UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 31st December 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

 The ‘Dhanu Yatra’ festival, the largest open-air theatre festival began after a gap of two years, at Bargarh in the state of Odisha.

About Dhanu Yatra:

• It came into existence in Bargarh in 1947-48 as part of celebrating country’s Independence.
• It is held annually for 7-11 days.
• It is performed at the end of the harvesting of paddy which is the major crop of the region.
• The plays in the festival starts with dethroning of Emperor Ugrasen of Mathura by Kansa over the marriage of his sister Devaki with Vasudev.
• It concludes with the death of demon king Kansa and restoration of the throne to Ugrasen.
• Bargarh becomes King Kansa’s Mathura, and Amapali becomes Gopapura, where Lord Krishna have spent his childhood.
• Apparently, the jeera river represents the Yamuna during the famed Dhanu Yatra celebration when the entire Bargarh municipal limits, spread over 5 sq km, turns into a stage and every citizen plays a role.
• The river was once considered the lifeline of Bargarh.

Source: NewsOnAir

Context

 Recently, President of India has inaugurated the project development of Srisailam Temple in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

About the Temple:

• It is also known as Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple.
• It is situated in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The temple is located on the top of the Nallamala hills and on the banks of River Krishna.
• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati.
• It is the only temple in India significant to both Saivism and Shaktism.
• The presiding deity of the place is Goddess Brahmaramba devi and Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy in natural stone formations in the shape of Lingam.
• The idol of deities is thought to be ‘Swayambhu’ or self-manifested.
• It is considered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas of the Goddess, Parvati.

History of Srisailam Temple:

• Mention of Srisailam Temple is present in Nasik inscription of the Satavahana King Vasisthiputra Pulumavi in the 1st century AD.
• Reddy kings- Prolay Vemma and Anavema Reddy constructed pathways and Mandaps in the temple.
• The modern additions to the temple were made during the reign of Harihara I of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Architecture of Mallikarjun Temple:

• The temple is built in the Dravidian style.
• It has lofty towers and sprawling courtyards.
• Temple of Tripurantakam, Siddavatam, Alampura and Umamaheswaram are located in vicinity of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlina as four gateways to Sri Sailam.

Source: The Hindu

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the sacred occasion of Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji:

• Guru Gobind Singh Ji was (January 5, 1671 – 21 October, 1708) born “Gobind Rai” at Patna Sahib, Bihar, India
• He was the tenth and last of the Gurus of Sikhism.
• He became Guru at the age of nine, following the martyrdom of his father, the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (killed by Aurangzeb).

Contributions

• He was a divine messenger, a warrior, a poet, and a philosopher
• He moulded the Sikh religion into its present shape with the institution of the Khalsa fraternity in 1699
• He completed the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in the final form that we find today.
• Before leaving his mortal body, Guru Gobind Singh decreed the Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the next and perpetual Guru of the Sikhs.
• He is variously revered as Sarbans Dani (the merciful donor, who sacrificed his all), Mard Agamra (man without any parallels), Shah-e-Shahenshah (emperor of emperors), Bar do Alam Shah (ruler of both worlds), amongst others.
• He was a linguist familiar with Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit as well as his native Punjabi.
• He further codified Sikh law, wrote martial poetry and music, and was the reputed author of the Sikh work called the Dasam Granth (“Tenth Volume”)
• The autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh is called Vichitra Katha
• Veer Bal Diwas is celebrated to smark the martyrdom of sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh – Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji

Source: PIB

GS-II

Context

Recently, Karnataka has categorized the two dominant communities, Vokkaligas and Lingayats, as “moderately backward” from the “backward” category in a move that could increase their share in reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC).

What are the Key Points of the Move?

• Karnataka currently has 32% quota for OBC, and 17% and 7% quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, respectively, taking the total to 56%.
• The Panchamasali sub-sect of Veerashaiva Lingayats has demanded inclusion in the 2A category which has 15% quota from their current 3B category which has 5% quota.
• The Cabinet’s decision is based on the recommendations of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes.
• The Vokkaliga community, which is currently in the 3A category, will be moved to a newly-created 2C category with 4% reservation. And the Lingayat community, which is in the 3B category, will now be in a new 2D category with 5% reservation.
• The Cabinet decision ensures that there is no sub-categorisation of the Lingayat community.
• The Lingayats are a dominant community who make up nearly 17% of Karnataka’s six crore population- followed by Vokkaligas. The new categories will not affect the existing reservation provided to other communities.
• The reservation will be applicable only in education and jobs, and “not political reservation.

Who are Lingayats?

• About:
  • The term Lingayat denotes a person who wears a personal linga, an iconic form of god Shiva, on the body which is received during the initiation ceremony.
  • Lingayats are the followers of the 12^th-century social reformer-philosopher poet, Basaveshwara.
  • Basaveshwara was against the caste system and Vedic rituals.
  • The Lingayats are strict monotheists. They enjoin the worship of only one God, namely, Linga (Shiva).
  • Lingayats had been classified as a Hindu subcaste called “Veerashaiva Lingayats” and they are considered to be Shaivites.
• Separate Religion for Lingayats:
  • Lingayats had distanced themselves from Hindu Veerashaivas because the latter followed the Vedas and supported the caste system, to which Basaveshwara was against.
  • Veerashaivas are the followers of the five peethas (religious centers), called Pancha Peethas. These peethas are set up on similar lines to the four peethas set up by Adi Shankara.

Who are Vokkaligas?

• It is even believed that the Rashtrakutas and Western Gangas were of Vokkaliga origin.
• Vokkaliga is a category defined in terms of occupation, and to that extent could be an ethnic category; these are largely farmers by origin.
• The Vokkaliga caste originates in the Indian state of Karnataka. In the former princely state of Mysore, the Vokkaligas were the largest community.
• As a community of warriors and cultivators, they have historically wielded tremendous demographic, political, and economic dominance in Old Mysore.

How has the Status of OBC Reservation Emerged Over Time?

• The Kalelkar Commission, set up in 1953, was the first to identify backward classes other than the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the national level.
• The Mandal Commission Report, 1980 estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward.
• It recommended increasing the existing quotas, which were only for SC/ST, from 22.5% to 49.5% to include the OBCs.
• The central government reserved 27% of seats in union civil posts and services for OBCs [Article 16(4)]. The quotas were subsequently enforced in central government educational institutions [Article 15 (4)].
• In 2008, the Supreme Court directed the central government to exclude the creamy layer (advanced sections) among the OBCs.
• The 102^nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provided constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was previously a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Source: Indian Express

Context

The Union Ministry of Railways has launched a new scheme called Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to modernize railway stations across India.

Aim:

• The scheme aims at preparation of Master Plans of the Railway stations and implementation of the Master Plan in phases to enhance the facilities including and beyond the Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA) and aiming for creation of Roof Plazas and city centres at the station in long run.
• Meet the needs of the stakeholders, station usage studies and inter-se priority.
• Introduction of new amenities as well as upgradation and replacement of existing amenities.
• This scheme will also cover the stations where detailed techno-economic feasibility studies have been conducted.

The scheme:

• Formulated by Ministry of Railways
• It is a new policy for modernization of stations named “Amrit Bharat Station” scheme.
• Amrit Bharat Station scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term vision.

Scope of work:

• The scheme aims to relocate redundant/old buildings in a cost efficient manner
• Provide good cafeteria/retail facilities
• Space shall also be created for Executive Lounges and places for small business meetings.
• Elements of landscaping, green patches and local art and culture should be used
• High level platforms(760-840 mm) shall be provided at all categories of stations.
• Ballast less tracks would be provided on platform lines and lines with train maintenance facilities.
• Drainage of platform areas is of utmost importance.
• Provisions may be made such that station provides free WIFI access to its users.
• Ceremonial flags may be provided at appropriate space in the station.
• Enough toilets shall be provided at all categories of stations with separate provisions for women and Divyangjan
• Gradual shift to sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions as per availability of funds and condition of existing assets.

Source: PIB

GS-III

Recently the Union Home minister launched ‘Prahari’ app for Border Security Force (BSF) Jawans.

• The Ministry also revised 13 BSF manuals to increase the understanding of the administration, training and operations of the border guarding organization.
• These manuals will help speed up the tasks of the BSF jawans. They will ease the work of all ranks of BSF jawans and officers.

• Through the ‘Prahari’ app, jawans can get personal and service-related information, housing, Ayushman- Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and leave related information on their mobile.
• Other Features of the App Include:
  • Availability of Bio Data
  • Grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS)”
  • Information on various welfare schemes
• The app will also connect the Jawans with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• The BSF was raised in 1965, after the India-Pakistan war.
• It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Other Central Armed Police Forces are: Assam Rifles (AR), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
• It is deployed on Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control (LoC) along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations.
• It has an air wing, marine wing, an artillery regiment, and commando units.
• BSF has been defending Sir Creek in Arabian Sea and Sundarban delta in the Bay of Bengal with its state of art fleet of Water Crafts.
• BSF has an instrumental role in helping state administration in maintaining Law and Order and conducting peaceful elections.
• BSF has been crusading against natural calamity to save precious human lives as and when warranted.
• It contributes dedicated services to the UN peacekeeping Mission by sending a large contingent of its trained manpower every year.
• It has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
• The Border Security Force has been awarded numerous gallantry awards including one Mahavir Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras, 13 Vir Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras.

Source: The Hindu