1. Clash mars bicentenary of Bhima-Koregaon battle Bhima-Koregaon battle: The Battle of Koregaon was fought on 1 January 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Bhima. The 28,000-strong Marathas, led by Peshwa Baji Rao II intended to attack Pune. On their way, they were met by an 800-strong Company force that was on its way to reinforce the British troops in Pune. The Peshwa dispatched around 2,000 soldiers to attack the Company force stationed in Koregaon. Led by Captain Francis Staunton, the Company troops defended their position for nearly 12 hours. The Marathas ultimately withdrew, fearing the arrival of a larger British force led by General Joseph Smith. The Company troops of Indian origin included predominantly Mahar Dalit soldiers belonging to the Bombay Native Infantry, and therefore Dalit activists regard the battle as a heroic episode in Dalit history. Significance to Mahars The Koregaon pillar inscription features the names of the 49 Company soldiers killed in the battle. 22 of these names end with the suffix -nac (or -nak), which was used exclusively by the people of Mahar caste. The obelisk was featured on the Mahar Regiment’s crest until Indian Independence. While it was built by the British as a symbol of their own power, today it serves as a memorial of the Mahars. The Mahars were considered untouchable in the contemporary caste-based society. The Peshwas, who were high-caste Brahmins, were notorious for their mistreatment and persecution of the untouchables. Because of this, the Dalits (former untouchables) now see the Koregaon obelisk as a symbol of their victory over the high-caste oppression. The Dalit Buddhist leader B. R. Ambedkar visited the site on 1 January 1927. To commemorate his visit to the site, now thousands of his followers visit the site every New Year’s Day. A number of Mahar gatherings have also been held at the place. Although it is currently portrayed as victory of lower caste over upper caste Peshwas, the Mahars had fought for the Peshwa rulers. 2. 1.9 cr. names in first draft of Assam NRC In news: Nearly 32 years after the Assam Accord was signed, the first draft of an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the State listed 1.90 crore names out of the 3.29 crore applicants. Assam is the only State in the country that prepared an NRC in 1951 following the census of that year and has become the first State to get the first draft of its own updated NRC. The time frame for the publication of the NRC draft was set by the Supreme Court which has been monitoring the entire process of updating the 1951 NRC in Assam. About National Register of Citizens: The National Register of Citizens (NRC) contains names of Indian citizens. The NRC was prepared in 1951, after the Census of 1951. The NRC is being updated in Assam to detect Bangladeshi nationals, who may have illegally entered the State after the midnight of March 24, 1971, the cut-off date This date was originally agreed to in the 1985 Assam Accord, signed between the then Rajiv Gandhi government and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)
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1. Clash mars bicentenary of Bhima-Koregaon battle Bhima-Koregaon battle:
The Battle of Koregaon was fought on 1 January 1818 between the British East India
Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Bhima.
The 28,000-strong Marathas, led by Peshwa Baji Rao II intended to attack Pune. On their
way, they were met by an 800-strong Company force that was on its way to reinforce the
British troops in Pune.
The Peshwa dispatched around 2,000 soldiers to attack the Company force stationed in
Koregaon.
Led by Captain Francis Staunton, the Company troops defended their position for nearly
12 hours.
The Marathas ultimately withdrew, fearing the arrival of a larger British force led by
General Joseph Smith.
The Company troops of Indian origin included predominantly Mahar Dalit soldiers
belonging to the Bombay Native Infantry, and therefore Dalit activists regard the battle as
a heroic episode in Dalit history.
Significance to Mahars
The Koregaon pillar inscription features the names of the 49 Company soldiers killed in
the battle. 22 of these names end with the suffix -nac (or -nak), which was used
exclusively by the people of Mahar caste. The obelisk was featured on the Mahar
Regiment’s crest until Indian Independence. While it was built by the British as a symbol
of their own power, today it serves as a memorial of the Mahars.
The Mahars were considered untouchable in the contemporary caste-based society. The
Peshwas, who were high-caste Brahmins, were notorious for their mistreatment and
persecution of the untouchables. Because of this, the Dalits (former untouchables) now
see the Koregaon obelisk as a symbol of their victory over the high-caste oppression. The
Dalit Buddhist leader B. R. Ambedkar visited the site on 1 January 1927. To
commemorate his visit to the site, now thousands of his followers visit the site every New
Year’s Day. A number of Mahar gatherings have also been held at the place.
Although it is currently portrayed as victory of lower caste over upper caste Peshwas, the
Mahars had fought for the Peshwa rulers.
2. 1.9 cr. names in first draft of Assam NRC In news:
Nearly 32 years after the Assam Accord was signed, the first draft of an updated National
Register of Citizens (NRC) for the State listed 1.90 crore names out of the 3.29 crore
applicants.
Assam is the only State in the country that prepared an NRC in 1951 following the census
of that year and has become the first State to get the first draft of its own updated NRC.
The time frame for the publication of the NRC draft was set by the Supreme Court which
has been monitoring the entire process of updating the 1951 NRC in Assam.
About National Register of Citizens:
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) contains names of Indian citizens.
The NRC was prepared in 1951, after the Census of 1951.
The NRC is being updated in Assam to detect Bangladeshi nationals, who may have
illegally entered the State after the midnight of March 24, 1971, the cut-off date
This date was originally agreed to in the 1985 Assam Accord, signed between the then
Rajiv Gandhi government and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)
Theme: “Ancient route, new journey: diaspora in the dynamic ASEAN-India
partnership”.
8. Israel passes law to prevent ceding control of Jerusalem
In news:
Israel’s parliament passed a law that bars ceding any part of Jerusalem to a foreign power
without the approval of a supermajority of lawmakers
A move that threatens to further hinder prospects of peace between Israel and the
Palestinians.
The newly passed law also allows the government to separate areas of the city — such as
majority Palestinian neighbourhoods — from the Jerusalem municipality, but requires
those new administrations to remain under Israeli sovereignty.
A 2014 law already requires a supermajority in parliament or a national referendum for
Israel to ratify an agreement that stipulates the conceding of territory under Israeli law,
namely East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
9. China develops underwater surveillance networks in Indian Ocean, South China Sea In news:
China has developed a new underwater surveillance network to help its submarines get a
stronger lock on targets while protecting the nation’s interests along the maritime Silk
Road. This includes the Indian Ocean
About the system
The system, which has already been launched, works by gathering information about the
underwater environment, particularly water temperature and salinity
The Chinese system is based on a network of platforms — buoys, surface vessels,
satellites and underwater gliders — that gather data from the South China Sea, and the
Western Pacific and Indian oceans
The Navy can use this data to more accurately track target vessels as well as improve
navigation and positioning
10. ‘Panchayat secretary’s certificate is no proof’ In news:
Supreme Court Observations:
Certificates issued by the ‘gaon’ or village panchayat secretary/Executive Magistrate is
no proof of Indian citizenship.
It is only a supporting document used for the limited purpose of establishing a linkage
between the holder of the certificate and the person(s) from whom legacy is being
claimed
The certificate merely acknowledged the shifting of residence of a married woman from
one village to another.
The certificate by itself by no means establishes any claim of citizenship of the holder of
the certificate.
The certificate has to be verified at two stages. The first is the authenticity of the
certificate itself; and the second is the authenticity of the contents thereof.
11. Lok Sabha passes bill to build public projects in protected monuments
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017: The Bill would allow the government to take up infrastructure projects within prohibited
areas around protected monuments. It was passed in the Lok Sabha