theIASHub | 26 Mar, 2025 | 5
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Vikramshila University: After Nalanda University, another ancient centre of learning in Bihar, Vikramshila University, is set for revival.
o Established by King Dharmapala of the Pala Dynasty during the late 8th to early 9th century AD., founded to counter the decline in educational standards at Nalanda University.
o During King Dharmapala's reign, it held administrative and academic dominance over Nalanda.
o Attracted over 1000 students and 100 teachers from across India and abroad.
o Produced renowned scholars like Atisa Dipankara, who contributed to Buddhism in Tibet.
o Had a library with a unique cooling system to preserve manuscripts by channeling water from a nearby reservoir. Curriculum covered subjects like theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, logic, and tantras, and administration was led by a Kulpati or Mahasthavir.
Enquiry Commission: The Kerala government recently appointed an enquiry commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act to submit recommendations on the nature of Munambam land, a disputed land as a Waqf property.
o For summoning and enforcing attendance of any person from any part of India and examining on oath → Requiring discovery and production of any document → Receiving
o evidence on affidavits → Requisitioning public records or copies from any court or office → Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
BHIM 3.0: Recently, NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI, launched Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) 3.0.
o Allows direct bank payments using UPI ID or by scanning QR codes.
o Launched on December 30, 2016, to promote financial inclusion and a digitally empowered society.
o Incorporation: 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems across India.
o Initiative by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Supernova: A study published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that universe’s oldest stars became sources of water through supernova explosions.
o The first stars formed a few hundred million years after the Big Bang (13.8 billion years ago), made up of primordial hydrogen and helium.
o When these stars ran out of hydrogen, they exploded as supernovae, triggering a cycle of star births in perpetuity.
o Population III stars — the universe's oldest stars — were massive and composed entirely of hydrogen and helium.
o These stars exploded as supernovae, producing oxygen, which combined with hydrogen to create water molecules.
o 3D simulations showed that the conditions for water formation existed between 50 million and 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
Neja Fair: The Uttar Pradesh administration recently banned the Neja fair held in Sambhal.
o The tomb of Abdul Salar Ghazi is located in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
o As per historians, many soldiers of Ghaznavi’s army were killed during the conflict between Prithviraj Chauhan and Mahmud Ghaznavi.
o The tombs of these soldiers were built in Sambhal, later becoming a centre of faith for devotees.
o Neja fairs started being organized at these sites.
o Sambhal was the capital of Prithviraj Chauhan.
o Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India 17 times between 1000 and 1027 AD, destroying several Hindu religious sites, including the Somnath temple.
o His commander, Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, is seen as a key architect of these invasions.
o Organizing a fair in memory of a figure associated with destruction and violence is considered inappropriate.
o The fair’s historical links with foreign invaders could potentially trigger communal tensions.Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS): The government has decided to discontinue Medium-Term and Long-Term Deposits under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) from March 26, 2025, citing evolving market conditions and the scheme’s performance.
o Launched: November 2015 to make idle gold productive by merging it into the formal economy and reducing India’s gold imports and current account deficit.
o Objective: Mobilise gold and facilitate productive use while easing the government’s borrowing cost and supplementing the RBI's gold reserve.
o Gold Deposits: Accepted in any form — bars, coins, jewellery. Upon redemption, investors can receive cash, bars, or coins, but not the gold in its original form.
o Short-term Deposit: 1-3 years (to continue).
o Medium-term Deposit: 5-7 years (discontinued).
o Long-term Deposit: 7-12 years (discontinued).
o Safe Storage: No safekeeping charges; investors get guaranteed returns.
o Mobilisation of Gold: Supports the gems and jewellery industry and boosts exports.
o Tax Benefits: Exempted from capital gains tax on appreciation and interest gains.
o Attractive Interest Rates: Ranged from 2.25% to 2.50%.
Hakki Pikki Tribe: Twenty-two members of the Hakki Pikki tribal community from Channagiri taluk in Davangere, Karnataka, have been penalized and instructed to exit Gabon following recent policy changes implemented by the African nation’s government.
o Location:Predominantly found in Karnataka and also reside in Western and Southern India, mostly near forest areas.
o Major districts: Davangere, Mysuru, Kolar, Hassan, and Shivamogga.
o Population: As per the 2011 Census, their population in Karnataka is 11,892.
o Tribal Status: Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in India.o Language:Their mother tongue is 'Vaagri', designated by scholars.
o UNESCO has listed Vaagri as one of the endangered languages.
o They also speak Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.
o Selling spices, flowers, Ayurveda formulations, and herbal oils due to stricter wildlife laws.
o Performing odd jobs such as working in fields and sharpening knives and sickles while traveling around towns.
o Renowned for their indigenous medicines — developed from plants and herbs during their time in dense jungles.
o Travel globally to sell herbal products, especially in the African continent, where there is a demand for cheaper alternatives to Western medicine.
Black Sea: Recently, the US and Russian officials are engaged in diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia to advance a broader ceasefire in Ukraine, and negotiate a Black Sea maritime ceasefire.
o Classified as one of the marginal seas of the Atlantic Ocean.
o Covers about 436,000 square kilometers (168,000 square miles).
o West: Balkan Peninsula (Southeastern Europe).
o East: Caucasus Mountains.
o North: East European Plains (Russia & Ukraine).
o South: Anatolia (Turkey, Western Asia).
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