Daily Current Affairs 2025  

24/01/2026

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CA-24/01/2026

• Purpose: It is designed to highlight India’s civilizational wisdom and shed colonial legacies by giving prominence to indigenous knowledge traditions.

• Languages Represented (11 Classical):
  Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali.
• Books & Manuscripts:
  • Around 2,300 books.
  • Nearly 50 rare manuscripts, many handwritten on palm leaves, bark, cloth, and traditional paper.
• Subjects Covered: Epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata), Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, philosophy, linguistics, history, and governance.

• Decolonization Effort: Granth Kutir replaces colonial-era works (like speeches of Lord Curzon) with Indian scriptures and epics, aligning Rashtrapati Bhavan with India’s cultural identity.
• Symbolism: It reflects India’s intellectual continuity and the importance of preserving classical languages as living traditions.

• Situated in Thirukoshtiyur, Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu.
• Dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Sowmyanarayana Perumal and his consort Thirumaamagal (Lakshmi).
• Recognized as one of the 108 Divya Desams, sacred shrines praised in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Alvar saints (6th–9th century CE).

• Built in Dravidian style, featuring the rare Ashtanga Vimanam (eight-tiered tower).
• The temple is known for its depictions of Vishnu in three postures: standing (Nindran), reclining (Kidandhaan), and dancing (Aadinan).
• Intricate carvings and colorful gopurams (temple towers) showcase mythological figures and deities.

• Temple tanks: Deva Pushkarini and Mahamaga Theertham are considered holy waters.
• The temple is historically referred to as Tirukoshtiyur, meaning "the place of assembly of the gods."

• The temple is praised in hymns by saints like Periazhwar, Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Bhoothathazhwar, and Peyazhwar.
• It is believed to be the site where Ramanuja, the great Vaishnavite philosopher, publicly shared the Ashtakshara Mantra (sacred eight-syllable mantra), emphasizing inclusivity in worship.

• First-of-its-kind initiative: ASC ARJUN is the first humanoid robot in Indian Railways, introduced by the East Coast Railway (ECoR).
• Developed indigenously: Built in Visakhapatnam over more than a year by a team led by Senior Divisional Security Commandant A.K. Dubey, under the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
• Name inspiration: Draws from the legendary focus of Arjuna in the Mahabharata, symbolizing precision and vigilance.
• Deployment purpose: Enhances security, crowd management, passenger assistance, cleanliness monitoring, and safety awareness.

• Surveillance & Security: Equipped with AI-based crowd monitoring, face recognition systems, and real-time alerts to RPF control rooms.
• Passenger Assistance: Can make automated public announcements in English, Hindi, and Telugu.
• Crowd Management: Supports RPF during peak passenger hours, helping regulate movement and prevent overcrowding.
• Cleanliness & Awareness: Monitors station hygiene and spreads safety awareness messages.

• Integration with human staff: Robots supplement but cannot replace RPF personnel.
• Maintenance & upgrades: Continuous technical support will be essential.
• Public adaptation: Passengers may need time to adjust to interacting with a humanoid robot.
• Scalability: Wider deployment across India will depend on cost-effectiveness and performance at Visakhapatnam.

• The word Phulkari comes from Punjabi: Phul (flower) + Kari (work), meaning “flower work.”
• It originated in Punjab around the 15th century, traditionally practiced by rural women.
• Though the name suggests floral motifs, Phulkari also features geometric shapes, abstract designs, and symbolic patterns.

• Base fabric: Coarse cotton (khaddar).
• Thread: Brightly colored silk floss.
• Stitch: The hallmark is the darning stitch worked on the reverse side of the fabric, creating bold designs on the front.
• The embroidery is done without tracing or pre-drawn outlines, showcasing the artisan’s skill.

Type	Features
Chope	Gifted to brides, embroidered on both sides with continuous patterns.
Bagh	Dense embroidery covering the entire fabric, often used for weddings.
Tilpatr	Sparse motifs resembling scattered petals.
Neelak	Blue-colored base fabric with contrasting embroidery.

• Traditionally, Phulkari was not commercial but made for family use—weddings, rituals, and heirlooms.
• It symbolized love, blessings, and prosperity, often gifted to brides.
• Today, Phulkari has become a global fashion statement, appearing in dupattas, sarees, jackets, bags, and even home décor.

• Lambadi Tribe Identity: Traditionally nomadic traders, known for their vibrant dress, jewellery, and folk culture.
• ST Inclusion: Lambadis were added to the Scheduled Tribe list in 1976, covering Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Opposition: Indigenous Adivasi groups (Koya, Gond, Chenchu, etc.) argue that Lambadis are culturally distinct and socially more advanced, thus their inclusion reduces opportunities for more marginalized tribes.

• Supreme Court Reopening Debate (2026): A Special Leave Petition challenges Lambadis’ ST status, questioning whether Parliament’s decades-old decision can be revisited.
• Protests: Adivasi groups have staged demonstrations demanding exclusion of Lambadis from ST benefits, citing unfair competition in jobs, education, and welfare schemes.
• State Governments’ Position: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have largely supported Lambadis’ continued inclusion, citing constitutional backing.

• Regions: Predominantly in South and Central India—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Identity: Also called Sugali or Banjara. Historically, they were nomadic traders and transporters of goods, moving grain, salt, and commodities across medieval India.

• Mother tongue: Gor Boli (also called Lambadi or Lambani), part of the Indo-Aryan language family.
• Scripts: Traditionally without a script, but sometimes written in Devanagari or Telugu.
• Status: Classified as “vulnerable” by UNESCO in its Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger.

• Religion: Majority are Hindus, though many blend Hindu practices with animistic traditions.
• Festivals: They celebrate mainstream Hindu festivals along with their own folk rituals.

• Dress: Women wear brightly colored skirts, blouses, and heavy jewelry; men often wear turbans and dhotis.
• Art & Music: Famous for folk songs, dances, and embroidery work.
• Social Organization: Traditionally lived in tandas (settlements), often on the outskirts of villages.

• Launch: Announced by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit (Bangkok, November 2019).
• Nature: It is a non-treaty-based, voluntary, and flexible framework—not a military alliance.
• Philosophy: Builds on India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, emphasizing inclusive development and maritime security.
• Objective: Strengthen maritime cooperation, ensure a rules-based order, and enhance safety, stability, and sustainable growth in the Indo-Pacific.

1. Maritime Security – ensuring safe seas and tackling piracy.
2. Maritime Ecology – protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.
3. Maritime Resources – sustainable use of ocean resources.
4. Capacity Building & Resource Sharing – training and technology transfer.
5. Disaster Risk Reduction & Management – humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
6. Science, Technology & Academic Cooperation – joint research and innovation.
7. Trade, Connectivity & Maritime Transport – enhancing sea lanes and logistics.

Aspect	Significance
Strategic	Counters unilateral dominance, promotes multipolar cooperation.
Economic	Secures vital sea trade routes carrying global commerce.
Environmental	Protects marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and ecosystems.
Humanitarian	Enhances disaster relief and resilience in vulnerable coastal states.

• Geopolitical tensions: Rising competition among major powers (China, US, QUAD nations) could complicate cooperation.
• Non-binding nature: As a voluntary framework, IPOI lacks enforcement mechanisms.
• Resource constraints: Smaller nations may struggle to contribute meaningfully without capacity-building support.

• Scientific name: Trachemys scripta elegans
• Family: Emydidae
• Native range: Southern United States, especially around the Mississippi River basin
• Lifespan: 20–30 years in captivity, sometimes longer in the wild
• Size: Adults typically reach 6–12 inches in shell length

• Naturally found in slow-moving rivers, ponds, lakes, and marshes.
• They are excellent swimmers and spend much of their time basking on rocks or logs.
• Due to the pet trade, they have spread globally and are now considered invasive in parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa, where they compete with native turtle species.

• Invasive species: When released into the wild, they disrupt ecosystems and outcompete native turtles.
• Health issues: Poor care can lead to shell deformities, respiratory infections, and vitamin deficiencies.
• Legal restrictions: Some countries regulate or ban their sale due to ecological concerns.

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