharatha. His variant of music later came to be known as Keshava Murthy gharana.Gamaka, also known

Sribhashyam Vijayasarathi

Sribhashyam Vijayasarathi, an author, Sanskrit grammarian, Philosopher and critic has passed away on 28 December 2022.He was the recipient of Padma Shri for the year 2020 for his excellent work in the field of Literature and

Pele

Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pelé has passed away on 29 December 2022.During his illustrious career, Pele went on to win three FIFA World Cups – 1958, 1962 and 1970 – and remains the only player to achieve this feat to date.Regarded as one of the

Rayaroth Kuttambally Krishna Kumar

Noted business executive who was the director of Tata Sons Rayaroth Kuttambally Krishna Kumar has passed away on 1 January 2023.His contributions are known behind several acquisitions of Tata Group, including the £ 271 million buy-out of Tetley in 2000, which made Tata Global Beverages the second largest tea company

Sumitra Sen

Veteran Rabindrasangeet exponent Sumitra Sen has passed away on January 3, 2023.The West Bengal government had bestowed the Sangeet Mahasamman award on Sen in

‘Vagir’ handed over to the Indian Navy

On 20th December 2022, ‘Vagir’, the fifth submarine of the Scorpene class, has been handed over to the Indian Navy.This submarine has been built under Project-75, a project for the construction of Kalvari class submarines. Six submarines of the Scorpene design are to be built in India in Project-75. These

INS Arnala: Indian Navy’s First Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

INS Arnala, Indian Navy's first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASWSWC), being built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, was launched on 20th December 2022 at the Larsen & Toubro shipyard in Kattipallu, Tamil Nadu.The ship has been named Arnala to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded

Exercise Surya Kiran

The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN-XVI” between India and Nepal was conducted at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi (Nepal), from 16 - 29 December 2022.Exercise “SURYA KIRAN” is conducted annually between India and Nepal with the aim to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare & counter terrorism

Ex Kazind – 2022

The 6th Edition of Indo - Kazakhstan joint training exercise “KAZIND-22” was conducted at Umroi (Meghalaya) from 15 to 28 December 2022.This joint annual training exercise with the Kazakhstan Army was instituted in 2016 as Exercise Prabal Dostyk, which was later upgraded to a company level exercise and renamed as

Bosnia

European Union members from the 27 nations agreed recently to grant candidate member status to Bosnia and Herzegovina - a country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern

Croatia

The European Union's newest member adopted the euro as its currency on Jan. 1, 2023 making it the 20th country to join the euro area.Croatia is situated between central and eastern Europe bordering the Adriatic Sea between Slovenia and Bosnia and

Cyprus

India and Cyprus recently signed agreement on defence and military cooperation, Migration and Mobility Partnership and the Framework Agreement on International Solar Alliance.It is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is located north of Egypt, east of Greece, south of Turkey,

Asian Pacific Postal Union

India will take over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) from January 2023.Following the successful elections held during the 13th APPU Congress held in Bangkok during August-September, Vinaya Prakash Singh, former Member (Personnel), Postal Services Board, will take over the charge of secretary general of the Union

Gaan-Ngai

Gaan-Ngai festival is celebrated in Manipur every year by Zeliangrong and Kabui ethnic groups who follow indigenous religion Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak in short TRC.Gaan-Ngai is a post-harvest festival and also marks the beginning of new year.The programme begins with lighting of traditional lamp using ancient system called mai-labmei (extracting fire

Jamnalal Bajaj Award 2022

The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation gives 4 awards in different categories. Three are given to Indians and one award, for promoting Gandhian values outside is given to a foreigner. Winners in Four Categories For Constructive Works: Nilesh Desai (Madhya Pradesh) - He is the founder of the Sampark Samaj Sevi Sansthan which works

Geoglyphs: Ratnagiri’s Prehistoric Rock Art

Experts and conservationists have raised concerns over the proposed location for a mega oil refinery in Barsu village of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district. They claim that the refinery might damage prehistoric geoglyphs found in the area. About Geoglyphs Geoglyphs are a form of prehistoric rock art, created on the surface of laterite

Dhokra Craft

Bengal village Lalbazar is becoming a hub for an ancient metalcraft, dhokra. About Dhokra Art It is a metalcraft popular in Bengal. In its original form, no painting or polishing is done. Most Dhokra artefacts are human or animal figurines. The term “Dhokra” has been named after the Dhokra Damar tribes, the traditional metalsmiths from

Dhanu Yatra

The vibrant Dhanu Yatra was recently held from 27th December 2022 to 6th January 2023 in Bargarh, Odisha. About the Festival ‘Dhanu Yatra’ festival is considered to be the world’s largest open-air theatre. It marks the victory of good over evil and came into existence in Bargarh in 1947-48 as part of the

Three New Cultural Sites added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites

Recently, three new cultural sites in India-Sun Temple at Modhera, historic Vadnagar town in Gujarat and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura, have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites. With this, India now has 52 sites on UNESCO Tentative List Sun Temple of Modhera It is a

Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum

On 22nd December, 2022, the Kerala government inaugurated a palm-leaf manuscript museum with modern audio-visual technology at the Central Archives, Fort, in Thiruvananthapuram. About Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum This first-of-its-kind museum can be titled as the largest collection of palm leaves and manuscripts in the country. It presents around 175 transliterated and translated

Beypore Uru

Recently, the District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous Beypore Uru (boat). About Beypore Uru It is a wooden dhow (ship / sailing boat / sailing vessel) handcrafted by skilled artisans and carpenters in Beypore, Kerala. The Beypore Urus is purely made of

Projects Development under PRASHAD Scheme

On 28th December, 2022, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for two projects at the Sri Seetha Ramachandraswami Temple in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple’ at Palampet village in Mulugu district in Telangana. The projects has been sanctioned and executed under PRASHAD scheme viz. National

National Archives of India

The National Archives of India (NAI) does not have records of 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, or even of the Green Revolution according to concerned officials. About National Archives of India (NAI) The National Archives of India (NAI) is the repository of the non-current records of the Government of India and

Gamaka

Also known as kaavya vaachana, it is a form of storytelling by singing that originated in Karnataka, India. One person reads a stanza of a poem with highest emphasis on meaning, applying suitable raga or a dhaati (melodic line), usually matching the emotion of the poem; the song generally

Indian History Congress (IHC)

The Indian History Congress (IHC), founded in 1935, is the largest association of professional historians in South Asia to promote secular and scientific writing of history. The first session took place in Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Poona, in 1935. Historians such as Datto Vaman Potdar, Surendra Nath Sen (who later

Bon Religion

Also known as Yungdrung Bon, it is a Tibetan religious tradition with many similarities to Tibetan Buddhism and also many unique features. Bon initially developed in the tenth and eleventh centuries. Bon remains a significant minority religion in Tibet (especially in eastern Tibet) and in the surrounding Himalayan

Sulia Jatra

It is celebrated in the village of Khairguda, situated in Balangir district, Western Odisha. Sulia Jatra is named after the god Sulia of tribal communities. The animal sacrifice is a long tradition of the Kandha tribes. They believe that it will bring success and prosperity to the community by offering

Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)

It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, It was established by the Ministry of Education & Social Welfare, Govt. of India (now, Ministry of Education) on 27th March 1972 on the recommendation of a Working Group set up by the Government of India in

Dhone Boats

It is a traditional wooden boat, with the wooden oar found in the Bison hills of Godavari River. They are made of ‘Booriga tree’ (known in local parlance).Dhone are crafted and owned by Konda Reddi and Koya tribes living in the Papikonda hill

Ikki Jathre

Recently, a Kerala-based organisation, Thanal launched the Ikki Jathre or the Festival of Rice in tribal parlance whereby 300 climate-resilient varieties of traditional rice were planted at Panavally, Wayanad. The initiative aims to sensitise people to the significance of conserving traditional crops that have the ability to withstand harsh climatic

Sahitya Akademi

The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954. It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, encouraging the preservation and promotion of languages, especially the unrecognised and tribal languages. The Sahitya Akademi Library is one of the largest multi-lingual libraries in

Kochi-Muziris Biennale

It is an international exhibition of contemporary art held in the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is the largest art exhibition in the country and the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia. Through the celebration of contemporary art from around the world, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale seeks to invoke the

CAG Audit Report on Assam’s NRC

On 24th December, 2022, Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) published a compliance report namely “Logistical Arrangements for NRC Update Project in Assam”. The report has found several anomalies in the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. Concerns Highlighted by the CAG Huge Increase in Cost in implementation The deadline

Ranganath Mishra Commission

Recently, the Central Government informed the Supreme Court that it had taken a decision to not accept Justice Ranganath Mishra’s Commision’s report. The Commission’s 2007 report on Religious and Linguistic Minorities had recommended permitting Dalits who converted into Islam and Christianity to avail Scheduled Caste status. The pleas argue that exclusion of

Panda Task Force

Recently, Parliament has discussed inclusion of various communities in Scheduled Tribes (ST) lists of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha as recommended by Panda Task force. About Panda Task Force It was constituted in February 2014 under the leadership of erstwhile Tribal Affairs Secretary Hrusikesh Panda. It had compiled a comprehensive

Extension of PM SVANidhi Scheme

On 9th December, 2022, the Government extended the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme beyond March, 2022. Provisions Extension of lending period till December 2024; Introduction of 3rd loan of upto Rs. 50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of Rs.10,000 and Rs.20,000 respectively. To extend ‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi’ component for

PM Virasat ka Samvardhan

Recently, the government revamped the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme. The integrated scheme converges five erstwhile schemes of the Ministry viz. Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. The scheme has been approved by the Cabinet

New India Literacy Program

On 12th December, 2022, the Central Government allocated a total financial outlay of the New India Literacy Programme (NILP) for five years to be Rs.1037.90 crore. About New India Literacy Programme (NILP) It was announced in February, 2022to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020

PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revamped the existing Scheme of ‘Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) with nomenclature ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna (PMAAGY)’, for implementation during 2021-22 to 2025-26. It aims at transforming villages with significant tribal population into model village (Adarsh Gram) covering about population

AYURSWASTHYA Yojana

It is a Central Sector Scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Ayush. Two Components AYUSH and Public Health (PHI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) from the Financial Year 2021-22 by merging two erstwhile schemes of this Ministry namely (i) Central Sector Scheme of Grant-in-Aid for Promotion of AYUSH Intervention in Public Health

World Malaria Report 2022

On 8th December, 2022, World Malaria Report 2022 was released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Key Highlights Cases and Deaths due to Malaria: There were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. This represents about 14 million more cases in 2020 compared to

TULIP Program

It is a platform to provide internships to students and graduates in ULBs, Smart Cities, and Parastatals of States/UTs. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has developed

GHAR (Go Home and Re-Unite) Portal

It is an online portal that helps strayed kids go home and re-unite with family and it also monitors and tracks restoration and repatriation of such children. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has developed and launched the portal GHAR with the sole purpose of restoration and repatriation

PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

It has been introduced to provide fixed day quality antenatal care services to women in their 2nd/3rd trimesters of pregnancy on the 9th day of every month. The initiative aims to ensure that assured and comprehensive antenatal services are provided to pregnant women at designated health facilities by Obstetricians/ medical

‘E-Sushrut’ Hospital Management Information System (HMIS)

The initiative was launched by the state medical education department in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). The software will help in the patient registration, admission, discharge, ambulance, food, medicines, and make available the details of doctors online. Through this system the availability of doctors in the

Nijaat Campaign

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the US-based international organisation has selected the anti-drug & illicit liquor campaign ‘Nijaat’ of Chhattisgarh police for ‘Leadership in Crime Prevention’ award in the institutional category. The prestigious IACP 2022 Award has selected the de-addiction drive ‘Nijaat’, which was executed following the directive

Project Vanikaran

The Forest Department in association with Noolpuzha grama panchayat has launched the ‘Vanikaran’ (afforestation) project to root out invasive plants. The project is being executed on 30 hectares of forestland under the Sulthan Bathery forest range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, where exotic invasive plants, including Senna spectabilis, Eupatorium, Mikania

First Complete Library Constituency in India

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s constituency-Dharmadam, has achieved the position of complete library constituency in India, the first in India. Out of the total 138 wards in the constituency, there were no libraries in 63 wards. Dharmadam reached the achievement with the opening of libraries in these wards

Mental Health and Social Care Policy

The Meghalaya cabinet has approved a policy aimed at addressing the issues of mental health and social care through collaborative engagement with communities. Meghalaya is the third state in the country to have a comprehensive policy on mental health and social care. Kerala and Karnataka are the other two states

Asia’s First Drone Delivery Hub

The Meghalaya government in partnership with startup TechEagle has unveiled Asia’s first drone delivery hub and network which is aimed at providing universal access to healthcare for the people in the state. The project is aimed at delivering vital supplies like drugs, diagnostic samples, vaccines, blood and blood components

Award for Best Practice in Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM)

The Meghalaya government, which has adopted a ‘Jan Andolan’ (people’s movement) against Tuberculosis, received an award for best practices in controlling the disease that affects 2.6 million people in India every year. The award for Best Practice in Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) in Tuberculosis control was presented

‘Friends of Library’ Program

Under the program, books would be directly given to those who are unable to access state-run libraries. The project will be helpful to people with disabilities, seniors, kids, and hospital in-patients, among others, who are unable to visit a library. Volunteers will hand over the books to such people from

Aadhaar: Mandatory for Schemes

The Tamil Nadu government has announced that all those who are eligible for benefits under various government schemes are required to submit proof of possession of an Aadhaar number. According to the order, Aadhaar is mandatory for government employees, government pensioners and beneficiaries of various schemes implemented by the State

Nilgiri Tahr Project

It is aimed at restoring the state animal’s original habitat and stabilizing its population. The ‘Nilgiri Tahr Project’ is a five-year program with a budget of Rs 25.14 crore. It will also have a dedicated team chaired by the project director to deal with species conservation. The presence of Nilgiri

Country’s First Infantry Museum

The country’s first Infantry Museum has been opened for the general public at Mhow, Indore (Madhya Pradesh). The Infantry Museum covers the history of the Infantry from 1747 to 2020. It depicts the rich heritage, glorious past and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers preserved in sculptures, murals, and

Pre-Historic Civilization

Pre-History generally refers to a period where there’s no writing or development. In the absence of records, these periods are judged on the basis of artefacts (mostly tools). Pre-history period in India is divided into three different phases based on the tools used by the people: 1. Palaeolithic Period: 2 million

Indus Valley Civilization

The Harappan civilization was first discovered by Charles Mason in 1826, followed by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1872. Neither of them thought the structures represented a civilization. It was only in 1924 that an archaeologist John Marshall studied the ruins and concluded the region as a long-forgotten civilization. He believed

Vedic Period Society

The period is known as Vedic period due to composition of Vedas during the period. The "Vedas", are essentially a compilation of prayers and hymns, offered by different families of poets and saga to various gods. Early Vedic Period (1700 BCE – 1000 BCE) Society: The Early Vedic society was tribal and

Mahajanapada Era

The Mahajanapadas were a set of sixteen kingdoms that existed in ancient India starting from 6th Century BCE. It all began when the tribes (janas) of the late Vedic period decided to form their own territorial communities, which eventually gave rise to new and permanent areas of settlements called ‘states’

Social Structure

The Harappan society appears to have been divided into three sections, viz. an elite class associated with the Citadel; a well-to-do middle class; and a relatively weaker section, occupying the lower town, which was generally fortified. The Craftsmen and laborers normally were resided outside the fortified area. The Early Vedic

Food

The Harappans grew lentils and other pulses (peas, chickpeas, green gram, black gram). Their main staples were wheat and barley, which were presumably made into bread and perhaps also cooked with water as a gruel or porridge.Meat came mainly from cattle, but the Harappans also kept chickens, buffaloes and some

Dress

The limited depictions of clothing during Harappan period shows that men wore a cloth around the waist, resembling a modern dhoti and like it, often passed between the legs and tucked up behind.The so-called "Priest-king" and other stone figures also wore a long robe over the left shoulder, leaving bare

Marriage System

During the Indus Valley Civilization, women were given a goddess’s stature, and were very respected. This led to the concept called the Matrilocality. This is a practice where the groom stays with the bride’s parents after the wedding. Due to this, the female offspring always stayed close to or with

Caste System

There was no existence of caste system in Harappan or pre-historic times. During Early Vedic period, social divisions based on occupations had started but there was no caste division. During later Vedic period, occupation of individuals was the basis of classification of a society. It was divided into four varnas,

Death Rituals

During Harappan civilization, various burial practices were followed. For instance, complete burial and post-cremation burial were popular at Mohenjodaro. At Lothal, the burial pit was lined with burnt bricks indicating the use of coffins. Wooden coffins were also found at Harappa. The practice of pot burials is found at Lothal

Status of Women

In the Harappan civilization, women were initially getting more respect and high status compared to the other different societies. Historical sculptures discovered from the Indus valley civilization highlighted the significant role played by women during the ancient period. Women were not considered as property. Bull riding was one of the

Forced Labour

There was no recorded existence of slave system or forced labour in Harappan or pre-historic times. During Vedic period, the term dāsa and dāsyu has been interpreted by as "servant" or "slave". A person in distress could pledge themselves for work leading to under adsatava, while under ahitaka a person's

Education System

Harappan writing attests to (limited) literacy, which requires learning. Astronomy, time reckoning, elementary mathematics and medicine are topics studied in other early civilizations, and cultic lore and rites as well as administration undoubtedly also required teaching. During Vedic period, system of education was the education of the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads

Development of Press

Ancient India did not have any press or associated profession. It was only during medieval India that press developed. Press was under a lot of regulation and restrictions under British. Initially (mid-19th century), the press was used as a medium to propagate ideas on social reforms but with growing nationalism, it

Ancient Indian Philosophy

Samkhya System The Samkhya philosophy holds that reality is constituted of two principles one female and the other male i.e., Prakriti, Purusha respectively. Prakriti and Purusha are completely independent and absolute. According to this system, Purusha is mere consciousness, hence it cannot be modified or changed. Prakriti on the other hand

Religious System during Harappan Period

The available evidence indicates that the religion of the Indus people comprised of − Worship of the Mother Goddess;Worship of a male deity, probably of Lord Siva;Worship of animals, nature, semi human, or fabulous;Worship of trees in their natural state or of their indwelling spirits;Worship of inanimate stones or other

Religious System during Vedic Period

The Rig Vedic people's religion was relatively straightforward in that it largely involved praying to a large number of deities who stood in for diverse natural events. The development of clear concepts and philosophies regarding the true nature of the soul, or Atman, and the cosmic principle, or Brahman, who stood

Religious System of Later Vedic Period

Major Gods: Indra and Agni, the two notable gods, lost their earlier significance. However, in the later Vedic period, Prajapati (The Creator) rose to become the supreme being. Rudra (the god of animals) and Vishnu, two of the Rigvedic period's other minor deities, also rose to prominence (the preserver and

Jainism

According to Jaina traditions, 24 Tirthankaras were responsible for the origin and development of Jaina religion and philosophy. Of these, the first 22 are of doubtful historicity. In the case of the last two, Parsvanatha and Mahavira, Buddhist works also confirm their historicity. Mahavira The 24th Tirthankara was Vardhamana Mahavira. He was

Buddhism

Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha who was given the name Siddhartha by his parents. His father was Suddhodana, the chief of the Sakya clan and mother was Maya, princess of the Koliya clan. He was born in the Lumbini (modem Rumindei) in Nepal. Life of Buddha The misery of the human

Religious System of Mauryan Period

Throughout the period of empire, Brahmanism was an important religion. The Mauryans favoured Brahmanism as well as Jainism and Buddhism. Minor religious sects such as Ajivikas also received patronage. A number of Hindu texts were written during the Mauryan period. Brahmanism The Buddhist texts Samantapasadika and Mahavamsa suggest that Bindusara followed Hindu Brahmanism,

Religious System of Gupta and post-Gupta Period

The Guptas were a Hindu dynasty in the past. They were devout Hindus who permitted followers of Buddhism and Jainism to practise their faiths. Sanchi is still a significant Buddhist hub. Nalanda is supposed to have been built in 455 CE by Kumaragupta I. Modern DNA research suggests that

Medieval Philosophical System

The mystics were responsible for the major religious movements. They made contributions to the religious doctrines and ideals. Shankaracharya's advaita (non-dualism) philosophy served as the foundation for the new philosophical thought that Bhakti saints like Vallabhacharya, Ramanuja, and Nimbaraka contributed. Some of the Philosophical Doctrines and Propounders of Medieval India

Local Administration

The Indus civilization had the proud distinction of giving to the world its earliest cities, its first urban civilization, its first town planning, its first drainage system and its earliest example of city government. The local bodies offered a stable basis of organized life at the local levels. So far as

Judicial Administration

Judicial Administration in Ancient India In ancient India, there was no reference for Judicial Organization in Vedic Literature. Later after the Kings’ rulings, the Judicial Administration came into existence through the concept of Dharma. Kings were the head of the Justice. Concept of Dharma: Dharma is the Sanskrit word for duty, religion,

Key Officers

Mauryan Empire Mantrin: Chief Minister Mantriparishad Adhyaksha: Head of Council of Ministers Purohita: Chief Priest Senapati: Commander-in-Chief Yuvaraj: Crown Prince Samaharta: Revenue Collector Yukta: Subordinate Revenue Officer Shulkadhyaksha: Officer-in-Charge of Royal Income Prashasti: Prison Head Sannidata: Treasury Head Koshadhyaksha: Treasury Officer Koshthagaradhyaksha: Royal Treasury Manager Nayaka: City Security Chief Vyabharika: Chief Judge Karmantika: Head of Industries & Factories Dandapala: Head of Police Durgapala: Head of Royal Fort Annapala:

Land Revenue System

Permanent Settlement Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Land Revenue Settlement of Bengal, which was extended to the provinces of Bihar and Orissa. Under Permanent Settlement, annual lease system was abolished, and a decennial (Ten years) system was introduced. Features of Permanent Settlement The zamindars of Bengal were recognised as the owners of

Tax System

Manu Smriti and Arthshastra are the foundations of Indian taxation. The old tax system that was founded on the principle of maximal social welfare is the foundation of the current Indian tax system. Manu Smriti asserts that the king should organise tax collection such that taxpaying citizens do not experience

Development of Civil Service

Evolution of Civil Services East India Company started the Covenanted Civil Services (CCS) after battle of Plassey (1757). After the Revolt of 1857, when the rule of the company ended and power was transferred to the British Crown, i.e., after 1886 the service came to be called the Imperial Civil Service (ICS).

Harappan Period

The Indus Valley Civilization, which is thought to have begun around 3000 B.C., is regarded as India's first urbanisation. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were the two most significant cities of this civilization, and each was situated along a river, with Mohenjo-Daro on the Indus and Harappa on the Ravi. The establishment of

Mahajanapada Period

Second urbanization led to the emergence of sixteen Mahajanapadas from Janapadas during ancient India in the period of 500 to 600 BC in the Indian subcontinent. This was the time when agricultural improvement saw a hike in the middle of Gangetic plains. Cultivation methods like wet rice cultivation started

Urbanization in Medieval India

Urbanization throughout the medieval era was aided by the establishment of local kingdoms and the spread of international trade. Due to political circumstances, the rate of urbanisation was relatively low at the start of the mediaeval age. The locations near rivers, fertile land, and important travel routes started to emerge

Urbanization during the British Period

Many types of cities were built under the patronage of Britishers in the colonial period like Hill Stations, Railway Station Town, Court Town, Industrial Commercial Town, Cantonment Town, Port Town, and Administrative or Presidency Town, etc. Important Towns of the British Period Cantonment Towns: Yashohar Cantonment Town, Darbhanga Cantonment Town,

Pottery in Ancient India

Pottery is first mentioned in the Neolithic period. Although it is handmade ceramics, a foot-wheel was also employed later. The existence of separate ceramic cultures during the Chalcolithic Age is a defining characteristic of pottery. For instance, ceramics in black and red, black on red, and ochre-coloured. Polished Ware was one of

Painting

Prehistoric Rock Paintings In India the earliest paintings have been reported from the Upper Palaeolithic times. The first discovery of rock paintings was made in India in 1867–68 by an archaeologist, Archibold Carlleyle. Upper Palaeolithic Period The paintings of the Upper Palaeolithic phase are linear representations, in green and dark red, of huge animal

Music

The earliest tradition of Indian music may be traced to Sama Veda which contained the slokas that were put to music. Chanting of Vedic hymns with prescribed pitch and accent still form a part of religious rituals. The earliest text dealing exclusively with performing arts is Bharata’s Natyashashtra (compiled between second

Dance

The Rig Veda compares the brilliant dawn (usas) to a brightly attired danseuse and cites dancing (nrti) and danseuse (nrtu). Jaiminiya and Kausitaki dance and music are referenced together in the Brahmanas. Dance served as a way for religious concepts to be symbolically expressed in old Indian culture. The incarnation of

Indian Theatre/Drama

Indigenous tradition as well as modern research traces the origin of Indian drama to the Vedas. In the Ramayana we hear of drama troupes of women while Kautilya’s Arthshastra mentions musicians, dancers and dramatic shows. Bharata wrote Natyashastra and created the plays known as Asura Parajaya and Amrit Manthan. The next

Indian Puppetry

Major forms of Puppetry in India There are 4 major different types of puppets used in India. They are – Glove Puppets, Rod Puppets, Shadow Puppets, and String Puppets. Major sub-types of puppetry includes – Major Types of Puppetry Examples Glove Puppets Sakhi Kundhei Nata (Odisha), and Pavakoothu (Kerala) Rod Puppets Putul Nach (West Bengal),

Cave Architecture

Bhimbetka Caves (Early Stone Age) Located in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh. Discovered in 1958 by V.S. Wakanker, it is the biggest prehistoric art depository in India. Atop the hill a large number of rock-shelters have been discovered, of which more than 130 contain paintings. Excavations revealed history of continuous habitation from early

Rock-cut Buddhist Caves

Mahakali Caves (Kondivite Caves) Rock-cut Buddhist caves built between 1st Cen. BCE to 6th Cen. CE and are situated in Andheri East, Mumbai. Comprises of 4 caves on the south-eastern face and 15 caves on the north-western face. Cave 9 is the chief cave and is the oldest and consists of a stupa

Temple Building Style

Basic Forms of Hindu Temple Sanctum, originally a small cube with a single entrance that eventually expanded into a bigger chamber (garbhagriha, literally "womb-house"). The primary icon, which is the subject of intense ritual attention, is intended to be housed in the garbhagriha. A mandapa is the name for the temple's entryway,

Delhi Sultanate Architecture

The idea of an arch or dome was not created by Muslims; rather, they took inspiration from post-Roman architectural designs and further developed them. First time using cementing agent in the form of mortar. Typical mortar-masonry works made of dressed stones. Use of scientific principles helped increase the strength and stability of

Major Regional Kingdoms’ Temple Architecture

Cholas (Tamil Nadu) The Dravidian temple architecture started by the Pallavas got matured at the hand of the Cholas. Some Prominent Features of Temple Architecture in the Chola Dynasty Niche: These are characteristic architectural designs of Chola temples carved in temple walls. Devakusthas: These are decorative niches of Chola temple walls where deities

Mughal Period Architecture

Important Features Both red and white sandstone were employed. Jali-latticed screens and Parchin Kari ornamental work are two instances of fine ornamentation craftsmanship. Gardens surround gorgeous structures on all four sides. Huge courtyard mosques are fairly common. Quranic passages inscribed in calligraphic form in Persian and Arabic. A number of substantial gateways lead to the main

European Era Architecture

Portuguese Influence The Portuguese carried the Iberian architectural style with them. They began by constructing trading terminals and warehouses along the coasts, which were subsequently transformed into fortified cities. They also imported the notion of 'patio homes' and the 'Baroque style,' which were established in Europe in the late 16th century to

Buddhist Art

Gandhara School of Art (50 BC to 500 AD) Region extending from Punjab to the borders of Afghanistan was an important centre of Mahayana Buddhism up to the 5th century AD. Imbibed all kinds of foreign influences like Persian, Greek, Roman, Saka and Kushan. Origin can be traced to the Greek rulers of

Surgery & Ayurveda in Ancient Times

Ayurveda is a 5000-year-old medical system with roots in India. Ayurveda is a branch of the Atharva Veda. Plants and herbs are used in Ayurveda to make remedies. Ayurveda was once thought to be the panacea for all ills and diseases. Ayurveda treats illnesses and disorders with natural remedies like herbs,

Mathematics & Geometry

Vedic Mathematics The Sulvasutras account for a sizable portion of the body of mathematic knowledge from the Vedic era. The Sulvasutras are works that serve as instructions for building the vedis (altars) and agnis (fireplaces) needed for the execution of yajnas, which were an important aspect of Vedic society. Depending on the

Astronomy

Astronomy became essential to have a thorough awareness of the heavenly bodies, including their exact positions and times of appearance, in order to fulfil religious and ritualistic requirements. Astronomers had patrons thanks to practical factors including the necessity for precise monsoon rainfall forecasting and the rising demand for astrological charts, particularly

Major Social Reformers and Movements

Raja Ram Mohan Roy He was born in 1772 and is considered as the first ‘modern man of India’. He studied the Bible as well as Hindu and Muslim religious texts. He had excellent command over many languages including English, Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He established the Atmiya Sabha

British Era Customary Laws

Hindu Personal Law, 1772: In 1772, Warren Hastings appointed ten Brahmin pandits from Bengal to compile a digest of the Hindu scriptural law in four main civil matters—marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession. This came to be called as Hindu Personal Law. Bengal Sati Regulation Act, 1829: The Bengal Sati Regulation which

Religious Reform Movements

Fakir Uprising Fakirs were a group of wandering Muslim religious mendicants. Shortly after the annexation of Bengal in 1776-77, Majnum Shah, the leader of these fakirs, began to levy contributions on the zamindars and peasants and, defied the British Authority. After Majnum Shah’s death, Chirag Ali Shah, supported by Pathans, Rajputs

Bhakti and Sufi Movement

Bhakti Movement in South India The Shaivite Nayanar and Vaishnava Alvar saints of South India spread the doctrine of bhakti among different sections of the society irrespective of caste or sex during the period of 7th and 10th century CE. The saint-poets preached bhakti in an intense emotional manner and promoted religious

Portuguese (1498-1961)

The Portuguese traveller Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut on 17 May 1498 and was received by Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. The objective of Portuguese was to reap the benefits of eastern trade. The first governor of the Portuguese in India was Francis de Almeida. Almeida advocated

Dutch (1602-1825)

The Dutch East India Company was established in 1602. Their main areas of interest were Indonesian islands for spices and used India to setup their trading depots. They established their settlements/trading depots in India at Surat, Broach, Cambay, Nagapatnam, Machilipatnam, Chinsura, Patna and Agra. Pulicat was their main center from

British (1612-1947)

British East India Company was established in 1600 via Queen Elizabeth I charter to trade with the east and particularly India. In 1608/09, Capt. Hawkins arrived at the court of Jahangir for trade permission in Surat, which was denied. In 1612, Jahangir gave the permission, and the first factory was

French (1664-1760)

The French East India Company was founded in 1664 by Colbert and the first French factory in India was established at Surat by Francis Caron in 1668. Francis Martin founded and became 1st Governor of Pondicherry in 1673 - Later, Pondicherry became headquarters of France.The French had been involved in

Peasant Movements

Narkelberia Uprising Titu Mir, also known as Mir Nithar Ali (1782–1831), pushed West Bengal's Muslim tenants to rebel against their mostly Hindu landlords who assessed a beard tax on the Faraizis and British indigo growers. These uprisings, which are generally considered the first armed peasant uprising against the British, quickly took

Tribal Movements

Pahariyas’ Rebellion The British expansion on their territory led to an uprising by the martial Pahariyas of the Raj Mahal Hills in 1778. The British were forced to usher in peace by declaring their territory as damni-kol area. Chuar Uprising The Chuar indigenous tribesmen of the Jungle Mahal in the Midnapore

Major National Movements

Swadeshi Movement and Partition of Bengal (1905-1911) The British (under Lord Curzon) partitioned Bengal in religious lines to curb nationalist movements in the garb of administrative efficiency. Sensing the real motives of Lord Curzon, nationalists resisted the partition. On the same day when the partition came into effect, 16 October 1905, the

Revolutionary Activities & Organizations of Freedom Struggle

Chapekar Brothers (1897) Damodar, Balkrishna, and Vasudev Chapekar shot at WC Rand, Chairman of the Special Plague Committee, in what was the first political assassination of a British officer after 1857. They were opposed to the atrocities committed by the British during the plague epidemic in Pune, which led to the

Regulating Act, 1773

Company Retains Possessions: This Act permitted the company to retain its territorial possessions in India but sought to regulate the activities and functioning of the company. Control over Indian Affairs: Through this Act, for the first time, the British cabinet was given the right to exercise control over Indian affairs.

Pitts Act, 1784

Dual Control System: It established the dual system of control by the British government and the East India Company. The Company became a subordinate department of the State and its territories in India were termed ‘British possessions’. However, it retained the control of commerce and day-to-day administration. Court of Directors

Charter Act, 1793

Extension of Powers to Governor-General: It extended the overriding power given to Lord Cornwallis over his council, to all future Governor-Generals and Governors of Presidencies. Appointments of Senior Officials: The royal approval was mandated for the appointment of the governor-general, governors, and the commander-in-chief. Senior officials of the Company were

Charter Act, 1813

Demand of English Traders: The English traders demanded a share in the Indian trade. This demand was particularly in view of loss of trade due to the Continental System of Napoleon Bonaparte who sought to cripple England commercially. End of Company’s Monopoly: By this, the Company was deprived of its

Charter Act, 1833

Company’s Trade Situation: The lease of 20 years provided to the Company (under Charter Act, 1813) for the possession of territories and the revenue collection was further extended. However, the Company’s monopoly over trade with China and in tea ended. European Immigration: All restrictions on European immigration and the acquisition

Charter Act, 1853

Company’s Trade Situation: The Company was to continue possession of territories unless the Parliament provided otherwise. The Company’s patronage over the services was dissolved; the services were now thrown open to a competitive examination. Indian Legislative Council: The law member became the full member of the governor-general’s executive council.

Government of India Act, 1858

End of Company’s Rule: East India Company’s rule came to an end and the Indian administration came under the direct control of the Crown. Establishment of New Institutions: In England, the Court of Directors and Board of Control were abolished. In their place came the Secretary of State for India

Indian Council Act, 1861

Increase in members: It increased the number of members in the Governor-General’s executive Council from 4 to 5. Further the Governor-General’s Executive Council was enlarged into a Central Legislative Council. Additional Members: Six to twelve “additional members” were to be nominated by the Governor-General. Not less than half of these

Indian Council Act, 1892

Additional Members: It had increased the number of “additional members” in the Central Legislative Council. They were to be not less than 10 and not more than 16. Non-Official Members: It had also increased the proportion of non-officials – 6 officials and 10 non-officials. Allowed to Discuss Budget: The members

Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909

Increase in Additional Members: The number of “additional members” of the Central Legislative Council was increased to a maximum of 60 (33 of these were nominated members). Communal Representation: The principle of election to the councils was legally recognized but communal representation was for the first time introduced in the

Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919

Dyarchy: Dyarchy was introduced in the provinces. Provincial subjects were divided into “Reserved Subjects” such as police, jails, land revenue, irrigation and forests and “Transferred Subjects” such as education, local self-government, public health, sanitation, agriculture and industries. The Reserved subjects were to be administered by the Governor and his Executive

The Government of India Act, 1935

All India Federation: Provision for the establishment of an All India Federation at the Centre, consisting of the Provinces of British India and the Princely States. Division of Powers: Division of powers into three lists: Federal, Provincial and Concurrent. Dyarchy at Centre: Introduction of Dyarchy at the Centre. The Governor-General and his

Major Harappan Sites and their Features

Sites Important Features Harappa It was the first site to be discovered. It is located on the bank of the river Ravi in Western Punjab. In terms of its size and the variety of objects discovered, it ranks as the premier city of the Harappan Civilization. The ruins of the city cover a

Major Inscriptions & their Features

Inscriptions Features Mandasaur Inscription By Kumaragupta in 437-38 AD. Mentioning construction of Sun temple. Written by Vatsbhatta. In Mandsor district, Madhya Pradesh. Lumbini Pillar Inscription It is located in Nepal. It is a royal commemorative inscription recording Ashoka’s visit to Buddha’s birth place. Kudumiyamalai Inscription Located in Pudukottai district, Tamil Nadu. Inscription written on rocks of cave temple. Is a celebrated musical

Major Battles and Treaties

Battles Treaties Year Significance Mughal-Ahom Battle Treaty of Asurar Ali 1639 The treaty established the boundary between the Mughal empire and the Ahom kingdom ending the Mughal’s efforts to conquer Ahom.

Various Organizations and their Leaders in Modern India

Organization Founder Year Brief Description Abhinav Bharat V. Savarkar 1904 It was a society of radicals who believed in armed insurrection to overthrow British authority and hence carried out a few killings

Major Newspapers and Literary Works

Year Name Newspaper/ Journal Founder 1780 Bengal Gazette English newspaper James Augustus Hicky 1819 Samvad Kaumudi Bengali weekly newspaper Ram Mohan

Important Sessions of Congress

Year Location President Importance 1885 Bombay W C Bonnerjee 1st session attended by 72 delegates 1886 Calcutta Dadabhai Naoroji National Congress

Governor Generals and Viceroys and Major Events their Regime

Governors-General & Viceroys Events Warren Hastings (1773-1785) Regulating Act of 1773Pitt’s India Act of 1784The Rohilla War of 1774The First Maratha War in 1775-82 and the Treaty of Salbai in 1782Second Mysore War in 1780-84

Committee, Commission and Proposals/Recommendations

Charles Wood Despatch (1854) Governor-General/Viceroy: Lord Dalhousie Subject: Education Recommendations: According to the recommendations, it was declared that the aim of the Government’s policy was the promotion of western education. In his despatch, he emphasized on the education of art, science, philosophy and literature of Europe. Hunter Commission (1882) Governor-General/Viceroy: Lord Ripon Subject: Education Recommendations: There should

Important Terminologies related to Ancient and Medieval India

Buddhism & Jainism Word Meaning Ajivika A heterodox sect closer to Jainism. It prospered at the time of the Buddha. Stupa Domical structure containing relics of the Buddha. Hinayana Literally ‘lesser vehicle’, also known as ‘abandoned vehicle’ or ‘defective vehicle’. It believes in the original teachings of Buddha or ‘Doctrine of Elders’. Chaitya A Buddhist place of worship. Bodhisattva An individual who

Rulers of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire: Chronology

Rulers Duration Facts Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210) Founder of Mamluk Dynast and Slave of Muhammad Ghori Aram Shah (1210–1211) Eldest son of Qutb-ud-din Aibak Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (1211–1236) Son-in-law of Qutb-ud-din Aibak Ruknuddin Feruz Shah (1236) Son of Iltutmish Razia Sultana (1236–1240) Daughter of Iltutmish and Grand Daughter of Qutb-ud-din Aibak. Muizuddin Bahram (1240–1242) Son of Iltutmish Alauddin Masud (1242–1246) Son of Ruknuddin Feruz Shah Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246–1266) Razia’s Brother who had died in 1229 Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (1266–1286) Father-in-law of Nashiruddin

Model MCQs

General Studies (Paper-I) Model