UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 16th January 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Pongal

Subject: Art and Culture

Why in News?

Recently, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes on the occasion of Pongal.

Background:-

• Cultural celebrations are held across many states of India under different names – Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu, etc. on January 14.
• Unlike many Hindu festivals, the date for these festivals is largely fixed. This year it is being celebrated on January 15 in some parts of India, as 2024 is a leap year.

About Pongal:-

• Pongal is celebrated with the distribution of new crop “Shankarai Pongal” which is basically rice cooked in milk and jiggery distributed as a
• The day is a marker for a change of season – warmer months are close and we are moving away from winter, which is seen as a period of inactivity in many ways.
• It is said that the northward journey of the sun (Uttarayan) begins on this day.
• In the Hindu belief system, the end of January heralds the beginning of longer days.
• It marks the Sun changing directions and shifting its trajectory towards the north, therefore, entering the Makara or Capricorn zodiac sign.

Rituals associated with Makar Sankranti or Pongal:-

• Sankranti activities, like taking a bath, offering Naivedhya (food offered to the deity) to the Sun god Lord Surya, offering charity or Dakshina, performing Shraddha rituals and breaking fast should be done during Punya Kaal.
• Worshippers usually bathe in sacred rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
• To celebrate the day, they wake up early in the morning at the time of sunrise.
• For believers, taking a dip absolves them of their sins; it is also seen as a time of peace and prosperity, and spiritual deeds are performed on this day.
• There are some regional variations in celebrations.
• The four-day Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu begins with bhogi, the day marked for cleaning the house and decorating its entrances with rice powder kolam or rangoli made with dried and coloured vegetables and grains.
• The main festival is celebrated on the second day; the third day is celebrated as Mattu Pongal.
• With mattu meaning bull in Tamil and ponga meaning the abundance of rice.
• The festival honours the toil of bulls in ensuring a good harvest.
• Every year, farmers assemble at the temple to offer prayers and seek blessings from Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna.
• Pongal, a dish of rice mixed with boiled milk and sugar is a treat prepared by all during this festival.
• Other festive dishes include lemon and tamarind rice, vadas, vegetable gravies and Payasam (a sweet rice pudding).

Different names of the same festival:-

• Makar Sankranti – Odisha, Maharashtra-Goa, Andhra-Telengana, Kerala and most of north India.
• Paush Parbon – Bengal
• Pongal – Tamil Nadu
• Bhogali Bihu – Assam
• Lohri – Punjab and Jammu
• Maghi – Haryana and Himachal
• Khichdi Parwa – parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh

Source: PIB

Cauvery basin

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has served notices to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments, based on a report by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) that has highlighted the massive reduction of green cover in the Cauvery basin over the past five decades.

About Cauvery basin:

• It extends over states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry.
• It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west, by the Eastern Ghats on the east and the south, and by the ridges separating it from Krishna basin and Pennar basin on the north.
• The Cauvery River is one of the major rivers of the peninsula.
• Origin: It rises at an elevation of 1,341 m at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range near Cherangala village of Kodagu district of Karnataka. 
• The river drains into the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu.
• Major left bank tributaries: Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha and the Arkavati.
• Major right bank tributaries: Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil and the Amaravati.
• The basin can be divided into three parts – the Western Ghats, the Plateau of Mysore and the Delta.
• The delta area is the most fertile tract in the basin.
• The principal soil types found in the basin are black soils, red soils, laterites, alluvial soils, forest soils and mixed soils. Red soils occupy large areas in the basin. Alluvial soils are found in the delta areas.
• National Parks in this basin: Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park and Bannerghatta National Park.

Source: Down To Earth

Shree Mandira Parikrama Project in Puri

Subject: Art and Culture

Why in News?

In a bid to elevate the spiritual experience of devotees and bolster the infrastructure for pilgrims, the Odisha government is all set to inaugurate the grand Shree Mandira Parikrama project.

What is Shree Mandira Parikrama Project?

• This Rs 800-crore heritage corridor, encircling the iconic Jagannath Temple in Puri, is a pivotal part of a broader initiative aimed at rejuvenating this holy city.
• It entails the creation of a 75-meter corridor that encircles the revered Jagannath Temple complex.
• This designed corridor aims to provide pilgrims with a “visual connect” to the temple, enriching their spiritual journey.

About Jagannath Puri Temple

• The Jagannath Temple is an important Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Sri Krishna in Puri in Odisha.
• The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
• The Puri temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.

It's architecture

• With its sculptural richness and fluidity of the Oriya style of temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of India.
• The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet and is surrounded by a high fortified wall.
• This 20 feet high wall is known as Meghanada Pacheri.
• Another wall known as kurma bedha surrounds the main temple.

The temple has four distinct sectional structures, namely:

1. Deula, Vimana or Garba griha (Sanctum sanctorum) where the triad deities are lodged on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls). In Rekha Deula style;
2. Mukhashala (Frontal porch);
3. Nata mandir/Natamandapa, which is also known as the Jagamohan (Audience Hall/Dancing Hall), and
4. Bhoga Mandapa (Offerings Hall)

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

India-Maldives Bilateral Relations

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

Recently, the Maldivian delegation proposed the removal of Indian troops by March 15, 2024, at the first India-Maldives High-Level Core Group meeting.

Background:-

• The deadline was not find a mention in the official statements by the foreign offices of the two countries.

About India-Maldives Bilateral Relation:-

• India and Maldives share ethnic,  linguistic,  cultural,  religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity.
• The relations have been close, cordial and multi‐dimensional.
• India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
• Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast), and its situation at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean (particularly the 8° N and 1½° N channels) imbues it with significant strategic importance to India.
• India has a pre‐eminent position in the  Maldives,  with relations extending to virtually most areas.
• The importance of India’s strategic role in Maldives is well‐recognized,  with  India being seen as a  net security provider.
• ‘India  First’  has been a stated policy of the Government of Maldives (GoM).

Recent high-level exchanges:-

• Prime Minister Modi attended the inauguration ceremony of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 17 Nov 2018 as the only HoS/HoG.
• Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid paid an Official Visit to India in Nov 2018.

Trade:-

• India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for the export of essential commodities.
• Growing from modest beginnings, India-Maldives bilateral trade in 2020 stood at US$ 213.91 million with trade balance heavily in favour of India.

Defence Cooperation:-

• India provides the largest number of training opportunities for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements. 
• A Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in April 2016.

Tourism:-

• India remained the top market for Maldives tourism in 2022 dominating over 14% with 240,000 arrivals.

Operations in Maldives:-

• Operation Cactus 1988: Under Operation Cactus the Indian Armed Forces have helped the government of Maldives in the neutralization of the coup attempt.
• Operation Neer 2014: Under Operation Neer India supplied drinking water to Maldives to deal with the drinking water crisis.
• Operation Sanjeevani: India supplied 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines to Maldives, under Operation Sanjeevani as assistance in the fight against COVID-19.

Source: Indian Express

One Vehicle One FASTag

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

Recently, NHAI took the ‘One Vehicle One FASTag’ Initiative to Enhance the National Highway Experience.

Background:-

• NHAI is encouraging FASTag users to complete ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) process of their latest FASTag by updating KYC as per RBI guidelines.
• FASTags with valid balances but with incomplete KYC will get deactivated/blacklisted by banks post 31st January 2024.
• NHAI has taken this initiative after the recent reports of multiple FASTags being issued for a particular vehicle and FASTags being issued without KYC in violation of RBI’s mandate.

About One Vehicle One FASTag:-

• Launched: December 1, 2019.
• Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
• Objective: To enhance the efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection system and provide seamless movement at the Toll Plazas.

Salient Features:-

• The scheme is a unified electronic system across the country.
• It ensures that all the vehicles will be able to travel across the nation without worrying about paying cash at the toll plazas.
• FASTag is a reloadable tag that allows automatic deduction of toll without having to stop.
• The tag is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted
• The tag uses radio frequency identification(RFID) technology and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active.
• The main aim of the FASTag scheme is to digitally integrate the collection of toll plazas and provide the seamless mobility of vehicles across India.
• The government initiated this FASTag scheme to overcome the current challenges in the imprint and track mechanism for the GST E-Way Bill system (EWB), which enhances the efficiency of its monitoring.

Benefits:-

• It reduces air pollution and will also reduce the use of paper. 
• It will also reduce the toll payment hassles and provide analytics for better highway management.
• It will also provide ease of payment as there will be no need to carry cash for the toll transactions.

Source: PIB

Global Surgery: Why access to essential Surgery is important?

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

Global surgery, despite its critical importance, often remains in the shadows of global health initiatives.

• This is particularly evident in South Asia, where the world’s largest population lacking access to essential surgery resides.

Why discuss this?

• Global surgery aims to address this disparity by focusing on equitable access to emergency and essential surgical care, encompassing a range of procedures.
• While 2015 marked a turning point in recognizing the significance of global surgery, this field’s history goes back several decades.

What is Global Surgery?

• Equitable Access: Global surgery prioritizes providing equitable access to emergency and essential surgical care, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but also in under-served populations within high-income countries (HICs).
• Scope of Surgery: It encompasses essential and emergency surgeries, including surgery, obstetrics, trauma, and anaesthesia (SOTA).

Emergence of Global Surgery

• Annus Mirabilis of 2015: This year marked a pivotal moment in recognizing the global significance of surgical care.
• Influential Reports: The Disease Control Priorities Network (DCPN) report sponsored by the World Bank and The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) played key roles.
• WHO Resolution 68.15: The World Health Organization Declaration on Safe Surgery highlighted the essential role of surgical systems in achieving universal health coverage.

Magnitude of the Problem

• Access Disparities: Over 70% of the global population, around five billion people, lack timely access to safe and affordable surgical care.
• Regional Disparities: Access gaps are most severe in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), with 99% and 96% of people facing disparities, compared to 24% in HICs.
• South Asia’s Challenge: Over 1.6 billion people, over 98% of South Asia’s population, lack access to safe and affordable SOTA care.
• Disease Burden: In 2010, surgically treatable conditions caused around 17 million deaths, surpassing the combined mortality burden of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
• Economic Impact: The cumulative projected loss to global GDP due to insufficient surgical care could reach $20.7 trillion by 2030.

Current Efforts and Neglect

• Neglect in Policies: Surgical care often receives little attention in international and national policies.
• Limited Research Focus: Research in global surgery is underrepresented compared to global health.
• Funding Neglect: Funding for surgery is significantly lower than for other health sectors.
• Research Funding Disparity: Research funding for surgery-related projects is scarce compared to other health fields.

Way Forward

• Cost-Effectiveness: Global surgery has demonstrated that emergency and essential surgical care is cost-effective and cost-beneficial.
• Policy Commitment: Many countries have initiated National Surgical, Obstetrics, and Anaesthesia Plans (NSOAPs), demonstrating political and policy commitment.
• Positive Initiatives: Several South Asian countries have launched initiatives to expand surgical access.
• Research and Innovation: Prioritizing research, policy support, and sustainable financing are key to addressing global surgery challenges.

Source: The Hindu

GS-III

Conjoined silverline

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

Recently, a new butterfly species , conjoined silverline was discovered in Karnataka.

Background:-

• The species was first sighted in 2008, followed by an extensive research in 2021.

About Conjoined silverline:-

• Scientific Name: Cigaritis conjuncta.
• It is endemic to mid-elevation evergreen forests of the Western Ghats.
• Conjoined Silverline, distinguished by its shiny wing patterns.
• It has been identified in Karnataka’s Kodagu district ,the first such find in India’s Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot since the 1970s.
• Specifically, the name refers to the fused spots and bands observed on the undersides of the wings, which are intersected by eye-catching silvery lines running through the middle of these bands.
• The new butterfly is the size of a one-rupee coin but is invaluable to conservationists.

Source: Down to Earth

Exercise Ayutthaya

Subject: Defense and Security

Why in News?

Recently, the maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise -Ayutthaya’ between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was conducted.

About Exercise Ayutthaya:

• The IndIa-Thailand Bilateral Exercise is being named as ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’, which literally translates to ‘The Invincible One’ or ‘Undefeatable’.
• It symbolises the significance of two of the oldest cities Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand, the historic legacies, rich cultural ties and shared historical narratives dating back to several centuries.
• Indigenously built Indian Naval ships Kulish and IN LCU 56 participated in the inaugural edition of the exercise.
• With the institution of a Bilateral Exercise, both navies have taken a step towards strengthening operational synergy and progressively increasing the exercise complexity.
• During the maiden edition of the exercise, participating units from both navies conducted surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firing, seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres.
• The 36th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was also conducted along with the maiden bilateral exercise.
• Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies participated in the Sea Phase of the exercise.
• As part of Government of India's vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region towards enhancing regional maritime security.
• The Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy have maintained a close and friendly relationship which has strengthened over the years.

Source: PIB