Current Context : 127th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi was marked on 12 September

ABOUT BATTLE

• Fought on September 12, 1897, is a significant event in Indian military history, particularly for its demonstration of valor and sacrifice by a small group of soldiers against the Orakzai and Afridi tribes.
• Location: Saragarhi, which is now part of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in modern-day Pakistan.
• Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.
• The battle involved 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikhs regiment of the British Indian Army.
• The unit was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, who displayed exceptional leadership during the conflict.
• The battle is commemorated for the bravery of the Sikh soldiers, who exemplified loyalty and heroism under extreme conditions.

Current Context : Tribal community’s one of the biggest festivals ‘Karam’, was celebrated with traditional fervour in Jharkhand.

ABOUT KARAM FESTIVAL :

• Karam Festival (also known as Karma Festival)
• Celebrated in Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
• Celebrated by : Baiga, Oraon, Binjhwari, Munda, Majhwar, Ho, Khortha, and Korba tribe.
• Significance : Marks the beginning of the harvest season and is associated with agricultural fertility.
• Cultural Importance : The tribals worship the Karam tree on the occasion and pray to Mother Nature to ensure a rich harvest in the kharif season.

Current Context : The India-Germany Platform for Investments in Renewable Energies Worldwide, was launched at the 4th RE-INVEST.

• Aim : to develop concrete and sustainable solutions for the accelerated expansion of renewable energy.
• The platform will bring together international stakeholders from across the globe, including the private sector (both financial sector and industry), international organizations, development banks and bilateral partners, to create business opportunities.

ABOUT RE-INVEST

• It is a GoI’s flagship event to showcase India’s RE potential to the world & to invite investment in the sector by initiating multilateral dialogue.
• It is a global renewable energy investors meet and expo organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.
• Aim : to accelerate the development and deployment of renewable energy in India
• The first RE-INVEST India was held in

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh will be the first state in the country to formulate horticulture policy.

Aim : to boost horticultural production and transforming the state into the fruit bowl of the country.

About Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition (HPSHIVA)

• Project aims to increase the income of farm households in seven districts (Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, Sirmour and Una) of subtropical areas of Himachal Pradesh.
• Project would cover 6,000 hectares of land across seven districts of the state.
• Project is an initiative by the State Government of Himachal Pradesh, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Total outlay of Project is USD 163 million (approximately INR 1300 crores).
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) : Provides USD 130 million in financial assistance.
• State Government : Contributes the remaining USD 33 million.

Current Context : Neeraj Chopra concluded his 2024 season with another impressive second-place finish at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

• His best throw of 86m was just 0.01m (or 1cm) short of Anderson Peters’ winning throw of 87.87m.

ABOUT DIAMOND LEAGUE

• The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field competitions that includes fifteen of the top invitational athletics meetings.
• It is recognized as part of the premier tier of World Athletics (formerly IAAF) one-day meeting competitions.
• Launched in 2010, the Diamond League was created to replace the IAAF Golden League, which had run since 1998.
• It features 32 Diamond Discipline events, with each meeting hosting several of these events.
• The 32 disciplines of the Diamond League are as follows: •
• Both Men and Women: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m/Mile, 3000m/5000m, 3000m SC(Steeplechase), 110m Hurdles (100m for women), 400m Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw;

Current Context : Typhoon Bebinca, strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai in China.

• Typhoon Bebinca, which disrupted flights and destroyed infrastructure was recorded to have attained speeds as high as 150 kilometres per hour.
• Typhoon Bebinca, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ferdie, was a strong tropical cyclone that affected East China, Guam, Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands in early September 2024.

About Cyclone

• Cyclones are powerful storms characterized by rotating winds and low atmospheric pressure, typically forming over warm ocean waters.

Types of Cyclones:

Tropical Cyclones:

• Form in warm tropical regions.
• Classified into categories based on wind speed (e.g., tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane/typhoon).

Extra-Tropical Cyclones:

• Form in temperate regions.

Often associated with fronts and can occur year-round.

Current Context : The Honorable Vice President of India Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the “Constitutional Temple – Samvidhan Mandir” at 433 Industrial Training Institutes across Maharashtra.

• This programme was organized by the Maharashtra Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Department.
• The Constitution Temples have been designed to educate students about the importance and sanctity of the Constitution of India and to disseminate the ideas and thoughts of the father of the Indian Constitution, Bharat Ratna, Bhimrao R Ambedkar.

Current Context : Recently, Delhi government has started preparations to spray bio-decomposer over 5,000 acres of farmland in New Delhi.

• Aim : to reduce pollution and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

ABOUT

• It is a microbial liquid spray that breaks down paddy stubble, making it easily absorbable into the soil and eliminating the need for burning.
• Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
• The government has been providing the bio-decomposer solution free of charge since 2020 in outer Delhi.
• Adopted in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and NCT of Delhi.

ADVANTAGES:

• Pollution ReductioN: Prevents the burning of paddy stubble, helping to lower air pollution.
• Soil Fertility: Enhances soil fertility by enriching it with organic carbon, nutrients, and improving biological and physical prop
• Practical Solution: Offers an efficient, cost-effective, and practical method to combat stubble burning.
• Eco-Friendly: Promotes environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

Current Context : The Railway Ministry has renamed the Bhuj-Ahmedabad Vande Metro to Namo Bharat Rapid Rail.

• Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, which aims to enhance intercity connectivity, will cover 359 km distance from Bhuj to Ahmedabad in 5:45 hours. In between, the train will stop at nine stations.
• Namo Bharat trains will connect the heart of Ahmedabad with its peripheral cities.
• Developed on the same platform as the Vande Bharat Express, the Vande Metro train is a self-propelled train set designed for short-distance inter-city travel.

Current Context : The Odisha government recently approved a proposal to transfer 95 percent of the equity shares of Gopalpur Port to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).

• Gopalpur Port, situated near Berhampur town in southern Odisha, is about 175 kilometers from Bhubaneswar.
• This will be the second port owned by Adani in Odisha, as APSEZ also owns the Dhamra port.
• The port has been developed through a public-private partnership, enhancing its operational efficiency and capacity.
• The port handles 43 million metric tonne per annum of cargo, employs 4,000 people.
• It shares 7.5% of its gross revenue with Odisha govt.