Art & Culture
Chhath Mahaparva:
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- The Ministry of Culture held a meeting with diplomats from UAE, Suriname, and the Netherlands to seek support for nominating Chhath Mahaparva to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- Chhath Mahaparva is an ancient Indian festival dedicated to the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, celebrated widely in India and among diaspora communities in Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, UAE, and the Netherlands.
- The festival is recognized for its ecological, egalitarian, and inclusive ethos, promoting reverence for nature and strong community spirit beyond barriers of caste, creed, and religion.
- UNESCO nomination aims to showcase India’s living traditions, boost cultural pride among the Indian diaspora, and facilitate documentation and preservation of Chhath for future generations.
- India, already with 15 elements on UNESCO’s list, seeks to enhance its leadership in cultural diplomacy and safeguarding intangible heritage through this multinational nomination for the 2026–27 cycle.
(PIB)
Gussadi dance:
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- Gussadi dance is a traditional folk-dance form of the Gond tribes, particularly the Raj Gonds of Telangana’s Adilabad district.
- The dance is performed by groups of men known as Dandari groups.
- It is performed during the Diwali festivalas part of the Dandari festival, a significant celebration for the Gond tribes.
- Gussadi symbolizes civil manners and promotes social unity within the Gond community.
- The dance is known for its vibrant and intricate costumes and energetic movements.
- Kanaka Raju is a legendary Gussadi folk dance master who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contributions to popularizing the dance on a global scale.
(TH)
Science & Technology
Typhon missile system:
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- It is also known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a mobile, ground-launched missile system developed by Lockheed Martin for the S. Army to provide medium- to long-range precision strike capabilities.
- It is designed with a modular launcher that can fire various missile types, initially equipped with SM-6 surface-to-air missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, allowing flexibility to engage both land and maritime targets.
- Besides strike functionality, the Typhon system integrates advanced radar and command-and-control units for multi-mission operations and can complement other systems like Patriot and THAAD in layered defense.
(TH)
Resolute Dragon military drills:
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- Resolute Dragon is an annual bilateral military exercise conducted between the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the S. forces focused on Expeditionary Advanced Basing Operations (EABO) and Cross-Domain Operations (CDO) to defend key maritime terrain in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The exercise marked the first deployment of two advanced U.S. missile systems on Ishigaki Island: The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) designed for anti-ship missions, and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) designed to counter low-flying aircraft and armed drones.
- The U.S. also showcased the Typhon missile system during the drills in Japan, a ground-launched mobile system with range capabilities targeting air, sea, and land assets, raising strategic concerns from China.
(TH)
Geography & Environment
31st World Ozone Day (16 Sept, 2025):
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- It is organised by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- It was celebrated in New Delhi with the theme “From science to global action,” stressing the impact of science-driven collective efforts to protect the planet.
- The success of the Montreal Protocol was highlighted: 99% elimination of ozone-depleting substances and a recovering ozone layer.
- The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) framework demonstrates collaboration across ministries to ensure sustainable cooling while minimizing negative environmental impacts.
- India achieved a 5% reduction in HCFC production and consumption from baseline, including the complete phase-out of HCFC-141b in 2020.
- The Ministry is supplying 120 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with advanced refrigeration and air conditioning training equipment, focusing on skilled workforce development for low-GWP refrigerants and supporting the HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment (starting 2028).
- Initiatives like Mission LiFE, “Ek Ped maa ke naam,” and student competitions (poster and slogan writing) foster awareness and environmentally conscious lifestyles across India.
(PIB)
Octopus:
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- Octopuses are soft-bodied, eight-limbed molluscs classified under the order Octopoda, with around 300 species worldwide.
- They are famous for their advanced nervous system, complex behaviours, and excellent vision, making them among the most intelligent invertebrates.
- They are all venomous in nature.
- The Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), which is typical in Indian and global waters, is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Octopuses are listed under the general grouping of cephalopods in Indian legislation (Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972), but they are not included in a protected schedule or specifically regulated under this law.
- They are not included in CITES.
(TH)
The Scarborough Shoal:
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- It is approximately west of Luzon, Philippines, situating it well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but it is also claimed by China (which calls it Huangyan Island) and
- The atoll is a chain of reefs and rocks in a roughly triangular pattern, with a perimeter of about 46 km and an area of approximately 150 km², enclosing a shallow navigable lagoon.
- It is a vital marine ecosystem supporting rich fisheries, which are key to the livelihoods of many Filipino fishers, but overfishing and territorial disputes threaten its sustainability.
- The shoal lies near major shipping routes, enhancing its strategic and military significance in the region.
- It is referenced in Philippine history as Panacot Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, and was first marked as such on an 18th-century map before being named Scarborough Shoal after a British ship that struck the feature in 1748
(TH)
Almatti dam:
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- Almatti Dam, also known as Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, is constructed on the Krishna River in North Karnataka, near the borders of Vijayapura (Bijapur) and Bagalkot districts.
- It is part of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project and serves primarily for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control.
- Water released from Almatti is used downstream by the Narayanpur reservoir, optimizing irrigation needs in the region.
- It plays a crucial role in supplying water for agriculture and drinking in the Krishna River basin covering parts of Karnataka.
(TH)
Penna river:
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- The Penna River, also known as Pinakini, Penneru, or Pennar, is a major river in southern India with a total length of approximately 597 kilometers.
- It originates from the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka and flows northward initially, then eastward through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal near Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.
- It flows through the rain shadow region of the Eastern Ghats and receives average annual rainfall of around 500 mm, making it a seasonal river with low flow during dry periods.
- Its tributaries include the Jayamangali, Kunderu, Sagileru from the north, and Chitravathi, Papagni, and Cheyyeru from the south.
- The basin’s landscape includes ranges such as Erramala, Nallamala, Velikonda, and Seshachalam hills, with the river basin being a fan-shaped watershed.
- The river supports agriculture extensively in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, with several irrigation projects such as Somasila using its waters for farming and water supply.
(TH)
Miscellaneous
India’s first world champion in skating:
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- Anandkumar Velkumar won Gold in the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships, becoming India’s first World Champion in skating.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him, praising his grit and spirit and noting that his win will inspire many youngsters in India.
- This achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian sports history and serves as an inspiration for future generations.
(PIB)
PRACTICE MCQ’S
Q1. Consider the following statements about Gussadi dance:
1. It is a traditional folk-dance form of the Gond tribes.
2. It is performed by groups of men and women of the Gond tribe.
3. It is performed during the Diwali festival as part of the Dandari festival.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: It is a traditional folk-dance form of the Gond tribes.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The dance is performed by groups of men known as Dandari groups.
Statement 3 is correct: It is performed during the Diwali festival as part of the Dandari festival.
Q2. Consider the following statements about Penna River:
1. It originates from the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka.
2. It flows eastward initially, then northward through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
3. It drains into Bay of Bengal.
How many of the statements given are correct?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Answer: B
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: It originates from the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka.
Statement 2 is incorrect: It flows northward initially, then eastward through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Statement 3 is correct: It drains into Bay of Bengal.
Q3. Consider the following statements about Chhath Mahaparva:
1. It is an ancient Indian festival dedicated to the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya.
2. It is one of India’s oldest festivals, celebrated widely in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: It is an ancient Indian festival dedicated to the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya.
Statement 2 is correct: It is one of India’s oldest festivals, celebrated widely in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Q4. Consider the following statements about Scarborough Shoal:
Statement I: It is an atoll which is situated in east China sea.
Statement II: It is under the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Philippine.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is not correct
d) Statement-I is not correct but Statement-II is correct
Answer: D
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Scarborough Shoal is located in South China Sea.
Statement 2 is correct: It is under the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Philippine.
Q5. With reference to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, consider the following statements:
1. The Dam is constructed on the Krishna River in North Karnataka.
2. The Krishna River is a major river of South-central India, flowing from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra to the Bay of Bengal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Dam is constructed on the Krishna River in North Karnataka.
Statement 2 is correct: The Krishna River is a major river of South-central India, flowing from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra to the Bay of Bengal.
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