18 Mar 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Mathrubhumi
2. ICT (Information and Communications Technologies)
3. Holi

1. Mathrubhumi

Syllabus: GS I, Freedom Struggle – contributions from different parts of the country

Prelims: About Mathrubhumi newspaper

Mains: Role of newspapers and literature in strengthening the freedom struggle

Context: The Prime Minister addressed the celebration of the centenary year of the Mathrubhumi newspaper with enormous emphasis on the role of newspapers in spreading awareness about the welfare schemes among the people. The importance of newspapers in the spread of nationalism during the freedom struggle has also been highlighted. 

Mathrubhumi: Important Facts

• It is a Malayalam newspaper that was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon in 1923 who was an active participant in the freedom struggle against colonial rule.
• Kesava Menon joined the Indian National Congress in 1915 and served as the secretary of the Malabar branch of the Home Rule League. 
• Mathrubhumi means “motherland” and it was founded at a time when the entire country was inspired by the sense of nationalism and patriotism. 
• It is the second most popular newspaper in Kerala. 
• Various magazines and supplements are published under the aegis of Mathrubhumi. Mathrubhumi Azhchapathippu is a weekly literary magazine published by Mathrubhumi.
• The Student Empowerment for Environmental Development (SEED) is a CSR initiative of Mathrubhumi that upholds the objective of educating students on environmental education by adding it to the school curriculum.

Read about Newspapers during the Freedom Struggle in the linked article.

2. ICT (Information and Communications Technologies)

Syllabus: GS III, Awareness in the field of IT

Prelims: Facts related to ICT

Mains: Highlights of India’s successes in the effective adoption of ICT

Context: An event has been organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (An international organisation that promotes ICT and headquartered in London), on ‘Digital transformation centre stage – India’. 

Aim: The event aimed at highlighting the success stories of India pertaining to the usage of ICT and its transformative digital revolution that is accompanied by several applications. 

More about the event:

• India’s successes in ICT and digital transformation are in alignment with objectives of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation to which India is also a part, along with 33 other countries. 
• Aadhaar (unique digital identifier), Unified Payment Interface, Direct Benefit Transfer through the JAM Trinity to reach out to the poor and marginalised sections of society with the benefits of welfare schemes and so on have been the major elements of the Digital India programme. 
• These initiatives exemplify India’s firm determination to promote ICT for a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future.
• There was a presentation by UIDAI that offered a narrative on the role played by the agency and the digital programmes in the establishment of financial inclusion. 

3. Holi

Syllabus: GS I, Indian Culture

Prelims: Facts about Holi, different names of Holi

Mains: Brief account of the different festivals of India and their significance

Context: The Prime Minister expressed his warm greetings on the festival of colours, Holi, which is celebrated in various parts of the country and is known by different names. 

Holi: the historical perspective

• It is a celebration of the divine love that prevailed between Lord Krishna and Radha. 
• There is a story associated with Holi and it involved a demon named king Hiranyakashipu. 
• Prahalad was the son of king Hiranyakashipu and was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. The story also involved the demoness aunt of Prahalad, Holika. 
• It was said that king Hiranyakashipu was blessed with a boon that he could not be killed by a man or an animal. He provoked people to worship him.
• When his son Prahalad refused to worship him, Hiranyakashipu asked his sister Holika to kill him by sitting on a pyre. 
• Holika sat on the pyre and donned herself with a shawl that would protect her from the flame and Prahalad sat on her lap. 
• Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the shawl off Holika and onto Prahalad, leading to the death of Holika. 
• This is why a day before Holi, Holika Dahan is celebrated. 
• After the death of Holika, the demon king Hiranyakashipu was killed by Narasimha, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. This adds to the reason behind the celebration of Holi as the victory of good over evil. 
• This festival is celebrated in a vibrant manner with grandeur in Mathura and Vrindavan.
• It is also considered a harvest festival that determines the onset of spring and the end of winter. 

Different shades of Holi:

• As India is enriched with its cultural diversity, the festival of Holi is known by different names in different parts of the country.

Read previous PIB here.

March 18th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here