Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Context: On July 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 124th Birth Anniversary recalling his sacrifice and vision for a self-reliant India.
About Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
- Early Life: Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born on July 6, 1901, in Kolkata, West Bengal, into a prominent Bengali family.
- Academic Excellence: He earned degrees in English, Bengali, and Law from Calcutta University.
- He started the Bengali journal “Bang Wani” in 1922.
- Legal Career: In 1926, he became a barrister after being called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in London.
Contribution to Freedom Struggle and Ideological Stand
- Opposition to Quit India Movement: He opposed the Quit India Movement in 1942, believing it would weaken India during World War II.
- Voice for Hindu Rights: He joined the Hindu Mahasabha and worked to safeguard the rights of Hindus, particularly in Bengal.
- Liaquat-Nehru Pact Protest: He resigned from Nehru’s cabinet in 1950 over concerns that the pact endangered Hindus in East Bengal.
Political Contributions
- Youngest Vice-Chancellor: In 1934, he became the youngest-ever Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University.
- Coalition Politics in Bengal: He served as Bengal’s Finance Minister in a coalition government supported by the Hindu Mahasabha.
- Part of the Constituent Assembly: He was a member of the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas in the Constituent Assembly.
- Founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh: In 1951, he founded the BJS, a political party that laid the foundation for today’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
- Parliamentary Influence: He played a role in shaping the early structure of opposition politics and contributed to the formation of the National Democratic Party in Parliament.
- The Lion of Parliament: It is a title used to refer to him, for his strong personality, powerful oratory, and uncompromising stance on issues related to India’s unity and integrity.
- Key role in establishing institutions like the Chittaranjan Locomotive Factory, Sindri Fertilizer Corporation, and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation.
Legacy
- First Industry Minister: He was independent India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply.
- Martyrdom: Dr. Mookerjee died on June 23, 1953, under controversial circumstances while protesting the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
- He opposed Article 370, asserting that one nation cannot have two constitutions, heads, or flags.
- Literary Contribution: “Leaves from a Diary” contains the autobiographical writings of parliamentarian Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration
Context: Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government approved the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration (AQVD) to position the state as a global quantum technology hub.
About Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration
- It is a strategic framework jointly signed by the Andhra Pradesh government and industry leaders like IBM, TCS, and L&T to build a quantum technology ecosystem in Amaravati.
- The declaration sets a guiding framework of six joint commitments on research, infrastructure, talent, and global partnerships.
- The AQVD was the key outcome of the Amaravati Quantum Valley Workshop.
- It was organised to catalyse cross-sectoral collaboration involving leading firms like IBM, TCS, and L&T.
- Significance:
- With AQVD, Andhra Pradesh aligns itself with the global movement toward quantum supremacy and digital sovereignty.
Ancient City of Peñico, Peru
Context: Recently, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 3,500-year-old city named Peñico in Peru’s northern Barranca province.
About Ancient City of Peñico
- Introduction: Peñico is an ancient city located around 200 km north of Lima, situated 600 metres above sea level in the Barranca province.
- Historical Context: It dates back to between 1800 and 1500 BC, a period parallel to early civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley.
- Strategic Role: The city likely served as a major trade hub, connecting the Pacific coast, Andes mountains, and the Amazon basin.
Significance and Recent Discovery
- Artefacts Found: Excavations revealed clay sculptures of humans and animals, ceremonial items, and necklaces made from beads and seashells.
- Architectural Features: Circular ceremonial structure on a terrace, surrounded by stone and mud buildings.
- Cultural Continuity: Experts believe Peñico reflects the cultural legacy of the Caral civilisation, the oldest known in the Americas.
- Importance: The discovery provides insight into the evolution and migration of early Peruvian societies following the decline of Caral due to climate change.
Other Ancient Sites in Peru
- Caral Civilization: Located in the Supe Valley, Caral dates to around 3000 BC and includes 32 pyramidal monuments, urban planning, and irrigation systems.
- Machu Picchu: The famed Inca citadel in the Andes, built in the 15th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Inca engineering.
- Nazca Lines: These geoglyphs etched into the desert, depicting animals and shapes, remain one of the greatest archaeological mysteries of ancient Peru.
River Seine
Context: Recently, Paris reopened the River Seine to public swimming for the first time since 1923, following a massive cleanup campaign.
About River Seine
- Geographic Overview: The Seine is a 777 km long river flowing through Paris, originating from the Langres Plateau in northeastern France and emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre.
- The Seine River drainage basin: Also known as the Paris Basin, covers approximately 79,000 square kilometers and primarily drains northern France
- Left Bank Tributaries: Yonne, Loing, and Aube
- Right Bank Tributaries: Marne and Oise
- Cultural Significance: The Seine is central to Parisian identity, bordered by iconic monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral, and featured in countless works of art and literature.
- Historic Pollution: Swimming was banned in 1923 due to severe water contamination caused by urban runoff, industrial waste, and untreated sewage.
Nomination-based Golden Visa
Context: The UAE has launched a nomination-based Golden Visa scheme, offering lifetime residency to eligible individuals from India and Bangladesh without requiring investment in property or business.
What is the UAE’s Golden Visa?
- A long-term residency visa for foreigners without requiring a UAE sponsor.
- Existing categories include:
- Investors (AED 2 million+ in real estate or business)
- Entrepreneurs
- Exceptional talents (doctors, scientists, artists, athletes, PhDs, top students)
- Duration: 5 to 10 years, renewable.
What’s new in the nomination-based Golden Visa scheme?
- Lifetime residency offered instead of 5–10 years.
- No need for business or property investment.
- Flat fee: AED 100,000 (approx. ₹23.3 lakh).
- Pilot launched for Indian and Bangladeshi nationals.
Key Features of the Nomination Scheme
- Eligibility assessed through: Criminal & anti-money laundering background checks, Social media review, Evaluation of potential contribution to UAE in fields like culture, finance, science, or startups.
- Pre-approval possible from home country (no Dubai visit needed).
- Right to: Bring family members, Employ domestic staff (servants/drivers), Work in any profession or start a business.
AI-Based TB Mortality Prediction Model
Context: Tamil Nadu became the first state to integrate a predictive model for TB mortality into its state-wide screening tool under TN-KET (Tamil Nadu – Kasanoi Erappila Thittam).
About the Model
- Developed jointly by the Tamil Nadu Health Department and the ICMR–National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE).
- Implemented under Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET).
Integrated into the TB SeWA platform, a digital tool for real-time triaging of TB patients.
- Result: 20% reduction in early TB deaths (within 2 months of treatment start) across the state.
How the TB Triage Tool Works
- Parameters (No lab tests involved):
- BMI < 14 kg/m² → Severe undernutrition
- Respiratory Rate (sitting) → Sign of insufficiency
- Oxygen Saturation (pulse oximeter)
- Pitting Edema (leg swelling after 15 seconds pressure)
- Performance Status → Inability to stand unaided
- If any one parameter is abnormal → Patient marked as ‘severely ill’
Immediate referral to in-patient treatment
- Time-to-Care:
- Triaging within 1 day of diagnosis
- 98% of severely ill patients hospitalized within 7 days
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