Current Context : Recent excavations at Rakhigarhi, a prominent Harappan site in Haryana, have unveiled advanced water management systems dating back approximately 5,000 years.

Water Storage Area: Found between mounds, 3.5-4 feet deep for water conservation.

Dried Riverbed: Chautang (Drishavati) River’s dried bed discovered, indicating water management.

Harappan Water Management Techniques:

• Elaborate Drainage: Underground drains for sewage, connecting houses to public drains.
• Small Bunds: Lothal built bunds to store rainwater for irrigation and drinking.
• Dockyard at Lothal: Channels for water flow to support maritime activities.
• Dholavira Reservoirs: Stone-built canals and reservoirs for water storage and management.
• Mohenjodaro Tanks: Rainwater harvested in tanks and supplied to wells via an efficient drainage system.

Rakhigarhi Site: Largest Harappan city in Haryana, yielding DNA evidence and artifacts such as residential structures, craft areas, and burial grounds.

Current Context : The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first human-made object to fly close to the Sun.

• Objective:The mission aims to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, to enhance our understanding of solar wind and space weather phenomena.
• Speed: The probe reached speeds of 700,000 km/h, making it the fastest human-made object.
• Instruments: Carries instruments like the Fields Experiment (FIELDS) and Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) for measuring solar activity and space weather.
• Thermal Protection: Equipped with a carbon foam heat shield to protect from extreme temperatures exceeding 1,800°F (982°C).

Current Context : The government plans to borrow ₹3.94 lakh crore through T-Bills in the fiscal year 2024-25.

About T-Bills :

• T-Bills are short-term debt instruments issued by the Government of India to meet its short-term funding needs.
• Issuer: Issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through an auction on its E-Kuber platform.
• Tenure: T-Bills are issued in three tenors: 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days.
• Zero-Coupon: They are zero-coupon securities, issued at a discount and redeemed at face value upon maturity.
• Participants: Major participants include commercial banks, primary dealers, insurance companies, mutual funds, co-operative banks, and retail investors.
• Liquidity: Considered low-risk and highly liquid investment options.

NOTE: In India, the Central Government issues both T-Bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, called the State Development Loans (SDLs).

Current Context : The Indian Army contingent comprising 334 personnel departed for Nepal  to participate in 18th edition of Battalion Level Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN.

Scheduled from December 31, 2024, to January 13, 2025, at Saljhandi, Nepal.

Participants:

• Indian Army: 11th Gorkha Rifles Battalion(334 personnel).
• Nepal Army: Srijung Battalion.

Objective:

• Enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under the UN Charter.
• Focus areas: Operational preparedness, aviation aspects, medical training, and environment conservation.

Current Context : The Delhi High Court has recently ordered signing of an MoU between Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Delhi Government for implementing PM- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) scheme in the national capital.

About PM- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):

• Launch: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with ₹64,180 crores outlay (2021-22 to 2025-26).
• Objective: Strengthen healthcare infrastructure at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels; address gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance, and health researchin both rural and urban areas.
• Rural HWCs: 17,788 centres (5000 population in plains, 3000 in hilly/tribal areas).
• Urban HWCs: 11,024 centres for slum-like areas (1 per 15,000-20,000 population).
• Public Health Units: 3382 Block Public Health Units; 50 units at airports, seaports, and land crossings.
• Digital Health: Expanded Integrated Health Information Portal to all States/UTs.

Current Context : Martina Devi won a silver medal in the women’s junior +87kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships.

She lifted a total of 225kg (96kg in snatch + 129kg in clean and jerk).

Medals:

• Silver in clean and jerk.
• Bronze in snatch.
• Age & Origin: 18-year-old from Manipur.
• Field: She finished second in a three-lifter field.

Current Context : Ajay Thakur, former captain of the national kabaddi squad, announced retirement from international kabaddi,  after his last match in Melbourne, Australia.

About Ajay Thakur

• Hails from Dhabota village, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh.
• Joined Himachal Pradesh Police as DSP in 2017.
• Gained fame through the Pro Kabaddi League.

Achievements:

• Led India to victory in the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship.
• 2016 Kabaddi World Cup: Top raider with 68 points, securing gold for India.
• Won gold medals at:
  • Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (2013)
  • Asian Indoor Games (2007)
  • Asian Games (2014)
• Bronze medal in the 2018 Asian Games.

Awards:

• Honored with Padma Shri and Arjuna Award.
• Received the Parshuram Award(Himachal Pradesh).

Current Context : The Kaveri engine, developed by India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), has reached a significant milestone by being cleared for inflight testing, marking a pivotal step toward India’s self-reliance in aerospace technology.

• Developer: Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), DRDO, India.
• Purpose: Initially designed to power Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA); later modified for UAVs like Ghatak stealth UCAV.
• Thrust Output: Original version produced 81 kN (with afterburner); “Dry Kaveri” variant produces 48-51 kN (no afterburner).
• Significance: Boosts self-reliance in aerospace technology; reduces dependence on foreign engines.

Background of the Kaveri Engine

• Launched in the 1980s under DRDO to power indigenous fighter aircraft.

Current Context : On December 25, 2024, coinciding with Good Governance Day and the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh launched the ‘Rashtraparv’ website and mobile application.

Features:

• The website will facilitate access to information related to organization of national events such as Republic Day, Beating Retreat Ceremony, Independence Day etc., live streaming, purchase of tickets, provide information related to seating arrangements & route-maps of events etc.
• The website and mobile application have been a result of consultative process adopted by Ministry of Defence.

Current Context : CSIR conducted Scientific Aptitude Assessment Exercise under JIGYASA program.

About  JIGYASA program

• Launched By: CSIR in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
• Objective: Enhances classroom learning with research-based, hands-on laboratory experiences for school students.
• Focus: Promotes curiosity, scientific temperament, and Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR).
• Activities: Includes residential programs, lab visits, onsite experiments, science clubs, and tinkering labs.