News In Shorts 21 September 2026: Tulu Language, ECI, Himalayan Monal & More

Tulu Language

Context: The Karnataka Cabinet decided to accord additional official (administrative) language status to Tulu in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.  

UPSC Online Classes

About Tulu

• Tulu is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken in Dakshina Kannada, southern Udupi and parts of Kasaragod in Kerala.
  • Educational Status: Tulu is taught as a third optional language from Classes 6–10 in schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi; it was introduced for Class 6 in 2010–11.
  • Administrative Use: Government orders and circulars in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts districts can include Tulu alongside Kannada, while citizens can submit applications to government departments in Tulu.
  • Implementation: The district administrations of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi will implement the decision, with ₹82 lakh annually allocated for translation, training and language-use requirements.
  • Constitutional Recognition: Tulu is recognised by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner as an independent language, and Census reports record Tulu speakers separately.
• History of Tulu Language:
  • Historical Origin: Tulu has a history of over 2,000 years, with scholars suggesting that it developed as an independent language around the 8th century BCE.
  • Ancient References: Tulu is associated with references in Tamil Sangam literature and the 2nd-century BCE Greek papyrus Charition, which contains references to a language identified with Tulu.
• Salient Features: 
  • Script: The traditional script for the Tulu language is the Tigalari script, though the Kannada script is most commonly used today.

Official Language status

• An official language is a language recognised for use in government administration and official communication under the applicable constitutional or statutory framework.
  • Under Article 345 the legislature of a state has the constitutional power to adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the state, or Hindi, as the official language or languages for all or any of the official purposes of that state.
• Eighth Schedule Status: Tulu is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently contains 22 languages.

ECI Freezes Trinamool Congress Name And Symbol

Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has passed an interim order freezing the name and reserved symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) amid an organisational dispute between two rival groups. 

Legal Basis: Paragraph 15 of Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968

• Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968: Paragraph 15 deals with disputes where rival groups of a recognised political party each claim to represent the party.
• ECI’s Power: The Commission can determine whether one faction, or none of the rival factions, should be recognised as the political party.
• Hearing: The ECI considers the available facts and circumstances and hears representatives of the rival groups and other interested persons.
• Binding Decision: The ECI’s decision under Paragraph 15 is binding on the rival groups.

UPSC Online Courses

Himalayan Monal

Context: A study in Uttarakhand found that Himalayan monals exposed to tourism and traffic noise use higher-frequency calls, potentially affecting communication.

About Himalayan Monal

• The Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), also called Danphe or Impeyan monal, is a colourful Himalayan pheasant and the state bird of Uttarakhand.
• Habitat: It inhabits temperate and subalpine forests, particularly oak, deodar, coniferous and rhododendron forests, along with montane bamboo and grassy glades.
• Distribution: The species occurs across the Himalayan region, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, generally at suitable temperate and subalpine elevations.
• Sexual Dimorphism: The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males having iridescent multicoloured plumage and a metallic green crest, while females have predominantly brown, streaked plumage.
• Bioindicator: It can serve as a bioindicator of ecosystem disturbance, as its behaviour and habitat are sensitive to human activities.
• Factors Affecting Behaviour: Researchers found that monals in the relatively noisy Chopta Valley produced higher-frequency calls compared with birds in the quieter Madmaheshwar Valley.
  • Road traffic, pilgrimage and tourist footfall increase ambient noise, potentially altering acoustic communication and possibly affecting mating success, although this relationship has not been conclusively established.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972 : Schedule I

Meenakshi Temple

Context: The Maha Kumbabishekam ceremony of Madurai Meenakshi Temple was held after seventeen years with thousands of devotees witnessing the event. 

• The temple’s Maha Kumbabishekam ceremony is performed to bless and infuse divine energy into a newly built, renovated, or restored temple.

About Meenakshi Temple

• Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on the southern bank of the Vaigai River.
• Deity: The temple is dedicated primarily to Meenakshi (Parvati) and Sundareswarar (Shiva), while Alagar, a form of Vishnu, is also associated with the temple.
• Origin: The temple has ancient Pandyan origins, while its present monumental form was developed mainly under the Nayaka rulers.
  • Vishwanatha Nayaka and Tirumala Nayaka made significant contributions to its reconstruction and expansion during the 16th–17th centuries CE.
• Architecture
  • The temple represents the Dravidian architectural style and is an important example of the Nayaka school of architecture.
  • It has 14 gopurams, including four imposing outer gopurams that serve as prominent architectural landmarks.
  • The Ayirakkal Mandapam (Thousand-Pillar Hall) was constructed around 1569 CE and contains 985 intricately carved pillars.
• Festivals & Rituals: Meenakshi Tirukalyanam, symbolising the divine marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, is celebrated annually during the Chithirai Festival in April–May.
• Recognition: The temple was recognised as the “Best Swachh Iconic Place” in 2017.
  • It has also been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage recognition, reflecting its cultural and architectural significance.

Click to Know UPSC Coaching Centres in India

India’s Per Capita Carbon Emissions

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that India’s per capita carbon emissions remain less than half the global average at the International Conference on the Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics in New Delhi organised by the National Green Tribunal.

About Per Capita Carbon Emissions

• According to the World Bank, per capita CO₂ emissions represent the annual national carbon dioxide emissions divided by the mid-year population of an economy.
• Key Determinants: Per capita emissions are influenced by income levels, energy consumption, fossil-fuel dependence, industrialisation, energy efficiency, urbanisation and the composition of the electricity mix.
• India’s Per Capita Emissions: India’s per capita CO₂ emissions are approximately 2.1–2.2 metric tonnes, reflecting its relatively low emissions per person despite being a major aggregate emitter.
  • India is the only country in the G-20 that has successfully fulfilled the commitments of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33% to 35% below 2005 levels by 2030 made at the COP-21 Summit in Paris ahead of schedule.
• Global Average: The global average is around 4.67 metric tonnes of CO₂ per person, making India’s per capita emissions less than half the global level.
• Top Per Capita Emissions
  • United States: The United States records approximately 13.4–17.6 metric tonnes of CO₂ per person, substantially above the global average.
  • China: China’s per capita emissions are approximately 8.9 metric tonnes, nearly twice the global average.
  • European Union: The European Union records approximately 5.4 metric tonnes per person, moderately above the global average.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store