Source-This post on Nana Jagannath Shankarseth is based on the article “Who was Nana Jagannath Shankarseth, the social reformer ‘architect of Mumbai‘” published in “The Indian Express” on 15th March 2024. Why in the News? The Maharashtra government recently requested the Ministry of Railways to rename Mumbai Central station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth. Who was… Continue reading Nana Jagannath Shankarseth
Category: Personalities in News
Sant Ravidas
Source-This post on Sant Ravidas has been created based on the article “Prime Minister pays tributes to Sant Ravidas on his birth anniversary“published in “PIB” on 26 February 2024. Why in the news? Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Sant Ravidas in Varanasi and offered floral tribute on the occasion of his 647th… Continue reading Sant Ravidas
Rani Chennamma
Source-This post on Rani Chennamma is based on the article “How Rani Chennamma’s revolt against the British inspired a national campaign for women’s rights” published in “The Indian Express” on 20th February 2024. Why in the News? To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Rani Chennamma’s rebellion against the British, various social groups across the country… Continue reading Rani Chennamma
Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj
Source-This post on Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj is based on the article “PM Narendra Modi writes on Sant Shiromani Acharya Vidhyasagar Maharaj: Loss of a guiding light” published in “The Indian Express” on 21st February 2024. Why in the News? Recently, Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj attained samadhi on February 18, 2024, at Chandragiri Teerth in… Continue reading Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj
Bharat Ratna for P.V. Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, MS Swaminathan
Source-This post on Bharat Ratna for P.V. Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, MS Swaminathan is based on the article “M.S. Swaminathan, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh to get Bharat Ratna” published in “The Hindu” on 9th February 2024. Why in the News? The government has recently announced that the Bharat Ratna will be conferred on former PM… Continue reading Bharat Ratna for P.V. Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, MS Swaminathan
Late former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur to be awarded Bharat Ratna
Source-This post is based on the article “Late former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur to be awarded Bharat Ratna” published in “Times of India” on 23rd January 2024. Why in the News? Recently Government of India has announced that Late former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur will be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna. Who was Karpoori… Continue reading Late former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur to be awarded Bharat Ratna
Macron for Republic Day 2024: Exploring India’s Criteria for Selecting the Republic Day Chief Guest
Source– This post is based on the article “Macron for Republic Day 2024: How India chooses its Republic Day chief guest” published in “The Indian Express” on 22nd December 2023. Why in the News? France’s President Emmanuel Macron will be India’s chief guest for its 2024 Republic Day celebrations. How is the Republic Day Chief… Continue reading Macron for Republic Day 2024: Exploring India’s Criteria for Selecting the Republic Day Chief Guest
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize: Activist Ali Abu Awwad and pianist Daniel Barenboim wins
Source: The post is based on the article “Indira Gandhi Peace Prize: Activist Ali Abu Awwad and pianist Daniel Barenboim wins” published in “The Hindu” on 16th December 2023 Why in the News? The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2023 has been jointly awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad.… Continue reading Indira Gandhi Peace Prize: Activist Ali Abu Awwad and pianist Daniel Barenboim wins
Source– This post is based on the article “Meet the Langlands Program, the world’s biggest maths project | Explained” published in “The Hindu” on November 21, 2023.
Why in the News?
Langlands Program provides a beautifully intricate set of connections between various areas of mathematics, pointing the way toward novel solutions for old problems in mathematics.
What is the Langlands Program?
| Aspect | Details |
| What is it? | 1. It is the world’s biggest maths project and can be likened to building bridges across mathematical cultures with different objects and languages. 2. It is named after Robert Langlands, a mathematician at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. 3. In 2018, he was awarded the Abel Prize for “his visionary program connecting representation theory to number theory” |
| Objective | To find connections between two far-flung areas of mathematics – number theory and harmonic analysis. – It seeks to do this by connecting every Galois group with automorphic functions, allowing mathematicians to investigate polynomial equations using tools from calculus. |
| Initiation | 1967 |
| Significance of the program | 1. Solving old Maths problems– In 1994, Andrew Wiles and Richard Taylor applied Langlands’ conjectures to prove Fermat’s last theorem. 2. Creating new functions– It can help mathematicians create new automorphic functions from preexisting ones. Such efforts could be crucial to prove the Ramanujan conjectures (speculations), many of which remain unsolved. 3. Can evolve into new fields of mathematics– For example, Geometric Langlands. It investigates connections between algebraic geometry and representation theory. 4. Multidisciplinary significance– Mathematicians have suggested connections between Geometric Langlands and physics, particularly for studying electromagnetic waves. |
Note-
1. Number theory: It is the arithmetic study of numbers and the relationships between them. For example, the pythagoras theorem.
2. Harmonic analysis: It is interested in the study of periodic phenomena. Unlike number theorists, who deal with discrete arithmetic’s (like integers), harmonic analysts deal with mathematical objects more continuous in nature (like waves).
3. Galois group: In 1832, mathematician Évariste Galois concluded that it is impossible to have a general formula to find the precise roots of polynomial equations and instead suggested focusing on symmetries between roots as an alternate route. Galois group is a collection of such symmetries of the roots of a polynomial equation.
4. Automorphic functions: Functions that turn back into themselves when the variables are changed by some process are called automorphic functions. The sine function is a simple example.
UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology
Constantine Joseph Beschi(Veeramamunivar)
Source– This post “Constantine Joseph Beschi(Veeramamunivar)” is based on the article “Constantine Joseph Beschi, a missionary, Tamil scholar, and Chanda Sahib’s Dewan” published in “The Hindu” on 14th November 2023. Why in the News? Recently Emerald Publishers released the English translation of the first biography of Veeramamunivar(known as Constantine Joseph Beschi) in Tamil written by… Continue reading Constantine Joseph Beschi(Veeramamunivar)
