State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 11 Apr 2026

Vikramaditya Vedic Clock Installed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Why in News? 

A Vikramaditya Vedic Clock, based on ancient Indian time-keeping traditions, has been installed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi to revive the traditional Vedic system of calculating time and astronomical events. 

Key Points 

• Installation: The 700-kg Vikramaditya Vedic Clock was presented by Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, and unveiled in the presence of Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at the temple complex. 
  • Unlike the modern 24-hour clock, the Vedic clock calculates time from sunrise to the next sunrise and divides a day into 30 muhurtas, with each muhurta lasting about 48 minutes. 
  • The clock displays key elements of the traditional Hindu Panchang, including tithi (lunar day), nakshatra (constellation), moon phases, eclipses, festivals, and other astronomical data. 
• Multiple Time Formats: Along with Vedic time, the clock simultaneously shows Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), integrating traditional knowledge with modern technology.  
• Objective: The initiative aims to revive the ancient Indian system of “Kaal Ganana” (time reckoning) and introduce visitors to India’s traditional scientific and astronomical knowledge systems.  

Read More:  Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vikramaditya Vedic Clock 

Telangana Declared Cancer a Notifiable Disease

Why in News? 

The government of Telangana has declared cancer a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for healthcare providers to report all diagnosed cases to a centralised system to strengthen disease surveillance and improve cancer management.  

Key Points 

• Status: The state government has officially classified cancer as a notifiable disease, requiring compulsory reporting of all diagnosed cases across the state.  
  • All public and private hospitals, laboratories, healthcare facilities, and registrars of births and deaths must report cancer cases within one month of diagnosis to a centralized portal. 
  • Both pre-cancerous (in-situ) and invasive cancer cases must be reported under the new system to ensure comprehensive tracking. 
• Objective: The initiative aims to create a reliable real-time database of cancer cases, helping authorities understand the actual burden of the disease and plan healthcare policies more effectively. 
• Major Cancer Types: Common cancers include breast and cervical cancer in women and oral and lung cancer in men, many of which can be prevented or treated if detected early. 

Read More: Cancer