• 24 Nov 2025

Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar

Why in News?

The Jharkhand government launched its annual public-service outreach campaign ‘Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar’, through camps held across districts.

• The theme of the first week is “Right to Service Week”. This year's campaign will focus on sectoral themes.

Key Points

• Objective: It is a statewide doorstep governance initiative under which government departments set up camps at the panchayat and block levels to provide on-spot services.
• Services offered: 
  • The campaign focuses on issuing caste, income, and residential certificates, updating ration cards, registering beneficiaries under key welfare schemes, and resolving pending applications.
  • Citizens can apply for Aadhaar-linked benefits, pension schemes, job cards, Ayushman Bharat cards, and various tribal welfare entitlements.
  • Camps will also support enrolments under state schemes like Abua Awas Yojana and Savitri Bai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana wherever applicable.
• Implementation Mechanism: Officials from revenue, social welfare, labour, rural development, and health departments participate to ensure integrated service delivery.
• Outreach Focus: Special attention is being given this year to remote tribal hamlets, ensuring inclusion of vulnerable groups such as PVTGs and forest-dwelling communities.

RSCERT Launches Career Education Programme

Why in News?

The Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) has launched a new Career Education Programme aimed at strengthening the career-counselling capacities of government school teachers across the state.

Key Points

• Objective: 
  • The Career Education Programme aims to train government teachers to guide students on academic choices, vocational pathways, skill development options, and emerging career trends..
  • It will help teachers provide structured career counselling, especially to students from rural and disadvantaged areas who lack access to professional guidance.
• Key Components: The initiative covers modules on career mapping, aptitude understanding, NEP-2020-aligned pathways, vocational education, digital learning opportunities, and scholarship awareness..
• Implementation & Institutional Role: 
  • RSCERT plans to create a statewide pool of certified teacher-counsellors to support schools in academic planning and student mentoring.
  • The programme supports the state's broader goal of improving student preparedness for higher education, competitive exams, and employment opportunities.

RSCERT

• Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) is the apex academic authority for school curriculum development, teacher training, textbook preparation, and educational research in Rajasthan.
• It works under the Department of School Education, aligning state curriculum with National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) 2020 guidelines.
• RSCERT also coordinates with State Institute of Educational Research and Training (SIERT), district resource groups, and SCERT-level institutions to strengthen teacher capacity and learning outcomes in government schools.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day

Why in News?

The President of India paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji on the occasion of his 350th Martyrdom Day on 24th November 2025.

• He was executed by Aurangzeb on 24th November 1675, for defending Kashmiri Pandits against forced religious conversion, and the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi's Chandni Chowk marks the site of his execution.

Key Points

• Early Life: Born in the year 1621 in Amritsar, Guru Tegh Bahadur was initially known as Tyagmal due to his ascetic nature. Trained in religious philosophy and martial skills, he was awarded the title “Tegh Bahadur” for his bravery in battle.
• Contribution: He became the 9th Sikh Guru in 1664 after Guru Harkishan. In 1665, he founded Anandpur Sahib and contributed more than 700 hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib, focusing on equality, justice, and devotion.
• Legacy: He opposed forced religious conversions during Aurangzeb’s reign and encouraged fearlessness (Nirbhau) and compassion (Nirvair) among his followers.
  • He is revered for defending freedom of religion and conscience earning him the title “Hind-di Chadar” (Shield of India).

Ten Gurus of Sikhism
Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539)	• First Sikh Guru and founder of Sikhism. • Initiated ‘Guru ka Langar’ • Contemporary of Babur • Kartarpur Corridor was inaugurated on his 550th birth anniversary
Guru Angad (1504–1552)	• Invented the Gurmukhi script • Popularized the practice of ‘Guru ka Langar’
Guru Amar Das (1479–1574)	• Introduced the Anand Karaj marriage ceremony• Abolished sati and purdah practices among Sikhs• Contemporary of Akbar
Guru Ram Das (1534–1581)	• Founded Amritsar in 1577 • Began the extraction and construction of the Holy Tank (Sarovar) at the site of the Golden Temple.
Guru Arjan Dev (1563–1606)	• Compiled the Adi Granth in 1604• Completed the Golden Temple’s construction• Known as ‘Shaheeden-de-Sartaj’• Executed by Jahangir for helping Prince Khusrau
Guru Hargobind (1594–1644)	• Transformed Sikhs into a martial community• Known as the “Soldier Saint”• Established the Akal Takht in Amritsar
Guru Har Rai (1630–1661)	• Peace-loving Guru• Dedicated his life to missionary work and maintaining the Sikh army. Met with Dara Shikoh (Aurangzeb’s brother).
Guru Harkishan (1656–1664)	• Youngest Sikh Guru, became Guru at age 5• Summoned by Aurangzeb
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675)	• Founded Anandpur Sahib• Opposed forced conversions under Aurangzeb• Martyred in 1675 for defending Kashmiri Pandits
Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708)	• Founded the Khalsa in 1699• Introduced the initiation ceremony “Pahul”• Last human Sikh Guru  and the Five Ks• Declared Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru

Mangsir Bagwal

Why in News?

Hilly villages in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand are celebrating Mangsir Bagwal, a post-Diwali folk festival rooted in agrarian rhythm and local history.

Key Points

• The festival of Mangsir Bawal is held in the lunar month of Mangsir (Margashirsha), about one month after Kartik Diwali, marking a delayed celebration of light in the hills.
• It honours the legendary return of Garhwali commander Madho Singh Bhandari, who arrived home victorious from battle against Tibetan forces after Diwali, prompting the community to light lamps and rejoice a month later.
• The timing coincides with end of the winter-harvest season in the hills, when farm work eases and villagers come together for communal feasting, music, and dance.
• Rituals include folk dances like Raso and Tandi, performances to traditional drums (dhol-damaun), and a unique rope ritual on the festival’s fourth day (‘Bhaand’) where local grass is woven into thick rope and coiled in the village square.
• The festival highlights agrarian-pastoral livelihoods of the Garhwal hills: the post-harvest lull gives space for social celebration, ritual purification, and preparation for the harsh winter months.
• It helps preserve folk arts, local dialects, field-rites, and intangible heritage  important in tribal and hill contexts facing urban migration and cultural erosion.

Madho Singh Bhandari

• Madho Singh Bhandari (17th century) was a famed Garhwali commander under the Kingdom of Garhwal, celebrated for his bravery and strategic skill.
• He is most widely remembered for constructing the historic Bhandari Khal Canal, an engineering feat in the mountainous terrain that supported irrigation and village agriculture.
• Folklore credits him with defending Garhwal’s borders against invading forces, making him a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and military prowess in Uttarakhand.

Uranium Detected in Breastmilk in Bihar

Why in News?

A new study of 40 lactating mothers across six districts in Bihar found uranium (U-238) in 100% of breastmilk samples, signalling potential health risks for infants who rely exclusively on breastmilk in their early months.

Key Findings

• The study was conducted across Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar and Nalanda, analysing samples from mothers aged 17-35 between October 2021 and July 2024.
• It found uranium concentrations ranged up to 5.25 µg/L, with the highest single value recorded in Katihar district and the highest district average in Khagaria
• Infant risk modelling showed that about 70% of infants in the studied cohort had Hazard Quotient (HQ) > 1, indicating potential non-carcinogenic risks if exposure continues.
• While there is no established permissible limit for uranium in breastmilk, the WHO’s provisional guideline for uranium in drinking water is 30 µg/L. Most breastmilk values were well below this
• Likely sources of uranium contamination include groundwater, agricultural fertiliser use, over‐extraction of aquifers and geogenic rock formations—the study referenced earlier groundwater findings of up to 82 µg/L uranium in districts like Supaul.
• Researchers caution that infants are more vulnerable because their organs are still developing and they eliminate uranium less efficiently than adults.

Uranium Contamination

• Uranium (U-238) is a naturally occurring radioactive heavy metal with chemical toxicity especially affecting kidneys, bones and neurological development.
• Over 150 districts across 18 Indian states have reported elevated uranium in groundwater (> 30 µg/L).
• Key health concerns for infants include nephrotoxicity, impaired neurodevelopment, reduced IQ and delayed motor skills, though actual clinical effects from low-level exposure remain unclear.

Chandigarh & Article 240

Why in News?

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that the government will not introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the upcoming Winter Session. The bill reportedly proposed to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution.

Key Points

• About Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill:
  • The proposal aimed to include Chandigarh under Article 240, which currently applies to select Union Territories such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Puducherry.
  • Chandigarh is presently administered as a Union Territory (UT), with the Governor of Punjab serving as its Administrator, since it acts as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
• Article 240 & Potential Impact on Chandigarh:
  • Article 240 empowers the President to make regulations for the peace, progress, and good governance of certain UTs that do not have their own legislatures.
  • These regulations have the same effect as an Act of Parliament, giving the Centre direct administrative influence.
  • As Chandigarh currently lacks a legislative assembly, bringing it under Article 240 would mainly be a change in the method of governance, allowing the President to rule by regulation instead of Parliament legislating by Act.
  • This change would enable the Centre to:
    • Issue regulations for governance through the President or a delegated authority.
    • Possibly introduce a separate Lieutenant Governor (instead of the Punjab Governor), changing the administrative head.
  • Chandigarh's governance structure stems from the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, making it a shared capital with a unique administrative model.
  • Any alteration in its governance has implications for federal relations, state rights, and UT administration frameworks.