• 29 Sep 2025

Birth Anniversary of Bhagat Singh

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to revolutionary Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary, praising his courage as a great source of inspiration.

Key Points

• Birth: Bhagat Singh was born on  28th September, 1907, in Banga, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan). He came from a Sikh family actively involved in anti-colonial activities; his father, Kishan Singh, and uncle, Ajit Singh, were prominent freedom fighters. 
• Early Life: Witnessed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre at the age of 12, which instilled a deep sense of patriotism and a vow to fight for India’s freedom. 
• Education: Joined the National College, Lahore, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, which emphasised the Swadeshi Movement and provided a platform for revolutionary ideas. 
• Revolutionary Organisations: Bhagat Singh became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) in 1924, later renaming it the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928. 
  • Naujawan Bharat Sabha was founded by Bhagat Singh in 1926, aimed at mobilising youth for the freedom struggle. 
• Major Actions: Involved in the assassination of police officer J.P. Saunders in 1928 (Lahore Conspiracy Case) as retaliation for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death due to police brutality. 
  • Threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on 18th April 1929, with B.K. Dutt to protest against repressive British laws. 
• Arrest and Trial: Arrested in 1929 for the bomb incident and later charged with murder in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. 
  • Executed on 23rd March 1931, along with fellow revolutionaries Sukhdev and Rajguru, in Lahore. Bhagat Singh is affectionately known as Shahid-e-Azam, the greatest of martyrs. 
• Literary Contributions: Authored significant works, including Why I Am an Atheist, The Jail Notebook and Other Writings, and several political manifestos advocating for socialism and revolution. 
  • In his early work, Vishwa Prem (Universal Love), Singh proclaimed the importance of equality. He envisioned a world free of hunger and war, where humanity transcends boundaries of race and nationality. 
• Ideologies: Advocated Marxist and socialist ideologies, emphasising rationalism, equality, and justice. Critiqued organised religion, viewing it as a form of mental and physical slavery. 
• Legacy: Celebrated as a national hero and martyr; his birth anniversary and the date of his execution are observed annually to honour his contributions to India's freedom struggle. 
  • Every year, 23rd March is observed as Martyrs’ Day as a tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

India Wins Asia Cup

Why in News?

India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 final at Dubai to clinch their ninth title, staying unbeaten with three wins against Pakistan in the tournament.

Key Points

• Asia Cup Records:
  • India: 9 titles (most by any team).
  • Sri Lanka: 6 titles.
  • Pakistan: 2 titles.
• Player Of The Match: Tilak Varma
• Player Of The Series: Abhishek Sharma
• Asia Cup Format: Alternates between ODI and T20I formats.
  • This is India’s second consecutive title after winning the Asia Cup 2023 (ODI format).

Child Marriages Decline in Rajasthan

Why in News?

Rajasthan, once regarded as a child marriage hotspot, has witnessed a dramatic decline, with cases falling by 67% among boys and 66% among girls, according to a study released at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Key Points

• About: 
  • The study titled “Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India” was conducted between 2022 and 2024 in five states by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 child protection NGOs, in collaboration with the Rajasthan Directorate of Child Rights. The initiative was also supported by the Government of India and various civil society organisations.
  • The report highlights that awareness campaigns were the most effective tool for reducing child marriages, with 99% of respondents in Rajasthan identifying them as crucial. 
  • It also notes that 82% of respondents considered arrests and prosecutions as the second most impactful factor in deterring the practice. 
  • Despite these improvements, the study underscores that poor financial conditions (91%), cultural and traditional practices (45%), and the belief that early marriage ensures “purity” (45%) remain persistent drivers of child marriage.
• Recommendations of the Report: The report calls for stricter enforcement of child marriage laws, better reporting mechanisms, compulsory marriage registration, and village-level awareness regarding the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat portal. 
  • It also recommends declaring a National Day Against Child Marriage to mobilise collective action across the country.

Child Marriage

• About: UNICEF categorises child marriage as a human rights violation due to its adverse impacts on the development of both girls and boys.
  • Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 states that Child marriage elimination is pivotal in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, aiming for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls by 2030.
  • According to the UN, 1 in 5 young women worldwide (19%) were married in childhood in 2022.
• Legislative Framework: India enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in 2006, establishing the legal age for marriage at 21 for men and 18 for women.
  • Section 16 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act allows State Governments to appoint 'Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPO)' for specific areas.
  • CMPOs are responsible for preventing child marriages, collecting evidence for prosecutions, counselling against promoting or aiding such marriages, raising awareness about their harmful effects, and sensitising communities.

Two Wetlands in Bihar Designated as Ramsar Sites

Why in News?

India has added two new wetlands from Bihar — Gokul Jalashay in Buxar and Udaipur Jheel in West Champaran — to the global list of Ramsar Convention Sites of International Importance.

• With these additions, India’s Ramsar tally now stands at 93 sites, covering 13,60,719 hectares, maintaining its top position in Asia and third globally after the UK (176) and Mexico (144).
  

Key Points

• Gokul Jalashay, Buxar District:
  • Type: Oxbow lake located on the southern edge of the river Ganga.
  • Ecological Role: Functions as a natural flood buffer for nearby villages while providing habitat for over 50 bird species.
  • Community Linkages: Provides livelihood through fishing, farming, and irrigation.
  • Local Tradition: Villagers clean the catchment annually during a festival.
• Udaipur Jheel, West Champaran District:
  • Type: Oxbow lake surrounding a village.
  • Biodiversity: Home to 280 plant species, including Alysicarpus roxburghianus (endemic to India).
    • It is an important wintering ground for 35 migratory bird species, including the vulnerable common pochard.
• About Wetlands: They are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water (natural or artificial) with water that is static or flowing, including marine areas with a depth not exceeding six meters.
  • Wetlands are an ecotone, having land transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
• About Ramsar Convention: It was adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and provides a global framework for wetland conservation and wise use. India joined it in 1982.
  • The Montreux Record (threatened list) lists wetlands with deteriorating ecological character due to human activity or pollution. India has two wetlands in the Montreux Record:
    • Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan (1990): A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Loktak Lake, Manipur (1993): The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, known for its Phumdis (floating masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter)
  • Chilika Lake was included in the Montreux Record in 1993 but was removed in 2002 (the first site from Asia).

UP Marks World Tourism Day

Why in News?

Uttar Pradesh marked World Tourism Day 2025 with state-wide celebrations highlighting sustainable transformation, community participation, and inclusive tourism initiatives.

• The state hosted programmes across cities and villages, emphasising community involvement and eco-friendly practices.

Key Points

• About: World Tourism Day was first celebrated in 1980 by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and raises awareness about the social, cultural, and economic importance of tourism. 
  • The day marks the adoption of UNWTO’s statutes in 1975, signifying its official establishment five years later. 
  • UNWTO advocates for tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability while supporting the sector in advancing knowledge and policies worldwide. 
    • UNWTO comprises 160 Member States (including India), 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers, and over 500 Affiliate Members.  
    • Headquartered in Madrid, Spain.  
• Theme: The theme for this year is ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’, which emphasises tourism’s power to promote positive change.
  • Malaysia hosted the World Tourism Day and the World Tourism Conference (WTC) 2025 in the city of Melaka.

UP Tourism Policy 2022 

• About: The primary objective of tourism policy is to ensure sustainable development, enhance visitor satisfaction, boost economic growth, protect cultural and natural resources, and foster community inclusivity and participation. 
• Financial Incentives: The policy offers generous subsidies and financial support, including: 
  • Capital investment subsidies ranging from 10–25% (capped at Rs 2–40 crore based on investment size). 
  • 5% interest subsidy on bank loans up to Rs 5 crore for 5 years. 
  • 100% exemption on stamp duty, land conversion fees, and employment-linked EPF reimbursements. 
  • Additional incentives target Tier 2+ locations, women entrepreneurs, SC/ST/backward classes, and focus on tourism destinations.  
• Focus: The policy promotes developing: 
  • Eco-tourism circuits like wildlife sanctuaries, camping sites, trekking, and nature walks 
  • Heritage, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events), wellness, and amusement parks through PPP models. 
  • Integration with themed circuits—Ramayana, Krishna, Buddhist, Mahabharata, and Shakti Peeth. 
• Investment Facilitation & Global Promotion: UP aims to attract Rs 5,000 crore annually by: 
  • Establishing a Tourism Investor Facilitation Cell for market research, approvals, and investment support 
  • Participation in roadshows, international tourism events, and collaborative branding—placing UP on the global tourism map.

World Rabies Day

Why in News?

On World Rabies Day, health officials in Jharkhand highlighted a sharp surge in dog bite cases, raising public concern over the increased risk of rabies.

• According to data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), over 30,000 dog bite cases were reported till August 2025, with around 1.5 lakh affected and four rabies deaths since 2021.

Key Points

• World Rabies Day (WRD):

  • About: Observed every year on 28th September since 2007, it commemorates Louis Pasteur’s death anniversary, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

    • He was a French chemist, pharmacist, and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurisation.

    • The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set an ambitious goal to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

  • Theme: The theme for WRD 2025 is “Act now: You, Me, Community”. 

    • For the first time in its 19-year history, WRD’s theme does not include the word "rabies", showing how well-established the movement has become.

• About Rabies:
  • It is a viral, vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease.
  • It is caused by a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey, etc).
  • Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. The death invariably occurs in four days to two weeks due to cardio-respiratory failure.
  • The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu and may last for a few days.