PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 14-JUNE-2018
Paper 1:
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient
aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Sanchi Stupa of India and Pho Minh Pagoda of
Viet Nam
Context: Cabinet
approves MoU between India and Viet Nam on Joint issue of postage stamp. Joint
Issue depicts Sanchi Stupa of India and Pho Minh Pagoda of Viet Nam.
About Sanchi Stupa:
§ When was it built: Commissioned in 3rd century BCE,
Expansion/ additions/restoration works/ made in different periods.
§ Who built it: Commissioned by Emperor Ashoka of the
Maurya Dynasty.
§ Where is it located: Located 46 km north-east of Bhopal, the
capital city of Madhya Pradesh, India.
§ Architectural Style: Buddhist Art and Architecture.
§ Other facts: It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
About Pho Minh Pagoda:
§ The pagoda was originally built during the Ly
Dynasty and later expanded in 1262 during the Tran Dynasty.
§ It was a place for high-ranking mandarins and
the aristocracy of the Tran Royal Court to worship and lead their religious
life.
What’s important?
§ For Prelims: Sanchi Stupa- features and
significance, Pho Minh Pagoda- location and its significance.
§ For Mains: Development of Art and
Architecture during Mauryan period.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient
aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Nalanda University
Context: The
Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for withdrawal of Nalanda University
(Amendment) Bill, 2013 pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Background:
The Nalanda University was established on the
basis of a Joint Press Statement at the 4th East Asia Summit held in Thailand
in October, 2009, which supported its establishment as a non-state, non-profit,
secular and self-governing international institution. Subsequently, the Nalanda
University Act, 2010 was passed by the Parliament and came into effect from
25thNovember 2010.
Highlights of Nalanda University (Amendment) Bill, 2013:
§ It establishes Nalanda University in Bihar as
a result of decisions taken at the East Asia Summits.
§ Under the Act, the University is a non-profit
public-private partnership, supported by each member country as well as other
sources. The Bill amends the Act to provide for the Government of India to meet
the university’s capital and recurring expenditure to the extent required.
§ The powers of the University are amended to
include the power to set up a consortium of international partners to meet the
objectives of the University, and appoint persons working in any other
University or academic institution, including those located outside India, as faculty
of the University.
§ The size of the Governing Board of the
University is being increased to include two persons of eminence and two
members from the academic faculty of the University. The Bill also makes
provision for the appointment of Deans and Provosts.
Key facts:
§ Nalanda stands out as the most ancient
university of the Indian Subcontinent. It engaged in the organized transmission
of knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years.
§ The historical development of the site
testifies to the development of Buddhism into a religion and the flourishing of
monastic and educational traditions.
§ It was a major Mahavihara or a large Buddhist
monastery that also doubled up as an important centre of learning from the 5th
to 1200 AD in the erstwhile kingdom of Magadh.
§ The construction of Nalanda university began
in 5th century AD and flourished under the Gupta rulers. It came to an end in
the 12th century when it was destroyed in 1193 AD by the invading Turkish army
led by its commander Bakhtiar Khilji.
§ UNESCO has declared Bihar’s much awaited
ancient site – the ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara – a World Heritage Site.
What’s Important?
For Prelims and Mains: Nalanda Mahavihara-
Historical importance, Highlights of the Bill.
Sources: pib.
Paper 2:
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various
quasi-judicial bodies.
North Eastern Council
Context: The
Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Development of North
Eastern Region (DoNER) for the nomination of the Union Home Minister as
ex-officio Chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC). The Cabinet has also
approved that Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of DoNER would
serve as Vice Chairman of the Council.
Under the new arrangement, Home Minister shall be the Chairman and
Minister of DoNER as Vice Chairman, NEC and all the Governors and Chief
Ministers of North Eastern States will be Members.
Benefits:
§ This would provide a forum for discussing
inter-state matters more comprehensively and also consider common approaches to
be taken in future.
§ NEC can now also perform the tasks undertaken
by the various Zonal Councils to discuss such inter-State issues as drug
trafficking, smuggling of arms and ammunition, boundary disputes etc.
§ This repositioning of NEC will help it to
become a more effective body for the North Eastern Region. The Council shall,
from time to time, review the implementation of the projects/schemes included
in the project; recommend effective measures for coordination among the state
Governments for these projects etc.
About NEC:
§ NEC was established under the North Eastern
Council Act, 1971 as an apex level body for securing balanced and coordinated
development and facilitating coordination with the States.
§ Subsequent to the Amendment of 2002, NEC has
been mandated to function as a regional planning body for the North Eastern
Area and while formulating a regional plan for this area, shall give priority
to the schemes and projects benefiting two or more states provided that in the
case of Sikkim, the Council shall formulate specific projects and schemes for
that State.
What’s important?
§ For Prelims: NEC, its functions and
composition.
§ For Mains: Significance of North Eastern
region of the country and efforts by government for the development of the
region.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Issues related to education.
New norms for College teachers
Context: The
University Grants Commission (UGC) has brought out a new set of regulations to
alter the conditions for recruitment and promotion of college and university
teachers, so as to make universities more focussed on research and colleges on
the teaching-learning process.
New norms:
§ Research will no longer be mandatory for
college teachers for promotion. However, university promotions will offer
weightage to research done. College teachers will be graded on teaching rather
than research. College teachers can still do research and earn higher grades
for it.
§ Other than research, college teachers can
earn grades for other activities too — like social work, helping in adoption of
a village, helping students in extra-curricular activities, contributing
teaching material to Swayam, the MOOCS platform for online material.
§ College teachers can become professors now.
Till now, a college teacher could not rise above the rank of associate
professor, the professor post being limited to university departments.
§ To become an assistant professor in a
college, the requirement remains the same: Ph.D or NET plus a master’s degree.
However, for promotion to the post of associate professor, a Ph.D will be
mandatory even at the college level.
§ Indians who had been awarded a doctoral
degree from any of the top 500 global universities would be eligible to teach
in Indian universities without the requirement of any equivalence certificate
or NET as soon as the regulations are notified.
University Grants Commission (UGC):
§ The University Grants Commission of India
(UGC India) is a statutory body set up in accordance to the UGC Act 1956 under
Ministry of Human Resource Development.
§ It is charged with coordination, determination,
and maintenance of standards of higher education. It provides recognition to
universities in India and disburses funds to such recognized universities and
colleges.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Important International institutions,
agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic
Filariasis
Context: India
is hosting the 10th meeting of Global Alliance to Eliminate
Lymphatic Filariasis. India has highest burden of Lymphatic Filariasis and
there is need of taking leadership role to Eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
Theme: Celebrating
progress towards elimination: Voices from the field on overcoming programme
challenges.
About Lymphatic Filariasis:
§ LF or commonly known as Elephantiasis is one
of the oldest and most debilitating neglected disease, which is currently
endemic in 73 countries of the world, including India.
§ LF is a devastating parasitic infection
spread by mosquitoes. The parasites are thread-like worms (filariae) that
develop in and then damage the human lymphatic system and associated tissues.
§ It is usually contracted in childhood, often
before the age of five. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and
specialised tissues that are essential to the maintaining the overall fluid
balance and health of organs and limbs and importantly are a major component of
the body’s immune defence system.
Effects:
§ The damage caused by the filaria or adult
worms living in the lymphatic system upset this delicate fluid balance and
fluid remains in the tissues causing chronic swelling usually of the lower
limbs.
§ The disease affects the poorest population in
society, particularly those living in areas with poor water, sanitation and
hygiene. LF does not kill the affected people, but may cause permanent
disfigurement, reduced productivity and social stigma.
About GAELF:
It is an alliance of partners from 72 LF
endemic national country programmes, NGOs, private sectors, academic and
research institutes and international development agencies that assists WHO’s
Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.
What’s important?
§ For Prelims: About Elephantiasis and GAELF.
§ For Mains: Global disease burden and the need
for coordinated efforts in this regard.
Sources: the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic: Disaster management.
Dam Safety Bill, 2018
Context: The
Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for introduction of Dam Safety Bill,
2018 in the Parliament.
Highlights of the Bill:
§ The Bill provides for proper surveillance,
inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified dams in the country to
ensure their safe functioning.
§ The Bill provides for constitution of a
National Committee on Dam Safety which shall evolve dam safety policies and
recommend necessary regulations as may be required for the purpose.
§ The Bill provides for establishment of
National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body which shall discharge
functions to implement the policy, guidelines and standards for dam safety in
the country.
§ The Bill provides for constitution of a State
Committee on Dam Safety by State Government.
Functions of the National Dam Safety Authority:
§ It shall maintain liaison with the State Dam
Safety Organisations and the owners of dams for standardisation of dam safety
related data and practices.
§ It shall provide the technical and managerial
assistance to the States and State Dam Safety Organisations.
§ It shall maintain a national level data-base
of all dams in the country and the records of major dam failures.
§ It shall examine the cause of any major dam
failure.
§ It shall publish and update the standard
guidelines and check-lists for the routine inspection and detailed
investigations of dams and appurtenances.
§ It shall accord recognition or accreditations
to the organisations that can be entrusted with the works of investigation,
design or construction of new dams.
§ It will also look into unresolved points of
issue between the State Dam Safety Organisation of two states, or between the
State Dam Safety Organisation of a State and the owner of a dam in that State,
for proper solution.
§ Further, in certain cases, such as dams of
one State falling under the territory of another State, the National Authority
shall also perform the role of State Dam Safety Organization thereby
eliminating potential causes for inter-state conflicts.
Significance:
§ It will help all the States and Union
Territories of India to adopt uniform dam safety procedures which shall ensure
safety of dams and safeguard benefits from such dams. This shall also help in
safeguarding human life, livestock and property.
§ The Dam Safety Bill, 2018 address all issues
concerning dam safety including regular inspection of dams, Emergency Action
Plan, comprehensive dam safety review, adequate repair and maintenance funds
for dam safety, Instrumentation and Safety Manuals. It lays onus of dam safety
on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions for commission and omission
of certain acts.
Need for a legislation:
There are over 5200 large dams in India and
about 450 are under construction. Plus there are thousands of medium and small
dams. Due to lack of legal and institutional architecture for dam safety in
India, dam safety is an issue of concern. Unsafe dams are a hazard and dam
break may cause disasters, leading to huge loss of life and property.
What’s important?
For Prelims and Mains: Highlights of the Bill
and key functions of the National Dam Safety Authority.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Conservation related topic.
Water Management Index
Context: NITI
Aayog is planning to launch a Composite Water Management Index.
Benefits of the Index:
§ The index can be utilised to formulate and
implement suitable strategies for better management of water resources.
§ The index would provide useful information
for the States and also for the concerned Central Ministries/Departments
enabling them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for better
management of water resources.
Significance of the index:
§ This index is an attempt to inspire States
and UTs towards efficient and optimal utilization of water, and recycling
thereof with a sense of urgency. It will be a useful tool to assess and improve
the performance in efficient management of water resources.
Sources: pib.
Facts for Prelims:
Nikkei Asia Prize:
Context: Noted
social reformer and founder of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak was
recently honored with Japan’s prestigious ‘Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture and
Community’. The award was given to him for his significant work in tackling
poor hygiene and discrimination.
Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture and Community:
§ The Nikkei Asia Prize is an award which
recognizes the achievements of people and organizations that have improved the
lives of people throughout Asia.
§ The awards were created and presented by
Nikkei Inc, one of the largest media corporations in Japan.
§ Launched in 1996, the program honors people
in Asia who have made significant contributions in one of the three areas:
regional growth; science, technology and innovation; and culture.
§ Former PM Manmohan Singh and Infosys Chairman
Narayan Murti are among the few Indians who have won the prize in the past.
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