25 Nov | UPSC Current Affairs: Guru Tegh Bahadur, Dal Lake, ICA, CBG Plant, Dibang Hydro Project, Minke Whales, and More

UPSC GS 1

Guru Tegh Bahadur

• News: November 24 is commemorated as the Shaheedi Divas of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of the Sikhs, who was executed on the orders of Aurangzeb in 1675.
• Birth and Early Life of Guru Tegh Bahadur :
  • He was born on April 21, 1621, in Amritsar to Mata Nanki and Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru.
  • Originally named Tyag Mal due to his ascetic nature.
  • Educated by Bhai Gurdas in Gurmukhi, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Indian religious philosophy; trained in swordsmanship, archery, and horse-riding by Baba Budha.
  • Displayed exceptional bravery and earned the title “Tegh Bahadur” during a battle at the age of 13.

• Family and Settlement:
• • Married to Mata Gujri in 1632 at Kartarpur.
  • Moved to Bakala near Amritsar after marriage.
  • In 1665, founded Chak Nanki (now Anandpur Sahib) on land bought near Makhowal village, naming it after his mother.
• The Ninth Sikh Guru:
  • Succeeded as the ninth Guru after the lineage became hereditary post-Guru Ram Das.
  • Preached against superstitious practices, such as worshipping at graves of pirs and faqirs, urging followers to be ‘nirbhau’ (fearless) and ‘nirvair’ (without envy).
  • Delivered sermons in Sadukhri and Braj languages, resonating widely across North India.
• Travels and Contributions:
  • Established headquarters at Anandpur Sahib in 1665.
  • Left his wife at Patna, where Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1666.
  • Brokered a peace accord between Raja Ram Singh and the Ahom king, commemorated at Gurdwara Dhubri Sahib on the Brahmaputra banks.
• Conflict with Aurangzeb:
  • Opposed forced conversions and supported religious freedom.
  • Assured protection to Kirpa Das and Kashmiri Brahmins facing persecution, challenging Aurangzeb’s authority.
• Martyrdom and Legacy:
  • Declined to embrace Islam and was executed on November 24, 1675, in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, along with Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dyala ji.
  • Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib marks the site of his execution, built in 1783.
  • Commemorated annually on November 24 as Shaheedi Divas.

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Dal Lake

• News: The renowned Chinar Boat Race 2024 was recently organized by the Army on Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Location and Geography:
  • • Dal Lake is a small, mid-altitude lake situated in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
    • It is surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountain range.
    • Often referred to as the “Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel,” it is the second-largest lake in the region.
    • The lake spans an area of 18 square kilometers and forms part of a larger natural wetland covering 21.1 square kilometers.
    • It is divided into four basins by causeways: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin, although Nagin is sometimes considered a separate lake.
• Features and Attractions:
  • • The lake’s shoreline extends approximately 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles) and is bordered by a boulevard adorned with Mughal-era gardens, parks, houseboats, and hotels.
    • The floating gardens, locally called “Raad,” bloom with lotus flowers during July and August.
    • A floating market, where vendors in traditional wooden boats (Shikaras) sell goods, is a popular attraction.
    • The lake’s depth ranges from 6 meters at its deepest point to 2.5 meters at its shallowest.
• Climate: During winter, temperatures can drop to −11°C (12°F), causing the lake to freeze.
• Islands on Dal Lake:
• • Char-Chinari (Four Chinars): Located on Roph Lank (Silver Island) in Lokut Dal. It is marked by majestic Chinar trees at each of its four corners.
  • Sone Lank (Gold Island): Positioned on Bod Dal (Big Dal). This island overlooks the sacred Hazratbal Shrine.

UPSC GS 2

International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)

• News: India is all set to host the global conference of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) soon in Delhi. 
• About the Event: The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) will host its Global Conference in New Delhi, India, from November 25 to 30, 2024. For the first time in history, the ICA General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference will be hosted in India. 
• Host: The event is organized by IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative) with the support of 18 ICA member organizations.

• Theme and Focus:
  • • The conference will emphasize cooperative-driven growth and prosperity.
    • The theme is “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All” with subthemes exploring policies, leadership roles, and the cooperative identity in the modern era.
• About the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA):
• Introduction: The ICA is a prominent nonprofit organization that represents cooperatives globally. It functions as a platform for unified advocacy, expertise sharing, and collective efforts to advance the cooperative model worldwide.
• Purpose and Establishment: Founded in 1895, the ICA promotes cooperatives as sustainable alternatives to conventional business models.
• Headquarters: The ICA is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with four regional offices in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
• Membership:
  • The ICA’s members include over 306 national and international cooperative organizations from diverse sectors such as agriculture, banking, consumer goods, healthcare, housing, and insurance.
  • It represents cooperatives in 105 countries.
• Organizational Structure: The ICA operates through a structured framework that includes:
  • A General Assembly.
  • A Board of Directors.
  • Sectoral organizations and committees.
• Objectives of the ICA:
• • Promoting Cooperative Principles: The ICA endorses the seven cooperative principles, which serve as guidelines for cooperatives globally.
  • Advocating Cooperative Interests: It represents the concerns and interests of cooperatives at international platforms, including the United Nations and other global institutions.
  • Providing Resources and Support: The ICA facilitates research, training programs, and networking opportunities to empower cooperatives and expand their reach and impact.

‘Jobs at Your Doorstep’ Report

• News:  Union Minister for Education has launched a World Bank report titled ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’ that covers six states in India.
• About Jobs at Your Doorstep Report:
• • Purpose: The report acts as both a diagnostic tool and a roadmap, fostering strategic connections between education and India’s employment objectives.
  • Focus Areas: It provides an in-depth analysis of the job market in six states—Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. It highlights sectors and roles with the highest employment potential for secondary school graduates.
  • Skills Gap Analysis: The report examines the alignment between trades offered in schools and the industry-specific requirements of the districts where the schools are located.
  • Skill-Based Education: It emphasizes embedding skill-based learning from Classes 9–12, adopting a grassroots approach to prepare students for varied career opportunities.
  • STARS States Study: This initiative reimagines skill education offerings by conducting primary and secondary research in six states under the STARS scheme.

• What is the STARS Scheme?
• • Implementation Period: The project has been operational since 2021 and is set to run until the fiscal year 2024-25.
  • Executing Authority: It is being implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, with financial assistance from the World Bank.
  • Participating States: Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala are the six states included in the initiative.
  • Objective: The project focuses on targeted interventions to improve the quality of school education.
  • Connection with Samagra Shiksha: It is derived from the Samagra Shiksha scheme and emphasizes elements directly supporting the enhancement of school education.

UPSC GS 3

Nimoo Bazgo Power Station

• News:  Union Power Minister recently visited 45 MW NHPC Nimoo Bazgo power station, and reviewed renewable energy efforts. 
• NHPC Nimoo Bazgo Power Station: It is a key hydropower project located in the high-altitude and challenging terrain of Ladakh.
• Developer and Operator: Managed and operated by NHPC Limited.
• Location: Situated in the Leh District of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Installed Capacity: With a capacity of 45 MW, it significantly addresses the region’s energy requirements.
• Energy Source: The power station harnesses the flow of the Indus River, a perennial water source, making it an eco-friendly and renewable energy project.
• Role in Development:
• Infrastructure Support: As Ladakh witnesses rapid infrastructure growth, this station ensures a stable supply of green energy for residential and commercial needs.
• Contribution to Local Welfare: CSR Initiatives: Through its Corporate Social Responsibility programs, the station supports local communities with:
  • Community development.
  • Enhancing infrastructure.
  • Skill development.
  • Promoting environmental conservation.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Renewable Energy Vision: The project aligns with India’s goal of expanding renewable energy sources and achieving environmental sustainability.
  • Carbon Neutrality: By reducing Ladakh’s reliance on fossil fuels, it contributes to transforming the region into a carbon-neutral zone.

Minke Whales

• News: For the first time, scientists have directly measured the hearing range of minke whales, discovering that the species can detect high-frequency sounds as high as 90 kilohertz.
• About Minke Whales:
• Family: Minke whales belong to the baleen whale family, often referred to as “great” whales, and are the smallest among the rorquals.
• Recognized Species:
  • Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
  • Antarctic Minke Whale (B. bonaerensis).
• Dwarf Minke Whale: This is an unnamed subspecies of the common minke whale, found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Subspecies of Common Minke Whales:
  • North Atlantic Common Minke Whale (B. a. acutorostrata).
  • North Pacific Common Minke Whale (B. a. scammoni).
• Distribution:
  • Global Presence: Minke whales are widely distributed across tropical, temperate, and polar regions, ranging from approximately 65°S to 80°N.
  • Common Minke Whales: Found in all ocean basins, with the dwarf minke whale subspecies predominantly confined to the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Feeding Habitat: These whales typically feed in cooler, high-latitude waters and inhabit both coastal/inshore and oceanic/offshore areas.
• IUCN Conservation Status:
• • Common Minke Whale: Listed as Least Concern.

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Eastern Imperial Eagle

• News:  A rare imperial eagle was spotted in Pulluzhi kole wetlands.
• Classification and Distribution:
  • The Eastern Imperial Eagle is a large and elegant bird of prey.
  • Scientific name: Aquila heliaca.
  • It belongs to the family Accipitridae, and its feathered legs categorize it as part of the subfamily Aquilinae.
  • The species breeds in southeastern Europe and extensively across West and Central Asia.

• Habitat:
  • The eagle is typically found in old-growth forests, mountainous regions, hills, and along river systems.
  • It constructs prominent nests in isolated tall trees within forested areas.
  • Many populations migrate, with wintering grounds in northeastern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South and East Asia.
• Physical Characteristics:
  • It is a large raptor with adults measuring 68 to 90 cm in length and wingspans ranging from 1.76 to 2.2 meters.
  • The species exhibits reverse sexual dimorphism, where females are larger than males, a characteristic common in birds of prey.
  • Adults display a pale golden crown and nape, a grey base extending to the tail, and prominent white “braces” on their scapular feathers.
  • Equipped with strong legs and long, curved talons, the eagle efficiently captures, kills, and carries its prey.
  • It has large eyes positioned slightly to the side of its head, granting it exceptional eyesight to detect prey from high altitudes.
• Conservation Status:
• • The Eastern Imperial Eagle is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant

• News:   Recently, PM Modi inaugurated Gwalior’s new 100 TPD cattle dung-based Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plant, exemplifying his vision for a “Waste to Wealth” initiative.
• Overview: India has inaugurated its first modern and self-sustaining gaushala in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, featuring a state-of-the-art Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant.
• Composition and Production:
• • CBG is a hydrocarbon-rich gaseous mixture, primarily composed of Methane.
  • It is derived through the decomposition of organic waste such as animal and plant matter, followed by purification and compression.

• Applications:
  • CBG serves as a green and renewable alternative to fossil fuels, with properties comparable to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
  • It can replace CNG in automotive, industrial, and commercial applications due to the plentiful availability of biomass in India.
• Benefits of Commercial CBG Production:
  • Reduction in Energy Imports: Decreases dependency on imported natural gas and crude oil.
  • Efficient Waste Utilization: Converts agricultural residue, cattle dung, and municipal solid waste (MSW) into valuable fuel, thereby minimizing emissions and pollution.
  • Climate Change Mitigation: Contributes to achieving India’s climate change goals by promoting renewable energy sources.
  • Energy Security: Provides a buffer against uncertainties related to crude oil and gas price volatility.
  • Support for Swachh Bharat Mission: Aids in responsible waste management, fostering cleaner surroundings.
  • Environmental Impact: Reduces pollution levels and carbon emissions.
  • Economic and Social Benefits: Creates additional revenue streams for farmers. Generates rural employment opportunities, contributing to rural economic development.

Dibang Multi-Purpose Hydro Power Project

• News: The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution recently visited the Dibang Multi-Purpose Hydro Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh, during a two-day tour to the Lower Dibang Valley district.

• About Dibang Multi-Purpose Hydro Power Project:
  • This project is a combined flood control and hydroelectric power initiative planned on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • With an installed capacity of 2,880 MW, it is set to become the largest hydropower facility in India.
  • The project is being undertaken by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a government-owned entity.
  • Its dual purpose includes energy storage and flood mitigation, alongside power generation.
• Key Features of the Project:
• Dam Specifications:
  • The project includes a 278m-high and 375m-long concrete gravity dam.
  • It will be India’s tallest concrete gravity dam.
• Construction Technique:
  • The dam is to be built using the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) method, making it the highest RCC dam in the world.
• Reservoir Details:
  • The dam will create a 43 km-long reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 3.85 billion cubic metres.
• Tunnels and Powerhouse:
  • Six horseshoe-shaped headrace tunnels, each 9 metres in diameter and measuring between 300m to 600m in length, will direct water to an underground powerhouse.
  • Similarly, six horseshoe-shaped tailrace tunnels, ranging from 320m to 470m in length with a diameter of 9 metres, will carry the water back to the river after power generation.