Current Context : A tourist from Rajasthan was drowned after he fell into the Chandra river.

About Chandra River :

• Originates from the Baralacha La Pass in Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
• Flows southeast before merging with the Bhaga River at Tandi to form the Chenab.
• Chandra Taal (Moon Lake) is located near its source.
• Known for its rugged terrain and harsh environment in the cold desert of Lahaul and Spiti.
• Confluence: Near Tandi, it merges with the Bhaga River to form the Chenab River.

Current Context : The winter session, 2024 of Parliament (both Houses) was adjourned sine die recently

About Adjournment sine die

• Adjournment Sine Die: Refers to the indefinite suspension of a parliamentary session without a fixed date for reconvening.
• The power of adjournment sine die lies with the Presiding Officer of the House.
• The Presiding Officer has the authority to adjourn and call a sitting at any time after the adjournment.

Current Context : New Delhi is set to host the 12^th  World Para Athletics Championships from September 26 to October 5, 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

• India’s first time hosting the event; 12th edition globally.
• Fourth Asian host after Doha (2015), Dubai (2019), and Kobe (2024).

About Para Athletics World Championship

• The World Para Athletics Championships is the premier global competition for para-athletes, featuring track and field events for athletes with disabilities.
• Frequency: The event is held biennially and is organized by World Para Athletics, a part of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Current Context : The National Institute of Siddha (NIS) in Chennai has set a Guinness World Record by administering Varmam therapy to 567 individuals simultaneously.

About Varmam Therapy:

A traditional, non-invasive healing practice within the Siddha system of medicine, focusing on stimulating specific vital points (Varmam) in the body to promote health and alleviate pain.

Key Features:

• Drugless: Does not involve medication.
• Non-Invasive: No surgical procedures are involved.
• Pain Management: Effective in treating musculoskeletal pain, neurological disorders, and injuries.

Applications:

• Treatment of acute and chronic conditions such as stroke, arthritis, and trauma-related injuries.

Provides rapid relief for musculoskeletal pain and neurological disorders.

Current Context : The recent launch of the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime route has cut shipping time and costs, thereby boosting trade between India and Russia in oil, food, and machinery.

About Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

• The Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC), also known as the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, is a strategic sea route connecting the east coast of India with Russia’s Far East region.
• Aim : to enhance bilateral trade by significantly reducing shipping time and costs between the two nations.
• The EMC spans approximately 5,600 nautical miles(about 10,300 km) between Chennai Port in India and Vladivostok in Russia.
• It traverses several key waterways, including the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, Malacca Straits, Andaman Sea, and the Bay of Bengal.

Other Maritime Corridors for India

• International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): A 7,200 km multimodal transit route connecting the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and further to Europe via Russia.
  • Includes 13 member countries and offers three routes: Central, Western, and Eastern.
  • In 2024, Russia sent two coal-laden trains to India via the INSTC for the first time.
• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Announced at the G20 Summit 2023, this project connects India, the Middle East, and Europe via rail, road, and maritime links.
  • Includes two corridors: East Corridor(India to the Arabian Gulf) and Northern Corridor (Gulf to Europe).
  • Features electricity cables, hydrogen pipelines, and high-speed data cables for greater regional integration.
• Northern Sea Route (NSR): A 5,600 km Arctic shipping route linking the Barents and Kara Seas to the Bering Strait.
  • Offers transit times up to 50% shorter than traditional routes like the Suez Canal.
  • Gains importance for India due to increased imports of Russian crude oil and coal.

Current Context : Masali village, located in Suigam taluka of Banaskantha district in Gujarat, has become India’s first fully solar-powered border village.

• Situated approximately 40 kilometers from the Pakistan border, the village is home to around 800 residents.
• Total Cost:₹16 crore.
• Execution:The project was implemented with the collaboration of the Revenue Department, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL), local banks, and solar energy companies.

Solar Infrastructure:

• Households Covered:Solar panels have been installed on the rooftops of all 199 houses in the village.
• Electricity Generation Capacity:The village now generates 225.5 kilowatts (kW) of electricity, which exceeds its total power requirements.

Significance:

• First Border Solar Village:Masali is recognized as India’s first solar-powered village in a border area.

Second Solar Village in Gujarat: Following Modhera, Masali is the second village in Gujarat to achieve full solarization.

Current Context : The “Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore” campaign, conducted from December 19 to 24, 2024, is a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing service delivery and redressing public grievances, particularly in rural areas.

• This campaign is a key component of the Good Governance Week (Sushasan Saptah) 2024, reflecting the government’s commitment to bringing effective governance closer to the rural populace.

Objectives:

• Enhance service delivery mechanisms in rural areas.
• Address and redress public grievances effectively.
• Ensure that development initiatives reach every citizen, embodying the essence of grassroots democracy.

Celebrated on December 24 every year

• Aim : To raise awareness about the importance of consumer rights and protection in India.
• This day mark the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 which came into effect on this day.

Current Context : Prof. (Dr.) Priti Saxena, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla.has been conferred the prestigious ‘Saraswati Samman-2024’ by Saraswati Sangeet Academy, Lucknow.

• Honored for exceptional contributions to higher education and academic leadership.

About Saraswati Samman

• Established:1991 by K.K. Birla Foundation.
• Purpose:Recognizes outstanding literary works in 22 Indian languages.
• Award Includes:₹15 lakh, a citation, and a plaque.
• Eligibility:Literary works from the past 10 years.

Notable Recipients:

• Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1991) for his four-volume autobiography.
• Prabha Varma(2023) for the novel in verse “Roudra Sathwikam.”

Current Context : Sahitya Akademi announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards in 21 languages.

• Eight books of poetry, three novels, two short story collections, three essays, three literary criticism works, one play, and one research work won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024

Winners

About Sahitya Akademi Award

• Established:1954
• First Awarded:1955
• Purpose:To recognize and promote excellence in Indian writing and to acknowledge new trends in Indian literature.
• Languages: The award is given for works in 24 languages: the 22 languages listed in the Indian Constitution and English and Rajasthani.
• It is awarded annually for works of poetry, fiction, drama, essay, criticism, and literary history.