NIRMAN Portal

Union minister of Coal has recently launched NIRMAN (Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination) Portal to provide financial aid to qualified UPSC aspirants.

• NIRMAN – Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination.
• NIRMAN Portal aids to support UPSC Civil Services and Forest Service aspirants from coal mining districts who have qualified the preliminary examination.
• It is an initiative of Ministry of Coal.
• Eligibility – Candidates must be permanent residents of one of the 39 operational districts of Coal India Limited (CIL).
• Annual family income should be less than 8 lakhs.
• Candidates must belong to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe female or third gender.
• Financial support – Eligible candidates will receive 1,00,000 (One Lakh Rupees) as financial assistance.
• Implementation – The scheme is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by Coal India Limited.
• Application process is entirely online through the NIRMAN portal for transparency and efficiency.
• The scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mission Karmayogi" vision.
• It supports the goals of Digital India and "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).

Talle Wildlife Sanctuary

A team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India has recently recorded new species of horned frog in the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary as well as a bio-diversity hotspot in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Talley – Is a plateau with dense forest of silver fir trees, pine clad plateau of beautiful grandeur, and a vast wasteland.
• The area has some of the most important endangered species including the clouded leopard.
• Xenophrys apatani – It is the new species of horned frog recorded at the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It has been named after the dominant Apatani community in recognition of their ingenuity in the conservation of wild flora and fauna.
• Apatani community – The Apatani, or Tanw, also known by Apa and Apa Tani, are a tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh in India.
• UNESCO has proposed the Apatani valley for inclusion as a World Heritage Site for its “extremely high productivity” and “unique” way of preserving the ecology.
• Nyishi – Largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh.

Abhaya Mudra

The Leader of Opposition in his recent speech has invoked abhaya mudra, the gesture of the raised open palm that is commonly understood as conveying reassurance and a freedom from fear.

• In Sanskrit, the term mudra could mean a seal, mark, sign, or currency, but in the Buddhist context, it refers to “hand and arm gestures.
• It was made during the course of ritual practice or depicted in images of buddhas, bodhisattvas, tantric deities, and other Buddhist images”.
• Mudras are most commonly associated with visual depictions of the Buddha (or Buddharupa), with different gestures conveying different moods and meanings, signifying the subtle manifestations of the Buddha’s states of realisation.
• In the earliest depictions of Buddharupa, four mudras are:
  1. Abhaya mudra or “gesture of fearlessness”
  2. Bhumisparsha mudra or “Earth-touching gesture”
  3. Dharmachakra mudra or “gesture of the wheel of dharma”
  4. Dhyana mudra or “gesture of meditation”
• Abhaya mudra or “gesture of fearlessness” – It is the gesture of the raised open palm that is commonly understood as conveying reassurance and a freedom from fear.
• The right hand is raised to shoulder height, Palm faces outward with fingers pointing upward and sometimes the thumb may touch one of the fingers.
• It represents protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear and conveys reassurance and security.
• It is rooted in ancient Indian traditions, particularly Buddhism.
• It is one of the earliest mudras depicted in Buddha images.
• Bhumisparsha mudra – Is the "earth-touching gesture" commonly depicted in Buddha statues.
• It symbolizes Buddha's victory over Mara, a demon representing temptation and distraction.
• It represents the moment of Buddha's enlightenment.
• Symbolizes the union of skilful means (right hand) and wisdom (left hand).
• It is believed to help transform anger into wisdom.
• Gandhara art – It was one of the earliest sources of Buddha's physical depictions.
• This art emerged from the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, in areas that are now part of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Gandhara art showed Hellenistic (Greek) influences.
• These depictions began around the turn of the first millennium CE.
• Later, Buddha's physical depictions also appeared in Gupta period art in the Gangetic plains.

Scholar Warrior

Air Chief Marshal recently highlighted the significance of an old military concept of “scholar warriors” in his speech at an event.

• A scholar warrior is a military professional who combines intellectual acumen with combat prowess.
• This concept emphasizes the integration of academic knowledge and strategic thinking with traditional warfare skills to navigate complex modern security challenges.
• The Warfare & Aerospace Strategy Program (WASP) is conducted by the Indian Air Force to nurture "Scholar Warriors".
• The concept of "Scholar Warrior" is unique to the Indian Air Force and not found in other militaries globally.
• They are expected to have expertise only in traditional battlefield methods.
• The concept of "Scholar Warrior" can be traced back to ancient Indian epics like the Mahabharata.
• The training of them includes knowledge of future technologies and civil faculty involvement.
• They are trained to think critically and act in anticipation of emerging threats.
• The concept of it promotes adaptability in different operational scenarios.
• Interdisciplinary expertise is not considered a critical attribute for "Scholar Warriors."
• The concept is designed to shape the next generation of military leadership.

Phytophthora Infestans

Researchers have recently found that Phytophthora Infestans, Pathogen responsible for Irish Potato Famine originated in Peru and not in Mexico.

• Phytophthora Infestans is a pathogen that causes potato blight and remains a major threat to potato crops globally.
• This pathogen caused the Great Irish Potato Famine in the 19th century, leading to millions of deaths and global Irish emigration.
• The researcher have concluded that P. infestans originated in Peru, specifically in the Andes mountain range, not in Mexico as previously thought.
• The potato is the fourth most important food crop globally after rice, wheat, and maize.
• The potato was introduced to India by the Portuguese.