International Nurses Day 2022 Observed on 12th May
May 12 is observed as International Nurses’ Day across the world to honour the services of nurses. It is the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the English social reformer, statistician and founder of modern nursing. She was also known as Lady with the Lamp. She was the founder of modern nursing and was a British social reformer and statistician.
The theme of International Nurses Day 2022:
The theme for this year’s Nurses’ Day is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health”. Many hospitals across the world are observing International Nurses Week from May 6 to 12. As part of it, several activities, including yoga sessions and seminars are being organised.
The Florence Nightingale story
- Nightingale gained prominence during the Crimean War between Russia and Britain in the 1850s. Along with her team of 38 women, she took care of British soldiers who were dealing with horrible sanitation facilities apart from battling Russian forces.
- According to historical accounts, injured soldiers had dirty bandages covering rotting wounds, there were rats at their bases, and only one bathtub per 150 personnel. Making matters worse, a dead horse had been left to rot in their water supply.
GoI releases Rs 7,183.42 crore to 14 states as revenue deficit grant
The central government has released Rs 7,183.42 crore as a revenue deficit grant to 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Assam and Kerala. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance released the money. This is the 2nd monthly instalment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) grant to states. The grant has been released as per the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
The States which have been recommended Post Devolution Revenue Deficit grant by the Fifteenth Finance Commission during 2022-23 are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Key points:
- Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) grant to states. Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) grant is provided under Article 275 of the Indian Constitution.
- The Fifteenth Finance Commission has recommended a total Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) Grant of Rs 86,201 crore to 14 states for the financial year 2022-23.
- The Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance) will release the grant to the recommended states in 12 equated monthly instalments (EMIs). With the recent release, the total amount of Revenue Deficit Grants released to the States in 2022-23 has gone up to Rs 14,366.84 crore.
World’s oldest chess grandmaster Yuri Averbakh passes away
Russian chess grandmaster, Yuri Averbakh who was among the world’s best players for a decade, trained world champions and was the last surviving participant in one of the greatest competitions in history, has died in Moscow at 100. He won the Moscow Championship in 1949 and earned the Grandmaster title in 1952. In 1954, he became the champion of the USSR. He also chaired the Chess Federation of the USSR from 1972 to 1977.
VP Venkaiah Naidu releases ‘Modi @20: Dreams Meeting Delivery’ book
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has released the book “Modi@20 Dreams Meet Delivery” in New Delhi. The book presents different facets of the distinct thought process, the pioneering, pro-active approach and the quintessential, transformational leadership style that Narendrabhai Modi has come to be so closely identified with.
‘Modi@20’ is an anthology edited and compiled by BlueKraft Digital Foundation, and is a compilation of chapters authored by eminent intellectuals and domain experts, Rupa Publications.
The essence of the book:
The book encompasses the experiential journey of Modi since he left his house at the tender age of 17 and set out on a mission of knowing himself, and his country and finally define the mission of transforming India. In 2021, Modi completed twenty continuous years as the head of a government. This book, a compilation of chapters authored by eminent intellectuals and domain experts, attempts a definitive and expansive exploration into the fundamental transformation of Gujarat and India over the last twenty years due to Modi’s unique model of governance.
IPL Winners List & Runner-Up List (2008 to 2021)
The Indian Premier League is one of the largest cricket game events which are organized annually in India. IPL (Indian Premier League) was founded in 2007 by the BCCI committee. The chairman of the Indian Premier League was Lalit Modi. 2007-2008 was the launching season for the Indian Premier League.
Here, we present the list of IPL winners in the table which includes Year, winner, runner-up, and venue.
IPL Winners & Runners List (2008 to 2021):
| Year | Winner | Won by | Runner up | Venue |
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | 3 wickets | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | 6 runs | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Johannesburg |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | 22 runs | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | 58 runs | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Chennai |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 5 wickets | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | 23 runs | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 wickets | Kings XI Punjab | Bangalore |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | 41 runs | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 8 runs | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Bangalore |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | 1 run | Rising Pune Supergiants | Hyderabad |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | 8 wickets | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mumbai |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | 1 run | Chennai Super Kings | Hyderabad |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | 5 wickets | Delhi Capitals | Dubai |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | 27 runs | Kolkata Knight Riders | Dubai |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
IPL Winners List with Captain, Man of the Match and Player of the Series:
| Year | Winner | Captain | Man of the Match | Player of the Series |
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Shane Warne | Yusuf Pathan | Shane Watson |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Adam Gilchrist | Anil Kumble | Adam Gilchrist |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni | Suresh Raina | Sachin Tendulkar |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni | Murali Vijay | Chris Gayle |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gautam Gambhir | Manvinder Bisla | Sunil Narine |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma | Kieron Pollard | Shane Watson |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gautam Gambhir | Manish Pandey | Glenn Maxwell |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma | Rohit Sharma | Andre Russell |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | David Warner | Ben Cutting | Virat Kohli |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma | Krunal Pandya | Ben Stokes |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni | Shane Watson | Sunil Narine |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma | Jasprit Bumrah | Andre Russell |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma | Trent Boult | Jofra Archer |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni | Faf du Plessis | Harshal Patel |
Most IPL Win:
Mumbai Indians is the most successful IPL team, having won the tournament five times. Chennai Super Kings is the other team to have lifted the IPL title on four occasions while they have finished second once. Check out the name of the IPL teams with the most IPL trophies.
| IPL Team | IPL Trophy | IPL Winner |
| Mumbai Indians | 5 times | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 times | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 times | 2012, 2014 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 time | 2016 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 time | 2008 |
| Deccan Chargers | 1 time | 2009 |
IPL Final Winners List All Seasons in detail:
1. Rajasthan Royals (2008)
This was the first season held among the above teams. This season’s final was held in India on 18 April. The IPL 2008 final match was played between Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (Winner), at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. With 34226000 audiences, the stadium was full of crowds. Shawn Marsh had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Sohil Tanvir had owned a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. Shane Watson was the player of the series.
2. Deccan Chargers (2009)
This was the second season of IPL 2, the first time outside India held in South Africa. In this season, the IPL 2009 final match was held between Deccan chargers (Winner) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore. Mathew Hayden had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and RP Singh had got a purple as the highest wicket-taker. Over 200 million viewers from India had viewed this match.
3. Chennai Super Kings (2010)
This was the third season of IPL 3. It was held in India. In this season, the IPL 2010 final match was held between Chennai Super Kings (Winner) vs Mumbai Indians at Mumbai. Sachin Tendulkar (612) had got the orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Pragyan Ojha had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. There were 200 million viewers in this season also.
4. Chennai Super Kings (2011)
This was the fourth season of IPL 4 held in India. This season was played between 10 teams divided into two groups. New teams from Pune and Kochi were added. A page play-off system was introduced. In this season, the 2011 final IPL match was held at Chennai between Chennai Super Kings (Winner) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore. This time Chris Gayle had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer and Lasith Malinga had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker.
5. Kolkata Knight Riders (2012)
This was the fifth season of IPL held in India between 8 teams. In this season, the IPL 2012 final match was held between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Winner). Chris Gayle had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Morne Morkel had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. The player of the match was Sunil Narine.
6. Mumbai Indians (2013)
This was the sixth season of PepsiCo IPL 6 and it was held in India. In this season, IPL 2013 final match was held between Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians (Winner). Michael Hussy had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Morne Morkel had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. Shane Watson from RR was declared as the man of the series.
7. Kolkata Knight Riders (2014)
This was the seventh season of IPL 7 held in India. In this season, IPL 2014 final match was held between Kolkata Knight Riders (Winner) vs Kings XI Punjab. Robin Uthappa had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Mohit Sharma had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. Among eight teams, Gellen Maxwell was the leading player of the series.
8. Mumbai Indians (2015)
This was the eighth season of IPL held in India. In this season, IPL 2015 final match was held between Mumbai Indians (Winner) vs Chennai Super Kings. David Warner had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Dwayne Bravo had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. The player of the match was given to Andre Russell.
9. Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016)
This was the ninth season of IPL 9, and it was held in India. In this season, IPL 2016 final match was held between Sunrisers Hydrabad (Winner) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both teams, Chennai and Rajasthan Royals, were excluded from participating in this season. Virat Kohli had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Bhuvaneshvar Kumar had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. The player of the match was Virat Kohli (RCB).
10. Mumbai Indians (2017)
This was the tenth season of the IPL held in India. In this season, 2017 IPL final match was played between Mumbai Indians (Winner) vs Pune. David Warner had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Bhuvaneshva Kumar had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. Ben Strok (Pune) was the player of the tournament.
11. Chennai Super Kings (2018)
This was the 11th season of the IPL held in India. In this season, IPl 2018 final match was played between Mumbai Indians (Winner) vs Chennai Super Kings. Kane Williamson had got an orange cap as the highest run-scorer, and Andrew Tye had got a purple cap as the highest wicket-taker. The player of the match was Sunil Narine.
12. Mumbai Indians (2019)
In this season Mumbai Indians had achieved one more victory. It was the most active team in the past of the Indian Premier League. Mumbai Indians had won against the Chennai Super Kings for the fourth time in the Indian Premier League final. Out of the last three events, Mumbai had created 2-1 record defeating the competition in 2013, 2015, and losing the tournament once in 2010. IPL 2019: Orange Cap: David Warner; Purple cap: Imran Tahir.
13. Mumbai Indians (2020)
IPL 2020 was a huge successful season for the Indian cricket board. IPL 2020 was held at Abu Dhabi, Dubai from September to November. Mumbai Indians won the IPL 2020 title by defeating Delhi Capitals in the night of the finals. MI won the title for the 5th time. Mumbai Indians team was led by Rohit Sharma and they dominated throughout the season. Mumbai and Delhi clashed 4 times in IPL 2020 and all 4 times MI defeated DC. Ishan Kishan scored the most runs for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020. He showed highly reliable performance. Kagiso Rabada won the purple cap in IPL 2020 and Orange Cap in IPL 2020 won by KL Rahul.
14. Chennai Super Kings (2021)
In the 14th version of the Indian Premier League, Chennai Super Kings lifted the trophy 4th time by defeating the Kolkata Knight Riders, previously they have done this feat in the year 2010, 2011, and 2018 (Check the table above). The final competition of the IPL 2021 was held at the Dubai International Stadium on Oct 15, 2021, and this was the fourth occasion when CSK became the champions of IPL. Ruturaj Gaikwad took home the Orange Cap as the CSK smasher hammered 635 runs. Harshal Patel bagged the Purple Cap as the pacer claimed a staggering 32 wickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Who has won IPL in all years?
Ans. IPL is being played from . In 2008, it was won by Rajasthan Royals, then in 2009 by Decaan Chargers, CSK won it in 2010 and 2011, then KKR in 2012, Mumbai Indians in 2013, KKR again 2014, Mumbai Indians again in 2015, Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, Mumbai Indians again in 2017, CSK in 2018, Mumbai in 2019 and 2020, and finally depending champions CSK in 2021.
Q2.How many times teams have won IPL?
Ans. Mumbai Indians have won it 5 times, CSK has won it 4 times, KKR 2 times, SRH once and Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals once.
Q2.?
Ans. Mumbai Indians led by Rohit Sharma has won the IPL tiltes 5 times, the most by any IPL franchise.
Q3.Who is the winner of the first edition of IPL?
Ans. First edition of IPL was held in 2008 and was won by Rajasthan Royals.
India elected a new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities for 2022-24
India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024 at the meeting of the Executive Board and General Assembly in Manila, Philippines. Commission on Elections, Manila was the current chair of AAEA. The new member of the Executive Board now includes Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan and the Philippines.
The Election Commission of India 3-member delegation headed by Deputy Election Commissioner Shri Nitesh Vyas, along with CEO Manipur Shri Rajesh Agrawal and CEO Rajasthan Shri Praveen Gupta, attended the Executive Board meeting at Manila and presented the work plan for 2022-23 as also futuristic activities for 2023-24 to the Executive Board.
What is the work of the Association of Asian Election Authorities?
According to ECI, the mission of the Association of Asian Election Authorities is to provide a non-partisan forum in the Asian region for sharing experiences and best practices among election authorities to discuss and act upon ways to promote open and transparent elections with the objective of supporting good governance and democracy.
National Languages of India- Hindi or English?
National Language of India
There is no national language of India as per the constitution, Hindi and English both are considered the official language of India. As per Article 343 of the Indian constitution the official language of the country shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. Initially, after the independence of India, 14 languages were included in the constitution of India.
The official languages of colonial India were English Urdu and Hindi. The official language act 1963 provides languages that may be used for the official purpose of the Union of India for the transaction of business in parliament for Central and state acts and for a certain purpose in the Hindi high court.
National Languages of India-History
As we mentioned above, there is no national language in India. In the present scenario, there are 22 languages spoken in India which are officially registered, these languages are Assamese, Gujarati, Bengali, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Manipuri, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Nepali, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Bodo, Urdu, Sindhi, Santali, Marathi, and Dogri. State the power to adopt any language as their official language. At present, there are more than 30 languages that are demanded to be included in the eighth schedule of the constitution.
In 1950, when the constitution of India came into effect, it allowed the Indian parliament to continue the use of English. After a few years, in 1964, the government faced resistance from the non-Hindi-speaking people of the country, due to the decision of making Hindi the official language. This was the reason, that both Hindi and English were made the official language of the country.
Government’s Role in implementing national language
The government has always reiterated that Hindi is the national language of India. in several events, government bodies have declared Hindi as the national language. In 2017, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu addressed Hindi as the national language in his speech at a public event. People are still confused about the national language and official language. The national language is a representation of the history and heritage of the country, it shows the citizens of the country know and speak the language of the majority. An official language is used for the official purposes of the state and Central government. In a country, there can be more than one official language but there’s only one national language.
FAQs on National Languages of India
1. Does India have a national language?
Ans. India has no official language, but the constitution of India has adopted English and Hindi as the official language.
2. What is the national language of India as per the constitution of India?
Ans. As per the constitution of India, English and Hindi are the official languages, they are not recognized as the national language.
3. What is the official national language?
Ans. The official language of India is English and Hindi. There is no national language of India.
5000-year-old jewellery factory rooted out in Haryana’s Indus Valley site Rakhi Garhi
With the excavation of a 5000-year-old jewellery-making factory, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been working in Rakhi Garhi, Haryana, for the past 32 years, has produced one of its most significant findings yet. Rakhi Garhi is a village in Haryana’s Hisar district and one of the oldest Indus Valley Civilisation archaeological sites.
Key Points:
- The discovery of the structure of some dwellings, a kitchen complex, and a 5000-year-old jewellery-making factory indicates that the site was once a very major commercial centre.
- Copper and gold jewellery that had been concealed for thousands of years were also discovered.
- Graveyards have been discovered in the excavation sites at Sinauli in Uttar Pradesh, which gained attention for its Bronze Age solid-disk wheel carts discovered in 2018, which were interpreted by some as horse-pulled “chariots.”
- Archaeologists say the graveyards show that the civilisation believed in life after death.
- In the previous two months, ASI has made many findings in Rakhi Garhi, indicating that the civilisation is slowly heading toward maturity.
- There were also thousands of earthen jars, royal seals, and children’s toys discovered.
Important Takeaways for All Competitive Exams:
- Rakhi Garhi was excavated by Amarendra Nath.
- Sinauli was excavated by V. Sharma and S. K. Manjul.
Monkeypox Virus: History, Outbreak, Symptoms
Another virus, Monkeypox, has made an appearance in the United Kingdom. The patient has a recent travel history from Nigeria, where they are suspected to have contracted the infection, before travelling to the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which confirmed the case.
What is Monkeypox Virus?
- Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family and is associated with diseases such as smallpox, cowpox, horsepox, and camelpox.
- Monkeypox has symptoms that are comparable to smallpox, which was proclaimed eradicated in the 1980s.
- It was first discovered in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, two years after smallpox had been eradicated from the area.
- According to WHO records, the majority of Monkeypox cases have been reported from rural, rainforest regions of the Congo Basin since 1970, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is currently considered endemic.
Monkeypox Virus History:
- According to a scientific report, the Monkeypox virus was initially discovered in a colony of Cynomolgus monkeys kept at the State Serum Institute in Copenhagen in 1958. “Monkeypox was first introduced into the Rotterdam Zoo in 1966.
- The disease first struck giant anteaters from South America, but it quickly spread to other ape and monkey species.
- The viruses obtained from these animals were discovered to be identical and to constitute an orthopoxvirus species not previously characterised.
- The Congo Basin and West African clades of the Monkeypox virus are responsible for the disease. Clades are collections of creatures that have a common ancestor. Coronavirus, for example, is a clade within the coronaviridae family.
- The Congo Basin clade of Monkeypox virus is the more virulent and transmissible of the two genetic clades.
About Monkeypox Virus Outbreak:
- According to the WHO, the first large Monkeypox outbreak was detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1996–97, with lower case fatality and a greater attack rate.
- A Monkeypox epidemic was detected in the United States in 2003, marking the first time the disease had been reported outside of Africa. “In 2003, 47 cases of Monkeypox were confirmed or suspected in six states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
- All Monkeypox patients in this outbreak became ill after coming into contact with pet prairie dogs.
- After being housed near imported small mammals from Ghana, the pets became ill. Human monkeypox had never been recorded outside of Africa before “the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States
- In 2017, Nigeria saw the largest documented outbreak in 40 years.
- Travellers from Nigeria who became ill with Monkeypox after arriving in Israel in September 2018, the United Kingdom in September 2018 and December 2019, and Singapore in May 2019 carried the disease.
Symptoms of monkeypox:
- During a Monkeypox viral attack, the symptoms can be divided into two categories: invasion and skin rash.
- Monkeypox typically takes 6 to 13 days to incubate.
- The incubation period is the time between when an infection occurs and when symptoms develop in a person.
- The patient has fever, acute headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes), back pain, myalgia (muscle aches), and an intense asthenia during the invasion stage, which is within the first 5 days of the illness (lack of energy).
The patient will develop skin rashes 1-3 days after the fever, with the rash being centred on the face and extremities rather than the trunk. The patient will get skin rashes 1-3 days after the fever has passed. “The rash appears to be localised more on the face and extremities than on the trunk. The face (in 95% of cases), palms of the hands, and soles of the feet are all affected (in 75 percent of cases). Oral mucous membranes (70 percent of cases), genitalia (30 percent), and conjunctivae (20 percent) are also affected as well as cornea, according to a WHO report.
Taj Mahal: Overview, Architecture, History 2022
Taj Mahal: Overview
Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Taj Mahal was erected by Mughal emperor Shah Jahn (reigned 1628–58) to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), who died in childbirth in 1631 after being the emperor’s closest companion since their marriage in 1612. It is located in the eastern section of the city, on the southern (right) bank of the Yamuna (Jumna) River, and is India’s most famous and widely recognised structure. The Taj Mahal is roughly 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Agra Fort (Red Fort), which is situated on the right bank of the Yamuna. The Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a fusion of Indian, Persian, and Islamic forms, due to its harmonious proportions and fluid incorporation of decorative elements. Other features include beautiful gardens, a museum, and twin mosque complexes (positioned symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum). The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most magnificent structural compositions, as well as one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, drawing millions of tourists each year. In 1983, the complex was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 1631, Shah Jahan ordered the Taj Mahal to be built in honour of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died on June 17 of that year while giving birth to their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction on the mausoleum began in 1632 and was completed in 1648, with the surrounding structures and garden following five years later. The imperial court’s record of Shah Jahan’s mourning following Mumtaz Mahal’s death reveals the love story that inspired the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal: Architecture
The Taj Mahal integrates and develops on Indo-Islamic and older Mughal design traditions. The Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand), Humayun’s Tomb (which inspired the Charbagh gardens and hasht-behesht (architecture) plan of the site), Itmad-Ud-Tomb Daulah’s (also known as the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan’s own Jama Masjid in Delhi were all sources of inspiration. Earlier Mughal structures were mostly made of red sandstone, but Shah Jahan encouraged the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. Buildings under his patronage were refined to unprecedented heights.
The Taj Mahal’s tomb is the focal point of the entire structure. It is a symmetrical edifice with an iwan (an arch-shaped gateway) topped by a massive dome and finial situated on a square base. The core elements, like most Mughal tombs, are Indo-Islamic in nature. The Taj Mahal’s exterior decorations are among the best in Mughal architecture. The decorations are correspondingly refined as the surface area changes. Paint, stucco, stone inlays, and carvings were used to create the ornamental components. The decorative elements might be classified as calligraphy, abstract forms, or vegetal motifs, in accordance with the Islamic restriction on the use of anthropomorphic figures. Some of the decorative components of the complex are Qur’anic texts. According to recent research, Amanat Khan chose the texts. The Taj Mahal’s interior chamber goes far beyond customary decorative embellishments. The inlay work is a lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones rather than pietra dura. The inner chamber is shaped like an octagon, having doors on each side, albeit only the one facing the garden to the south is used.
Figure: Pietra Dura on the Exterior Walls
The compound is built around a vast Mughal garden, that is 300 metres square. Each of the four quarters of the garden is divided into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds by raised paths. A high marble water tank with a reflecting pool in the centre of the garden, halfway between the tomb and the entryway, reflects the image of the mausoleum on a north–south axis. The high marble water tank is known as al Hawd al-Kawthar, which refers to Muhammad’s promised Tank of Abundance.
Figure: Taj Mahal’s Mughal Garden
Pietra Dura
In the Indian Subcontinent, the inlay technique of employing cut and fitted, highly polished colourful stones to form images is known as Parchin kari or Parchinkari. It is regarded as a decorative art form. The stonework is glued stone-by-stone to a substrate after being “sliced and carved in varied shape portions; and then fitted together so precisely that the contact between each section was nearly unnoticeable” after being loosely joined. The stones were grooved on the undersides so that they interlocked like a jigsaw puzzle, and everything was held tautly in place by an encircling ‘frame.’ Many different coloured stones were used, including marbles, semiprecious stones, and even precious stones.
Figure: Pietra Dura on the Interior Walls
Taj Mahal: History
The complex’s blueprints have been assigned to a number of different architects throughout history, though the principal architect was most likely Ustad Amad Lahawr, an Indian of Persian heritage. The complex’s five main elements—the main gateway, garden, mosque, jawb, and mausoleum—were conceptualised and designed as a cohesive entity, with no further additions or alterations, according to Mughal building practise. Construction began in 1632. More than 20,000 workmen from India, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe were employed to create the mausoleum by 1638–39; the auxiliary buildings were completed by 1643, and decorating work lasted until at least 1647. The 42-acre facility took 22 years to develop in total. According to legend, Shah Jahn intended to construct another tomb across the river to house his own bones. That structure was supposed to be made of black marble, and it was supposed to be connected to the Taj Mahal by a bridge. He was ousted by his son Aurangzeb in 1658 and imprisoned in Agra Fort for the rest of his life.
Taj Mahal: FAQs
What is Taj Mahal famous for?
The Taj Mahal is a massive white marble monument erected in Agra between 1631 and 1648 on the orders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in honour of his favourite bride. The Taj Mahal is India’s crown jewel of Muslim art and one of the world’s most widely admired works of art.
What is history of Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal, which was built in remembrance of Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1632, was originally known as ‘Roza-e-Munavvara,’ which means Unique Building, but was later renamed Taj Mahal by Shah Jahan as a loving tribute to his wife for whom his love transcended all belief.
Why Taj Mahal is a wonder?
Mumtaz’s body was discovered on the banks of the Yamuna River. He built the Taj Mahal over her tomb, as he promised. Even Shah Jahan’s remains was interred next to Mumtaz Tomb. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz’s love resulted in a magnificent structure that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Why is it called the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal was built of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones (including jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst, and turquoise) producing elaborate designs in a technique known as pietra dura in honour of Mumtaz Mahal.
RailTel introduced PM-WANI based access to its Wi-Fi at 100 Railway Stations
RailTel, a micro Ratna PSU, launched the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme on Monday, providing access to its Public WiFi services across 100 train stations in 22 states. PM-WANI is a Department of Telecom (DoT) initiative to connect all silo Wi-Fi networks for simplicity of use and to increase broadband adoption among the general public.
Key Points:
- Android users can connect to this WiFi network by downloading the ‘Wi-DOT’ app from the Google Play Store.
- The software was created in close collaboration with C-DOT.
- This means of connecting to Wi-Fi via the ‘mobile app’ would be in addition to the present technique of connecting to WiFi at these stations by selecting the RailWire Service Set Identifier (SSID).
- PM-WANI-based access will make it easier to use WANI-based Public WiFi by allowing one-time Know Your Customer (KYC) to bypass one-time password (OTP) based authentication.
- The RailTel WiFi network now covers 6,102 railway stations across the country and has 17, 792 WiFi hotspots, with more on the way.
The government also intends to gradually expand PM-WANI-based access to RailTel’s public Wi-Fi services to all 6, 102 railway stations (where Wi-Fi is already provided) by the end of June 2022. By June 10th, there will be 1,000 train stations, 3,000 by June 20th, and all 6,102 by June 30th, 2022.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister resigned after weeks of Protest
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister resigned on Monday
Sri Lankan prime minister Mahindra Rajapaksa resigned from his position on 9th May 2022. He sent his resignation letter to the president of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He has been accused of misleading Sri Lanka’s economy and pushing Sri Lanka towards Bank corruption and economic crisis. The Sri Lankan people have been protesting against the president and the prime minister. They demanded the resignation of prime minister Mahindra Rajapaksa. The supporters attack the Anti-government protesters outside the president’s office which leads to massive violence. 151 people were injured and admitted in the hospital.
After the resignation of Mahindra Rajapaksa as the prime minister of Sri Lanka a nation wide curfew was imposed. The former prime minister of Sri Lanka said in a statement that, “a few months ago prime minister Mahindra Rajapaksa sent a letter of resignation to president Gotabaya Rajapaksa“. The letter also said that “multiple stakeholders have indicated the best solution to the present crisis is the formation of an interim all-party government.” “Therefore, I have tendered my resignation so the next steps can be taken in advance with the constitution.”
Clashes between Supporters and Protestors of the Sri Lankan Government
The pro-government supporters were armed with iron bars and attack the Anti-government demonstrators near the “Gota Go Gama” tent village which is the focal point of nationwide protest. The police tried to stop the massive crowd with tear gases and water cannons. The Anti-government demonstrators claim that it was a peaceful protest and pro-government supporters attacked Gota Go Gama and set fire on their tents.
” We are helpless now, we are begging for help.” said one of the Anti-protesters of government. The clash between the Anti-government demonstrators and the pro-government supporters lead to massive loss which is now controlled by the parliamentary troops with Shields and helmets. Also, the army deployed soldiers in the area to keep the two groups apart. Followed by this the president Rajapaksa said in a tweet that they “strongly condemn the violent act taking place by those inciting and participating irrespective of political allegiances” and “violence won’t solve the current problem.”
Reason for Protest in Sri Lanka
During this month the president has declared two state emergencies because the protest against the prime minister grew large every day. The protestors were not happy with the government and demanded the resignation of President Rajapaksa and his elder brother Mahindra Rajapaksa who is the prime minister of Sri Lanka. Mahindra Rajapaksa has been accused of mismanaging the economy of Sri Lanka and pushing it towards bankruptcy. The Paksa family has been dominating Sri Lanka for years and now the people are ready to protest against the government. The economic crisis leads to food shortages, medicine shortages, and fuel shortages. The country has no budget for foreign exchange and is under the depth of international countries. To pay the depth of all the international countries Sri Lanka needs 3 billion to four billion dollars. The main reason for the economic crisis was the setback of the tourism industry due to Covid-19, depletion of forex reserves, and the depression of currency in Sri Lanka. The protester strongly believes that the Rajapaksa family has failed Sri Lanka as a country.
FAQs related to Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister’s Resignation
1. Why was a nationwide curfew imposed in Sri Lanka?
Ans. The curfew was imposed after the clash between the supporters and anti-government demonstrators. The supporters of the government used iron bars to attack the protesters and set their tents on fire.
2. What is behind Sri Lanka’s economic crisis?
Ans. The main reason for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is prime minister Mahendra rajbaksha according to the protester of the government. According to the protesters, rajpaksha is the main reason who post Sri Lanka towards an economic crisis to mishandling the economy.
Mamata Banerjee recieved Special Bangla Academy Award
West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee received the Bangla Academy Award for her “relentless literary pursuit”. The award, introduced this year by Sahitya Academy, was presented to Banerjee for her book “Kabita Bitan”, which pays tribute to the best writers of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Kabita Bitan’ was launched at the 2020 Kolkata Book Fair. The book contains 946 poems written by the TMC supremo.
Despite being on the stage, Mamata Banerjee did not accept the award on her own and it was received by state Education Minister Bratya Basu on her behalf.
Banerjee was given the award at the “Ravi Pranam” function organised by the government’s information and culture department on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary. Bangla Academy has decided to reward those who are working tirelessly for the betterment of literature as well as other sectors of society.
Mumbai Gets India’s First EV Charging Station Powered by bio-gas
India’s first EV charging station powered by bio-gas was inaugurated in Mumbai, Maharashtra. This station be will expected to generate 220 units of electricity from food waste collected from its nearby areas, mostly from bulk generators like hotels and offices. This energy plant will be utilized to power street lights and also to charge electric vehicles. It was inaugurated by Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Uddhav Thackeray.
The Biogas Electricity Generation Plant, set up in the year 2021, uses about 1.5 lakh kilograms of food waste to generate electricity. Also, to promote electric vehicles, BMC is planning to set up organic waste-powered EV charging stations in its 24 administrative wards.
Key points:
- Country’s first organic waste-powered EV charging station at Keshavrao Khadye road near Haji Ali in Mumbai.
- The project is a joint venture between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and AeroCare Clean Energy.
- This EV Charging Plant is connected with the Waste-Energy Unit at Minatai Thackeray Park.
Jan Suraksha Scheme completes 7 years of Social Security
7th anniversary of the Jan Suraksha Scheme
The Jan Suraksha scheme which was launched by prime minister Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015 completes 7 years of providing social security today. Three Jan Suraksha schemes were launched by the prime minister, these schemes are Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana. Today the schemes complete 7 years of providing social security with the motto of recognizing the necessity to protect human life from risk and economic uncertainty. The government has launched two insurance schemes Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana to ensure that the people from the unorganized sector of the nation are economically secure and the Atal Pension Yojana is to cover the needs of the elderly people in the country.
During the celebration of the 7th anniversary of the Jan Suraksha scheme the union minister of finance and corporate affairs, Nirmala Sitaraman stated that “One of the main objectives under the national mission for finance inclusion announced by the honorable prime minister on 15 August 2014, was to expand the coverage of insurance and pension to provide the poor and marginal section of the society the much needed financial securities through affordable products, the three Jan Suraksha schemes have brought the insurance and pension within the reach of the common man.”
Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana was one of the three Jan Suraksha schemes launched by the prime minister of India. The Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a one-year life insurance program that can be renewed year after year and provides coverage for any cause of death. Individuals who have savings bank or post office accounts between the age of 18 and 17 are eligible to participate in the scheme. Insurance of rupees 2 lakh is granted in accidental death and disability. Rupees 1 lakh is granted in case of partial impairment. As per the records of 27 April 2022, 28.37 lakh people have enrolled themselves in the scheme and 97,227 people have benefited from the scheme with rupees 1,930 crores.
Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana is a one-year life insurance program that is also renewable year after year and provides coverage for any cause of death. Individuals who have savings bank or post office accounts between the age of 18 to 50 are eligible for this program. The scheme offers the people ensured life risk covered until the age of 55 if they pay the premium before they reach the age of 50. For an insurance policy of 2 lakh, the cost each year will be rupees 330. The premium for the scheme is automatically deducted every year from the account holder’s bank account. As per the records of 27 April 2022 more than 12.76 crore people have enrolled for the plan and rupees 1,152 crores have been paid.
Atal pension Yojana (APY)
Atal Pension Yojana is one of the three schemes offered by the Jan Suraksha scheme. Atal Pension Yojana is available for individuals who have bank accounts between the age of 18 and 40 and the contributions vary depending on the amount of pension chosen. The individuals who have subscribed for the Atal Pension Yojana are guaranteed a minimum monthly pension of rupees 1000, Rs2000, Rs3000, Rs 4000, or Rs 5000 according to the pension payment entered into the program when they reach the age of 60. The individual who has subscribed for a monthly pension is available through his lifetime then it is transferred to his spouse after his death and then the subscriber’s pension goes to the subscriber’s nominee. As per the records of 27 April 2022, 4 crore people have signed up for the scheme.
FAQs related to Jan Suraksha Scheme
1. What is Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana?
Ans. The people who are below the poverty line and cannot afford insurance can apply for Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. It is a one-year life insurance program that can be renewed every year and it provides coverage for any cause of death. Individuals with savings bank or post office accounts between the age of 18 to 17 are eligible to participate in the scheme. Minimum insurance of Rs 2 lakh is granted for accidental death and disability.
2. Who can subscribe to Atal Pension Yojana?
Ans. Any citizen of India can subscribe to the Atal Pension Yojana scheme. The subscriber should be between the age of 18 to 40 years and he or she must have a savings bank account.
Former Union Minister Pandit Sukh Ram passes away
Veteran Himachal Pradesh Congress leader and former Union minister, Pandit Sukh Ram has passed away at 94. He was the Union Minister of State, Communications (Independent Charge) from 1993 to 1996 and a member of Lok Sabha from the Mandi constituency (Himachal Pradesh). He won the Lok Sabha elections three times and the Vidhan Sabha elections five times. In 2011, he was sentenced to five years of imprisonment for corruption when he was Communications Minister in 1996.
Prasar Bharati and ORTM inked MOU on cooperation and collaboration in Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati, India’s national broadcaster, has signed an MoU with Madagascar’s official ORTM (Office de la Radio et de la Television) for broadcasting cooperation and collaboration. Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar and ORTM Director General Jean Yves signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU intends to exchange programmes, investigate co-production of programmes, and exchange persons.
Key Points:
- Prasar Bharati’s internal products in the realms of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports, news, and other areas of mutual interest will be broadcast on TVM (Madagascar National Television).
- Both sides will look into co-production prospects in areas of mutual interest, and TVM professionals will be trained in India.
- The ceremony was attended by the Director of Cabinet of India’s Ministry of Communication and Culture, as well as members from Madagascar’s government.
Biggest White Diamond Ever ‘The Rock’ Sold For $18.8 Million
The Rock, the world’s largest white diamond, was auctioned for 18.6 million Swiss francs ($18.8 million), significantly less than the previous record for such a gem. Christie’s auction house in Geneva sold the 228.31-carat stone, which was larger than a golf ball. The Rock had high aspirations of breaking the global record for a white diamond, which stands at $33.7 million for a 163.41-carat rock sold in the Swiss city in 2017.
Key Points:
- The bidding began at 14 million francs and ended at 18.6 million francs after two minutes, however the price will rise after taxes and the buyer’s premium are factored in.
- The estimated pre-sale value was between 19 and 30 million Swiss francs.
- The Rock, a flawlessly symmetrical pear-shaped diamond, belonged to an unidentified North American owner. Following the events at the Hotel des Bergues, it was purchased by a telephone bidder.
- Only a few diamonds of equal size and quality exist, according to Max Fawcett, head of the jewels department at Christie’s auction house in Geneva.
- The huge diamond was discovered in a South African mine in the early 2000s and has been on display in Dubai, Taipei, and New York before being sold in Geneva.
- An historic bright yellow diamond associated for more than a century with the Red Cross will be auctioned off later in the Magnificent Jewel auction.
- The Red Cross Diamond is a 205.07-carat cushion-shaped canary diamond.
The Red Cross Diamond is a cushion-shaped, 205.07-carat canary yellow gem with a price range of $7.09 to $10.13 million Swiss francs.
History of “The Rock”:
- The original raw stone, estimated to weigh roughly 375 carats, was discovered in a De Beers mine in South Africa in 1901.
- Its pavilion, which is naturally shaped like a Maltese cross, is a distinctive feature in addition to being one of the world’s largest diamonds.
- Christie’s in London first offered the stone for sale on April 10, 1918. It was donated to the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John by the Diamond Syndicate.
- The Red Cross Diamond was sold for £10,000, or around £600,000 ($740,000) today. S.J. Phillips, a London jeweller, purchased it.
- Christie’s in Geneva sold it again in 1973, for 1.8 million Swiss francs.
- Christie’s sold it again in Geneva in 1973 for 1.8 million Swiss francs, and it is now being offered for a third time by the auction house.
- A tiara that belonged to Princess Irma of Furstenberg (1867-1948), a member of one of the Habsburg Empire’s most illustrious aristocratic families, is also up for sale.
- It’s expected to sell for between 400,000 and 600,000 Swiss francs.
President confers 13 Shaurya Chakras, Param Vishisht Seva Medal to Army Chief
President of India, Ram Nath Kovind conferred 13 Shaurya Chakras which included six posthumous to the personnel of the Indian Armed forces for their conspicuous courage displayed during operations. Army Chief General Manoj Pande was conferred with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for his distinguished service of exceptional order at a defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The President also conferred 14 PVSM, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSM) and 24 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSM) for distinguished service of an exceptional order.
These awards of Gallantry and other Defence decorations conferred were approved by the President in January on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day celebrations this January. Gen Manoj Pande assumed the charge of the 29th Chief of the Army Staff on April 30. Before that, he was serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff for three months and was the General Officer Commander in Chief, Eastern Command of the Army before that.
12th IBA Womens World Boxing Championships kick-started in Istanbul
The 12th edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships was kick-started in Istanbul, Turkey. In this event, more than 400 boxers from a record 93 countries are set to take part in this year’s event, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the prestigious event.
Olympian Lovlina Borgohain will represent the Indian country. The other representatives of this game are Pooja Rani (81 kg), Nandini (+81 kg) and Nikhat Zareen (52 kg), Nitu (48kg), Anamika (50kg), Shiksha (54kg), Manisha (57kg), Parveen (63kg) and Sweety (75kg).
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- International Boxing Association (IBA) was formed in 1946;
- Headquarters of IBA: Lausanne, Switzerland;
- President of IBA: Umar Nazarovich Kremlev.
South Korea becomes 1st Asian country join NATO Cyber Defence Group
South Korea became the first Asian country join in North Atlantic Treaty Organization Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) is joined as a contributing participant in the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
Now, the total NATO CCDCOE has 32 countries as its official members which include 27 NATO member countries and 5 five non-NATO states as contributing participants. South Korea has participated in the Locked Shields 2022, the largest and most complex annual international live-fire cyber defence exercise in the world. It has been participating two years in a row since 2020. South Korea joining the CCDCOE would help it counter the cybersecurity threat perception due to North Korea.
About the NATO:
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European states. Founded in 1949. Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
