24 Aug 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Thiksey Monastery

Why in News: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor recently visited the historic Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh.

What to Know

• Thiksey Monastery is one of the largest and most prominent Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh.

• It belongs to the Gelug sect, also known as the Yellow Hat School, of Tibetan Buddhism.

• It was founded in 1433 CE by Spon Palden Sherab under the guidance of his teacher Jangsem Sherab Zangpo.

Architecture and Religious Heritage

• Its architecture closely resembles the Potala Palace, the traditional residence of the Dalai Lamas.

• The monastery houses a 15-metre-high statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Future Buddha.

• The Maitreya statue was installed during the 1980s.

• It also contains stupas, Buddhist statues, thangkas, wall murals, ancient manuscripts and other artifacts.

Gustor Festival

• The famous Gustor Festival is celebrated at Thiksey Monastery.

• It is held from the 17th to the 19th day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar, usually in October-November.

• The festival includes sacred mask dances and Buddhist rituals.

Quick Recall

• Location -> Ladakh.

• Sect -> Gelug or Yellow Hat School.

• Founded -> 1433 CE.

• Key attraction -> 15-metre Maitreya Buddha statue.

• Festival -> Gustor Festival.

Brazil

Why in News: India and Brazil recently signed an MoU to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Telecommunications and Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Location and Size

• Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest country in the world by area.

• It lies in the central-eastern part of South America.

• Both the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn pass through Brazil.

• The Atlantic Ocean lies to its east.

Neighbouring Countries

• Southwest: Argentina and Paraguay.

• West: Bolivia and Peru.

• Northwest: Colombia.

• North: Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

Key Geography

• Capital -> Brasilia.

• Major physiographic regions include the Brazilian Highlands, Amazon Rainforest and Pantanal Wetlands.

• Major rivers include the Amazon, Sao Francisco and Iguacu rivers.

• The Amazon Basin is the world's largest river basin.

• Pico da Neblina, at 2,999 metres, is the highest mountain in Brazil.

Natural Resources

• Brazil has important reserves of iron ore, tin, copper, pyrochlore and bauxite.

Quick Recall

• Largest country in South America.

• Capital -> Brasilia.

• East coast -> Atlantic Ocean.

• Highest peak -> Pico da Neblina.

• Amazon Basin -> world's largest river basin.

Dimna Lake

Why in News: Dimna Lake in Jamshedpur was among 25 Indian lakes after which spectator galleries were named during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi's Red Fort.

Key Facts

• Dimna Lake is located at the foothills of the Dalma Hills in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

• It is a man-made reservoir.

• It lies near the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.

• It was created by damming the Subarnarekha River.

• The lake was developed by Tata Steel under the Dimna Nala Water Supply Scheme.

Quick Recall

• Location -> Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

• Type -> man-made reservoir.

• Nearby protected area -> Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.

• River association -> Subarnarekha River.

• Developed by -> Tata Steel.

Political Clearance for Chief Ministers

Why in News: The United States leg of the Telangana Chief Minister's foreign tour was cancelled after the Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance.

What is Political Clearance?

• Political clearance is approval granted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for foreign travel by public servants and government officials.

• It ensures that official foreign visits do not create unassessed diplomatic or foreign-policy implications.

• It also helps keep foreign visits aligned with India's broader foreign-policy objectives.

Supreme Court View

• In M. Karunanidhi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that a Chief Minister is a public servant because the office receives salary from the government treasury for performing public duties.

Process for Chief Ministers

• Before any foreign visit, whether official or private, a Chief Minister must inform the Cabinet Secretariat and the MEA.

• The MEA examines the proposed visit and may grant or deny political clearance.

• Its decision considers the nature of the event, participating countries, nature of the invitation and India's diplomatic relations with the host country.

• Since 2016, applications for political clearance can be submitted through the MEA's online portal.

• The proposal is processed through coordination among different divisions of the ministry.

Other Clearances

• Economic clearance: Chief Ministers, State Ministers and State officials require clearance from the Department of Economic Affairs.

• FCRA clearance: If hospitality is provided by organisations other than the United Nations, clearance under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act is required from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Rules for Other Dignitaries

• Union Ministers require political clearance from the MEA and approval from the Prime Minister for both official and private foreign visits.

• Lok Sabha MPs require approval from the Speaker; Rajya Sabha MPs require approval from the Chairperson.

• For personal foreign visits, MPs are not required to inform their respective Secretariat.

• Government officers up to Joint Secretary level require political clearance from MEA, followed by final approval from the concerned Minister.

• Officers above Joint Secretary level require approval from the Screening Committee of Secretaries after political clearance.

• For judges' official foreign visits, the proposal is sent to the Department of Justice after approval from the Chief Justice of India. The Department of Justice then obtains MEA political clearance and, where applicable, FCRA clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs before final approval.

• Judges do not require political clearance for private foreign travel.

Quick Recall

• Political clearance -> Ministry of External Affairs.

• CMs must inform -> Cabinet Secretariat + MEA.

• Economic clearance -> Department of Economic Affairs.

• FCRA clearance, where applicable -> Ministry of Home Affairs.

• Judges -> no political clearance for personal foreign travel.