Communist Party of India (CPI)
December 26, 2024, marks the 100th foundation day of the Communist Party of India (CPI).
- Foundation: Kanpur (then Cawnpore) Conference of December 1925 marked the foundation of CPI.
- Conference met under the presidency of Singaravelu Chettier.
- Reasons for Formation: Growing dissatisfaction with British imperial rule and global ideological shift post-Russian Revolution of 1917.
- Prominent Leaders: M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji, etc.
- Key Contributions in Freedom Struggle:
- M.N. Roy proposed the idea of a constituent assembly to draft the Constitution of free India in 1934.
- Played an instrumental role in organizing worker’s and peasant’s movements and organizations such as All India Kisan Sabha.
Archaea
Studies on archaea have provided scientists with insights into the survival strategies of microorganisms in harsh conditions through their Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) systems.
- TA Systems: Found in many bacteria and archaea, composed of a toxin that inhibits an essential cellular process and an antitoxin that counteracts its cognate toxin.
- About Archaea:
- Single-cell organisms without a nucleus.
- Form one of the three domains of life; the others are bacteria and eukaryotes.
- Inhabit a wide range of habitats, including extreme environments such as near rift vents in deep sea or heat springs.
1924 Belgaum Congress Session
The centenary of the 1924 Belgaum Congress Session is being celebrated in Belagavi (formerly Belgaum), Karnataka, on December 26-27.
- Session: 39th Session of the Indian National Congress, the only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Significance:
- Discussed Gandhi’s dream of ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Sarvodaya’.
- Revamped organizational structure and functioning of Congress with a 90% fee cut, focusing on social change.
- Held separate conferences against untouchability.
- Passed strong resolutions on Hindu-Muslim unity, paid social service, and making khadi spinning mandatory.
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
Recently, the UN Secretary General paid tribute to Brigadier Amitabh Jha, who was serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) at Golan Heights.
- Headquarters: Camp Faouar (Syrian side of the Golan Heights).
- Genesis: Established by UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 350 (1974), following the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria.
- Mandate: Maintain the ceasefire and supervise the area of separation — a demilitarized buffer zone — as well as the area of limitation — where Israeli and Syrian troops are restricted — in the Golan.
- Mandate is renewed every 6 months by UNSC and has been renewed till June 2025.
- India is the third largest military contributor to UNDOF.
Kaveri Engine
The Kaveri engine, developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment under DRDO, has been cleared for inflight testing, marking a significant step in India’s aerospace self-reliance.
- Initiation: The Kaveri engine project began in the late 1980s to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
- Later, DRDO focused on developing a dry version of the Kaveri engine for UAV applications.
- Current Capability: The dry Kaveri engine produces 49-51 kN of thrust, suitable for UAVs like the Ghatak stealth UCAV.
- Significance: Marks a strategic achievement, enhancing India’s self-reliance in aero-engine technology.