Observed on August 29.

• It was established on December 2, 2009, at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
• Aim : to raise awareness about the harmful effects of nuclear weapon tests and to promote the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.

Celebrated on August 29 every year.

• Aim : to honor the contributions of athletes and promotes physical fitness.
• This date commemorates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary hockey player known as “The Wizard of Hockey,” who led India to multiple Olympic golds.

Current Context : The Kullu Government College unit of the Rovers and Rangers, in collaboration with the Rotary Club, Kullu, carried out cleanliness and plantation drive in the Bijli Mahadev trek area of Kullu.

ABOUT TREK

• Bijli Mahadev is one of the most popular and oldest trek located in Himachal.
• It is a trek to the Shiva temple, located on Mathan Hill in Kullu.
• It starts from Chansari village and is a short 3 km walk on a well established trail to the top.

ABOUT BIJLI MAHADEV TEMPLE

• It is located in Kashawri village in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
• Altitude : 2,460m high
• This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Significance : According to a popular myth, Bijli Mahadev temple was built as a homage to lord Shiva, who had saved the Kullu valley from a demon named Jalandhara. The demon wanted to submerge the entire valley by stopping the flow of Beas river. However, Lord Shiva killed him with his trident.
• A 60-foot long shaft on the temple top attracts atmospheric lightning and destroys the lingam at regular intervals.
• It is believed that divine power saves the world from destruction by absorbing the lightning. This lingam is put together using butter as an adhesive.

Current Context : Industrial units of Kala Amb face threat from Markanda river, especially in Ogli village, where a retaining wall has been severely damaged by strong water currents of the river.

ABOUT MARKANDA RIVER

• It flows in the Sirmaur district of Himachal, Ambala district, and Markanda town in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana.
• Originates from the Shivalik hills and flows along the Haryana-Punjab border.
• Ancient name : Aruna river.
• Tributary : Begna river, Ran and Nakati
• Length : 120 km out of which 90 km is in Haryana.

Current Context : About 70 farmers of the Lambagaon block of Kangra together to set up the state’s first farmer-producer organisation (FPO).

Objective : to form the state’s first farmer-producer organisation on natural turmeric cultivation in the Lambagaon block.

ABOUT FARMER-PRODUCER ORGANIZATION (FPO)

• It is a legal entity formed by farmers, typically small and marginal, to ensure better income through an organized system of farming, production, and marketing.
• Objective : to improve the economic situation of farmers by enhancing their bargaining power, reducing costs, and providing better market access.

Current Context : The state government will allocate Rs 53.21 crore annually to fund the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana.

• Aim : to provide financial assistance to widows, destitute women, divorced women and disabled parents to support the education and well-being of their children.
• It will support two specific age groups –
• For children under the age of 18, eligible women and disabled parents will get a monthly grant of Rs 1,000 to cover their educational, health and nutritional expenses.
• Children who secure admission to undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, or vocational courses will receive financial aid from the government to bear tuition and hostel costs.
• Eligibility : women, children and individuals with a family income not exceeding Rs 1 lakh per annum are covered under the scheme.

Current Context : At least 27 killed as bus carrying Indian tourists plunges into Nepal Marshyangdi river.

ABOUT MARSHYANGDI RIVER

• It originates from the Annapurna Range in the central Himalayas of
• It flows westwards through the Manang and Lamjung districts before merging with the Gandaki River.
• It is a tributary of the Gandaki River, which is part of the larger Ganges river system.
  • The Gandaki River is known as the Narayani in the plains of Nepal and as the Gandak in India.

Current Context : Recently, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma was hospitalised after testing positive for scrub typhus and typhoid.

ABOUT SCRUB TYPHUS DISEASE

• It is also known as bush typhus.
• It is a caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi.
• Transmission : through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites)
• Symptoms : fever, headache, body aches, and rash.

ABOUT TYPHOID

• Typhoid is a life-threatening infection caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria.
• Spreads through contaminated food or water.

Current Context : PM Modi released ₹2,500 crore at Lakhpati Didi Sammelan in Maharashtra.

It will benefit around 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

ABOUT LAKHPATI DIDI SCHEME

• It is a government initiative in India aimed at empowering women, particularly those in rural areas, by providing financial support and resources to help them become economically self-sufficient.
• Goal : to create two crore “lakhpati didis” (prosperous sisters) in villages.
• Under this scheme, women will be provided skill training so that they can earn over Rs 1 lakh per year.

Current Context : Department of Posts has launched a philately scholarship scheme Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana for the promotion of aptitude and research in stamps.

• It is proposed to grant scholarship of ₹ 6,000/ – per annum for students of classes 6 to 9, whose academic records are good as well as who have adopted Philately as a hobby.
• It will provide maximum 40 scholarships to 10 students of class 6, 7, 8, and 9 each.
• The amount of scholarship will be ₹ 6000/- per annum at the rate of ₹ 500/- per month.
• Eligibility : should be a student of a recognized school in India and must have secured at least 60 percent marks or equivalent grade/grade points in the last final examination.
• There will be a relaxation of 5% for SC/ST candidates.