News in Shorts: 26 November 2025

Lachit Borphukan

Context: PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah honoured Lachit Borphukan on Lachit Diwas.

• Lachit Diwas is celebrated annually on 24th November to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan

About Lachit Borphukan

• Lachit Borphukan was born on 24th November 1622 in Charaideo, Assam.
• Lachit Borphukan is revered in Assam as the commander who defeated the Mughal forces (led by Raja Ram Singh) in the Battle of Saraighat (1671).
• Military Leadership: Served as the commander of the Ahom armies during the Battle of Saraighat fought on the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati.
  • Known for exceptional strategic skills and effective guerrilla warfare tactics, enabling smaller Ahom forces to outperform a much larger Mughal army.
• Position in the Ahom Administration: Appointed as one of the five Borphukans by King Charadhwaj Singha.
  • Borphukans held combined administrative, judicial, and military authority in the Ahom kingdom.
  • They effectively acted as viceroys for the Ahom King in the western part of the kingdom.
• Final Years: He passed away in 1672, a year after the victory at Saraighat, due to a prolonged illness.

About the Ahom Kingdom

• The Ahom kingdom was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince from the Mong Mao region (Myanmar), who entered present-day Assam in 1228 CE.
  • The kingdom ruled large parts of present-day Assam for nearly 600 years (13th–19th century).
• Political and Social Structure: It was a prosperous, multi-ethnic kingdom centred on the fertile Brahmaputra valley, sustained by extensive rice cultivation.
  • Known for strong administrative systems and resistance to external invasions.
• Conflicts with the Mughals: Fought multiple clashes with the Mughal Empire between 1615–1682, from Jahangir to Aurangzeb.
  • The Battle of Saraighat remains the most defining victory against Mughal expansion in the Northeast.

Uranium (U-238) Contamination

Context: A new study has detected uranium (U-238) in breastmilk samples across Bihar, raising concerns about infant exposure despite levels remaining below global safety thresholds.

Key Findings on Uranium Contamination

• A study of 40 lactating mothers across Bihar detected uranium in 100% of breastmilk samples, with highest individual values in Katihar and highest district average in Khagaria.
• All breastmilk samples contained uranium; 70% of infants showed Hazard Quotient (HQ) > 1, indicating potential non-carcinogenic risk.
• Despite measurable presence, researchers note that most uranium absorbed by mothers is excreted in urine, not concentrated in breastmilk.
• Experts emphasise that breastfeeding should continue, unless clinically contraindicated, given its overriding nutritional and immunological benefits.

About Uranium contamination

• Uranium contamination refers to the presence of excess uranium in soil, groundwater, surface water, or food sources, usually due to natural geological processes or human activities.
  • It becomes a public health and environmental concern when uranium levels exceed safe limits.
• WHO prescribes a provisional limit of 30 µg/L for uranium in drinking water; some countries adopt stricter norms such as 10 µg/L (Germany).
  • Measured breastmilk concentrations in the study ranged 0–5.25 µg/L, below WHO’s water guideline.
• Sources Of Contamination
  • Uranium occurs naturally in granite and rock formations and reaches groundwater through weathering.
  • Anthropogenic sources include mining, coal combustion, nuclear industry emissions, and phosphate fertilizers.
  • India reports contamination in 151 districts across 18 States, with 1.7% of Bihar’s groundwater affected.

Health Impact of Uranium Exposure

• Infants face higher vulnerability due to limited detoxification capacity.
• Potential impacts include kidney development impairment, neurodevelopmental delay, and cognitive deficits such as reduced IQ with prolonged exposure.

Vikram-I Orbital Rocket

Context: Recently PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Skyroot’s new Infinity Campus and unveiled the Vikram-I orbital rocket marking a milestone for India’s private space sector.

About Vikram-I Orbital Rocket

• Vikram-I is Skyroot Aerospace’s first orbital-class launch vehicle, designed to place small satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) efficiently and rapidly.
  • A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is a near-Earth orbit ranging roughly from 160 km to 1,000 km altitude, where most satellites including the International Space Station (ISS) are placed.
  • LEO is preferred due to lower launch energy requirements and optimal conditions for Earth observation.
• Developed By: Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad
  • Private body founded by IIT alumni and former ISRO scientists.
• Key Features
  • Multi-Stage Lightweight Design: All-carbon-fibre body enabling high strength-to-weight performance.
    • Multi-stage solid-fuel configuration for simpler, robust and low-maintenance operations
  • Capability: Can place ~300 kg payloads into LEO and is capable of deploying multiple satellites in a single mission
  • Rapid Launch Readiness: Solid propulsion enables quick assembly and launch within 24 hours.
    • Requires minimal launch infrastructure, suitable for flexible launch locations

Significance

• Boost to India’s Private Space Ecosystem: Strengthens India’s emerging small-satellite launch market.
  • Demonstrates success of space sector reforms enabling private manufacturing and innovation
• Industrial Expansion: Supported by Skyroot’s new 200,000 sq ft Infinity Campus, capable of producing one orbital rocket per month
• Strategic Value: Enhances indigenous access to space, reducing dependence on foreign launchers and supporting commercial, scientific, and defence payloads

Orbital and Suborbital Rockets

• Orbital Rocket : It places a payload into Earth’s orbit, requiring very high velocity (≈7.8 km/s) so the object continuously circles the planet.
  • PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is ISRO’s most reliable orbital rocket,
• Sub-Orbital Rocket : A sub-orbital rocket reaches space but does not achieve orbital velocity, causing it to return to Earth without completing an orbit.
  • RH-200 (Rohini Sounding Rocket) of ISRO.
• Purpose: Orbital rockets are used for satellite deployment and long-duration missions, while sub-orbital rockets are mainly used for technology testing, microgravity experiments, or short spaceflights.

National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025

Context: Recently the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025 were Conferred on National Milk Day, along with major initiatives to strengthen India’s dairy sector.

About the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA)

• One of the highest national recognitions in the livestock and dairy sector, awarded annually on National Milk Day.
• Aims to promote excellence in breed improvement, milk production, and scientific dairy practices.
• Launched under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) in 2021 to advance indigenous cattle and buffalo development.
• Objectives
  • Recognize and reward dairy farmers, cooperatives, and stakeholders for outstanding contributions.
  • Promote scientific management of native breeds and sustainable dairy practices.
  • Encourage innovation in breeding, feed management, and production efficiency.
  • Strengthen India’s leadership as the world’s largest milk producer.
• Awards and Benefits: Certificate of Merit and Memento for all winners.
• Categories of the Award
  • Best Dairy Farmer rearing Indigenous Cattle/Buffalo Breeds
  • Best Artificial Insemination Technician 
  • Best Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS) / Milk Producer Company / Dairy Farmer Producer Organization 
• Special Category Awards: Special Award in each of the above three categories for winners from the North Eastern Region (NER) / Himalayan States.
• Other Initiatives to be Launched
  • Breed Multiplication Farms to enhance high-quality livestock production.
  • Guidelines for Minimum Veterinary Infrastructure for uniform national standards.
  • Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2025 for data-driven policy planning.
  • Flagging off 20 NPDD-assisted milk tankers to strengthen dairy logistics and supply chains.

About National Milk Day

• Introduction: National Milk Day is observed every year on 26 November to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the “Father of the White Revolution.”
• Significance: The day honours India’s millions of dairy farmers whose efforts ensure national food security and drive the country’s leadership in global milk production.
• India’s Dairy Sector: India contributes nearly one-fourth of global milk output, with the sector growing 70% in the last 11 years (since 2014) employing over 8 crore farmers and enabling inclusive, women-led rural growth.

Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-25

Context: India and the United Kingdom have begun the eighth edition of Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-25 in Rajasthan to enhance joint counter-terror operational capabilities.

About AJEYA WARRIOR-2025

• AJEYA WARRIOR is a biennial India-UK joint military exercise aimed at strengthening professional cooperation and improving interoperability between the two armies.
• Venue: Foreign Training Node, Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
• Focus Area
• • The exercise is held under a United Nations mandate and focuses on counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environments.
  • It includes joint mission planning at brigade level, integrated tactical drills, simulation-based scenarios, and company-level field exercises.
  • The exercise features equal participation of 240 personnel from both armies, with the Indian Army represented by the Sikh Regiment.
• Significance: The exercise strengthens operational coordination, facilitates sharing of best practices, and reinforces India-UK defence cooperation to support regional stability and global missions.

Biomass Pellet Plant

Context: A new biomass pellet plant was inaugurated in Rewari, Haryana. 

About Biomass Pellets

• Biomass pellets are compressed biofuel units made from agricultural residues, designed to replace coal in thermal power plants for cleaner combustion.
• Produced Using: Torrefied or processed crop residues such as paddy straw, mustard straw, cotton stalks and organic waste.
• Feature: The compression process creates uniform, high-density fuel that is an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels for heating, cooking, and power generation
• Significance
• • Enables co-firing with coal, reducing carbon emissions and air pollution
  • Creates additional income streams for farmers through residue procurement
  • Generates rural employment and supports circular bioeconomy
  • Helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and supports India’s net-zero goals

Government Initiatives to Promote Waste-to-Energy

• Mandatory Biomass Co-Firing Policy: All coal-based thermal power plants must co-fire 5% biomass/MSW (municipal solid waste) charcoal, while NCR plants must use 7%.
  • At least 50% of biomass in NCR plants must be sourced from local paddy residue, directly reducing stubble burning.
• Strengthening Waste Supply Chains: Government expanding source segregation systems, regulatory frameworks, and MSW-charcoal processing capacity.
  • Policy push aims to build a robust waste-to-energy ecosystem, addressing challenges of wet and unsegregated waste.

Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra

Context: Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Panchjanya’ and visited the Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra in Kurukshetra, Haryana.

About ‘Panchjanya’

• ‘Panchjanya’ is a monument dedicated to the sacred conch of Lord Krishna, symbolising divine power and righteousness in the Mahabharata.
• Significance
• • Represents the spiritual and cultural legacy associated with Kurukshetra, the land of the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Reinforces the historical importance of Krishna’s call to duty and dharma.
  • Adds a major cultural landmark to Kurukshetra, strengthening heritage tourism and pilgrim routes in Haryana.

About Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra

• The Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra is an immersive experiential centre created to bring alive key episodes of the Mahabharata for visitors through modern storytelling.
• Location: Kurukshetra, the traditional battleground of the Mahabharata and the place where the Bhagavad Gita was revealed.
• Features:  Digital installations, thematic galleries, interactive displays, and artistic recreations of major events from the Mahabharata.
  • Designed to highlight the timeless philosophical, cultural, and moral teachings of the Mahabharata.
• Significance: Serves as an educational and cultural hub for students, researchers, and pilgrims.

Fujiwhara Interaction

Context: Weather models indicate the possibility of two cyclonic storms forming in the Bay of Bengal, with a rare chance of a Fujiwhara-type interaction.

About Fujiwhara Effect

• Definition: The Fujiwhara Effect, also known as the Fujiwhara interaction or binary interaction, is a natural atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when two nearby cyclones or hurricanes begin to interact with each other in mid-to-upper atmospheric layers.
• Mutual Orbiting: During the Fujiwhara interaction, the centers of the two cyclones start rotating around a common point between them. This orbiting takes place in a counterclockwise direction.
• Determining Factor: The location of this central rotation point depends on the intensity and relative mass of the cyclonic vortices.
• Discovery: It was first identified and described in 1921 by Japanese meteorologist Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara, after whom the phenomenon is named.
• Occurrences: The interaction typically occurs when two cyclones come within ~1,400 km of each other (distance varies with size and intensity).
• Possible Outcomes:
• • Intensification: The interaction may also enhance the development of a more powerful cyclone.
  • Merger: A stronger cyclone may absorb the weaker one.
  • Repulsion: In some cases, the systems may move apart after interaction.
  • Track Alteration: Their movement may become erratic, complicating forecasts.
    • The Fujiwhara Effect can alter or divert the original paths of one or both cyclones.

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