Why in News?
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has officially declared the hill region surrounding Kalinjar Fort in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh as a National Geo‑Heritage Site.
Key Points
- Location: The site lies in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh and is part of the Vindhya mountain range, known for its ancient rock formations.
- Geological Significance: Features the Eparchaean Unconformity, where 2.5 billion-year-old Bundelkhand granite is overlain by 1.2 billion-year-old Kaimur sandstone, crucial for studying Earth’s early history.
- Historical and Cultural Heritage:
- Dynasties Ruled: The fort was ruled by several dynasties including the Guptas, Vardhanas, Chandelas, Mughals, Marathas, and the British.
- Chandela Architecture: The Chandela rulers significantly developed the fort and used the epithet of “Kalanjaradhipati”.
- Important Temple: The fort houses the famous Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, built by Chandela ruler Paramaditya Dev.
- Mythological Significance: According to legend, Lord Shiva consumed the poison from the Samudra Manthan at Kalinjar, which is why the temple is called Neelkanth (blue-throated).
- Key Monuments: Hanuman Gate, Lal Darwaza, Ganesh Gate, Raja Aman Singh Palace, Rani Mahal, Patal Ganga, and Sita Kund.
- Sher Shah Suri died in 1545 during the siege of Kalinjar Fort.
- Tourism Potential: Heritage tag is expected to boost tourism and attract researchers, students, and geology enthusiasts.
- The site is likely to be developed as part of a broader tourism circuit linking Kalinjar, Khajuraho and Chitrakoot.
Why in News?
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched India’s first 24×7 LPG ATM in Gurugram, Haryana as a pilot program.
Key Points
- Features: Provides 10 kg composite cylinders that are half the weight of traditional iron cylinders, making them easier to handle.
- Capacity: Dispenses a cylinder within 2–3 minutes and can store around 10 cylinders at a time.
- Technology: Equipped with sensors that alert the nearest gas agency when stock is low for timely refilling.
- Target Users: Initially available to BPCL customers in Gurugram.
- The service aims to reduce dependency on delivery wait times and improve customer convenience, especially during off‑hours.
- Future Potential: If successful, BPCL plans to replicate this LPG ATM model in other cities and residential complexes.
Why in News?
The Government of India has appointed internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik as the Brand Ambassador for Census 2027 to promote public awareness and participation in the upcoming nationwide census exercise.
Key Points
- Official Notification: The appointment has been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs as part of preparations for the 16th National Census.
- Role: As the Brand Ambassador for Census 2027, Pattnaik will use his signature sand art to educate and mobilise citizens across India about the importance of the census and encourage broader public engagement.
- Sudarsan Pattnaik – Major Achievements:
- Received the Padma Shri in 2014 for his outstanding contribution to art and social awareness.
- Guinness Record: Holds a Guinness World Record by building the World’s tallest sand castle which is 48 feet and 8 inches at the Puri beach in Puri (2017).
- Social Campaigns: Uses sand art to raise awareness on issues like climate change, Covid-19, and children’s rights.
- Cultural Ambassador: Represented India in various international art festivals and exhibitions.
- Census 2027:
- Census conducted under Census Act 1948.
- Conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- Census 2027 is the First Census by digital means in country.
- Census 2027 will be the 16th Census of India and the 8th after independence.
- The official mascots of Census 2027 are “Pragati” (female) and “Vikas” (male).
Why in News?
Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has recently released the book Karuna: The Power of Compassion in March 2026.
Key Points
- Publisher: The book is published by the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion in collaboration with HarperCollins.
- Global Outreach: Karuna aligns with Satyarthi’s broader mission under the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion to promote justice, peace, equality, and sustainability at both grassroots and international levels.
- Kailash Satyarthi – Key Achievements:
- His earlier book: “Will for Children.”
- Founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA): Established in 1980, a movement aimed at eradicating child labour and trafficking in India.
- Founded the Global March Against Child Labour (1998), a worldwide campaign that influenced the ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.
- Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Malala Yousafzai in 2014.
Why in News?
The Global Terrorism Index 2026 has been released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), providing a global assessment of the impact and trends of terrorism across countries.
Key Points
- About: The Global Terrorism Index is an annual report that measures the impact of terrorism in 163 countries, analysing trends, patterns, and the global distribution of terrorist activity.
- IEP is headquartered in Sydney.
- GTI is based on data from Dragonfly’s TerrorismTracker database, which maintains detailed and structured records of terrorist incidents reported in open sources worldwide since January 2007.
- Factors:
- A total number of terrorist incidents in a given year
- A total number of fatalities caused by terrorists in a given year
- A total number of injuries caused by terrorists in a given year
- A total number of hostages caused by terrorists in a given year
- Methodology: Each of these factors is assigned a weight ranging from zero to three, and a five-year weighted average is used to capture the prolonged psychological impact of terrorist incidents over time.
- Most Affected Country: Pakistan ranked first in the Global Terrorism Index 2026, indicating the highest impact of terrorism among all countries.
- India is ranked 13th (with a score of 6.428) in terms of the impact of terrorism worldwide.
- Regional Pattern: The Sahel region accounted for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths in 2025, compared to less than 1% in 2007.
- Sub-Saharan Africa continued to be the global epicentre of terrorism, the region showed some improvement, with terrorism-related deaths declining in ten countries while increasing in only four.
- Nearly 70% of terrorism-related deaths occurred in just five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded the largest increases in terrorism-related deaths, with rises of 237 and 102 deaths, respectively.
- Deadliest Terror Group: The Islamic State (IS) remains among the deadliest terrorist organisations globally, operating across several countries.
Why in News?
Odisha hosted India’s first-ever National Indoor Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, marking a significant milestone in the development of indoor athletics infrastructure in the country.
Key Points:
- Event: The two-day inaugural edition (24–25 March 2026) of the National Indoor Athletics Championships featured competitions for both senior and U20 categories, including track and field events.
- Organiser: The event was organised under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) with support from the Odisha Sports Department.
- About Athletics Federation of India (AFI):
- Current President: Bahadur Singh Sagoo
- Established in 1946
- Affiliated with World Athletics, the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), and the Indian Olympic Association.
| Note: Bhubaneswar has been named the host city of the 2028 World Indoor Athletics. |
PCS Parikshan
