• 06 Sep 2025

Bhutan Prime Minister Visit to Bodh Gaya

Why in News?

The Prime Minister of Bhutan visited the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, offered prayers before Lord Buddha’s statue, and meditated under the sacred Bodhi tree.

Mahabodhi Temple

• About: The Mahabodhi temple marks the site where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. 
  • The original shrine was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, while the present structure dates back to the 5th–6th centuries CE.
  • Architectural Features: The complex comprises the 50 m high main temple (Vajrasana), the sacred Bodhi Tree, and six other associated sacred sites of Buddha’s enlightenment, surrounded by ancient votive stupas. 
  • It is among the earliest surviving brick temples of the Gupta period, with the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) installed by Ashoka to mark Buddha’s meditation spot.
• Sacred Sites: Key sites include the Bodhi Tree (a direct descendant of the original tree), the Animesh Lochan Chaitya (where Buddha meditated after enlightenment), and other related spots.
• Recognition: The Mahabodhi Temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Illegal Sand Mining

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre and the Rajasthan government, asking them to respond to allegations of large-scale illegal river sand mining and transportation in the state.

What is Sand Mining?

• About: Sand mining is the removal of natural sand and sand resources (like mineral sands and aggregates) from the terrestrial, riverine, coastal, or marine environment to extract minerals, metals, crushed stone, sand, and gravel. 
  • Illegal river sand mining refers to the unauthorized and unregulated extraction of sand from riverbeds, banks, and floodplains.
• Source of Sand: In India, the primary sources of sand include river floodplains, coastal sand, palaeo-channel sand, and sand from agricultural fields.
• Factors Contributing to Illegal Sand Mining: 
  • Lack of regulation and weak enforcement enable unchecked illegal sand mining.
  • High demand from the construction industry, driven by urbanization and population growth, increases pressure on riverbeds and coastal areas.
  • Corruption and sand mafia influence, with collusion of authorities, sustain illegal mining practices.
  • Lack of sustainable alternatives: Limited use of manufactured sand (M-sand) and poor promotion of eco-friendly options increase reliance on riverbed sand.
•  Consequences of Sand Mining:
  • Erosion & Habitat Disruption: Alters riverbeds, causes erosion, changes channel morphology, destabilizes stream channels, and disrupts aquatic habitats.
  • Flooding & Sedimentation: Sand depletion increases flooding, sediment loads, and alters flow patterns, harming aquatic ecosystems.
  • Groundwater Depletion: Formation of deep pits lowers the groundwater table, affecting drinking water wells and causing water scarcity.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Leads to loss of aquatic and riparian species, with impacts extending to mangrove forests.
• Regulations on Sand Mining:
  • MMDR Act, 1957: Sand is classified as a "minor mineral" under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), with state governments overseeing its administration.
  • SSMG 2016: The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the "Sustainable Sand Mining Management (SSMG) Guidelines 2016" to promote scientific and eco-friendly sand mining practices.
  • Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): The Supreme Court of India mandated that all sand mining activities, even those in areas smaller than 5 hectares, require prior approval.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Why in News?

A 6–7 month-old male leopard cub died during treatment at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), due to an undiagnosed neurological disorder.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

• About: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) is located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. It was established as a Tiger Reserve in 1988 under Project Tiger.
• Constituent Areas: The reserve comprises Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • It includes a mix of Sal woodlands, marshy grasslands, dry riverine grasslands, and oxbow lakes.
• Geographical Features: The reserve is bounded by the Mohana River to the north and the Sharda River to the south, with the Gerwa River flowing through Katarniaghat.
• Biodiversity: DTR is a biodiversity hotspot with interlinked food chains and food webs.
  • Fauna: Bengal Tiger, Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Leopard, and numerous bird species.
    • In the All-India Tiger Census 2022, DTR ranked 4th in the country, with about 135 tigers and 180 butterfly species.
  • Flora: Dominated by Sal (Shorea robusta) forests, with marshy wetlands, grasslands, and riverine vegetation.

Karam Festival

Why in News?

Jharkhand Chief Minister took part in the Karam festival celebrations held in Ranchi.

About Karam (Karma) Festival

• Geographic and Community Reach: The harvest festival is celebrated by tribal populations in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Odisha.
  • It is especially popular among the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal tribes.
• Timing and Date: The festival is traditionally celebrated on the Ekadashi tithi (eleventh day) of the lunar fortnight in the month of Bhado/Bhadra (corresponding to August-September).
• Central Symbol and Deity: The festival is named after and centers on the Karam tree. The tree is traditionally seen as a symbol of Karam Devta or Karamsani, the god of strength, youth, and vitality.
• Rituals and Ceremonial Practices: 
  • Preparation: About a week before the festival, young women bring clear sand from the river, in which they sow seven types of grains.
  • Main Ceremony: On the day of the festival, a branch of the Karam tree is planted in the courtyard or ‘akhra’.
  • Worship: Devotees bring jawa (hibiscus) flowers, and the pahan (priest) worships the Karm Raja or Karam Devta.
  • Celebration: The worship is followed by dancing and the singing of traditional Karam songs.
  • Conclusion: The festival concludes with the immersion of the Karam branch in a river or pond, and the jawa is distributed among the devotees.
• Agricultural Linkages and Practices: The origin of the festival is traced to the beginning of agriculture by tribal communities.
  • As the Oraon/ Kurukh community aligned cultural practices with seasonal agricultural cycles, they celebrated Karam as the festival of dhaan/ anaaj (grains) during the autumn rains.
  • Branches from sal or bhelua trees are often planted in the fields after the festival, hoping Karam Raja/ Devta will protect their crops.
  • The stems of Chirchitti (chaff flower) and Sindwar (chaste tree) are planted in paddy fields, acting as natural insecticides.
  • The pahan (priest) prays for a good harvest during the ceremonies.

Telangana Tops India in Per Capita Income

Telangana has emerged as the state with the highest per capita income (PCI) in India for 2024-25, surpassing Karnataka and Haryana, marking its first top position in five years.

Key Points

• Per Capita NSDP: Telangana’s per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) stands at ₹3.87 lakh, ahead of Karnataka (₹3.8 lakh) and Haryana (₹3.5 lakh).
• Consistent Growth:The state has maintained an average growth rate of over 10% in per capita income over the past decade, with nearly 12% growth in the last two years despite nationwide slowdowns.
• Agricultural Backbone: Commercial crops like cotton and horticulture are credited as the backbone of rural economic growth, driving market activity and contributing significantly to NSDP.
• Decadal Transformation: Per capita income has more than tripled in a decade (from under ₹1 lakh to over ₹3.8 lakh), while overall NSDP rose from ₹13.47 lakh (2023-24) to ₹14.87 lakh (2024-25).
• Diversified Growth: The state’s success is attributed to a combination of agricultural strength, industrial expansion, and service sector growth, making it a dynamic economic benchmark.

Net State Domestic Product

• Definition: NSDP measures the total value of goods and services produced within a state after deducting depreciation of capital assets.
• Formula: NSDP = Gross State Domestic Product – Depreciation.
• Significance: Unlike GSDP, NSDP reflects a clearer picture of sustainable economic output and the financial well-being of people in a state.