• 21 Nov 2025

Ghoomar Dance

Why in News?

The city of Jaipur launched its first-ever state-level Ghoomar Festival, uniting women across the state to celebrate Rajasthan’s iconic folk dance tradition.

• It was also organised simultaneously in all seven divisional headquarters of Rajasthan, making it a state-level celebration of the Ghoomar dance form.

Key Points

• Ghoomar is traditionally performed to celebrate auspicious occasions, such as marriages, festivals and the arrival of a new bride. 
• It symbolises joy, grace and womanhood, and is considered a ritual dance that brings prosperity and good fortune to the household.
• Ghoomar is recognised as an important part of Rajasthan’s intangible cultural heritage.
• There is no fixed date — it is performed year-round at social, ceremonial and festive events. The dancers wear colourful ghaghra-cholis and odhnis, and the swirling movement of the skirts is central to its visual identity.
• Ghoomar originated with the Bhil tribe, who performed it as part of their rituals honouring the Goddess Saraswati and local deities. Later, it was adopted and refined by the Rajput royal households, where it evolved into a graceful, court-like dance form.
• Traditionally, Ghoomar was performed in the evening, where women (especially newlywed brides) danced in circles to mark their acceptance into the family and the community.

UP’s First State Institute of Hotel Management

Why in News?

Gorakhpur has been selected to host Uttar Pradesh’s first State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM), aimed at boosting tourism-linked skill development and hospitality education in the eastern region of the state.

Key Points

• About Institute in Gorakhpur:
  • The SIHM will function under the State Tourism and Culture Department, with academic standards aligned to the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT).
  • The institute will offer diploma, degree, and certificate courses in key hospitality sectors such as hotel operations, culinary arts, bakery, food production, and tourism management.
  • It is expected to create a skilled workforce to support the region’s rapidly growing tourism ecosystem—including Gorakhpur, Kushinagar (Buddhist circuit), Lumbini (Nepal), Shravasti, and Varanasi.
• About State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM):
  • State Institutes of Hotel Management (SIHMs) are state-run hospitality education institutions established in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
  • They function under the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT) for curriculum, exams, and standards.
  • SIHMs aim to enhance tourism-based skill development, hospitality entrepreneurship, and professional training to support India’s tourism and service-sector growth.

World Fisheries Day 2025

Why in News?

India marked World Fisheries Day 2025 on 21st November, celebrating sustainability, blue-economy growth, and improved livelihoods for fishers. 

Key Points

• About: World Fisheries Day, observed annually on 21st November, traces its origin to the formation of the World Fisheries Forum in 1997, when delegates from 18 countries met in New Delhi to promote sustainable fishing and safeguard fisher communities, making India the birthplace of this global observance.
• Theme:  The theme for 2025 is “India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Value Addition in Seafood Exports.”
  • Total fish production more than doubled from 96 lakh tonnes (2013–14) to 195 lakh tonnes (2024–25).
  • Marine product exports rose by 11.08%, from US$ 0.81 billion (October 2024) to US$ 0.90 billion (October 2025).
• Ranking: India is the second-largest fish-producing country and among the world’s top shrimp producers.
• Major Initiatives:
  • The government launched the National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries & Aquaculture to ensure safe, transparent, and globally compliant seafood supply chains.
  • The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules promote environmentally responsible deep-sea fishing, giving priority access to Fishermen Cooperatives and FFPOs, enhancing income opportunities for small-scale fishers.
  • ReALCRaft is a digital platform enabling online registration, licensing, e-payments, and vessel data updates, with integrated inspections for paperless fisheries governance.
  • NABHMITRA, a two-way satellite communication system for small vessels (<20 m), provides real-time tracking, SOS alerts, and weather updates, improving fisher safety and coordination with coastal authorities.

Rajasthan-Arabian Sea Connectivity Project

Why in News?

The Government of India has initiated preliminary planning for a new transport connectivity project aimed at linking landlocked Rajasthan directly with the Arabian Sea, improving logistics efficiency, trade access, and industrial growth in the state.

Key Points

• The proposed connectivity project aims to provide landlocked Rajasthan with a direct multimodal transport link to the Arabian Sea region, primarily through an Inland Waterway and Port, reducing dependency on distant ports and improving access to global trade routes.
• The plan is being examined under the broader PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, and involves utilizing the National Waterway-48 (NW-48) to connect to the Arabian Sea.
• Rajasthan currently depends heavily on ports in Gujarat, especially Deendayal Port, Mundra, and Pipavav, with long transport distances raising costs for exporters and industries.
• The proposal involves the construction of an Inland Port near Jalore and the development of a navigable waterway connecting key industrial districts in Western Rajasthan (such as Jalore and Barmer) to the Gulf of Kutch via Deendayal Port.
• The connectivity plan is expected to support sectors such as textiles, ceramics, marble, minerals, engineering goods, and handicrafts, all of which form major export components of Rajasthan’s economy.

Chhattisgarh HC Flags Fly Ash Hazards

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh High Court has expressed serious concern about persistent environmental and public safety hazards caused by fly ash from thermal power plants and coal mines in districts like Korba. 

Key Points

• About Fly Ash:
  • Fly ash is a fine particulate residue generated from burning coal; contains silica, alumina, iron oxide, and trace heavy metals.
  • Classified as an industrial by-product and regulated under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s Fly Ash Utilisation Guidelines.
  • Mainly used in cement, bricks, mine backfilling, road construction, and land reclamation.
  • Unmanaged fly ash leads to respiratory problems, groundwater contamination, and soil infertility.
  • India aims for 100% fly ash utilisation, but many states, including Chhattisgarh, fall short.
• About Korba Mines:
  • Korba district in Chhattisgarh is known as the “Power Capital of India” due to its large coal reserves and concentration of thermal power plants. 
  • It hosts the major Korba Coalfield, operated mainly by SECL (South Eastern Coalfields Limited), and forms one of India’s largest open-cast coal mining clusters with key mines such as Gevra, Dipka, and Kusmunda.
  • The Gevra mine is among the largest coal mines in Asia by output, making Korba a critical contributor to India’s domestic coal supply and a major feeder for multiple State and Central power plants.
  • Coal in the region has high ash content (30–40%), resulting in significant fly-ash generation. This leads to persistent issues of air pollution, dust emissions, land degradation, and road deterioration due to continuous heavy-vehicle movement.