2024

Current Affairs

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

Context: From referring to the Harappan civilisation as the ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati’ and ‘Indus-Sarasvati’ civilisation, to multiple mentions of the ‘Sarasvati’ river, including noting its desiccation as one of the reasons for the decline of the Harappan society, to a mention of India having had a “prime meridian of its own” called the ‘Ujjayini meridian’ — the new NCERT Class 6 Social Science textbook released on Friday incorporates many new elements

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, is one of the world's oldest urban cultures, dating back to around 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. It was a Bronze Age civilization that flourished in the northwestern regions of South Asia, primarily in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Here, we explore key aspects of the IVC that are often the focus of UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) Preliminary questions.

Geographic Spread and Major Sites

The IVC extended over a vast area, encompassing parts of modern-day Pakistan and India. Key archaeological sites include:

Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan): One of the first sites to be excavated, giving its name to the civilization.
Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan): Known for its advanced urban planning and the Great Bath.
Dholavira (Gujarat, India): Notable for its unique water conservation system.
Lothal (Gujarat, India): An important port city with a dockyard.
Rakhigarhi (Haryana, India): One of the largest Harappan sites.

Urban Planning and Architecture:

The urban planning of IVC cities is a testament to their advanced engineering skills. Key features include:

Grid Layout: Cities were laid out in a grid pattern with streets intersecting at right angles.
Drainage System: An elaborate drainage system with covered drains and soak pits.
Granaries: Large storage structures for surplus grain.
Houses: Built with standardized burnt bricks, featuring multiple rooms and wells.

Economy and Trade:

The Harappan economy was primarily agrarian, supplemented by trade and commerce. Key aspects include:

Agriculture: Wheat, barley, peas, and cotton were the main crops.
Trade: Extensive trade networks with Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), Afghanistan, and other regions. Evidence of trade includes seals, beads, and pottery.
Craftsmanship: Skilled in metallurgy, bead-making, and pottery. The famous "Dancing Girl" bronze statue from Mohenjo-daro exemplifies their metallurgical prowess.

Script and Seals:

The Harappan script remains undeciphered, but numerous seals and inscriptions have been found:

Seals: Made of steatite, featuring animal motifs and inscriptions. The "Pashupati Seal" depicting a seated figure surrounded by animals is notable.
Script: Consists of pictographic signs, yet to be fully understood.

Social and Political Organization:

The social and political structure of the IVC is inferred from archaeological evidence:

Society: Likely egalitarian with no clear evidence of a ruling class or centralized monarchy.
Religion: Evidence of worship of mother goddess figures, animal worship, and possible proto-Shiva worship.

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization:

The decline of the IVC around 1900 BCE is attributed to several factors:

Climate Change: Shifts in the monsoon pattern leading to reduced rainfall and droughts.
River Changes: Changes in the course of the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra rivers affecting agriculture and settlement patterns.
Invasion Theory: Earlier theories of Aryan invasions have been largely debunked in favor of environmental causes.

‘Moidams’ to be considered for World Heritage List

Context: The 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty, the Moidams from Assam, will be considered for nomination on the World Heritage List during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi. If it gets nominated, it will become the first cultural site on the prestigious list from the northeastern region.

More about the news:

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 46th session of WHC, which is being held in India for the first time.
The event brings together culture ministers, representatives and stakeholders from around the world to discuss the preservation of shared cultural, natural and mixed heritage.

About Moidams:

Introduction:

The nomination dossier for the Moidams was sent more than a decade ago and is presently on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is the first step towards the monument becoming a part of the final list.
The Tai-Ahom clan upon their migration from China established their capital in different parts of the Brahmaputra River Valley between 12th to 18th CE.
- The Ahom or Tai-Ahom is an ethnic group, presently in Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Siukapha/Sukaphaa, established the first capital of the Ahoms at the foothill of Patkai hills and named it Cheraidoi or Charaideo.
While the clan moved from city to city, the landscape of Cheraideo continued to retain its position as the most sacred, where the Royals used to be buried after death.
Their unique system of vaulted mounds continued for 700 years, till many Tai-Ahoms converted to Buddhism while others adopted the Hindu system of cremation.
The property and Buffer zones around Cheraideo are jointly protected and managed jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Department of Archaeology under the Ancient Monuments and Sites Remains Act 1958 (Amended in 2010) and by the Assam Ancient Monuments and Records Act 1959 respectively.

Significant features of Moidams:

The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty is a sacred landscape in eastern Assam, with more than ninety burial mounds established by the Tai-Ahom over 700 years ago.
The moidams of Charaideo contain the remains of the Tai-Ahom kings. They are set within a sculpted landscape that reflects Tai cosmologies.
Moidams are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double stories entered through an arched passage.
On the top of the hemispherical mud-mound, layers of bricks and earth are laid, where the base of the mound is reinforced.
Excavation shows that each vaulted chamber has a centrally raised platform where the body was laid.
Several objects used by the deceased during his life, like royal insignia, objects made in wood or ivory or iron, gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons were also buried.
The crematory rituals of the Royal Ahoms were conducted with grandeur, reflecting their hierarchy.
The Changrung Phukan (canonical text developed by the Ahoms) records the materials used to construct a Moidam.
- There is a great variety in materials and systems of construction used in building a moidam.
- From the period between 13th CE to 17th CE, wood was used as the primary material for construction whereas in the 18th CE onwards stone and burnt bricks of various sizes were used for the inner chambers.
- Boulders of different sizes, broken stones, bricks, and broken brick were used to construct the superstructure, whereas large stone slabs were used for the sub-substructure.

The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty is an outstanding example of a Tai-Ahom necropolis (an extensive and elaborate burial place) that represents tangibly the Tai-Ahom funerary traditions and associated cosmologies.

About Tai-Ahom Kingdom:

The Ahom kingdom (1228–1826) was a late medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley (present-day Assam).
Established by Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from present-day Yunnan Province, China.
The Ahom dynasty created a new state by overpowering the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords).
By the 16th century, the Ahom empire expanded their influence and built a large state.
The Ahom empire followed a monarchical system of governance.
The kingdom became weaker with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion, and subsequently fell to repeated Burmese invasions of Assam.
With the defeat of the Burmese after the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, control of the kingdom passed into East India Company hands.

Mashco Piro Tribe

Context: Indigenous rights NGO Survival International has released rare pictures of the Mashco Piro tribespeople, one of the world’s 100-odd uncontacted tribes.

Mashco Piro

The Mashco Piro tribe are indigenous people living in the Amazon rainforest in Peru (precisely in the Madre de Dios Region, close to Peru’s border with Brazil and Bolivia), South America.

Uncontacted tribe:
- They are one of the last remaining uncontacted tribes in the world, choosing to live in voluntary isolation from mainstream society.
- The tribe, possibly numbering more than 750, is believed to be the largest of uncontacted tribes.

Nomadic Lifestyle: The Mashco Piro are traditionally nomadic, moving through the rainforest based on seasonal availability of resources.
Hunter-Gatherers: They rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering for sustenance, utilising traditional tools and knowledge passed down through generations.
Use of Natural Resources: The tribe makes use of various plants and animals in the forest for food, shelter, and medicine.
Challenges:
- Disease transmission: Peru’s government has forbidden all contact with the Mashco Piro, fearing that the contact with outsiders can pose significant health risks to the Mashco Piro, as they lack immunity to common diseases.
- Deforestation: The expansion of logging, agriculture, and infrastructure projects in the Amazon threatens Mashco Piro's territory and way of life.
Legal Protection: While the Peruvian government has established protected areas & reserves to protect the territory of these tribes, enforcement of these protections is often weak, and illegal activities continue to encroach on their land and resources.

Banga Protests

Context: The recent protests in Bangladesh, which began in early July 2024, are centered around the controversial job quota system in government jobs. This quota system, reintroduced by a Supreme Court order in June 2024, reserves more than half of civil service positions for specific groups, including descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 War of Independence, women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.

Banga Protests Explained

The primary trigger for the protests was the Supreme Court's directive to reinstate job quotas that were previously abolished in 2018 following massive student protests. The protesters, primarily university students, demand an end to this quota system, advocating for a merit-based recruitment process. They argue that the current system disproportionately benefits certain groups, particularly those aligned with the ruling Awami League party.

Key Events:

Protests erupted in early July after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused to abolish the quotas, stating that the matter was under judicial review. Her remarks, comparing the protesters to the Razakar Force (a group that collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war), further inflamed the situation, leading to night time protests and demonstrations across major universities.
The protests took a violent turn on July 16, 2024, when clashes between police and students resulted in the deaths of six individuals. The most significant violence occurred in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rangpur, with the police using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
In response to the escalating violence, the Bangladeshi government ordered the indefinite closure of all schools and universities. Paramilitary forces were deployed in major cities to maintain order. Prime Minister Hasina vowed to punish those responsible for the violence but maintained a firm stance on not interfering with the judicial process concerning the quota system.

Key Demands of the Protesters:

Abolition of Quotas: The primary demand is the complete abolition of the quota system, except for minimal quotas for disabled and marginalized groups.
Merit-based Recruitment: Protesters advocate for a transparent, merit-based recruitment process in government jobs to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates.
Withdrawal of PM’s Remarks: Many protesters also demand an apology and retraction of the Prime Minister’s controversial remarks comparing them to the Razakar Force.

Relation with Radicalization

The protests have also brought to light concerns about radicalization. Some analysts believe that the discontent among youth, particularly students, could be exploited by radical groups looking to destabilize the government. This is a critical dimension, as it underscores the potential for socio-political unrest to be leveraged by extremist elements. The government’s heavy-handed response, including the use of force against peaceful protesters, might further alienate the youth, making them susceptible to radical ideologies.

Opposition's Role: Khaleda Zia's Party

The main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, has voiced its support for the protesters. The BNP has historically opposed the Awami League's policies and sees the current unrest as an opportunity to gain political leverage. The opposition’s backing adds a significant political dimension to the protests, potentially escalating the conflict. The BNP’s involvement might also lead to broader anti-government demonstrations, complicating the political landscape further.

Impact on Relations with India:

India, as a close neighbour and significant regional power, closely monitors the political developments in Bangladesh. The unrest and potential instability in Bangladesh could affect bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as trade, security, and regional cooperation.
India has historically supported Sheikh Hasina’s government, which has been cooperative in addressing cross-border terrorism and maintaining stability in the region. However, prolonged instability could challenge this dynamic, especially if a change in government brings the BNP, known for its nationalist and sometimes anti-India stance, into power.

Global Microsoft-CrowdStrike outage

Context: Recently, a major global IT outage occurred due to a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update affected Windows computers running CrowdStrike's software, causing widespread disruptions across various sectors, including airlines, hospitals, banks, and government agencies.

Microsoft's Global Outage Explained

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issued a severity rating of “critical” for the incident.

Major Highlights:

A glitch in the software update of Falcon Sensor (the endpoint protection programme of CrowdStrike) caused the Windows operating system to crash and several users faced with the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Once BSOD flashed on a user’s screen, they were not able to access their devices linked to CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform.
BSOD is a warning that users see on their computer when the system interrupts operations and displays it on a blue screen. Officially referred to as the “Stop Error”, the warning is issued when a critical problem forces Windows to reboot.
- Blue Screen errors, also known as black screen errors or STOP code errors, can occur when a critical issue forces Windows to unexpectedly shut down or restart.
- One may encounter a message stating, "Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer". These errors can stem from hardware or software problems.
- CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity firm that provides antivirus software to Microsoft for its Windows devices.

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Impact: Widespread disruptions to airlines, hospitals, banking and retail services, healthcare services, stock exchanges, and other digital services worldwide.
Current status: CrowdStrike has identified the issue, rolled back the software update, and provided a manual fix and the situation has returned to normal.

Pink Bollworm (PBW) Menace and Project San-Vardhan

Pink Bollworm (PBW) Menace

PBW pests have severely damaged cotton crops over the past 3-4 years.
Example: Farmer in Fazilka district destroyed his cotton crop due to PBW infestation.

Pink Bollworm

Pink Bollworm is considered possibly the most destructive pest on cotton worldwide.
It is native to India but is now found in nearly all the cotton-growing countries of the globe.
Description: The larvae have distinctive pink bands, and the larval stage, is the most destructive and identifiable stage. The adults are small moths about 3/8 inch long.
Threat:
- Adults lay eggs on cotton bolls; once hatched, the larvae burrow into the developing fruits (bolls) of cotton plants, eat the seeds and damage the fibres of the cotton.
- The damage affects both the weight and quality of the harvested bolls containing the lint fibre and seeds inside, thus, reducing both the yield and quality.
- When the larvae mature, they cut out the boll and drop to the ground and cocoon near the soil surface.
- The larvae can also survive in the seed after the ginning process and if the seed is not fumigated, they will emerge from the stored seed the next spring.

Apart from cotton, they can also attack hibiscus and okra.

What are the measures taken in this regard?

CREMIT Technology
- Deployment: (Haryana) and Fazilka/Bhatinda (Punjab).
- Objective: Eco-friendly population control through "Insect Family Planning" by disrupting mating of PBW.
- Mechanism: Uses synthetic sex pheromones to confuse male moths during mating season, reducing PBW incidence.

Collaborative Initiatives

Project San-Vardhan (Cotton You Can Trust)
- Purpose: Promote CREMIT technology in Punjab and Haryana.
- Focus: Ensure sustainable cotton farming by reducing dependence on insecticides.

San Vardhan is a holistic approach to tackle the PBW issue, including package of practices of agronomy, nutrients, etc. It will also enable traceability of the produce. This is currently being implemented across 2,000 acres in three districts of Punjab and Haryana with about 500+ cotton farmers being trained on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM).

Policy Advocacy

Demand for BG-III Cotton Seeds
- Request: Punjab Agriculture Minister seeks approval of next generation Bollgard-III cotton seeds.
- Reason: Current BG-II seeds vulnerable to pests; BG-III seeds expected to offer better pest resistance.
- Advocacy: Urges Union Agriculture Minister to expedite approval to combat ongoing pest attacks effectively.

Challenges Faced by Farmers

Example: Farmer shift from cotton to moong due to PBW damage and lack of irrigation machinery.
Need: Access to resilient seeds and sustainable pest management technologies to safeguard crops.

Way Forward

Emphasize adoption of innovative technologies like CREMIT.
Accelerate approval and adoption of BG-III cotton seeds to enhance crop resilience against pests.
Promote sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term viability of cotton farming in the region.

60 µg/l uranium in drinking water safe: Nuclear safety watchdog

Context: A new study by scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has concluded that concentration of uranium, a radioactive substance, up to 60 micrograms per litre (millionth of a gram per litre or µg/l) in drinking water was entirely safe, suggesting that the recently formulated “more stringent” national standard of 30 µg/l could be counterproductive.

What is the present status of Water resources in India?

The country has 18 percent of the world’s population, but only 4 percent of its water resources, making it among the most water-stressed in the world.
The average per capita water availability for 2031 has been assessed to be 1367 cubic metres.
Around 30% of India’s freshwater is stored as groundwater, mostly in aquifers — bodies of permeable rock and sediment — below the Earth’s surface. With more than 60% of irrigated agriculture and 85% of drinking water supplies dependent on it, groundwater is a vital resource.

Groundwater contamination

Discharge of toxic elements from industries and landfills and diffused sources of pollution like fertilizers and pesticides over the years has resulted in high levels of contamination of groundwater. Nitrate contamination, the presence of fluoride, iron, arsenic and heavy metals have also touched worrying levels. Geological conditions like underlying rock also lead to uranium contamination in water resources.

What are the reasons leading to high water stress in India?

There is a combination of natural as well as man made reasons:
Natural reasons:

Rainfall variability - The Indian monsoon is highly variable and unpredictable, causing fluctuations in annual rainfall creating temporal water stresses in few regions.
Topography – Rain shadow areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka face water scarcity as it does not receive much rainfall.
Geology – Peninsular hard rocks make the region vulnerable to low groundwater reserves.
Seasonal rivers dry out during low rainfall season hence leading to water stress.
Natural disasters further can alter the availability of water resources.

Human reasons:

Faulty agriculture and irrigation practices such as flood irrigation, lead to significant water wastage. Additionally, the cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane in water-scarce regions exacerbates the problem.
Industrialization & urbanization is increasing the water demand and lowering the natural recharge of ground water.
Pollution affects the water quality. Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, and untreated sewage contribute to the pollution of rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This contamination reduces the availability of potable water.
Deforestation and land degradation reduce the ability of natural ecosystems to retain water and recharge groundwater. This leads to increased surface runoff and reduced infiltration, affecting water availability.
Inefficient and poorly planned water management systems, including inadequate storage facilities, poor maintenance of infrastructure, and lack of effective water distribution policies, contribute to water stress.
Disputes between states over the sharing of river waters, such as those involving the Cauvery, Krishna, and Godavari rivers, exacerbate water stress in the affected regions
Further, now the climate change is making the problem worse. Although climate change is a natural phenomenon, human activities like greenhouse gas emissions are accelerating its impacts. This leads to more frequent and severe droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and altered hydrological cycles.

What steps the government has taken till now in this regard?

Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 envisages construction of about 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of monsoon rainfall.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc.
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) has been launched in 2019 with the objective to improve the management of ground water resources including rainwater harvesting in water stressed areas through community participation in identified priority areas in 7 states viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) includes water conservation and water harvesting structures as one of the activities under its natural resource management (NRM) component.
15th Finance Commission grants have been released to States to be utilized through Rural Local Bodies. Financial assistance given to various States under 15th Finance Commission tied grants can be inter alia utilized for rainwater harvesting.

What future strategy needs to be adopted?

Water Pricing
- Effective pricing for water and power, setting up water meters, Independent regulatory authority should be established to determine water user fees.
Promoting use of wastewater
- High priority for recycle and reuse of water. For ex. Wastewater usage can be increased in Thermal power plants.
Increasing water use efficiency in Agriculture
- Water-efficient crops as per agro-climatic zones, focus on micro irrigation, proper maintenance of canal networks and moving towards climate smart agriculture.
Employing nature-based solutions for sustainable water
- Rejuvenation of catchment areas, local rainwater harvesting, traditional irrigation and water conservation systems and wetland construction.
Water governance reforms
- A National Water Commission as advised by Mihir Shah Committee should be formed, Bring water from State list to concurrent list, participatory water management by water user association and Panchayats.
Innovative policies like promoting pani panchayats and cash transfers. E.g. In the agrarian state of Punjab, where rampant tubewell irrigation is causing the water table to fall drastically, the Bank helped the state government pilot an innovative scheme to conserve groundwater. The “Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao” (Save Water, Earn Money) scheme incentivizes farmers to reduce groundwater usage. Around 300 enrolled farmers were given cash incentives to save electricity used for irrigation, resulting in water savings of between 6 and 25 percent without any adverse effect on the yield.

Sovereign Wealth Fund

Context: Assets under custody of sovereign wealth funds in domestic companies rose by 60% to touch Rs 4.7 lakh crore in the FY 2024.

What are Sovereign Wealth Funds?

SWFs are special investment vehicles owned by the government of a country for investing in different assets including financial assets of other countries. These funds are funded by government surpluses like revenues from natural resources, forex reserves, proceeds from divestment, privatisation, etc., to expand the country’s excess reserve pool through long-term investments. E.g., ADIA, QIA etc. (India has its own sovereign wealth fund in the form of National Infrastructure Investment Fund.)

The Indian regulatory framework does not define SWFs as a distinct category of investments and considers them as any other foreign investment under:
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
- Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)
- Foreign Venture Capital Investments (FVCI).

The Union government has given a 100% tax exemption on dividend, interest, and long-term capital gains income arising from overseas SWF investments in Infrastructure.

The green revolution in maize

Context - Between 1999-2000 and 2023-24, its annual output has more than tripled, from 11.5 to over 35 million tonnes (mt), with average per-hectare yields also rising from 1.8 to 3.3 tonnes.

About Maize Growth

Maize is one of the most important cereal crop in the world used as food and feed. It has very high yield potential. There is no cereal on the earth which has so immense potentiality and that’s why it is called ‘Queen of Cereals’. Maize is grown in almost all the states of India. It is next to rice, wheat and sorghum with regards to area and production in India.

Growing conditions for Maize:

Maize is best suited to well drained sandy loam to silty loam soils. Water stagnation is harmful to the crop, therefore, proper drainage is a must for success of the crop especially during kharif season. Optimum pH ranges between 5.5 and 7.5. The alluvial soils are very suitable for growing maize crop.
Maize is warm weather plant. It grows from sea level to 3000m altitude. Kharif season is main growing season in northern India. In the south, however maize is sown any time from April to October. The most suitable temperature for germination is 21 degree C and for growth 32 degree C. Extremely high temperature and low humidity during flowering damages the oliage, desiccates the pollen and interferes with pollen germination.

Trends in India’s Maize production:

U-Win portal

Context: With the government planning to launch the U-Win digital vaccination registry on August 15, the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is set to be significantly strengthened. This portal replicates the Covid-19 vaccine management system, Co-WIN.

About U-Win portal

It aims to maintain an electronic registry of routine immunisations.
Also aims to reduce zero-dose and left-out children through a name-based tracking mechanism and empower citizens with anytime, anywhere access to vaccination services, particularly benefiting migratory Populations.

Target Population and Coverage

Captures every vaccination event for pregnant women and children aged 0-6 years under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
Targets 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0-1 years) annually.
Provides 11 vaccines against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, rubella, and tetanus.
Conducts more than 1.2 crore vaccination sessions across the country annually.
Vaccination is free of cost at all Government Vaccination Centers.

Features of U-Win portal:

The platform generates a uniform QR-based, digitally verifiable e-vaccination certificate, similar to Covid vaccination certificate, which can be accessed anytime by the citizens through a single click. It will enable the digitisation of session planning, and updating vaccination status on a real-time basis.
- Vaccination records under UIP are being maintained manually as of now. So this will do away with the hassle of keeping a physical record.
Records pregnancy details and outcomes, newborn registration, and immunisation at birth.
Citizens can self-register for vaccinations via the U-WIN web portal or its Android mobile application. Allows selection of preferred vaccination centres and scheduling of appointments.
Facilitates on-spot registration during ongoing vaccination sessions.
Up to 10 people can be registered for vaccination using the same mobile number.
Sends automated SMS alerts for registration confirmations, administered doses, and upcoming dose reminders, ensuring timely and age-appropriate vaccinations.
Facilitates the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for comprehensive health record maintenance.

Thangka Art

Context: The Thangka painting is a work of art and also a matter of cultural identity for the Tibetans residing in Majnu Ka Tila, Delhi. The traditional Thangkas are usually small in size and many of the original ones came in sets or as a series of narrative mythological scenes.

About Thangka Art

Origin and history:

Tibetan Buddhist painting developed from widespread traditions of early Buddhist paintings which now only survive in a few sites such as the Ajanta Caves in India and the Mogao Caves in China.
The thangka form developed alongside the tradition of Tibetan Buddhist wall paintings, which are or were mostly in monasteries.
- The early history of the art form is more easily traced through these murals, which survive in greater numbers.

Features:

It is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, silk applique, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala.
Thangka means ‘thing that one unrolls’, which means unframed painting rolled up after completion. These paintings are usually called unframed.
The most common is a loosely woven cotton produced in widths from 40 to 58 cm (16 - 23 inches). While some variations do exist, thangkas wider than 45 cm (17 or 18 inches) frequently have seams in the support.
The paint consists of pigments in a water-soluble medium of animal glue. Both mineral and organic pigments are used.
Commonly painted by Holy lamas or Buddhist monks.
- The intricate pieces depict the life story of Buddha or other Buddhist deities and influential Lamas and serve both as devotional objects and teaching tools.
- Most thangkas were intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students.
- A central deity is often surrounded by other identified figures in a symmetrical composition.
- Narrative scenes are less common, but do appear.
- One important subject is the Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra), which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment).
Two largest thangkas are displayed at Potala Palace in Tibet, which also holds a collection of 10,000 Thangka paintings dating back to 300 years.

Thangka Painting in India:

Thangkas were painted in all the areas where Tibetan Buddhism flourished, which included Mongolia, Ladakh, Sikkim, and parts of Himalayan India in Arunachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, and Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh.
Thangka paintings of Himalayan North-East Zone are a sacred form of art maintained and preserved by the local Buddhist.
Thangka paintings are a reliable source of information and pillar of Buddhism.
Tibetan Thangkas have depictions of Rinpoche and Dalai Lama whereas Sikkimese Thangkas have depictions of Chogyal or last King of Sikkim along with Rinpoche and Monks.

Though Thangka art has also been influenced by industrialisation, commercialisation and mass production, it has not impacted the traditional production method unlike India’s Madhubani art, which has seen a decline in quality due to adoption of non-traditional colour schemes.

Shivaji’s ‘wagh nakh’ from U.K. to be displayed in Satara

Context: The iconic wagh nakh or tiger claws used by Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was brought to India from London. The weapon was brought to Mumbai from the Victoria and Albert Museum to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the famed Maratha ruler’s ascension to the throne.

About the 'wagh nakh':

Literally ‘tiger claws’, the wagh nakh is a medieval claw-like dagger which was used across the Indian subcontinent.
It was a weapon used for personal defence or stealth attack.
It is believed that the 'wagh nakh' was used by Shivaji to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659
- Afzal Khan was a general of Bijapur’s Adil Shahi Sultanate.
- Shivaji used to be a former vassal of the Adil Shahis but by the 1650s, he had become increasingly assertive, taking forts across the Konkan, and bringing under control large areas of Adil Shahi territory.
- Given Afzal Khan’s success in the south, he was sent by the Sultan, with a mighty army, to subdue the Maratha icon.
- As per historical accounts, the Maratha ruler killed Afzal Khan at the foot of Pratapgarh Fort in the present-day Satara district of Maharashtra.
- In the Battle of Pratapgarh, the Marathas defeated the Adilshahi forces. The killing was a turning point in history as it helped Shivaji to establish the Maratha Empire’s rule.

How did Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s wagh nakh reach London?

According to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s website, the weapon was brought to Britain by East India Company officer James Grant Duff (1789- 1858).
Duff was the Company Resident (political agent) of the Satara State from 1818-22. He was also an historian, writing the ‘A History of the Mahrattas (1826)’.
The last Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Marathas, Baji Rao II, surrendered to the British in June 1818 after defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
- He was banished to Bithoor in Kanpur.
- It is believed that he surrendered this weapon to Grant Duff.