• 08 Dec 2025

Mahaparinirvan Diwas of Dr Ambedkar

Why in News? 

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw paid tribute to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas. 

Key Points 

• About: Mahaparinirvan Diwas is observed every year on 6th December to commemorate the death anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. 
  • It honours his legacy, emphasising his transformative impact on social reform, justice, and equality. 
  • The term "Mahaparinirvan" stems from Buddhist philosophy, symbolising liberation from the cycle of birth and death, marking the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. 
• Key Contributions:  
  • Upliftment: Founded the Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923) to promote education, improve socio-economic conditions, and empower outcast communities. 
  • Advocacy: Established the newspaper Mooknayaka (Leader of the Silent) to provide a platform for the oppressed and challenge societal inequalities. 
  • Equality: Spearheaded landmark movements, including the Mahad Satyagraha (1927), advocating for equal access to public water resources. 
  • Liberation: Led the Kalaram Temple entry movement in 1930 (Nashik Satyagraha) to break caste-based restrictions in places of worship, symbolising a broader fight against untouchability. 
  • Representation: Played a pivotal role in negotiating the Poona Pact, which replaced separate electorates for Dalits with reserved seats, paving the way for their political representation. 
  • Constitution: As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee appointed in 1947, Dr Ambedkar oversaw the meticulous process of crafting the world’s largest written Constitution.  
  • Economics: Dr Ambedkar’s doctoral thesis influenced the creation of the Finance Commission of India and the policy framework for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934. 
• Awards and Recognition:  
  • Bharat Ratna Award: Dr Ambedkar was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1990. 
  • Ambedkar Circuit: Five places associated with Ambedkar’s life were developed as pilgrimage centers (Panchteerth Development): 
    • Birthplace in Mhow 
    • Memorial in London (Shiksha Bhoomi) 
    • Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur 
    • Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai 
    • Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi in Delhi 
  • Constitution Day: Since 2015, 26th November is observed as Constitution Day, commemorating Ambedkar’s role as the architect of the Indian Constitution. 

Bihar to Establish 100 Fast Track Courts

Why in News? 

Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary announced the creation of 100 Fast Track Courts (FTCs) across Bihar to strengthen the judicial system and speed up justice delivery. 

Key Points 

• Objective: The primary goal of these FTCs is to expedite pending cases, reduce pressure on existing courts, and ensure timely handling of sensitive and high-priority matters. 
• Backlog: With more than 1.8 million cases currently pending in various courts, the establishment of FTCs is expected to provide major relief to the overburdened judicial framework. 
• Major Allocations:Key cities will see concentrated deployment, including eight FTCs in Patna and four each in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur to handle high caseloads. 
• District Distribution: Several districts such as Nalanda, Rohtas, Saran, Begusarai, Vaishali, East Champaran, Samastipur and Madhubani will each receive three FTCs to ensure balanced judicial accessibility. 
• Wider Coverage: Many other districts including West Champaran, Saharsa, Purnia, Munger, Jehanabad, Sitamarhi, Siwan and others will receive two FTCs each, while Naugachia and Bagaha subdivisions will get one each. 
• Prioritisation: Cases jointly shortlisted by District Magistrates and senior police officials will be prioritised, ensuring that serious and urgent matters receive prompt attention. 
• Recruitment: A large-scale recruitment drive will fill 900 positions per court, covering bench clerks, stenographers, data entry operators, process servers, and other essential support roles. 
• Law Order: Of the 100 FTCs, 79 will specifically function as Act Courts to accelerate cases under the Arms Act, reinforcing efforts to improve law and order across the State.

Fast Track Special Courts Scheme 

• About: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Law & Justice aimed at setting up FTSCs through the Nirbhaya Fund.  
  • Under the scheme, each FTSC is tasked with disposing of at least 165 cases annually. 
  • The scheme has been extended twice, with the latest extension valid until 31st March 2026, aiming to establish 790 FTSCs. 
• Performance: As of June 2025, 725 FTSCs (including 392 exclusive POCSO courts) are operational across 29 States/UTs, achieving a 96% disposal rate in 2024 alone. 

IEPFA Organises Niveshak Shivir in Jaipur

Why in News? 

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), in partnership with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs), organised a “Niveshak Shivir” in Jaipur. 

Key Points 

• Objective: The Shivir enabled direct facilitation of unclaimed dividends and unclaimed shares pending for six to seven years, provided on-the-spot Know Your Customer (KYC) and nomination updates, and addressed pending Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) claim issues. 
• Outreach – Following successful editions in Pune, Hyderabad and Amritsar, Jaipur became the next host city, reaffirming the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA’s) commitment to a transparent, accessible and investor-centric financial ecosystem.

Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) 

• The Government of India established the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority on 7th September 2016 under Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013, to oversee the administration of the Investor Education and Protection Fund. 
• The Authority is responsible for managing the Investor Education and Protection Fund, processing refunds for unclaimed dividends, shares, and matured deposits or debentures, and promoting financial awareness among investors. 

NMDC Signs MoU With IIT Kanpur

Why in News? 

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to enhance cyber security and advance digital technologies. 

Key Points 

• Purpose: The collaboration aims to strengthen industry–academia linkages and promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning across NMDC’s operations. 
• Cyber Security: The partnership covers cyber security risk assessments, strengthening policies, governance and compliance frameworks, and enhancing incident response capabilities. 
• AI–ML Integration: NMDC will collaborate with the institute to integrate Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools into operational processes to improve efficiency and decision-making. 
• Knowledge Building: Capacity building and knowledge-sharing initiatives will be central components, ensuring NMDC’s workforce gains advanced digital and cyber security skills. 
• Research Collaboration: Joint research and innovation activities will be undertaken, focusing on developing new solutions tailored to NMDC’s technological needs. 
• Training Initiatives: Both institutions will conduct training programmes, pilot projects, and create proof-of-concept developments to test and refine new technologies. 
• Strategic Impact: NMDC stated that the collaboration will strengthen its digital security infrastructure, improve operational intelligence and create a future-ready technological foundation for the organisation.

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) 

• Background – National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), incorporated in 1958, is a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India. 
• Leadership: NMDC is India’s largest and one of the world’s lowest-cost producers of iron ore, and is also known for operating the country’s only mechanised diamond mine at Panna in Madhya Pradesh. 
• Operations: The corporation runs highly mechanised iron ore mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, with its registered office located in Hyderabad, Telangana. 

Anti–Child Marriage Campaign in Rajasthan

Why in News? 

A civil society network has identified 38 high-risk districts in Rajasthan for a focused, year-long campaign to eliminate child marriage through community mobilisation and legal action.

Key Points 

• Previous Success: The network, Just Rights for Children (JRC), working with 17 partner organisations, reports having prevented 22,480 child marriages in Rajasthan over the past year. 
• Government Support: The initiative will complement the State government’s efforts, using panchayat-level resources to expand awareness campaigns into remote villages. 
• High-Prevalence Zones: The selected districts are classified as high-prevalence areas based on National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data from 2019–21. 
• Community Engagement: JRC emphasises the involvement of community groups, faith leaders, panchayats, and citizens to collectively end child marriage, describing it as a crime against children. 
• Collaborative Action: The Rajasthan government has directed officials from Health, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Education and Higher Education departments to actively support and strengthen the anti-child-marriage campaign. 
• National Initiative:  
  • The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a 100-day nationwide movement aimed at eliminating child marriage by 2030, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
• State Statistics:  
  • Rajasthan’s overall child marriage prevalence stands at 25.4%, slightly above the national average of 23.3%. 
  • Chittorgarh and Bhilwara report rates above 40%, while nine districts — including Jhalawar, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, and Alwar — show prevalence above 30%. 
  • Another nine districts fall in the 23%–29.9% range, indicating widespread vulnerability across the State.

Initiatives to Tackle Child Marriage 

• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) 
• BetiBachaoBetiPadhao (BBBP) scheme. 
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). 
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012. 
• CHILDLINE 

Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor

Why in News? 

The Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, spans Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and is being built at a cost of ₹16,482 crore.

Key Points 

• About: Built through 15 packages across three states, the corridor reflects the Ministry’s long-term vision of creating infrastructure that enhances mobility, connectivity and opportunities for millions. 
• Infrastructure Improvement: The new 6-lane, access-controlled corridor will ease congestion on the existing 2-lane NH-26, offering safer, more predictable travel at design speeds of 100 km/hr. 
• Travel Efficiency: The corridor will reduce the existing 597 km route to 465 km, saving 132 km and nearly seven hours of travel time, cutting the journey from about 12 hours to just five. 
  • Faster travel will significantly lower fuel consumption, transportation costs and operational expenses for both public and freight operators. 
• Industrial Boost: Industries in Chhattisgarh and Odisha will benefit from direct connectivity to Visakhapatnam Port and the Chennai–Kolkata National Highway, enabling quicker exports and smoother supply chains. 
• Regional Development: The project is expected to stimulate tourism, job creation, real estate development and overall economic growth across the connected regions. 
• Community Benefits: Farmers, transporters and local residents anticipate major gains, including lower logistics costs, faster produce deliveries and sharply rising land values near the corridor. 
• Tribal Connectivity: Remote and tribal districts such as Dhamtari, Keshkal, Kanker, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Araku will gain far better access to markets, services and mainstream economic opportunities.