Tungabhadra Dam Rehabilitation
Context: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana inaugurated the newly installed spillway gates of the Tungabhadra Dam, marking a major step in reservoir safety and inter-State water cooperation.
Key Highlights of the Project
- All 33 spillway gates were replaced following the 2024 gate failure, enhancing the dam’s structural safety and operational reliability.
- The Union Government announced a nationwide dam dredging programme to enhance reservoir capacity and water conservation.
- Dam dredging is the process of excavating accumulated sediment such as sand, silt, and debris from the bottom of a reservoir behind a dam.
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About the Tungabhadra River
- The Tungabhadra is the largest tributary of the Krishna River and an important east-flowing river of Peninsular India.
- Origin: Formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers at Koodli (Shivamogga district), Karnataka.
- Both the Tunga and Bhadra originate in the Gangamoola (Varaha Parvata) region of the Western Ghats in the Kudremukh Range.
- Course: Flows eastward through Karnataka, forms part of the Karnataka–Andhra Pradesh border, and enters Andhra Pradesh.
- Major Tributaries
- Vedavathi (Hagari), Varada, Kumudvathi, Handri and Chikka Hagari
- Mouth: Joins the Krishna River near Sangameswaram (Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh).
- Key Conservation and Heritage Sites
- Kudremukh National Park (Karnataka) : Located in the Western Ghats; the source region of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers.
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) : Situated in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts in the upper catchment of the Tungabhadra basin.
- Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary (Karnataka) : Located in Ballari district, near the Tungabhadra basin; India’s first sanctuary dedicated to sloth bears.
- Hampi UNESCO World Heritage Site (Karnataka) : Located in Vijayanagara district, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River; capital of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire.
- Sangameswara Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh): Located in Nandyal district, around the confluence of the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers.
Samvidhan Hatya Diwas
Context: The Ministry of Culture commemorated Samvidhan Hatya Diwas on 25 June 2026, marking 50 years of the 1975 Emergency through exhibitions, cultural programmes and awareness initiatives.
About ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’
- Samvidhan Hatya Diwas is observed annually on 25 June to commemorate the proclamation of the Internal Emergency (1975–77) and reaffirm commitment to democracy and constitutional values.
- Objective: To create public awareness about the importance of Fundamental Rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law.
- Historical Significance
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- On 25 June 1975, the National Emergency was proclaimed under Article 352 on the ground of “Internal Disturbance”.
- During the Emergency, Fundamental Rights were curtailed, political opponents were detained, and press censorship was imposed.
- The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 replaced the term “Internal Disturbance” with “Armed Rebellion” to prevent misuse of emergency powers.
Key Provisions Relating to National Emergency
- Constitutional Provision: Article 352 empowers the President to proclaim a National Emergency if the security of India or any part thereof is threatened.
- Grounds for Proclamation: War, External Aggression and Armed Rebellion (earlier “Internal Disturbance” before the 44th Constitutional Amendment)
- Parliamentary Approval: The proclamation must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within one month by a Special Majority.
- Once approved, it remains in force for six months and can be extended every six months with fresh parliamentary approval.
- National Emergency in India
- 1962 – During the India–China War (External Aggression).
- 1971 – During the India–Pakistan War (External Aggression).
- 1975 – Internal Emergency on the ground of Internal Disturbance.
- Other Types of Constitutional Emergencies
- State Emergency / President’s Rule (Article 356): Imposed when the constitutional machinery of a State fails.
- Financial Emergency (Article 360): Proclaimed when India’s financial stability or credit is threatened; it has never been imposed in India.
- Implication on Fundamental Rights:
- Article 358: During a National Emergency declared only on the grounds of War or External Aggression, the freedoms guaranteed under Article 19 are automatically suspended for the duration of the Emergency.
- Article 359: The President may suspend the right to move courts for the enforcement of specified Fundamental Rights; however, Articles 20 and 21 cannot be suspended, even during a National Emergency (44th Constitutional Amendment, 1978).
Sushruta
Context: The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, considered as the world’s oldest surgical college, has unveiled a 90-kg bronze statue of Sushruta.
- The bronze statue was crafted at Swamimalai near Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu), a town renowned for its traditional bronze-casting heritage.
- Earlier, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Melbourne had also installed a statue of Sushruta.
About Sushruta
- An ancient Indian physician who lived around the 6th century BCE (about 2,600 years ago).
- Widely regarded as the “Father of Plastic Surgery.”
- Pioneer of Shalya Tantra (surgical science) in ancient India.
- Established surgery as a systematically taught, documented and regulated branch of medicine.
- Emphasised scientific surgical training, practical learning and ethical medical practice.
- Historians note that Sushruta performed and documented advanced surgical procedures centuries before Hippocrates, Aulus Cornelius Celsus, and Galen.
About Sushruta Samhita
- It is one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive medical treatises, written over 2,000 years ago by Sushruta, and serves as a systematic compilation of his teachings on Shalya Tantra (surgery).
- Divided into Purva Tantra and Uttara Tantra.
Key Features of Sushruta Samhita
- Comprehensive Medical Documentation: Describes 1,120 diseases, 700+ medicinal plants, 300+ medical/surgical procedures, and 120+ surgical instruments.
- Wide Scope: Covers a wide range of medical disciplines, including Surgery, General medicine, Paediatrics, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), and Geriatric care
- Advanced Surgical Procedures: Describes advanced procedures such as Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery), Lithotomy (removal of bladder stones), and Removal of dead foetus
- Classification of Surgical Techniques: Classifies surgery into eight categories: Excision, Incision, Scarification, Puncturing, Probing, Extraction, Drainage, Suturing.
- Scientific Surgical Training: Recommends structured surgical education, with students practising on vegetables, leather and animal tissues before operating on patients.
- Surgical Instruments: Sushruta classified surgical instruments into two broad categories:
- Sharp instruments (Shastra): used for cutting and incision.
- Blunt instruments (Yantra): used for holding, probing and extraction.
- Important Surgical Instruments: Some important instruments mentioned include:
- Vriddhipatra: scalpel.
- Mandalagra: curved incision knife.
- Karapatra: bone-cutting instrument.
- Eshani: probing instrument.
- Sandamsa: forceps.
- Nadi Yantra: tubular instrument.
- Emphasis on Surgical Hygiene: Emphasises cleanliness, wound care, instrument sterilisation, and cauterisation to control bleeding.
- Medical Insights Ahead of Their Time: Documented conditions resembling: Diabetes, Obesity, Cardiovascular disorders
- Linked several diseases to lifestyle factors and recommended physical activity as part of treatment.
- Classified burns, heat stroke, frostbite and lightning injuries under a broader understanding of thermal trauma, concepts that gained wider acceptance in modern medicine much later.
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QR Code-based Drug Traceability for Critical Medicines
Context: The Government has expanded mandatory QR code-based traceability to critical medicines to curb counterfeit drugs and strengthen pharmaceutical regulation.
More about the Initiative
- The Union Health Ministry amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, expanding Schedule H2 to include vaccines, antimicrobials, anti-cancer medicines, and narcotic & psychotropic drugs (NDPS).
- The move follows concerns over counterfeit cancer drugs, including cases where empty Keytruda vials were allegedly refilled with antifungal medicines and sold to patients.
- The Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) had recommended mandatory QR-based track-and-trace mechanisms for all anti-cancer medicines and other critical drugs.
Key Features of the Rules
- Mandatory QR Codes: Every Schedule H2 medicine will carry a unique QR code on primary (or secondary) packaging.
- Comprehensive Information: QR codes store product ID, generic & brand name, manufacturer details, batch number, manufacturing & expiry dates, licence number, and excipient details.
- Supply Chain Traceability: Enables authentication and verification at every stage of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
- Expanded Coverage: Earlier limited to the top 300 pharmaceutical brands; now extended to all critical medicines under Schedule H2.
- Phased Rollout: Effective from 1 July 2027 (vaccines, anti-cancer & NDPS drugs) and 1 July 2028 (antimicrobials).
Significance of the Move
- Prevents Counterfeit Medicines: Makes duplication of high-value drugs, especially cancer medicines, significantly more difficult.
- Strengthens Patient Safety: Ensures only genuine medicines reach patients through digital authentication.
- Supports AMR Control: Helps detect counterfeit and substandard antibiotics, strengthening the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
- Supports WHO Regulatory Maturity: Helps India meet WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Maturity Level 4 requirements for drug regulation.
Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System
Context: DRDO has achieved Final Operational Clearance (FOC) for the indigenous Netra AEW&C system, significantly enhancing the Indian Air Force’s airborne surveillance and network-centric warfare capabilities.
About Netra AEW&C System
- Netra AEW&C is India’s first indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, designed to provide real-time airborne surveillance, command, control and battle management for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Developed By: The system has been developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It is integrated on the Brazilian Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform.
- Key Features
- Equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for long-range surveillance and early warning.
- Integrates advanced mission systems, including Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Mission Computer, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Communication Support Measures (CSM) and secure communication networks.
- Capable of detecting, tracking, identifying and monitoring both airborne and maritime targets, enabling real-time situational awareness.
- Received Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in 2015, was inducted into the IAF in 2017, and has now received Final Operational Clearance (FOC).
Significance: The Netra AEW&C system strengthens India’s indigenous defence capabilities, enhances network-centric warfare, and makes India the fifth country to develop an indigenous airborne early warning and control system.
Bhawaiya Folk Tradition
Context: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released a book on Bhawaiya folk tradition, highlighting the need to preserve India’s rich intangible cultural heritage.
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About Bhawaiya Folk Tradition
- Bhawaiya is a traditional folk music genre of Eastern India, representing the cultural identity of the Koch-Rajbongshi community.
- Region: Originated in the Terai and Dooars regions of North Bengal (Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri).
- Also prevalent in the Goalpara region of Assam and the Rangpur division of Bangladesh.
- Associated Communities: Primarily associated with the Koch-Rajbongshi and Kamtapuri communities.
- Key Themes: Dominated by Biraha (separation and longing), portraying emotional bonds between spouses separated by livelihood.
- Depicts the lives of mahouts (elephant handlers), mahishals (buffalo herders), gariyals (cart drivers), and other rural working communities.
- Reflects agricultural customs, seasonal festivals, nature, and everyday village life.
- Musical Features
- Dirgha: Slow, emotional style expressing deep sorrow and longing.
- Chatka: Fast-paced, lively, and humorous style depicting domestic and social life.
- Principal instrument: Dotara; accompanied by bansuri (flute), dhol, and kartal.
- Significance: Recognised as an important element of India’s intangible cultural heritage, promoting cultural diversity and regional identity.
26 Jun 2026
