Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Exam – September 14, 2024

{GS1 – A&C – Paintings} Restoration of Kumaranallur Temple Murals

Context (TH): The Kumaranallur Devi temple in Kottayam, Kerala, is undergoing a restoration project.

Historical Significance of the Temple and its Murals

Dates back to the 10th century during King Cheraman Perumal’s reign. It features a rare ‘Sree Chakra’ style in its Naalambalam and Sreekovil. This ring-like structure with a handle is a rare architectural element and exemplifies a blend of devotion and artistic brilliance.
The temple’s murals are spread across 14 distinct sections, known as Chithrakandas. These vivid artworks primarily depict scenes from the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The mural series begins on the right side of the temple with an image of Karthyayani Devi, the main deity of the temple.

Restoration Process

These intricate artworks, which have darkened and faded with age, are being skillfully restored to their former glory by renowned mural artist Gopi Chavayur.
Gopi Chavayur first revived these murals in 1997 when they had deteriorated beyond recognition. During that initial restoration, 12 panels were recreated using traditional techniques and natural pigments.
The first restoration strictly adheres to the five traditional colours: ochre red, ochre yellow, dark green, white, and black, reflecting the importance of lines over colours in Kerala-style mural paintings.
While the murals adhere to traditional colour schemes, they feature unique elements. For example, Goddess Parvathy is wearing a jacket and saree, which is diverging from traditional attire.

{GS1 – A&C – Sites} Great Stupa of Sanchi *

Context (IE): Sanchi’s Great Stupa East Gate replica installed at Humboldt Forum Museum in Berlin.

Historical Background

It was commissioned by Emperor Ashoka to house the relics of the Buddha. After embracing Buddhism following the Kalinga War, Ashoka sought to promote the faith through the construction of stupas.
The original stupa was a simple hemispherical dome made of brick and mud mortar, estimated to be half the size of the current structure. It was later enlarged and renovated, particularly during the Sunga dynasty (184-72 BCE), which introduced local sandstone and decorative elements.

Architectural Features

Stupa features a hemispherical dome, symbolizing the cosmic mountain, and is crowned with a chhatra (umbrella), representing the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
A circular terrace surrounds the stupa for circumambulation, emphasizing the ritualistic aspect of the structure. Four elaborately carved Toranas (gateways) were added during the Satavahana dynasty in the 1st century BCE. These toranas are adorned with intricate bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life and Jataka tales, showcasing the artistic excellence of the period.

Rediscovery and Restoration

Rediscovered by British officer Henry Taylor in 1818. Formal excavations began in 1851 under Alexander Cunningham. In 1989, Sanchi was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

{GS2 – IR – International Organisations} Delhi Declaration on Civil Aviation

Context (PIB): 2^nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation concluded by adopting Delhi Declaration hosted by Ministry of Civil Aviation with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Key Highlights

The Delhi Declaration aims to enhance regional cooperation, address emerging challenges, and foster sustainable growth within the civil aviation sector.
India’s aviation sector transformed from “aviation exclusive” to “aviation inclusive” over the past decade and emphasised its vital role in connecting people and cultures and driving prosperity.
International Buddhist Circuit to connect places related to Lord Buddha across Asia was also proposed.
ICAO presented plans for establishing a Pacific Small Island Developing States Liaison Office to support smaller nations in addressing aviation challenges.

In India, 15% of pilots are women (global average – 5%).

India aims to have 350-400 airports by 2047.
India committed to plant 80 thousand saplings to commemorate ICAO’s 80 years.

India’s Civil Aviation Industry

By 2030, India will become the third-largest air passenger market (after China and the US).
Domestic traffic accounts for 69% of South Asia’s airline traffic.
India’s airport capacity is set to handle 1 billion trips annually by 2023.

Government Initiatives

The UDAN-RCS scheme is designed to boost regional connectivity with affordable travel.
The NABH Nirman initiative aims to expand airport capacity by over five times to accommodate a billion trips annually under the NextGen Airports for Bharat (NABH) program.
21 greenfield airports approved. Digi Yatra launched at major airports to enable contactless travel.
100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approved for the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector.
Disbursement of Rs. 30 crore under the PLI Scheme for Drones and Components.
Krishi UDAN 2.0 was launched to assist air transportation of agri-produce, benefiting farmers and airlines. It focuses on the Northeast and tribal regions.

{GS2 – Policy – IC – Judiciary} SC’s Reference to CBI as a ‘Caged Parrot’ **

Context (IE): SC has used the metaphor of a “caged parrot” twice in the last decade for CBI.

In granting bail to Delhi CM in the CBI’s Delhi liquor policy case, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan urged the agency to dispel this perception, calling for it to be seen as an “uncaged parrot.”

‘Caged Parrot’ Metaphor

Originated from the Supreme Court’s 2013 Coalgate case hearings, where Justice R M Lodha criticised the CBI for alleged political influence.
The case stemmed from a 2012 CAG report revealing coal block allocations between 2004 and 2009 without competitive bidding, leading to a presumptive loss of ₹1.86 lakh crore.
Following a complaint, the CVC ordered a CBI probe, and a 2013 Parliamentary report flagged unauthorised allocations from 1993 to 2008, prompting the SC to set up a special court for the cases.

It was revealed that the CBI had shared its draft report with political leaders and officials from the Ministry of Coal and PMO. The CBI Director’s affidavit disclosed that the Law Minister and others made significant changes to the report.

Criticism of the Functioning of CBI

Political influence: Criticised for being influenced by ruling party leaders, undermining its independence.
Outdated Legal Framework: Inefficiencies due to the absence of a modern governing framework.
Public Scrutiny: Criticised for handling high-profile cases poorly, leading to a loss of public trust.
Agency’s involvement in controversial cases, such as the Bofors scandal and the Coalgate scam, has raised questions about its integrity, transparency, and effectiveness.
Credibility: In 2018, a public feud between its director and his deputy exposed corruption and bribery allegations, severely damaging the agency’s credibility.

The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission suggested that a new law ought to be enacted to administer the functioning of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee of 2008 (24th Report) expressed that providing the Central Bureau of Investigation with proper statutory support to take Suo motu cognisance of offences will not influence the basics of our federal structure.

{GS2 – Polity – IC} Hindi Diwas

Context (IE): September 14 is observed as Hindi Diwas to commemorate the Constituent Assembly of India’s making Hindi the official language of the Union government on September 14, 1949.

It also celebrates the birth anniversary of Beohar Rajendra Simha, who worked tirelessly towards making Hindi the official language of India.

There is no national language in India.

Munshi-Ayyangar formula

It was named after Drafting Committee members K M Munshi and N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar.
As part of the Munshi-Ayyangar formula, Article 343 of IC, as adopted in 1950, said:
- Hindi in Devanagari script will be the official language in India, along with English, for 15 years.
- The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
Post 15-year period facing resistance from non-Hindi-speaking states, Centre passed Official Languages Act, which stated that English would continue to be upheld as official language along with Hindi.

History of Hindi Diwas

In 1918, Hindi scholars and activists formed the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Hindi Literary Conference) to promote using Hindi as a national language.
After independence, the Constituent Assembly of India accepted Hindi, written in Devanagari script, as an official language on September 14, 1949. The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953.

How widely is Hindi spoken?

Hindi is the most spoken language globally after English and Mandarin Chinese.
In India, Hindi is the most widely spoken language, with 43.6% of the population declaring it their mother tongue. The next highest is Bengali (8%) — less than one-fifth of Hindi’s count.
- Over 11% of the population reported Hindi as their second language.
In 1977, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the 1^st leader to have addressed an international audience in Hindi.

World Hindi Day

World Hindi Day (Vishwa Hindi Diwas) is celebrated on January 10 every year. The day commemorates the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur in 1975, bringing delegates from 30 countries to promote the language globally. The World Hindi Day was celebrated for the 1^st time in 2006.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Role of DBT in empowering women

Context (IE): Role of Direct Benefit Transfer in empowering women.

The grim scenario of women in India: Statistics

Labour Force Participation: India’s female labour force participation rate is 28%. One out of 3 young people is not engaged in education, employment or training, with women making up 95% of this group.
Women at top positions: Only one is a woman for every five men in managerial positions.
Domestic violence: Three out of 10 women in the age group of 18-49 years have experienced violence from their spouses, as per a survey by Niti Aayog.
Gaps in political representation: There are 74 (2024) women MPs in the 16th Lok Sabha out of 543 members (13.6% of the total MPs).
Financial Gap: About 32% of Women-owned bank accounts in India are inactive (Findex Survey 2021).

Barriers to women’s financial independence

Limited physical access to banking services: “Mobility Constraints” preventing women from travelling outside alone, ‘time poverty’ and the opportunity cost of visiting the banking outlet, and ﬁnancial costs of paying for transportation to and from the outlet act as hindrances.
Limited access to ICT: Gender norms around purity for marriage, subservience, patrilocal exogamy, and caregiving present a signiﬁcant barrier to women’s mobile engagement.
Digital Literacy Gap: Subtle gender biases, such as unfriendly or dismissive behaviour from bank staff, compounded by information asymmetry, discourage women from using banking services.
High social costs: Women face social barriers to accessing financial services, such as feeling embarrassed about depositing small amounts. As a result, they store cash at home until they accumulate a larger sum.

Role of DBT in women’s empowerment

Enhanced mobility: Transferring funds through direct deposits to women’s accounts or mobile payments gives women more control over the use of financial resources & improves their economic empowerment.
Enhanced bargaining power: Financial independence boosts women’s household bargaining power, shifting traditional power dynamics and enabling women to have a greater say in family finances.
Ripple effect: It has a positive impact on women’s employment, health, and education

Way Forward

Moving beyond gender-neutral to gender-intentional policies: Gender-intelligent regulatory frameworks, recognising alternative identification documents, and introducing a vulnerability lens in consumer-protection regulations to bridge the divide in financial inclusion.
Appoint more women Business Correspondents: The BC model circumvents women’s challenges with mobility and literacy.
Collect gender-disaggregated data: This will allow a better understanding of the underlying causes of gender disparity in financial inclusion and aid in formulating effective policies.
Gender-inclusive design for infrastructure and encourage collaboration among financial service providers to enhance interoperability.
Facilitation of contextual training for women: Deploying female staff to troubleshoot issues women face in digital adoption, such as downloading the app, linking it with their bank accounts, and types of transactions to ensure the absorption of information.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Cemented Artificial Reefs

Context (DTE): Odisha’s first artificial reef is launched in Chilika to restore aquatic ecosystems.

Artificial Reefs

Artificial reefs are submerged structures placed along coastal areas to create habitats for reef-dwelling organisms. While they cannot fully replicate the biological functions of natural coral reefs, such as nitrogen fixation and carbon cycle regulation, they provide crucial structural functions.
These include offering shelter and space to reproduce various fish, prawn, and crab species. Artificial reefs can help break strong sea waves, creating more favourable conditions for the growth of seaweed, seagrasses, and marine plants that serve as food sources for other organisms.
Not all artificial reefs are specially designed. In some places, pre-existing objects and debris from shipwrecks serve the purpose effectively. E.g. Redbird Reef in Delaware.

Artificial Reefs Across India

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Marine Fisheries Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) conducted the earliest experiments in Lakshadweep and Tuticorin.
Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with ICAR-CMFRI, has deployed artificial reef modules in at least 207 sites. The state’s tidal characteristics are particularly conducive for artificial reefs, and the modules are designed considering local conditions such as sedimentation rates and average tide heights.
Artificial reefs have also been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
The Kerala government announced an ambitious plan to deploy 6,300 artificial reefs across villages near Thiruvananthapuram as part of a larger national initiative.

Artificial reef construction and deployment is a multi-billion dollar industry globally.
Countries like the United States, France, Japan, China, South Korea, and Australia have deployed millions of structures along their coasts. Approximately 500,000 structures have been deployed in 3,400 artificial reef and beach restoration projects across more than 70 countries.
Japan has a history of using artificial reefs dating back nearly two centuries. It launched a national reef program in 1976, building on traditional practices of enhancing seaweed productivity.

Steps taken by the government

The Union government’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana includes plans to introduce artificial reefs in 3,477 coastal villages.
The Blue Economy 2.0 scheme encompasses measures such as the deployment of artificial reefs for both adaptation and mitigation purposes.

{GS3 – IE – Banking} Balancing Insolvency Interests

Context (Print): India’s insolvency law needs balance to protect creditors and debtors amid rising household loan defaults and financial stress.

Corporate Insolvency

Creditor Control: In corporate insolvency, the creditors, through the Committee of Creditors (CoC), hold significant control over the resolution process.
Priority of Claims: The IBC establishes a clear hierarchy of claims, prioritising financial creditors over operational creditors.
Resolution vs. Liquidation: The primary objective of the IBC is to facilitate the resolution of financially distressed companies rather than proceeding directly to liquidation.

Personal Insolvency

Negotiation Power: In personal insolvency, creditors often have more power and resources, making it hard for debtors to secure fair repayment terms.
Stigmatization of Debtors: Personal insolvency can deter individuals from seeking help, leading to further financial distress.
Complexity of Individual Cases: Personal insolvency cases can be highly individualistic, making standardised solutions difficult due to varying debtor circumstances.

Balancing Mechanisms

Standardized repayment plans: can ensure fairness and transparency in the insolvency process for debtors and creditors.
Flexible Framework: While standardisation is essential, the insolvency framework should allow for flexibility to accommodate the unique circumstances of individual debtors and creditors.
Judicial Oversight: Adjudicating authorities like the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) ensure that stakeholder interests are balanced by approving or rejecting resolution plans based on fairness and IBC guidelines.
Continuous Reforms: As the insolvency landscape evolves, ongoing reforms are necessary to enhance the balance between debtor and creditor interests.

Personal Insolvency Framework of IBC

Fresh Start Process (FSP): Enables individuals with limited income and minimal assets to apply for a discharge of qualifying debts. It is aimed at providing a fresh start for individuals.
Insolvency Resolution Process (IRP): Involves appointing an insolvency professional to oversee the debtor’s assets and manage negotiations with creditors.

{GS3 – IE – Bodies} National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development

Context (BS): Under the Companies Act, the government has notified the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) as a ‘public financial institution’.

It was established in 2021 as an infrastructure-focused development financial institution (DFI) under the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021.
NaBFID is the nation’s 5th All India Financial Institution (AIFI) aimed at fostering long-term non-recourse infrastructure financing.
NBFID has been set up as a corporate body with an authorised share capital of one lakh crore rupees.
Regulated and supervised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Objectives: Address gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure development, strengthen the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India, and sustainably boost the country’s economy.
Initially, the central govt will own 100% shares of it, which can subsequently be reduced up to 26%. The central govt provided initial grants worth Rs. 5,000 crore to NBFID by the end of the first financial year.
Its performance will be assessed by an external agency appointed by the Central govt every five years.
The central government will appoint its Board of Directors after consulting with RBI.

Other four AIFI: National Housing Bank, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and EXIM Bank.

Source of funds

NBFID may raise money as loans or otherwise, both in Indian rupees and foreign currencies, or secure money by issuing and selling various financial instruments, including bonds and debentures.
NBFID may borrow money from the central government, RBI, scheduled commercial banks, mutual funds, and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Immunity to Chairperson and employees

No investigation against NBFID employees without the Central Government’s prior approval in the case of the Chairperson or any other director and the managing director in the case of other employees.
Courts will also require prior sanction for taking cognisance of offences involving NBFID employees.

{GS3 – Infra – Issues} Infrastructure projects in India

Context (TH): Bridge collapses in Bihar have raised concerns.

Challenges

Quality Control Issues: Significant quality control and implementation lapses, particularly in government-sponsored projects.
Time delays and cost overruns: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation report reveals that 431 infrastructure projects suffered a cost overrun of ₹4.82 lakh crore as of December 2023.
Inefficient Project Management: Insufficient attention, time, and expertise devoted during the project planning stage.
Regulatory Hurdles: Industrial or commercial activities in India require multiple clearances from conception to commissioning of projects.

Way forward

Holistic “Program Management Approach”: A disciplined program management approach, used in projects like the Shendra-Bidkin industrial corridor in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, improves coordination of resources, timelines, and information across multiple projects for unified delivery.
Dedicated Agency: Setting up an agency similar to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in the UK can streamline project delivery processes and ensure adherence to global best practices.
Integration of Modern Tools: Updating traditional project management practices to incorporate real-time data management and analytics can enhance efficiency and oversight in project execution.
Policy Framework Improvement: Creating an enabling policy framework that prescribes procedures and guidelines for public sector and public-private partnership projects.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encouraging PPPs can attract private investment, bringing innovation and efficiency to infrastructure projects, which are critical for sustainable development.
Real-Time Monitoring Systems: Utilizing GIS-based monitoring systems under initiatives like PM Gati Shakti can provide visual depictions of project progress, integrating data from various departments.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Neelakurinji plants *

Context (TH): The Chokramudi Hills, near Munnar, are facing significant destruction of Neelakurinji plants due to illegal constructions and land encroachments.

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana)

Common Names: Kurinji, Neelakurinji in Tamil and Malayalam, and Gurige in Kannada.
Unique Blooming Cycle: The plant blooms once every 12 years (most recent in 2018).
Habitat: Thrives in the Shola forests of the Western Ghats, particularly Munnar in Kerala, where it grows at elevations between 1,300 to 2,400 meters
Physical Characteristics: The plant grows 30 to 60 cm tall and produces purple-blue flowers, with peak blooming from August to October.
Ecological Role: Key indicator of ecosystem health and biodiversity in the Western Ghats and attracts wildlife, including the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
Conservation Status: VU.
Threats: Due to agricultural expansion, particularly tea and coffee plantations, tourism.

{Prelims – In News} Port Blair Renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram

Context (PIB|IE): Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands renamed Sri Vijaya Puram.

Significance of the New Name

The new name represents the victory achieved in India’s freedom struggle and highlights the unique role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the independence movement.
The renaming is part of a broader effort to remove colonial influences from Indian place names and it reflects a desire to reconnect with pre-colonial history and cultural heritage

Colonial Origins of Port Blair

Port Blair was originally named after Archibald Blair, a naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine. Blair was the first officer to comprehensively survey the Andaman Islands.
In 1778, during his first voyage to the Andamans, he discovered a natural harbour named Port Cornwallis. The East India Company acknowledged his findings and later renamed it Port Blair.

Port Blair as Penal Colony

In the late 18th century, the East India Company (EIC) recognised the strategic value of the Andaman Islands as a harbour to monitor Malay pirates and a base for British Officers during conflicts.
In 1792, the colony moved to Port Cornwallis but was abandoned by 1796 due to disease.
The convicts were transported to Port Blair as a penal colony for unpaid labour.
After the Revolt of 1857, the British revived Port Blair as a penal colony for life-imprisoned convicts. By 1906, they built the infamous Cellular Jail (Kaala Paani) to imprison freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar.

The first unfurling of Tiranga on Indian soil at Port Blair in 1943 by Subhash Chandra Bose.

Chola Connection

Historical records suggest the Andaman Islands served as a strategic naval base for the 11th-century Chola emperor, Rajendra I. The islands were used to launch attacks on Srivijaya (present-day Indonesia).
According to a 1050 CE inscription found in Thanjavur, the Cholas referred to the islands as “Ma-Nakkavaram,” or “great open/naked land,” a name possibly evolved into the modern “Nicobar“.

{Prelims – S&T – AI} OpenAI o1

Context (IE): OpenAI has introduced its new AI model, OpenAI o1, as part of Project Strawberry.

Key Features of OpenAI o1

Reasoning Capabilities: It excels in complex tasks across science, coding, and mathematics, using reinforcement learning to approach problems from multiple perspectives and learn from mistakes.
Performance Benchmarks: Demonstrated impressive performance, achieving an 83% success rate in the International Mathematics Olympiad qualifying exam, compared to 13% by GPT-4o.
Model Variants:
- o1-preview: The full-featured version designed for complex reasoning tasks.
- o1-mini: A cost-effective and faster version tailored for coding tasks, priced at 80% less than the o1-preview, making it accessible to a broader range of developers.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Storm Shadow Missile

Context (IE): Storm shadow missiles have become important for Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French cruise missile (developed by the UK and France). In France, it is called the SCALP-EG. It is a low-observable, long-range air-launched missile with a range up to 250km.