Prelims Focus 20th June 2025

20/06/2025

164 3 minutes read

Nonia Rebellion

In News: Union Minister for Agriculture paid tributes to freedom fighter Buddhu Nonia at his centenary celebrations in Patna and mentioned the Nonia community’s contributions in Nonia Rebellion.

The Nonias were traditional salt makers, and in addition they had know-how in generating Shora (saltpetre) — an important element in making gunpowder.
The Nonia Rebellion refers to a sequence of uprisings through the Nonia community between 1778 and 1800 in Bihar, especially within the districts of Saran, Vaishali, and Purnia.
It turned into a grassroots movement against the British East India Company’s exploitative sales regulations, and oppression by local zamindars.

Barak Magen

In News: The Israeli Navy completed a main security milestone by correctly intercepting eight Iranian UAVs using the ‘Barak Magen’ aerial defense system.

The Barak Magen machine is the naval variation of the Barak MX family advanced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Israel unveils barak magen in combat against iran
It integrates advanced radar with vertical missile launchers and multiple interceptor types: MRAD (brief/medium range), LRAD (mid/long range), and ER (prolonged range).
Barak Magen enhances Israel’s current structures (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, plus future laser Iron Beam), including a powerful naval tier to national security.
It is engineered to provide full-spectrum protection in opposition to quite a few modern airborne threats which include unmanned aerial motors (UAVs), cruise missiles, shore-to-sea projectiles and even sure lessons of ballistic munitions.

FASTag Annual Pass scheme

In News: The FASTag Annual Pass scheme, introduced in June 2025 by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, is a major initiative targeted at non-commercial private vehicle owners to streamline and reduce the cost of toll payments on national highways. Here are the key details:

Launch and Validity: The scheme will be effective from August 15, 2025, and is valid for one year from activation or up to 200 trips—whichever comes first.
Eligibility: The pass is available for private cars, jeeps, and vans. Commercial vehicles are excluded.
Cost: The annual pass is priced at ₹3,000, offering significant savings compared to typical annual toll expenses, which can be as high as ₹10,000.
Coverage: The pass allows free passage at designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas. It does not apply to state-managed tolls.
Activation: The pass can be activated on existing FASTags that are properly affixed, linked to a valid vehicle registration number, and not blacklisted. Activation is done via the Rajmargyatra mobile app or the NHAI website after payment and verification.
Benefits: The scheme aims to reduce congestion and waiting times at toll plazas, eliminate the need for multiple stops, and provide a cost-effective solution for frequent highway travelers.

PGI 2.0 report

In News: The release of the PGI 2.0 report underscores the commitment of the Union Ministry of Education to improve the quality and accessibility of education across India. By providing a clear framework for assessment and highlighting areas for growth, the report aims to drive meaningful change in the education sector, ensuring better outcomes for students nationwide.

What is the PGI?

The Performance Grading Index (PGI) is a tool developed by the Ministry of Education to assess the performance of states and union territories in the school education sector. PGI 2.0 is the latest iteration, introducing refined indicators for more accurate evaluation.

Purpose of the PGI 2.0

Evaluation: PGI 2.0 evaluates states based on a comprehensive set of indicators related to access, infrastructure, equity, governance, and learning outcomes.
Benchmarking: It serves as a benchmark for states to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
Policy Input: The findings help guide policy interventions and resource allocation.

Key Indicators

PGI 2.0 assesses states using several broad domains, including:

Access: Enrollment rates, drop-out rates, transition rates.
Infrastructure: Availability of classrooms, toilets, drinking water, electricity, and digital facilities.
Equity: Gender parity, inclusion of disadvantaged groups.
Governance: Teacher availability, training, and administrative efficiency.
Learning Outcomes: Student achievement in key subjects.