News In Short – 24-08-2024

Marsyangdi River

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

Context

• Recently, an Indian tourist bus, carrying around 40 passengers, veered off the highway and plunged into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi River in Nepal’s Tanahun district resulting in the several loss of lives, and injuries.

About the Marshyangdi River

• It originates at an altitude of 3,600 metres northwest of the Annapurna massif  in Nepal, where the Khangsar Khola and Jharsang Khola mountain rivers meet. 
• It flows eastward through Manang District, then southward through Lamjung District, and eventually joins the Trishuli River near Mugling as a tributary. 
• It is part of the Gandaki River system, which is also known as Narayani. 
• Its tributaries are Nagdi Khola, Dordi Khola, Chepe Khola, Chundi Khola, and Daraudi etc

Source: DD News

Virupaksha Temple at Hampi

Syllabus: GS1/Art & Architecture

Context

• The conservation of Hampi is crucial after the Saalu Mantapa, a pavilion at the Virupaksha temple in Hampi, collapsed in torrential rainfall earlier this year.

About the Virupaksha Temple of Hampi

• It is located in Hampi, Karnataka, India.
• It holds immense religious and cultural significance and is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Historical Significance

• It dates back to the 7th century CE. Some historians suggest that it existed even before the Vijayanagara Empire established its capital in Hampi.
• During the 14th to 16th centuries, under the Vijayanagara rulers, the temple underwent extensive expansion and flourished as a vital centre for religious and cultural activities.
  • The Vijayanagara empire was founded by Harihara I of the Sangama dynasty, it expanded from a strategic position on the banks of the Tungabhadra river to become one of the most powerful kingdoms of its time.

Architectural Marvels

• The Vijayanagara Empire (1336 to 1646), known for its grand architecture, built Dravidian-style temples and palaces in Hampi, including the Virupaksha Temple.
• Notable features include towering gopurams (gateways), pillared halls, and shrines dedicated to various deities.
• The Vitthala Temple within the complex stands out for its exquisite ornate structure, representing the pinnacle of Vijayanagara temple architecture.
  • It features a grand bazaar street, a stepped tank, and beautifully carved mandapas.

Religious Significance

• The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva.
• It is associated with the local goddess Pampadevi, linked to the Tungabhadra River.
• Worship at the Virupaksha Temple has persisted over centuries, even after the city’s destruction in 1565.

Source: IE

Philadelphi (Salaheddin) Corridor

Syllabus :GS 2/IR

In News 

A narrow stretch of land along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt has emerged as the main stumbling block in negotiations.

About the Corridor 

• It is a 14-km stretch along Gaza’s border with Egypt, and is central to ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
• It was built by the Israeli military when Gaza was under its direct occupation between 1967 and 2005.
  • The U.S.-brokered 1979 agreement was the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on permanent Israeli control of the corridor to prevent Hamas from rearming.
• Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the corridor.
• A 2005 agreement between Israel and Egypt established the corridor as a buffer zone to manage Gaza’s movement and smuggling.
• After Israel’s 2005 withdrawal, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority managed the area, but Hamas took control in 2007.
• The corridor has been used for smuggling, including arms and goods, through numerous tunnels.
• Egypt has destroyed many tunnels and views Israeli control as a violation of agreements.

Source:Th

Botswana discovered the world’s second largest diamond 

Syllabus :GS 2/IR

In News 

The world’s second-largest 2,492-carat diamond has been discovered in Botswana at a mine owned by Lucara Diamond, a Canadian firm. 

• The largest diamond – 3,106-carat – was found in South Africa in 1905, also known as the Cullinan Diamond.

Botswana 

• It is situated in the Southern African region.
• It is a land-locked country dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert. 

• It is bordered by Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, Namibia to the north and west, and South Africa to the south and southeast.
• Capital City: Gaborone
• Botswana’s climate is semi-arid though it is hot and dry for much of the year. 

• Botswana’s highest point is Tsodilo Hills
• Major Rivers : Significant rivers  include the Limpopo, Okavango, and Shashe with the Molopo River creating a geographical border between South Africa and Botswana.
• It is home of the world’s largest elephant population

Source:TH 

Rail Force One: A Symbol of Iron Diplomacy

Syllabus :GS 2/IR

Context

• India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi boarded ‘Train Force One’ from Poland to travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

About

• Foreign dignitaries visiting Kyiv have been taking the train ever since Ukraine’s airspace was closed following the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Rail Force One

• Train Characteristics: The train, operated by Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), is painted blue and yellow and features luxury amenities such as wooden panels, cream and blue curtains, leather sofas, king-size beds, and wall-mounted flatscreen TVs.
• Journey Details: The train travels approximately 700 km from Przemyśl Główny station in Poland to Kyiv, taking around 10 hours.
• Historical Use: The train was initially used for wealthy tourists visiting Crimea before Russia’s annexation in 2014.
• Symbol of Diplomacy: The train has become a symbol of “Iron Diplomacy,” a term used by Ukraine’s Strategic Industries Minister Alexander Kamyshin.
• Importance to Ukraine: The train network is crucial for Ukraine, aiding in war efforts and transporting both aid and evacuees. It has also served as a morale booster and public relations asset during the conflict.

Source:IE

PM-WANI Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a draft Telecommunication Tariff (70th Amendment) Order, 2024 on “Regulatory framework for PM-WANI scheme”.

What is the PM-WANI scheme?

• Prime Minister’s WiFi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) was launched by the Department of Telecommunication in 2020. 
• The scheme aims to enhance the proliferation of public WiFi hotspots to create robust digital communications infrastructure in the country, especially in rural areas.
• The government aims to increase employment for small and micro-entrepreneurs and provide low-cost internet to the underserved urban poor and rural households.
• The scheme encourages local shops and establishments to provide Wi-Fi for last-mile internet delivery which does not require a license or charge a registration fee.

PM-WANI ecosystem

• The PM-WANI ecosystem consists of four parts: Public Data Office (PDO), Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA), App Provider, and Central Registry.
  • PDO establishes the Wi-Fi Hotspots and provides internet access to users. 
  • PDOA provides authorisation and accounting services to PDOs. 
  • The app provider displays the available hotspots in the phone’s proximity. 
  • The central registry overseen by the Centre for Development of Telematics maintains details of App Providers, PDOs, and PDOAs.

What are the concerns?

• The National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 under ‘Connect India’ mission had set the goal to enable deployment of 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022 for creating a robust digital communication infrastructure.  
• Further, the Bharat 6G Vision also sets the goal of 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022 and 50 million by 2030 for Digital India 2030 mobile and broadband policy objectives.  
• However, PM-Wani hotspot numbers presently are much below the targeted numbers, as envisaged in NDCP, 2018 document and in Bharat 6G vision document.

Source: PIB

Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana 

Syllabus :GS 2/Welfare Schemes

Context

• The Department of Posts has launched a philately scholarship scheme, Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana,  to promote and bring philately into the mainstream of the education system.

Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana 

• The scheme proposed to grant a scholarship of ₹ 6,000/ – per annum to those meritorious students whose academic records are good as well as who have adopted Philately as a hobby. 
• Scholarships will be provided  at all India levels and each Postal circle will provide a maximum of 40 scholarships to 10 students of class 6, 7, 8, and 9 each.

Eligibility

• The selection for scholarship will be done on the basis of performance in a Philately written Quiz.
• One should be a student of a recognized school in India. The concerned school should have a Philately club and the candidate should be a member of the club. 
• In case the school does not have a Philately Club, the name of a student of that school who has his/her own Philately Deposit account can also be considered.
  • A Philately Deposit account can be opened in Post offices.
• The candidate must have secured at least 60 percent marks or equivalent grade/grade points in the last final examination.
  • There will be a relaxation of 5% for SC/ST candidates.

Source: PIB

PM-JANMAN Mission

Syllabus :GS 2/Welfare Schemes

Context

• The Union government has launched a nationwide campaign to inform and deliver benefits to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN).

PM-JANMAN

• Launched on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (15th November, 2023), from the Khunti District of Jharkhand, it aims to provide essential services like housing, clean water, sanitation, education, healthcare, and better road and telecom connectivity to PVTG families. 
• The mission focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key aligned Ministries/Departments, with budgetary outlay of Rs. 24,104 crores (Central Share: Rs.15,336 crore and State Share: Rs.8,768 crore) from FY 2023-24 to 2025-26, under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).

Do you know? – India has a Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of 10.45 crore as per 2011 census, out of which 75 communities located in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been categorized as PVTGs. – Odisha has the largest population of PVTGs followed by Madhya Pradesh.

Source:PIB

Subhadra Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced the implementation of the Subhadra scheme.

About

• Under the scheme, ₹50,000 will be provided over five years to one crore poor women aged between 21 and 60.
• A total of ₹10,000 per annum will be paid in two instalments of ₹5,000 each on Rakhi Purnima Day and International Women’s Day (March 8).
• Women who are receiving assistance of ₹1,500 or more per month, or ₹18,000 or more per year under any other government scheme, will be ineligible for inclusion under Subhadra.
• The money will be deposited directly into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-enabled single-holder bank account; A Subhadra Debit Card will also be issued to them.

Source: TH

Pasmanda Muslim

Syllabus :GS 1/Society

Context

• All India Pasmanda Muslim Mehaz (AIPMM) and other Muslim groups has demanded inclusion of at least 12 Muslim castes among scheduled castes.

About

• Muslims in India are broadly sorted in three categories: the Ashrafs (the ‘noble’ elite or the ‘honourable ones’), the Ajlafs (backward Muslims), and the Arzals (Dalit Muslims).
• ‘Pasmanda’, a Persian word, means the ‘ones left behind’, and is used to describe depressed classes among the Muslims, while underlining their deliberate or conscious exclusion. 
• Pasmanda has become an umbrella identity used by backward, Dalit, and tribal Muslims.
• The term ‘Pasmanda Muslims’ was first used in 1998 by Ali Anwar Ansari when he founded the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz.
• Pasmanda Muslims say that despite their overwhelming numerical strength within the community, they are under-represented in jobs, legislatures and government-run minority institutions, as well as community-run Muslim organisations.
• The major Pasmanda demands include conducting a caste census, restructuring of the existing reservation categories, and state support for artisans, craftspersons, and agricultural labourers.

Source: IE