Current Affairs

SUNKEN MUSEUM

Why in the News?

India's first sunken museum at the site of Humayun's Tomb complex was inaugurated by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. It displays over 500 never-before-seen artefacts. The layout of the museum is inspired by the medieval 'baolis' or traditional water tanks that showcases the legacy of Mughal emperor Humayun and the heritage of the Nizamuddin area over the last seven centuries.

About Humayun Tomb

• Location: New Delhi
• Built: 1570
• It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.
• It was bhttps://vault.drishticuet.com/english_file_uploads/1722343720_image2.pnguilt under the patronage of Humayun’s son, the great Emperor Akbar.
• It is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members.
• It is an example of the charbagh (a four-quadrant garden with the four rivers of Quranic paradise represented), with pools joined by channels.
• The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
• It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Humayun Tomb

About Nasiruddin Mohammad Humayun

• He was the eldest son of Babur and his name means fortune.
• His governance was marked by administrative and financial instability.
• Major Battles
  • Siege of Chunar (1532): He achieved victory against the Afghans and besieged Chunar fort.
  • Battle of Chausa (1539): He faced defeat by Sher Shah Suri, narrowly escaping the battlefield.
  • Battle of Kannauj (1540), also known as Battle of Bilgram Sher Shah Suri’s complete victory forced Humayun into exile.
• After an exile for fifteen years, he captured Kandahar and Kabul in 1545 with the help of the Shah of Persia.
• Persian Influences: He introduced Persian administrative practices, improving revenue systems and promoting Persian arts and culture.
• Architectural Achievements: He founded Dinapanah, built the Jamali mosque, and initiated the construction of Humayun’s Tomb.
• Cultural Impact: He played a key role in the development of Mughal painting by bringing Persian artists like Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdal Samad to India.
  • He established the Nigaar Khana (painting workshop) and began the project of illustrating the Hamza Nama, which his successor Akbar continued.
• Literary Contributions: His sister, Gul Badan Begum, authored the "Humayun-Nama," documenting his reign and legacy.

Nasiruddin Mohammad Humayun (1530-1540, 1555-1556)

CHARLES DARWIN’S FROG

Why in the News?

A team of biologists from India and the US has found a unique reproductive behavior in the Minervarya Charlesdarwini frog found in the Andaman Islands. The research revealed that Charles Darwin’s frog exhibits an unparalleled reproductive behavior: upside-down spawning on the inner walls of water-filled tree cavities or root buttresses. Once laid, the eggs eventually fall into the water below, where they develop into tadpoles.

Charles Darwin’s Frog

About Charles Darwin’s Frog

• Biological Name: Rhinoderma darwinii
• Discovery: Named after Charles Darwin, who discovered the species during his voyage on the HMS Beagle in the 1830s.
• Habitat: Found in temperate forests in Chile and Argentina, living near slow-moving streams.
• Conservation Status: They are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• They are known for their unique breeding behavior.
  • Males are known for their unusual method of rearing young, known as mouth brooding.
  • The male carries fertilized eggs in his vocal sac until they hatch into tadpoles and then are released as small froglets.

About IUCN

• It was founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN) following an international conference in Fontainebleau, France.
• The organization changed its name to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1956 with the acronym IUCN (or UICN).
• Headquarter: Gland, Switzerland
• Membership: Comprises both government and civil society organizations. It includes over 1,400 member organizations.
• Structure: Includes a Council, President, Director General, and a Secretariat that works on regional and global levels.
• Publication
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assesses risk of species extinction
  • The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems assesses risk of ecosystem collapse
  • The IUCN World Heritage Outlook assesses World Heritage sitesover time
  • The World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas assesses sites important for biodiversity
  • Protected Planet assesses protected areas
  • ECOLEX provides a gateway to environmental law
  • PANORAMA

ONE DAE ONE SUBSCRIPTION

Why in the News?

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has launched the One DAE One Subscription (ODOS) initiative to provide access to national and international research papers and scientific journals to thousands of scientists, engineers, and young students across the country.

About DAE

• It was founded in 1954 by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha.
• Mission: To enhance quality of life through nuclear energy in power generation, health, agriculture, and industry.
• Key Areas of Work
  • Development and operation of nuclear power plants.
  • Conducting research in nuclear science and technology.
  • Utilizing nuclear technology in medicine for diagnostics and treatment.
  • Improving agricultural practices and productivity through nuclear techniques.
  • Using nuclear technology for industrial applications and quality control.
• Institutions and Units
  • Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
  • Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
  • Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
  • Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)
  • Heavy Water Board (HWB)
  • Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT)

WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Why in the News?

• It is annually observed on 30^th July to spread awareness about Human Trafficking.
• The theme for the day 2024 is Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.