SANT KABIR DAS
NEWS – PM paid tribute to Sant Kabir Das on his 648th birth anniversary.
- Sant Kabirdas was a 15th-century poet, saint, and social reformer.
- Born – 1440 in Varanasi (UP) to a Hindu family but was raised by a Muslim weaver couple.
- He was a notable figure in the bhakti Movement.
- Spiritual guidance from teachers – Ramananda and Sheikh Taqi.
- key literary contributions –
-
-
- Bijak
- Sakhi Granth
- Kabir Granthawali
- Anurag Sagar
-
-
- Philosophy – Advocated a formless God (Nirguna Bhakti) and inner devotion.
- Death – in Maghar (UP) in 1518
Thinking satellite
NEWS – Hyderabad startup is launching India’s 1st ‘thinking’ satellite.
- Startup -TakeMe2Space, based in Hyderabad.
- Innovation – Pioneering India’s first AI-driven satellite lab (MOI)
- satellite Name – MOI‑TD (Modular Orbital Infrastructure – Technology Demonstrator
- Launch – MOI‑TD flew aboard ISRO’s PSLV‑C60
Passage exercise (PASSEX)
NEWS – The Indian Navy and UK Royal Navy conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX)
- Host Location – North Arabian Sea
- Participant nation –
-
-
- India – INS Tabar (submarine), P-8I (aircraft)
- UK – HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Richmond
-
-
Heeng Cultivation
NEWS- CSIR-IHBT Palampur achieved India’s first heeng flowering and seed setting.
- Heeng is a perennial herb from the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family.
- Body – (CSIR-IHBT) Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
- Significance: Proves heeng can be grown in India
- Plantation started – in Kwaring village, Lahaul Valley, Himachal Pradesh
- Seeds: Sourced from Iran and Afghanistan
World Blood Donor Day 2025
- Date – 14th June
- Theme – “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
- Aim – To thank donors and promote awareness of safe blood.
- History – Celebrated on Karl Landsteiner’s birthday (discoverer of blood groups).
MCQs
Q1. Who was Sant Kabir Das?
a) A king
b) A saint and poet
c) A scientist
d) A warrior
Q2. Which technology is commonly used in thinking satellites?
a) Steam engine
b) Artificial Intelligence (AI)
c) Solar cookers
d) Bluetooth
Q3. PASSEX is related to which of the following?
a) Farming
b) Navy
c) Railways
d) Weather
Q4. Which Indian state started heeng cultivation recently?
a) Kerala
b) Punjab
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Odisha
Q5. When is World Blood Donor Day celebrated?
a) 1st January
b) 14th June
c) 15th August
d) 5th June