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GS1/History & Culture

AHILYABAI HOLKER

Source: Indian Culture

Why in news?

On May 31, we celebrated the 300th birth anniversary of the Maratha queen Ahilya Bai Holkar — a great administrator and visionary with a spiritual inclination.

“The reign of Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for thirty years. This has become almost legendary as a period during which perfect order and good government prevailed and the people prospered. She was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime, and considered as a saint by a grateful people after her death.” – Jawaharlal Nehru (The Discovery of India/1946)

About AHILYABAI HOLKER

• Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Malwa kingdom. She is regarded as one of the most visionary female rulers of India.
• Born on 31 May 1725, in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Ahilya hailed from a very humble background. Her father Mankoji Rao Shinde was the village head, and he taught her to read and write.
• As a young girl, the combination of her simplicity and strength of character caught the attention of Malhar Rao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory. He was so impressed with the young Ahilya that in 1733 when she was barely eight years old, he got her married to his son Khanderao Holkar.
• Twelve years after her marriage, her husband Khanderao died during the siege of the Kumher Fort. After the death of her husband, Ahilyabai was stopped by her father-in-law from committing sati. Instead, he took her under his wing and trained her in military and administrative matters.
• Her father-in-law, Malhar Rao passed away in 1766, and in the following year, she lost her son, Male Rao.
• Keeping in mind the welfare of the kingdom and her people, she petitioned the Peshwa to allow her to take over the reign of Malwa. Although some of the nobles objected to this, she still had the support of the army.
• In 1767, the Peshwa granted Ahilyabai permission to take over Malwa. She ascended the throne and became the ruler of Indore on 11 December 1767. For the next 28 years, Maharani Ahilyabai ruled over Malwa in a just, wise, and knowledgeable manner.
• Under Ahilyabai’s rule, Malwa enjoyed relative peace, prosperity, and stability, and her capital, Maheshwar, was turned into an oasis of literary, musical, artistic, and industrial pursuits.
• Ahilyabai also established a textile industry in Maheshwar, which today is very famous for its Maheshwari sarees.
• Her most notable contribution was the renovation and repair of the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1780. The ‘Philosopher Queen’ as she is famously known, passed away on 13th August 1795 at the age of seventy.
• Her legacy still lives on and the various temples, Dharamshalas, and public works undertaken by her stand as a testimony to the great warrior queen she was.

GS1/Geography

MALDOVA

Source: Wion

Why in News?

U.S. pledged $135 million in aid to Moldova for energy security and to counter Russian disinformation as the Western-leaning nation struggles to blunt Moscow's push for influence that has been buoyed by recent successes in its war in neighboring Ukraine. Why in news?

Location and Overview:

• Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, situated on the northeastern corner of the Balkans.
• It spans a total area of 33,483 km2 with a population of around 2.5 million as of January 2023.
• Borders: Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south.
• Transnistria: The unrecognized breakaway state of Transnistria is situated across the Dniester river on Moldova's eastern border with Ukraine.
• Political Structure: Moldova is a unitary parliamentary representative democratic republic with its capital in Chișinău.

Economic Status:

• Moldova is the second poorest country in Europe by GDP per capita after Ukraine, with a significant portion of its GDP attributed to the service sector.

International Affiliations:

• Moldova is a member state of various international organizations including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, and others.

GS-II/Polity and Governance

World No-Tobacco Day, 2024

Source: Hindustan Times

Why in News?

Recently, The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (GoI), organized an event today to observe World No Tobacco Day 2024.

About World No-Tobacco Day:

• History:
  • The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987.
  • In 1988, a Resolution was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
• The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.
• The theme: “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference”.

About tobacco cultivation:

• Tobacco cultivation in India was introduced by the Portuguese in 1605.
• Area and production:
  • In India tobacco is predominantly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, UP and Bihar. Gujarat accounts for 45 per cent of the area (0.13 M ha) and 30 percent of production (0.16 M t). Productivity is also highest (1700 kg ha-1) in Gujarat followed by AP.
• Types of tobacco:
  • Anand area of Gujarat grows wholly bidi tobacco. Nipani area of Karnataka grows bidi tobacco. North Bihar and Bengal area has both tabacum and rustica types used in the manufacture of hookah and to a limited extent chewing and snuff types. Madurai and Coimbatore area of Tamil Nadu grow cigars, filter, binder and chewing tobacco.
• Climate and soil:
  • Tobacco is grown when the mean temperature is 20° to 27°C.
  • When grown as a rainfed crop, it requires at least about 500 mm of well distributed rainfall during crop growing season.
  • It is not usually grown where rainfall exceeds 1200 mm during the season.

GS-II/Polity and Governance

Exit poll

Source: Times of India

Why in News?

Recently, Congress refrained from participating in Lok Sabha Elections-related debates in exit polls 2024.

About Exit poll:

What is an exit poll?

• An exit poll is a post-election survey that shows how many seats a political party will likely win.
• It is not the same as the official election results.

When will Exit polls be released?

• They can be released by media houses only after the voting ends for an election.
• Methods of conducting:
  • They are taken immediately after voters have cast their ballots.
• Legal Regulations:
  • The exit polls are regulated by Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  • This law stipulates that no person shall conduct or publish exit polls via print or electronic media, or disseminate the results in any manner, during a period specified by the Election Commission of India.
  • Any person who contravenes the provisions of the Section 126A shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with a fine or with both.

GS3/Environment

KAZA SUMMIT

Source: Down to Earth

Why in News?

Delegates to the ongoing KAZA 2024 Heads of State Summit in Livingstone, Zambia, renewed calls this week for member states to pull out of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (or CITES) which has repeatedly denied them permission to sell off their abundant ivory and other wildlife products.

• The KAZA TFCA was established on 18th of August 2011 by the Heads of States of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in Luanda, Angola.
• The Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) is a conservation area spanning five southern African nations along the Okavango and Zambezi river basins.
• It covers a vast area including the Upper Zambezi River, Okavango basins and Delta, Caprivi Strip of Namibia, parts of Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
• Notable parks within the area include Chobe National Park, Hwange National Park, and the Victoria Falls, home to around 250,000 animals, notably the largest African Elephant population.
• The region is seeking to withdraw from CITES to enable the sale of ivory and other wildlife products.

GS3/Economy

DROP IN GLOBAL FOOD PRICES

Source: India Times

Why in news?

World food prices significantly dropped in 2023 compared to 2022.

• India's food inflation remained high at 9.5% in December 2023 while global deflation was at -10.1%.

Factors contributing to the drop in Global Food Prices:

• Bumper harvests in 2023, especially in wheat, led to a global surplus.
• In 2022, concerns over supply disruptions from the war in Ukraine spiked prices, but the situation improved in 2023.
• Despite disruptions, Russia and Ukraine continued wheat exports, easing supply concerns.
• The UN's Vegetable Price Index dropped by 32.7% due to improved supplies and reduced biofuel use.
• High inflation and economic fears reduced consumer demand globally, affecting import demands and prices.

Reasons for experiencing High Food Inflation in India:

• India's food prices remained high due to limited transmission of global prices to domestic markets.
• Government bans on certain exports and import duty waivers reduced global market impacts.
• Domestic production challenges like weather conditions affected crop yields, leading to shortages and higher prices.
• Low stock levels for wheat and sugar worsened price pressures.

Way Forward:

• Investing in agricultural infrastructure and technology can improve yields and reduce costs.
• Enhancing logistics and storage facilities can reduce wastage and stabilize supply.
• Promoting crop diversification and supporting alternative farming practices can balance market dynamics.
• Regular monitoring of food prices and effective price regulation can ensure fair pricing for all.
• Addressing climate change challenges through sustainable farming practices can enhance long-term food security.

GS3/Economy

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI) EQUITY INFLOWS

Source: Business Line

Why in news?

Foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows in India witnessed a 3.49% decline in FY24, totaling $44.42 billion. This drop is primarily attributed to reduced investments in key sectors such as services, computer hardware and software, telecom, auto, and pharma. FDI inflows play a crucial role in supplementing domestic resources and financing the current account deficit of the country. They also serve as a significant indicator of a nation's attractiveness as a long-term investment hub.

Key Takeaways

• The manufacturing sector in India saw a significant decrease in FDI inflows in FY24, marking one of the lowest figures in the past five years. Specifically, the sector received $9.3 billion, a 17.7% drop from the previous fiscal year.
• FDI inflows into computer services amounted to $4.9 billion during FY23-24, showing a decline from the previous fiscal year.
• Financial services experienced a notable 35% decrease in FDI inflows, totaling $4.4 billion in FY24.
• Retail and trade sectors witnessed a 22.7% decrease in FDI inflows, amounting to $4.1 billion.
• Communication services observed a decline of 17.8% in FDI inflows during FY24.
• Conversely, FDI in electricity transmission and generation surged by two-thirds, rising from $3.3 billion in FY23 to $5.5 billion in FY24.
• Singapore remained the largest source of FDI into India in FY24, contributing $11.8 billion, followed by Mauritius, the United States, Netherlands, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Germany, and Cayman Islands.
• FDI inflows from Mauritius surged by 31% in FY24 following a new tax treaty that reduced tax benefits, leading investors to redirect their investments through Singapore.
• The decline in FDI equity inflows can be attributed to reduced investible funds globally and increased interest rates. Sectors like IT and startups are experiencing saturation in investment opportunities.
• Maharashtra continued to be a preferred investment destination, attracting $15.11 billion in investments, albeit with a 2% decline. Karnataka followed with $6.57 billion in FY24.

GS3/Science and Technology

AGNIBAAN SOrTeD (suborbital technological demonstrator)

Source: Business Standard 

Why in news?

Chennai-based space startup AgniKul Cosmos conducted a successful launch of the single-stage technology demonstrator rocket named Agnibaan SOrTeD from Sriharikota.

• AgniKul Cosmos, established in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin S P M, and S R Chakravarthy, signed a groundbreaking agreement with ISRO in December 2020 under the IN-SPACe initiative, granting them access to ISRO's expertise and facilities.
• India achieved a significant milestone in the space sector by launching its second privately built rocket and the first to use a combination of gas and liquid fuel from a private launchpad.
• The rocket, SOrTeD, features a pioneering single-piece 3D-printed engine, developed domestically.
• This launch is notable as ISRO has not yet conducted a successful flight with a semi-cryogenic engine, utilizing a mix of liquid and gas as propellant.
• Agnibaan was launched from India's first private launchpad, Dhanush, a facility established by AgniKul.
• The primary objective of this mission is to conduct a test flight, demonstrate indigenous technologies, collect crucial flight data, and ensure the operational efficiency of systems for AgniKul's orbital launch vehicle, the 'Agnibaan'.
• The Agnibaan rocket is a customizable two-stage launch vehicle capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 300 kilograms to altitudes of nearly 700 kilometers.
• AgniKul aims to conduct an orbital mission by late 2024 or 2025 and plans to commence regular flights in 2025 in collaboration with customers.
• In November 2022, Skyroot Aerospace accomplished the development and operation of the launch vehicle Vikram-S on a sub-orbital flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, marking a significant milestone in India's space endeavors.