InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 1:
1. Architectural grandeur – Taj Mahal
GS Paper 2:
1. Energizing India-Nepal ties
2. Lack of quality engineering education
Content for Mains Enrichment (Essay/Ethics)
1. She teaches in school once blown by her father-in-law
2. Ripe for a green economy
Facts for Prelims:
1. Silphion
2. Modi recalls Shinzo Abe’s vision at the state funeral in Tokyo
3. S. says relationships with India, and Pakistan distinct
4. JALDOOT App
5. Sign Learn
6. QUAD will increase India’s Trade
7. Fund of Funds for Start-Ups India Investment
8. SymphoNE
9. Madhav National Park (MNP)
10. Neelakurinji Flower
11. Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) Missile
12. Mapping
Architectural grandeur – Taj Mahal
GS Paper 1
Syllabus: Architecture
Source: Indian Express, BBC
Context: The apex court has repeatedly called attention to the failures in protecting the Taj Mahal known for its architectural marvels – intricate lattice structures and designs from various forms of pollution.
About Taj Mahal:
- The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum of white marble built by the Mughal emperor, Shahjahanin memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna.
- It is also a brilliant representation of the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and grandeur.
- The construction of the Taj Mahal was completed within a period of 17 years from 1631 to 1648 AD.
The Taj Trapezium Zone case and increasing pollution
- SC in M.C. Mehta case (1996): In order to protect the monument from pollution, the central government had demarcated an area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj, called the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
- It also directed the 292 industries operating in the zone to switch to natural gas as an industrial fuel or relocate from their area.
- In 2010, a report submitted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) found that despite various government schemes to reduce pollution in the TTZ area, the iconic Taj Mahal continued to face a threat from water and air pollution.
Damage caused by insects
In a Report on Insect Activities at Taj Mahal and Other Monuments of Agra’, Mehta stated that green and black patches had developed on the marble facade due to the presence of a specific type of insects, mainly on the northern side of the Taj Mahal.
Additional Information: About Jaali Works (from BBC)
The term jaali, meaning net, is used in Central and South Asia. Cut from marble or red sandstone in ornamental patterns, jaali was a distinct architectural feature in India between the 16th and 18th Centuries (including the Taj Mahal).
The Hawa Mahal, or “Wind Palace”, built in 1799 by Rajput rulers in Jaipur, has 953 windows with lattice screens designed to let in a gentle breeze.
Now, in their search for sustainable cooling solutions, architects are reviving this ancient design to construct comfortable, low-carbon buildings.
Jaali’s cooling feature relies on the Venturi effect in a similar way to an air conditioning unit. “When air passes through holes, it picks up velocity and penetrates afar. Due to the small apertures, the air gets compressed and when released it gets cooler,”.
Insta Links:
Mains Link:
Q. Discuss the architectural and cultural significance of the Taj Mahal. 10M
Energizing India-Nepal ties
GS paper 2
Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India and affecting India’s interests
Context:
- The Investment Board Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited to develop the West Seti and Seti River (SR6) projects — a total of 1,200 MW.
Background:
- Withdrawal of China: China withdrew from the Seti project before Nepal decided to grant the project to India
- Issues of Resettlement and rehabilitation: In an MoU in 2012, China’s Three Gorges International Corporation was assigned to develop the project, but it withdrew in 2018, citing issues of resettlement and rehabilitation.
Other Projects involving India:
- Mahakali Treaty (6,480 MW)
- Upper Karnali Project (900 MW)
- Arun Three projects (900 MW)
Benefit of this project for India:
- Geopolitical influence of China: It will help India minimize the Chinese influence and firm its presence in Nepal.
- The West Seti Hydroelectric Project was a major Chinese venture under the Belt and Road Initiative.
- Cross-border exchange: The project has the potential to enhance cross-border power exchanges between the two countries.
- Growing energy demand: The West Seti Hydroelectric Project can provide an added alternative and viable way to address power deficits.
Steps needed for its success:
- Investment-related constraints: There needs to be a careful study of investment scenarios, particularly a conducive investment environment, distribution and transmission network and cost of resettlement and rehabilitation, at the preliminary stage.
- Nepal’s concern about electricity rates and supply from India: To address these concerns, the new MoU has already revised the percentage share of energy that Nepal will receive free of cost from the generation projects to 9(twenty-one point nine)% from 10%.
- Domestic demand: The MoU allows Nepal to request the NHPC to sell the power generated from the projects to the domestic market before selling whole or part to the export market.
- BBIN energy cooperation: The project can also be extended to other regional partners under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) framework for cross-border energy cooperation.
Insta Links:
India and Nepal Border Dispute
Mains Links:
Q. The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalized Nations has disappeared on account of its newfound role in the emerging global order” Elaborate. (UPSC 2019)
Prelims Links:
- Mahakali Treaty
- Upper Karnali Project
- Arun Three projects
- West Seti project
- India Nepal border dispute mapping
- BRI
Consider the following statements:
- The West Seti dam is located at the confluence of the Seti and Karnali river.
- Seti dam lies to the east of Kathmandu.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (c
Justification:
Refer to the image above
The lack of quality engineering education
GS paper 2
Syllabus: Issues related to the development of the social sector involving education etc
Directions: Important for mains, you can use it as an issue in higher education in India
Context:
- The Union Ministry of Education released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings for
- An analysis of the top 200 institutes of technology and engineering colleges is a worrying picture.
Issues:
- Misleading Placement news and consequent free increase: The ‘hard work pays’ and ‘institutions matter’, these stories attract prospective students and justify increasing fees.
- Lack of clarification from Engineering colleges: The reported packages are the rupee equivalent of U.S. salaries in dollars with no regard for the cost of living or for purchasing power parity.
- Take-home salaries: The take-home salaries are only a fraction of what is mentioned in the headlines.
- Sign-on bonus for the job: It is rarely paid upfront, instead, it is usually disbursed over about 24 months.
- Rare offers: Placement headlines rarely reveal that such offers are rare, limited to only a minuscule number of graduates
- International placements: The placements are generally confined to international placements, mostly in the Information Technology sector.
Impact of misleading advertising by colleges:
- Mindless race: This triggers a mindless rat race to get students into institutions of national importance.
- Chasing placement: Students chase quality institutions, those that offer an assured placement, preferably with a dream package.
- Capitalization: Above factors, coupled with the scarcity of seats, makes a fertile ground for commerce to capitalize on.
- Focus on admissions: Children are often forced to take time off from their studies to focus on admissions
- Parents and peer pressure: Children are forced to realize the dream that their parents and peers have seen for them and become doctors and engineers.
Way forward:
- Engineering education at affordable cost: India has many institutions offering quality engineering education at an affordable cost.
- In business parlance, that is the ability to deliver value for money.
- Quality of technical higher education: The scope of enhancing the intake in the existing quality institutions also appears limited.
- The need is to improve the overall quality of technical higher education across the board.
Insta Links:
India Rankings 2022 of higher educational institutes
Mains Links:
Q. National Education Policy 2020 is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals-4 (2030). It intended to restructure and re-orient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement(UPSC 2020)
Prelims Links:
NIRF ranking
NEP
SDG 4
Which of the following is/are parameters used by NIRF for ranking of higher educational institutions?
- Teaching, learning and resources(TLR)
- Research and professional practice
- Graduation outcome
- Inclusivity and perception
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a.1, 2 and 4 only
b.1, 3 and 4 only
c.2 and 3 only
d.1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (d)
Justification:
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Content for Mains Enrichment
She teaches in school once blown by her father-in-law
Source: The New Indian Express
Ranju Devi is now a respected name in Chormara village of Jamui district in Bihar. She has started teaching children in the same school.
Ten years back her extremist father-in-law blew up the village school building.
Ranju had requested CRPF authorities and the district administration to allow her to teach in the school when her father-in-law, former Maoist Baleshwar Koda, surrendered before the authorities in June.
Koda and other extremists owing allegiance to CPI (Maoist) had triggered an explosion at the school, located in the remote forest of Barhat locality.
This example can be shown as – Giving back to society, courageousness (Teaching in a Naxal-affected area), Public Service etc.
Ripe for a green economy
Source: DTE
Forests are home, to women of Kodalpali, Sinduria and neighbouring villages in Odisha’s Nayagarh; they can build the economy of the future.
Over the years, with the help of Vasundhara —a non-profit working on tribal rights — they have formed a federation of village protection committees at the block and district levels. Here the executives — mostly women — meet every month to sort out inter-village conflicts and other issues.
Their forest usage rules apply to all — fuelwood is to be collected only on Sundays; green trees are not be felled; no grazing during the monsoon; and collection of minor forest produce, like bamboo, kendu (or tendu leaves used in beedi manufacture), is to be done only by the village households, not by outsiders.
This grand experiment has now entered a new phase. In November 2021, after years of struggle, 24 villages have been granted community forest rights. This is a provision of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, under which villages can get the right to patches of government forests that were traditionally used, for the exclusive use of resources and protection.
Previously, Muduligadia, a nondescript village in Nayagarh district, had earned the prominence of the first eco-village of the state.
Fact for Prelims:
Silphion
Source: DTE
Context: A Mediterranean medicinal plant considered a cure-all that mysteriously vanished 2,000 years ago may still be around, a recent study claimed.
About Silphion:
The resin of the silphion was extensively used as a spice, perfume, aphrodisiac, contraceptive and medicine. It occupied an important place in the export economy of ancient Cyrene, an old Greek and later Roman colony near north-eastern Libya.
Silphion was used to treat various health problems, including goitre, sciatica (nerve pain), toothache, intestinal disorders, hormonal disorders, epilepsy, tetanus, polyps (abnormal growth of tissues) and malignant tumours, according to studies.
Its stalks were eaten as a vegetable, while the roots were consumed raw. The plant was also used to preserve lentils, historical records showed.
Overharvesting may have driven the plant into extinction.
Modi recalls Shinzo Abe’s vision at the state funeral in Tokyo
Context:
- Strengthening the Indo-Pacific region was first articulated by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Shinzo’s contribution:
- Strengthening India-Japan partnership
- Conceptualizing the vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region
- Strengthened India’s ties with the United States
- Reinforced Japan-U.S. deterrence
- India’s cooperation with the US and Australia to form the Quad framework.
Other contributions to Japan’s foreign policy:
To read more about Shinzo Abe: click here
U.S. says relationships with India, and Pakistan distinct
Context:
- The U.S. has said its relationship with India and Pakistan is not in relation to each other.
Key Highlights:
- India’s External Affairs Minister criticized $450 million in U.S. assistance to Pakistan for “sustainment and related equipment” for its F-16 fighter jets.
- The US has asked Pakistan “to engage China on some of the important issues of debt relief and restructure.
Pakistan’s engagement through the US:
- Counterterrorism commitments
- Commitments to safe passage
- Commitments to the citizens of Afghanistan
F-16:
- The F-16 is a lightweight, simple and relatively cheap aircraft making it immensely popular.
- It has a fly-by-wire control system, which is its most innovative feature.
- In an F-16, the pilot gives electronic inputs through the control stick, which is read by a computer that moves the control surfaces.
- This feature makes it more manoeuvrable and stable.
- Each jet can carry up to six air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and other Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM).
JALDOOT App
Source: PIB
Context: Ministry of Rural Development has developed this app to help Gram Rojgar Sahayak to measures the groundwater level of selected wells twice a year in selected villages.
The data will be used in making plans for groundwater augmentation under Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.
Sign Learn
Source: Business-Standard
Context: Government recently launched Indian Sign Language (ISL), mobile app ‘Sign Learn’, to make Indian Sign Language easily available to the public at large.
It is based on the Indian Sign language dictionary (of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre).
QUAD will increase India’s Trade
Source: The Hindu
Context: India’s membership of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue would give it an opportunity to benefit from greater trade and investment flows as economic ties are expected to deepen among members seeking to reduce their dependence on China.
Benefits of India in Quad:
- India is poised to become a growing destination market for goods from the other Quad countries, including commodities, machinery and chemicals.
- The U.S. and Japan will continue to be major sources of FDI to India in services, telecommunications and software
- Australia’s presence will grow as a result of a free-trade agreement with India
Issues:
- India’s business climate and the level of investment attractiveness, which ‘remains weak’ compared with that of other Asia Pacific economies and other Quad members.
- A lack of cohesion between Quad members on any given issue, exemplified by India opting out of the trade pillar of the IPEF
About Quad:
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
- The idea of Quad was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007 but took shape only in 2017.
Fund of Funds for Start-Ups India Investment
Source: Economic Times
Direction: Know the basics: What is AIF?
Context: Ministry of Commerce and Industry has committed over 7000cr for Alternate Investment Funds (AIF). AIF will use the money to invest in the Start-Ups.
This facility is available only to SEBI-registered AIFs.
What are AIFs?
Alternative Investment Funds are those funds created or established in India as a privately pooled investment vehicle in order to collect funds from specific investors as per a previously defined investment policy.
Fund of the Fund for Start-Ups comes under the Start-Up India scheme (2016) to mobilize domestic capital for the Indian start-up ecosystem. It will help start-ups avail funds at the early and seed stage and reduce their dependence on foreign capital.
SymphoNE
Source: PIB
Context: The Virtual Conference ‘SymphoNE’ is being organized by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region on the occasion of World Tourism Day (27th Sept), with the aim to create a roadmap to showcase the unexplored beauty of North East India & boost the tourism Sector in North Eastern Region.
India’s North East is termed as a ‘Traveller’s Unexplored Paradise’, with a rare combination of Scenic Beauty, Unique Cultures and abundant Natural resources.
Related News:
As per government figures (India Tourism Statistics 2022), 2.74 million foreign tourists visited India in 2020 and in 2021, the number was 1.52 million.
In 2021, the top 15 countries from which foreign tourists arrived in India included the U.S., the U.K., Bangladesh, Canada, Nepal, Afghanistan and Australia.
The number of foreign tourist arrivals during 2019 was 10.93 million
Madhav National Park (MNP)
Source: DTE
Context: 60 years after they were last seen, tigers are being reintroduced to Madhya Pradesh’s Madhav National Park.
About MNP:
- Location:Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh.
- It was the hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja of Gwalior.
- Ecosystem: It has a diverse ecosystem consisting of lakes (Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar), dry deciduous & dry thorn forests.
- Tiger Corridor:It is part of the Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) Tiger Corridor of Central India & Eastern Ghats landscape.
- Home to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s like Saharia
Neelakurinji Flower
Source: Indian Express
Context: The flower has bloomed in Chandradrona Mountains in Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka) for 12 years.
About the flower
- It is endemic to Western Ghats (areas around TN, Kerala and Karnataka) at the altitude of 1300 to 2400m once every 12 years.
Related News:
Bathukamma flower festival is celebrated in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as per Satavahana Calendar during the Navaratri festival.
Successful Flight Tests of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) Missile by DRDO
Source: LiveMint
VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies including a miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests.
Mapping
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