In News:

The recent exclusion of the Paika Rebellion of 1817 from NCERT’s Class VIII history textbook triggered political backlash in Odisha. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed the omission a “huge dishonour” to the Paika warriors, prompting NCERT to clarify that the topic would be included in the second volume of the textbook to be released later in 2025.

Who were the Paikas?

• The Paikas (literally "foot soldiers") were military retainers traditionally employed by the Gajapati kings of Odisha since the 16th century.
• In exchange for military service, they were granted hereditary rent-free lands (nish-kar jagirs), which they cultivated during peacetime.
• Under British rule, their privileges eroded, and they faced land dispossession, economic hardship, and social marginalisation.

Background to the Revolt

• In 1803, the British East India Company annexed Odisha. Colonel Harcourt marched from Madras to Cuttack, defeating feeble Maratha opposition.
• A deal with King Mukunda Deva II of Khurda promised ?1 lakh and four parganas (Lembai, Rahanga, Surai, Chabiskud) for safe passage, but the British defaulted.
• Jayee Rajguru, the king’s adviser, mobilised 2,000 Paikas to confront the British. Though part payment was made, the parganas were not returned.
• Rajguru was arrested and executed on 6 December 1806 for waging war against the British. The king was dethroned and exiled, and the Barunei Fort was demolished.

Causes of the Paika Rebellion

• Loss of Traditional Privileges:
  • Confiscation of rent-free lands after British land settlements.
  • End of royal patronage.
• Land Alienation & Tax Burden:
  • Local Odia landowners were forced to sell land to Bengali absentee landlords.
  • Revenue demands shifted to rupee payments, affecting marginal farmers and tribal communities.
• Salt Monopoly & Trade Restrictions: British control over salt trade, particularly after 1814, increased hardship for inland hill populations.
• Cultural and Political Suppression: The decline of local leadership and traditions under colonial authority contributed to growing dissent.

Course of the Rebellion (1817)

• In March 1817, approximately 400 Kondh tribal fighters from Ghumusar marched toward Khurda.
• They were joined by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar, the former commander-in-chief of Khurda and ex-holder of the Rodanga estate.
• The rebels:
  • Attacked the police station at Banpur
  • Burned colonial buildings
  • Looted the treasury
  • Killed several British officials
• The rebellion spread across southern and central Odisha. Despite initial successes, the British suppressed the revolt.
• Jagabandhu evaded capture for years and surrendered in 1825 under negotiated terms.

Contemporary Significance and Political Debate

• The Paika Rebellion is widely regarded in Odisha as an early expression of anti-colonial resistance.
• In 2017, the Odisha government demanded that the uprising be recognised as the “First War of Independence”, predating the 1857 revolt.
• The Union Government, while not granting this status, acknowledged it as one of the early popular uprisings against colonial rule.
• National Recognition Efforts:
  • In 2017, PM Narendra Modi felicitated over 200 descendants of Paika rebels.
  • In 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation for a Paika Memorial at Barunei foothills, the rebellion’s epicentre.
  • In 2024–25, the new BJP-led government in Odisha announced fast-tracked development of the Paika Academy and Memorial.

In News:

In 2025, the United States announced its decision to withdraw from the UNESCO, citing perceived bias against Israel. This move comes just two years after rejoining the organization in 2023 and marks the third U.S. exit, and the second under the Trump administration.

What is UNESCO?

• Full Form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Founded: 16th November 1945
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Membership: 194 Member States and 12 Associate Members
• India's Role: A founding member of UNESCO

Mandate and Key Functions

• Education: Promote inclusive and equitable lifelong learning (aligned with SDG 4)
• Culture: Safeguard tangible and intangible cultural heritage through tools like the World Heritage List
• Science: Advance climate science, AI ethics, and sustainable development
• Global Understanding: Foster mutual respect, peace, and international cooperation

Timeline of U.S. Exits from UNESCO

• Rejoined: Under Biden Administration in 2023

Global Implications of U.S. Withdrawal

1. Financial Consequences

• The U.S. was a major contributor to UNESCO.
• Its exit leaves a budget deficit, affecting:
  • Education initiatives
  • Cultural heritage projects
  • Climate and AI research
• Past example: U.S. and Israel froze funding after Palestine’s admission in 2011.

2. Geopolitical Rebalancing

• China’s influence may expand in UNESCO’s absence, potentially altering agendas and narratives.
• Risk of geopolitical polarization in multilateral agencies.

3. Weakening of Multilateralism

• Unpredictable U.S. engagement weakens global cooperation mechanisms.
• Undermines trust and support for UN agencies, especially in developing countries.

4. Impact on Science and Education

• Reduced backing for global programs in:
  • STEM education for girls
  • AI ethics frameworks
  • Climate change awareness and mitigation

Implications for India

Opportunities

• Diplomatic leverage: Greater voice in shaping global agendas on education, AI, and heritage.
• Soft power expansion: Through advocacy for Indian culture and World Heritage nominations.
• South-South cooperation: Leadership in global education and sustainable development dialogue.

Challenges

• Funding constraints could affect:
  • Ongoing Indian UNESCO projects (e.g., Nalanda, Sundarbans)
  • Educational programs in rural/tribal regions
• Increased pressure on India to contribute more financially
• Rising Chinese influence could marginalize India’s strategic interests

In News:

In a significant ornithological event, a team of birders has confirmed the first Indian sighting in 46 years of the elusive Long-billed Bush Warbler (Locustella major). The bird was observed in dense willow thickets at an altitude of over 3,200 metres in Suru Valley, Ladakh.

About Long-Billed Bush Warbler

• Scientific Name: Locustella major
• Common Name: Long-Billed Bush Warbler (formerly Long-billed Grasshopper Warbler)
• Type: Medium-sized, skulking songbird of the bush warbler group
• Size: Approximately 15–17 cm in length
• Plumage:
  • Brownish-olive upperparts with fine streaking
  • Pale underparts (whitish or buff)
  • Both sexes appear similar
• Call: Produces an insect-like clicking sound used for territory marking and mate attraction

Distribution and Habitat

• Global Range:
  • Limited distribution in the mountains of Central Asia
  • Documented in India, Pakistan, China, and Tajikistan
• Preferred Habitat:
  • Altitude: 2,400–3,600 metres
  • Found on grassy slopes with bushes and weeds
  • Upland terraced cultivation and forest edge clearings
  • Often observed among Rumex, sea buckthorn, and Ribes gooseberry shrubs near spruce forests

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (NT)
• Reasons for decline include habitat loss, especially due to conversion of bushland into agricultural fields.

Significance of the 2025 Sighting

• The last confirmed Indian record was in 1979 near Sankoo in Kargil, by researchers from Southampton University.
• Historically, the species was relatively common in Dras and Suru valleys until the early 20th century.
• The recent sighting aligns with records from nearby Gilgit-Baltistan (2022–2025), where the species has been increasingly documented at similar altitudes (3,000–3,100 m).

In News:

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have sharply escalated in recent months, marked by armed clashes, airstrikes, and diplomatic fallout, all centering around the Preah Vihear Temple—a centuries-old Hindu monument of immense cultural and geopolitical significance.

About Preah Vihear Temple

• Location: Preah Vihear Province, northern Cambodia, atop a cliff in the Dangrek Mountain range, near the Cambodia–Thailand border.
• Religious Affiliation: Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Historical Background:
  • Constructed during the Khmer Empire, primarily in the 11th and 12th centuries.
  • Key patrons: King Suryavarman I (1002–1050) and King Suryavarman II (1113–1150).
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Inscribed in 2008 for its exceptional architectural and historical value.

Architectural Features

• Exemplifies Khmer temple architecture with a linear arrangement of sanctuaries linked by pavements and staircases over an 800-metre-long axis.
• Contains over five gopuras (monumental gateways) connected by a raised path and tiered platforms.
• Mixture of stone and wooden roofing, though many structures are partially in ruins.

Territorial Dispute Overview

• Historical Basis:
  • Dispute stems from differing interpretations of a 1907 French map, which placed the temple inside Cambodian territory.
  • Thailand disputes the map, arguing lack of formal acceptance.
• International Court of Justice (ICJ) Rulings:
  • 1962: ICJ ruled the temple belongs to Cambodia, citing Thailand’s implicit acceptance of the 1907 map.
  • Thailand was ordered to withdraw troops and return artifacts taken since 1954.
  • 2013 (Reaffirmation): ICJ clarified that surrounding areas—particularly a 4.6 sq. km. disputed zone—also belong to Cambodia.

Major Flashpoints in the Conflict

• 2008: Cambodia registers Preah Vihear as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, triggering nationalist backlash in Thailand.
• 2008–2011: Border skirmishes escalate, culminating in a 2011 clash that killed at least 15 people.
• 2025 Escalation:
  • Renewed violence erupted in July 2025, after a series of provocations:
    • May 2025: Cambodian soldier killed.
    • July 2025: Two Thai soldiers injured in landmine blasts.
    • July 24, 2025: Armed conflict intensifies—Thai airstrikes target Cambodian positions near the temple.
    • Casualties: At least 9 civilians killed, 14 injured in Thai provinces bordering Cambodia.
  • Both nations expelled ambassadors and blamed each other for violations of sovereignty.

Significance of the Dispute

• Cultural: Preah Vihear is a sacred site and national symbol for both nations.
• Strategic: Its location atop a cliff offers military advantage and control over surrounding terrain.
• Diplomatic: The temple remains a fault line in bilateral ties, with unresolved territorial claims despite multiple ICJ verdicts.

In News

Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) under the Samarthya vertical of Umbrella Mission Shakti, the Palna Scheme aims to provide safe, accessible, and quality day care (crèche) facilities for children aged 6 months to 6 years across all States and Union Territories, effective from 1st April 2022.

Key Features:

• Objective: To support working mothers by providing crèche services ensuring:
  • Safety and well-being of children
  • Nutritional support
  • Early childhood care and cognitive development
  • Health check-ups, growth monitoring, and immunization
• Target Beneficiaries: All children aged 6 months to 6 years. Services are irrespective of mothers' employment status, covering both organized and unorganized sectors.
• Types of Crèches:
  • Standalone Crèches
  • Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs)

Anganwadi-cum-Crèche (AWCC) Model

• Utilizes existing Anganwadi Centres, the world’s largest public childcare infrastructure, to provide full-day childcare services.
• Ensures last-mile delivery of services in a safe and secure environment.
• Supports women’s workforce participation by relieving unpaid childcare burden.

Timings & Flexibility

• Crèches to operate for 26 days/month and 7.5 hours/day, with timings adapted to local needs.
• States/UTs may adjust timings under Standard Operating Procedures based on community work patterns.

Funding Pattern

Integrated Services Offered

• Day care and sleeping facilities
• Early stimulation for children below 3 years
• Pre-school education for 3–6 years
• Supplementary nutrition (locally sourced)
• Growth monitoring, health check-ups & immunization

Implementation Status (As of July 2025)

• Total Envisioned AWCCs (FY 2022–26): 17,000
• AWCCs Approved by MoWCD (as of July 2025): 14,599
• Implemented based on proposals from States/UTs with cost-sharing as per applicable funding norms.

Significance

• Addresses the rising need for formal childcare due to:
  • Increasing nuclear families
  • Greater women’s participation in the workforce
  • Migration, urbanization, and limited informal support structures
• Aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by formalizing care work and supporting inclusive economic participation.