On January 25th, Himachal Pradesh marked its Statehood Day. The regions of these mountainous territories were a part of the British Crown following Queen Victoria’s 1858 proclamation. During World War I (1914-18), most of these hill states proved their allegiance by aiding the British. After India gained independence, the Chief Commissioner’s Province of Himachal Pradesh was formed on April 15, 1948. Subsequently, it was designated as a Part C state under Part VII on January 26, 1950. Post the recommendation of the State Reorganisation Commission, Himachal Pradesh was announced as a Union Territory on November 1, 1956. Later on, Kangra and several other hilly areas of Punjab merged with Himachal Pradesh on November 1, 1966. However, the status as a Union Territory remained unchanged. It was only on December 18, 1970, that the State of Himachal Pradesh Act passed, leading to its recognition as the 18th state of the Indian Union on January 25, 1971.
Republic Day History and 26th January Significance
The Constitution of India was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. However, Republic Day is celebrated on January 26 each year to commemorate the declaration of “Poorna Swaraj” or complete independence from British rule on January 26, 1930. This historic milestone marked the final phase of India’s struggle for freedom. Young leaders like SC Bose and JL Nehru rejected the Motilal Nehru report of 1927 that called for dominion status, insisting on complete independence instead. Therefore, when the time came to promulgate India’s new Constitution, January 26 was deemed to be the ideal day.
Kuno Cheetah Detected with Hepatorenal Infection
One of eight cheetahs introduced into Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh) has been diagnosed with a hepatorenal infection. This is a medical condition characterized by progressive kidney failure in patients with poor liver function. In September 2022, these eight cheetahs were brought from South Africa and Namibia to be released into the wild at Kuno Palpur National Park. It was the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
T+1 Settlement in Indian Stock Markets
The Indian stock market has initiated a shorter settlement cycle known as the T+1 regime for a final list of large stocks. This move aims to reduce margin requirements for clients and encourage retail investment. T+1 (“trade plus one”) dictates that settlements related to market trades must be cleared within one day of the transactions. Previously, trades on Indian stock exchanges were settled two working days after the transaction (T+2). In November 2021, both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) declared plans to implement the T+1 settlement cycle gradually, starting with the bottom 100 stocks in terms of market value.