In News:

The Indian Navy is set to commission 'Arnala', the first warship under the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) series at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning will be presided over by Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan.

About INS Arnala

• Type: First in the series of 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC)
• Builder:
  • Primary: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
  • Partner: L&T Shipbuilders
• Delivery Date: May 8, 2025
• Indigenous Content: Over 80%
• Partners Involved:
  • BEL, L&T, Mahindra Defence, MEIL
  • 55+ MSMEs involved in the supply chain

Capabilities & Features

• Length: 77 meters
• Displacement: 1,490+ tonnes
• Propulsion: Diesel engine-waterjet system (a first for a warship of this size in India)
• Roles:
  • Anti-submarine operations in coastal/shallow waters
  • Subsurface surveillance
  • Search and Rescue (SAR)
  • Low-intensity maritime operations

Significance

• Aatmanirbhar Bharat Milestone: Highlights indigenous shipbuilding and defence manufacturing capabilities
• Boost to Coastal Defence: Enhances the Navy’s reach in shallow and strategic coastal zones
• Employment & Industrial Growth: Significant MSME and domestic defence industry involvement

Heritage & Symbolism

• Name Origin: Inspired by Arnala Fort, near Vasai, Maharashtra
  • Built by the Marathas in 1737 under Chimaji Appa
  • Historically guarded the Vaitarna River mouth and northern Konkan coast
• Design Symbolism:
  • Armoured hull reflects the resilient walls of Arnala Fort
  • Advanced sensors and weapons echo the fort’s cannons
• Crest:
  • Stylised auger shell – precision, strength, vigilance
  • Motto: Arnave Shauryam — “Valour in the Ocean”

In News:

At a time when habitat loss and climate change threaten countless species, the discovery of a new species of parasitic wasp - named ‘Losgna Occidentalis’ from Chandigarh has drawn attention to the unexplored richness of India’s biodiversity.

Location of Discovery

• Place: Chandigarh, Union Territory of India
• Habitat: Urban dry scrub forest
• Time: Winter of 2023–24
• Significance: First formal description of any insect species from Chandigarh

Species Description

• Name: Losgna occidentalis
• Genus: Losgna (Ichneumonidae family – Parasitic wasps)
• Group Role: Parasitic wasps known for laying eggs inside/on arthropod hosts
• Ecological Role: Pollinators and biological control agents (important in ecosystems)

Historical Context

• Losgna genus was last recorded in India in 1965, in Heinrich’s monograph
• No Indian records or specimens existed post-1965 in any institution
• Only known specimens (of other Losgna species) are preserved in:
  • Natural History Museum, London
  • The Hope Collection, Oxford University
  • Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany

Naming Rationale

• "Occidentalis" (Latin for "Western")
• Signifies the westernmost known range of the genus
• Earlier Losgna records were only from:
  • Northeast India
  • Southeast Asia (tropical forests)

• Published in Zootaxa (peer-reviewed journal for animal taxonomy)

Importance & Implications

• Rediscovery highlights India’s hidden and threatened biodiversity
• Emphasizes the critical role of taxonomy in conservation
• Shows potential for citizen-led discoveries and backyard biodiversity
• Demonstrates the need for:
  • Responsible specimen collection
  • International scientific collaboration
  • Support for underfunded taxonomy sectors

In News:

An 800-year-old Shiva temple of the later Pandya period has been unearthed at Udampatti, a village in Melur taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.

Key Highlights:

• Discovery: Foundation of a later Pandya period Shiva temple (dated to 1217–1218 CE) unearthed accidentally by children.

Architectural Insights:

• Only the stone base of the temple (north and south sides) survives.
• Identified as a Shaivite temple using foundation engravings and reference to Silpa Sastram.

Inscriptions & Historical Significance:

• Inscriptions deciphered by C. Santhalingam (Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research).
• Temple identified as Thennavanisvaram, located in ancient Attur (present-day Udampatti).
• “Thennavan” was a Pandya royal title, suggesting direct patronage.

Key Inscriptions (1217–18 CE):

• A sale deed records the transfer of a waterbody named Nagankudi along with wet/dry land.
• Seller: Alagaperumal, chieftain of Kalavalinadu
• Buyer: Nambi Perambala Kuthan alias Kangeyan
• Sale amount: 64 kasu (coins)
• Tax revenue from the land assigned to the temple for daily expenses, indicating its financial independence.

Archaeological Relevance:

• Confirms ancient village name (Attur), showcasing socio-economic practices during the Later Pandya period.
• Highlights temple economy, land-water rights, and administrative structures.

Pandya Dynasty

• One of the Three Crowned Tamil Dynasties (alongside Cholas and Cheras).
• Capital: Initially Korkai, later Madurai.
• Early Pandyas active since 4th century BCE; Later Pandyas (1216–1345 CE) saw a golden age under Maravarman Sundara Pandyan.
• Controlled parts of Sri Lanka, Telugu regions, and had trade links with Rome & Southeast Asia.
• Symbol: Fish

Cultural Contributions:

• Patronage of Sangam literature, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Jainism.
• Temples: Meenakshi Temple (Madurai), Nellaiappar Temple (Tirunelveli).
• Promoted Tamil arts, Bharatanatyam, and education.

Decline:

• Succumbed to Chola, Hoysala conflicts and Delhi Sultanate invasions.
• Madurai Sultanate (1335) and later Madurai Nayak dynasty (1529) succeeded their rule.

In News:

Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan will inaugurate the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) for the Puducherry Legislative Assembly.

What is NeVA?

• Full Form: National e-Vidhan Application
• Launched by: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA)
• Aim: Make legislative functioning paperless across all 37 State/UT legislatures under the idea of “One Nation – One Application.”

Key Features:

• Unified digital platform for legislative work
• Enables real-time document access, online notices, and session management
• Integrates AI/ML-based real-time translation (via partnership with BHASHINI, MeitY)
• Promotes transparency, efficiency, and environmental sustainability

Funding & Implementation:

• Approved by: Public Investment Board (PIB) on 15 January 2020
• Budget: ?673.94 crore
• Model: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)

Significance:

• Digital transformation of legislative processes
• Creation of a central data repository
• Enhanced inter-legislature connectivity
• Boosts Digital India and Good Governance goals