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One Liners 04-06-2025
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History, Art and Culture
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End of Maratha Wars
On June 3, 1818, the Maratha Wars concluded, marking the definitive end of the Maratha Empire as an independent entity. This pivotal event cemented British paramountcy in India.
- The Maratha Confederacy - A powerful empire founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji, comprised influential houses like the Peshwa, Gaekwad, Scindia, Holkar, and Bhonsle. It was a significant challenge to British ambitions.
- 1st Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782) - This initial conflict was st largely indecisive, ending with the Treaty of Salbai and restoring the status quo.
- 2nd Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805) - This war severely weakened the Marathas. British victories, notably under Arthur Wellesley, led to significant territorial gains and imposed subsidiary alliances.
- 3rd Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818) - The final, decisive war saw the British East India Company, under Lord Hastings, crush the Maratha uprising. The Peshwa and other Maratha states were systematically defeated.
- Impact and Legacy - The Maratha defeat eliminated the last major indigenous challenge, paving the way for the British Raj. This outcome profoundly reshaped India's political landscape, ushering in an era of undisputed British dominance.
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Geography
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Paraguayan President Visits India
Santiago Peña Palacios is on his first state visit to India (June 2-4, 2025). This historic second-ever visit by a Paraguayan President aims to boost bilateral ties in trade, technology, and diplomacy.
- About - Paraguay Paraguay is a landlocked South American nation.
- Capital – Asunción.
- Location - Situated on the Paraguay River, mostly south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
- Borders - Paraguay borders Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.
- Major rivers - Include the Paraguay and Paraná, with the Paraguay River dividing the country into Eastern and Western regions.
- A top hydroelectricity – Exporter.
- Geographical Features - Eastern Paraguay is part of the Brazilian Plateau, featuring the Amambay and Mbaracayú Mountains.
- Climate - The Eastern Region experiences a subtropical climate, while the Western Region (Chaco Boreal) is tropical.
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Devastating Floods in Nigeria
Over 150 people have died in central Nigeria due to severe flooding. Torrential rain and a dam collapse in Mokwa, Niger State, are identified as the primary causes.
- Nigeria's capital is - Abuja.
- Bordering countries - Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin, and the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea).
- Major Rivers - The Niger River is Nigeria's lifeline, flowing into the Atlantic via the Niger Delta. The Benue River is its largest tributary.
- Delta Region & Lakes - The Niger Delta features brackish mangroves and oxbow lakes. Man-made lakes include Kainji and Bakolori.
- Mountains & Highlands - The central Jos Plateau has extinct volcanoes. The Cameroon Highlands in the southeast include Nigeria's highest peak, Chappal Waddi (2,419m).
- Plains & Valleys - Northern Nigeria has the Sokoto and Borno Plains. The Udi-Nsukka Plateau is in the east, while the Chad Basin in the northeast is prone to waterlogging.
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Polity & Governance
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AyushSuraksha Portal
AyushSuraksha Portal was recently launched to boost consumer protection in Indian traditional medicine.
- This Ministry of Ayush - Initiative enhances transparency, combats misleading ads, and ensures product safety.
- Purpose - It's a centralized platform for monitoring misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
- Legal Basis - Developed following a Supreme Court order in July 2024, the Ministry of Ayush launched it ahead of schedule with CCRS support.
- Integrated Authorities - The portal integrates bodies like CDSCO's Ayush vertical and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for coordinated responses.
- Training Conducted - A pre-launch training in April 2025 prepared nodal officers, ensuring effective portal usage and swift regulatory action.
- Impact - This reflects advanced responsible governance, prioritizing citizen safety and boosting trust in India's traditional medicine systems.
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Seva Se Seekhen" Campaign Begins
Youth volunteers are commencing a 15-day engagement at Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) as part of the Government of India’s "Seva Se Seekhen" campaign.
- About the Campaign - Launched in 2025, this initiative is a youth engagement and hands-on learning program, integrating young citizens into public service environments like JAKs.
- Nodal Ministries - The campaign is spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
- It aims to - Foster experiential learning, enhance public health awareness, develop soft and technical skills in areas like inventory management, and encourage nation-building values through grassroots engagement.
- Key Features & Roles - The program involves five volunteers per district, placed in five JAKs, with outreach across all states and UTs.
- Volunteers - From MY Bharat, NSS, and pharmacy colleges will support daily operations, promote generic medicines, and manage logistics.
- Duration - The engagement is a 15-day structured internship providing guided tasks and observations for holistic learning.
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International Relations and Issues
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Asian Development Bank (ADB)
ADB, recently canceled a $434.25 million loan for Assam's 1000 MW Solar Power Park.
- Reason - This was due to protests over tribal land acquisition in Karbi Anglong, requested by the Union Finance Ministry and Assam government to prevent further conflict.
- ADB - Is a regional multilateral development bank fostering sustainable economic growth and poverty eradication in Asia and the Pacific.
- Establishment - On December 19, 1966,
- Headquartered - In Metro Manila, Philippines.
- Membership - It has 69 member countries
- Major shareholders - Include Japan and the USA (both 15.71%), China (6.42%), and India (6.31%).
- Core Functions - ADB finances infrastructure, promotes clean energy and climate resilience, alleviates poverty, and encourages regional integration.
- Scholarship & UN Role The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program supports postgraduate studies. ADB is also a UN observer, contributing to global policymaking.
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Ukraine's "Operation Spider’s Web"
Ukraine successfully executed "Operation Spider’s Web," an 18-month-planned military operation using short-range, explosive-laden drones disguised in trucks.
- Execution & Strategy - Ukrainian agents operated across multiple Russian regions, coordinating strikes in three time zones. Drones were launched remotely, showcasing innovative, Trojan Horse-like tactics.
- Significant Damage Inflicted - Ukraine claims the operation destroyed 41 Russian warplanes, including Tu-95, Tu-160, and A-50 aircraft, causing an estimated $7 billion in damage.
- Strike Locations - Key targets included Belaya, Olenya, and Dyagilevo airbases, previously considered secure due to their distance (over 4,000 km in some cases) from the frontlines.
- Advancement in Warfare - The operation signifies a critical advancement in Ukraine's military strategy, employing AI-powered drones capable of autonomous target identification and engagement.
- Cost-Effectiveness & Implications - Each mission cost approximately $10,000, demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of drone warfare. This success highlights the increasing role of autonomous systems, potentially reshaping global military strategies.
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Economy
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Rural Women's Online Banking Surges
A recent Ministry of Statistics survey shows a significant increase in online banking among rural Indian women, reaching 30.0% in early 2025, up from 17.1% last year. For young women (15-24), it doubled to 51.4%.
- Survey Scope - Conducted in early 2025, the survey covered 34,950 households, including 19,071 rural and 15,879 urban, involving 1.42 lakh individuals.
- Gender Disparities Persist - Despite women's progress, a digital divide remains, with rural men at 73.3% online banking capability (up from 40.2%).
- Urban vs. Rural & UPI's Role - Urban online banking is 62.4%. Nationally, 48.9% use online banking. UPI is dominant, used solely by 86.7% of rural online bankers.
- Online Purchases & Mobile Access - 24.5% of Indian households made online purchases. This rise aligns with increased mobile phone (85.7% usage) and internet access, especially in rural areas.
- Smartphone & Internet Growth - Smartphone ownership is high (79.9% of mobile users), with over 90% of youth owning one. Internet usage among rural females grew to 57.6% (from 42.6%).
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Environment
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Jharkhand's First Tiger Safari Proposed
Jharkhand plans its first tiger safari near Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) to boost tourism and wildlife education.
Tiger safaris - Offer guaranteed sightings of rescued, conflict-prone, or orphaned tigers in naturalistic enclosures, unlike traditional wild safaris. The concept was refined through NTCA Guidelines (2012, 2016) and Supreme Court directives (2024).
- Legal Framework & Types - Governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, NTCA, and CZA, safaris must be outside core and buffer zones. "Captive safaris" house rescued tigers, while "wild safaris" (e.g., Ranthambore) involve traditional open reserves with no guaranteed sightings.
- Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) - Established in 1974, PTR is Jharkhand's only tiger reserve, located in Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur Plateau.
- Flora & Fauna - Predominantly Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests with dominant Sal. Key fauna include Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, and Sloth Bear.
- Historical Significance - PTR was a Project Tiger site in 1974 and hosted the world's first pugmark-based tiger census in 1932 by J.W. Nicholson.
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Miscellaneous
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World Bicycle Day
World Bicycle Day, celebrated annually on June 3 since its UN declaration in 2018, champions the bicycle as an affordable, eco-friendly, and healthy transport mode.
- Origins & Timeline - Professor Leszek Sibilski spearheaded the initiative from 2015, leading to the UN adoption on April 12, 2018, recognizing the bicycle's global impact.
- 2025 Theme - Is pending, but past themes focused on "Cycling for a better future" and "Healthier cities."
- Purpose & Objectives - The day promotes health, eco-friendly transport, inclusivity, and cycling-friendly urban planning, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Significance in Daily Life - Cycling offers health benefits (e.g., preventing diabetes), economic advantages, zero pollution, and increased accessibility for various populations.
- Celebrations & Benefits - Typically marked by rallies and awareness campaigns, cycling also offers psychological benefits like stress reduction and improved self-esteem.
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