Current Context : Former Haryana chief minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo, Om Prakash Chautala, passed away at the age of 89.

About

• Born on January 1, 1935, in Chautala village, Sirsa district, Haryana.
• Son of Devi Lal, former Deputy Prime Minister of India.
• Served as Haryana’s Chief Minister for five terms:

Current Context : The Ministry of Culture has partnered with France Museums Dévelopement (FMD) to develop the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum into a world-class cultural institution.

About Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum

• Planned as a world-class cultural institutionunder the Central Vista Redevelopment Project in New Delhi.
• It aims to showcase India’s heritagecomprehensively, reflecting its civilizational legacy.

Location: Spread across North and South Blocks, the heart of India’s administrative capital.

• Inspired by France’s Grands Projetsinitiative, which repurposed government buildings into cultural landmarks.

Objective :

• To modernize and preserve historical architecture.
• Expected to enhance tourism and promote India’s rich cultural and historical narrative

Current Context : Recently, the Phewa Dialogue is a collaborative initiative between Nepal and China, launched to foster regional economic integration and address global industrial shifts affecting South Asia.

About Phewa Dialogue

• The dialogue is named after Phewa Lake, a prominent freshwater lake in Pokhara, symbolizing the serene and collaborative spirit of the initiative.
• Objective:To serve as Nepal’s first official think tank forum dedicated to South Asia’s regional economic integration, focusing on:
• Addressing the global industrial shift and its implications for South Asia.
• Formulating policies for regional prosperity and peace.

Current Context : The Union Government has re-imposed the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland to address security concerns.

PAR was scrapped in 2011 to boost tourism in these states.

About PAR

The Protected Area Regime (PAR) in India is a regulatory framework that restricts the entry and movement of foreign nationals in certain areas designated as “Protected Areas”.

• Regulation: Governed by the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.

Areas Covered

1. Entire state of Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Specific parts of:
   • Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland(currently reinstated).
   • Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.
3. All regions between the ‘Inner Line’ and the International Border of the respective state.

Key Provisions

• Special Permit Requirement:Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to enter these regions.
• Issuing Authority:The permits are issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Validity: Generally valid for 10 days, extendable under special conditions.

Observed on: December 23 annually.

• Aim :To honor the contributions of farmers to the economy and society and raise awareness about issues related to agriculture and the welfare of farmers.
• Established in:2001 by the Government of India.
• Reason for the date: December 23 marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the 5th Prime Minister of India, who is known for his advocacy for the rights and welfare of farmers.

Celebrated on 22 December annually.

Aim : To celebrate the birth anniversary of the renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and recognize his contributions to the field of mathematics.

• Established in 2012by the Government of India.
• First celebrated on December 22, 2012.

About Srinivasa Ramanujan:

• Born on December 22, 1887, in Erode, Tamil Nadu.
• Made significant contributions to number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions.
• Known for his work on Ramanujan’s primes and Ramanujan’s tau function.

Current Context : Recently, India and China held a Special Representatives meeting to discuss their border issues.

• They confirmed the implementation of the October 2024 disengagement agreement, which has allowed for the resumption of patrolling and grazing in certain border areas.
• Positive outcomes: Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, trans-border river data sharing, and border trade

About Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:

• Location: Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.
• Cultural Significance: Sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Tibetan Bon religion.
• Mansarovar Lake: World’s highest freshwater lake.
• Access: Via Lipulekh Pass, Uttarakhand.
• Trans-border Rivers: India and China agreed to share data on rivers crossing their borders to improve resource management.
• Border Trade : Trade via Nathu La Pass and other routes to be resumed.

Current Context : All 17,130 police stations in the country has been linked through Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS).

About Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project

• It is a significant e-Governance initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
• Launched in 2009
• Aim : to create a comprehensive and integrated system to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at all levels.
• Implementing Agency: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is responsible for executing the CCTNS project.

Objectives:

• Develop a national database of crimes and criminals.
• Facilitate pan-India search on criminal and crime records.
• Provide citizen-centric services through a centralized portal.

Current Context : European Union recently launched Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²), as its third major space project.

Follows Galileo (satellite navigation system) and Copernicus (Earth observation program).

Objective:

• Provide secure communication and high-speed broadband in remote and underserved areas.
• Support government applications like border surveillance and crisis management.

Satellite Constellation:

• Comprises 290 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits.
• Full deployment expected by 2030.

Developing Partners:

• Supported by the European Space Agency (ESA)and SpaceRISE consortium (Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES).

Current Context : Recently, a 31-member JPC was formed to review bills related to the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. This committee comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

About Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)

• JPC is an ad-hoc committeeset up for specific objectives and duration.
• Established through a motion passed in one houseof Parliament and agreed upon by the other.
• Membership: Composition includes members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as determined by Parliament.

Functions:

1. Conducts detailed scrutiny of bills and issues.
2. Collects evidence, examines witnesses, and submits reports with recommendations to Parliament.

Authority: Recommendations are not binding on the government, which may choose to accept or reject them.