Read Current Affairs
- The Ministry of Education has recently introduced the "Baalpan Ki Kavita" initiative.
- About the Baalpan Ki Kavita Initiative:
- This initiative was launched by the Union Education Ministry to revive and preserve traditional Indian rhymes and poems for young children.
- The goal is to compile a diverse collection of nursery rhymes and poems in various Indian languages, including English.
- The initiative aims to offer young learners engaging and contextually relevant educational content, enabling them to connect with their cultural heritage while making early education more enjoyable.
- In partnership with MyGov, the ministry is calling for contributions to this initiative.
- Participants are encouraged to submit both traditional folklore rhymes and newly composed cheerful poems in three categories:
- Pre-primary (ages three to six)
- Grade 1 (ages six to seven)
- Grade 2 (ages seven to eight)
- Submissions are welcomed in all Indian languages and English, including regional rhymes that hold cultural significance within the Indian context.
- Japan has recently expressed serious concerns over the extended presence of Chinese Coast Guard ships near the contested Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, marking one of the longest intrusions into Japan's territorial waters.
- About the Senkaku Islands:
- The Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands located in the East China Sea, about 90 nautical miles north of the Yaeyama Islands in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, and approximately 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan.
- In China, the islands are referred to as the Diaoyu Islands, while in Taiwan they are known as the Diaoyutai Islands, and other observers call them the Pinnacle Islands.
- The archipelago includes Uotsuri Island, Kuba Island, Taisho Island (also known as Kumeakashima Island), Kitakojima Island, Minamikojima Island, Tobise Island, Okinokitaiwa Island, and Okinominamiiwa Island.
- The total land area of the islands is about 6.3 square kilometers, with Uotsuri Island being the largest at around 3.6 square kilometers.
- The islands consist of various types of rock, including conglomerate sandstone, tuff, andesitic lava, and coral outcroppings that emerged above sea level during the Holocene era. The region is geologically active, with volcanic faults influencing the land's formation.
- Dispute:
- The Senkaku Islands are at the heart of a territorial dispute between Japan, China, and Taiwan.
- Administration:
- Before Japan incorporated the islands into its territory in 1895, they were not administered by any other nation. Currently, Japan governs the Senkaku Islands as part of the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture.
- Unprecedented wildfires have recently ravaged South Korea’s southern regions, causing extensive damage to the Gounsa Temple complex, with two buildings designated as national treasures being burned down.
- About Gounsa Temple:
- Gounsa Temple, meaning "Solitary Cloud Temple," is a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple located in South Korea.
- Nestled at the base of Deungun Mountain in the southeastern town of Uiseong, it was reportedly established in the 7th century during the Shilla Dynasty, which ruled over the region and much of the Korean Peninsula at the time.
- Although the temple does not contain structures from the ancient period, it is home to several renowned cultural heritage sites constructed later on.
- Unlike many other major temples in Korea, Gounsa Temple managed to avoid destruction during the Japanese invasions of the time.
- Following the Imjin War, Gounsa Temple underwent a significant reconstruction project that began in 1695.
- Today, it serves as the Headquarters Temple for the 16th District of the Jogye-jong Order, the largest Buddhist order in Korea.