Current Context : Hemant Soren, leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is set to be sworn in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for another term.

• His party achieved victory in the recent state elections.
• The JMM-led INDIA alliance secured a decisive win in the 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly. They obtained a total of 56 seats. The JMM alone won 34 seats.

About Jharkhand

• Formation: Created on November 15, 2000, from Bihar.
• Tribal Demographics: Significant tribal population, including Santhals, Mundas, and Oraons.
• Resources: Rich in minerals like coal, iron ore, and mica; a key contributor to India’s mining sector.
• State tree : Sal tree, also known as Shorea robusta.
• State animal : Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus).

Current Context : The Chinar Boat Race 2024 was recently held at Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, and organized by the Army.

About Dal Lake:

• Location:Situated in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, at a mid-altitude.
• Scenic Surroundings:Surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountain range.
• Nicknames:Known as the “Jewel of Kashmir” and “Srinagar’s Jewel.”
• Size and Wetland:The lake is the second-largest in Jammu & Kashmir, spanning 18 sq. km. It forms part of a larger wetland area of 21.1 sq. km.
• Basin Division:Divided by causeways into four basins – Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin (the latter often considered a separate lake).
• Shoreline:The 15.5-kilometre-long shoreline features Mughal gardens, parks, houseboats, and hotels.
• Floating Gardens:Known as Raad in Kashmiri, these gardens bloom with lotus flowers during July and August.
• Floating Market:Vendors on wooden boats (Shikaras) sell goods directly to tourists.
• Depth and Climate:Water depth ranges from 2.5 to 6 metres. In winter, temperatures can drop to -11°C, causing the lake to freeze.

Islands in Dal Lake:

• Total Islands:The lake has three islands, two of which are adorned with Chinar trees.
• Roph Lank (Silver Island):Located in Lokut Dal, this island is famous for its Char-Chinari (Four Chinars) – majestic Chinar trees at each corner.
• Sone Lank (Gold Island):Found in Bod Dal, this island offers views of the Hazratbal Shrine.

Current Context : Over 1.76 crore students from all 36 States and UTs participated in Veer Gatha 4.0.

About Project Veer Gatha

• Launch:Started in 2021 to share stories of Gallantry Awardees’ bravery, sacrifice, and courage with students.
• Objective:Instill patriotism among students by engaging them in creative projects and activities based on the lives of gallantry award winners.
• Editions:Successfully conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
• Collaboration:Joint initiative by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education.

Gallantry Awards

• Purpose:Recognize bravery and sacrifices by Armed Forces personnel, law enforcement officers, and civilians.
• Announcements:Declared twice annually—on Republic Day and Independence Day.
• Types:
  • Peacetime Awards:Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra.
  • War-time Awards:Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra.
• Precedence:
  1. Param Vir Chakra
  2. Ashoka Chakra
  3. Mahavir Chakra
  4. Kirti Chakra
  5. Vir Chakra
  6. Shaurya Chakra

Current Context : Recently, the Union Minister for Education along with the Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs launched a World Bank’s report titled Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People in Six States, at an event in New Delhi

About the Report:

1. Purpose: Aligns education with employment opportunities and identifies priority sectors with job potential for youth.
2. Focus States: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
3. Skills Gap Analysis: Maps school trades to industry-specific district needs and emphasizes skill-based education for Classes 9-12.

Key Features:

1. Encourages a bottom-up approach to bridge education and job market gaps.
2. Supports reimagining skill education through research in six STARS project states.

About the STARS Scheme:

1. Launched: 2021, effective until FY 2024-25.
2. Objective: Improve education quality in six states.
3. Supported by: World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Education.

Current Context : Recently, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has invited online applications for the single girl child merit scholarship scheme.

About CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child:

• The CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme is designed to support academically talented single girl children of their parents. It aims to encourage girl child education and recognize parents’ efforts in promoting it. Below are the key details:

Objective:

• Provides financial aid to meritorious single girl students who have passed CBSE Class X with 60% or more marks and are continuing education in Classes XI and XII.

Eligibility:

1. Single Girl Child: Applicant must be the only child of her parents and an Indian national.
2. Academic Performance: Must have scored 60% or more in CBSE Class X Examination.
3. Tuition Fee: Should not exceed ₹1,500/month in Class X. For NRIs, the fee cap is ₹6,000/month.
4. School Affiliation: Must be studying in a CBSE-affiliated school.
5. Family Income: Parental annual income should not exceed ₹8 lakhs.

Scholarship Amount:

• ₹500/month for up to two years, paid via ECS/NEFT.

Renewal:

• Can be renewed for Class XII if the student scores 50% or more in Class XI and continues in a CBSE-affiliated school.

Current Context : Recently, Health officials in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, are taking precautions to prevent Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as Monkey Fever. 

About the Disease:

• KFD is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), part of the Flavivirus
• It was first identified in the Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka in 1957.
• The virus is primarily transmitted by ticks(notably Haemaphysalis spinigera). Small animals like rodents and monkeys act as carriers.

Transmission:

• Humans get infected through tick bites or contact with infected monkeys.
• There is no person-to-person transmission.
• Peak infection occurs between January and April, with cases declining by May or June.

Symptoms:

• Sudden fever, severe weakness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes neurological or bleeding symptoms.

Treatment and Prevention:

• No specific cure exists; only supportive care(hydration, oxygen, blood pressure management) is provided.
• Vaccination is recommended in endemic regions.

Celebrated every year on November 26^th.

• Also known as Law Day or Samwidhan Divas.
• Aim : to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India on this day in 1949. It came into effect on 26th January 1950, marking India’s transition to a republic.

Historical Significance:

• The day celebrates the contribution of the Constituent Assembly and acknowledges the efforts of  B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution.
• Constitution Day was officially declared in 2015by the Government of India to honor the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar.

It is observed on 26 November.

• Objective : to commemorate the birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien, known as the “Father of the White Revolution” in India.
• Aim : to honor Dr. Kurien’s contributions to transforming India from a milk-deficient country to the world’s largest producer of milk through the Operation Flood

Observed annually on November 25

• Aim : to raise awareness about violence against women and girls and mobilize efforts to eliminate it.
• It marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, culminating on December 10(Human Rights Day).

Current Context : Recently, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025, released by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, evaluates the climate protection performance of 63 countries and the European Union.

What is CCPI?

• The CCPI is an annual ranking system that evaluates and tracks the climate action performance of 63 countries and the European Union (EU), which together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• It focuses on four key categories: GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use, and Climate Policy.
• Aim : to enhance transparency in international climate policies and highlight areas requiring urgent improvement.
• It helps countries align with global targets such as the Paris Agreement and net-zero commitments.