UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 1st February 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Martand Sun Temple

Subject: Art and Culture

Why in News?

Some people forced their way into the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected Martand Sun temple recently.

About Martand Sun Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple located near the city of Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is dedicated to the Sun God. Martand is another Sanskrit synonym for Surya.
• It was built by King Lalitaditya Muktapida around the 8th Century CE. Lalitaditya Muktapida was the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty. 
• Features:
• It has a unique architecture where the local Kashmiri style is blended with the architectural styles of Gupta, Chinese, Gandhara, Roman, and Greek.
• The temple is located on top of a plateau and has been constructed entirely out of stone.
• It stands in the middle of a large courtyard with 86 fluted columns. The courtyard is connected to the main shrine, where Sun God’s idol was installed. 
• The construction of the main shrine was such that during most of the days’ time, especially during sunrise and sunset, the rays would directly fall on the idol. 
• The central shrine, or vimana, stands tall at around 60 feet. It features intricate carvings and sculptures that depict various Hindu gods and goddesses. 
• There are 84 smaller shrines around the main Sun Temple. They are lined along the perimeter of the complex. 
• The temple is believed to have been demolished by Sultan Sikandar Shah Miri, who ruled Kashmir from 1389 to 1413.

Source: National Herald India

GS-II

One Stop Centre Scheme

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development said that One Stop Centres to help women who have faced violence have been established in over 700 districts across the country.

About One Stop Centre scheme:

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme formulated under the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).
• Objectives:
• To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof.
• To facilitate immediate, emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological and counselling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.
• Target group
• It supports all women including girls below 18 years of age affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation or marital status.
• For girls below 18 years of age, institutions and authorities established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 linked with the OSC
• Funding: The Scheme will be funded through the Nirbhaya Fund. The Central Government will provide 100% financial assistance under the Scheme.
• Administration: The day-to-day implementation and administrative matters would be the responsibility of the District Collector/District Magistrate.
• The OSC will facilitate access to- Emergency Response and Rescue Services, Medical assistance, assistance to women in lodging FIR/ NCR/DIR, psycho-social support/counselling, legal aid and counselling, shelter and a Video Conferencing Facility.

Source: The Hindu

Rising Tensions in Korean Peninsula

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

North Korea’s provocative actions and responses by South Korea and its allies have heightened concerns about international security.

• Major Power Rivalry: Major power rivalry has intensified, raising questions about regional stability.

North vs. South Korea: Historical Context

• Post-WWII Division: After World War II, the Korean Peninsula was divided into North and South Korea.
• Cold War Alignments: The North aligned with the Soviet Union, while the South aligned with the U.S.
• Korean War: The Korean War in the 1950s marked the first “hot war” of the Cold War era.
• Ongoing Division: Despite the end of active conflict and the Cold War, the two Koreas remain divided due to ideological and geopolitical differences.
• Nuclear Ambitions: A major issue in the region has been North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Recent Escalation

• Adversarial Designation: North Korea has officially designated South Korea as an adversary and dismantled symbols of reunification.
• Missile Tests: Multiple missile tests, including one involving a hypersonic warhead, have been conducted.
• Hypersonic Threat: Hypersonic weapons have the potential to evade missile defence systems.
• Joint Drills: In response, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan held joint naval drills to enhance their defence capabilities.
• Additional Tests: North Korea conducted tests of a nuclear-capable underwater drone and a strategic cruise missile, increasing tensions in the region.

South Korea’s Role

• New Leadership: South Korea’s newly elected conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has adopted a hawkish approach toward North Korea.
• Alignment with Allies: There is a closer alignment with the U.S. and Japan.
• Trilateral Cooperation: The three countries held a historic meeting to strengthen trilateral cooperation.
• Conflict Concerns: These developments raise concerns about potential conflicts in the region, given the involvement of major powers and the possibility of unintended consequences.

International Implications

• Global Conflicts: Rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula coincide with other global conflicts, such as Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine.
• Major Power Involvement: Key stakeholders in the Korean Peninsula, including the U.S., China, and Russia, are involved in a broader strategic competition.
• Conflict Possibilities: While a major conflict may be avoided due to alliances and nuclear deterrence, incidents or skirmishes are possible.
• Complex Alliances: North Korea’s ties with China and Russia and South Korea’s alignment with the U.S. add complexity to ongoing global conflicts.

Conclusion

• The situation in the Korean Peninsula has raised international security concerns due to increased tensions, missile tests, and shifts in political dynamics among the involved countries.
• The interconnectedness of these issues with broader global conflicts adds to the complexity and uncertainty in the region.

Source: The Hindu

What makes the India-France ‘strategic partnership’ tick

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

The article discusses the robust and special “Strategic Partnership” between India and France, tracing its origins, evolution, and current dimensions. It emphasizes the enduring nature of the relationship, marked by shared values, geopolitical convergence, and mutual respect, evident in diverse sectors such as defense, space, education, and commerce.

Key Highlights:

• Origins and Evolution: The strategic partnership has deep roots dating back to 1998, with France being the first P-5 country to support India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
• Geopolitical Convergence: Both nations prioritize multipolarity, strategic autonomy, and share concerns about a unipolar world, contributing to their natural convergence.
• Defense Collaboration: Collaboration includes the development of submarines, joint military exercises, and the acquisition of Rafale aircraft. The recently concluded Defense Industrial Roadmap further strengthens defense ties.
• Space Cooperation: Cooperation in the space domain, which began in the 1960s, has seen a revival, with joint missions and agreements signed between ISRO and CNES.
• Commercial and Civilian Ties: Efforts are underway to broaden the partnership into commercial and civilian spaces, with joint working groups in various sectors and a growing number of Indian students pursuing higher education in France.

Key Challenges:

• Commercial Transition: Moving the partnership from government domains to commercial and civilian spaces presents a challenge, requiring sustained efforts to enhance cooperation in diverse sectors.
• Differences Management: While strategic partnerships don’t require convergence on all issues, managing differences privately and not publicly is crucial for maintaining a mature and resilient relationship.

Key Terms:

• Strategic Partnership: A special relationship between nations marked by cooperation in various domains, including defense, space, and commerce.
• Multipolarity: A global order characterized by multiple centers of power and influence rather than a single dominant force.
• P-5: The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including France.
• Geopolitical Focus: Shifting attention and strategic interests from one region to another based on changing global dynamics.

Key Phrases:

• Civilization Exceptionalism: Shared trait between India and France, emphasizing pride in their respective civilizations without imposing their values on each other.
• Argumentative Intellectualism: Common characteristic shared by both nations, highlighting their appreciation for intellectual discourse.

Key Quotes:

• “India and France have valued strategic autonomy in their own fashion.”
• “‘Strategic Partnership’ does not require convergence on all issues but sensitivity so that differences, where these exist, are expressed in private and not publicly.”

Key Examples and References:

• Jacques Chirac’s Declaration (1998): France’s support for India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
• Defense Industrial Roadmap: Agreements and collaborations in the defense sector, including the acquisition of Rafale aircraft and submarine development.

Key Statements:

• “It is clear that the two countries do share a ‘Strategic Partnership’ that is special.”
• “Both countries were quick to espouse the virtues of multipolarity.”

Critical Analysis:

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the India-France strategic partnership, highlighting its historical context, geopolitical rationale, and practical manifestations. It underscores the challenges of transitioning from government-centric collaborations to broader commercial and civilian engagements. The emphasis on managing differences privately and the maturity of the relationship reflect a nuanced understanding of international diplomacy.

Way Forward:

• Enhanced Commercial Ties: Continued efforts to broaden the partnership into commercial and civilian sectors, fostering economic collaboration beyond defense and space.
• Cultural and Educational Exchange: Strengthening cultural ties, fostering educational collaborations, and encouraging more Indian students to pursue higher education in France.
• Diplomatic Sensitivity: Maintaining sensitivity in handling differences and ensuring that diplomatic disputes are resolved privately to uphold the mature and resilient nature of the partnership.

The India-France Strategic Partnership, rooted in shared values and mutual respect, continues to evolve positively, presenting opportunities for further growth and collaboration across various domains.

Source: The Hindu

GS-III

LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

Recently, a national exhibition and programme of environment-friendly activities on the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) themes is being organized on 9th & 10th February 2024, at India Gate, Delhi.

Background:-

• The event will highlight how the youth can inspire behavioural change that leads to individual and collective action towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle.

About LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment):-

• LiFE is an India-led global movement to nudge individuals to take simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives.
• Aim: to bring individual behaviours to the forefront of the global climate action
• LiFE envisions replacing the prevalent ‘use-and-dispose’ economy with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilisation.

Approach:-

• Focus on Individual Behaviours: Make Life a mass movement (Jan Andolan) by focusing on behaviours and attitudes of individuals and communities.
• Co-create Globally: Crowdsource empirical and scalable ideas from the best minds of the world, through top universities, think tanks and international organisations.
• Leverage Local Cultures: Leverage climate-friendly social norms, beliefs and daily household practices of different cultures worldwide to drive the campaign.

Objectives :-

• It aims to promote an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilization’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption’.
• It aims to utilise the power of collective action.
• It aims to nudge individuals across the world to undertake simple climate-friendly actions in their daily lives.
• It aims to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3).
• Pro-Planet People’ (P3): to have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
• It seeks to leverage the strength of social networks to influence social norms surrounding climate.

Source: PIB

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

Recently, PFRDA has invited bids for the selection of a System Integrator (SI) for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of PFRDA-TRACE (Tracking Reporting Analytics & Compliance E-Platform).

Background:-

• PFRDA-TRACE will serve as a comprehensive tool for submitting regulatory and supervisory compliance reports by intermediaries.

About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):-

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a statutory regulatory body established under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013.
• It was established to oversee the National Pension System (NPS) and regulate India’s pensions sector.

Functions:-

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a legislative body created by Parliament to regulate, promote, and maintain the orderly expansion of the National Pension System (NPS) and pension schemes covered by this Act.
• It is a central autonomous body that functions as a quasi-government organisation with executive, legislative, and judicial powers similar to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
• PFRDA administers and regulates the National Pension System (NPS) and also administers the Atal Pension Yojana.
• It is responsible for appointing numerous intermediary agencies, such as Pension Fund Managers and the Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA), among others.

Source: PIB

Sphaerotheca varshaabhu

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

Researchers from various national and international organisations have identified and documented a previously unknown species of frog which has been thriving amidst the urban landscape of Bengaluru.

About Sphaerotheca varshaabhu:

• It is a new frog species.
• Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu, meaning a genus of frog which welcomes rain, has been attributed to its behaviour of coming out of burrows during the early showers.
• The newly unearthed amphibian exhibits distinctive characteristics that set it apart from known frog species.
• It has adapted to its urban surroundings displaying behaviours and physical attributes that help it navigate challenges posed by urbanisation.
• The team utilised advanced genetic analysis, morphological studies and bioacoustics to confirm the distinctiveness of this newly discovered amphibian.

Key facts about amphibians

• They are extremely sensitive to changes in the environment and can give scientists valuable insight into how an ecosystem is functioning.
• Amphibians, like frogs, toads and salamanders, are known as indicator species.
• They are both predators and prey; many other animals are affected by them.

Source: The Hindu