From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Project Dantak
Mains level: NA
The Prime Minister has praised the initiative by Border Roads Organisation Project Dantak to commemorate 64th Raising Day.
What is Project Dantak?
Description
Establishment
Established on April 24, 1961, as per the agreement between the third king of Bhutan and then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Objective
Identify the most important aspects of connectivity and spur the socio-economic development and growth of Bhutan.
Responsibility
Construct and maintain roads suitable for motorised transportation in Bhutan.
Legal Provision
Established under the provision of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1949.
Works and Involvement
Description
Infrastructure Development
Constructing infrastructure in adjoining Indian districts, including Sherbathang–Nathu La road, Gangtok–Sherbathang road, and Sevoke–Gangtok road.
Establishment of Facilities
Establishing medical and education facilities in outlying areas, which were the first in those regions.
Takthi Canteen
Takthi Canteen, commonly known as the DANTAK canteen, is a major stop for travelers midway between Phuentsholing and Thimphu.
Recruitment of Workers
Recruiting local workers from Bhutan and Indian workers from adjoining districts like Jaigaon, Alipurduar, and other parts of Eastern and North-Eastern India under a basic monthly wage.
Supervision of Work
Posting officials from India for the supervision of work.
Controversies and Incidents
The Bhutanese Government accused DANTAK of installing Indian tricolour-themed raised pavement markers or reflectors on the highway railings. DANTAK confirmed their presence, and those reflectors were immediately replaced.
A 204 meters long bridge in Haa along the Damchu-Haa road collapsed in February 2021, leaving 3 workers dead and 6 missing. The bridge was handed over to Project DANTAK by the contractor.
The project has faced criticisms for its approach to hiring practices and labor management.
Major projects undertaken
Paro Airport: Built in 1968 as an airstrip for on-call helicopter services for the Indian Armed Forces. Now used as an international airport.
Yonphula Airfield: Domestic Airport in Bhutan
Thimphu – Trashigang Highway: Major Highway in Bhutan
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Respiratory Syncytial Virus, F Protein
Mains level: NA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first vaccine ‘Arexvy’ for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to lower respiratory tract disease in people older than 60 years.
What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus?
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can cause illness in people of all ages.
It is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, and it can also affect older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
RSV is highly contagious and spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching one’s face.
Symptoms of RSV can range from mild to severe, including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or death.
Identification of Protein F
In 2013, Barney Graham and other scientists identified the key protein, protein F, responsible for the RSV virus to infect human cells.
The protein, introduced in humans, elicited neutralizing antibodies against the virus.
Approval and Efficacy of Arexvy
The FDA has approved Arexvy, the first RSV vaccine to be approved anywhere in the world, manufactured by GSK.
The approval was based on a phase-3 trial carried out on nearly 25,000 participants.
It showed a single dose of the vaccine reduced the risk of developing lower respiratory tract disease caused by the RSV virus by 82.6% and severe disease by 94.1% in people older than 60 years.
The vaccine will be available for older adults in the U.S. before the 2023-2024 RSV season.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Molecular Motor
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea: Researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences have discovered a new kind of molecular motor that has potential applications in biology and medicine.
What is a molecular motor?
Cells use molecular motors to move things like organelles and molecules, and disruption of these processes can lead to diseases.
Molecular motors use biochemical energy to do mechanical work.
What did the new study find?
The study found that EEA1, a long protein, can regain its rigid shape to create a new kind of two-part molecular motor.
EEA1 regains its rigid shape through a reaction called GTP hydrolysis, mediated by enzymes called GTPases.
The researchers believe this could mark a new class of molecular machines that operate as motors in a unique way with novel collective effects.
Why is the finding significant?
The motor is different from most motors because it doesn’t produce a lever-like back-and-forth action and it uses GTP instead of ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate) for energy.
EEA1 exerts an entropic force on the membranes that it pulls, which is a unique feature.
The finding could have potential applications for understanding membrane fusion and for many other mechanochemical proteins or assemblies.
What are the potential applications?
The discovery of the molecular motor could have potential applications in biology and medicine.
The study provides a general mechanism that is applicable to many mechanochemical proteins or assemblies that harness chemical energy for mechanical work in cells.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) , Navratna status
Mains level: Public Sector Enterprises
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) was recently granted Navratna status by the Ministry of Railways.
About RVNL
RVNL was incorporated in 2003 with the aim of implementing rail infrastructure projects quickly and raising extra budgetary resources for SPV projects.
The company started operating in 2005 after the appointment of its board of directors.
RVNL was granted Mini-Ratna status in 2013.
RVNL’s functions
RVNL has been assigned to undertake project development and execution of works covering the full project lifecycle.
The company will create project-specific SPVs for individual works if required.
RVNL will hand over completed railway projects to the concerned zonal railway for operation and maintenance.
Major projects undertaken
RVNL has implemented various projects in the rail sector, including:
Doubling and electrification of existing lines
Construction of new lines
Gauge conversion projects.
Navratna status and its benefits
Navratna’s status will give RVNL more operational freedom and financial autonomy.
Enhanced delegation of powers will also be granted to the company.
Navratna’s status will be a huge boost to RVNL’s progress.
This status will be especially beneficial for the company as it expands its operations beyond the railway’s sector and into international projects.
Back2Basics: Central Public Sector Enterprises
The Government runs the CPSEs under the Department of Public Enterprises of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
The government grants them the status of Navratna, Miniratna and Maharatna based upon the profit made by these CPSEs.
The Maharatna category has been the most recent one since 2009, other two have been in function since 1997.
Maharatna
Navratna
Miniratna Category-I
Miniratna Category-II
Eligibility
Net profit of ₹2,500 crore per annum OR
Net worth of ₹10,000 crore for 3 yrs.
Score of 60 based on financial parameters AND be a Miniratna with 4 independent directors
Net profit of ₹30 crore per annum for last 3 years
Net profit of ₹30 crore per annum OR
Positive net worth and profit for last 3 years
Benefits for investment
₹1,000-5,000 crore or 15% of net worth
Up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of net worth on a project OR 30% of net worth per annum
Up to ₹500 crore or net worth, whichever is lower
Up to ₹300 crore or 50% of net worth, whichever is lower
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: All India Radio
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The Centre has ordered that public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) be exclusively referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts and programmes.
All India Radio: Through history
The journey of radio broadcasting in India began with the first commercial transmission sent out by the Radio Club of Bombay in 1923.
In 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was established and in 1930, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was set up.
In 1936, ISBS was renamed as All India Radio (AIR).
At the time of Independence, AIR covered only two percent of India’s land area and reached just 11 percent of its population.
Today, AIR has a network of over 262 radio stations, covering 92% of India’s area and nearly all of its population.
It broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects and also has an External Services Division which broadcasts in 11 Indian and 16 foreign languages, reaching out to more than 100 countries.
AIR’s News Services Division broadcasts 647 bulletins daily for a total duration of nearly 56 hours.
FM broadcasting began in 1977 in Chennai and today, AIR has 18 FM stereo channels.
Why the name change?
The order to exclusively refer to AIR as Akashvani is in line with the provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, passed by Parliament.
Listeners have more of a connect with Akashvani and that the name change is in tune with the law which came into being in 1997.
Importance of AIR
AIR played a crucial role in communicating momentous events in India’s recent history, prior to the advent of television or digital media.
AIR’s place in history is cemented due to its role in broadcasting Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech in 1947 and Kapil Dev’s mythical 175 run knock in 1983, among other events.
For many Indians, the Akashvani jingle evokes nostalgia and memories of a bygone era when they woke up to the sounds of the jingle at the break of dawn and started their day with AIR programming.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Clearing Corporations
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has de-recognised 6 clearing corporations in India as Third Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) with effect from April 30.
However, it allowed European banks to continue business with them till April 2023 without penal consequences.
What are Clearing Corporations?
Clearing corporations, also known as central counterparties (CCPs), are financial institutions that act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers in financial markets.
They help to manage the risk of default by ensuring that each party involved in a trade has the necessary funds or securities to fulfil their obligations.
Clearing corporations also ensure that trades are settled in a timely and efficient manner.
In the context of this article, clearing corporations refer to those involved in the clearing and settlement of trades in India’s cash and derivatives market.
Decisions by ESMA
ESMA has withdrawn recognition of six Indian clearing corporations including- CCIL, Indian Clearing Corporation Ltd, NSE Clearing Ltd, Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing, India International Clearing Corporation, and NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation.
ESMA asked Indian regulators to sign an agreement to give it the power to monitor and supervise the clearing corporations.
Indian regulators refused to give supervisory power to foreign entities in Indian clearing corporations.
ESMA recognised these clearing corporations as Third Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) in the EU region.
India’s rebuttal
ESMA had asked the RBI and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to sign an agreement giving it the power to monitor and supervise the clearing corporations.
Indian regulators did not agree to give supervisory power to a foreign entity on Indian clearing corporations.
Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cantonments
Mains level: ULBs in India
Central Idea: The Union government has kicked off a plan to abolish the 62 cantonments around the country as “archaic colonial legacies”. The first cantonment to be renamed a military station is Yol in Himachal Pradesh.
What is the plan?
The plan is to carve out the military areas in all cantonments and convert them into “exclusive military stations” with the Army exercising “absolute control” over them.
The civilian areas, in turn, will be merged with the local municipalities, which will be responsible for their maintenance among other things.
The Army moved away from the concept of cantonments after independence, mainly due to the friction between military and civilian authorities.
But some major cantonments continued to exist. Ex. Pune Cantonment, Agra Cantonment etc.
What are Cantonments?
Cantonments in India are permanent military stations where a group of military personnel are stationed for administrative purposes.
These cantonments are governed by the Cantonments Act, 2006 which provides for municipal administration and control of these areas.
There are 62 cantonments in India which are located in various states across the country.
These areas are maintained by the Defence Estates Organization (DEO) under the Ministry of Defence, and are distinct from military bases or barracks which are temporary locations for military personnel.
Cantonments are generally considered to be areas with better infrastructure and facilities compared to other parts of the country.
Their features
Cantonment Boards are democratic bodies comprising elected and nominated members.
In terms of Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule VII) of the Constitution of India, Urban Self Governance of the Cantonments and the Housing Accommodation therein is the subject matter of the Union.
The Station Commander of the Cantonment is the ex-officio President of the Board, and an officer of the IDES or Defence Estates Organisation is the Chief Executive Officer who is also the Member-Secretary of the Board.
They have equal representation of elected and nominated/ex-officio members to balance official representation with democratic composition.
They maintain ecological balance while providing better civic facilities to the residents.
History of establishments
The Cantonments Act, 1924 was enacted by the British to regulate the municipal administration of Cantonments.
After India’s independence, the Cantonments Act, 1924, was modified to suit the democratic setup of the country.
The Cantonments Act, 2006, replaced the Cantonments Act, 1924, and aims to provide greater autonomy and accountability to the Cantonment Boards.
Categories
There are four categories of Cantonments, depending on the size of the population residing inside a Cantonment:
Category I: Cantonments having a population of more than 50,000.
Category II: Cantonments having a population of 10,000 to 50,000.
Category III: Cantonments having a population of less than 10,000.
Category IV: Industrial or training Cantonments, irrespective of their population size.
IOCRPrelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: World Press Freedom Index
Mains level: Freedom of press in India and global propaganda
Central Idea: India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, according to the latest report released by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
What is Press Freedom Index?
The PFI is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters without Borders since 2002.
It is based upon the organisation’s own assessment of the countries’ press freedom records in the previous year.
It defines press freedom as “the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.”
It intends to reflect the degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations, and netizens have in each country, and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom.
It does not measure the quality of journalism in the countries it assesses, nor does it look at human rights violations in general.
Irony of the rankings
In 2022, India was ranked at 150.
Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as it was placed at 150, an improvement from last year’s 157th rank.
Afghanistan was ranked 152nd. This raises some questions about the methodology of the index.
Global scenario
Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as against 146th in 2022
Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press freedom, while Vietnam, China and North Korea constituted the bottom three.
Back2Basics: Freedom of Press and Constitutional Provisions
The Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. the State of Madras, 1950 observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
It is guaranteed under the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19, which deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
Freedom of the press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution.
The freedom of the press is also not absolute.
Reasonable restrictions
A law could impose only those restrictions on the exercise of this right, it faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are as follows:
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Abhilash Tomy, Golden Globe Race
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
Abhilash Tomy, a former Commander in the Indian Navy, has achieved the remarkable feat of completing a solo circumnavigation worldwide by finishing second at the Golden Globe Race (GGR), 2022.
He achieved this record under even more challenging circumstances than his previous record-breaking feat of going worldwide on a sailboat solo and unassisted back in 2013.
What is Golden Globe Race?
The Golden Globe Race is a non-stop, solo, unassisted yacht race around the world which was held for the first time in 1968-69.
The race requires contestants to use boats designed to prescribed premodern specifications and rely entirely on sextants and paper charts.
Satellite phones are available for extremely restricted use, and the use of modern navigational gear is not allowed.
The sailing would be along a stipulated route, rounding the three great capes (Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia, and Cape Horn in Chile).
His return to GGR
After several injuries, in 2021, Tomy began to look for sponsors and boats to participate in GGR-2022.
He announced his participation in the race on the Bayanat in March 2022, sponsored by a UAE-based company in the field of geospatial artificial intelligence.
However, just three weeks before the race, the boat collided with a ship and required massive repairs.
Significance of his achievement
Only three of the 11 contestants of GGR-2022 lasted the course of the race, with Kirsten Neuschafer becoming the first woman to win a solo around-the-world yacht race.
Tomy’s boat was the most ‘repaired’ boat in the race and it was all carried out by the sailor fighting unimaginable sea conditions and lack of sleep.
In the end, Tomy became the first Asian to complete the 30,000-mile GGR by finishing second after Neuschafer.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ASEAN
Mains level: India-ASEAN Relations
Central idea: The article highlights India’s increasing military cooperation with ASEAN countries, with a special emphasis on the upcoming ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in the South China Sea.
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise
The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) is set to commence on May 2, 2023, with war games to be held in the South China Sea.
INS Satpura and INS Delhi will participate in the exercise.
The exercise is divided into two phases: ‘Harbour Phase’ and ‘Sea Phase.’
The exercise is aimed at fostering close cooperation and conducting seamless operations in the maritime domain between the Indian Navy and ASEAN navies.
About ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Details
Members
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Formation
August 8, 1967
Headquarters
Jakarta, Indonesia
Purpose
To promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development
Economic integration
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
Political cooperation
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)
Cultural cooperation
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)
Relationship with India
Strategic partnership, trade, and investment
Why such exercise?
Defying territorial claims: The South China Sea is a critical waterway that connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, and it is also a contested region where multiple countries have territorial claims.
Support freedom of navigation: Conducting exercises in this region allows India to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and upholding international maritime laws.
Indo-Pacific Strategy: India’s growing strategic ties with ASEAN are part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which seeks to promote a rules-based order and ensure stability in the region.
Counterbalancing China: As China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific grows, India sees ASEAN as a key partner in balancing China’s assertiveness and promoting regional stability.
India’s stakes in South China Sea
The South China Sea plays a critical role in India’s security and well-being as-
Global common: The SCS is not China’s sea, but a global common.
Unimpeded navigation: It has been an important sea-lane of communication for centuries, and passage has been unimpeded. Indians have sailed these waters for well over 1,500 years with a continuous trading presence.
Global trade chokepoint: Nearly $200 billion of India’s trade passes through the South China Sea, and thousands of Indian citizens study, work and invest in ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Key significance: India’s Responsiveness to ASEAN
India needs to be responsive to ASEAN’s expectations.
Meeting ASEAN’s aspirations: While strategic partnerships and high-level engagements are important, ASEAN expects longer-lasting buy-ins by India in their future.
History of lesser importance given by India: ASEAN has taken the initiative time and again to involve India in Indo-Pacific affairs, even though India’s current level of trade or investment with ASEAN does not make a compelling argument.
Broader perception of India as key partner: ASEAN has deliberately taken a longer-term view, given the importance of regional arrangements for economic recovery and rejuvenation.
Back2Basics:South China Sea Dispute
It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys – two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries.
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei all have competing claims.
Alongside the fully-fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks, and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.
China claims by far the largest portion of territory – an area defined by the “nine-dash line” which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.
Beijing says its right to the area goes back centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims.
It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Psychedelics
Mains level: Medicianal use of psychotropic substances
Central idea: The context of the article is about the use of psychedelic drugs for both recreational and medicinal purposes.
What are Psychedelics?
Psychedelics are a class of drugs that alter an individual’s perception, mood, and thought processing while still allowing the individual to remain conscious and with unimpaired insight.
They are non-addictive and non-toxic, and cause less harm to the end user compared to illicit drugs.
The two most commonly used psychedelics are LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin. Researchers have also developed synthetic psychedelics.
Humans have used psilocybin and mescaline for ceremonial, healing, and spiritual rituals for millennia.
The modern-day use of psychedelics is commonly associated with the German chemist Arthur Heffter isolating mescaline from the peyote cactus in 1897.
In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD while investigating compounds related to ergotamine.
LSD was widely used as a therapeutic catalyst in psychotherapy between 1947 and 1967, until it was criminalized in the US due to medical concerns and the Vietnam War.
Experience of using psychedelic substances
Users of psychedelic substances report changes in perception, somatic experience, mood, thought-processing, and entheogenic experiences.
Perceptual distortions most commonly include the visual domain.
Somatic experiences may include the visceral, tactile, and interoceptive domains.
Mood changes may include elation, euphoria, anxiety, and paranoia.
Entheogenic experiences include transcendental and ineffable spiritual experiences.
Psilocybin’s therapeutic effects require a ‘trip’ that is mediated by the activation of serotonin receptors.
Modern neuroimaging suggests that psychedelics increase the cross-talk between different brain networks, and this correlates with the subjective effects of psychedelics.
Can psychedelic substances cause any harm?
Death due to direct toxicity of LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline has not been reported in the literature despite 50-plus years of recreational use.
Synthetic psychedelics have been associated with acute cardiac, central nervous system, and limb ischemia, as well as serotonin syndrome.
What is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has three types of sessions: preparatory, medication, and integration.
In the medication session, the patient is accompanied by a male-female co-therapist dyad and a psychedelic drug is administered in a comfortable and well-appointed room.
Over the next 6-8 hours, the therapists listen to the patient while maintaining a neutral therapeutic stance.
In the integration session, the therapists work with the patient to interpret the contents of their psychedelic experience into meaningful long-term change, based on their thoughts and ideas.
Uses to treat Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Research has shown that psychedelic substances have potential therapeutic benefits in treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In recent trials, a single dose of psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to reduce depression scores and improve symptoms of PTSD in participants.
Back2Basics: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
Details
Purpose
Combat drug abuse and trafficking in India
Scope
Consolidates and amends the existing legal framework related to narcotics and psychotropic substances
Regulations
Strictly regulates and controls the production, manufacture, sale, transport, possession, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Special Courts
Establishment of special courts and appointment of special public prosecutors to handle cases related to drug trafficking and abuse
Covered Substances
Opium, heroin, cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs such as LSD and ecstasy
Classification
Substances classified into different schedules based on their potential for abuse and medical use
Punishment
Imposes different levels of punishment for offenses related to each schedule
Enforcement
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), and state-level drug enforcement agencies
Functions
Prevention of drug abuse and trafficking, investigation and prosecution of drug offenses, rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Shilabhattarika
Mains level: NA
Central idea: The article talks about the discovery of new information on the celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika through the decoding of copper plates by the Pune-based Bhandarkar Institute.
Who was Shilabhattarika?
Shilabhattarika was a 9th-century Sanskrit poet from India.
She lived near the Narmada River and the Vindhya mountains.
Her poetic skills were praised by medieval Sanskrit literary critics.
It is speculated that she may be the same as Shilamahadevi, the queen of 8th-century Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruv.
According to recent research, she was the daughter of Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II.
Her literary works
Shilabhattarika is known to have written at least 46 poems on various topics, such as love, morality, politics, nature, beauty, the seasons, insects, anger, indignation, codes of conduct, and the characteristic features of various kinds of heroines.
Shilabhattarika is considered a leading figure of the Panchali literary style, which maintains “a balance between words and meaning”.
According to Rajashekhara, the Panchali style can be traced to the works of Shilabhattarika, and possibly in some of the works of the 7th-century poet Bana.
Sharangadhara-paddhati, a 14th-century anthology, praises her and three other female poets for their great poetic genius and erudition.
One of the most iconic songs of the noted Marathi poetess Shanta Shelke, “toch chandrama nabhat” (it is the same moon in the sky), draws inspiration from the verses of Shilabhattarika.
Key findings of the recent research
The research analyzed a copperplate charter consisting of 5 copper plates dating back to the reign of Badami Chalukyan ruler Vijayaditya (696-733 CE).
The plates were held together by a copper ring that bore the varaha (boar) seal, which is the trademark of the Badami Chalukyas.
The Sanskrit text inscribed in late-Brahmi script contained a total of 65 lines.
The charter revealed that King Vijayaditya Chalukya had donated the village of Chigateri to a scholar named Vishnu Sharma, based on the recommendation of Mahendravarma, Shilabhattarika’s son.
Shilabhattarika’s husband, Dadiga, was deputed as the governor of Kogali, while his elder brother Polavira succeeded their father Mokkara as the ruler of the Western Ganga dynasty, which acted as subordinates to the Chalukyas of Badami and fought against the Pallavas of Kanchi.
The plates also mentioned the names of Shilabhattarika’s father-in-law, Mokkara (or Mushkara), and his father, Durvinita, who was a proficient composer and had patronized Bharavi, the author of the classical epic Kiratarjuniya.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bihan Mela
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: Since 2019, the Kondh tribe in Nayagarh district, Odisha has been celebrating the Bihan Mela, or the seed festival, to promote the revival of indigenous farming.
Bihan Mela
This event involves the collection and preservation of indigenous seeds, and farmers from 40 villages in Dasapalla block participate in the festival.
After harvesting kharif crops, women collect the seeds of indigenous varieties and store them in earthen pots.
On a designated day in December, they decorate the pots with red and white motifs, place them in a bamboo basket and carry them on their heads to the village where the fair is being organized.
Men accompany them, beating drums and other traditional instruments.
Objectives
The seed festival was introduced to help farmers return to their traditional ways of farming, like mixed-cropping, which is more resilient to erratic rainfall and pest attacks.
In recent years, farmers have abandoned native crops and varieties that are naturally resistant to pests and better suited to the region’s climate.
Commercialization through this festival: Seed Bank
To facilitate access to indigenous seeds, Nirman, a non-profit that works with the tribe on forest rights and agro-ecological farming, set up a seed bank in Raisar village in 2019.
The bank collects and preserves indigenous seeds from across Kondh villages and lends those out to farmers.
The bank now boasts of 62 varieties of paddy, four varieties of millets, five varieties of pulses, and eight vegetables.
The bank is open to all Kondh farmers and has benefitted 750 families so far.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Zafar Mahal
Mains level: Not Much
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to initiate conservation works at Zafar Mahal in south Delhi’s Mehrauli.
Zafar Mahal
Zafar Mahal, located in Mehrauli village, South Delhi, India, is considered the last monumental structure built during the fading years of the Mughal era.
The palace was built in the 18th and 19th centuries, with a forlorn history due to the deportation of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, by the British.
The monument is now in a neglected and ruined state and locals often play cricket and gamble inside the protected monument.
History
The Mughal dynasty ended after 332 years when the last Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II (1837–1857) was deported to Rangoon, Burma, now Myanmar from the imperial city of Delhi.
The palace had graves in the precincts of Zafar Mahal built within a marble screen enclosure by Jahandar Shah for his father Bahadur Shah I and others who followed, and is a minor reflection of the history of the place.
Bahadur Shah Zafar II, who wished to be buried in the precincts of the palace, was buried in Rangoon.
The palace used to be visited by Bahadur Shah Zafar II for hunting during the monsoon season, and he was honoured here during the Phool Walon Ki Sair festival held in February/March.
Key Structures
Zafar Mahal consists of the Mahal or the palace, built in the 18th century, and the entrance gate, reconstructed in the 19th century.
The palace is a three-storied structure in red sandstone embellished with marble, and the gate is imposing with an 11.75 feet opening at the entrance.
A masjid called the Moti Masjid, built by Bahadur Shah I, was also located within the palace precincts.
The palace now sits in a dilapidated condition and its restoration is limited by the inadequate documents to deduce the original construction details.
Demolished or Illegally Occupied Structures
Zafar Mahal used to be a huge palace consisting of many other structures that are no longer present or occupied by local residents.
These structures include the Diwan-e-Khaas of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the house of Mirza Babur, the Baoli of Aurangzeb, the house of Mirza Nili, the Thana of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the house of Mirza Salim, and the Khwas Pura.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bharat Tap Rating, AMRUT
Mains level: Water conservation efforts
Central idea: The Centre is in the process of bringing in a star rating system for water fixtures similar to the ratings of electrical appliances.
Bharat Tap Rating
The star rating system would come under one umbrella called Bharat Tap, which was formulated under AMRUT 2.0 to drive water efficiency.
The initiative aims to promote and adopt water-efficient fixtures.
It would have 3, 4, and 5-star water fixtures based on their water efficiency.
This would help consumers make informed decisions while purchasing sanitary equipment.
Collaborators of the initiative
The Indian Plumbing Association and all manufacturers have been roped in to adopt and promote the new standards for water-efficient fixtures.
Why such move?
Data derived from this initiative showed that on average over 30% of water can be saved.
However, there was not enough data available to consumers to assist them in making informed decisions when purchasing sanitary fixtures.
Back2Basics: AMRUT 2.O
Water management: It will build upon the progress of AMRUT to address water needs, rejuvenate water bodies, better manage aquifers, reuse treated wastewater, thereby promoting circular economy of water.
Water supply: It would provide100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 ULBs.
Sewerage: It will provide 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities.
Rejuvenation of water bodies and urban aquifer management: It will be undertaken to augment sustainable fresh water supply.
Recycle and reuse of treated wastewater: It is expected to cater to 20% of total water needs of the cities and 40% of industrial demand.
Pey Jal Survekshan: It will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Seamounts
Mains level: NA
Central Idea: Scientists have reported finding 19,325 new seamounts after poring through new high-resolution data. A study had already mapped 24,000 seamounts across the world’s oceans.
Why study this?
The recent discovery of new seamounts was made possible by advancements in altimetry for gravity-field mapping, which improved spatial coverage.
Seamounts are underwater mountains formed through volcanic activity.
They are recognised as hotspots for marine life.
Most seamounts are formed near mid-ocean ridges, intraplate hotspots, and oceanic island chains with volcanic and seismic activity called island arcs.
They can be active, extinct or dormant volcanoes.
Importance of Seamounts
Seamounts provide information about the mantle’s composition and how tectonic plates evolve as they are formed when molten rock comes up from below the tectonic plates.
Oceanographers study seamounts to understand their influence on how water circulates and absorbs heat and carbon dioxide.
Seamounts are home to diverse biological communities as they can cause localised ocean upwelling, which brings nutrient-rich water from deep within the ocean to the surface.
How were they mapped?
Surveyors map seamounts using either echo sounders or multibeam sonar on ships for topographic mapping or using satellite altimetry for gravity-field mapping.
The hi-res maps produced by multibeam sonar mapping are often incomplete, whereas the low-res maps produced by satellite altimetry have better coverage.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ningaloo ‘Hybrid’ Solar Eclipse
Mains level: Not Much
A ‘hybrid’ solar eclipse called the Ningaloo Eclipse recently happened on April 20, 2023.
Ningaloo ‘Hybrid’ Solar Eclipse
It was a rare astronomical event that occurred on April 20, 2023.
The Moon passed directly between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on a narrow strip of land in Western Australia.
It was a “hybrid” eclipse, starting as an annular eclipse and transitioning into a total eclipse.
The path of the eclipse crossed over the Ningaloo Reef, a world heritage site in Western Australia.
It offered a unique opportunity to view the eclipse against the backdrop of the reef and the Indian Ocean.
How rare are such events?
During a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth’s surface.
However, solar eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Therefore, the Moon’s shadow usually misses Earth, but occasionally the alignment is just right for a solar eclipse to occur.
In the case of the Ningaloo Hybrid Solar Eclipse, the alignment was such that the Moon was at the right distance from Earth to create both an annular and a total eclipse as it moved across the Sun.
This type of eclipse is quite rare, occurring only about once every 400 years.
The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) has developed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using home-grown technology from cooking oil and oil-bearing plants.
SAF is also being produced from non-petroleum-based renewable feedstocks, municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats/greases/oils, and other feedstocks.
About ASTM certification
ASTM International is an international standards organization that develops and publishes technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
It was formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials and is based in the United States.
The organization has over 30,000 members from more than 140 countries, including scientists, engineers, and industry professionals.
The standards cover industries such as construction, petroleum, medical devices, and consumer products.
SAF under ASTM Certification
Two of ASTM standards related to aviation fuel are ASTM D4054 and ASTM D7566.
ASTM D4054 sets the requirements for qualifying aviation turbine fuels.
ASTM D7566 sets the requirements for certifying fuels for use in commercial aviation.
Present use of SAF
The Indian Air Force received provisional certification in November 2021 to use SAF on their test flights, subject to case-by-case approval by the aircraft manufacturer concerned.
However, it is yet to be internationally certified for use in commercial airlines in India.
SAF production in India
The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd is setting up the first SAF plant, which is expected to come online by early 2025.
However, two more SAF plants are expected to be set up by other refineries, probably by 2025-26.
The Mangalore Refinery can produce 20 tonnes of SAF per day, meaning about 7,000 tonnes per year.
However, to achieve even a per cent of blending of SAF in India, around 60,000 tonnes per year are required.
Way forward
Demand for bio-jet fuel must be increased through a national policy, along the lines of the National Biofuel Policy, for it to be commercially scaled and to accelerate production.
A nodal agency to implement this policy should be formed to bring together energy, transportation and agriculture sectors together under one roof.
Mapping the sources of the various feedstock could aid this policy.
Central idea: In an RTI reply, it is revealed that only 329 claims out of 647 filed were settled in the last two financial years under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).
What is PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)?
The PMJDY is a financial inclusion program launched by the Indian government in 2014.
It is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, a basic savings & deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner.
Under the scheme, a basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account can be opened in any bank branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitra) outlet, by persons not having any other account.
Benefits under PMJDY
One basic savings bank account is opened for unbanked person.
There is no requirement to maintain any minimum balance in PMJDY accounts.
Interest is earned on the deposit in PMJDY accounts.
Rupay Debit card is provided to the account holder.
Accident Insurance Cover of Rs.1 lakh (enhanced to Rs. 2 lakh to new PMJDY accounts opened after 28.8.2018) is available with RuPay card issued to the PMJDY account holders.
An overdraft (OD) facility up to Rs. 10,000 to eligible account holders is available.
Why in news?
In the financial year 2021-22, 341 claims were received for accident insurance cover under the PMJDY scheme.
Out of these, 182 claims were settled and 48 were rejected.
No information was provided on the status of the remaining 111 claims.
Is PMJDY a success?
Dormancy of accounts: The PMJDY scheme has led to an increase in the number of bank accounts in rural areas, but this has not necessarily led to a corresponding increase in transactions due to limited transaction history of many account holders.
Low or no transactions: Insurance coverage for the account holder is linked to their transaction history, and many accounts remain frozen due to lack of transactions, taking several weeks or months to reactivate.
False promise of overdraft: The promised overdraft facility of Rs 5000 for new account holders has not been provided as promised, leading to scepticism about the scheme’s success.
Payments bottleneck: The lack of proper connectivity, electricity, internet, and ATM facilities in rural areas has hindered the activation of RuPay cards and PIN numbers, which should have been considered before implementing such a large-scale program.
The Vaigai river enriches the clay used for the Manamadurai pottery. Pot making requires expertise as the bottom has to be perfectly round.
The right proportion of mud, clay and heating makes this product very strong. The main raw materials for making these pots are soil and water.
The sand, collected from different places of the district, is used for making pottery and dried for two days. The particles of the mud get separated by sieving.
The slurry is mixed with the sand and lead and graphite are added to the mixture to improve the quality.
This mixture is now rich in calcium lime, ash, red lead, sodium silicate, manganese, iron, and plasticizing. The pot is also painted in different colours.
What makes these pots unique?
A unique type of clay is sourced from water bodies like Nedunkulam, Nathapurakki, Sundaranadappu, Seikalathur to make these pots.
While making these pots, the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, sun and air are used.
The basic material for pottery is mud, which represents the earth. Mud is mixed with water, another element of nature.
This is followed by baking in fire, adding the third element.
The air percolates through the pores in the clay, marking the fourth element.
And finally, the cavity enclosed by the pot or any related article represents space.
Back2Basics: Geographical Indication (GI)
A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
