News In Shorts: 16 March 2026

Sangita Kalanidhi Award

Context: Renowned veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh has been selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi at the 100th conference of the The Music Academy, Chennai.

• Bharatanatyam dancer Narendra G will receive the Nritya Kalanidhi award.

About the Sangita Kalanidhi Award

• Sangita Kalanidhi is considered the highest honour in Carnatic classical music, awarded annually for exceptional contribution to the field.
• Origin: Considered the highest accolade in the field of Carnatic music, it came into existence in 1942.
  • Carnatic classical music originated in South India from ancient Hindu devotional traditions during the 12th–17th centuries.
  • It is characterised by kriti compositions, raga–tala system, improvisation, and emphasis on vocal performance with instruments like veena and mridangam
• Institution: The award is presented by The Music Academy, Chennai, an institution that emerged from the 1927 All India Congress Session in Madras, promoting classical arts.
• Award Components: The honour includes a gold medal and a “birudu patra” (citation) and recognition at the Academy’s annual December Music Conference.
• Selection and Criteria: The award recognises eminent Carnatic musicians, scholars, or composers for lifetime contributions to performance, scholarship, and propagation of classical music.
• Role in Music Tradition: Recipients traditionally preside over the academic sessions of the annual conference, contributing lectures and discussions on Carnatic music traditions.

About Jayanthi Kumaresh

• Jayanthi Kumaresh is a leading Saraswati veena exponent from the renowned Lalgudi musical lineage, trained under maestros such as S. Balachander.
• Musical Contributions: She has played a key role in reviving the popularity of the veena, presenting it globally through concerts, collaborations, and innovative compositions.
• Collaborations and Recognition: Kumaresh has collaborated with legendary musicians, including Zakir Hussain, expanding Carnatic music’s reach across classical and fusion platforms.
• Role in Carnatic Music: Through performances, teaching, and research, she has helped modernise veena presentation while preserving traditional Carnatic aesthetics.

About the Veena

• The Veena is an ancient plucked string instrument central to Carnatic Music, known for its rich tone and ability to produce intricate melodic ornamentations.
• Origin and Early History: The Veena traces its origins to the Vedic period (around 1500 BCE), evolving from early harp-like instruments mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts and temple traditions.
• Structure and Playing Technique: The Saraswati Veena features a wooden resonator, long neck, 24 frets, four melody strings and three drone strings, played horizontally while seated cross-legged.
• Evolution of the Modern Form: The modern Thanjavur Veena design with fixed frets developed during the 17th-century rule of Raghunatha Nayak in Tamil Nadu.
• Cultural and Religious Significance: The Veena is closely associated with Saraswati, symbolising wisdom, music, and artistic learning in Indian cultural traditions.

Trisulfide Metathesis Reaction

Context: Scientists at Flinders University discovered a new trisulfide metathesis reaction, where sulfur chains exchange partners spontaneously at room temperature without heat, light, or catalysts.

About Trisulfide Metathesis Reaction

• The trisulfide metathesis reaction is a newly discovered chemical process where molecules containing three sulfur atoms (R–S–S–S–R) exchange molecular fragments rapidly under mild conditions.
• Mechanism of the Reaction
  • Sulfur Chain Exchange: Two trisulfide molecules exchange attached molecular groups, forming new molecular combinations through a partner-swapping process known as metathesis.
  • Occurs Under Mild Conditions:Unlike typical sulfur reactions requiring heat, light, or catalysts, this reaction occurs spontaneously at room temperature in certain solvents such as dimethylformamide.
  • Rapid and Reversible Process: The reaction reaches equilibrium within seconds, and the bond exchange remains fully reversible, enabling repeated molecular rearrangements.
• Significance of the Discover:
  • New Pathways in Drug Development: Scientists used the reaction to modify anti-tumor compounds such as calicheamicin, demonstrating potential applications in pharmaceutical design.
  • Development of Recyclable Materials: The reaction enabled creation of novel plastics linked by trisulfide bonds, which can be easily broken down and recycled into original components.
  • Advances in Materials and Molecular Chemistry: Fast and controllable sulfur exchange may help design self-rearranging molecules, smart polymers, and responsive materials for biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Context: An outbreak of Herpes Simplex Virus infected 92 inmates and caused seven deaths at Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home, West Bengal.

About Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

• Herpes Simplex Virus is a common viral infection belonging to the Herpesviridae family.
• Two Main Types:
• • HSV-1: Mainly causes oral herpes (cold sores around the mouth).
  • HSV-2: Mainly causes genital herpes.
• Mode of Transmission: Spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact, sexual contact, or contact with infected bodily fluids.
• Symptoms: Can cause painful blisters or sores, itching, fever, and swollen lymph nodes; many infections may remain asymptomatic.
• Latency: The virus can remain dormant in nerve cells and reactivate periodically, causing recurrent outbreaks.
• Complications: In severe cases, it may lead to conditions such as Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can be life-threatening.
• Treatment: No permanent cure; antiviral medicines can reduce symptoms and prevent frequent outbreaks.
• Prevention: Includes avoiding direct contact with active sores, practicing safe sex, and maintaining good hygiene.

Sujal Gaon ID

Context: Sujal Gaon ID was launched by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to digitally map rural drinking water supply schemes across India.

About the Sujal Gaon ID

• Sujal Gaon ID is a scheme-based unique digital identifier assigned to every rural piped water supply scheme under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Objective: It aims to create a comprehensive digital database for monitoring and managing rural drinking water infrastructure.
• Digital Integration: The ID is integrated with the Sujalam Bharat digital architecture to enable source-to-tap mapping of rural water supply systems.
• Coverage: Around 1.64 lakh Sujal Gaon IDs have been generated across 31 States and Union Territories linked to 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.
• Governance Impact: The system enhances transparency, accountability, and real-time monitoring of rural water supply services.
• Funding Condition: Creation of Sujal Gaon IDs is a mandatory requirement for States/UTs to receive central funds under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
• The initiative supports digital governance and efficient service delivery aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Sujalam Bharat

• Sujalam Bharat is a national digital architecture for rural drinking water supply systems developed under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Objective: It aims to digitally map and monitor the entire rural water supply chain from source to tap across villages in India.
• Digital Integration: The platform integrates infrastructure data, service area data, and scheme information through unique identifiers like Sujal Gaon ID.
• Monitoring Function: It enables real-time tracking, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making in rural water supply management.
• JJM 2.0: Sujalam Bharat serves as the digital backbone for monitoring and governance under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.

Pritzker Architecture Prize 2026

Context: Recently, the annual Pritzker Architecture Prize has been awarded to Chile’s Smiljan Radić.

About the Pritzker Architecture Prize

• Establishment: Established in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and Cindy Pritzker.
• Administered By: Awarded by the Hyatt Foundation.
• Purpose: Honours a living architect whose work demonstrates exceptional talent, vision, and contribution to humanity through architecture.
• Significance: Widely regarded as the “Nobel Prize of Architecture.”
• Indian Winner: Balkrishna Doshi became the first Indian recipient in 2018.

Oscars 2026

Context: The 98th edition of the Academy Awards (Oscars) was held at the in Los Angeles, celebrating global achievements in cinema and filmmaking. 

About the Winners of Oscars 2026

• Host: The ceremony was hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien.
• Best Picture: One Battle After Another won the Best Picture award and emerged as the most awarded film of the ceremony.
• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson won the Best Director award for One Battle After Another.
• Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his role in Sinners.
• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet.
• International Feature Film: Sentimental Value won the Best International Feature Film category.
• Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters won the Best Animated Feature Film award.
• Official Entry from India: The film Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, was India’s official submission for Best International Feature Film but failed to secure a final nomination.
• Indian-American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir received two Oscar nominations in documentary categories, making history with simultaneous nominations in the same year.
• Her films The Perfect Neighbor (Best Documentary Feature) and The Devil Is Busy (Best Documentary Short) were nominated but did not win. 

About Academy Awards (Oscars)

• The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prestigious awards recognizing excellence in the global film industry.
• Organising Body: The awards are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
• Establishment: The Oscars were first presented in 1929, making them one of the oldest entertainment awards in the world.
• Venue: The ceremony is usually held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, United States.
• Purpose: The awards honour outstanding achievements in filmmaking across categories such as acting, directing, screenwriting, music, and technical fields.

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