Birsa Munda
About Birsa Munda
- Birsa Munda was a tribal freedom fighter, religious reformer, and folk hero who led resistance against British exploitation in Chotanagpur.
- He is revered as “Dharti Aaba” meaning “Father of the Earth.”
- Born on 15 November 1875 in Ulihatu (now Khunti district, Jharkhand) to a poor sharecropper (sajhadar) Munda family.
Early Life and Beliefs
- Initially influenced by Christianity through mission school education; later rejected missionary influence.
- He absorbed ideas from Vaishnavism and Anand Panre and founded his own spiritual order, the Birsait sect.
- He promoted monotheism through worship of Singhbonga and opposed alcoholism, witchcraft, superstitions, and beth begari (forced labour).
- Ulgulan — The Great Rebellion
- British colonial policies destroyed the traditional Khuntkatti communal land system, displacing tribals into bonded labour.
- Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan (Great Rebellion) with the slogan: “Abua raj ete jana, maharani raj tundu jana.”
- He was arrested in 1895, released in 1897, and revived the agitation thereafter.
- He died of cholera in 1900, ending the active phase of the revolt.
Legacy
- His struggle led directly to the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, which protected tribal land rights and the Khuntkatti system, banned land transfer to non-tribals, and abolished beth begari.
- 15 November is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas since 2021 in his honour.
Gallantry Awards of India
Context: President Droupadi Murmu conferred 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, and 29 Shaurya Chakras during Phase 1 of the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
About Gallantry Awards
- Gallantry awards recognise acts of bravery, valour, or self-sacrifice during both wartime and peacetime.
- They are conferred by the President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
- Awards are announced twice a year– on Republic Day and Independence Day.
- The Ministry of Defence invites recommendations from the Armed Forces and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
History
- Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were instituted on January 26, 1950, effective from August 15, 1947.
- Ashok Chakra Classes I, II, and III were instituted in 1952, effective from August 15, 1947.
- In January 1967, these were renamed as Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra respectively.
Types of Gallantry Awards
- Wartime Awards (acts in presence of the enemy):
| Award | Rank |
| Param Vir Chakra | Highest military decoration |
| Maha Vir Chakra | Second highest |
| Vir Chakra | Third highest |
- Peacetime Awards (valour away from battlefield):
| Award | Equivalent |
| Ashok Chakra | Equivalent of Param Vir Chakra |
| Kirti Chakra | Equivalent of Maha Vir Chakra |
| Shaurya Chakra | Equivalent of Vir Chakra |
- Eligibility for wartime awards covers all ranks of Naval, Military, Air, Reserve, and Territorial Forces, including medical, nursing staff, and civilians under their direction.
- Peacetime awards additionally include Police, Central Para-Military Forces, Railway Protection Force, and civilian citizens.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
Context: The Centre reduced subsidised LPG refills under PMUY from 9 to 4 cylinders per year amid global LPG supply pressures due to the West Asia conflict.
More in News
- The government provides a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder for PMUY beneficiaries.
- A 14.2-kg domestic cylinder costs ₹942 in Delhi; PMUY beneficiaries pay ₹642 per cylinder after the ₹300 subsidy.
- PMUY cylinders are offered at a 60% discount to international LPG prices; non-PMUY cylinders at 45% discount.
- PMUY has provided approximately 10.55 crore LPG connections as of May 26, 2025.
About PMUY
- PMUY is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), launched in 2016.
- It was launched to provide 8 crore deposit-free LPG connections to rural poor families below the poverty line.
- Ujjwala 2.0 was launched in 2021 with an additional 1.6 crore LPG connections, including special provisions for migrant households.
- An additional 75 lakh connections were approved for FY 2023-24 to 2025-26, with an overall target of 10.35 crore connections.
- It is implemented through MoPNG in collaboration with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and state governments.
Eligibility and Beneficiaries
- Eligible applicant must be an adult woman (at least 18 years old) from a BPL family without an existing LPG connection.
- Beneficiaries include households from
- SECC-2011 list, SC/ST households, PMAY (Gramin) beneficiaries, Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Most Backward Classes, Forest Dwellers, residents of Islands/River Islands, Tea Garden Tribes, and other poor families.
- For migrants, no ration card or address proof is needed; a self-declaration suffices.
- Households with existing LPG connections from any OMC are excluded.
Key Features
- LPG Panchayat was envisioned to discuss safe handling of LPG and benefits over traditional fuels.
- PMUY has been applauded by both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for improving environment and women’s health.
Zojila Tunnel
Context: The Zojila Tunnel achieved its final breakthrough on June 9, 2026, providing all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Key Facts
- The tunnel is 13.14 km long, located at an altitude of 11,578 feet.
- It connects Baltal (Kashmir) with Meenamarg/Drass (Ladakh).
- It is a single-tube, bi-directional, two-lane road tunnel located in Seismic Zone IV.
- Constructed by using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).
New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM)
- NATM uses sequential excavation with immediate support through shotcrete and rock bolting.
- It involves continuous geotechnical monitoring and is suitable for fragile Himalayan geology.
Strategic Importance
- It ensures all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, critical for movement of troops, defence equipment, and supplies to the LAC.
- It reduces India’s dependence on the snow-prone Zojila Pass, enhancing strategic preparedness in border regions.
Chagos Islands
Context: Mauritius rejected reported plans by the Trump administration to buy the Chagos Islands, reiterating that its sovereignty over Chagos is non-negotiable.
About Chagos Islands
- The Chagos Archipelago consists of over 60 small islands located in the central Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives and east of Seychelles.
- The largest island is Diego Garcia, which hosts a key US-UK military base.
- Historical Background
- The islands were under British rule since 1814, having been ceded by France.
- In 1965, the UK separated Chagos from Mauritius, forming the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), before Mauritius gained independence in 1968.
- Strategic Significance
- Diego Garcia serves as a critical logistics and intelligence base for US military operations in West Asia, South Asia, and East Africa.
- It hosts over 2,500 personnel, along with nuclear-capable aircraft and surveillance systems.
Red Sea
About Red Sea
- The Red Sea is a semi-enclosed inlet of the Indian Ocean located between Africa and Asia.
- It connects to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean to the south through the Gulf of Aden and the narrow Strait of Bab el Mandeb.
- Its northern portion is bifurcated by the Sinai Peninsula into the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez.
- It connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal through the Gulf of Suez.
- Six countries border the Red Sea: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti.
Physical and Geological Features
- The Red Sea lies in a fault depression between the Arabian and North African tectonic plates.
- Its unique colour changes are caused by algae blooms.
- It is known for its hot and salty waters and serves as a crucial maritime route between Europe and Asia.
Resources and Islands
- Five major mineral resources found in the region: petroleum, evaporite deposits, sulfur, phosphates, and heavy-metal deposits.
- Tiran Island is located near the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba.
- Shadwan Island is located at the entrance of the Gulf of Suez.
