Today's Brief 19/04/2025

IE Analysis:

1 .Gita and Natyashastra included in UNESCO’s Memory of World Register:

General Studies Paper-I (250 Marks) – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

The manuscripts of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra have been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, a momentous announcement made on April 18, 2025, that has been met with widespread celebration as a significant acknowledgment of India's profound cultural and philosophical inheritance.

The UNESCO Memory of the World Register serves to identify documentary heritage of exceptional universal value, and with the addition of the Gita and Natyashastra, India now has a total of 14 inscriptions on this esteemed list.

The Bhagavad Gita, a highly venerated Hindu scripture within the Mahabharata, presents a profound dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, grappling with essential philosophical and spiritual inquiries, and its translations have resonated with thinkers globally for centuries.

Complementarily, the Natyashastra, an ancient Sanskrit treatise attributed to sage Bharat Muni, stands as the seminal work on performing arts, encompassing drama, dance, music, and aesthetics, and has profoundly shaped India's classical artistic traditions, continuing to serve as a guiding light for artists and scholars.

Their inclusion in the Memory of the World Register unequivocally emphasizes the lasting importance and global significance of both the Gita and the Natyashastra as priceless components of human heritage.

2 .The Axiom Space Ax-4 mission,

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management) 

the fourth private astronaut endeavor to the International Space Station (ISS) orchestrated by Axiom Space and utilizing a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, is slated for launch no earlier than May 29, 2025, from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, with a planned duration of approximately 16 days.

Notably multinational in its composition, the crew comprises Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), a seasoned former NASA astronaut; Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), an Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO astronaut, making history as the second Indian in space and the first to visit the ISS on a commercial flight

The Ax-4 mission is particularly significant as it facilitates the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, representing their first government-backed flights in over forty years and their initial journeys to the International Space Station.

During their stay on the ISS, the crew will engage in diverse scientific research, technology demonstrations, and commercial activities, with India's Shubhanshu Shukla conducting experiments from ISRO and Indian institutions focusing on microgravity studies

3 .India sends strong contingent to Asian U-15 & U-17 Boxing Championships in Jordan: India has dispatched a formidable team of 56 young boxers, comprising 30 U-15 and 26 U-17 athletes, to compete in the Asian U-15 & U-17 Boxing Championships held in Amman, Jordan, from April 17 to May 1, 2025,

marking the inaugural collaboration between Asian Boxing and the newly established World Boxing.

3 .United Kingdom – Key Facts for General Knowledge Exams

The United Kingdom (UK), officially known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a sovereign nation located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe.

Comprising four constituent countries England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland the UK is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, headed by King Charles III as the reigning monarch and a Prime Minister leading the government.

Its capital, London, is a global financial and cultural hub, home to iconic landmarks such as the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Tower of London.

Historically, the UK played a pivotal role in shaping the modern world as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and the center of the vast British Empire, which once spanned continents.

Today, it remains a key player in global affairs as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a leading economy, and a founding member of NATO.

The UK's decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) in 2020 marked a significant shift in its political and economic landscape.

The UK boasts a rich cultural heritage, from the works of William Shakespeare and The Beatles to globally influential institutions like the BBC and Premier League football.

Its education system includes prestigious universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, while its legal and parliamentary systems have influenced democracies worldwide.

Geographically, the UK features diverse landscapes, from the Scottish Highlands to the rolling hills of the English countryside and the rugged coasts of Wales. Its temperate maritime climate ensures mild but unpredictable weather.

4 . Rang Mahal complex

General Studies Paper-I (250 Marks) – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

refers to several notable historical structures across India, each with its own distinct history and architectural significance.

Perhaps the most well-known is the Rang Mahal within the Red Fort in Delhi, originally named Imtiaz Mahal, which served as a residence and social center for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's royal women, showcasing intricate Mughal design, vibrant colors, and the cooling Nahr-i-Bihisht canal.

Another significant Rang Mahal is located within the Fatehpur Sikri Fort near Agra, believed to be one of the earliest structures in the complex and a residence of Emperor Akbar's chief queen, featuring double-story red sandstone architecture with elaborate carvings, though now largely in ruins.

In Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, an 18th-century Rang Mahal palace built by Raja Umed Singh blends British and Mughal styles and is renowned for its Pahari-style paintings, currently housing a handicraft and handloom center.

Lastly, in Hyderabad, a later Rang Mahal complex was constructed in the late 18th century within the British Residency, featuring European-styled elements and gardens, with ongoing restoration efforts by the Deccan Heritage Foundation.

5 .V2G technology:

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management) 

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology represents a paradigm shift in how we view electric vehicles, transforming them from mere energy consumers into active participants in the electricity grid.

This innovative system enables EVs to not only draw power for charging but also to send energy back to the grid through bidirectional chargers and sophisticated communication networks.

This two-way energy flow unlocks a range of crucial applications, including grid stabilization during peak demand, enhanced integration of intermittent renewable energy sources,

provision of ancillary services like frequency regulation, potential cost savings and revenue generation for EV owners, and even emergency backup power capabilities.

The benefits of V2G are substantial, promising enhanced grid stability, increased renewable energy utilization, reduced energy costs, potential income for EV owners, environmental advantages through decreased reliance on fossil fuels, improved energy resilience, and the deferral of costly grid upgrades.

However, the widespread adoption of V2G faces challenges such as

potential battery degradation,

the need for commercially viable market structures,

the lack of universal interoperability standards, the necessity of supportive regulatory frameworks,

higher initial costs for bidirectional chargers,

the crucial aspect of consumer acceptance, and the complexities of managing bidirectional energy flow from numerous EVs within the grid. Despite these hurdles,

V2G technology holds immense potential to revolutionize the energy and transportation sectors,

fostering a more sustainable and resilient energy future as ongoing research, technological advancements,

and evolving policies pave the way for its broader implementation.

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