Current Context: Maalvika Pathania, former chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh Women Commission, has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Chapters Division Advisory Committee of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

About INTACH:

• Establishment: Founded in 1984.
• Objective: Dedicated to the awareness, conservation, and preservation of India’s diverse natural, built, and intangible heritage.
• Structure: Operates through more than 2,000 chapters across India.
• Significance: One of the world’s largest heritage organizations, leading numerous initiatives in heritage conservation over the past four decades.

Current Context: Recently, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) released the Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID 2025), providing updated figures on people forced to flee within their own countries.

About Internal Displacement:

• Definition: When people are compelled to leave their homes due to conflict, violence, or disasters, yet remain within national borders.
• Terminology:
  • IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons): Individuals experiencing internal displacement.
  • Excluded: Those who cross international borders (refugees).

Relevant Data :

• Total IDPs (end-2024):4 million globally
  • Conflict & violence: 73.5 million
  • Disasters: 9.8 million
• Disaster Displacements: 25 percent occurred in the United States.
• India’s Figures (2024):
  • Conflict-related: 1,700 displacements
  • Disaster-related: 5.4 million displacements

Current Context: The contestants of Miss World 2025 from 22 countries visited Buddhavanam, a Buddhist theme park in Telangana, to celebrate Buddha Purnima.

About Buddhavanam:

• Location: Situated on the northern bank of the Krishna River in Nalgonda district, Telangana.
• Area: Spans 279 acres.
• Features:
  • Buddhacharitha Vanam: Depicts the life of Buddha.
  • Jataka Park: Showcases stories from Buddha’s previous lives.
  • Dhyana Vanam: Dedicated space for meditation.
  • Stupa Vanam: Houses the imposing Maha Stupa.
  • Buddhist Heritage Museum: Exhibits Buddhist artifacts and teachings.
• Significance: Part of the Government of India’s initiative to develop an integrated Buddhist Circuit to attract domestic and international tourists, especially from Southeast Asia.

Current Context: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52^nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), becoming the first Buddhist and only the second Dalit to hold this esteemed position.

About Justice B.R. Gavai:

• Birth and Early Life: Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra.
• Judicial Career:
  • Appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003.
  • Elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019.
• Notable Contributions:
  • Authored approximately 300 judgments, including landmark verdicts on Article 370 and demonetization.
• Tenure as CJI: Will serve until November 23, 2025.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 124(1): Establishes the Supreme Court of India, comprising the CJI and up to 33 other judges.
• Article 124(2): Provides for the appointment of the CJI by the President.
• Tenure: CJI serves until the age of 65 years.
• Oath: Administered by the President of India.
• First CJI: Harilal J. Kania.
• Transparency: The office of the CJI falls under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Observed annually on the third Friday of May, which falls on May 16 in 2025.

Aim : to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species.

Key Points:

• Established By: United States Congress in 2006.
• Purpose: To educate the public about the need to protect endangered species and their habitats.

Celebrated on May 16 each year.

Aim : to commemorate the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist Theodore Maiman.

Key Points:

• Organized By: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• Purpose: To highlight the role of light in science, culture, art, education, and sustainable development.

Observed annually on May 16.

Aim :to raise awareness about dengue fever and its prevention.

Key Points:

• Organized By: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Theme for 2025: “Act Early, Stop Dengue: Clean Environment, Healthy Life.”
• Purpose: To promote awareness about dengue prevention, early detection, and control measures, especially before the onset of the monsoon season.

Current Context : The Himachal Pradesh PWD has set a 30 May 2025 deadline to reopen Saach Pass, reconnecting the tribal Pangi valley with Chamba amid intensive snow clearance operations.

About Saach Pass

• Formerly “Sach Pass”: High-altitude (14,000 ft) alpine route in Chamba district.
• Strategic Importance: Only overland link for Pangi’s remote communities, crucial for supplies, healthcare, and administration.
• Challenges: Heavy snow and glacial blockages between December–April; narrow, landslide-prone stretches.

Current Context: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar released the autobiography of Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya, titled “Janta Ki Kahani – Meri Aatmakatha”, on 9 May 2025 at Maharashtra Sadan, New Delhi.

About the Autobiography:

• Chronicles Dattatraya’s journey from grassroots activism to high constitutional office.
• Reflects his personal, social, and political evolution in Indian public life.

About Bandaru Dattatraya:

• He is serving as the current governor of the State of Haryana since 2021.
• Former Union Minister of state for Labour & Employment .
• Veteran BJP leader from Telangana, active in public service and political organization for over four decades.

Current Context: Indian lawyer and child rights activist Bhuwan Ribhu became the first Indian to receive the World Jurist Association’s Medal of Honour at the World Law Congress in the Dominican Republic.

About Bhuwan Ribhu:

• A child rights advocate with over two decades of legal activism.
• Co-founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC) – a global child justice legal platform.
• Played a key role in having the term CSEAM (Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material) recognised in Indian legal discourse.

About the World Jurist Association:

• An international organization promoting rule of law and democratic values.
• Conducts the World Law Congress, which honours legal luminaries for outstanding contributions to justice and human rights.