Khelo India Youth Games

Context: The 7th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was recently inaugurated by the Prime Minister via videoconferencing and is being held across five cities —Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai in Bihar.

Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)

• About: It is a flagship annual multi-disciplinary sports event organized under the Khelo India Scheme by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Objective: It serves as India’s largest platform to nurture and showcase emerging sporting talent at the under-17 and under-21 levels from across the country.

Highlights of KIYG 2025 – Bihar Edition

• Logo: Features elements like the Mahabodhi Temple, Peepal Tree, Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Gangetic Dolphin, and Ashoka Chakra.
• Mascot: Gajasimha.
  • A mythical fusion of lion and elephant inspired by ancient Pala-era temple sculptures.
• Slogan: “Khel Ke Rang, Bihar Ke Sang!
• E-Sports has been introduced for the first time in this edition.

Angola – Places in News

Context: Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco invited Indian businesses to explore trade opportunities in Angola.

About Angola

• Located on the west-central coast of Southern Africa.
• Angola is located in the Southern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere. 
• Borders: It is bordered by 
  • North: Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • South: Namibia
  • East: Zambia
  • West: Atlantic Ocean

Other Important points

• Capital and largest city: Luanda.
• Culture and Language
  • Deep Portuguese influence in language and religion (Catholicism).
  • Official language: Portuguese.
• Mount Moco is Angola’s highest point (8,596 ft)
• Largest body of water: Calandula Waterfalls (also known as the Kalandula Falls) on the Lucala River.
• Main Rivers:
  • Cuango River: Flows into the Congo River
  • Cuanza River: Angola’s longest river, 1,000 km, flows west to the Atlantic
  • Cunene River: Forms border with Namibia, flows through Ruacana Falls
  • Zambezi River: Crosses the far eastern region
• Southeastern rivers feed the Okavango Swamps in Botswana
• Strong Mining Sector: Angola has a strong mining industry and is the third-largest producer of diamonds in Africa.

ECINET

Context: The Election Commission of India is developing a new user-friendly digital interface  named ECINET  for the electors and its other stakeholders. 

About ECINET

• One-Stop Digital Platform: ECINET is a unified digital interface being developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for electors, election officials, political parties, and civil society.
• Integration of 40+ Apps: It will integrate and replace over 40 existing mobile and web apps such as Voter Helpline App, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham, and KYC App.
• Accurate and Authorized Data Entry: Only authorized ECI officials can enter data on ECINET to ensure accuracy.
• Wide Beneficiary Base: Expected to serve nearly 100 crore electors and the entire electoral workforce including BLOs, BLAs, polling officials, AEROs, EROs, and DEOs.
• Cross-Device Compatibility: The platform will be accessible on both computers and smartphones.
• Legal Compliance: Fully aligned with the Representation of People Acts (1950, 1951), relevant electoral rules (1960, 1961), and ECI-issued instructions.

Ageing with Dignity Event

Context: The President of India launched key initiatives for senior citizens at the ‘Ageing with Dignity’ event for the Welfare of Senior Citizens’.

About Ageing with Dignity

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Initiatives Launched

• Senior Citizen Welfare Portal: A user-friendly digital platform designed to empower elderly citizens. 
  • It provides seamless access to government schemes, healthcare benefits, welfare services, and relevant updates.
• Senior Citizen Homes: Inaugurated across five states under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment programme aligned with the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act. 
• MoU with Brahma Kumaris: A collaborative effort to promote mental wellness, emotional balance, mindfulness, and spiritual enrichment among the elderly. 
  • The initiative also aims to strengthen intergenerational bonds.

Mithridatism

Context: An American man Timothy Friede has voluntarily subjected himself to over 200 snakebites and 700 venom injections over 18 years in an attempt to immunise himself.

About Mithridatism

• Definition: Mithridatism is the practice of protecting oneself against a poison by regularly ingesting small, non-lethal doses of it.
• Historical Origin: The term is named after Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus (135–63 BC), who was believed to have used this method to build immunity to various poisons.
• Modern Relevance: The practice is largely obsolete today due to the development of safer, more effective scientific methods like vaccines, which train the immune system in a controlled way.
• Scientific Breakthrough: Researchers have found that a combination of antibodies in the blood of Friede and another drug could shield mice against 13 kinds of venom.
• Importance: This discovery marks progress toward developing broadly neutralising antibodies,  treatments that could potentially protect people from a wide range of snake venoms.

Thrissur Pooram

Context: Fireworks regulations were eased in Thrissur Pooram festival at Thrissur, Kerala.

About Thrissur Pooram

• Celebrated annually in the Malayalam month of Medam (April–May).
• Known as the “Mother of All Poorams”, it is one of the largest and most vibrant temple festivals in Kerala.
• Historical Origin
  • Founded by: Raja Rama Varma (Sakthan Thampuran), Maharaja of Cochin (1790–1805).
  • Reason: To unify regional temples after Arattupuzha Pooram excluded some temples; Thrissur Pooram replaced Arattupuzha as the major festival.

Ramman Festival

Context: Recently, the Uttarakhand’s traditional festival, Ramman, is celebrated in Salur Dungra village of Jyotirmath.

About Ramman Festival

• Ramman is a religious ritual theatre festival celebrated annually in Saloor-Dungra village, located in the Painkhanda Valley of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
• The festival is dedicated to Bhumiyal Devta, the local tutelary deity.
• UNESCO Recognition: In 2009, Ramman was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• Cultural Features
  • Involves masked dance performances that depict mythological stories, including episodes from the Ramayana.
  • Blends oral and written narratives, music, and dance in a community-based ritual theatre format.
  • All skills — including singing, drumming, and choreography — are transmitted orally, often through hereditary lines.
• Community Participation: The festival is entirely organized by villagers.
  • Each caste and occupational group has a distinct role (e.g., performers, priests, drummers), reflecting the traditional village social structure.
  • It is a strong example of local self-governance in cultural practices.

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