South Korean author Han Kang gets Nobel Prize in Literature for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes fragility of human life.

About Nobel Prize

• Established by Alfred Nobel in 1895. First Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901 and they have been awarded annually since then.
• An international award administered by Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden.
• 6 Categories: Peace, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature and Economic Science.
  • In 1968, Sweden's central bank established Economic Sciences award in Memory of Alfred Nobel.
• From 1974, Statutes of Nobel Foundation stipulate that prize cannot be awarded posthumously, unless death has occurred after announcement of Nobel Prize.

Nobel Peace Prize 2024 has been awarded to Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. 

• It is a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki

About Nobel Peace Prize

• Awarded to those who worked for "fraternity between nations, for abolition/reduction of standing armies and holding & promotion of peace congresses".
• In 2017 it was awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) for its denuclearisation efforts including ground-breaking efforts for Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (adopted by UN in 2017).

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is being developed under the Sagarmala Programme by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterway. 

About NMHC

• Aim: To showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.
• Significance of Lothal: It is located between Bhogavo and Sabarmati rivers near Gulf of Khambat.
  • It is a prominent city of Indus-Valley Civilization (IVC) and had the oldest man-made dry-dock (2400 BC ago).
    • Discovery of a dry-dock at Lothal gives an insight into the knowledge of tides, winds and other nautical factors that existed during that period. 
• Key projects:  NMHC involves a world-class Lighthouse Museum, coastal state pavilions, a maritime-themed eco-resort, etc. 

India’s Maritime Heritage

• Early Days (3000 – 2000 BC): IVC had maritime trade link with Mesopotamia. 
• Vedic Age (2000 – 500 BC):  Earliest reference to maritime activities is contained in the Rig Veda. 
• Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (500 – 200 BC): Navy of the Magadh kingdom is considered to be world’s first ever recorded instance of a navy. 
• Satavahana Dynasty (200 BC-220 AD): First native Indian rulers to issue their coins with inscriptions of ships. 
• Gupta Dynasty (320-500 AD): Several ports in the east and west were opened which greatly revived maritime trade with European and African countries. 
• Marathas: Under Shivaji the Maratha navy developed into a ferocious force with more than 500 ships. 
• Southern Dynasties:  Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas, also Vijaynagar empire, are known to have maritime resources.

The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted the GI tag to eight products from Assam.

About Products 

• Traditionally fermented rice-based alcoholic beverage (3): Bodo Jou Gwran, Bodo Jou Gishi & Maibra Jou Bidwi. 
• Traditional Dishes (4): 
  • Bodo Napham: Dish of fermented fish.
  • Bodo Ondla: A rice powder curry.
  • Bodo Gwkha: Locally also known as ‘Gwka Gwkhi’, prepared during the Bwisagu festival. 
  • Bodo Narzi: a semi-fermented food prepared with jute leaves.
• Bodo Aronai: a traditional shawl or scarf.

Recently, CWG 2026 (will be held in Glasgow) edition was unveiled which features only 10 sports.

About CWG 2026

• Six of 12 disciplines in which India won a medal at 2022 CWG (contributing 30 out of total 61 medals) have been dropped from 2026 edition.
  • These include badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis and wrestling.

About CWG

• First held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada
• Held every four years. India hosted Games in 2010 at Delhi.

Ministry of Tourism launched Paryatan Mitra & Paryatan Didi as a national responsible tourism initiative.

About initiative

• Aims to elevate overall experience for tourists in destinations, by having them meet ‘tourist-friendly’ people who are proud Ambassadors and Storytellers for their destination.
  • This is being done by providing tourism related training and awareness to all individuals who interact and engage with tourists in a destination.
• It places special emphasis on training of women and youth to develop new tourism-related products and experiences like food tours, craft tours etc.

The Poumai Naga tribe of Purul village of Senapati District, Manipur has banned hunting, trapping and killing of wild animals and birds within their territory.

About the Poumai Naga tribe

• It is one of the oldest and largest Naga tribes in Manipur. 
• They are geographically located in Manipur and Nagaland.
• They are known for their Pouli (Pottery) and Poutai (Pou salt) production.
• Language: Poula