SHORTNEWS ( 07.05.2025 )

SHORTNEWS:

1.United Nations Day of Vesak — 2025

Context: Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju addressed the opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, reinforcing India’s civilizational ties and cultural diplomacy through Buddhism.

Key Highlights of Address

  • Highlighted relevance of Lord Buddha’s teachings to modern global challenges.
  • Linked Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) with Buddhist philosophy
  • Other highlights: Buddha’s Relics from Sarnath brought to Ho Chi Minh City.

United Nations Day of Vesak

It commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana (Death) of  Gautam Buddha.  

  • Recognized by: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1999 as an international day of  observance.

·         UN Resolution A/RES/54/115 (1999) formally recognized.

  • Observed in:  The Full Moon of May every year (date varies annually).
  • Significance: Promotes the universal values of peace, compassion, non-violence, mindfulness, and harmony.

 

2.INS Tamal

Context: India is set to induct its second Russian-built, multi-role stealth frigate ‘ INS Tamal’, strengthening naval firepower amid growing maritime security challenges.

  • The Indian Navy successfully  commissioned INS Tushil in December 2024.

Key Features of INS Tamal & Sister Ships

  • Origin: Part of India-Russia 2016 agreement for 4 upgraded Krivak-III class frigates
  • Class: Advanced derivative of Talwar-class / Teg-class (already 6 in Indian Navy)

  • Specifications:

·         Displacement: ~3,900 tonnes

·         Length: ~125 metres

·         Speed: 30+ knots

·         Operations: Blue-water capability-Air, Surface, Underwater, Electromagnetic

  • Armaments & Systems:

·         BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (range extended to 450 km).

·         Shtil surface-to-air missiles (enhanced range).

·         Anti-submarine torpedoes & rockets

·         Capability to carry Kamov-28/31 helicopters (ASW & AEW).

·         High stealth features: Low radar, infrared, acoustic signatures

·         High automation: Enhanced combat survivability

  • Construction Details:

·         2 frigates (Tushil, Tamal) imported from Russia (~₹8,000 crore).

·         2 frigates (Triput, Tavasya) being built at Goa Shipyard with Russian ToT (~₹13,000 crore).

 

3.Ahilyabai

Context: Recently, a  meeting was held in Chondi to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Indore queen Ahilyabai Holkar and her legacy.

About Ahilyabai

  • She was the Queen (Maharani) of the Holkar dynasty in the Maratha-ruled Malwa region, India.
  • Born in Chandi, Maharashtra, to Mankoji Shinde and Sushila Shinde.
  • Belonged to a Marathi Hindu Dhangar family.
  • Ahilyabai’s Education and Military Training

·         Involved in administration, finances, and diplomacy under Malhar Rao’s guidance.

·         Trained in politics and governance by her mother-in-law, Gautama Bai Holkar.

·         In 1765, led a successful military attack on Gwalior, following her father-in-law’s instructions.

Ahilyabai’s Reign and Achievements

  • Established Maheshwar (Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of the Holkar Dynasty.

·         Her capital Maheshwar became a center of art, literature, music, and industry during her rule.

  • Known for: good governance, social welfare, and religious and cultural advancements.
  • Remembered as: a holy woman (Sadhvi) and a generous ruler.
  • Established the textile industry in Maheshwar.
  • The Maheshwari sarees, still popular today, were promoted under her reign.

·         It features a special double-sided border woven using the ‘bugdi’ two-way technique.

Cultural Contributions of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar

  • Support for Scholars and Artists: She invited and supported many famous scholars and poets in her court, such as Marathi poet Moropant, Folk singer Shahir Ananta Gandhi, and Sanskrit scholar Khushali Ram
  • Builder of Temples

·         She was a strong supporter of Hindu religion and culture.

·         Built hundreds of temples and Dharmashalas (rest houses) across India.

·         Her aim was to make pilgrimages easier for devotees.

  • Renovation of Kashi Vishwanath Temple

·         Her most famous work was the restoration of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi in 1780.

·         This showed her dedication to preserving Hindu religious heritage.

 

4.Digitisation of 10 Crore Historic Documents

NEWS: The National Archives of India (NAI) has now digitised more than 10 crore pages of historical documents.

About the National Archives of India (NAI)

  • NAI is the repository of historical records of the Government of India.
  • Established in 1891 as the Imperial Record Department in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • Access is governed by Public Records Rules, 1997.
  • After the capital shifted to Delhi in 1911, the present building was constructed in 1926, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
  • All records were shifted from Calcutta to Delhi by 1937.
  • Role and Collection

·         It is an attached office under the Ministry of Culture.

·         It acts as the custodian of non-current records of the Government of India.

·         Also stores private papers of notable Indians from different fields who have contributed to the nation’s growth.

 

5.Safe Harbour

NEWS: The Government of India is planning to revise the ‘Safe Harbour’ clause under the Information Technology Act.

What is the ‘Safe Harbour’?

  • Safe harbour provides that Social media platforms are not held legally liable for user-generated content as long as they act to remove or address flagged objectionable content.
  • It supports free speech and ensures that  platforms are not responsible for preemptive content control.
  • Provision in India: Under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, intermediary platforms (like social media and hosting services) are not held legally liable for user-generated content, provided they act promptly to remove unlawful content when flagged.
  • Conditional Immunity: This protection is conditional upon intermediaries exercising due diligence and complying with government-issued guidelines, including the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Proposed Changes in the Safe Harbour Framework

  • Responsibility of Intermediaries: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed revisiting the due diligence obligations of intermediaries, requiring proactive removal of fake news, rather than relying solely on government flags.
  • Deliberation for new Law: While emphasizing the importance of tackling misinformation, the government has currently ruled out the introduction of a new law, citing the need for broader consultation and safeguarding freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
  • PIB Fact Check Unit: Government seeks to give statutory recognition to the Fact Check Unit of PIB under the amended IT Rules.

·         A special leave petition (SLP) has been filed against the Bombay High Court judgment that struck down this provision, citing concerns over freedom of speech and safe harbour erosion.