Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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500-yr-old gurdwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province opens doors for Indian Sikh pilgrims

News

• A 500-year-old gurdwara in Sialkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province has now opened its doors for Indian Sikh pilgrims.

Beyond News

• Earlier, Indians were not allowed to visit the Babe-de-Ber gurdwara which is situated in Sialkot city, about 140 kms from here.
• Several religious sites in Punjab are frequented by Sikhs from several countries including India.
• Pilgrims from Pakistan,Europe, Canada and the US were allowed to visit the gurdwara.
• Every year, thousands of Indian Sikh devotees visit Pakistan on the birth and death anniversaries of Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism and the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus the martyrdom of Guruwar Jin Devji and the Besakhi festival and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• According to the Sikh tradition, when Guru Nanak arrived in Sialkot from Kashmir in the 16th century, he stayed under the tree of Beri. Sardar Natha Singh then built a gurdwara in his remembrance at the site.
• In November 2018, India and Pakistan agreed to set up a border crossing linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur – the final resting place of Guru Nanak to Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district.
• The Kartarpur corridor is expected to provide visa-free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to the gurdwara in Kartarpur Sahib a small town in Narowal, four kilometres from the Pakistan-India border, where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.
• Pakistan will build the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur up to the border will be constructed by India.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Bengal introduces 10% quota in jobs, education

News

• The West Bengal government announced 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to people belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS).
• There will be a 10% reservation for them [EWS] in government service. However, those who are already covered under the SC, ST and OBC category will not be eligible.

U.S. Senate passes legislative provision to give India NATO ally-like status

News

• The S. Senate has passed a legislative provision that brings India at par with America’s NATO allies and countries like Israel and South Korea for increasing defence cooperation.

Beyond News

• The National Defense Authorisation Act or NDAA for the fiscal year 2020, that contained such a proposal was passed by the U.S. Senate.
• The amendment provides for increased U.S.-India defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean in the areas of humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security.
• The bill would be signed into law after both the chambers of the U.S. Congress the House of Representatives and the Senate passes it.

Lok Sabha clears Medical Council Amendment Bill

News

• Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha which provides for supersession of Medical Council of India for a period of two years with effect from September 26, 2018.

Beyond News

• The Bill was introduced by Health Minister in the lower house to replace an ordinance promulgated this year.
• The government will soon come out with a National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill to usher in comprehensive reforms in the medical education .
• The Bill will also allow for the increase in the number of members in the Board of Governors to 12 from the existing seven.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Whale shark beached at Surathkal died due to isolation, starvation, external injury: College of Fisheries

News

• The whale shark an endangered species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 that beached at Surathkal, died due to isolation, deprivation of food and injury caused by rocks in the coastal waters, a team of scientists, has concluded.

Beyond News

• The animal had strayed from its migratory route and hence had been isolated. It was starving owing to acute deprivation of food. This would have prompted it to gulp large amounts of sand.
• The strong currents and waves in the shallow waters due to monsoon conditions washed the animal ashore. It was injured when it hit the boulders and rocky formation along the Surathkal coast.
• Its gut content primarily consisted of a large amount of sand and shells. From the texture of the sand, it is possible that the animal gulped the sand from the water along the shores of Surathkal. The stomach was almost empty and contained a little amount of some semi-digested matter which has been taken for further studies.
• All its other organs liver, pancreas, heart, gills and gall bladder etc. were weighed, measured for length, and stored in refrigerated conditions for further studies. No internal injuries were found. It was a male.
• The animal was 5.9 m long and weighed about 1.2 tonnes. Its age is likely between five to six years.
• These animals are found mainly in the open sea, but sometimes come near the shore. Whale sharks live in warm water (near the equator) both along the coast and in the open seas. They spend most of their time near the surface.
• The whale shark body is mostly grey with a white belly. Three prominent ridges run along each side of the animal, with the lower ridges extending into strong caudal keels near the tail.

Mumbai paralysed after incessant rain; death toll rises to 35

News

• Mumbai was paralysed by incessant rain, which left many parts of the financial capital waterlogged and 21 dead in a wall collapse in the city.

Beyond News

• Fourteen persons died in rest of Maharashtra in rain-related incidents.
• Heavy rains lashing Mumbai threw rail, air and road traffic out of gear, with several trains and flights cancelled.

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