1. PANCHAMASALI LINGAYATS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)
Context: The Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-caste of Karnataka's dominant Lingayat community, have been demanding inclusion in Category 2A of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) for over three years.
Panchamasali Lingayats
- About: The Lingayats (officially classified as Hindu sub-caste ‘Veerashaiva Lingayats’) are followers of Basavanna, a 12th century philosopher-saint.
- Anti-Caste Movement: Basavanna started a radical anti-caste movement which rejected orthodox ritualistic Hindu practices in favour of a more personal, affective relationship with God, specifically Lord Shiva.
- Separate Religion for Lingayats: Lingayats had distanced themselves from Hindu Veerashaivas because the latter followed the Vedas and supported the caste system, which Basaveshwara opposed.
- Religious Centers: Veerashaivas are the followers of the five peethas (religious centers), called Pancha Peethas.
o These peethas are set up similarly to the four peethas established by Adi Shankara.
- Community Composition: Today, the Lingayat community is an amalgamation of many sub-castes.
- Largest Sub-Caste: Among the Lingayat sub-castes, the agriculturalist Panchamasalis are the largest, making up nearly 70% of the Lingayat population.
- Population of Panchamasalis: The Panchamasalis claim to number around 85 lakh — about 14% of Karnataka’s population of roughly six crore.
2. BANNI GRASSLAND (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)
Context: Following their release in Kuno National Park, cheetahs from Africa will soon inhabit Gujarat’s Banni grassland, as the central government has approved a proposal to establish a cheetah conservation breeding center in Kutch district.
Banni Grassland
- Location: It is situated near the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
- Size: It is considered to be the largest grassland in Asia, spreading over 2,497 kilometres and accounting for almost 45% of the pastures in Gujarat.
- Formation: The land in Banni was formed from the sediments deposited by the Indus and other rivers over thousands of years.
- Ecosystem: Two ecosystems, wetlands and grasslands, coexist in Banni.
- Vegetation: The vegetation is sparse and highly dependent on rainfall.
o It is dominated by low-growing forbs and graminoids, many of which are halophiles (salt-tolerant).
o The grasslands were traditionally managed by a system of rotational grazing.
- Flora: Prosopis Juliflora, Cressa critica, Cyperus spp, Sporobolus, Dichanthium, and Aristida.
- Fauna: It is home to mammals such as the Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Wild boar, Golden Jackal, Indian Hare, Indian Wolf, Caracal, Asiatic Wildcat and Desert Fox etc.
o It is also known for the Banni breed of buffaloes.
- Reserve Forest Status: In 1955, the court notified the grassland as a reserve forest. In 2019, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the demarcation of the boundaries of Banni grassland and restricted non-forest activities.
- Significance: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified Banni Grassland as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India.
3. NPS VATSALYA SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Gov. Policies)
Context: The finance minister recently made the announcement of a new pension scheme under the National Pension Scheme (NPS), called NPS Vatsalya.
NPS Vatsalya Scheme
- About: It is a scheme under the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
- Purpose: It is designed to help parents and guardians plan for their children's future financial needs.
- Account Opening: Parents or guardians can open an account for their minor children and make contributions towards their retirement savings.
- Accumulation Period: The funds will accumulate until the child turns 18.
- Transfer to Standard NPS: Once the child reaches adulthood, the accumulated amount will be transferred to the standard NPS account.
- Conversion Option: This plan can be seamlessly converted into a non-NPS plan when the child becomes an adult.
National Pension Scheme (NPS)
- About: It is a voluntary retirement benefit scheme introduced by the Government of India to facilitate regular income post-retirement for all subscribers.
- Eligibility: A citizen of India, either a resident, non-resident, or an Overseas Citizen of India, can open an NPS account.
- Contribution and Growth: It helps individuals build a retirement corpus by making regular contributions throughout their careers.
- Regulatory Body: PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) is the governing body for NPS.
4. GM MUSTARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court issued a split verdict on the "environmental release" of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard.
GM Mustard
5. SKILL LOAN SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Policies)
Context: The Finance Minister of India has announced a revision to the Model Skill Loan Scheme, aiming to enhance support for skill development initiatives.
Skill Loan Scheme
- About: It provides financial assistance to students pursuing technical courses offered by training institutes, polytechnics, and similar institutions.
- This programme is available through banks that are members of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and other financial organisations approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Eligibility: To be eligible for the Skill Loan Scheme, individuals must have secured admission to a course conducted by one of the following institutions:
o Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
o Polytechnics
o Schools recognised by the State or Central Board of Education
o Colleges affiliated with a recognised university
o Training partners affiliated with the Sector Skill Councils, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), State Skill Mission, or State Skill Corporation.
- Duration of Course: There is no minimum duration requirement for the course.
- Quantum of Finance: Loans range from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 1,50,000, now increased to Rs. 7.5 lakh.
- Risk of banks: It covered through Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Skill Development (CGFSSD)
o Under the scheme of CGFSSD, interest rate to be charged by Member Lending Institution (MLI) should not be more than 1.5% per annum over Base Rate.
6. CHANDRA SHEKHAR AZAD (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - History)
Context: The Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Chandra Shekhar Azad on his birth anniversary.
Chandra Shekhar Azad
- Birth: He was born on 23 July 1906 in the Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
- Early Life: At the age of 15, Chandra Shekhar joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in December 1921 and was subsequently arrested. During his court appearance, he adopted the name “Azad,” meaning “The Free,” which became his permanent identity.
- Entry into Politics: In 1921, Chandra Shekhar Azad joined the Non-Cooperation Movement, marking his entry into political activism at a young age.
- Arrest and Defiance: In December 1921, after his arrest, Azad displayed defiance by giving his name as “Azad,” his father’s name as “Swatantrata” (Independence), and his residence as “Jail.”
- Hindustan Republican Association (HRA): After the Non-Cooperation Movement was suspended in 1922, Azad joined the HRA, a revolutionary organization founded in 1924 in East Bengal.
- Kakori Conspiracy: HRA members, including Azad, were involved in the Kakori Train Robbery in 1925, which was a significant act of revolutionary fundraising.
- Reorganization into HSRA: The HRA was reorganized into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928. The HSRA, established at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi by Azad and others, continued the revolutionary struggle against British rule.
- Death: On 27 February 1931, Azad was surrounded by police in Alfred Park (now Azad Park) in Allahabad. After a fierce shootout, he fought bravely, allowing his comrades to escape, and ultimately shot himself with his last bullet to avoid capture.
- Legacy: Chandra Shekhar Azad remains a symbol of fearless patriotism and dedication to the cause of Indian independence. His commitment to revolutionary ideals and sacrifices in the struggle against British rule are widely honored.
7. CLIMATE FINANCE TAXONOMY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)
Context: India's Finance Minister announced plans to develop a 'climate finance taxonomy' to better structure and manage investments in climate-related projects.
Climate Finance Taxonomy
- About: It is a system that classifies which parts of the economy may be marketed as sustainable investments.
- Purpose: It helps guide investors and banks in directing trillions toward impactful investments to tackle climate change.
- Standard Setting: Taxonomies are frequently used to set standards for classifying climate-related financial instruments, such as green bonds.
- Additional Use Cases: They also serve other purposes, including climate risk management, net-zero transition planning, and climate disclosure.
Significance of Taxonomy
- Guiding Transition to Net-Zero: Taxonomies help align economic activities with science-based transition pathways essential for achieving net-zero emissions.
- Reducing Greenwashing Risks: They ensure that climate-related investments are credible and genuinely contribute to sustainability, mitigating the risk of greenwashing.
- Attracting Climate Capital: By clarifying what qualifies as sustainable, taxonomies can attract more international climate funds, addressing the current shortfall in green finance.
- Enhancing Investment Clarity: They provide clear definitions of sustainable activities, reducing ambiguity and improving the effectiveness of green finance flows.
Potential for Green Investments in India
- Climate-Smart Investment: India's climate-smart investment potential is estimated at $3.1 trillion from 2018 to 2030, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
- Electric-Vehicle Investment Opportunities: The electric-vehicle segment presents the largest investment opportunity, valued at $667 billion, as India targets electrification of all new vehicles by 2030.
- Taxonomies in Other Countries: South Africa, Colombia, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, and Mexico have developed or are working on their taxonomies.
- European Union Taxonomy: The European Union has also established its own taxonomy.
8. SOFI REPORT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)
Context: The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report reveals that global undernourishment levels remained at pre-pandemic figures for the third consecutive year, with one in 11 people experiencing hunger in 2023.
State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report 2024
- About: It was launched in the context of the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Task Force Ministerial Meeting in Brazil.
- Prepared by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Released by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Key Findings
- Estimated Hunger Figures: Between 713 and 757 million people may have faced hunger in 2023.
- Warning Sign for SDG 2: This figure indicates a significant shortfall in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger, by the 2030 deadline.
- 15-Year Regression: The world has reverted to levels of undernourishment seen in 2008-2009, setting back progress by 15 years.
- Persistent Food Insecurity: Around 2.33 billion people globally experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023, a number that has not improved since the pandemic.
- Severe Food Insecurity: Over 864 million people faced severe food insecurity, sometimes going an entire day or more without food.
- The percentage of the population facing hunger continued to rise in Africa (20.4%), remained stable in Asia (8.1%) and showed progress in Latin America (6.2%). From 2022 to 2023, hunger increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and most African subregions.
9. TAX INCIDENCE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)
Context: The Union government recently said Goods and Services Tax (GST) has decreased tax incidence on the common man.
Tax Incidence
- About: It is an economic term describing how the burden of a tax is shared among various stakeholders, such as buyers and sellers or producers and consumers.
- Two Forms of Tax Incidence:
o Initial Incidence: This refers to the legal obligation of taxpayers to remit tax payments to the government, as established by law.
o Final Incidence: This refers to the actual burden of the tax on economic welfare in society, affecting consumers, workers, and investors.
- Example of Incidence Shift: For corporate income taxes, the legal incidence is on companies, but the economic incidence is often passed on through higher consumer prices, lower wages, or reduced shareholder returns.
- Tax Shifting: The difference between initial and final incidence is known as tax shifting, where the actual economic burden of the tax may differ from the legal obligation.
- Impact of Price Elasticity: The incidence of a tax depends on the price elasticity of supply and demand. Elastic goods see a larger tax burden shift to producers, while inelastic goods shift the burden to consumers.
- Tax Incidence on Inelastic Goods: For inelastic goods, such as cigarettes, consumers bear the tax burden since they continue to buy the product despite the price increase.
- Tax Incidence on Elastic Goods: For elastic goods, producers bear more of the tax burden as the demand decreases with higher prices, leading to a lower shift in the tax incidence to consumers.
10. HUMAYUN’S TOMB (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)
Context: The long-awaited Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum, located between Sunder Nursery and Humayun’s Tomb in Nizamuddin, will showcase intriguing details about the second Mughal Emperor’s life.
Humayun’s Tomb
- About: Built in 1570, this tomb holds particular cultural significance as the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.
- Also known as: ‘Dormitory of the Mughals’ as it houses the graves of over 150 Mughal family members.
- Architectural Influence: The design of Humayun’s Tomb inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
- Patronage: It was constructed under the patronage of Humayun’s son, Emperor Akbar.
- Charbagh Design: Humayun’s Tomb is an example of the charbagh, a four-quadrant garden representing the four rivers of Quranic paradise, with pools connected by channels.
- World Heritage Site: In 1993, UNESCO recognized Humayun’s Tomb as a World Heritage Site.
- Humayun Museum: Managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is part of a larger conservation effort encompassing the 300-acre Humayun’s Tomb-Sunder Nursery-Nizamuddin Basti area of Delhi.
Mughal Architecture
- Period and Patronage: Mughal architecture flourished in northern and central India under the Mughal emperors from the mid-16th to the late 17th century.
- Revival of Islamic Architecture: The Mughal period marked a significant revival of Islamic architecture in northern India, blending Persian, Indian, and provincial styles to produce works of high quality and refinement.
- Influence on Colonial Architecture: Mughal architectural elements became widespread in north India and influenced the Indo-Saracenic style of colonial architecture.
theIASHub | 25 Jul, 2024 | 99
Detailed Solutions & Explanations
