India’s Intangible Cultural Heritage
Significance of ICH
- Social & Cultural Identity: Preserves linguistic, ethnic, tribal, regional, religious, and community identities, fostering social cohesion and pluralism.
- Livelihoods & Crafts Economy: Traditional crafts, performing arts, and cultural tourism provide income for artisans, performers, and marginalized communities.
- Education & Knowledge Transmission: Embeds traditional knowledge, including ecological practices, oral histories, folklore, rituals, and indigenous wisdom, supporting intergenerational learning.
- Cultural Diplomacy & Soft Power: Promotes India’s diversity, unity, and values globally, enhancing soft power and international image.
- Global Heritage Governance: India’s active role strengthens UNESCO heritage governance and positions the country as a key voice for inclusive and community-sensitive preservation.
India’s Institutional Contributions
- Ministry of Culture (MoC): Launched the Scheme for Safeguarding Intangible Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions to centralize preservation efforts.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA): Conducts capacity-building workshops and awareness programs for practitioners.
- Scheme aims to revitalize institutions, communities, practitioners, and scholars while increasing national and international recognition.
Key Activities under the Scheme
- Documentation and creation of ICH inventories.
- Preservation and promotion of cultural expressions.
- Preparation of UNESCO nomination dossiers.
- Training and capacity building for artists and practitioners.
- Workshops, performances, and dissemination initiatives.
- Integration of education and culture, skill development via Sector Skill Councils under NVEQF.
India’s UNESCO ICH Contributions
- India is a State Party to the 2003 UNESCO Convention on ICH.
- 15 Indian elements inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of ICH to date.
- This year, Chhath Mahaparva and Diwali nominated for inclusion.
- Inscriptions reflect community participation, documentation, training, and transmission.
- Elements include:
- Performing Arts: Kutiyattam, Chhau
- Sacred Traditions: Vedic chanting, Buddhist chanting in Ladakh
- Community Practices: Ramlila, Ramman, Sankirtana
- Everyday Knowledge Systems: Metalcraft of Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Kalbelia music and dance
- Large Gatherings & Festivals: Kumbh Mela, Yoga, Durga Puja, Garba, Novruz
T.N. Rising Summit
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, speaking at the T.N. Rising Summit in Madurai, emphasized the State government’s commitment to uniform and regionally balanced development.
Key Announcements & Achievements
- ₹11.38 lakh crore in committed investments secured over the last four years, expected to create 34 lakh jobs.
- The Madurai conclave alone led to 91 MoUs, worth ₹36,660 crore, aimed at boosting industrial growth in the southern districts.
Focus on Southern Region Development
Mr. Stalin highlighted several initiatives to bring the southern districts on par with the rest of Tamil Nadu:
- PM MITRA Integrated Textile Park in Virudhunagar:
- Cost: ₹1,894 crore
- Area: 1,052 acres
- Expected jobs: ~1 lakh
- Common engineering park and mega food park in Theni
- Industrial park land allotments in Sivaganga (108 acres in Iluppaikudi, 102 acres in Kazhanivasal)
- TIDEL Park in Madurai (₹314 crore) and TIDEL NEO parks in Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari
- Proposed airport in Ramanathapuram
Major Investments & Industrial Projects
- Investors’ conferences in Thoothukudi, Hosur, and Coimbatore earlier secured nearly ₹1 lakh crore.
- Madurai conference brought in 186 projects across sectors like shipbuilding, electronics, food processing, and non-leather footwear.
- Pei Hai, a Taiwanese company, will set up a non-leather footwear unit at the upcoming SIPCOT Industrial Park in Madurai, generating 15,000 jobs, giving priority to local women workers.
- Hyundai shipbuilding MoU in Thoothukudi positions Tamil Nadu as a major player in the sector.
Other Key Initiatives
- Launch of the Tamil Nadu University Research Park Foundation to deepen industry–academia partnerships.
- Release of the Madurai Master Plan 2044, designed for a projected population of 42 lakh.
National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) — a secure platform that allows police and investigative agencies to access multiple government and private databases in real time — is currently receiving around 45,000 requests per month, according to government officials.
Operational Status & Background
- NATGRID became operational last year, though it was first conceptualised in 2009 after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
- It is accessible only to authorised security agencies.
- At the recent Directors-General of Police conference in Raipur, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, agencies were urged to increase their use of NATGRID in investigations.
Expanded Access & Available Data
- Initially available only to 10 Central agencies (IB, R&AW, NIA, ED, FIU, NCB, DRI, etc.).
- Now extended to State police, with Superintendent of Police–rank officers allowed access.
- Provides data from:
- Driving licence records
- Aadhaar
- Airline travel data
- Bank records
- Select social media accounts relevant to specific issues
Challenges Faced by State Police
- Officials report slow login processes and delays in retrieving information, despite the platform’s real-time data claim.
- Some procedural and technical hurdles still need to be addressed.
Government Measures & Security Concerns
- The Home Ministry is encouraging States to use NATGRID liberally during investigations.
- The platform gained momentum after 2019, under Home Minister Amit Shah, who resolved inter-agency differences and opened it up to State police.
- With India witnessing 20.41 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2024 — the highest since 2020 — the government is working to strengthen data protection and cyber-resilience.
Purpose & Investigative Value
- NATGRID’s goal is to eliminate the need for security agencies to request data separately from multiple sources.
- FIR registration is not required to access data.
- The platform helps agencies “join the dots”, aiding both intelligence development and ongoing investigations, while maintaining user confidentiality.
Grasslands having High Carbon Sequestration Potential
Historical Context & Misclassification
- India’s semi-arid grasslands and savannahs were labelled “wastelands” during British rule because they lacked timber value.
- Post-independence policies retained this classification, influencing land records and government decisions.
- The National Wastelands Development Board (1985) grouped diverse ecosystems — including grasslands, scrublands, ravines, and even glaciers — under “wastelands.”
Ecological & Socio-Economic Importance of Grasslands
- Grasslands support unique biodiversity and provide livelihoods to millions of pastoralists.
- Example: Maharashtra’s livestock economy was valued at ₹59,000 crore (2018–2019).
- Grasslands are soil-centred ecosystems with deep root systems that:
- Stabilise soil, improve structure, and enhance water infiltration
- Prevent erosion and increase drought resilience
- Store large amounts of long-term, stable below-ground carbon
Grasslands as Climate Solutions
- Global research now recognises grasslands’ high carbon-sequestration potential, often more stable than forest carbon.
- Grassland carbon is stored underground and remains resilient even to fire.
Maharashtra (Solapur) Restoration Initiative
- Maharashtra Forest Department and CAMPA restored degraded grasslands by planting native grasses (e.g., Dicanthium, Chrysopogon, Cenchrus).
- Study comparing restored vs. unrestored sites found:
- 21% increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) after 2 years
- 50% increase after 3 years
- Demonstrates restoration’s value for India’s climate goals.
Banni Grassland (Gujarat) Findings
- Once Asia’s largest tropical grassland, Banni was degraded by invasive mesquite (Prosopis/Neltuma juliflora) due to flawed policies.
- Community-led restoration (removing Prosopis; regenerating native grasses) revived “wada” grassland patches.
- Key findings:
- Restored patches store the highest SOC, followed by wetlands and woodlands.
- Banni stores 27 metric tonnes of carbon (up to 30 cm depth) with ~120 tC/ha SOC density, ranking among the most carbon-rich arid ecosystems globally.
Role of Pastoral Communities
- Maldhari pastoralists manage grasslands through rotational grazing, controlled biomass harvest, and monitoring of grass recovery.
- Shows that community-led governance is essential for grassland health.
Core Message
- India’s strongest climate solutions may lie not in planting trees but in restoring native grasslands, which store stable soil carbon and support both ecological and human communities.
- Grasslands must be recognised as vital ecosystems, not “wastelands.”
Cosmic / Galaxy Filaments
What Are Cosmic Filaments?
- Largest “threads” in the cosmic web, spanning hundreds of millions of light-years.
- Formed by gravity pulling gas, dark matter, and galaxies into long, thin strands.
- They border vast empty regions called voids.
How Filaments Form and Function
- Created where sheets of matter intersect and collapse.
- Act as highways along which gas and smaller galaxies move toward massive galaxy clusters.
- Infalling material can impart spin to both the filament and embedded galaxies.
Why Filaments Matter
- Influence where galaxies form, their growth rates, and the supply of fresh gas they receive.
- Play a major role in galaxy evolution over billions of years.
How Astronomers Study Them
- Mapped by measuring positions and distances of large numbers of galaxies.
- Patterns in galaxy distribution reveal filament structures.
- Computer simulations reproduce similar cosmic webs, supporting their origin from early-universe density ripples evolving under gravity.
Recent Discovery (Oxford, December 3)
- Researchers identified a filament ~50 million light-years long, traced by at least 14 galaxies.
- Found that galaxy spin directions aligned with the filament.
- Evidence suggests the entire filament is slowly rotating.
- Reported as one of the largest spinning structures ever detected.
Indonesian troops invaded Portuguese East Timor
- Indonesian troops invaded Portuguese East Timor, landing about 1,000 soldiers in the capital Dili.
- The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr. Adam Malik, claimed the troops arrived at the invitation of pro-Indonesian forces to “prevent bloodshed.”
- Australian reports indicated that the Revolutionary Front for East Timor (Fretilin) fled Dili and hid in nearby hills.
- Indonesian forces seized military and civil headquarters in Dili and continued operations to “clear the city.”
- Dr. Malik accused retreating Fretilin fighters of killing many women and children in Dili.
- Pro-Indonesian Timorese groups (UDT, Apodeti, Kota, and Trabalista) advanced toward Dili, supported by Indonesian forces and mortar bombardment.
- Reports from Lisbon described a large-scale air, land, and sea operation underway.
- Dr. Malik framed the intervention as a “police operation”, insisting Fretilin lacked popular support and predicting no prolonged guerrilla conflict.
Formula One World Championship
Lando Norris’ Championship Victory
- Lando Norris (McLaren) won his first Formula One World Championship.
- He ended Max Verstappen’s four-year title streak, finishing third in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
- Points tally: Norris – 423, Verstappen – 421, Oscar Piastri – 410.
Race Highlights
- Race winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Second place: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 12.5 seconds behind Verstappen
- Norris’ emotional victory included tears of joy both inside his helmet and post-race.
Team Achievements
- McLaren secured the constructors’ championship for the second year in a row (first double title since 1998).
- Both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles were won in the same season for McLaren.
Sportsmanship
- Norris congratulated Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri for their season-long competition.
- Piastri received a consoling hug from Norris’ mother, Cisca.
- Verstappen and Piastri showed sportsmanship in congratulating Norris.
Additional Race Results
- 4th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 5th: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 6th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- 7th: Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- 8th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), seven-time world champion
Significance
- Norris’ victory denied Verstappen a fifth consecutive championship, a feat previously only achieved by Michael Schumacher.
2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
Event Overview
- The Ministry of Ayush organized a Curtain Raiser Press Conference in New Delhi ahead of the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
- Dates of the Summit: 17–19 December 2025
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- The first edition was held in Gujarat in 2023.
Key Participants
- Union Minister of State (IC) for Ayush: Shri Prataprao Jadhav
- WHO Representative: Dr. Poonam Khetrapal, Regional Director Emeritus, South-East Asia Region
- Other officials: Secretary Ayush (Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha), Joint Secretaries Ms. Monalisa Dash, Ms. Alarmelmangai D, Deputy Director General Shri Satyajit Paul, and senior media representatives
Theme & Objectives
- Theme: “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being”
- Goals:
- Mainstream traditional medicine for global health, happiness, and well-being
- Advance holistic, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare
- Foster evidence-based integration of traditional, complementary, and Indigenous medicines into national health systems
- Expected participation from over 100 countries
Focus on Ashwagandha
- A dedicated side event on Ashwagandha will be held during the Summit:
- Title: “Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts”
- Focus on its adaptogenic, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory properties
- Discussions on scientific evidence, traditional knowledge, safety, and global acceptance
India’s Global Leadership in Traditional Medicine
- Highlighted Ayush systems: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy
- Establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, reflects growing global confidence in India’s traditional knowledge
Significance
- India hosting the Summit reaffirms its commitment to holistic, integrative, and sustainable healthcare globally
- Summit outcomes aim to shape a decade-long roadmap for traditional medicine integration, research, innovation, and regulatory strengthening
- The Prime Minister of India is expected to attend the closing ceremony
Previous Preparatory Events
- Ambassadors’ Reception (9–10 November 2025) highlighted India–WHO collaboration and the global importance of the Summit
Strengthening Multimodal Connectivity
Meeting Overview
- Event: 104th Meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG)
- Focus: Review infrastructure proposals to strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve logistics efficiency in line with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).
- Chair: Joint Secretary, Logistics, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
Key Objectives
- Evaluate rail projects for:
- Integrated multimodal infrastructure
- Last-mile connectivity to economic and social nodes
- ‘Whole of Government’ approach
- Expected benefits:
- Enhanced logistics efficiency
- Reduced travel times
- Socio-economic growth in project catchment areas
Rail Projects Reviewed
- Gummidipundi – Gudur (TN & AP)
- Construction of 3rd and 4th railway lines over 89.96 km
- Supports freight for fertilizers, POL, containers, cement, and power plants
- Projected freight handling: 25.07 MTPA
- Facilitates Chennai Port connectivity
- Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) – 3rd Financial Restructuring (MH, GA & KA)
- Infrastructure upgrades to improve financial and operational health
- Includes two new tunnels (Pernem & Old Goa) and three crossing stations
- Expected to reduce congestion and enhance regional connectivity
- Nidadavolu – Duvvada (AP)
- Construction of 3rd and 4th railway lines over 198.10 km
- Addresses rising freight volumes (coal, gypsum, fertilizer imports) and public demand for passenger services
- Supports industrial units such as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Ramco Cements, Chettinad Cement
- Nagda – Mathura (MP, UP & RJ)
- Construction of 3rd and 4th lines over 567.86 km
- Key segment of Golden Quadrilateral & HDN-3 (Delhi–Mumbai corridor)
- Supports freight growth from thermal power plants, petroleum terminals, fertilizer & cement industries
- Ghaziabad – New Sitapur (UP)
- Construction of 3rd and 4th broad-gauge lines over 402.78 km across 10 districts
- Improves commuter and freight efficiency toward Northern Frontier Railways
- Strong road and air connectivity enhances multimodal access
Expected Outcomes
- Strengthened freight and passenger capacity
- Reduced logistics costs and improved supply chain efficiency
- Facilitation of regional industrial development
- Integration with ports, airports, and industrial hubs for seamless multimodal transport
Financial Literacy Initiatives in India
1. Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL)
- Initiated by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- Objective: Promote community-led, innovative, participatory financial literacy.
- Coverage: 2,421 CFLs across India, each covering three blocks on average.
- Activities: Conduct financial literacy programs tailored for different target groups.
2. Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs)
- Conducted by: Banks
- Focus:
- “Going Digital” awareness via UPI and USSD (*99#).
- Tailored sessions for various population segments.
- Rural Requirements:
- One camp per month per rural branch.
- Covers topics in the Financial Awareness Messages (FAME) booklet, including:
- Basic banking
- Digital financial literacy
- Consumer protection
3. Financial Literacy Week (FLW)
- Started: 2016, conducted annually.
- Purpose: Propagate financial education on various themes among the public.
4. RBI’s Public Awareness Campaign: “RBI Kehta Hai”
- Approach: Multi-media, multilingual campaign.
- Goal: Promote financial literacy and safe banking practices among the general public.
5. Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs)
- Implemented by: Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)
- Activities:
- Camps in Anganwadis, SHGs, panchayat halls, and women-only gatherings.
- “Niveshak Didi” initiative:
- Reaches households and neighborhoods.
- Focuses on financial education in areas with restricted mobility.
- Phase II (launched 7th April 2025):
- 4,000 financial literacy camps nationwide
- Focus on responsible investing, fraud prevention, and digital banking
- 40,000 women postal workers trained as community financial educators
- Uses postal workers’ rural presence for grassroots outreach
Key Highlights
- India’s financial literacy efforts combine community-led approaches, institutional support, and technology.
- Programs target rural, semi-urban, and vulnerable populations, especially women.
- Initiatives aim to:
- Improve digital financial literacy
- Reduce fraud and financial exclusion
- Promote responsible investing and safe banking practices
Conclusion
The Indian government, through RBI, IEPFA, and bank networks, has established a multi-layered financial literacy ecosystem leveraging CFLs, FLCs, FLW, “RBI Kehta Hai”, and “Niveshak Didi”, with an emphasis on community participation, rural outreach, and women empowerment. These initiatives aim to strengthen financial inclusion and responsible financial behavior across the country.
Operation Sagar Bandhu
- Operation Sagar Bandhu is an ongoing Indian Navy mission providing Search & Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to cyclone-affected regions of Sri Lanka.
- Earlier deployments: INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, and INS Sukanya provided relief assistance and heli-borne SAR support.
- Recent deployment: Four ships—INS Gharial, LCU 54, LCU 51, and LCU 57—were sent to deliver HADR supplies.
- Timeline: The three LCUs arrived in Colombo on 7 Dec 2025, handing over critical relief materials; INS Gharial scheduled to arrive at Trincomalee on 8 Dec 2025.
- Supplies: Approximately 1,000 tons of relief materials provided to support affected communities.
- Significance: Demonstrates strong people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka and India’s commitment to providing timely humanitarian aid in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
UPI Recognized as World’s Largest Real-Time Payment System by IMF
- UPI Recognition: The IMF (June 2025) recognized India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the world’s largest retail fast-payment system by transaction volume.
- Global Share: As per ACI Worldwide (2024), UPI holds approximately 49% of global real-time payment system transaction volume.
- Support for Small Merchants: Government, RBI, and NPCI initiatives help small merchants adopt digital payments, including:
- Incentive schemes for low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.
- Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) providing grants to banks and fintechs for deploying POS terminals and QR codes in tier-3 to 6 centers.
- Infrastructure Deployment:
- As of October 31, 2025, 5.45 crore digital touchpoints deployed under PIDF in tier-3 to 6 centers.
- By FY 2024-25, 56.86 crore QR codes deployed to 6.5 crore merchants.
- Digital Transaction Expansion: Efforts underway to deepen adoption of UPI and RuPay across public services, transport, and e-commerce platforms nationwide.