Current Context:  Recently, 17 Members of Parliament (MPs) awarded Sansad Ratna Awards for outstanding performance in the 18^th Lok Sabha.

• Based on metrics like debates, questions, bills, attendance, and committee work.
• Notable recipients: Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Ravi Kishan (BJP), Nishikant Dubey (BJP), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-UBT).
• Special Jury Awards given for sustained excellence to:
  • Bhartruhari Mahtab
  • K. Premachandran
  • Supriya Sule
  • Shrirang Appa Barne

 ABOUT SANSAD RATNA AWARDS

• Established : Initiated in 2010, inspired by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to recognize parliamentary excellence.
• Selection Criteria : Based on objective data: debates, MP questions, bills, attendance, committee contributions.
• Significance
  • Encourages transparency, efficiency, and democratic accountability in Parliament.
  • Rewards active legislative performance and sustained contributions.

Current Context : Recently, Gyan Bharatam Mission launched by PM Narendra Modi during the 124th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

• Aims to digitise ancient Indian manuscripts and create a National Digital Repository for global access.

 ABOUT GYAN BHARATAM MISSION

• Vision & Purpose
  • Preserve over 1 crore ancient manuscripts seen as “Chapters of India’s soul”.
  • Develop a central digital platform for scholars, students, and global public access.
• Key Goals
  • Digitisation of rare, fragile, and historical texts.
  • Build a centralised digital repository.
  • Provide global academic access to India’s civilisational heritage.

Current Context : Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) will establish India’s first Hindi-medium MBBS college, starting academic session 2027–28.

• Entire instruction, clinical training, and exams will be conducted in Hindi.

 ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

• Approval Process
  • Proposal cleared by the Executive Council of Madhya Pradesh Medical University.
  • Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be submitted to the State Government, then to the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• Significance
  • Teaching, exams, and clinical training to be delivered completely in Hindi.
  • Builds on previous state efforts—like translating MBBS textbooks into Hindi.
• Impact & Capacity
  • Aims to broaden access to medical education for Hindi-speaking students.
  • Initial intake: 50 MBBS seats.
  • Clinical training to be held at the existing government medical college in Jabalpur.

Current Context : On Global Tiger Day (29 July 2025), Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Kaziranga Tiger Reserve now ranks 3rd globally in tiger density.

• Tiger count increased from 104 (2022) to 148 (2024) — a major conservation success.

 ABOUT KAZIRANGA TIGER RESERVE

• Location: Assam, in Golaghat and Nagaon districts
• UNESCO World Heritage Status: Since 1985 
• Designated Tiger Reserve: 2006
• Tiger Population Growth
  • 1997: ~80 tigers
  • 2019: 121 tigers
  • 2022: 104 tigers
  • 2024: 148 tigers
• Division-wise Data (2024)
  • Biswanath Wildlife Division (first-time survey): 27 tigers
  • Eastern Assam Division: 104 → 115 tigers
  • Nagaon Division: stable at 6 tigers
• Density Rank (Global)
  • Kaziranga:65 tigers / 100 sq km
  • Ranks 3rd worldwide, after:
    • Bandipur (Karnataka):83
    • Corbett (Uttarakhand):56

Current Context : The Indian Army conducted Exercise Drone Prahar at Rayang, East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

 About Exercise DRONE PRAHAR

• Objective
  • Enhance battlefield commanders’ situational awareness.
  • Enable real-time decision-making through layered drone surveillance.
  • Integrate drones into routine military operations for combat modernization.
• Operational Highlights
  • Demonstrated sensor-to-shooter coordination using live drone feeds.
  • Showed precision targeting supported by real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance)
  • Tested airspace deconfliction, secure communication, and inter-unit coordination.

Current Context: In the 27 July 2025 edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Paithani sarees for their exquisite traditional craftsmanship.

• He highlighted the contribution of artisans from Paithan, Maharashtra, especially Kavita Dhawale, who has enabled employment for 350+ women weavers through her centre.

 ABOUT PAITHANI SAREES

• Origin & History:
  • Originated in Paithan, on the banks of the Godavari River, in Maharashtra.
  • Traces back to the 2nd century BC, during the Satavahana Dynasty.
• Material & Craftsmanship:
  • Handwoven in pure silk, combined with gold or silver zari work.
  • Known for vibrant hues and tapestry-style weaving, with reversible borders (selvedges).
• Design Elements:
  • Traditional motifs include peacock, lotus, parrot, creepers, and geometric padar (border)
  • Influences drawn from Ajanta and Ellora cave art.
• Cultural Significance:
  • Called the “Mahavastra of Maharashtra”, considered a symbol of cultural pride.
  • Often passed down as heirloom sarees, worn during festivals, weddings, and religious occasions.
  • Awarded Geographical Indication (GI) Tag in 2010.

Current Context: The 14th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra began on 27 July 2025 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and will continue till 4 August 2025.

ABOUT EXERCISE BOLD KURUKSHETRA

• A joint military drill between India and Singapore, aimed at improving interoperability under a UN peacekeeping framework.
• Participants:
• Indian Army: Mechanised Infantry Regiment
• Singapore Army: 42 Armoured Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade

Current Context: The Prime Minister of India recently visited the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and offered prayers during an official tour.

 ABOUT BRIHADISVARA TEMPLE (Peruvudaiyar Kovil)

• Location: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu – on the south bank of River Cauvery.
• Built By: Rajaraja Chola I (c. 1003–1010 CE) over 7 years.
• Architecture:
  • Dravidian style, built entirely in granite with zero tilt design.
  • Vimana (Tower): 216 ft tall — among the tallest stone towers globally.
  • Capstone (Shikhara): ~80-ton granite block, placed using ancient lifting techniques.
  • Shrine: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, features a 13-ft high Nandi carved from a single stone.
  • Inscriptions: Grantha & Tamil scripts detailing Chola administration and artistic legacy.
  • UNESCO Status: Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987 as part of the Great Living Chola Temples.

Current Context: E3 nations (UK, France, Germany) met Iran in Istanbul, warning of activating the “snapback mechanism” to reimpose UN sanctions if Iran doesn’t resume nuclear talks or cooperate with the IAEA.

• Iran warned that this could prompt withdrawal from the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and trigger harsh retaliatory steps.

ABOUT E3 COUNTRIES & SNAPBACK MECHANISM

• E3 Group: Informal diplomatic trio — UK, France, Germany — formed during 2003 Iraq war and Iran nuclear negotiations.
• Snapback Mechanism:
  • A clause under UNSCR 2231 (JCPOA, 2015) allowing automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran violates commitments.
  • Mechanism expires on 18 October 2025.

Current Context: President’s Rule in Manipur has been extended for another six months starting 13 August 2025, through a Rajya Sabha resolution introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah.

ABOUT PRESIDENT’S RULE (Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions)

• Constitutional Basis:
• Article 356 – Invoked when state constitutional machinery breaks down, often based on Governor’s report.
• Article 365 – Applicable if the state defies Union directions.
• Duration: Initially up to 6 months; can be extended up to 3 years with Parliament’s approval every 6 months.
• Manipur Context:
  • Imposed from 13 February 2025 after CM Biren Singh resigned amid ethnic violence.
  • Extended again effective 13 August 2025 due to continued unrest.