Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for October, 2, 2023. If you missed the September 29, 2023 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Afghan Embassy shuts ops in Delhi, cites ‘lack of diplomatic support’ Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- OVER TWO years after the Taliban captured Afghanistan and the Ashraf Ghani government collapsed, the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi has said that it is ceasing its operations from Sunday (October 1), citing “lack of support from the host government”, failure to “meet expectations… to serve the best interests of Afghanistan”, and paucity of resources and personnel. • Why Afghanistan Embassy Has Closed Its Operations In India • For Your Information-“It is with profound sadness, regret and disappointment that the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announces this decision to cease its operations,” the Afghanistan Embassy said in a statement late on Saturday night. It said the decision was taken after careful consideration, taking into account the historic ties and longstanding partnership between Afghanistan and India. Listing the primary reasons for the “unfortunate closure”, it alleged “lack of support from the host government” which, it said, hindered its ability to carry out duties effectively. “We acknowledge our shortcomings in meeting the expectations and requirements necessary to serve the best interests of Afghanistan and its citizens due to the lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul,” it said. “The lack of timely and sufficient support, from visa renewal for diplomats to other critical areas of cooperation, led to an understandable frustration among our team and impeded our ability to carry out routine duties effectively,” it said. The statement also said that due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, there has been a significant reduction in both personnel and resources available to it, making it increasingly challenging to continue operations. Given these circumstances, “it is with deep regret that we have taken the difficult decision to close all operations of the mission with the exception of emergency consular services to Afghan citizens till the transfer of the custodial authority of the mission to the host country,” it said. The Afghan Embassy said it was taking this step in the best interest of the people of Afghanistan. In accordance with Article 45 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), all property and facilities of the Embassy will be transferred to the custodial authority of the host country, it said. Earlier, while saying that the Afghan Embassy had issued a communication on shutting down its operations, sources in the Indian government had pointed to “the Ambassador being out of India for the past many months, steady departure of diplomats to third countries reportedly after receiving asylum, as well as reports of infighting amongst Embassy personnel”. In its three-page statement on Saturday, the Afghan Embassy categorically denied “baseless claims” regarding internal strife or discord among its diplomatic staff, and diplomats using the crisis to seek asylum in a third country. “Such rumours are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of our mission. We remain a united team working towards the best interests of Afghanistan,” it said. It said it would like to verify the “authenticity” of an earlier communication with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the intent to close the mission. “This communication accurately represents our decision-making process and the factors leading to the closure,” the statement said. “We request the Government of India to give serious consideration to the four requests outlined in the official note verbale submitted earlier. Specifically, we emphasise the importance of permitting the hoisting of the Afghan flag over the properties of our premises, as well as facilitating the smooth transition of the mission’s buildings and assets to a legitimate government in Kabul in the future,” it said. The Embassy said it was keen to reach an agreement with the Indian government at the earliest. The Embassy also acknowledged that, given the gravity of this decision, “there may be some who receive support and instructions from Kabul that may differ from our current course of action”. In an “unequivocal statement” regarding the activities of certain consulates, it said: “It is our firm belief that any actions taken by these consulates are not in consonance with the objectives of a legitimate or elected government and rather serve the interests of an illegitimate regime”. It was referring to the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad, which are said to have aligned themselves with the Taliban regime. • A diplomatic mission or foreign mission-Mandate and Role • What is the difference between Embassies and High Commissions? • What is Embassy? • What is Consulate? • What are Key Differences Between Consulate and Embassy? • The history of diplomatic missions-Know in brief • What is the Vienna Convention? • For Your Information-The term “Vienna Convention” can refer to any of a number of treaties signed in Vienna, most of which are related to the harmonisation or formalisation of the procedures of international diplomacy. The treaty being referred to by the MEA in this instance is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), which “provides a complete framework for the establishment, maintenance and termination of diplomatic relations on a basis of consent between independent sovereign States”, as per an introductory note on the treaty in UN’s Audiovisual Library of International Law. Most notably, the Convention codifies the longstanding custom of diplomatic immunity, in which diplomatic missions are granted privileges that enable diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. It affirms the concept of “inviolability” of a diplomatic mission, which has been one of the enduring cornerstones of international diplomacy. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations entered into force on April 24, 1964 and is nearly universally ratified, with Palau and South Sudan being the exceptions. • Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations-Know in detail • What does the Vienna Convention say about obligations of a “receiving State”? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Power struggle at Afghan embassy as Ambassador battles to stay in office Storing energy in blocks: How gravity may solve green power’s problem Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development–Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Mains Examination: • General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. • General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- GRAVITY IS emerging as the best bet in solving renewable energy’s biggest problem — intermittency. As countries step up renewable energy capacity addition, there is growing urgency to develop long-duration energy storage systems that could be installed alongside green power generation to balance out the variability in renewable power, given that green generation is not always in sync with the electricity demand cycle. • What Is “intermittency” In Renewable Energy? • What are the types of intermittency? • What are the challenges of intermittent Renewable Energy? • What is intermittent resources? • Do You Know-In India, grid managers are already grappling with the challenge of operationally sustaining a massive monthly addition of an average 1,000 megawatt – almost five times the amount of power a 250 MWe nuclear plant produces – from renewables to the electricity grid. Policy makers are of the view that New Delhi needs to expeditiously work on developing viable energy storage options in a country that is the world’s third largest producer of renewable energy; nearly 40 per cent of installed electricity capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources. This green push has resulted in a 24 per cent reduction in emission intensity of GDP between 2005 and 2016, but it has also thrown up challenges of a grid being increasingly powered by renewables. There are two alternatives being considered by the government for now: hydrogen and hybrid generation models blended with off-stream pumped storage. In 2023, as the hidden challenges of the renewable energy transition are likely to manifest more concretely, the government is making a renewed push on both technologies. In September, Union Power Minister R K Singh said the government will soon accept bids for the construction of a 100MW round-the-clock clean energy system, backed by storage. A policy for stepping up green hydrogen production and tapping into its potential as a fuel was cleared by the Cabinet last year. The Union Power Ministry had also wrapped up a survey of all pumped hydro sites, and hydro PSUs had been given a target of taking up pumped hydro schemes. The ministry had also written to the Union Coal Ministry to consider the option of opencast mines as potential sites for pumped hydro in the future. • What is India’s energy transition plan? • What is India’s New Renewables Energy Target? • How can net zero be achieved? • Public-Private partnership frameworks to achieve ‘net zero’-issues and challenges • India’s emission Status-Present Scenario Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What India needs for a just energy transition EXPRESS NETWORK Why do Parsis live longer? A genetics project seeks answers Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story-Why do Parsis in India live longer than other communities? Why do they have relatively fewer cases of lung, head or neck cancer, but present an increased prevalence of Parkinson, Alzheimer and other neurodegenerative diseases? Questions such as these saw Perviz Bhote, a retired English literature professor, sign up for the ‘10,000 Avestagenome Project’ in 2008 to discover more about her genetic history. The 72-year-old recalls giving “blood samples and details of her family’s medical history” to the project’s researchers nearly 15 years ago. • What is ‘10,000 Avestagenome Project’? • For Your Information-The ‘10,000 Avestagenome Project’ in 2008 to discover more about her genetic history. The project, started by a Bangalore-based life sciences firm, seeks to identify genetic risk factors within the Zoroastrian Parsi population that predispose individuals to cancers and diseases with high morbidity. While the genetic make-up of most humans is 99 per cent same, having an endogamous community (people who marry within their own community) like Zoroastrian Parsis as a reference population gives researchers the unique ability to understand how diseases occur in the general population. The project, which aims to collect samples from 10,000 Zoroastrian Parsis across the world by 2025, has so far uncovered 217 unique variants linked to longevity and 41 associated conditions like cancers, and neurodegenerative and rare diseases. Fifteen years on, samples of 4,700 Zoroastrian Parsis are now a part of the project’s biobank (data and samples collected for research). And nearly two decades since the project started, Avesthagen Limited, the company founded by Dr Villoo Morawala-Patell, has completed the genome analysis of 400 samples in the hope of explaining why the median life expectancy of Parsis is higher than other communities in India. According to various epidemiological studies, the average Parsi in India lives till the age of around 85 years, nearly 10 years more than members of other communities in the country. • What exactly project research says? • For Your Knowledge-Besides their higher life expectancy, the project researchers said the Zoroastrian Parsis are the ideal control group for research into tobacco-related cancers since the community, which follows Zoroastrianism, has historically abstained from smoking. Though elements of creation — fire, water, air, earth and ether/space — are important in Zoroastrianism, there is special emphasis on fire. Researchers said this veneration for fire has kept most Parsis from smoking for centuries. “Because of this social practice, the Zoroastrian Parsi genes can help us characterise biomarkers (genes showing the presence of specific biological conditions) that predict diseases caused by tobacco use, like lung, head and neck cancer. We are validating our results to develop a test for chain-smokers to understand their risk of developing lung cancer,” Kashyap Krishnasamy, the project leader, told The Indian Express. He added that the project’s foray into the cutting-edge field of liquid biopsy-based diagnostic developments has uncovered a cache of genetic codes for molecular mechanisms for regulating cellular proliferation and death. The researchers have found an interesting interplay of these mechanisms, which contribute to the prognosis of lung cancer. • Who are Parsi? • Parsis and Zoroastrians-what you know about them? • Parsis in India-know about them • Do You Know-Parsis, who moved to India from Iran over 1,000 years ago, have remained highly endogamous. This, according to the project researchers, has ensured that disease-causing mutations that normally get diluted in other populations get amplified in the Zoroastrian Parsis. According to the 2011 Census, there were nearly 60,000 Zoroastrians, both Parsis and Iranis, in India. The community is also spread across Pakistan, Iran, North America, Canada, Britain and the Middle East. • What is Jiyo Parsi scheme? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍A 7-year research behind Jiyo Parsi 📍Peek into Parsi history in veteran journalist Coomi Kapoor’s book THE EDITORIAL PAGE Religious and secular Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement. Mains Examination: General Studies I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Vinay Lal Writes:Mohandas Gandhi forged such a distinctive path in so many spheres of life that it should come as no surprise that his conception of secularism is also at odds with nearly every commonplace understanding of secularism. Indeed, as my argument unfolds, it will become amply clear that Gandhi’s adherence to secularism entailed a deepening of religious belief; as he was to tell some English friends who came to see him on the evening of December 31, 1947, “what I want to do and what I have been eagerly doing for the last 60 years is atmadarshan (self-realisation)… I do not boast of my perfect success at it. But, little by little, I am inching towards it. And my every worldly (secular) engagement is carried out just from this perspective.” • Mahatma Gandhi-Know about him • What are the Major Gandhian Ideologies? • What is Gandhi’s idea of Secularism? • “In an article in Young India on October 6, 1921, Gandhi described himself as a Sanatani Hindu. This text later became a point of contention for the Dalit Panthers, who vehemently criticised Gandhi”-Comment • Mahatma Gandhi, although the government continues to use him as an icon in India and, even more abroad, is not recognised any more as the chief architect of India’s fight for independence-Do You agree? • Mahatma Gandhi, G20 and the Rajghat Consensus-Connect the dots • What is the controversy with Mahatma Gandhi these days? • Why Mahatma Gandhi is relevant today? • How Mahatma Gandhi matters in day to day life? • The origins of Gandhi’s image on Indian currency-Know in detail • For Your Information-The portrait of Gandhi visible on banknotes isn’t a caricature. It’s cut-out of a photograph taken in 1946, where he is standing with British politician Lord Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence. The photograph was selected as it had the most suitable expression of Gandhi smiling — the portrait is a mirror image of the cut-out. Notably, the identities of the photographer of the particular photo and the person who shortlisted it remain unknown. The RBI’s Department of Currency Management is responsible for designing the rupee notes. It has to get approval for the designs from the central bank and the Union government. According to Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934, “the design, form and material of banknotes” shall be such as may be approved by the central government after consideration of the recommendations made by the central board. Gandhi first featured on Indian currency in 1969, when a special series was issued to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary. Bearing the signature of the RBI governor LK Jha, it depicted Gandhi with the Sevagram Ashram in the backdrop. Then, in October 1987, a series of Rs 500 currency notes, featuring Gandhi, was launched. For a few months after the declaration of independent India on August 15, 1947, the RBI continued to issue notes from the colonial period featuring King George VI. The government of India brought out its new design of the 1-rupee note in 1949 — in the watermark window, King George was replaced with a symbol of the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath. Sharing deliberations from the period, the RBI museum website notes, “Symbols for independent India had to be chosen. At the outset, it was felt that the King’s portrait be replaced by a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. Designs were prepared to that effect. In the final analysis, the consensus moved to the choice of the Lion Capital at Sarnath in lieu of the Gandhi Portrait. The new design of notes were largely along earlier lines.” Consequently, in 1950, the first Republic of India banknotes were issued in denominations of Rs 2, 5, 10 and 100. All of them bore the Lion Capital watermark. Over the years, legal tenders of higher denominations were introduced, and the motifs on the back of the notes transitioned to represent new India — from fauna motifs such as tiger and sambar deer in the early years, to motifs depicting agricultural endeavours in the 1970s, such as farming and plucking of tea leaves. The 1980s saw emphasis on symbols of scientific and technological advancements and Indian art forms — the Aryabhatta satellite featured on the Rs 2 note, farm mechanisation on Rs 5 and the Konark Wheel on Rs 20, among others. By the 1990s, the RBI felt that the traditional security features on currency notes were inadequate considering the advancements in reprographic techniques like digital printing, scanning, photography and xerography. It was reportedly believed that inanimate objects would be relatively easier to forge compared to a human face. Gandhi was chosen because of his national appeal, and in 1996, a new ‘Mahatma Gandhi Series’ was launched by the RBI to replace the former Ashoka Pillar bank notes. Several security features were also introduced, including a windowed security thread, latent image and intaglio features for the visually impaired. In 2016, the ‘Mahatma Gandhi New Series’ of banknotes were announced by the RBI. The portrait of Gandhi continues, while the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan logo has been added on the back of the notes, apart from additional security features. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The Mahatma’s Dharma 📍The Rajghat Consensus 📍HOW GANDHI’S IMAGE APPEARED ON INDIAN CURRENCY NOTES THE WORLD Pro-China Opp candidate wins Maldives presidency, defeats ‘India-first’ leader Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighborhood- relations. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing storyA pro-China candidate has won presidential elections in the Maldives, defeating an incumbent who had strengthened relations with India. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih accepted defeat in the run-off poll, congratulating his rival Mohamed Muizzu who won 54% of the vote. Mr Muizzu, mayor of the capital Male, campaigned with the slogan "India out". Mr Solih will serve as caretaker president until his successor is inaugurated on 17 November. • Who is Mohamed Muizzu? • What History says about elections in Maldives? • Maldives’ Presidents and India-Connect the dots • How this election stands? • For Your Information-Maldives has followed a system of Executive Presidency since 1968. It followed a single-party system till 2008, and the President was elected for five years through a referendum. The first executive President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Naseer, was in power from 1968 to 1978. With political protests erupting in 1978, Naseer did not contest for the third term and the Maldives’ parliament chose Maumoon Abdul Gayoom — the then Transport minister — as the next President. Gayoom ruled the country for 30 years, till 2008, quelling protests and famously defeating a coup attempt with India’s help in 1988. However, amid protests by different groups, Gayoom undertook political reforms in 2004. Political parties were registered in 2005 and a new Constitution adopted in 2008. That charted the path towards Presidential elections every five years with a multi-party system. Since 2008, no incumbent President has been re-elected. In the last elections in 2018, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih defeated incumbent Abdulla Yameen, Gayoom’s half brother. India’s experience with Maldives politics has been a mixed bag, with Solih’s government being the most favourable so far. India worked with Abdul Gayoom closely for three decades. When Mohamed Nasheed came to power in 2008, then Vice President Hamid Ansari attended his oath-taking ceremony, signalling New Delhi’s support. While initially there was bonhomie between India and Nasheed, he soon began courting China. The Maldives government cancelled the GMR contract for the Maldives airport in 2012, a major setback to the ties. After Yameen came to power in 2013, he courted China much more aggressively. Under him, Maldives joined President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. When India and Western lenders were not willing to offer loans to Yameen’s administration due to allegations of human rights violations, he turned to Beijing, which offered the money without any conditions. So, when Solih won the 2018 elections, Delhi heaved a sigh of relief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Maldives to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Over the past five years, the relationship has strengthened, and India has reached out to Maldives on various occasions — from providing vaccines to building infrastructure to helping with debt relief assistance. • Map Work-Maldives • Is Maldives in Indian Ocean or Arabian Sea? • Which water channel separates Maldives and Lakshadweep? • India and Maldives Bilateral Relations-Know the Historical Background • How are things between India and the Maldives now? • Why Maldives is Geo-Strategically Important to India? • India and Maldives-What are the Major issues in Bilateral Relations? • Political developments in the Maldives in the last few years-Know in detail • ‘The String of Pearls’, Maldives and India-Connect the dots • What Steps India has taken in the recent years to ensure friendly relations with Maldives? • Do You Know-According to Indian officials, India’s swift dispatch of 30,000 doses of measles vaccine in January 2020, and the rapid and comprehensive assistance during the Covid pandemic, has reinforced India’s credentials of being Maldives’ “first responder”. In the past, India was the first to assist Maldives during the 2004 tsunami as well as the water crisis in Malé in Dec 2014. India’s recent projects in Maldives include water and sanitation in 34 islands, roads and land reclamation under the Addu development project, a cancer hospital, a port project, a cricket stadium, two airport development projects, the Greater Male connectivity project with bridges, causeways and roads, social housing projects, renovation of a mosque, building the national college for police, among others. Estimates suggest that between 2018 to 2022, Indian aid was over Rs 1,100 crore, more than double the previous five year-term (about Rs 500 crore). Trade between the two countries was about Rs 50 crore last year, of which India exported commodities worth Rs 49.5 crore — from daily essentials including rice, spices, fruits, vegetables and poultry produce to medicines and cement. India imports primarily scrap metals, and is exploring seafood products. Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India and its position at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean imbues it with strategic importance for India. As a consequence, the defence ties between India and Maldives have grown, especially since the 26/11 attacks, for coastal surveillance and maritime cooperation. India has trained over 1,500 Maldivian defence and security personnel in the last 10 years, meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements. India has also gifted two helicopters in 2010 and 2013 and one small aircraft in 2020. This has led to claims of Indian military personnel being stationed in Maldives to operate and maintain the aircraft, though Delhi has said the planes are for search and rescue missions and medical evacuations. “While India’s role as a development partner has been appreciated by many, a large section of Maldivians, particularly the youth, are getting attracted to the ‘India Out’ movement propagated by the [Opposition] Progressive Alliance. As a result, India is an agenda in this year’s election campaign,” Gulbin Sultana, Associate Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, wrote in a piece earlier this month on the IDSA website. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India, Maldives have duty for regional peace, security, says Jaishankar EXPLAINED In alarm over Conocarpus, echo of faulty policies on invasive exotics Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization. Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Concerns over the management of the invasive Conocarpus species of trees have recently led Gujarat and, last year, Telangana, to ban their use. Several other states could follow suit — which is likely to discourage horticulturists and nurseries from multiplying the species and using lakhs of its saplings in afforestation and landscaping projects across the country over the next year. This has brought fresh attention to the process of selection of species in urban landscaping projects in particular, which favours the use of exotics for beautification and greening. The Indian Express spoke to Suresh Babu, Professor at the School of Human Ecology and Director of the Centre for Urban Ecology and Sustainability at Dr B R Ambedkar University, Delhi, for insights on the matter. • Conocarpus species of trees-why in news? • Why the state government has banned Conocarpus trees plantation? • What is an exotic species? • And, what is the concept of invasive species? • What is the difference between invasive and exotic species? • What are the problems with exotic plant species • For Your Information-Conocarpus is an evergreen species with dark-green shiny leaves. It is a fast-growing species which is reported to be not palatable to wild herbivores or domesticated animals. In a circular issued on Tuesday, the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, S K Chaturvedi, emphasised the need to control the growth of “exotic species Conocarpus”. “Roots of this species go deep inside the soil and develop extensively, damaging telecommunication lines, drainage lines and freshwater systems,” he said. “Keeping the above facts in mind, nursing of any Conocarpus plant in the departmental plant nurseries and Van Mahotsav nurseries, as well as their plantation in forest area or non-forest area is hereby prohibited, he said. Research reports have highlighted adverse impacts/ disadvantages of this species on environment and human health… Trees of this species flower in winter and spread pollen in nearby areas. It is learnt that this is causing diseases like cold, cough, asthma, allergy etc. The forest department has also been directed to raise public awareness about its “adverse impacts” through events like “farmer workshops, nature education camps”. From beautification of public spaces to residential societies and factories, Conocarpus trees have been the popular choice in recent years, and are a common sight across Gujarat’s cities. They are being grown as trees lining public roads as well as hedges along walkways in gardens and are amenable to be trimmed into various shapes. Meanwhile, welcoming the forest department’s decision, Professor Padamnabhi Nagar, an associate professor with the botany department of M S University of Baroda, said Conocarpus has no role in the local ecosystem. “Our wildlife will not respond to Conocarpus as it is not a native species,” said Nagar, adding that there are many native plant species which are viable options. Some forest officers said the species may not be harmful if planted in certain areas “Conocarpus is a hardy mangrove species which grows easily, from inter-tidal zones to deserts to urban landscapes. It stores a lot of carbon. It does suck in a lot of soil moisture, but that is true for all fast-growing species… As it is an exotic species, wildlife may not find it useful. However, it may not be a bad idea to plant Conocarpus in waterlogged areas,” said a forest officer. Earlier, Telangana had also banned the plant species, which is widely used in public spaces for its ornamental looks but is known to have adverse effects on the local biodiversity. • So while banning Conocarpus plantations seems to be the right thing to do, what is being done to address the root cause of this kind of problem? • Why do urban greening initiatives end up deploying these exotics in the first place? • What can be done? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Gujarat turns over new leaf, bans invasive tree species: ‘Adverse impact’ Protecting protected monuments Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India Mains Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Claiming that many of the 3,691 centrally protected monuments (CPM) in India are “minor” monuments, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the list should be “rationalised and categorised” on the basis of their national significance, unique architectural and heritage value. Besides, it has also raised questions about the functioning of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of all CPMs in India, in terms of its administration, security, restoration work and general upkeep of heritage sites. The panel – headed by YSRCP’s Rajya Sabha MP V Vijaisai Reddy, with more than a dozen MPs across political parties as its members – has made several recommendations in this regard. • What 359th Report on the Functioning of Archaeological Survey of India says? • Do You Know-The recommendations are part of the ‘359th Report on the Functioning of Archaeological Survey of India’ by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, which was presented to Parliament last week. During its tenure, the committee held four meetings, with the Ministry of Culture and the Administrative Head of ASI, and with NGOs Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in August. The panel also undertook on-the-spot study visits to Mumbai and Bekal and held meetings with the representatives of the Ministry of Culture, ASI, and the state governments of Maharashtra and Kerala on July 5 and September 8, respectively. • What happens to missing monuments? • What are the problems with restoration activities? • What are centrally protected monuments? • What is a national monument? • So how can a monument go “missing”? • Is this the first time monuments have been reported missing? • Which monuments are missing? • Could there be more missing monuments? • So does India now have fewer protected monuments? • Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Powers, Functions, Role and Mandate • “Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) failed to act as guardian of India’s heritage” once observed by Supreme Court in the context of Taj Mahal-Do you think that ASI has failed to preserve other monuments and Heritage of India? • Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Significance • Do you Know-A ‘monument of national importance’, if designated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), authorises the central government to “maintain, protect and promote the site”, which may be considered of significant historical importance, as mandated by the Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Currently, there are around 3,600 monuments of national importance being protected by the ASI. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. (GS 1, 2020) 📍Safeguarding the Indian Art Heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. (GS 1, 2019) ECONOMY RBI policy: Why MPC is likely to maintain a repo rate pause? Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which will meet from October 4 to 6, is expected to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent for the fourth consecutive time, as consumer price index (CPI) based inflation continues to remain sticky. The central bank is also likely to maintain its ‘withdrawal of accommodation’ stance in the policy, economists believe. • Why is RBI likely to maintain status quo? • Will there be a change in GDP growth forecast? • Can inflation projection be revised? • Will any liquidity measure be announced? • What is Monetary policy? • What is the primary objective of the monetary policy? • The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is a Statutory Body-True or False? • Under Section 45ZB of the amended (in 2016) RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered to constitute a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)- What is the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)? • What are the steps taken by RBI to control inflation? • What factor distinguishes India’s inflation from many other developed countries? • What is Inflation? • Know the Types of Inflation like Moderate Inflation, Galloping Inflation, Hyper-Inflation, Stagflation, Deflation, Core Inflation etc. • What are the causes of Inflation in the present situation • How Inflation is Measured in India? • What is the Long term, Medium Term and Short-term impact of Inflation? • New Standard for Measuring Inflation in India and Old Standard for Measuring Inflation-Key Differences • Steps or Measures Taken by GOI to Control Inflation • What do you understand by Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and Consumer Price Index? WPI and CPI is published by whom? • What’s the RBI assessment on inflation recently? • Know these Terms-Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), Open Market Operations (OMOs), Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS), Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Bank Rate Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Everyday Economics: What are WPI and CPI inflation rates? For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com The Indian Express UPSC Hub is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Updates. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
