• 19 May 2025

Bihar Government Renames Gaya to Gaya Ji

Why in News? 

The Bihar government officially renamed the historic city of Gaya as ‘Gaya Ji’, honoring its profound religious and historical significance. 

• The renaming aims to boost religious tourism in Gaya, thereby attracting more pilgrims and visitors, strengthening the local economy, and creating livelihood opportunities. 

Key Points 

About Gaya Ji 

• Historical Context: 
  • Gaya was part of the ancient Magadh Empire, a historically significant kingdom in Indian history. 
  • The city is located on the banks of the Falgu River, contributing to its spiritual and geographical significance. 
• Religious Significance: 
  • Gaya is a major Hindu pilgrimage site, especially known for the Pitrapaksh festival, where millions perform Pind Daan to honor ancestors. 
    • According to mythological belief, in Treta Yuga, a demon named Gayasur performed penance here and got a boon from Lord Vishnu and became a pure soul. Since then, this place has been called Gaya. 
  • Bodhgaya, situated in Gaya district, is where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. 
    • It is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centers globally. 
  • The city is surrounded by sacred hills such as Mangala-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila, and Brahmayoni. 

Falgu River 

• The Falgu River flows on the east side of Gaya and carries water only during the monsoon season. 
• For the rest of the year, its riverbed appears dry, but water can be found beneath the mud. 

Pitrapaksh Festival (Pitru Paksha) 

• Pitrapaksh, also called Pitru Paksha or Shraddha, is a 16-day Hindu festival observed during the lunar month of Ashwin (September–October).  
  • It begins on the full moon day (Purnima) and ends on the new moon day (Amavasya). 

Rudranath Temple

Why in News? 

Rudranath Temple, known as the fourth Kedar, has reopened to devotees after its winter closure. 

Key Points 

 Rudranath Temple  

• It is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. 
• It is one of the revered Panch Kedar temples.  
  • The Panch Kedar temples include Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath, and Kalpnath. 
• The temple is situated at an altitude of 2290 meters above sea level. 
• In the Rudranath temple, Lord Shankar’s Ekanan means that the face is worshiped, while the whole body is worshiped in the Pashupatinath of Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. 

 Char Dham Yatra 

• Uttarakhand, often referred to as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to many sacred temples and attracts devotees throughout the year. 
• Among these spiritual sites, the Char Dham Yatra is considered one of the most prominent pilgrimages in the region. 
• The Yatra comprises visiting four holy shrines: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. 
  • Yamunotri Temple, situated in Uttarkashi district, lies near the source of the sacred Yamuna River and is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. 
  • Gangotri Temple, also in Uttarkashi district, is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, regarded as the most sacred river in India. 
  • Kedarnath Temple, located in Rudraprayag district, honors Lord Shiva. 
  • Badrinath Temple is famous for the Badrinarayan Temple and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. 
• The shrines are located in the Garhwal Himalayas and are traditionally visited between May and November. 

National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

Why in News? 

A programme focused on the National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) was organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Bareilly.  

• It aimed to socially and economically empower sanitation workers and promote safe, dignified livelihoods. 

Key Points 

National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) 

• About: It is a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 
  • It was launched in 2023-24 as a Central Sector Scheme with a budget allocation of  349.73 crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26.  
  • It primarily aims to eliminate manual scavenging and promote the safety and dignity of sanitation workers. 
  • Key Components: 
    • SSWs employed by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are to be profiled for targeted interventions. 
    • SSWs receive occupational safety training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, and health insurance under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). 
    • The scheme promotes self-employment and formal employment by providing capital subsidies to turn SSWs into “sanipreneurs” or sanitation entrepreneurs. 
    • Waste Pickers engaged in Solid Waste Management have been included as a component under the NAMASTE scheme in 2024. 
• Objectives: 
  • To socially and economically empower sanitation workers, especially those engaged in hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning. 
  • To ensure workers have access to safe, dignified, and sustainable livelihoods by mechanizing sanitation work and reducing health risks. 
  • To promote inclusion, safety, and welfare of workers through the distribution of PPE and healthcare benefits. 

Significance of the Programme   

• The programme is a vital step towards improving the socio-economic conditions of sanitation workers who often face hazardous working environments and social stigma. 
• The emphasis on mechanization under NAMASTE reduces manual scavenging, promoting healthier and safer work conditions. 
• Distribution of Ayushman cards under the (AB-PMJAY) ensures access to health services, crucial for workers exposed to occupational health risks. 
• Providing sewing machines promotes alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering skill diversification and economic stability. 
• NAMASTE aligns with the government’s broader objectives of social justice, inclusion, and welfare for marginalized communities. 
• The programme helps in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to decent work, health, and well-being (SDGs 3 & 8). 

Manual Scavenging 

• Manual scavenging is defined as “the removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers”. 
• India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR). 
• The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice” and seeks to address the historical injustices faced by manual scavengers. 

Schemes Related to Manual Scavenging 

• Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SESRM) 
• National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) 
• Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan 
• Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 
• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) 

Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act 1960

Why in News? 

 Maharashtra Chief Minister announced the formation of a committee to examine and recommend amendments to the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960.  

• This move aims to modernize the legal framework governing cooperatives to reflect changing economic realities and promote inclusive growth. 

 Key Points 

• The Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960: 
  • It is a state-level law that governs the establishment, registration, and functioning of cooperative societies within Maharashtra. 
  • It aims to promote self-reliance and collective welfare through cooperative societies. 
  • The Act has been amended several times over the years, with the latest amendments being the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (Second Amendment) Act, 2024. 
• Need for Legal Reform in the Cooperative Sector: 
  • Cooperative laws need reform to enable successful cooperative organisations to list their shares on the market. 
    • This would facilitate transparent valuation through market-based share pricing, enhance accountability, and foster greater competitiveness within the sector. 
  • There is a need to modernize the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, by incorporating sector-specific chapters. 
    • Sector-Wise Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Contributions: 
      • The manufacturing sector contributes 22–24% to the GDP. 
      • The services sector contributes 52–54%, generating the highest Goods and Services Tax (GST). 
      • The agriculture and rural sector, despite employing 60% of India’s population, contributes only 12%. 
  • There is a need to evaluate the impact of credit societies, housing cooperatives, consumer societies, and urban cooperative banks. 
• Kolhapur: A Model of Rural Prosperity: 
  • Kolhapur’s success is attributed to its high milk production (70–80 lakh litres daily) and thriving sugar industries. 
    • Maharashtra constitutes 25% of India's cooperatives. 
  • A new Rs 750 crore Mother Dairy plant has been set up in Nagpur, Vidarbha to replicate Kolhapur’s success. 

 Cooperative Societies 

• About: 
  • Co-operatives are voluntary, democratic, and autonomous organisations controlled by their members who actively participate in their policies and decision-making. 
    • Multi-state cooperative societies are cooperative societies that have members and activities in more than one state of India. 
  • Its aim is to serve the interest of the poorer sections of society through the principle of self-help and mutual help. 
  • These operate in various sectors such as agriculture, textile, poultry, and marketing. 
• Types of Cooperatives in India: 
  • Consumers' Cooperatives: Offer goods at reasonable prices by directly sourcing from producers, cutting out the middlemen. e.g., Kendriya Bhandar.  
  • Producers' Cooperatives: Assists small producers by supplying essential production materials, including raw materials and equipment.  
  • Cooperative Marketing Societies: Help small producers sell their products collectively, e.g., Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL).  
  • Cooperative Credit Societies: Provide financial services like savings and loans, e.g., Urban Cooperative Banks, Village Service Cooperative Society.  
  • Cooperative Farming Societies: Help small farmers gain the benefits of large-scale farming, e.g., lift-irrigation cooperatives, cooperatives and pani-panchayats.  
  • Housing Cooperative Society: Provides cost-effective housing options by acquiring and developing land for its members, e.g. Employees’ Housing Societies and Metropolitan Housing Cooperative Society. 

Konkan’s Lateritic Plateau

Why in News? 

A study published in a Netherlands-based journal Aquatic Ecology explains how freshwater rock pool size, monsoon patterns, and predators affect tadpole presence on lateritic plateaus in Maharashtra's Konkan region. 

 Key Points 

 Konkan’s Lateritic Plateau 

• About: 
  • They are formed through the process of laterization, where intense weathering and leaching in humid, tropical climates remove soluble minerals, leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides. 
  • Found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills, Satpura, Vindhya, and Malwa Plateau in India.  
    • Maharashtra's Konkan region features ancient lateritic plateaus, locally known as sadas, formed over millions of years. 
  • These plateaus are typically found on elevated terrains and are known for their unique biodiversity and water-holding capacity. 
• Crucial Habitats for Tadpoles and Biodiversity: 
  • These plateaus host unique freshwater rock pools, created through natural erosion and weathering processes. 
  • The rock pools act as breeding grounds and tadpole habitats for frogs living around the area. 
    • Rock pools are depressions on rocky surfaces with pan - or bucket-shaped pools that are fed by monsoon rains. 
  • Rock pools support not just tadpoles, but also phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, aquatic plants, insects, and vertebrates—many of which are endemic. 
  • The lateritic rock pools are found only along the western coast, from northern Kerala to Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district. 
  • Tadpoles contribute to ecosystem services like nutrient cycling, sediment removal, and leaf litter breakdown. 
    • These functions are vital for soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.

India’s first Jungle Safari Vistadome Train

Why in News? 

The Indian Railways and the government of Uttar Pradesh introduced India’s first Vistadome jungle safari train. 

Key Points 

Jungle Safari Vistadome Train 

•  About: 
  • This initiative will connect the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary with the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, offering passengers a chance to experience the state's rich biodiversity. 
  • At present, the service operates on weekends but plans are being firmed up to expand it to daily operations, making it accessible to more visitors year-round. 
• One Destination, Three Forests:  
  • This plan is part of the “One Destination, Three Forests” theme by the Eco Tourism Board of Uttar Pradesh.  
  • It aims to bring Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat, and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary together as one combined tourist destination for a richer and more connected wildlife experience. 
• Economic Importance: 
  • The train is expected to boost local tourism, create new jobs, and support sustainable development. 

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary 

• It is situated in the Upper Ganga Plain, Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, covering 400.6 sq km with a rich and diverse ecosystem. 
• It was established in 1975. In 1987, it was brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger’, and together with the Kishanpur  Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dudhwa National Park it forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. 
  • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary was later declared a Tiger Reserve in 2008. 
• It hosts animals like chital, deer, wild boar, tiger, elephant, and leopard, and endangered species such as gharial, rhinoceros, Gangetic dolphin, swamp deer, hispid hare, Bengal florican, and vultures. 
• It features mixed deciduous forests of sal and teak, grasslands, swamps, and wetlands, with the Girwa River maintaining ecosystem balance. 

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 

• Located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh on the Indo-Nepal border, within Lakhimpur-Kheri district. 
• Known for its rich biodiversity, it is home to Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, swamp deer, leopard, and many bird species. 
  • Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), which includes: 
    • Dudhwa National Park 
    • Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 
    • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary 
  • These three areas form the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger, protecting the last viable population of Royal Bengal Tigers in the state. 
  • Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Sanctuary joined the reserve in 1987, and Katarniaghat joined in 2000.