Syllabus:

• Prelims – HISTORY

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently asked why a colonial law, Dramatic Performances Act, 1876, continued to exist even 75 years after independence.  He was speaking of  government’s efforts to repeal archaic and obsolete laws.

Background: –

• The repeal of obsolete laws has been a flagship exercise by the Modi government. Since 2014, it has repealed more than 2,000 such laws. Obsolete laws, by definition, are laws which are no longer in use.

Key takeaways

• Under the Dramatic Performances Act, “any play, pantomime or other drama performed or about to be performed in a public place” could be banned if the government was of the “opinion” that the play was “of a scandalous or defamatory nature”, was “likely to excite feelings of disaffection to the Government established by law”, or “to deprave and corrupt persons present at the performance”.
• This law was among those enacted by the British to clamp down on the budding Indian nationalist sentiment following the visit of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, to India from 1875 to 1876. Other laws enacted during this period were the draconian Vernacular Press Act, 1878, and the sedition law of 1870.
• The law was formally repealed in 2018 as part of the Modi government’s exercise to weed out obsolete laws. However, the Dramatic Performance Act had not been a “valid law” since at least 1956.
• In a ruling in 1956, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the law was inconsistent with the Constitution of India.

Why  India continue to have  colonial laws?

• Article 372 of the Constitution states that laws in operation at the time of Independence would continue to be in operation.
• However, colonial laws do not enjoy the presumption of constitutionality – which means that when a colonial law is challenged, the government must defend the law for it to be valid.
• Other laws – those enacted by the Parliament of independent India – are deemed constitutional unless declared otherwise, which means that when challenged in court, the onus is on the petitioner to prove that the legislation violates the Constitution.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The coastal communities in Kerala are currently caught in a wave of unrest following the Centre’s plans for offshore mining, which they believe will ravage the fragile marine ecosystem and bring an end to their traditional way of life.

Background: –

• Strong opposition erupted when proceedings to auction offshore mineral blocks began after an amendment to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.

Key takeaways

• The 2023 amendment to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Bill introduced reforms allowing private sector participation in offshore mining. This includes granting production leases and composite licences through competitive auctions.
• Surveys conducted by the Geological Survey of India revealed lime mud within the Exclusive Economic Zone off the Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts, construction-grade sand off Kerala coast, heavy mineral placers in the inner-shelf and mid-shelf off Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, as well as polymetallic ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules and crusts in the Andaman Sea and Lakshadweep Sea. 
• At present, bids have been invited for 13 offshore areas under Tranche 1, including three blocks of lime mud off the Gujarat coast, three blocks of construction sand off the Kerala coast, and seven blocks of polymetallic nodules and crusts off the coast of Great Nicobar Island. 
• The three blocks selected for mining off the Kerala coast are located in ‘Kollam Parappu’ also known as Quilon Bank, one of the richest fishing zones in the southwest coast. The fishing hub is frequented by mechanised vessels, mesh gill net boats, and fishers using hook and line from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 
• An ongoing study by the University of Kerala’s Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries warns that mining operations can cause catastrophic damage to ecosystems, harming the livelihood of fishers. 
• Study observes that the diversity of solitary and soft corals in the Kollam region will be threatened by sand mining, as the extraction process will cause sediment plumes, increasing turbidity and impacting the composition of the water column. This means declining water quality, disruption of food webs, and deterioration of spawning grounds. 
• Apart from this, there is the need to evaluate the economic costs associated with using freshwater to wash extracted sand.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Four more bodies were found on Sunday at the site of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, which was struck by an avalanche on Friday. This takes the death toll in the avalanche to eight.

Background:

• There were 54 workers at the project site when the avalanche buried the containers that the workers were using as living quarters. Forty-six of them were safely rescued.

Key takeaways

• An avalanche is a sudden and rapid flow of snow, ice, and debris down a mountain slope. It is typically triggered by natural or human-induced factors and can cause widespread destruction in mountainous regions.

Types of Avalanches:

• Loose Snow Avalanche – Begins at a single point and gathers mass as it moves down.
• Slab Avalanche – A large chunk of snow breaks away from the slope, making it the most dangerous type.
• Powder Snow Avalanche – A mix of loose snow and air, moving at high speeds.
• Wet Snow Avalanche – Occurs due to melting snow and is slower but destructive.

Causes of Avalanches:

• Natural Causes:
  • Heavy snowfall – Increases the weight of snow layers.
  • Temperature variations – Weakens the snow structure.
  • Rainfall or melting snow – Reduces the binding strength of snow layers.
  • Earthquakes or volcanic eruptions – Triggers movement in snowpacks.
• Human-Induced Causes:
  • Deforestation and land-use changes – Destabilize mountain slopes.
  • Vibrations from construction, mining, or explosives – Can trigger avalanches.
  • Adventure tourism and skiing – Disturbs snow layers in avalanche-prone regions.

Impacts of Avalanches:

• Loss of Life & Infrastructure – High-risk areas include Himalayan regions (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh).
• Economic Losses – Damage to roads, power lines, and communication networks.
• Environmental Degradation – Leads to deforestation, landslides, and habitat destruction.
• Impact on Armed Forces – Avalanches in Siachen Glacier and high-altitude military bases cause frequent casualties.

Mitigation and Preparedness:

• Avalanche Forecasting & Monitoring
  • Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) under DRDO provides real-time forecasts.
  • Use of satellite imagery and drones for early warnings.
• Structural Measures
  • Avalanche barriers, snow sheds, and controlled blasting to prevent snow accumulation.
  • Afforestation & slope stabilization to reduce risks.
• Disaster Management & Response
  • National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local agencies conduct rescue operations.
  • Training of armed forces and locals for avalanche preparedness.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – ART & CULTURE

Context: The excavation in Odisha’s Ratnagiri has unearthed important historical details, such as Ratnagiri once being a major centre of Tantric Buddhism.

Background: –

• Ratnagiri is located on a hillock in the Assia hill range in Jajpur and encircled by the rivers Brahmani, Kimiria, and Birupa and their tributaries. It is part of the ‘Diamond Triangle’, a collection of three Buddhist sites — Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri — located in a 10-km radius.

Key takeaways

• Tantric Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana Buddhism, is a form of Buddhism that incorporates esoteric rituals, meditation techniques, and mystical practices to attain enlightenment. 
• It emerged in India around the 5th to 7th centuries CE and later spread to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia.
• Vajrayana is often referred to as the “Diamond Vehicle” because it is believed to offer a swift and powerful path to enlightenment.

Key Features of Tantric Buddhism:

• Use of Tantras (Sacred Texts):
  • Tantric Buddhism derives its name from the Tantras, a set of esoteric scriptures that provide secretive teachings.
  • These texts emphasize mantras (chants), mudras (hand gestures), mandalas (sacred diagrams), and visualization techniques.
• Esoteric and Mystical Practices:
  • Unlike Theravada and mainstream Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana followers believe in hidden knowledge (Guhya Vidya) accessible only through a guru (spiritual teacher).
  • The practice often involves meditation on deities, symbolic rituals, and transformative yogic practices.
• Concept of ‘Deity Yoga’:
  • One of the central practices in Tantric Buddhism is Deity Yoga, where practitioners visualize themselves as a deity or Buddha figure. This practice is intended to help the practitioner embody the qualities of the deity.
  • Prominent deities: Avalokiteshvara (compassion), Manjushri (wisdom), Tara (protection), and Vajrapani (power).
• Belief in the Vajra (Thunderbolt) and Bell: The Vajra (thunderbolt) symbolizes indestructible wisdom, while the Ghanta (bell) represents compassion. Together, they signify the union of wisdom and compassion.
• Importance of Guru-Disciple Relationship: A Guru or Lama is essential in guiding followers through complex tantric practices. The lineage system is crucial, ensuring that sacred knowledge is passed down without distortion.

Historical Development of Tantric Buddhism:

• Origin in India: Developed in medieval India, particularly in Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha.
• Spread to Tibet (8th century CE): Indian masters like Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) introduced Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet.
• Influence in Nepal, China, and Japan: Evolved into different sects like Shingon Buddhism in Japan and Esoteric Buddhism in China.

Tantric Buddhism in India:

• Flourished in Nalanda and Vikramashila universities under the Pala dynasty (8th–12th centuries CE).
• Significance of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet: Tibetan Buddhism, a form of Vajrayana, developed into four major schools:

• Nyingma (Oldest)
• Kagyu (Meditation-focused)
• Sakya (Scholarly tradition)
• Gelug (Dalai Lama’s sect)

• The Dalai Lama (spiritual leader of Tibet) belongs to the Gelug school.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: U.S. company Firefly Aerospace successfully landed its spacecraft on the moon on Sunday, marking only the second private mission to achieve the milestone — and the first to do so upright.

Background: –

• Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 touched down shortly after 3.34 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (0204 IST) near Mons Latreille, a volcanic formation in Mare Crisium on the moon’s northeastern near side.
• The mission is part of a NASA-industry partnership aimed at reducing costs and supporting Artemis, the programme designed to return astronauts to the moon.

Key takeaways

• Blue Ghost carries 10 instruments, including a lunar soil analyser, a radiation-tolerant computer and an experiment testing the feasibility of using the existing global satellite navigation system to navigate the Moon.
• Designed to operate for a full lunar day (14 earth days), Blue Ghost is expected to capture high-definition imagery of a total eclipse on March 14, when the earth blocks the sun from the moon’s horizon.
• On March 16, it will record a lunar sunset, offering insights into how dust levitates above the surface under solar influence — creating the mysterious lunar horizon glow first documented by Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.
• Blue Ghost’s arrival will be followed on March 6 by fellow Texas company Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, featuring its lander Athena.
• In February 2024, Intuitive Machines became the first private company to achieve a soft lunar landing — also the first U.S. landing since the crewed Apollo 17 mission of 1972.
• However, the success was tempered by a mishap: the lander came down too fast and tipped over on impact, leaving it unable to generate enough solar power and cutting the mission short.
• Until Intuitive Machines’ first successful mission, only five national space agencies had accomplished this feat: the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India and Japan, in that order.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana Buddhism):

1. It emerged as a distinct form of Mahayana Buddhism around the 7th century CE in India.
2. The practice of Deity Yoga is a significant feature, where practitioners visualize themselves as divine beings.
3. The Vajra (thunderbolt) and Ghanta (bell) in Vajrayana Buddhism symbolize wisdom and compassion, respectively.
4. Unlike Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism does not require a Guru or teacher for spiritual progress.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2, and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Q2.) Which of the following statements regarding the Blue Ghost Mission 1 is/are correct?

1. It is a private lunar mission by Firefly Aerospace, in collaboration with NASA.
2. The mission is expected to last for an entire lunar month (approximately 28 Earth days).
3. It is the first private mission to successfully land on the Moon.

Select the correct answer using the codes below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q3.) Consider the following statements about avalanches:

1. Slab avalanches are dangerous as they involve a large mass of snow breaking away suddenly.
2. Natural causes of avalanches include heavy snowfall, temperature variations, and seismic activity.
3. The Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), under ISRO, provides real-time forecasts for avalanche-prone regions.
4. Avalanche mitigation strategies include afforestation, controlled blasting, and structural barriers.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2, and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – b