Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Mela Held in Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | 15 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development distributed appointment letters to newly selected candidates at the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Mela held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.  

• As part of this nationwide employment drive, over 51,000 candidates across India received government job appointment letters.

Key Points

• Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Mela: 
  • About:  
    • The Government of India launched the first Rozgar Mela on October 22, 2022, distributing over 75,000 appointment letters to new recruits. 
      • So far, the government has conducted 16 editions of the Rozgar Mela across the country, issuing over 10 lakh recruitment letters. 
    • It is part of the government’s broader strategy to expand job opportunities and build a robust, future-ready workforce. 
    • To supplement government recruitment, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)—under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship—has been conducting Rozgar Melas to link unemployed youth with jobs in the private sector. 
  • This initiative aims to: 
    • Empower youth with career opportunities 
    • Enable youth participation in nation-building 
    • Accelerate job matching between employers and seekers 
    • Uphold the vision of equitable and inclusive development. 
  • Sector-Wide Induction of Recruits: 
    • Newly recruited individuals have joined key ministries and departments such as the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Labour and Employment. 
    • This reflects the comprehensive strengthening of human resources in public administration. 

Internet and SMS Services Suspended in Nuh | Haryana | 15 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

The Haryana government has suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Nuh district for 24 hours as a precautionary measure to prevent unrest, maintain public peace, and curb the spread of misinformation. 

Key Points

• About the Order: 
  • The Haryana Home Department issued the suspension directive under: 
    • Section 20 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and 
    • Rule 3 of the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024. 
  • The order suspended mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/5G/CDMA/GPRS), bulk SMS services (except those related to banking and mobile recharge), and dongle-based internet access. 
  • Essential communication channels such as voice calls, broadband internet, and corporate lease lines remain operational to minimize disruption to the public. 
• Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024: 
  • Mandatory Publication: All orders suspending telecom services, including internet shutdowns, must be published with specific reasons, geographical area, and duration. 
    • The suspension duration cannot exceed 15 days. 
  • Competent Authority: The suspension order can only be issued by the "competent authority," which is the Union Home Secretary for the central government and the State Home Secretary for states. 
  • Review Mechanism: A review committee is required to meet within 5 days of an order’s issuance to review its validity. 
    • The central review committee is chaired by the cabinet secretary, while the state committee is chaired by the chief secretary. 
  • Nodal Officers: Licensed service providers must appoint a nodal officer per service area to receive and implement suspension orders. 
  • Secure Communication: Only officers ranked superintendent of police or higher can communicate these orders, in writing or via secure electronic means.

National Workshop on SMILE-B | Madhya Pradesh | 15 Jul 2025

Why in News?

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) organized a National Workshop and Orientation Programme in Indore, focusing on the SMILE-B sub-scheme aimed at the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging.

Key Points

About SMILE-B 

• It is a sub-scheme of the SMILE initiative and aims to build a ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat’ by facilitating the reintegration of persons engaged in begging into mainstream society with dignity and sustainable support. 
  • As of December 2024, the scheme has been implemented in 81 cities/towns, including major pilgrimage, historical, and tourist locations. 
    • The next phase aims to expand coverage to 50 additional cities. 
  • As of April 2025, in India, 9,958 individuals have been identified as engaged in begging. 
    • 970 individuals successfully rehabilitated through various scheme interventions. 

 

About National Workshop and Orientation Programme 

• The event focused on rescue operations, primary rehabilitation, and livelihood convergence for persons engaged in begging. 
• The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including State nodal officers, urban local body (ULB) representatives, NGOs, and Civil Society Groups. 
  • They engaged in focused discussions on challenges and best practices in implementing the SMILE-B scheme.

About SMILE Scheme 

• Launched in October 2023, the SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) aims to create a ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat’ (Begging-Free India). 
• Rehabilitation Strategy:  
  • It involves coordination with local bodies for identification, outreach, and resettlement, with empathetic engagement and profiling through photo/video documentation.  
  • District administrations, NGOs, SHGs, and Temple Trusts provide services like counselling, education, and reintegration support. 

Maharashtra Reverses Hindi Language Mandate | Maharashtra | 15 Jul 2025

Why in News?  

The Maharashtra government scrapped its government resolutions (GRs) mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language from Grades 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.  

• The government has appointed a committee under renowned economist Dr. Narendra Jadhav to study the three-language policy. 

Key Points 

• About the Issue: 
  • On 16 April 2025, the state government mandated Hindi as the third language from Grades 1 to 5 in all English and Marathi-medium State Board schools, citing alignment with NEP 2020 and the State Education Framework 2024. 
  • Though the move was in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multilingualism through the three-language formula, it was withdrawn due to concerns over linguistic identity, cultural hegemony, and the feasibility of implementation. 
• Provisions on Language under NEP 2020: 
  • Medium of Instruction: NEP 2020 recommends using the mother tongue, local, or regional language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. 
    • It also promotes bilingual teaching, encouraging the use of the home language or mother tongue alongside English, especially in the early years of schooling. 
    • However, the 8th All India School Education Survey (AISES), by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), shows a decline in the use of mother tongue as the medium of instruction.  
      • At the primary stage, 86.62% of schools used the mother tongue in 2009, down from 92.07% in 2002. 
      • The drop is seen in both rural (from 92.39% to 87.56%) and urban areas (from 90.39% to 80.99%). 
  • Multilingualism: The three-language formula under NEP 2020 marks a shift from the earlier NEP 1968. 
    • NEP 1968 prescribed Hindi, English, and a modern Indian language (preferably a southern language) in Hindi-speaking states, and Hindi, English, and a regional language in non-Hindi-speaking states. 
    • In contrast, NEP 2020 allows greater flexibility and clearly states that no language will be imposed on any state. 
    • It also encourages the inclusion of classical languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam within the three-language formula. 
  • Foreign Languages: NEP 2020 allows students to learn foreign languages like Korean, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish at the secondary level. 
    • As per CBSE guidelines, students will study two Indian languages till Class 10, and can choose one Indian and one foreign language in Classes 11 and 12.

• Issues in Implementing the Three Language Policy: 
  • Federal Concerns: Since education falls under the Concurrent List, imposing Hindi without state consultation raises concerns about federal overreach. 
    • The Three-Language Policy has faced criticism for allegedly promoting Hindi at the expense of regional languages. 
    • Tamil Nadu, influenced by the Dravidian movement, adopted a two-language policy (Tamil and English) in 1968, rejecting the central formula. 
    • This stance remains firm, and in 2019, Tamil Nadu’s opposition led to the removal of mandatory Hindi from the draft NEP 2020. 
  • Deviation from NEP 2020 Intent: NEP 2020 primarily emphasizes learning in the mother tongue (referred to as ‘R1’) and an additional second language (R2- a language other than R1), not three languages, in early years. 
  • Cultural and Societal Concerns: Civil society groups argue that compulsory Hindi could discourage the use of tribal and minority languages. 
    • Critics have termed it a "backdoor imposition of Hindi", raising concerns over a lack of transparency in decision-making. 
    • They also highlight that some state-level Hindi policies were introduced without proper consultation with language experts or public stakeholders. 
  • Administrative and Infrastructure Issues: Many rural schools lack qualified teachers for all three languages, leading to uneven quality of instruction. 
    • Developing age-appropriate and integrated curricula for three languages at the foundational level is a major challenge. 
    • This often overburdens students and teachers, resulting in rote learning and poor comprehension. 

Ashim Kumar Ghosh Appointed Governor of Haryana | Haryana | 15 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

The President appointed Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh as the new Governor of Haryana. 

• Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju was also appointed as the Governor of Goa, and Kavinder Gupta as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. 

Key Points

• Constitutional Functions of the Governor: 
  • Executive Head of the State: The Governor serves as the chief executive head of the state, functioning as a nominal authority while also acting as an agent of the central government.  
    • As per Article 154, all executive actions of the state government are carried out in the Governor’s name, and under Article 166, rules for the transaction of business are formulated by the Governor.   
    • Additionally, the Governor appoints the Chief Minister and, on their advice, the Council of Ministers.  
  • Legislative Role and Assent to Bills: As the constitutional link between the state legislature and the Union, the Governor summons, prorogues, and dissolves the state assembly under Article 174.   
    • A Bill must receive the Governor's assent to become law, similar to the President at the Union level, or it may be reserved for the President’s consideration under Article 200.  
    • The Governor plays a crucial role in the state’s financial governance, as no Money Bill can be introduced in the assembly without their recommendation under Article 207.   
      • They also ensure state finances comply with constitutional and fiscal responsibilities.  
  • Discretionary Powers and Role in Hung Assemblies: The Governor exercises discretionary powers in certain situations, such as recommending President’s Rule under Article 356 or inviting a party to form the government in case of a hung assembly.  
    • They also decide on matters where the Constitution grants them discretion, independent of the Council of Ministers' advice.   
  • Role in Appointments and Administration: The Governor appoints key functionaries, including the Advocate General, and members of the State Public Service Commission under Articles 165 and 316.   
    • They appoint Vice-Chancellors of state universities, which has been a contentious issue in recent years.   
    • This function ensures the smooth administration of the state, but must be exercised in consultation with the state government.  
  • Role in Implementing President’s Rule: Under Article 356, if the Governor believes that the constitutional machinery in a state has failed, they can recommend President’s Rule.   
  • Judicial Powers: The Governor of an Indian state holds pardoning powers under Article 161 of the Constitution, allowing them to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment for offenses against state laws.   
    • However, this power is limited compared to the President’s authority in cases of pardoning, as the Governor cannot pardon death sentences or court-martial cases.  
  • Special Responsibilities for Scheduled Areas and Tribal Welfare: In the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, the Governor has special powers over Scheduled Areas.  
    • These states are administered as Autonomous Districts under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.  
    • They can intervene in tribal administration to protect indigenous rights and promote welfare policies.

Governors of Haryana

Governors of Haryana	Tenure
Dharam Vira	1st November 1966 - 14th September 1967
Birendra Naryan Chakravarty	15th September 1967 -26th March 1976
Justice Ranjit Singh Narula	27th March 1976 -13th August 1976
Jai Sukhalal Hathi	14th August 1976 -23rd September 1977
Sardar Harcharn Singh Brar	24th September 1977 – 9th December 1979
Justice Surjit Singh Sandhawalia	10th December 1979 – 27th February 1980
Ganpatrao Devaji Tapase	28th February 1980 – 13th June 1984
Sayed Muzaffar Husain Burney	14th June 1984 – 21st February 1988
Hari Anand Barari	22nd February 1988 – 6th February 1990
Dhanik Lal Mandal	7th February 1990 – 13th June 1995
Mahabir Prasad	14th June 1995 – 18th June 2000
Babu Parmanand	19th June 2000 -1st July 2004
Om Prakash Verma	2nd July 2004 - 7th July 2004
Dr. Akhlaq-UR- Rahman Kidwai	7th July, 2004 - 27th July, 2009
Shri Jagannath Pahadia	27th July, 2009 - 26th July, 2014
Kaptan Singh Solanki	27th July, 2014 - 24th August 2018
Satyadev Narayan Arya	25th August, 2018 - 07th July 2021
Bandaru Dattatraya	7th July 2021 - July 2025
Ashim Kumar Ghosh	July 2025- Present

Maratha Military Landscapes Added to UNESCO World Heritage List | Maharashtra | 15 Jul 2025

Why in News?  

At the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, India’s official nomination for the 2024–25 cycle, ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India,’ was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it India’s 44th World Heritage Site. 

• It followed the 2024 inscription of the Moidams of Charaideo, Assam.  

Key Points 

About Maratha Military Landscape 

• About: The Maratha Military Landscapes of India include 12 major forts, mostly in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu, built or expanded between the late 17th and early 19th centuries.  
  • Strategically located in coastal and hilly areas, the forts formed a strong defence system that supported Maratha military power, trade, and territorial control.  
• 12 Major Forts: 
  • Maharashtra: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg 
  • Tamil Nadu: Gingee Fort 
• Classification by Terrain:  
  • Hill Forts: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, Gingee. 
  • Hill-Forest Fort: Pratapgad. 
  • Hill-Plateau Fort: Panhala. 
  • Coastal Fort: Vijaydurg. 
  • Island Forts: Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg. 
• Protection: 8 forts (Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee) are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). 
  • 4 forts (Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi, and Pratapgarh) are under the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra. 
• World Heritage Site Recognition:  The Maratha Military Landscape was nominated under UNESCO criteria (iv) and (vi) for its architectural, technological, and cultural significance, as well as its links to historic events.  
  • Such inscriptions aim to protect and promote heritage with Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) across 196 countries. 

About UNESCO World Heritage Selection Criteria 

• Criteria for Selection: To be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place must have OUV and meet at least one of the ten selection criteria. These are outlined in the Operational Guidelines, which serve as the main reference for implementing the World Heritage Convention.  
  • Originally, there were six cultural and four natural criteria, but since 2005, a single unified set of ten criteria is used. The guidelines are updated regularly to reflect changes in how heritage is understood and protected. 
  • After selecting a site from the Tentative List, the State submits a detailed nomination file. The World Heritage Centre reviews it before sending it for evaluation. 
• Evaluation: A nominated property is independently evaluated by Advisory Bodies mandated by the World Heritage Convention: ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). 
  • ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), an intergovernmental organization that provides the Committee with expert advice on cultural site conservation and training activities. 
• Inscription: After evaluation, the World Heritage Committee meets annually to decide on site inscriptions. It may also defer decisions and seek more information from States Parties. 
  • India became a member of the World Heritage Committee from 2021-25.