1,000th anniversary of the first attack on the Somnath shrine (1026).
- Year-long commemorative events are planned at the temple under the banner “Somnath Swabhiman Parv.”
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led efforts to rebuild the temple after Independence.
- 2026 will also mark 75 years since the restored Somnath Temple was inaugurated on May 11, 1951.
Somnath Temple
- Somnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat.
- Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and looted the temple and he was the ruler of Afghanistan.
- The present temple was reconstructed in the Chalukya style of Hindu temple architecture.
e-B-4 Business Visa for Chinese Nationals
- India has launched a new e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa) for Chinese nationals.
- The visa is meant for specific business activities including installation and commissioning of equipment.
- The e-B-4 Visa came into effect on January 1.
- It will be issued in about 45 to 50 days, with permission to stay in India for up to six months.
India ranks first in rice production.
- Background: India is the world’s leading producer of rice; surpassing China, it produced 150.18 million tons of rice (China: 145.28 million tons, 2024-25).
State-wise rice production ranking (2023–24) – Based on statistics from the Economic Survey report:
- Telangana – 16.63 million tons (~12.17% share)
- Uttar Pradesh – 15.72 million tons (~11.50% share)
- West Bengal – 15.12 million tons (~11.06% share)
