News Summary · 4 minutes read
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UNESCO declares Deepavali intangible cultural heritage
- UNESCO officially inscribed Deepavali on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 10, 2025.
- Announced during the 20th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted at Delhi’s Red Fort from December 8-13, 2025
- Acknowledges Deepavali as a living heritage that strengthens social bonds, supports traditional craftsmanship, reinforces values of generosity and well-being, and helps several SDGs.
- Deepavali is the 16th element from India inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list.
List of India’s 16 intangible cultural heritage elements
| S.No. | Intangible cultural heritage element | Year of inscription |
| 1 | Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre | 2008 |
| 2 | Tradition of Vedic chanting | 2008 |
| 3 | Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana | 2008 |
| 4 | Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India | 2009 |
| 5 | Chhau dance | 2010 |
| 6 | Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan | 2010 |
| 7 | Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala | 2010 |
| 8 | Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region | 2012 |
| 9 | Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur | 2013 |
| 10 | Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab | 2014 |
| 11 | Navroz / Nowruz (transnational element, including India) | 2016 |
| 12 | Yoga | 2016 |
| 13 | Kumbh Mela | 2017 |
| 14 | Durga Puja in Kolkata | 2021 |
| 15 | Garba of Gujarat | 2023 |
| 16 | Deepavali (Diwali) | 2025 |
Offshore mineral blocks exclude marine protected areas, says government
- Centre has clarified that offshore mineral blocks allotted for mining have been demarcated after excluding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard ecologically sensitive marine zones.
- Environment Ministry has notified 130 MPAs, and 106 sites have been identified as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) → These are excluded when offshore mining blocks are allocated.
- Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024: no production can be initiated without an approved Production Plan, which must include a detailed Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
- Offshore Areas Mineral Trust (OAMT) was formed in 2024 to manage and mitigate ecological impacts of offshore mineral mining/exploration operations → includes coastal States as members.
Satellite megaconstellations refer to large networks of interconnected satellites in low-earth orbit designed to provide global broadband connectivity.
- Satellite communication depends on two essentials:
- Spectrum – Radio frequencies for data transmission, e.g. Ku, Ka, and L-band.
- Orbital slots – Physical positions of satellites in space ensuring stable communication.
- Rise in satellite megaconstellations has triggered competition for both spectrum and orbital slots.
Growth of mega constellations
- Driven by global demand for high-speed internet, falling launch costs, and strategic ambitions, e.g. Starlink, OneWeb, GuoWang, Project Kuiper.
- Market projected to grow from USD 4.27 billion (2024) to USD 27.31 billion (2032).
Need for satellite constellations
- Many countries are considering their own constellations for technological sovereignty.
- Help bridge digital inequality, e.g. Global Connectivity Index: Switzerland (34) vs India (9).
- Provide low-latency (20–40 ms) internet, supporting telemedicine, education, and disaster response.
- Vital for remote regions lacking ground-based infrastructure.
Satellite governance
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) coordinates global access to radio spectrum and orbital slots.
- Operates on a first-come, first-served basis for frequency filings → established tech giants have an edge.
- 2023 reforms:
- Deployment rule for mega constellations: 10% in 2 years, 50% in 5 years, 100% in 7 years.
- Mandates satellite removal within 25 years after mission end.
Challenges
- Growing satellites increase the risk of space debris and collisions.
- Satellite-based internet is costly → risk of becoming a premium product for affluent users.
- Existing ITU framework is outdated → unable to handle the current situation of mega constellations.
Way Forward
World needs a stronger satellite governance framework that:
- Balances innovation with equitable global access.
- Ensures affordability and inclusivity for developing nations.
- Strengthens debris mitigation and orbital sustainability norms.
- Enables emerging space powers like India to shape international space regulations.
Quick Picks for Pre and Mains (QPPM)
- India and Oman are expected to sign a free trade agreement named the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) soon.
- Amazon has announced to invest $35 billion in India by 2030→ Amazon is the largest single foreign investor in India in terms of cumulative investments.
- Microsoft has announced to invest $17.5 billion in India by 2029 → Microsoft’s largest investment in Asia.
- Australia has implemented a social media ban for children under 16 → first country to do so.
- Heglig: a town in Sudan.
- European Union has decided to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 from 1990 levels.