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GS Paper: GS1

  • Places of Worship Act, 1991

    The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to respond to a plea challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The court has opened the doors for litigation in various places of worship across the country including Mathura and Varanasi.

    Take this ‘wonderful’ question from CS Mains 2019:

    Q.What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?

    Places of Worship Act, 1991

    • It was passed in 1991 by the P V Narasimha Rao-led government.
    • The law seeks to maintain the “religious character” of places of worship as it was in 1947 — except in the case of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was already in court.
    • The law was brought in at the peak of the Ram Mandir movement, exactly a year before the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
    • Introducing the law, then Home Minister S B Chavan said in Parliament that it was adopted to curb communal tension.

    What are its provisions?

    The objective of the law describes it as an Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship.

    • It aims to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.
    • Sections 3 and 4 of the Act declared that the religious character of a place of worship shall continue to be the same as it was on August 15, 1947.
    • No person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination into one of a different denomination or section.
    • Section 4(2) says that all suits, appeals or others regarding converting the character of a place of worship, that was pending on August 15, 1947, will stand abated when the Act commences and no fresh proceedings can be filed.
    • However, legal proceedings can be initiated after the commencement of the Act if the change of status took place after the cut-off date of August 15, 1947.

    What does it say about Ayodhya, and what else is exempted?

    • Act does not to apply to Ram Janma Bhumi Babri Masjid.

    Besides the Ayodhya dispute, the Act also exempted:

    • any place of worship that is an ancient and historical monument or an archaeological site, or is covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958;
    • a suit that has been finally settled or disposed of;
    • any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Act commenced.

    What has the Supreme Court said about the Act?

    • In the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, the Constitution Bench led by former CJI Ranjan Gogoi referred to the law and said it manifests the secular values of the Constitution and strictly prohibits retrogression.
    • In providing a guarantee for the preservation of the religious character of places, Parliament determined that independence from colonial rule furnishes a constitutional basis for healing the injustices of the past.
    • The law addresses itself to the State as much as to every citizen of the nation. Its norms bind those who govern the affairs of the nation at every level.
    • Those norms implement the Fundamental Duties under Article 51A and are hence positive mandates to every citizen as well.

    Why is the law under challenge?

    • A politician has challenged the law on the ground that violates secularism.
    • He has also argued that the cut-off date of August 15, 1947, is “arbitrary, irrational and retrospective” and prohibits Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from approaching courts to “reclaim” their places of worship.
    • Such places, he argued, were “invaded” and “encroached” upon by “fundamentalist barbaric invaders”.
    • The right-wing politicians have opposed the law even when it was introduced, arguing that the Centre has no power to legislate on “pilgrimages” or “burial grounds” which is under the state list.
    • Another criticism against the law is that the cut-off is the date of Independence, which means that the status quo determined by a colonial power is considered final.

  • The legacy and return of the Bamiyan Buddhas

    Two decades later after its destruction, the Bamiyan Buddhas have been brought back to life in the form of 3D projections in an event called “A Night with Buddha”.

    Bamiyan Buddhas

    • In their Roman draperies and with two different mudras, the Bamiyan Buddhas were great examples of a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles.
    • They are said to date back to the 5th century AD and were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world.
    • Salsal and Shamama, as they were called by the locals, rose to heights of 55 and 38 metres respectively, and were said to be male and female.
    • Salsal means “the light shines through the universe”; Shamama is “Queen Mother”.
    • The statues were set in niches on either end of a cliffside and hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2014:

    Q.Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with a hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes-

    a) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation

    b) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara

    c) Buddha’s reminder to his followers that they all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth and thus this life is transitory

    d) Both the statements ‘a’ and ‘b’ are correct in this context

    The significance of Bamiyan

    • Bamiyan is situated in the high mountains of the Hindu Kush in the central highlands of Afghanistan.
    • The valley, which is set along the line of the Bamiyan River, was once integral to the early days of the Silk Roads, providing passage for not just merchants, but also culture, religion and language.
    • When the Buddhist Kushan Empire spread, acting as a crucible of sorts, Bamiyan became a major trade, cultural and religious centre.
    • As China, India and Rome sought passage through Bamiyan, the Kushans were able to develop a syncretic (mix) culture.
    • In the rapid spread of Buddhism between the 1st to 5th centuries AD, Bamiyan’s landscape reflected the faith, especially its monastic qualities.

    Taliban’s destruction of the Buddhas

    • The hardline Taliban movement, which emerged in the early 1990s, was in control of almost 90 per cent of Afghanistan by the end of the decade.
    • The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was part of this extremist culture.
    • In February 2001, the Taliban declared its intention to destroy the statues, despite condemnation and protest from governments and cultural ambassadors’ world over.

    The aftermath of the destruction

    • The Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas met with global criticism, many of whom saw it as a cultural crime not just against Afghanistan but also against the idea of global syncretism.
    • Following the fall, UNESCO included the remains in its list of world heritage sites in 2003, with subsequent efforts made to restore and reconstruct.

  • National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development has slammed the Centre’s meagre pension allocations under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).

    What did the new report flag?

    • The panel slammed the government’s laxity in raising the amount, pointing out the recommendations to increase the sums.
    • It observed the meagre amount of assistance ranging from ₹200 to ₹500 per month under the different components of this Scheme.
    • The panel also flagged delays and statewide disparities in the payment of wages and unemployment allowances under the flagship MGNREGA scheme.

    NSAP

    • NSAP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the GoI that provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.
    • It was launched on 15th August 1995.
    • The scheme represents a significant step towards the fulfilment of the Directive Principles in Article 41.
    • Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement.
    • For getting benefits under NSAP the applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family.

    Check this PYQ from CSP 2012:

    Q. Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?

    (a) Resident Indian citizens only

    (b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only

    (c) All-State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments

    (d) All Central Governments Employees including those of Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April 2004

    Components of NSAP

    • The NSAP at its inception in 1995 had three components namely
    1. National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS,
    2. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and
    3. National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS).
    • The NMBS was subsequently transferred on 1st April 2001 from the Ministry of Rural Development to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
    • On 1st April 2000, a new Scheme known as Annapurna Scheme was launched.
    • In February 2009, two new Schemes are known as Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) were introduced.

    Presently NSAP comprises of five schemes, namely –

    1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
    2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
    3. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
    4. National Family Benefit Scheme NFBS) and
    5. Annapurna

  • How long is a year on other planets?

    For us, 365 days make up a year because Earth takes as many days to complete one orbit of the Sun. But have you ever wondered how many days make up a year on other planets?

    What determines the length of a year?

    • The length of a year on any planet depends on where the planet is orbiting.
    • Planets that are closer to the Sun than Earth will have fewer days in a year, while those rotating farther away will take many more days to make up a year.
    • This is because of two reasons – planets that are closer to the Sun will take a shorter time to orbit it than those farther away, and the closer a planet orbits the Sun, the Sun’s gravity can pull on the planet, making the planet orbit faster.

    Why should we care?

    • To send a spacecraft to another planet, we need to know where the planet is in orbit.
    • This will help us plan and manoeuvre the spacecraft accordingly.

    How long each planet takes to orbit the Sun (in Earth days):

    • Mercury: 88 days
    • Venus: 225 days
    • Earth: 365 days
    • Mars: 687 days
    • Jupiter: 4,333 days
    • Saturn: 10,759 days
    • Uranus: 30,687 days
    • Neptune: 60,190 days

    It’s a mean task to consider this PYQ from 2013, Huh!

    Q.Which planet was downgraded to dwarf planet status?

    (a) Pluto

    (b) Mars

    (c) Earth

    (d) Venus

  • Dandi March to mark 75 years of Independence

    PM will flag off a commemorative ‘Dandi March’ on March 12 to launch the celebrations of the 75th year of Independence.

    Dandi March

    • The Dandi March was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India led by Mahatma Gandhi.
    • The twenty-four day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 5 April 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.
    • Another reason for this march was that the Civil Disobedience Movement needed a strong inauguration that would inspire more people to follow Gandhi’s example.
    • Growing numbers joined them along the way.
    • When Gandhi broke the British Raj salt laws at 6:30 am on 6 April 1930, it sparked large scale acts of civil disobedience against the salt laws by millions of Indians.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Who of the following organized a March on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

    (a) V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

    (b) C. Rajagopalachari

    (c) K. Kamaraj

    (d) Annie Besant

    Followed by Dharasana Satyagraha

    • After making the salt at Dandi, Gandhi continued southward along the coast, making salt and addressing meetings on the way.
    • The INC planned to stage a satyagraha at the Dharasana Salt Works, 40 km south of Dandi.
    • However, Gandhi was arrested on the midnight of 4–5 May 1930, just days before the planned action at Dharasana.
    • The Dandi March and the ensuing Dharasana Satyagraha drew worldwide attention to the Indian independence movement through extensive newspaper and newsreel coverage.
    • The satyagraha against the salt tax continued for almost a year, ending with Gandhi’s release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at the Second Round Table Conference.

    Its aftermath

    • The March to Dandi had a significant influence on American activists Martin Luther King Jr., James Bevel, and others during the Civil Rights Movement for African Americans in the 1960s.
    • The march was the most significant organised challenge to British authority since the Non-cooperation movement of 1920–22.
    • It directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of sovereignty and self-rule by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930.
    • It gained worldwide attention which gave impetus to the Indian independence movement and started the nationwide Civil Disobedience.

  • United Bengal Plan of 1947

    In a recent election rally, a politician spoke about the contributions of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in the making of West Bengal immediately after independence.

    This newscard contains some archaic statements and thoughts (that may seem like polarized opinions) which are directly reproduced from the newspaper. 

    The 1947 independence era circumstances are discussed with context to the United Bengal Plan and its subsequent partition.

    The United Bengal plan

    • A most striking aspect of the Partition of Bengal was the fact that the same people, who had vociferously opposed the 1905 partition of the region by Lord Curzon, were the ones who demanded the division of the province on communal lines.
    • One way to understand this is by noting the fact that the communal skirmishes that had started in 1905, reached its peak by 1947.
    • But there was also the fact that Bengal politics changed dramatically in 1932 with the introduction of the Communal Award.
    • It gave more seats in the Legislative Council to Muslims than Hindus. It also provided separate electorates for the Dalits.
    • Consequently, Bengali Hindus ceased to be as significant and visible in provincial politics as they were before.
    • What further aggravated the situation was the communal violence in Calcutta in August 1946 and those in Noakhali just seven weeks later.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2013:

    Q.The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until

    (a) The First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.

    (b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Darbar in Delhi in 1911

    (c) Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement

    (d) The Partition of India, in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

    Mukherjee and the Plan

    • Mukherjee, who was president of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha between 1943 and 1946, is known to have been the man behind the Partition of Bengal in 1947.
    • Calcutta riots (1947) led the Hindu Mahasabha under Mukherjee to put forward the demand for dividing Bengal on religious grounds.
    • He was one of the strongest voices to have opposed the united Bengal plan of the Bengal provincial League leader and PM Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy.
    • As per the plan, Bengal would be a separate nation, independent from both India and Pakistan.

    Debate over partition

    • In the meantime Suhrawardy along with few other top Bengal politicians like Sarat Bose and K.S. Roy came up with an alternative for the Partition.
    • They argued for a united Bengal, independent from India and Pakistan.
    • Suhrawardy had realized that the Partition of Bengal would mean economic disaster for East Bengal since all jute mills, coal mines and industrial plants would go to the western part of the state.
    • Suhrawardy argued strongly for a united Bengal because Bengal was indivisible in view of its ‘economic integrity, mutual reliance and the necessity of creating a strong workable state.

    Why did Mukherjee oppose the united Bengal plan?

    • The Hindu Mahasabha under Mukherjee spearheaded a fierce attack against the united Bengal scheme, which he thought would force Hindus to live under Muslim domination.
    • He further defended the Partition to the Viceroy by drawing upon Jinnah’s two-nation theory.
    • Finally, for Mukherjee, the idea of a united Bengal was not appealing because he believed that a ‘sovereign undivided Bengal would be a virtual Pakistan’.
    • Eventually, the idea of a united Bengal failed to garner sufficient support from among the Muslim League and the Congress.
    • It also did not find sufficient support from the grassroots as most Hindus favoured the Partition of Bengal.

    Back2Basics: Partition of Bengal

    • The first Partition of Bengal (1905) was a territorial reorganization of the Bengal Presidency implemented by the authorities of the British Raj.
    • The reorganization separated the largely Muslim eastern areas from the largely Hindu western areas. Announced on 19 July 1905 by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India.
    • It was implemented on 16 October 1905, it was undone a mere six years later.
    • Hindus were outraged at what they saw as a “divide and rule” policy, even though Curzon stressed it would produce administrative efficiency.
    • The partition animated the Muslims to form their own national organization along communal lines.
    • To appease Bengali sentiment, Bengal was reunited by Lord Hardinge in 1911, in response to the Swadeshi movement’s riots in protest against the policy.
    • In 1947, Bengal was partitioned for the second time, solely on religious grounds, as part of the Partition of India following the formation of the nations India and Pakistan.
    • In 1955, East Bengal became East Pakistan, and in 1971 became the independent state of Bangladesh.

  • [pib] Stand Up India Scheme

    The Ministry of Finance has informed that more than 81% of account holders are Women under Stand Up India Scheme.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2016:

    Q.With reference to ‘stand up India scheme’, which of the following statement is/are correct?

    1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
    2. It provides for refinance through SIDBI.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Stand-Up India Scheme

    • Stand Up India Scheme was launched on 5 April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level of economic empowerment and job creation.
    • This scheme seeks to leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved sector of people such as SCs, STs and Women Entrepreneurs.
    • The objective of this scheme is to facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a Greenfield enterprise.
    • The offices of SIDBI and NABARD shall be designated Stand-Up Connect Centres (SUCC)
    • It is similar to but distinct from Startup India.

    Back2Basics: Start-Up India Scheme

    • Startup India Scheme is an initiative of the Indian government, the primary objective of which is the promotion of startups, generation of employment, and wealth creation.
    • It was launched on the 16th of January, 2016.
    • A startup defined as an entity that is headquartered in India, which was opened less than 10 years ago and has an annual turnover of fewer than ₹100 crores (US$14 million).
    • The action plan for this initiative is based on the following three pillars:
    1. Simplification and Handholding
    2. Funding Support and Incentives
    3. Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation
    • An additional area of focus is to discard restrictive States Government policies within this domain, such as License Raj, Land Permissions, Foreign Investment Proposals, and Environmental Clearances.
    • It was organized by The Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPI&IT).

  • [pib] Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO                 

    The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has provided some useful information about the World Heritage Sites By UNESCO in India.

    We regret for the distorted view of this newscard on the app. Pls refer to the webpage link.

    [pib] Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO                 

    World Heritage Sites in India

    • At present, India has 38 World Heritage Properties. All the sites under the Ministry are conserved as per ASI’s Conservation Policy and are in good shape.
    • ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ has been submitted for the nomination of World Heritage Site in 2019-2020.
    • Nomination dossiers of ‘Santiniketan, India’ and ‘Sacred Ensemble of Hoysalas’ have been submitted to UNESCO for the year 2021-22 cycle.

    WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA (38)

    CULTURAL SITES:

    Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (22)

    S.No. Name of Site State
    1 Agra Fort (1983) Uttar Pradesh
    2 Ajanta Caves (1983) Maharashtra
    3 Ellora Caves (1983) Maharashtra
    4 Taj Mahal (1983) Uttar Pradesh
    5 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) Tamil Nadu
    6 Sun Temple, Konark (1984) Odisha
    7 Churches and Convents of Goa (1986) Goa
    8 FatehpurSikri (1986) Uttar Pradesh
    9 Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) Karnataka
    10 Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986) Madhya Pradesh
    11 Elephanta Caves ( 1987) Maharashtra
    12 Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004) Tamil Nadu
    13 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) Karnataka
    14 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) Madhya Pradesh
    15 Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993) Delhi
    16 Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993) Delhi
    17 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) Madhya Pradesh
    18 Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004) Gujarat
    19 Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007) Delhi
    20 Hill Forts of Rajasthan

    1. Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013)

    (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums)

    		 Rajasthan
    21 Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) Gujarat
    22 Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016) Bihar

     

    Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)

    23. Mountain Railways of India Darjeeling,(1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla (2008) West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh
    24. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) Maharashtra

     

    Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)

    25 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002) Bihar

     

    Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums (1)

    26. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) Rajasthan

     

    Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)

    27. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016) Chandigarh

     

    Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (1)

    28. Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017) Gujarat

     

    Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)

    29. Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018) Govt of Maharashtra

     

    Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)

    30. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019) Govt of Rajasthan

     

    NATURAL SITES: (7)

    Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

    31. Kaziranga National Park (1985) Assam
    32. Keoladeo National Park (1985) Rajasthan
    33. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) Assam
    34. Sunderbans National Park (1987) West Bengal
    35. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) Uttarakhand
    36. Western Ghats (2012) Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu
    37 Great Himalayan National Park (2014) Himachal Pradesh

     

    MIXED SITE: (1)

    Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

    38. Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) Sikkim

     

    Back2Basics: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

    • A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area, selected by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance, which is legally protected by international treaties.
    • The sites are judged to be important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity.
    • To be selected, a WHS must be an already-classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, mountain, or wilderness area).
    • It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet.
    • The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence.
    • The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 “states parties” that are elected by their General Assembly.

    UNESCO World Heritage Committee

    • The World Heritage Committee selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    • It monitors the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
    • It is composed of 21 states parties that are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term.
    • India is NOT a member of this Committee.

  • Assam’s Sattras and their political significance

    In poll-bound Assam, the campaigns are sought to be held in the Bartadrava Than/Sattra (monastery) in Nagaon, which is the birthplace of renowned Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.

    Q.Discuss the role of religion in India’s electoral politics. Discuss how identity politics is harmful to a harmonious society.

    What are Sattras?

    • Sattras are monastic institutions created as part of the 16th-century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement started by Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1596).
    • As the saint travelled across Assam, spreading his teachings and propagating an egalitarian society, these Sattras/Thans were established as centres of religious, social and cultural reforms in the 16th century.
    • These institutions are of paramount importance and lie at the heart of Assamese culture.
    • Today, Sattras are spread across the state, promulgating Sankardeva’s unique “worship through art” approach with music (borgeet), dance (sattriya) and theatre (bhauna).

    Composition of Sattra

    • Each Sattra has a naamghar (worship hall) as its nucleus and is headed by an influential “Sattradhikar”.
    • Monks, known as bhakats, are inducted into Sattras at a young age.
    • They may or may not be celibate, depending on the kind of Sattra they are inducted into.

    What is Sankardeva’s philosophy?

    • Sankardeva propagated a form of Bhakti called eka-sharana-naam-dhrama.
    • He espoused a society based on equality and fraternity, free from caste differences, orthodox Brahmanical rituals and sacrifices.
    • His teaching focused on prayer and chanting (naam) instead of idol worship. His dharma was based on the four components of deva (god), naam (prayers), bhakats (devotees), and guru (teacher).

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:

    1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
    2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    What is the relationship between the Sattra and the State?

    • During the Ahom reign, the Sattras received a lot of donations in the form of land or money from the kings.
    • Unlike temples, Sattras did not require patronage because they were self-sufficient, grew their own food and could sustain themselves.
    • However, today, it is different. Annual grants from the state and central government are doled out to Sattras, in the hope of political support.

    Do Sattras matter in elections?

    • While Sattra votes may not decide the outcome of an election, it is undeniable that the Sattras and Sattradhikars have a lot of influence.
    • There are especially Sattra-based constituencies like Nagaon, Kaliabor, Majuli, Barpeta, Bartadadrva etc.
    • Assamese families usually have ties with one Sattra, or the other.
    • That is why politicians — regardless of party are often seen visiting Sattra.

  • Food Waste Index Report 2021

    The Food Waste Index Report 2021 was recently released by the UNEP.
    Even though the world produces enough food to feed twice the world’s present population, food wastage is ironically behind the billions of people who are starving.

    Food Waste Index

    • The Food Waste Index is released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organisation WRAP.
    • It measures tons of wasted food per capita, considering a mixed stream of products from processing through to consumption.
    • It was prepared by using data from 54 countries and then extrapolated to the remaining countries.
    • Contrary to belief, the study by the UNEP revealed that food waste was a global problem and not that of just the developed world.

    Highlights of the 2021 report

    • The report has revealed that 17 per cent of all food available at consumer levels was wasted in 2019.
    • That year, some 690 million people had to go hungry.
    • The food waste amounted to a whopping 931 million tonnes of food sold to households, retailers and restaurants.
    • Waste at household, foodservice and retail amounted to 79, 26 and 13 kilogram /capita / year respectively.
    • The data, though scarce, revealed that food waste was substantial, regardless of income level.

    Data on India

    • The report notes that food waste at the consumer level happens in almost every country, regardless of income level.
    • In South Asia, while 50 kilograms of food is wasted per person each year at the household level in India.
    • Others include- 65 kilograms of this happening in Bangladesh, 74 kilograms in Pakistan, 76 kilograms in Sri Lanka, 79 kilograms in Nepal and 82 kilograms in Afghanistan.

    Why it is important to prevent food wastage?

    • Food waste also has a substantial environmental, social and economic impact.
    • Food loss and waste cause about $940 billion per year in economic losses. Reductions can save money for farmers, companies, and households.
    • For example, 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed.
    • Reducing food waste would cut greenhouse gas emissions, slow the destruction of nature through land conversion and pollution, enhance the availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money.