About Bhil Tribe:

• The Bhils are considered one of the oldest tribes in India and are identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
• According to the 2011 census, Bhil is the largest tribal group in India, constituting approximately 38% of the total scheduled tribal population of India.
• The name ‘Bhil’ is derived from the word “villu” or “billu”, which, according to the Dravidian language, is known as Bow.
• Their reference is in old literature, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Distribution:
  • They are the most widely distributed tribal groups in India.
  • They mainly reside in Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and northern Maharashtra. Some families have migrated to other states like Tripura for jobs in tea gardens.
  • Bhil populations are concentrated in the southernmost hills of the Aravalli Range, the western uplands of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, and the northernmost hills of the Western Ghats.
  • Some Bhil groups occupy the nearby river valleys and coastal plains.
• Occupation: Nearly all of the Bhil engage in agriculture, some using the slash-and-burn (jhum) method but most employing the plow.
• Language:
  • They speak Bhili, which is an Indo-Aryan language.
  • Bhili dialects show varying degrees of influence of regional languages such as Rajasthani and Marathi, but they all appear to have their origins in Gujarati.
• Beliefs:
  • Almost all Bhils practice ethnic religions that have been highly influenced by Hinduism.
  • Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called ‘vaghdev’.
• Festivals:
  • The Baneshwar fair is the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivaratri in the months of January or February.
  • The Hindu festivals of Holi and Dusshera are the other major festivals celebrated among the Bhil Tribes in India.
• Art and Culture:
  • The Ghoomar dance, which is a traditional folk dance symbolising womanhood, is one of the popular aspects of Bhil culture.
  • Bhil painting is characterised by the use of multi-coloured dots as in-filling.

About Next-Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs):

• The NGMVs are envisaged as high-speed vessels equipped with an array of weapons and sensors, being built for the Indian Navy.
• Six NGMVs are being built by government-run Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore.
• Delivery of the vessels is scheduled to commence from March 2027.
• The primary role of the ships would be to provide offensive capability against enemy warships, merchantmen, and land targets.
• The vessels are intended for maritime strike and anti-surface warfare operations and will also provide the Navy with sea-denial capability, particularly around strategically important maritime choke points.
• In defensive operations, the ships are expected to support local naval defence and the protection of offshore development areas.
• Features:
  • The core of the NGMV propulsion system is the LM2500, a marine gas turbine, manufactured by the American engine manufacturer General Electric. LM2500 is engineered to unleash superior power while meeting stealth requirements.
  • Each vessel will have a complement of around 80 personnel and a maximum speed of approximately 33 knots (61 kmph).
  • These corvettes can remain at sea for 10 consecutive days and extend their stay by refueling from tankers.
  • They will be equipped with surface-to-surface missile systems, anti-missile defence systems, air-surveillance radars, and fire-control radars.
  • The NGMVs’ primary weapon will be the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets at long ranges.
  • The vessels will also be equipped with advanced integrated platform management systems, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, power generation and distribution systems and damage-control machinery. 

About Sohar Port:

• It is a deep-sea port situated in northern Oman, on the Gulf of Oman.
• It is one of the largest and most strategically located deep-sea ports in the Middle East.
• It lies approximately 160 km south of the Strait of Hormuz, midway between Dubai and Muscat (capital of Oman).
• The port serves as a vital commercial hub connecting the markets of the Gulf region, the Indian subcontinent, and East Africa.
• Sohar Port handles various cargo, including dry, break, and liquid bulk, as well as container shipping.
• The port is managed by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC), a joint venture between the Omani Government and the Port of Rotterdam.
• The Sohar Freezone adjacent to the port supports industrial activities such as petrochemicals, metals, and the energy sectors.

About Fitzroy River:

• It is a major river located in Queensland, Australia.
• Course:
  • It is formed by the confluence of the Dawson and Mackenzie rivers on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range.
  • The united stream flows northeast across the Broadsound Range and then southeast through distributaries to enter Keppel Bay of the Coral Sea of the Pacific Ocean after a course of 480 km.
• Its catchment area with its main tributary, the 160-km Margaret River, is 142,000 sq.km.
• The river flows through different types of land. It passes through farming areas, towns, and natural landscapes.
• The main city along the river is Rockhampton, which is an important centre for the region.
• The Fitzroy is navigable from Port Alma, at the mouth, 56 km upstream to Rockhampton.