The Great Stupa of Sanchi
Syllabus: GS1/Ancient History
Context
- The External Affairs Minister stopped by the replica of the East Gate of Sanchi’s Great Stupa standing in front of Humboldt Forum museum in Berlin.
The Great Stupa of Sanchi
- A stupa is a Buddhist commemorative monument usually containing sacred relics of the Buddha or other venerable saints.
- The archetypal stupa is a hemispherical structure, whose origins can be traced to pre-Buddhist burial mounds found in India.
- The Great Stupa of Sanchi was commissioned in the third century BCE by Emperor Ashoka.
- It is one of the oldest standing stone structures in India, believed to have been built over the Buddha’s relics.
- The stupa is surrounded by a railing and four gateways, each adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures depicting stories from the life of Buddha. The Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- The main body of the stupa symbolises the cosmic mountain.
- It is topped by a ‘harmika’ to hold the triple umbrella, or ‘chhatraveli’, which represents the three jewels of Buddhism – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
- The most recent construction in Sanchi can be dated to as late as the twelfth century CE.
- While the original stupa itself is a rather plain hemispherical structure crowned by a chhatra (parasol), what makes it instantly recognisable are the ornamental gateways or toranas that stand in front of it.
Source: IE
Nano DAP vs Conventional Granular Fertilizer
Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture
Context
- The Government of India is pushing nano DAP as a cost-effective indigenous alternative to the imported granular form of the fertilizer.
What is Nano DAP?
- Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) is a type of fertilizer that contains phosphorus and nitrogen, two essential nutrients for plant growth.
- Nano DAP, launched by IFFCO in 2023, is a unique liquid fertilizer product that contains nanoparticles of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP).
How is Nano DAP different?
- Nano DAP comes in liquid form. It is logistically easier to manage, and more cost-effective than the granular DAP.
- A 500 ml bottle of nano DAP, which costs Rs 600, is sufficient to cover one acre of land. In comparison, a single 50 kg bag of granular DAP costing Rs 1,350 is needed for one acre of wheat.
Benefits of switching to the nano DAP
- India uses around 10.5-11.5 million tonnes annually, but domestic production is only around 4-5 million tonnes, with the remainder being imported.
- Nano DAP will reduce import dependency.
- The indigenously-produced nano fertilizers are also set to ease India’s subsidy burden, which is pegged to be Rs 1.88 lakh crore in FY 2024.
Concerns
- Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) scientists said that their experiments have found that nano DAP use resulted in a substantial decrease in yield of the wheat crop, compared to granular DAP.
Source: IE
Global Navigation Satellite System Toll Collection System
Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Tech
In News
- The government is planning to implement a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based toll collection system starting April 2025
About Global Navigation Satellite System Toll Collection System
- GNSS-based tolling is expected to be implemented by April 2025, aiming to replace the existing FASTag system.
- Vehicles with GNSS equipment will be able to travel up to 20 km for free each day on national highways and expressways.
- Unlike the fixed tolls of the FASTag system, GNSS will charge based on the actual distance traveled.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has amended the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008 to incorporate GNSS-based toll collection, including the creation of dedicated GNSS lanes.
- Currently, both GNSS and FASTag systems will operate simultaneously, but over time, all lanes will transition to GNSS. Vehicles not equipped with GNSS that use these lanes will face double the toll as a penalty.
- Importance: GNSS lanes will allow vehicles to pass through tolls without stopping, reducing congestion at toll plazas. To use GNSS, vehicles will need a special on-board unit (OBU), which may eventually come factory-installed in new vehicles.
| Do you know ? – Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) include constellations of Earth-orbiting satellites that broadcast their locations in space and time, of networks of ground control stations, and of receivers that calculate ground positions by trilateration. – GNSS are used in all forms of transportation: space stations, aviation, maritime, rail, road and mass transit.  |
Source:IE
Inner Line Permit
Syllabus :GS 2/Governance
In News
- The Nagaland State Government has approved the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Chumoukedima, Niuland, and Dimapur districts
About Inner Line Permit (ILP)
- The Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document required for Indian citizens from outside certain protected states to enter these areas for a limited period.
- Established under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, initially to protect British commercial interests, the ILP now aims to safeguard tribal cultures in northeastern India.
- The system was updated post-independence to use “Citizen of India” instead of “British subjects.”
- There are various types of ILPs, including those for tourism and long-term stays.
- Tourist ILPs are typically issued routinely.
- The states which require the permit are:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Manipur
Source: AIR
Retail Inflation
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- India’s retail inflation in August 2024 has fallen below the RBI’s 4% target for the second time in about five years.
About
- The RBI’s inflation target is 4% with a tolerance band of +/- 2 percentage points, meaning that the target is within the range of 2% to 6%.
- Urban inflation fell to 3.14% in August 2024, compared to 6.59% in August 2023.
- Rural inflation fell to 4.16% in August 2024, compared to 7.02% in August 2023.
Retail Inflation
- Retail inflation refers to the increase in prices of goods and services that consumers purchase, typically measured over a specific period.
- It’s often gauged using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks changes in the cost of a basket of consumer goods and services over time.
- When retail inflation rises, it means that the cost of living is increasing, which can affect household budgets and purchasing power.
- Conversely, low or negative retail inflation can indicate slower economic activity or declining prices.
- To measure inflation, we estimate how much CPI has increased in terms of percentage change over the same period the previous year.
- If prices have fallen, it is known as deflation (negative inflation).
- The Central Bank (RBI) pays very close attention to this figure in its role of maintaining price stability in the economy.
- Generally, CPI is used as a macroeconomic indicator of inflation, as a tool by the central bank and government for inflation targeting and for inspecting price stability, and as a deflator in the national accounts.
Source: HT
EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE VII
Syllabus :GS 3/Defence
Context
- The 7th edition of Exercise Eastern Bridge, between the Royal Oman Air Force and the Indian Air Force, began at Air Force base Masirah, Oman.
About
- The 1st edition of bilateral exercise Eastern Bridge was also held at Oman in 2009.
- Exercise Eastern Bridge VII aims to improve tactical and operational skills, foster mutual understanding and bolster the ability of both air forces to collaborate effectively in diverse scenarios.
- The exercise will include complex aerial maneuvering, air to air and air to ground operations, and logistical coordination, reflecting the evolving defense needs and strategic interests of both nations.
Source: PIB
Exercise AL NAJAH
Syllabus :GS 3/Defence
Context
- The 5th edition of India-Oman joint military Exercise AL NAJAH began in Salalah, Oman.
About
- Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and Oman. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.
- Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
- Exercise AL NAJAH V will allow both sides to exchange best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for joint operations.
Source: PIB
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