Context: Recently, a Court ordered a survey of the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh lead to violence and death. The Places of Worship Act states that the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, must be maintained.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Salient features of Places of Worship Act, 1991.
About Places of Worship Act:
The Places of Worship Act was enacted in 1991.
Purpose: To freeze the status of religious places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, and prohibit the conversion of any place of worship and ensures the maintenance of their religious character.
Exemptions: The Act does not apply to:
Ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites, and remains under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Cases resolved before 1991 or through mutual agreement.
Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case (as the matter was subjudice when the Act was enacted).
Salient features of the Places of Worship Act:
Bar on conversion:
The Act prohibits conversion of one religious place of worship into another (E.g., mosque to temple or vice versa).
Preservation of religious character:
Preserves the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on 15August 1947.
Any suit with respect to conversion pending before the court dated earlier than 15August 1947 shall abate (be dismissed or cease to proceed) and no new appeal shall lie before any Court.
Penalties (Section 6):
Specifies penalties, including a maximum imprisonment term of 3 years and fines, for violating the Act.
Upholding religious harmony:
Preserves religious harmony and pluralism between different religious groups.
Context: A team of researchers has developed new ingestible capsules that release a burst of drugs directly inside the stomach or other parts of the digestive system. These capsules can offer an alternative to traditional methods like injections for delivering drugs such as insulin.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- General idea about new ingestible capsules; Biobioavailability
Advantages of injections over pills:
Injections are usually used to administer hormones, vaccines, antibodies, or cancer treatments because drugs are usually made of larger biological molecules.
If swallowed as pill, the larger biological molecules are often quickly destroyed by digestive enzymes or the liver before they can work, limiting their efficacy and increasing the likelihood of potential side effects.
Problems with injections:
Despite their advantage over pills, injections can lead to infection, skin irritation, and other side effects.
They can also cause discomfort to patients, making oral alternatives more desirable.
About New Ingestible Capsules
Development: The inspiration for their development came from cephalopods such as squids and cuttlefish, which use jet propulsion mechanisms to move or release ink.
Researchers adapted this jetting principle to distribute drugs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Jet propulsion mechanism ensures that more medication is absorbed before the body breaks it down.
Mechanism:
Capsules use compressed carbon dioxide or tightly coiled springs to generate the force needed to propel liquid drugs out of the capsule.
The gas or spring is kept in a compressed state by a carbohydrate trigger. This trigger dissolves when exposed to humidity or an acidic environment in the stomach. When the trigger dissolves, the gas or spring is allowed to expand, and eject drugs out of the capsule.
Advantage of the capsule:
The new capsules have shown high efficiency in bioavailability (the body’s ability to absorb and use drugs) in animal models compared to earlier attempts.
Zero Carbon City: GMC is envisioned as a zero-carbon city with a focus on green architecture, mainly solar and hydropower.
Biodiversity Protection: The project incorporates protected areas, including a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, and river ecosystems.
3. Economic Hub:
Regional Economic Center: GMC seeks to become a major economic hub for South Asia, driving regional trade and investments.
Employment Generation: GMC aims to provide employment to Bhutanese youth and prevent their outmigration.
India’s Role:
Bhutan has sought investment and collaborations from the Indian private sector in infrastructure development, bringing projects in areas such as hotels and hospitality, educational institutions, IT and wellness centres.
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the National Mission on Natural Farming as a standalone centrally sponsored scheme to create an ecosystem for sustainable farming, thereby generating benefits like improvement in the quality of soil and providing people with chemical-free food.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Key provisions of National Mission on Natural Farming.
Mains: Benefits of Natural Farming, Challenges of Natural Farming.
What is Natural Farming?
Natural Farming (NF) is a chemical free farming which involves local livestock integrated natural farming methods, diversified crop systems, etc., allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity.
Natural Farming follows local agro-ecological principles rooted in local knowledge, location specific technologies and is evolved as per the local agro-ecology.
To promote an alternative system of farming for freedom from external purchased inputs, cost reduction and thereby increasing income of farmers.
To popularise integrated agriculture-animal husbandry models based on livestock and local resources.
To collect, validate and document Natural Farming being practiced across the country and encourage participatory research with farmers on up-scaling of the mission.
To undertake activities for awareness creation, capacity building, promotion and demonstration of Natural Farming.
To create standards, certification procedure and branding for Natural Farming products.
Key Provisions of the Mission:
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is acentrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture.
In the next two years, NMNF will be implemented in 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats, which are willing, & reach 1 crore farmers and initiate Natural Farming (NF) in 7.5 lakh Ha area.
Need-based 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) will be set-up to provide easy availability and accessibility to ready-to-use NF inputs for farmers.
Around 2000 NF Model Demonstration Farms shall be established at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs) and farmers’ fields, and shall be supported by experienced and trained Farmer Master Trainers.
30,000 Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs(Community Resource Persons) will be deployed for awareness generation, mobilisation and handholding of willing farmers in the clusters.
Farmers will be provided with an easy simple certification system and dedicated common branding to provide access to market their natural farming produce.
Real time geo-tagged & referenced monitoring of NMNF implementation shall be done through an online portal.
Incentive to farmers for one time on-farm manure production infrastructure: A financial assistance of Rs. 15000/- per ha @ Rs. 5000/- per ha/year for three years.
Training of farmers by Champion farmer and CRP: 6 such trainings of one day duration will be organized at village level for all the farmers in a batch of 50 farmers. A sum of Rs. 30,000/- is provided for such training @ Rs. 50 per farmer per training.
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) formation for farmers practicing Natural Farming: 100 FPOs in the Gangetic belt (5 Km Corridor of Ganga Basin) and another 400 FPOs in the rest of the country from the 10,000 FPO scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
Farmer Field School: First year of the natural farming mission will be devoted to the awareness creation through Farmer Field School.
Need for Natural Farming:
Pressure on limited resources: The majority of Indians are small and marginal framers who practice subsistence farming. Hence, to increase production from a small area of land, there is greater pressure on soil and water resources. In the long run, it would result in soil degradation and receding water tables. Hence, the farmers need natural farming to transition to sustainable farming practices.
Capital and input-intensive agriculture: High-cost of inputs for farming and declining farmers income requires a shift towards sustainable farming practices.
Limitations of Conventional Farming Practices: Conventional farming practices, bolstered historically by the Green Revolution, are now showing signs of strain. Issues such as soil degradation, reduced nutrient content in food, and increased chemical residues are alarming. Apart from that there is a looming threat of climate change. Hence, natural farming presents a viable alternative to address these issues.
Benefits of Natural Farming:
1. Environmental Sustainability:
Soil Health: Natural farming improves soil structure, organic matter content, and biodiversity. A study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) found that natural farming methods can enhance soil organic carbon by up to 50% compared to conventional farming.
Water Conservation: Natural Farming has proved to improve water retention capacity. It requires minimum water consumption, thus, ultimately preserving groundwater reserves, improving the water table, and reducing financial and labour stress on farmers.
2. Climate Resilience:
Carbon Sequestration: Natural farming practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and cover cropping contribute to carbon sequestration.
Over the past 50 years, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from ‘Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use’ (AFOLU) have nearly doubled, and projections suggest a further increase by 2050.
As per FAO, the largest share ofglobal methane and nitrous oxide emissions is contributed by Agriculture. Excessive use of fertilizers in conventional farming has significantly contributed to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change.
Climate Adaptation: Natural farming enhances biodiversity and soil health, making farms more resilient to climate extremes like droughts and floods.
During the Pethai and Titli cyclones of 2018, the crops cultivated through Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh, showed greater resilience to heavy winds than the conventional crops.
3. Biodiversity Enhancement:
Agro-ecological Diversity: Natural farming promotes biodiversity through crop diversification and the use of native plant species.
Ecosystem Services: Natural farming practices enhance ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and soil fertility.
4. Economic Benefits for Farmers:
Cost Reduction: Natural farming reduces dependence on expensive chemical inputs or fertilisers. A report by CEEW states that Non-Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) farmers use three times more urea and DAP per acre than ZBNF farmers.
Increased Profitability: Studies by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) indicate that farmers practicing natural farming can achieve up to 50% higher net returns due to lower input costs and premium prices for organic produce.
5. Health and Nutrition:
Nutrient-Rich Produce: As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated. The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.
6. Social and Cultural Benefits:
Preservation of Traditional Knowledge: Natural farming practices are often rooted in traditional knowledge systems. This preservation promotes cultural heritage and community engagement.
Community Health: By reducing chemical usage, natural farming minimizes pollution of air, water, and soil, leading to healthier living environments for rural communities.
Challenges related to Natural Farming:
Initial Decrease in Yield & Economic Viability: Transitioning from conventional to natural farming often results in an initial decrease in crop yield, which can deter farmers also, The economic viability of natural farming is uncertain due to lower initial yields.
Knowledge and Skill Gap: Farmers need extensive knowledge and skills to successfully implement natural farming techniques.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) reports that the majority of Indian farmersare not adequately trained in natural farming practices, resulting in poor adoption rates.
Market and Policy Support: There is a lack of established markets and supportive policies for naturally farmed produce.
Certification and Market Access: Obtaining certification for natural products can be costly, and access to markets can be limited.
Pest and Disease Management: Natural farming relies on non-chemical methods for pest and disease control, which may not always be effective.
Climate Dependence: Natural farming heavily relies on climatic conditions, making it less resilient to climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that climate variability poses significant risks to the stability and predictability of natural farming systems.
Resistance to Change & Lessons from Sri Lanka: Farmers accustomed to conventional practices are often resistant to adopting new natural farming methods.
A couple of years ago, Sri Lanka went through economic and political turmoil after it decided to turn completely organic, and banned the import of chemical fertilisers.
The government’s policy shift had severe consequences with farmers struggling to get natural fertilisers. They faced a reduction in yields of key crops including rice, putting the country’s food security at risk.
Conclusion
Natural farming represents a critical shift in India's agricultural strategy, aimed at enhancing sustainability, climate resilience, and nutrition security. The transition, although challenging, is necessary to address the declining efficacy of the Green Revolution and the pressing environmental concerns. With strategic planning, technology development, and appropriate incentives, natural farming can pave the way for a more sustainable and secure agricultural future in India.
Context: International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its former Defence Minister for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- International Criminal Court, International Criminal Court vs International Court of Justice
Major Highlights:
The ICC asserts there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that the Prime Minister and the former Defence Minister bear “criminal responsibility” for causing “mass starvation” and “deliberately targeting” medical facilities in Gaza.
As the Rome Statute of the ICC has been recognised by 124 countries, the countries would be legally obligated to arrest them if they enter their territories.
The arrest warrants would complicate their ability to travel freely across the globe.
About International Criminal Court
Origin:
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established under the Rome Statute, a multilateral treaty adopted in 1998. Rome Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002 after ratification by 60 countries.
It marked the creation of the first permanent, treaty-based international criminal court to address impunity for the gravest crimes threatening the global community.
ICC is an independent international organisation and is not part of the United Nations.
ICC has 18 judges who are elected by the Assembly of State Parties and have non-renewable 9-year terms.
The seat of ICC is in The Hague, Netherlands.
Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court:
ICC investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of the gravest crimes of international concern, as defined under the Rome Statute:
Genocide
War crimes
Crimes against humanity
Crime of aggression
Conditions for Exercising Jurisdiction:
The ICC can exercise jurisdiction only under specific conditions:
Territorial or National Jurisdiction:
If the alleged crime occurred on the territory of a State Party.
The UNSC can refer cases to the ICC, even if the crime occurred in a non-State Party.
Declaration of Acceptance:
A non-State Party can accept the ICC's jurisdiction by making a formal declaration.
Principle of Complementarity:
The ICC operates under the principle of complementarity, i.e., it acts as a court of last resort (seeks to complement, not replace, national courts). The ICC can intervene only if national judicial systems are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute crimes.
Limitations of the International Criminal Court:
The ICC does not have a police force to enforce arrests. It relies on State Parties to apprehend individuals.
Trials cannot proceed until the accused is arrested and brought before the court, as the ICC does not conduct trials in absentia.
Parties to International Criminal Court:
As of 2024, ICC has 124 member states.
However, countries such as India, China, USA, Russia etc. have not ratified the Rome Statute and are not members of ICC. Reasons for non-membership include concerns about sovereignty, potential misuse of the court, and conflicts with domestic laws.
Differences Between the ICJ and the ICC
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are two courts with different functions within the international legal system.
ICJ (International Court of Justice)
ICC (International Criminal Court)
Established
1945
2022
UN-Relationship
Highest court of the UN
Not part of the UN
Location
The Hague, the Netherlands
The Hague, the Netherlands
Jurisdiction
UN member-states
Individuals
Types of cases
Legal disputes between states and requests for advisory opinions on legal questions
Prosecutes individuals for the most serious crimes as per the Rome Statute
Appeals
No
Yes
Enforcement power
None - relies on the UN Security Council to uphold judgements, with permanent members having veto power
None - relies on cooperation from member states to enforce its decisions
Context: More than 170 countries have converged in Busan, Republic of Korea, to negotiate a new legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, including marine pollution. This is the fifth (and final) round of talks since 2022, when the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA) agreed to develop such a by the end of 2024. The UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) intergovernmental negotiation committee (INC) is leading the negotiations.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Facts about Plastic pollution, Key provisions of Global Plastic Treaty (once it is finalised)
Mains: Impacts of Plastic pollution/ Need for a Global Plastic Treaty
Need for a Global Plastic Treaty:
A global treaty to end plastic pollution is crucial to address the growing crisis of plastic pollution, which impacts the environment, human health, and contributes to climate change.
1. Rapidly Increasing Plastic Production and Waste:
Production surge: Annual global production of plastic has doubled from 234 million tonnes (mt) in 2000 to 460 mt in 2019, and is expected to reach 700 mt by 2040.
Nearly half of this was produced in Asia, followed by North America (19%) and Europe (15%).
Indiacontributes to a fifth of global plastic pollution. It accounts for 20% of the world’s global plastic pollution with emissions of 9.3 mt
Challenge of Waste management: About 400 mt of plastic waste is generated annually, a figure expected to jump by 62% between 2024 and 2050. However, only about 9% of plastic waste has been recycled globally.
Plastic takes anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose.
2. Environmental and Health Impact:
Microplastics pollution: Plastic waste often leaks into the environment, especially into rivers and oceans, where it breaks down into smaller particles (microplastic or nanoplastic), harming ecosystems and food chains.
Health risks: Exposure to chemicals in plastics can cause endocrine disruption and a range of human diseases including cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurodevelopmental impairment.
Ecosystem damage: Marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species are severely affected by plastic pollution.
3. Contribution to Climate Change:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: In 2020, plastic production accounted for 3.6% of global emissions, with most emissions arising from fossil-fuel-based plastic production. If trends continue, emissions from production could increase by 20% by 2050.
4. Need for global coordination and standards:
Transnational nature of pollution: Plastic pollution does not respect borders; coordinated international action is essential.
Comprehensive life-cycle approach: Negotiations aim to establish rules covering the entire plastic lifecycle, from production and usage to disposal and recycling.
Key Negotiation Points:
Production caps vs. Waste management:
Conflict: Oil and gas-rich countries resist production limits, favoring downstream measures (e.g., improved waste management).
Advocates for limits: Rwanda, Peru, and the EU propose ambitious reduction targets, such as Rwanda's call for a 40% reduction by 2040.
Just transition: Ensuring livelihoods of workers in plastic-related industries are protected during the transition away from plastics.
India’s Position: India has taken the following position:
Against production limits: India opposes restrictions on polymer production, emphasising innovative waste management. According to India, any restrictions are beyond the mandate of the UNEA’s resolution adopted at Nairobi in 2022.
Context-sensitive regulation: India advocates for nationally driven, pragmatic decisions reflecting domestic circumstances.
On the exclusion of harmful chemicals used for plastic production, India has said that any decision should be based on scientific studies, and the regulation of such chemicals should be regulated domestically.
India banned the use of single-use plastics covering 19 categories in 2022. However, the decision on the issue of including certain plastic items for phase-out in the final treaty should be pragmatic.
Focus on financial support: India has stressed on including financial and technical assistance, and technology transfer in the substantive provisions of any final treaty for equitable implementation.
Conclusion and the way forward:
A global plastic treaty aims to create legally binding frameworks to curb plastic pollution at its source, establish recycling standards, and ensure environmental and social equity. Harmonising international efforts is crucial for meaningful, long-term solutions to the global plastic crisis.
Context: As the number of satellites in the Earth’s orbit are increasing, there are mounting concerns over the pollution caused by these satellites in the upper atmosphere.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Satellite Pollution, Impacts of satellite pollution
Surge in Satellite Numbers
Currently, over 10,000 active satellites orbit around the Earth. This number is estimated to rise to more than 100,000 by the 2030s, and possibly half a million in the subsequent decades.
Pollution caused by Satellites:
Pollution due to satellite launches: Emissions from rocket launches contribute to pollutants, which include:
Pollution on re-entering Earth’s atmosphere: Most satellites at the end of their life-cycle, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, where they burn-up due to intense friction. In this process, they release various pollutants into the stratosphere, like- aluminium, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful chemicals into the stratosphere.
As per the recent data from NOAA, 10% of the aerosol particles in the stratosphere contain aluminium and other metals that have originated from the burn-up of satellites, and rocket stages during satellite re-entry.
As per a recent study, there has been a significant rise in aluminium and nitrogen oxide emissions, increasing from 3.3 billion grams in 2020 to 5.6 billion grams in 2022.
Impact of Satellite Pollution:
Threat to Ozone Layer: Ozone layer in Earth’s stratosphere absorbs up to 99% of ultraviolet rays from the Sun. But pollutants from burnt-up spacecraft are likely already harming it. E.g.,
Threat to Earth’s Ecosystem: The spacecraft pollutants might impact the atmospheric composition, as,
Warming of atmosphere: Soot emitted from rocket engines absorbs solar energy, which can warm the atmosphere.
Chemical Reactions: Copper and other metals released during the incineration of spacecraft wiring and alloys are powerful catalysts which can initiate chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
Cloud Formation: Themetals emitted during satellite incineration can act as seeds for cloud formation, and potentially alter weather patterns.
These miniscule changes in Earth’s atmosphere can trigger massive chaos on the planet.
Way Forward:
Improved satellite design by utilising materials that produce fewer harmful by-products upon re-entry.
Encouraging minimal rocket launches by maximising the number of satellites in one launch.
Encouraging the development of technologies for controlled satellite disposal or in-orbit recycling.
Context: The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) General Assembly and the ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024 is scheduled to take place from November 25th to November 30th, 2024 at New Delhi.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Key facts about the ICA as an organisation.
Major Highlights:
It will be for the first time in 130 years that both the ICA General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference are going to be hosted by India.
The Global Cooperative Conference is being hosted by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) in collaboration with ICA, and Government of India, and Indian Cooperatives AMUL and KRIBHCO.
The UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 will also be launched.
About International Cooperative Alliance (ICA):
ICA is a non-governmental cooperative organisation founded to unite, represent and serve cooperatives worldwide.
Founded in 1895 in London during the first International Cooperative Conference.
It is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations and one of the largest ones measured by the number of people represented i.e., 1 billion cooperative members on the planet.
HQ: Brussels, Belgium
Four regional offices: Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
Membership: Over 306 organisations from 105 countries (including India), covering cooperatives in various sectors, including, cooperatives in agriculture, banking, consumer services, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry and services.
Mission:
Developing business relationships and partnerships among its members.
Organising a rich diversity of regional and international events where organisations meet regularly to share ideas.
Facilitating training programmes, events, and publications developed in partnership with cooperative development agencies.
Other Facts about ICA:
It has decadal strategic plan ICA 2020-2030 Strategic Plan, named “A People-Centred Path to a Second Cooperative Decade”,
It also organises the Global Cooperative Conference.
About Global Cooperative Conference (GCA):
It is a biennial event bringing together leaders from cooperative sectors across the globe.
India is hosting the 2024 edition for the first time.
The International year of Cooperatives 2025 will also be launched with the theme “Cooperative build a better world”. This initiative will highlight the transformative role cooperatives play in promoting social inclusion, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.
Context: The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission is scheduled to be launched on ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on December 4, 2024.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Key features of Proba-3 mission.
About Proba-3 mission
Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission, involving two satellites to be placed in a highly elliptical orbit that extends up to 60,000 km from Earth.
Aim: To demonstrate precision formation flying between two satellites and study the Sun's corona (the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere).
Launch vehicle: PSLV-XL
Mission of: European Space Agency.
Key Features:
Proba-3 has two satellites- Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulter spacecraft flying in a parallel formation at distances of 144 metres from each other for six hours a day.
The satellites will demonstrate Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre to ensure they do not collide or run away from each other.
The two satellites will work in tandem to study the Sun's corona and measure its energy outputwith unprecedented precision.
The Occulter will position itself between the Coronagraph and the Sun,creating an artificial eclipse (casting a shadow) over the Coronagraph’s telescope.
The shadow blocks the Sun’s direct light and allows the Coronagraph to observe the Sun's faint corona.
The Occulter's continuous Sun-facing position makes it an ideal platform for additional scientific instruments. It consists of Davos Absolute Radiometer (DARA) which will provide continuous measurements of the Sun's total energy output (total solar irradiance).
Benefits of precision formation flying mission:
Instead of using a single satellite accommodating both Occulter and Coronagraph, they are placed on two separate satellites that will work in tandem. This ensures:
Instruments larger than those typically accommodated on a single satellite can be deployed.
Scientists can observe fainter signals from smaller or more distant solar and astrophysical features, broadening the scope of space-based observations.
Significance:
Provide new insights into:
Sun's corona.
Origins of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their impact on Earth's climate.
Measures total solar irradiance, track changes in the Sun’s energy output, long-term solar energy trends and their potential effects on our planet's climate.
Context: The RBI report has highlighted that Education loans have been growing at a notable pace in recent years and in this regard, a further boost is expected with the newly launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi Scheme’.
Relevance of the topic:Prelims- Key facts about the scheme and its provisions.
About PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme:
It is a Central Sector scheme under the Ministry of Education that seeks to provide financial support to meritorious students so that financial constraints do not prevent them from pursuing higher studies.
The initiative stems from the National Education Policy 2020, which had recommended that financial assistance should be made available to meritorious students through various measures in both public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Key features:
Institutions Covered: Meritorious students of the top 860 Higher Education institutions, including-
Top 100 HEIs (both Government + Private) ranked in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
State Govt HEIs (ranked 101–200 in NIRF).
All Central Government Institutions: ~660 institutions.
Digitalisation: Students can apply through the Vidyalaxmi portal, which links major public and private banks. The portal provides a simplified digital application process and facilitates loan tracking.
Loan conditions:
Collateral free, guarantor free loan to cover the full amount of tuition fees and other expenses related to the course.
Loans up to ₹ 7.5 lakhs are backed by a 75% credit guarantee from the Government of India, encouraging banks to expand coverage.
For students with annual family income up to ₹ 8 lakhs, the scheme will provide 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹ 10 lakh.
Students with up to Rs. 4.5 lakhs annual family income are eligible for full interest subvention.
Sync with other schemes: This will supplement the already existing Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL), schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP), being implemented by the Department of Higher Education.
Context: Recently, hundreds gathered at the Krishna Menon Museum and Art Gallery in Kozhikode, Kerala to witness the Kandakarnan Thira performance.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims- Kandakarnan Thira Art form, Theyyam
About Kandakarnan Thira:
It is a ritual danceand a part of the Theyyam art form which is primarily performed in the temples and groves in the Malabar region of Kerala.
Theyyam (the dance of God) is a broad ritual dance form and living tradition practiced in Malabar region of Kerala. It involves worshipping deities through dance, drama, music, art and rituals.
Kandakarnan Thira is a unique form of Thira dedicated to Kandakarnan, a fierce guardian deity, who is believed to protect humanity from diseases.
Who performs?
The dance is performed by artists from the Malaya community, who are also known as "perumalayan".
What does it symbolise?
The Kandakarnan Thira performance represents the survival of the human race from contagious diseases.
The performer wears a headgear (crown) that is about 20 feet tall and has 16 torches attached to their hips. The performer's face also has marks left behind by smallpox.
What are the rituals?
The performance is often accompanied by musicians and takes place at night. The ritual involves invoking deities, walking on red-hot embers, and performing in sacred shrines and ancestral temples.
Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of its first analog or simulated space mission at Leh in Ladakh.
What are Analog Space Missions?
Analog missions are field tests in locations that have physical similarities to the extreme space environments. NASA engineers and scientists work with government agencies, academia, and industry to gather requirements for testing in harsh environments before they are used in space.
Tests include:
New technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats, communications, power generation, mobility, infrastructure, and storage.
Behavioural effects – such as isolation and confinement, team dynamics, menu fatigue etc.
Significance: Analog missions provide space agencies with data about strengths, limitations, and the validity of planned human-robotic exploration operations. They also define ways to combine human and robotic efforts to enhance scientific exploration.
India’s first Analog Mission:
Located in Leh, Ladakh, the mission includes a compact, inflatable habitat namedHab-1 which will simulate life in an interplanetary habitat.
Aim: To study the challenges of extra-terrestrial conditions, as part of efforts towards developing a long-term human spaceflight programme.
Hab-1 is designed to mimic environments on Mars and the Moon. The simulation will explore the conditions of an interplanetary habitat, testing new technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats and communications.
The mission is spearheaded by ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre and brings together partners from AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and is supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
Why was Ladakh chosen?
Ladakh’s extreme isolation, dry climate, and barren, high-altitude terrain make it ideal for simulating conditions similar to Mars and the Moon.
Similarities:
Both Moon and Ladakh have extremely dry environments.
Ladakh’s rocky, barren terrain resembles the terrain of the Moon and Mars.
Dissimilarities:
The Moon has virtually no atmosphere, whereas Mars has a thin atmosphere, whereas, Ladakh is a part of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Moon has no water vapour in its atmosphere, Mars has some water vapour, whereas Ladakh's atmosphere, through dry, still contains some moisture.
The Moon has an intense thermal radiation caused by the direct sunlight which is hard to replicate on Earth.
Significance:
Hab-1 allows scientists to study the effects of isolation and confinement on human health and performance and includes essentials such as a hydroponics farm, kitchen, and sanitation facilities. This setup will help study the challenges astronauts will face in a base station beyond Earth and prepare them accordingly.
Ladakh’s environment presents an opportunity for researchers to gather critical data that will support India’s Gaganyaan program and future missions.
