UPSC ENGLISH QUIZ 05.08.2025

Explanation

• Under the 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD)' initiative by the Central Government, cultural heritage of more than 4.7 lakh villages has been documented so far.
• Through a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed that cultural information related to oral traditions, festivals, food, clothing, art forms, customs and local sites has been recorded on this portal. This initiative also covers marginalized communities and less known traditions.
• Out of 41,116 villages in West Bengal, 5,917 villages have been mapped so far, and documentation of the remaining villages is still going on.
• No financial assistance has been provided on a state-wise basis for this program.

Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) initiative

• The programme is being implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM).
• The initiative was launched in June 2023 as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
• Aim: It aims to map India’s intangible cultural assets. The MGMD web portal (mgmd.gov.in) seeks to cover all 6.5 lakh villages across the country.
• The data being collected will help in identifying and preserving traditional knowledge systems, art forms, and folk performances, with the broader goal of strengthening cultural identity and supporting rural development.

Explanation

• Prime Minister addressed the Adi Tiruvathirai Festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu.The Adi Tiruvathirai Festival is organised by the Ministry of Culture.
• The festival is held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I, 1000 years of his maritime expedition to South East Asia and the commencement of construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple.
• The Prime Minister said that the economic and strategic progress achieved during the Chola period continues to be an inspiration for modern India.
• The Prime Minister said that during the Chola Empire, India made rapid progress in all directions through commercial advancement, use of sea routes and promotion of arts and culture, which served as an ancient roadmap for the creation of a new India.

Explanation

• Supreme Court of India expressed deep concern over the deteriorating mental health of students in high-pressure academic environments.
• The Court has issued a set of guidelines for educational institutions to safeguard student mental well-being and to ensure a supportive and inclusive academic ecosystem.

In recent years, India has witnessed a surge in student suicides, especially in coaching hubs like Kota and Hyderabad.Factors such as academic pressure, intense competition, family expectations, and social comparison have significantly impacted students' mental health.Mental health is increasingly being recognized not just as a personal issue, but as a matter of public policy and institutional responsibility.

Main point

• These guidelines will be applicable to coaching centre and private educational institutes.
• India faced a legal and regulatory gap in preventing student suicides, despite its constitutional and global commitments.
• To address this, the Supreme Court invoked Article 141 to issue binding guidelines, requiring all educational institutions with 100+ students to implement stronger mental health safeguards.
• These guidelines will act as an interim protective architecture and, as such, assist the National Task Force in developing a more comprehensive and inclusive framework.

Explanation

• A recent report titled the “Underground Atlas” released by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) has revealed an alarming fact: over 90% of mycorrhizal fungal hotspots lie outside protected areas.
• This finding demands a re-evaluation of global biodiversity conservation strategies.
• SPUN’s Underground Atlas is the first digital map predicting Earth’s underground mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity and endemism patterns.
• Underground Atlas explore the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi to identify biodiversity hotspots and areas with rare, endemic fungi.
• Using 25,000 soil samples from 130 countries, the atlas predicts areas of fungal richness and endemism through machine-learning models based on 2.8 billion DNA sequences.

Explanation

• Ladakh has officially announced August 12 as Safai Andolan Day for Indus River Conservation.
• The day is dedicated to protecting and cleaning the Indus River.
• A massive cleanup will take place along the river and its tributaries.
• Government agencies, armed forces, civil society groups, and students will all take part.
• This is the first government-supported campaign focused entirely on conserving the Indus River.
• The initiative is a combined effort by the Union Territory administration, Leh Hill Council, defense forces, and local communities.
• It is part of the larger Mission Indus Clean-up Movement, which began in June.
• The movement was launched in response to serious pollution concerns.
• Water testing had revealed high levels of arsenic in the Indus River.
• Mission Indus aims to reduce pollution and protect the river’s biodiversity. It includes both urgent actions and long-term planning.
• Plans are in place to upgrade existing sewage treatment systems. Illegal dumping of waste is being strictly controlled.
• Awareness campaigns are being run with help from social and religious leaders.
• The Leh Hill Council is also working closely with village leaders and faith-based communities.
• This is to ensure local support and participation in the clean-up efforts.