01 Aug 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Shaheed Udham Singh

A revolutionary life remembered through Balidan Diwas

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh on his Balidan Diwas, observed on 31 July.

Core Idea

• Udham Singh was a prominent revolutionary of India’s freedom struggle whose political journey was deeply shaped by the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919.

• On 13 March 1940, he assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, at Caxton Hall in London to avenge the massacre.

MEMORY KEY:1899 birth → 1919 Jallianwala Bagh → 1924 Ghadar Party → 1927 arrest → 1940 O’Dwyer assassinated and Udham Singh executed → 1974 ashes returned to India.

Life in a Timeline

• 26 December 1899: Born at Sunam village in Sangrur district, Punjab, into a Sikh family.

• Early life: Orphaned young and raised at the Central Khalsa Orphanage in Amritsar, where he received the name Udham Singh.

• World War I period: Worked as a labourer, including in Mesopotamia and on Uganda’s railways; came into contact with Ghadar Party members.

• Later travels: Went to the United States, assisted Punjabi migrants and founded the Azad Party in Chicago as an offshoot of the Ghadar Party.

• 1919: Witnessed the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, which strongly influenced his revolutionary path.

• 1924: Joined the Ghadar Party and was also associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

• 1927: Arrested under the Arms Act and sentenced to five years in prison.

• Imprisonment: Continued spreading revolutionary ideas despite repeated flogging and transfers; met Bhagat Singh in Mianwali Jail.

• 13 March 1940: Assassinated Michael O’Dwyer at Caxton Hall, London.

• 31 July 1940: Executed by hanging at Pentonville Prison, London.

• 1974: Ashes repatriated to India and preserved at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial, Amritsar.

Names and Their Significance

• He was also known as Sher Singh, Ude Singh and Frank Brazil.

• During his trial, he used the name “Ram Mohammad Singh Azad”.

• This name represented the unity of Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism and reflected his vision of a united India.

Legacy

• He is remembered as “Shaheed-i-Azam” or the Great Martyr for his courage and sacrifice against British rule.

• Birth anniversary: 26 December.

• Martyrdom Day: 31 July.

PRELIMS ALERT:Do not confuse Michael O’Dwyer with the event itself. The source identifies him as the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, assassinated by Udham Singh at Caxton Hall in 1940.

Pithora Painting

A ritual tribal wall-art tradition awarded a GI tag

Why in News?

• Pithora Painting, a centuries-old wall-art tradition associated with Gujarat’s Rathwa tribal community, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2026.

Core Idea

• Pithora is not merely decorative art. It is a ritual tradition connected with community faith, vows, prosperity, protection and important life events.

MEMORY KEY:Remember the 6 Ps: Place — People — Pithora De — Painters — Priest — Process.

The 6-P Framework

• Place: Tribal regions of Gujarat, especially Panchmahal and Chhota Udaipur districts.

• People: Practised mainly by the Rathwa, Bhil and Bhilala tribes.

• Pithora De: The tribal deity linked with marriage, prosperity and community well-being.

• Painters: Specialist ritual painters known as Lakharas.

• Priest: The painting is carried out under the guidance of a priest called Badwa.

• Process: House walls are prepared with cow dung and clay, then painted with natural pigments and traditional tools.

Origin and Cultural Meaning

• The tradition dates back to around the 13th century.

• It reflects tribal belief in nature, spirits and divine powers.

• Paintings are traditionally made during weddings, childbirth, festivals and the fulfilment of vows.

• They are believed to invite blessings, prosperity and protection.

• They preserve oral traditions, customs, beliefs and the cultural identity of tribal communities.

Materials, Colours and Tools

• Wall base: mixture of cow dung and clay.

• Pigments: derived from minerals, plants and other organic materials.

• Common colours: red, yellow, green and blue.

• Tools: bamboo sticks, cotton and wooden stencils.

Common Themes

• Pithora De and other tribal and Hindu deities.

• Horses, treated as sacred symbols.

• Animals, birds and nature.

• Farming, hunting, dancing and scenes from everyday tribal life.

Tradition and Change

• Traditionally created on house walls as ritual art.

• Contemporary artists also use paper and canvas for commercial work while retaining the traditional style.

PRELIMS ALERT:Match the terms correctly: Lakhara = ritual painter; Badwa = priest; Pithora De = deity.

India’s First Sovereign-backed P&I Insurance Product

Domestic protection for third-party liabilities of Indian ships

Why in News?

• The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, launched India’s first sovereign-backed Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance product under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP).

Core Idea

• The product provides domestic P&I cover to Indian ships and vessels engaged in Indian trade.

• It is third-party liability insurance for shipowners and was designed by The New India Assurance Company Limited.

MEMORY KEY:Hull and Machinery = damage to the vessel. P&I = the shipowner’s legal liability towards third parties.

What Does P&I Cover?

• Injury, illness or death of crew members, passengers and other persons.

• Collision liabilities.

• Oil pollution and environmental damage.

• Wreck-removal expenses.

• Cargo-related liabilities.

• Legal expenses arising from maritime claims.

Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP)

• Nature: India’s first sovereign-backed domestic maritime insurance pool.

• Sovereign guarantee: ₹12,980 crore.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

• Underwriting capacity: Approximately ₹950 crore.

• Policy issuance: Member insurance companies will issue policies using the Pool’s combined underwriting capacity.

• Risks covered: Hull and Machinery, Cargo, Protection and Indemnity, and War Risk.

Why Is It Important?

• Strengthens India’s maritime insurance ecosystem.

• Reduces dependence on foreign insurers and international P&I Clubs.

• Improves resilience during geopolitical conflicts, sanctions and disruptions in global insurance markets.

• Builds domestic expertise in marine underwriting, claims management and maritime law.

• Allows solutions to be tailored to Indian shipping conditions and regulations.

PRELIMS ALERT:The launching department and nodal ministry are different: the product was launched by DFS under the Ministry of Finance, while BMIP’s nodal ministry is the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ)

India’s first integrated telecom manufacturing cluster planned in Gwalior

Why in News?

• The Department of Telecommunications and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signed an MoU to establish India’s first integrated Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Core Idea

• The TMZ is planned as a 350-acre, integrated, plug-and-play industrial cluster for telecom and electronics manufacturing.

• It will combine manufacturing, research and development, innovation, testing, certification and allied activities in one ecosystem.

MEMORY KEY:350 acres | 51:49 SPV | ₹493 crore core infrastructure | 5G–6G R&D | import reduction + exports + telecom security.

Objectives

• Strengthen India’s domestic telecom manufacturing ecosystem.

• Advance the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

• Reduce import dependence in telecom equipment.

• Develop Gwalior as a global telecom manufacturing and innovation hub.

Governance and Funding

• Implementing structure: A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

• SPV equity: 51% Government of Madhya Pradesh; 49% Department of Telecommunications.

• Phase I funding: 100% funding by the Central Government.

• Core infrastructure allocation: ₹493 crore by the Central Government.

• Land provided free of cost: About 170 acres by Madhya Pradesh: 100 acres in SADA region and 70 acres in Gwalior IT Park.

• Value of land: Approximately ₹596 crore.

• Additional land terms: Nominal premium of ₹1 and annual lease rent of ₹1 per square metre for 30 years.

What Will the Zone Integrate?

• Mobile devices.

• Optical fibre.

• Advanced semiconductor technologies.

• Next-generation 5G and 6G research and development.

• Dedicated R&D centres, common testing laboratories and certification facilities.

Convergence with National Initiatives

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

• Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).

• Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).

Expected Industry Anchors

• Dixon Technologies, HFCL, Tejas Networks, VVDN Technologies and Syrma SGS.

Incentive Package

• Reimbursement of stamp duty and registration charges.

• Power-tariff rebates and other fiscal incentives.

• 50% capital subsidy on Eligible Fixed Capital Investment, up to ₹200 crore.

• Employment-generation assistance of ₹5,000 per employee per month for five years.

• Skill-development support of up to ₹13,000 per new employee.

• 50% freight subsidy for exports.

• Financial assistance for standalone R&D units.

• 100% reimbursement of patent, copyright and trademark filing expenses, subject to prescribed limits.

Expected Outcomes

• Lower dependence on imported telecom equipment and stronger domestic supply chains.

• Higher exports, innovation and telecom security.

• Positioning India as a global centre for telecom manufacturing and technology development.

PRELIMS ALERT:The zone is proposed in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and the implementing SPV gives the State Government a 51% equity share.