Prelims Focus 25th February 2025

Ali AI Ligang Festival

In News: The Mising tribe, Assam’s biggest tribal community, recently celebrated the Ali Ai Ligang pageant.

• Celebrated on the primary Wednesday of Fagun (February-March), the pageant is deeply rooted in agriculture, subculture, and cultural history.
• Ali Ai Ligang has been celebrated for hundreds of years in rural Mising villages. The Mising people have transitioned to settled wet paddy farming and practicing Jhum Cultivation. 
• The festival begins with the hoisting of the Laitom Tomchar (competition flag). Offerings are made to Donyi Polo (Sun and Moon gods) for agricultural prosperity.
• Men and women perform Gumrag Dance, symbolizing joy and prosperity.

Honduras

In News: India dispatched humanitarian help of 26 lots to Honduras in the wake of the current Tropical hurricane SARA.

• Honduras is a country of Central America situated among Guatemala and El Salvador to the west and Nicaragua to the south and east. 
• In the north, the country shares a widespread stretch of coast with the Caribbean Sea. In the south, it shares a small stretch with the Pacific Ocean.
• Honduras is the second biggest country in Central America, following Nicaragua.
• Official Language: Spanish.
• Major Rivers: Patuca, Ulúa
• Major Mountain Ranges: Volcanic Highlands, Central American Cordillera.

Perovskite-Based LEDs (PeLEDs)

In News: Indian scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru have achieved a significant breakthrough in enhancing the stability of perovskite nanocrystals, a crucial step towards improving the efficiency and durability of perovskite-based LEDs (PeLEDs). 

• This innovative method addresses long-standing issues of color degradation and heat sensitivity, which have hindered the commercial viability of PeLEDs. By overcoming these challenges, the scientists have made PeLEDs more suitable for next-generation lighting and display technologies. 
• The enhanced stability and efficiency of these LEDs could revolutionize the field, offering brighter, more durable, and energy-efficient solutions compared to traditional LEDs. 
• This advancement not only highlights India’s growing role in cutting-edge research but also brings PeLEDs closer to widespread adoption in various applications.

Shivaji Forts Seek UNESCO Status

In News:  The Maharashtra government has recently proposed 12 historic forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for UNESCO World Heritage recognition under the theme “Maratha Military Landscape of India.” 

• These forts, including Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu, are significant not only for their architectural and historical importance but also for their strategic role in the rise of the Maratha Empire. 
• A delegation led by Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar is in Paris to present the proposal to UNESCO, highlighting the potential benefits of improved conservation, preservation, and tourism if these sites are granted World Heritage status. 
• This nomination underscores the cultural and military legacy of Shivaji Maharaj and could enhance the global recognition of these iconic fortifications.

Download as PDF