UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 30th September 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

• It was built by Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 CE).
• It is referred  as Kailasamudaiyar temple in inscriptions.
• Features
  • It is known for its exquisite stone sculptures and important inscriptions.
  • It consists of an ekatala vimana and a mukha mandapa.
  • The walls of both structures are divided into three bays.
  • The central bays of the vimana have niches to accommodate Dakshinamurthi in the south, Lingodhbava in the west and Brahma in the north.
  • The mukha mandapa is provided with three niches on the south and the north.
  • Excellent sculptures of Bikshatana, Adavallan and Ganapathi decorate the south, whereas Gangadarara, Durga and Ammaiappar are in the north.
  • All the niches have well carved and distinctive makara thoranas (ceremonial arches) with relief sculptures in the centre.
  • Inscriptions: The temple is known for its important inscriptions belonging to the periods of Rajendra Chola I and Kulothunga I (regnal years 1070-1120 CE).
  • Nine interesting and informative inscriptions have been recorded from this temple.
  • The earliest among them belongs to the fourth regnal year of Rajendra Chola I.
  • It refers to a grant of land free of taxes by the nagaratthar of Ilaichikkudi for raising a flower garden named after the king for the use of the temple.

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

World University Rankings 2024

Subject: Governance

• The University of Oxford tops the ranking for the eighth year in a row.
• The US is the most-represented country overall, with 169 institutions, and also the most-represented in the top 200 (56).
• With 91 institutions, India is now the fourth most-represented nation, overtaking China (86).
• The top university in India, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
• The next highest-ranked universities in India are Anna University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, which are all in the 501-600 band.
• Indian universities made significant gains this year, including five of the countries’ top universities.
• IISc moved up from 251-300 bands last year to 201-250.
• Anna University moved up from 801-1000 band last year to 501-600.
• Aligarh Muslim University moved up from 801-1000 band last year to 601-80.
• Bharathiar University moved up from the 801-1000 band last year to 601-800.
• Malaviya National Institute of Technology entered the ranking for the first time in the 601-800 band.
• Two IITs, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, moved up two bands to join the world’s top 800 universities, from 1001-1200 to 601-800.

About World University Rankings 2024: –

• Founded in 2004.
• Published by: Times Higher Education.
• The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 include 1,904 universities across 108 countries and regions.
• These rankings are the most comprehensive, rigorous and balanced global ranking. 
• It covers their core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfers and internationalization.
• It assesses research-intensive universities across 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
• It is trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments and industry experts.

Source: Indian Express

India and Finland

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

 India and Finland recently agreed on cooperation between the two countries in several areas of telecom including the development of Human Resources for the dynamic sector.

About India and Finland:-

• Finland and India have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations.
• In recent years, bilateral relations have acquired diversity with collaboration in research, innovation, and investments by both sides.
• 2019 marked 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Economic cooperation: –

• Finland sees India as a market for its products and a favourable investment destination for its high-technology industries.
• India views Finland as an important member of the European Union and a repository of modern technology.

S&T Collaboration: –

• An agreement for Cooperation in S&T was signed in February 2008 for the development of innovation policies, exchange of information and scientists and R&D collaboration.
• Both India and Finland are consultative members of the Antarctic Treaty and have active stations in Antarctica.
• Finland will be hosting the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in 2023 and India in 2024.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) have been cooperating in the field of Atmospheric Environment since 2014.

Cultural Relations: –

• Indian culture and yoga are very popular in Finland.
• Cultural events are organized regularly by Indian Associations and other cultural organizations promoting Indian dance and music.

Environment Relations: –

• There have been successful partnerships since 2004 between the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in air quality including capacity building.

Cooperation in Education: –

• Finland is a global leader in education scoring consistently on several parameters.
• There have been tie-ups between private firms for the exchange of best practices in early childhood and K-12 education.
• There is an MoU between a Consortium of ten Finnish Universities and twenty-three Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for the period 2020-2025 for cooperation in the higher education sector.

Source: AIR

GS-III

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

Recently, the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) recently appealed to diamond industries to stop importing rough diamonds from October 15 to December 15.

Background:-

• The decision has been taken due to the lack of demand for polished natural diamonds and studded jewellery in the international market.
• In a statement, GJEPC said that the demand for loose polished diamonds and jewellery from large economies like the USA and China has been affected over the last many quarters.

About Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC): –

• Establishment: 1966.
• HQ: Mumbai.
• Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• VISION: to make India the preferred source for quality gems and jewellery. 
• The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council is the apex body which aims to promote the gems and jewellery products and industry.
• It is considered to be one of the leaders in diamond manufacturing and trading.
• It is a central administrative and statutory body looking over the gems and jewellery industry in India.
• It has regional offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur and Surat.
• It drives India’s export-led growth in the gem and jewellery sector. 

Objectives: –

PROMOTING BRAND INDIA: –

• Organizing India’s biggest and second-biggest trade shows, IIJS Premiere and IIJS Signature.
• Organizing joint participation in international jewellery shows.

CONNECTING GOVERNMENT & TRADE: –

• Facilitating better interaction on trade-related issues between the industry and the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Finance, DGFT, Dept of Commerce, Dept. of Finance.

UPHOLDING DIAMOND INTEGRITY: –

• Executing the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme in the country, as the Nodal Agency appointed by the Government of India.

SPREADING EDUCATION: –

• Running training institutes that impart manufacturing skills, and technical and design excellence in six cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Surat, Jaipur, Varanasi and Udupi.

INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: –

• Providing MSMEs with affordable modern machines and tools at Common Facility Centres.
• Setting up Jewellery Parks across the country.

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING:-

• Providing health insurance for the employees of the Council’s member companies through the group mediclaim scheme called Swasthya Ratna.

PAYING BACK TO SOCIETY:-

• Founded by GJEPC in 2014, Jewellers for Hope has donated Rs.1 crore every year to one or more NGOs/charities doing exceptional work in supporting the underprivileged.

Source: Indian Express

Chilobrachys natanicharum

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?