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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

Naiyandi Melam

A naiyandi melam is a type of percussion instrument that is unique to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of South India. It is performed by artistes of different communities. The word, naiyandi, means making fun. Naiyandi melam follows a set of tunes, beginning with ‘thooku’.

06 February, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Copper Reserves

India to send industry delegation for copper mining opportunities in Zambia. The Mines Ministry has proposed sending an Indian industry delegation to copper-rich Zambia to discuss potential copper exploration and mining projects in the southern African country. China Nonferrous Mining Corporation (CNMC) is among the largest producers of copper in Zambia. Copper Copper is a good conductor of electricity and is ductile. Alloys - Alloyed with iron and nickel to make s

05 February, 2024 GS-I Indian Geography

Practice of Veli

In a fishing village of Andhra Pradesh, the practice of social boycott among the Vaddi community has adverse social and economic consequences. Veli is the practice of social boycott. Those subjected to social ostracisation are not allowed to speak to other villagers and in some cases, compelled to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. Many times, the veli is motivated by politics, caste, or economics. An informal grama peddalu (village elders), also called a kula (cast

05 February, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Parakram Diwas

PM to participate in programme marking Parakram Diwas (Day of Valor) at Red Fort. The programme will commemorate the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj. January 23, 2024 was commemorated as the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

04 February, 2024 GS-I Modern History

Somnath Temple

Prime Minister will inaugurate the Ram temple in Ayodhya, 73 years ago; the President of India inaugurated another temple in a grand ceremony. Located in - Prabhas Patan, Veraval, in Gujarat. Significance - It is the holy place of the first Aadi Jyotirling Shree Somnath Mahadev, among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is also the place where Lord Shri Krishna took his last journey. Built by - In 1782, Maratha queen Ahalyabai Holkar built a small temple

04 February, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Biswanath Ghat

Biswanath Ghat is a village in Assam, located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River and is known as "Gupta Kashi". The name "Gupta Kashi" is a comparison to Kashi during the Gupta Empire era. The village is named after the ancient Biswanath temple, a prominent religious site for centuries. Biswanath Ghat is also known for its ghat, island, and temple built by the Ahom king.

03 February, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Veerbhadra Temple

The temple is dedicated to the deity Veerabhadra, the fiery form of Lord Shiva. The temple is closely associated with the Ramayana. Top of Form It was built during the 16th century, the architectural features of the temple are in the Vijayanagara style with profusion of carvings and paintings. The Veerabhadra Swamy temple and the Nandi statue in Lepakshi, India were added to UNESCO's tentative list of world heritage sites in 2022.

02 February, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Zanskar River

The Zanskar River is a tributary of the Indus River. It originates from the Doda and Lungnak rivers, and flows entirely within Ladakh. The Zanskar River's headwaters are known as the Tsarap Chu, and originate from the snows of the Himalayas. The river's entire catchment area is formed by glaciers.

02 February, 2024 GS-I Indian Geography

Aravali Range – Facts

The Supreme Court recently opined that if the State of Rajasthan believes that the mining activities in the Aravali Range pose a threat to the environment, it can also prevent mining activities in the Aravalli Range. About Aravalli Range It is a mountain range located in northwestern India. It is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world. It runs approximately 670 km (430 mi) in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through&

01 February, 2024 GS-I Physical Geography

Harni lake

Harni Motnath Lake is a green lake in Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

01 February, 2024 GS-I Indian Geography

Fo Guang Shan

Fo Guang Shan Cultural and Educational Centre, received registration under ‘religious, cultural, economic, educational and social purpose’ category recently. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) is one of the largest Buddhist organization and monastic order based in Taiwan. The name translates to "Buddha's Light Mountain". FGS practices Humanistic Buddhism, which has roots in the Linji school of Chan Buddhism.

31 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Munagapaka

Munagapaka is a village in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Munagapaka, known for sugarcane cultivation, is gearing up to organise the 15th edition of the traditional sports like Horse, bullock cart races during Sankranti. The races were quite different from Jallikattu organised in Tamil Nadu or similar competitions held in Krishna and Guntur.

31 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Nagara style- RAM MANDIR

The Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 22. The complex is in the Nagara style of temple architecture, designed by 81-year-old Chandrakant Sompura and his 51-year-old son Ashish. Nagara style Nagara architecture is a classical architecture of temple design in northern India, contrasted with Dravida architecture in southern India. Nagara temples have a shikhara (mountain peak) over the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum), a circumambulatory

31 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Gulf of Aden

Indian Navy’s destroyer INS Visakhapatnam responds to distress call from drone-hit merchant vessel in Gulf of Aden. It is a deep-water basin that forms a natural sea link between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Geography – It is an arm of the Indian Ocean that runs in a west-east direction, is located between Yemen on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia and Djibouti in Africa. Strategic import

30 January, 2024 GS-I Physical Geography

Prehistoric Rock Paintings in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has planned to declare the entire hillocks of Alampadi, Melvalai, and Sethavarai a protected monument. All 3 sites are located in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Melvalai – A nondescript village whose paintings dates back to 3000 B.C. and majority of etchings was in red ochre. The word, Rattapparai, has become synonymous with the rock art painted in red ochre. There are 4 sets of paintings that inc

29 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, also known as Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Day, flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs is celebrated on January 9 every year. Aim - To mark the contribution and achievements of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. It’s a day to acknowledge the achievements of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have made significant contributions to their adopted countries.

28 January, 2024 GS-I Human Geography

International Purple Fest 2024

The International Purple Fest 2024 is a global celebration of inclusivity and empowerment that is being held in Goa. The festival aims to promote the rights of people with disabilities and create a platform for them to showcase their talents and abilities.

26 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Vellayani Lake

Vellayani Lake of Punchakkari wetland is the largest freshwater lake in Trivandrum, Kerala. The Vellayani Devi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, is located on the eastern banks of the lake.

26 January, 2024 GS-I Indian Geography

Chandubi Festival

The Chandubi Festival takes place near the Chandubi Lake in Kamrup district, Assam. The festival celebrates Assamese culture and traditions, and aims to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the area's tribal communities. The Chandubi Festival is organized by the people of Rajapara village in the Kamrup district, under the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC). The festival has been providing an opportunity to generate livelihood to different tribes l

25 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace

The Indian Vice President recently inaugurated the 12th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace in New Delhi. Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) It was founded in 1970 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as a voluntary movement of followers of Buddhism with both monastic (monks) and lay members. Its aim is to bring together the efforts of Buddhists in support of consolidating universal peace, harmony, and cooperation among people in Asia. It is

25 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

16th Century Telugu Inscriptions

2 Telugu inscriptions of 16th century found in Nallamala forest in Andhra Pradesh recently. One of the inscriptions records the construction of cradle pillars (uyyala-kambalu) to Goddess Poleramma. The other inscription seems to refer to a hero fighting with a tiger.

24 January, 2024 GS-I Ancient History

Soligas & Yeravas – Indigenous people

A recent book has looked into the diets of Soligas and Yeravas communities, who have been living in the Cauvery Basin and the surrounding hills of peninsular India for thousands of years. The book Forgotten Trails: Foraging Wild Edibles was authored by Malemleima Ningombi and Harisha RP. Soligas – They are an indigenous tribe of Biligiri Rangan Hills (B.R. Hills) in Karnataka who have been dependent on the forests for their livelihood traditionally.They are also called

24 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Panama Canal-Facts

Scientists recently stumbled upon a lost forest in the Panama Canal, dating back around 22 million years. Panama Canal It is an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit for maritime trade.It was cut through one of the narrowest saddles of the isthmus that joins North and South America. It is one of the two most strategic artificial waterways in the world, the ot

24 January, 2024 GS-I Physical Geography

Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF), a state festival of Arunachal Pradesh, will take place at Seijosa in the Pakke Kessang district from January 18-20, 2024. Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival The first-ever PPHF was held in 2015. The aim was to recognise the role played by the Nyishi tribal group in conserving hornbills in Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR). Other objectives were to raise alternative sources of income for the region and to create awareness i

24 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Krizna Jama Cave

Krizna Jama, also known as Cross Cave or Cold Cave under Cross Mountain, is a cave in Slovenia. It's located in the Loz Valley, between the Loz Karst Field, Cerknica Karst Field, and Bloke Plateau. Krizna Jama is the 4th biggest known underground ecosystem in the world in terms of biodiversity.

23 January, 2024 GS-I Physical Geography

Maori Haka

New Zealand’s youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, performed the ‘Maori haka’ to honour her indigenous people in Parliament recently. Haka is a ceremonial dance in Maori culture. It's a type of ancient war dance that's traditionally performed by both men and women for a variety of social functions. It is a fierce display of a tribe's pride, strength, and unity. Haka is also known as a "war challenge" or &qu

23 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Adi Shankaracharya & Advaita

All 4 shankaracharyas will not attend Ram temple inauguration in 2024. Birth – Kalady village on the bank of the River Periyar in Kerala. Period – Between 788 and 820 AD. Guru – Govinda Bhagavatpada. Works – Visiting spiritual centres, challenging prevalent philosophical traditions, and establishing mathas, organising monastic orders and a proponent of Advaita Vedanta. Spiritual visits –

23 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Moradabad brass

Moradabad brass is a small-scale, low-technology industry that has been growing since the early 19th century. Moradabad city is known as the "City of Brass" or Pital Nagri for its large-scale brass works. It was established in 1600 by Murad, the son of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, as a result the city came to known as Moradabad. The British took the art to foreign markets in the early 19th century.

22 January, 2024 GS-I Art and Culture

Kachchhi Kharek (GI TAG)

Kachchhi Kharek, the indigenous variety of dates of Kutch, has become the second fruit of Gujarat to get a geographical indication (GI) tag from the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDT) of India. Kachchhi Kharek The presence of dates in Kachchh (Kutch) is believed to be around 400-500 years old.It is believed that date palm groves along the north-western border of India have developed from the seeds thrown by the settlers, who used to visit Middle-Ea

21 January, 2024 GS-I Indian Geography

Cabo Verde (also known as Cape Verde)

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde (also known as Cape Verde) as a malaria-free country. Why in the news? Cabo Verde has become the third country to acquire the status in the global health organisation’s African region. The country has now joined Mauritius and Algeria, who were certified in 1973 and 2019, respectively. About Cabo Verde It is also known as Cape Verde which comprises a group of islands that

20 January, 2024 GS-I Physical Geography

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