PIB Summary - 30th April, 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Unique Success of the Namami Gange Mission: The Return of the Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle to the Ganga After Three Decades

Context

• The Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle is facing a critical endangerment and is among the rarest freshwater turtles found in Northern India.
• Its reappearance in the mainstream Ganga River signifies a positive ecological change after being absent for 30 years.
• Relevance: GS 3 (Environment and Ecology)

Role of Namami Gange Mission

• The Namami Gange Mission played a crucial role in supporting the TSAFI project for conducting assessments in various years.
• In 2020, assessments were made on turtle diversity in the Haiderpur Wetland Complex (HWC).
• In 2022, a habitat evaluation was conducted for establishing a new turtle sanctuary near Prayagraj.
• Previous studies conducted in the Ganga River had not found any viable population of Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles for decades.

Turtle Reintroduction Efforts

• On April 26, 2025, a total of 20 Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles were released from the Garhaita Turtle Conservation Center into the Haiderpur Wetland Complex (HWC).
• To monitor their movement and survival, the turtles were tagged with sonic devices.
• The release strategy included two groups:
• Group A. Released above the Haiderpur barrage.
• Group B. Released into the main channel of the Ganga River.

Hydrological Advantage

• During the monsoon season, the Haiderpur Wetland Complex (HWC) becomes fully connected to the Ganga River.
• This connection facilitates the natural dispersal of turtles and supports a “soft release” strategy, allowing for their gradual integration into the wild.

Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation

• This initiative marks the first-ever attempt to reintroduce Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles into the Ganga River.
• Monitoring of the reintroduced turtles will continue for two years to evaluate their success and survival rates.
• The aim is to achieve a stable population recovery in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Forest Department.

Symbolic and Strategic Importance

• The reintroduction of the Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle exemplifies comprehensive river rejuvenation efforts, extending beyond pollution control to the revival of biodiversity.
• It highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation and scientific conservation methods in environmental restoration.
• This initiative also reinforces India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG-15: Life on Land.

Key Takeaway

•  The return of the Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle serves as a hopeful symbol for the ecological revival of the Ganga River. 
•  The Namami Gange Mission has evolved from a mere cleaning initiative to a comprehensive ecosystem restoration program.

 The Holy Buddha Relic of Sarnath for Exposition to Vietnam will arrive at National Museum

Context: 

• India is preparing to send a highly revered relic of Lord Buddha to Vietnam for public display and worship.
• This relic, originating from Sarnath (specifically from Mulagandha Kuti Vihara), will be showcased in Vietnam during the UN Vesak Day 2025 celebrations, a significant global Buddhist festival.
• The journey of the relic will begin with its transfer from Sarnath to Delhi on April 30, 2025. From there, it will be flown by a special Air Force aircraft to Ho Chi Minh City on May 1, 2025.

Relevance: GS 1 (Culture, Heritage), GS 2 (International Relations)

Cultural Diplomacy & Soft Power

• The event highlights India’s Buddhist heritage as a means of fostering diplomatic relations with Vietnam and the broader Buddhist community.
• It strengthens the spiritual bond between India and Vietnam, emphasizing cultural continuity and a shared civilizational heritage.
• The initiative also enhances India’s soft power through spiritual diplomacy, aligning with the Act East Policy.

Significance of the Holy Relic

• The relic, unearthed from Nagarjuna Konda in Andhra Pradesh, is linked to Mahayana Buddhism and the influential figure of Acharya Nagarjuna from the 2nd century CE.
• Currently, the relic is housed in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Sarnath, a site established by Angarika Dharmapala, the founder of the Mahabodhi Society.
• The relic symbolizes the enduring tradition of Buddhist reverence from ancient India to present-day global practices.

Religious and Ritual Importance

• The transport of the relic will be conducted with traditional monastic rituals, chanting, and a sense of sanctity, reflecting the Buddhist customs of veneration.
• Major Vietnamese Buddhist centers in Ho Chi Minh City, Tây Ninh, Hanoi, and Tam Chúc are scheduled to hold ceremonies to honor the relic.
• The veneration coincides with the UN Day of Vesak 2025, aligning local spiritual practices with global Buddhist commemorations.

Historical & Archaeological Context

• The relic was excavated by A.H. Longhurst from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) between 1927 and 1931, and the relics were presented to the Mahabodhi Society in 1932.
• Nagarjuna Konda was a significant center for Mahayana Buddhist learning, featuring over 30 Buddhist sites.
• The event enhances the understanding of India’s archaeological contributions to the global Buddhist heritage.

UN Day of Vesak 2025 Context

• The UN Day of Vesak has been celebrated since a UN General Assembly resolution in 1999, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Buddha.
• The 2025 celebration is expected to attract international delegates from over 100 countries.
• The theme for 2025, “Buddhist Approach to Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity,” aims to connect Buddhism with global peace and sustainable development efforts.

Academic & Cultural Exhibitions

• The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will host three major exhibitions:
• Digital presentations of Jataka tales.
• Displays of sculptures and iconography related to the Buddha.
• Comparative exhibitions of Buddhist artefacts from India and Vietnam.
• Additionally, digitally restored murals from the Ajanta Caves, depicting the Bodhisattva Padmapani from Cave 1, will be showcased along with eight-panel TV exhibits. This initiative aims to promote academic exchange and cultural continuity between Indian and Southeast Asian Buddhist art.

Institutional Collaboration

• The coordination of the event involves the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
• This collaboration reflects a commitment to multilateral and interfaith cooperation in the realm of spiritual diplomacy.

Global Buddhist Connect

•  The event reinforces India’s position as the land of Buddha, a custodian of sacred relics, and a spiritual home for Buddhists worldwide. 
•  It also emphasizes the concept of “Shared Buddhist Heritage” as part of India’s cultural outreach strategy.