Buddhism: Literature and Buddhist Councils
Buddhist Literature One of the first written and structured literary corpuses in Indian history is found in Buddhist literature. The Tripitakas are the oldest, most comprehensive, most methodical compilation of early Buddhist sacred texts. Pali, a language spoken in Magadha … Continue reading
Buddhism: Philosophy
Origin of Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in the 6th century BCE in Northern India Gautama Buddha The founder of Buddhism, Gautama or Siddhartha, was born in 567 B.C. in Lumbini Garden in Kapilavastu. His father was Suddodhana from … Continue reading
Ammonia-Powered Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)
Why in the news? Scientists have developed a method to make ammonia-powered SOFCs more reliable and efficient by integrating a plasma reactor with the fuel cell, addressing challenges in using ammonia directly as a fuel for clean energy. Ammonia-Powered Solid … Continue reading
Famine Declaration in Gaza
Why in the news? The United Nations declared an official famine in Gaza, the first such declaration in West Asia. Famine Declaration in Gaza What is it? A famine declaration is a formal classification issued by the UN and humanitarian … Continue reading
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
Why in the news? Nepal has officially become a member of the International Big Cat Alliance. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Launch: By India in April 2023 (on 50th anniversary of Project Tiger). What is it?: A global initiative for … Continue reading
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)
Why in the news ISRO announced launch of replacement satellites before 2026 to substitute defunct satellites of NavIC (Indian GPS). Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) Type: Autonomous regional satellite navigation system by ISRO. First launch: 2013 Lifetime: 12 years. Coverage … Continue reading
Closing Auction Session
Why in the news? SEBI announced a new Closing Auction Session framework. Closing Auction Session What is it?: It is a short trading session at the end of the market day to determine the final/closing price of a security. Provides … Continue reading
Vedic Period: Vedic Economy, Religion and Polity
Vedic Economy Initially, the Vedic Aryans worked as pastoralists. Their principal activity was cattle raising. They raised cattle, sheep, goats, and horses to provide milk, meat, and skins. Many words stem from the word “ga” which signifies cow. A wealthy … Continue reading
Vedic Period: Literature and Society
Vedic Literature and Vedic Society The Vedic period in Indian history is a crucial time that is often divided into two main phases: the Early Vedic period (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE) and the Later Vedic period (1000 BCE to … Continue reading
Indus Valley Civilization: Main Features
Town Planning Grid Layout – The IVC’s cities often had straight, connecting streets and were laid out in a grid-like layout. A clearly defined street grid was made by orienting the streets North-South and East-West. Uniformity – The standardisation of … Continue reading