Art and Culture 

STORY OF RAGHUJI BHONSLE, WHOSE SWORD IS SET TO RETURN TO INDIA - Indian Express

The Maharashtra government recently reclaimed the iconic sword of Maratha warrior Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I at an auction in London for Rs 47.15 lakh.

About the Sword 

• Design Features: Basket-hilt European-style sword with a single-edged, slightly curved blade.
• Components: Contains two fullers (grooves along the blade).
• Intricacy: Spine inlaid with gold, bearing Devanagari inscription.
• Historical Context: Sena Saheb Subah was a high military title in the Maratha Empire, granted by the Chhatrapatis of Satara.
• Likely Provenance: The sword was probably a gift from Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj to Raghuji Raje Bhonsle, along with the military title.
• Loss of the Sword: After Battle of Sitabuldi (1817), East India Company defeated the Bhonsles and looted the Nagpur treasury and the sword was likely taken.

Nagpur Bhonsles 

• Role in Maratha Empire: Like Peshwas, Holkars, Scindias, and Gaikwads, they significantly contributed to the expansion of the Maratha Empire.
• Belonged to the royal Kshatriya Maratha clans: Claimed descent from Udaipur’s Sisodia Rajputs.
• Origin: An ancestor settled the village Beradi near Hingani (now in Pune district) who was likely a contemporary of Maloji Bhonsle, grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Death of Shivaji: After Shivaji Maharaj’s death, his last rites were conducted by Sabaji Bhonsle as Sambhaji was confined in Panhala Fort.

Raghuji Raje Bhonsle I 

• Rise to Power: Gained support from Chhatrapati Shahu in 1728 to defeat his uncle Kanhoji Bhonsle.
• Victory at Bham (1730): It secured his leadership and established the Nagpur Bhonsle dynasty.
• Territorial Expansion: Expanded Maratha rule into Odisha, Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• Contribution: Led key campaigns in Bengal (1745–1755).

• Expanse: The Nagpurkar Bhonsles ruled an area of around 2.17 lakh sq. km.
• Role in Odisha: Took control of Odisha in 1751 after a treaty with Nawab Alivardi Khan.

• Revived Shree Jagannath Temple:
  • Appointed priests and ensured upkeep.
  • Donated land revenue worth Rs 27,000 (Satais Hazari Mahal).
  • Funded temple yatra with Rs 20,000 annually.
  • Built 22 Dharamshalas, launched Annachhatra scheme, and improved road connectivity.

Polity 

The Caste Census - Indian Express

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the enumeration of castes in the upcoming Census, bowing to a several decades-old demand and reversing the position that it formally articulated in Parliament four years ago.

Caste Census Demand

• Current Status: Since 1951, Census collects data on SCs, STs, and religious groups, but not on other caste groups.

• Last detailed caste data: 1931 Census.
• 1941 Census: It included caste data, but it was not published.
• Post-independence: The government avoided caste enumeration.

• Demand for Caste Census:
  • Raised mainly by parties representing OBCs, including farmers and artisans.
  • No government has conducted a complete caste count in independent India.

From Census to SECC 

• 2010: Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily requested caste data inclusion in Census 2011.
• Rejection: Registrar General and Census Commissioner rejected the proposal citing feasibility concerns.
• Parliamentary Response: Home Minister P. Chidambaram cited logistical difficulties in collecting caste data via Census.
• Political Pressure: Due to pressure from parties, a Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Pranab Mukherjee was formed.
• Decision: Based on GoM recommendations, the government approved a separate Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) in September 2010.
• Implementation of SECC: 
  • SECC conducted June–September 2011, after Population Enumeration phase.
  • Reports on socio-economic data released in 2016, but caste data excluded.
• Status of Caste Data:
  • Raw caste data handed to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • An Expert Group under Arvind Panagariya (NITI Aayog) was set up for classification.
  • Caste data remains unpublished till date.

Recent Developments 

• 2021 Census delayed: It was due to Covid-19, no fixed date yet.
• Significance
  • Census data will affect policy decisions, constituency boundaries, and reservation for women.
  • Caste census likely to intensify calls for expanded reservations and OBC sub-categorisation.
     

Govt revamps National Security Advisory Board, appoints ex-RAW chief Alok Joshi its chairman - The Hindu 

The government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB. It is learnt that former R&AW chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman.

National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) 

• Structure: Part of India’s three-tier national security framework.
• Supervision: Works under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
• Role: Provides long-term strategic and security-related inputs.
• Purpose:
  • Offers broad-based analysis on national security challenges.
  • Integrates non-governmental expertise for fresh perspectives.
  • Aids in tackling complex threats like cyber, space, terrorism, and climate.
  • Enhances strategic foresight on foreign and security policy.
• Legal Status: 
  • Advisory and non-binding in nature.
  • Lacks statutory or constitutional backing.
  • Operates within NSCS framework.
• Composition: 
  • Led by a Chairperson (usually a senior expert or former official).
  • Around 7 experts from fields like defence, diplomacy, economics, science, etc.
• Appointment: Members appointed by PMO or on NSA’s recommendation.
• Membership: Non-permanent, with flexible membership.
• Functions:
  • Advises the National Security Council (NSC).
  • Provides guidance on strategic threats and national interest.
  • Focuses on research, foresight, and policy analysis.
• Current Focus Areas:
  • Neighbourhood and western strategy
  • Border management
  • Maritime and internal security
  • Strategic industries and technologies
  • Strategic communications

Economy 

Is natural hydrogen the fuel of the future? - The Hindu 

Hydrogen is seen as the fuel of the future — one that would decarbonise world economy and stop global warming. If harvested in a sustainable manner, natural hydrogen may provide a clean and potentially low-cost fuel to satisfy the world’s increasing energy needs with a considerable reduction in carbon emissions as well. And it’s most likely abundant in India, too.

Natural Hydrogen Extraction

• Extraction Process: Current hydrogen is mainly produced from natural gas, which is polluting and energy-intensive.
• Green hydrogen from renewables: Costly and needs large-scale solar/wind infrastructure.
• Natural hydrogen is formed geologically via:
  • Serpentinisation (water-rock reaction)
  • Radiolysis by radioactive rocks
  • Decomposition of organic matter at depth

Current Global and Indian Context

• India’s potential lies in regions with: Ultramafic/mafic rocks, ophiolite complexes, greenstone belts, sedimentary basins, and hot springs.
• Global hydrogen seeps: Australia, USA, Spain, France, Colombia, South Korea, and Canada.
• USGS model (2022): It suggests hydrogen reserves could meet global demand for thousands of years.

Recent Discoveries

• France (2023–2025): Lorraine and Moselle regions found 92 million tonnes of hydrogen (worth ~$92 billion).
• Estimated global reserves: Tens of trillions of tonnes; even 2% is enough for 200 years of global demand.

Industry Response

• Exploration: 40+ companies exploring natural hydrogen by end of 2023 (up from 10 in 2020).
• Extraction cost: Around $1/kg, cheaper than green hydrogen.
• Major interest from:
  • Start-ups (e.g., Koloma – $245M funding)
  • Investors (Amazon, Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures)
  • Energy giants (BP, Rio Tinto)

India yet again on US ‘priority watch’ list over IP rights challenges - The Hindu

India has yet again been placed in the ‘priority watch’ list of the US Trade Representative (USTR) office’s annual report on intellectual property rights which stated that New Delhi remained one of the world’s most challenging major economies with respect to protection and enforcement of IP rights.

The USTR reviewed more than 100 trading partners for this year’s Special 301 Report and placed eight of them, including India, in the priority watch list for deficiencies and violations of IP rights.

Special 301 Report

• Overview: Annual report by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under the Trade Act of 1974.
• Role: Tracks global Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement and market access for U.S. IP holders.
• Publishing: First published since 1989.
• Country Classifications:
  • Priority Foreign Country: Faces investigation and possible sanctions.
  • Priority Watchlist: Indicates serious IPR issues, requiring close U.S. monitoring.
  • Watchlist: Countries with IPR concerns, but needing lesser attention.
• Scope: Covers both developed and developing nations with IPR shortcomings.
   

Sci and Tech 

Scientists Chart the Sun’s Subsurface Weather Tied to Its 11-Year Activity Cycle - PIB 

An international team of solar physicists have traced giant tides of plasma beneath the Sun’s surface at a region called near-surface shear layer (NSSL). The plasma currents shift with the Sun’s magnetic heartbeat and could have far-reaching influence on space weather and Earth.

Near-Surface Shear Layer (NSSL)

• About: A dynamic zone below the Sun’s surface, extending up to 35,000 km deep.

• Features: Characterised by a rapid decrease in angular velocity with depth and latitude.
• Key Findings:
  • Surface plasma flows converge towards sunspot zones, then reverse and flow outward within the NSSL.
  • These flows are shaped by solar rotation and the Coriolis force.
  • Do not drive large-scale zonal flows (torsional oscillations), indicating deeper unknown forces at work.
• Techniques Used: Used helioseismology to trace internal solar dynamics via sound waves.
• Data sources:
  • NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) – HMI instrument
  • GONG (Global Oscillations Network Group), NSO, USA