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GS Paper III- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
1. Consumer Price Index Inflation
GS Paper 1: Art & Culture
2. Makar Sankranti, Pongal
GS Paper 2: Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger
3. Multi-dimensional poverty in India
GS Paper 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations
4. Maldives asks India to withdraw troops
Prelims Specific:-
5. Language Farsi
6. Human microbiome/ Gut microbiome
7. Exercise Ayutthaya
8. One Vehicle, One FASTag
9. Hydroxychloroquine
10. Pench Tiger Reserve
GS Paper III- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Context:
According to the latest official release, India’s consumer price index (CPI) based inflation rate touched 5.7% in December.
While this is a routine — monthly — release, its timing is significant for a variety of reasons:-
1. Food and beverages
2. Pan, tobacco and intoxicants
3. Clothing and footwear
4. Housing
5. Fuel and light
6. Miscellaneous (services such as education, health care etc.).
Food articles currently weigh 45% of the total index.
The second-biggest component is that of miscellaneous services.
Within the food category, cereal prices are the biggest factor — they account for 9.67% of the total CPI.
A spike in prices of food articles like cereals, vegetables, milk and pulses tends to have the biggest impact in raising consumer inflation.
And the reason why food articles have been given such a high weightage is that most Indian consumers tend to spend a considerable portion of their income towards meeting their food demand.
Related Search:
Deflation
Stagflation
Wholesale Price Index
Price Stabilization Fund
Prelims Specific:
What is Inflation?
Types of Inflation
What is CPI inflation?
How is it calculated?
Its components
Impacts of Inflation
GS Paper 1: Art & Culture
Context:
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.
Makar Sankranti or Pongal:
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.
The northward journey of the sun (Uttarayan) begins on this day.
Significance:-
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.
Astronomically:-
The Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete, as it continues to rotate on its axis.
The earth’s spin axis is tilted concerning its orbital plane.
This, along with its distance from the Sun, determines the change in seasons for life on Earth.
For the Northern Hemisphere, the axis points most toward the sun in June (specifically around June 21), and away from the sun around December 21.
This corresponds to the Winter and Summer Solstice (solstice is Latin for “the sun stands”).
For the Southern Hemisphere, this is reversed.” India falls in the Northern Hemisphere.
Why is Makar Sankranti or Pongal always celebrated on January 14?
Unlike most festivals that follow the lunar cycle, Makar Sankranti follows the solar cycle and thus, is celebrated almost on the same day every year.
Sankranti is worshipped as a God, who legends believe killed the devil Sankarasur.
Associated Rituals:-
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.
If Makar Sankranti happens after sunset, all Punya Kaal activities are postponed till the next sunrise.
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.
The festival, also known as Uttarayan, in Gujarat and Rajasthan is marked by kite flying.
In Gujarat's Ahmedabad, this festival is associated with the popular practice of kite flying.
Since 1989, the day has been observed as International Kite Festival.
Pongal festival:-
The four-day Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu begins with bhogi.
The day is marked for cleaning the house and decorating its entrances with rice powder kolam or rangoli made with dried and coloured vegetables and grains.
Worshippers usually bathe in sacred rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
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).
The saying “Ellu bella thindu olle mathaadi” is heard, which translates to “eat the mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery and speak good words”.
According to the state government’s culture website, this saying follows a very important tradition called ‘Ellu Birodhu’.
Interestingly, a similar saying is popular in Marathi: “Tilgul ghya aani god god bola” (Here, have til-gud and speak sweetly).
Women and children go door-to-door exchanging plates containing a piece of sugarcane, a mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery and candy made out of caramelised sugar.
This tradition symbolises the virtues of sharing and spreading happiness.
Farming communities also dress their cattle in vibrant costumes and jewels and make them jump across a big pit of fire.
This showcase of cattle is locally known as ‘Kicchu Haisodu’.
Sesame and jaggery ladoos or chikkis are distributed. In Bihar, the festival is called ‘Khichdi’ and a dish of the same name (rice and lentils) is prepared.
Bonfires are organised in Punjab and elsewhere, with people walking around the fire and throwing groundnuts, even popcorn in the present day, into the blaze.
Kite-flying takes place in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, along with the International Kite Festival held annually in Ahmedabad.
In the evening, sky lanterns are flown.
Related Search:
Solung
Ugadi
Bihu
Onam
Prelims Specific:
About Makar Sankranti, Pongal
Its significances
Associated Rituals in different parts of India
GS Paper 2: Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger
Context:
Poverty in India reduced significantly at a multi-dimensional level, lifting 24.82 crore people out of deprivation in the last nine years, according to a NITI Aayog report.
Major Highlights:
The study revealed a massive decline in poverty from 29.17 per cent in 2013-14 to 11.28 per cent in 2022-23, showcasing a 17.89 percentage point reduction.
The pace of decline accelerated between 2015-16 to 2019-21, with a 10.66 per cent annual rate of decline compared to 7.69%in the preceding period.
All 12 indicators of the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) showed significant improvement.
It highlighted the country’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) well before 2030.
Government initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyan, Anemia Mukt Bharat, and the National Food Security Act were credited for this achievement.
Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in the number of poor with 5.94 crore.
It is followed by Bihar at 3.77 crore, Madhya Pradesh at 2.30 crore and Rajasthan at 1.87 crore.
History of Poverty Measurement:
In 1901, Dadabhai Naoroji wrote a book called "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India", which was one of the earliest attempts to estimate poverty based on the cost of a subsistence diet.
Later, the National Planning Committee in 1938 and the authors of the Bombay Plan in 1944 proposed poverty estimations based on the minimum standard of living.
Poverty estimation remained significant even after India gained independence, and several expert groups worked on this issue.
The Working Group in 1962, Dandekar and Rath in 1971, and the Task Force on "Projections of Minimum Needs and Effective Consumption Demand" led by Dr. Y. K. Alagh in 1979 were among the first efforts in this direction.
Subsequently, experts such as Lakdawala (1993), Tendulkar (2009), and Rangarajan (2014) continued this exercise of estimating monetary poverty based on consumption and expenditure surveys.
National Multidimensional Poverty Index-:
The MPI has been used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its flagship Human Development Report since 2010.
In this context, NITI Aayog published the first edition of the national Multidimensional Poverty Index for India in 2021.
India’s national MPI captures multiple and simultaneous deprivations faced by households across the three macro-dimensions of health, education and living standards.
Parameters-:
It has 12 parameters divided into three groups health, education, and standard of living, and is aligned with the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These parameters include nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts.
Sub-indices of the National MPI:
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a measure of poverty that takes into account multiple factors.
Two key components of the MPI are the Headcount Ratio (H) and Intensity of Poverty (A).
This reflects both the share of people in poverty and the degree to which they are deprived.
GS Paper 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations
Context:
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15.
Anti-India sentiments:
There have been multiple factors at play and these anti-India sentiments were further inflamed during the recent presidential elections in the Maldives, where disinformation and misinformation, particularly against India, was rampant.
This is due to multiple reasons, including the pushing of a narrative that the Ibrahim Mohamed Solih-led Maldivian Democratic Party was a political party influenced by India.
The coalition of the People’s National Congress and the Progressive Party of Maldives party's President Muizzu won the 2023 presidential election and is considered to be pro-China.
Indian troops in the Maldives:
Contrary to what the ‘India Out’ rhetoric in the Maldives may suggest, no large contingent of Indian soldiers is present on the archipelago.
According to the latest government figures, there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives.
Analysts in the Maldives and India say that the ‘India Out’ campaign has exaggerated the role that these soldiers play in the Maldives and has portrayed their presence as a threat to the country’s national security.
Between 2022 and 2023, at least 10 Indian military personnel who had been engaged in various roles had left the Maldives.
24 individuals are involved in helicopter operations, 25 are engaged in the operations of a Dornier aircraft, 26 are assigned to a second helicopter’s operations, and an additional two individuals are responsible for the maintenance and engineering works of these aircraft.
Why are India’s troops in Maldives?
India and the Maldives have a long history of cooperation in a variety of areas, including defence.
The one time India’s soldiers entered the island for an actual military operation was in November 1988 — to thwart an attempted coup, at the request of the government of then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
In a quick operation, Indian troops managed to secure the President and capture the rebels.
In the three decades since Maldives has generally appreciated India’s role in this episode.
The ‘India Out’ campaign began much later, sometime in 2020.
The resentment had been building ever since Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of the Progressive Party (PPM), with a pro-China tilt, became president in 2013.
Major factors behind the fear and suspicion:
Dhruv ALF Controversy:
India gifted Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALF) to Maldives in 2010 and 2015.
Helicopters were meant for humanitarian purposes – search-and-rescue, weather surveillance, and medical evacuations.
Controversy arose as some, particularly Yameen’s party PPM, portrayed them as military choppers, raising concerns about Indian military presence.
Training Agreement:
Indian officers trained the Maldives National Defence Force, which operated the gifted helicopters.
Anti-India sentiment, especially within PPM, alleged that this training was indicative of an unwanted military presence in the country.
Perceived Lack of Transparency:
Grievances arose due to the Solih government's perceived lack of transparency in dealings with India.
The Maldivian public expressed concerns about the nature of agreements and collaborations with India.
Dependency on India for Maritime Security:
Maldives heavily relies on India for maritime security.
Collaboration with India and Sri Lanka to counter maritime threats such as trafficking, piracy, and illegal fishing.
Maldives’ reliance on India for security cooperation became a source of tension.
Police Academy Mistrust:
The construction of Maldives' police academy with Indian assistance fueled mistrust.
Unfounded rumours suggested the academy's large size was to house Indians, raising concerns about an influx of Indians into the country.
UTF Harbour Project Agreement:
The agreement was signed in February 2021 for India to develop and maintain a coastguard harbour at Uthuru Thilafalhu.
Speculation in Maldivian media that the project could be turned into an Indian naval base.
Major-General Abdulla Shamaal clarified that there were no plans for an Indian naval base, but concerns persisted in sections of the Maldivian population.
Related Search:
String of the Pearls
Neighbourhood First policy
Hydrographic Survey Agreement
Prelims Specific:
About Anti-India sentiments
Indian troops in the Maldives
Why are India’s troops in Maldives?
Major factors behind the fear and suspicion
Reason of Withdrawal
About Maldives
India’s Relations with Maldives
Context:
In a significant move to deepen cultural ties, the Government of India has decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in India under the New Education Policy.
About the Farsi Language:
Farsi, also known as Persian Language, is the most commonly spoken member of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian languages, a subfamily of the Indo-European languages.
Farsi is the official language of Iran, while two of its varieties, Dari and Tajik, are official languages in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, correspondingly.
Farsi speakers can be found in other Persian Gulf countries (Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates), as well as large communities in the US.
It is worth noting that Farsi has about 62 million native speakers, ranking it among the world's 20 most widely spoken first languages.
In Iran, Farsi is written in a variety of Arabic scripts called Perso-Arabic, which has some innovations to account for Persian phonological differences.
This script came into use in Persia after the Islamic conquest in the seventh century.
Farsi's relatives include the languages of northern India and, more distantly, the major European languages including English.
Classical Languages in India:
"The Criteria for Declaration of a Language as a Classical Language" by the Government of India
The Indian government has established a set of criteria for languages to be declared as classical.
These are:
Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages.
A Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Languages is set up.
The University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared.
Context:
Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota may have a connection to heart health, certain types of cancer, and even the hue of your urine.
Gut Microbiota:
The human microbiome is a community of trillions of microorganisms that reside in our body, especially in the digestive tract.
It is a dynamic community that plays a pivotal role in regulating our health and diseases.
These microbes influence various aspects of our well-being, including the way we digest food, absorb nutrients, metabolise key metabolites, develop immunity, and maintain good mental health.
Previously the microorganisms residing in the gut were commonly referred to as the gut microflora.
The habitat in which these microorganisms exist is now recognized as the gut microbiome.
The establishment of the human gut microbiota begins with infants acquiring their initial set of gut microbes through either vaginal delivery or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). As time progresses, the introduction of new microbes to the biome occurs through dietary choices and exposure to various environmental factors.
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in numerous bodily functions, such as:
Context:
The Indo-Thai Bilateral Exercise is being named ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’ was conducted recently.
About Exercise Ayutthaya:
India-Thailand Bilateral Exercise ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’ Strengthens Ties Between Two Countries
The India-Thailand Bilateral Exercise has been aptly named ‘Ex-Ayutthaya,’ which translates to ‘The Invincible One’ or ‘Undefeatable.’
The name signifies the historical significance of two of the oldest cities – Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand – and their rich cultural ties and shared historical narratives dating back several centuries.
Indigenously built Indian Naval ships Kulish and IN LCU 56 took part in the inaugural edition of the exercise.
By instituting this 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 several 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 in conjunction with the maiden bilateral exercise.
Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies participated in the Sea Phase of the exercise.
As part of the 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 to enhance regional maritime security.
The Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy have maintained a close and friendly relationship, which has strengthened over the years.
Context:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag initiative.
About One Vehicle, One FASTag:
The NHAI has recommended that users complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process by January 31st to avoid deactivation and improve the efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection system.
In addition to this, the ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ arrangement has been introduced to discourage users from linking multiple FASTags to a single vehicle or using one FASTag for multiple vehicles.
This initiative was taken following reports of multiple FASTags being issued for a single vehicle and FASTags being issued without completing KYC in contravention of the RBI's mandate.
The introduction of these measures is expected to facilitate seamless movement at toll plazas.
FASTag:
FASTag is a device that utilizes the power of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make direct toll payments while your vehicle is on the move.
Context:
Researchers have linked hydroxychloroquine as a “miracle” medicine for COVID-19 — to an increased mortality rate of up to 11%.
It is an antimalarial drug that was briefly promoted by former US President Donald Trump and others.
About Hydroxychloroquine:
Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of drugs called antimalarials and is also an antirheumatic drug.
It works by killing the organisms that cause malaria.
Hydroxychloroquine may work to treat rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus by decreasing the activity of the immune system.
Hydroxychloroquine is generally safe but “when you give it to a large number of healthy people preventively, the risk and effects need to be evaluated differently.”
Context:
The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India's first Dark Sky Park and the fifth such park in Asia.
It is for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
Dark Sky Place:
The Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky.
It is recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasises the recognition of the intrinsic value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical resource.
Pench Tiger Reserve:
The Pench Tiger Reserve spans across the southern Satpura hills, covering the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and continues into Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
The Reserve is named after the Pench River, which flows through it from north to south.
It comprises of the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary and a buffer.