Daily Current Affairs for UPSC Exam 26 December | Prelims Bits

Veer Bal Diwas

Veer Bal Diwas in News

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in a historic programme marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi, on 26th December, 2022 at 12:30 PM.
• During the programme, Prime Minister will attend a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by about three hundred Baal Kirtanis.
• On this momentous occasion, Prime Minister will also flag off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi.

Veer Bal Diwas

• Background: On the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, on 9th January 2022, Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.
• Objective: Veer Bal Diwas’ aims to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
• Key Events: The Government is organising interactive and participative programmes all over the country to inform and educate the citizens, especially the young children, about the story of exemplary courage of the Sahibzades.
  • In this endeavour, essay writing, quiz competitions and other activities will be organised in schools and colleges across the country.
  • Digital exhibitions will be set up at public places like railway stations, petrol pumps, airports etc.
  • All over the country, programmes will be organised where dignitaries will narrate the life story and sacrifice of the Sahibzades.

Losar Festival

Losar Festival in News

• Recently, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings and best wishes on the occasion of Losar festival.
• Losar Festival 2022 is being celebrated on 25^th December, 2022 to mark the Ladakhi New Year.

Losar Festival

• About: The Losar Festival in Ladakh is celebrated at the onset of the New Year in the traditional schedule of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Community Involved: It is celebrated by the Buddhist Community in the Ladakh region.
• Duration: The Losar is a 15 days festival, from the start of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, marking the 1st day of the 11 months in the Tibetan Calendar.
  • Losar is a Tibetan word that means ‘New Year’.
• Key Activities: The festivities began with the celebration of Birth and Nirvana AnniversaryJe Tsongkhapa with illuminations of religious places like Monasteries,  Stupas, residential and other places.
  • The eve of the Losar festival is also celebrated with memorial food offerings for the departed loved ones.
  • The Losar festivities continue for nine more days from the new year with the offering of prayers in the name of God and Goddess, dances and songs in honour of Ibex and the pilgrimage of Mount Kailash.
  • The new year is welcomed with dough Models of Ibex Sun and Moon and flour-painted lucky signs on the walls of the kitchen.
  • The third day of the new year is celebrated with the sighting of first moon of the year with a prayer for bumper crops in the coming year.

Prime Minister of Nepal- Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’

Prime Minister of Nepal in News

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Comrade Prachanda on being elected as the Prime Minister of Nepal.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The unique relationship between India and Nepal is based on deep cultural connect and warm people-to-people ties. I look forward to working together with you to further strengthen this friendship.”

Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ New PM of Nepal

• Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari appointed Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation- Nepal.
• Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is the leader of the parliamentary party of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).
• This will be the third time that the former Maoist rebel leader will be the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation.
  • He served in 2008-09 when he had to step down because of a political crisis over sharing of power.
  • His second stint came in 2016 when he took over from Mr. Oli against the backdrop of an economic blockade of Nepal during 2015-16 by the Madhesi agitators.

Parliamentary Committee on Raising Judges’ Retirement Age

Raising Judges’ Retirement Age in News

• The Department of Justice has told a parliamentary panel that Increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court and High Court judges could extend the years of service of non-performing judges and might have a cascading effect with government employees raising a similar demand.
• The Department of Justice made a presentation before the parliamentary panel on Personnel, Law, and Justice that was chaired by BJP MP and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Raising Judges’ Retirement Age

• Background: The 114th Amendment Bill was introduced in 2010 to increase the retirement age of High Court judges to 65 years. However, it was not taken up for consideration in Parliament and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
• In July, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju had informed Parliament that there was no proposal to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and High Court judges.
• Key Suggestions: The Department in the Ministry of Law and Justice made the presentation that comprised details of judicial processes and reforms, including on the possibility of increasing the retirement age of High Court and Supreme Court judges.
  • It also said that increasing the retirement age of judges would be considered along with measures to ensure transparency and accountability in appointments to the higher judiciary.

Daily Current Affairs For UPSC Exam 24 December 2022 | Prelims Bits

Daily Current Affairs For UPSC Exam 24 December 2022 | Prelims Bits

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