Current Affairs 24 September 2024

CONTENTS

1. Centenary of the Indus Valley Civilization Discovery
2. PM E-DRIVE Scheme
3. India Joins IPEF Agreements on a Clean and Fair Economy
4. Quality Assurance from AR Dairy Amid Tirupati Laddu Controversy
5. Koodiyattom
6. Project 200
7. Greater One-Horned Rhino

Centenary of the Indus Valley Civilization Discovery

Context:

On September 20th, 2024, we commemorate the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization, initially announced by archaeologist Sir John Marshall on the same date in 1924. The civilization is noted for its extensive spread across 1.5 million square kilometers in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, encompassing over 2,000 archaeological sites.

Relevance:

GS I: Culture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Overview of Harappan Civilization
2. Key Features of Harappan Civilization

Overview of Harappan Civilization

• Also Known As: Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)
• Flourished: Around 2500 BCE along the Indus River
• Global Significance: Largest of the four major ancient urban civilizations, alongside Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China
• Technology: Known as a Bronze Age civilization due to the discovery of copper-based alloy artifacts

Key Archaeological Discoveries

• First Excavations:
  • Harappa: Excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921-22
  • Mohenjo-daro: Excavated by Rakhal Das Banerji in 1922
• Notable Contributor:
  • Sir John Marshall, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), oversaw the excavations that revealed these sites

Phases of Harappan Civilization

• Early Phase (3200 BCE to 2600 BCE):
  • Associated with the Hakra Phase, located in the Ghaggar-Hakra River Valley
  • Earliest evidence of Indus script dates to around 3000 BCE
• Mature Period (2600 BCE to 1900 BCE):
  • Marked the peak of urbanization with significant growth in cities like Harappa and Mohenjodaro (in present-day Pakistan), as well as Lothal (in present-day India)
• Late Phase (1900 BCE to 1500 BCE):
  • The civilization experienced a decline, leading to its eventual collapse

Key Features of Harappan Civilization

Town Planning:

• Advanced Town Layout: Harappan cities were designed using a grid-like structure, reflecting highly organized urban planning.
• Citadel or Acropolis: Harappa and Mohenjodaro featured elevated citadels likely for the ruling elite.
• Lower Towns: Below the citadels, there were brick houses for common people.
• Granaries: Large granaries were used to store grains, with the use of burnt bricks, different from the dried bricks used in Egypt.
• Drainage System: Mohenjodaro had an advanced drainage system, with almost every house having courtyards and bathrooms.
• Private Wells: In Kalibangan, many homes had private wells.
• Fortified Settlements: Sites like Dholavira and Lothal in Gujarat were fortified, with sections divided by walls.

Agriculture:

• Highly Productive Villages: Located near floodplains, they produced wheat, barley, peas, sesame, lentils, chickpeas, rai, and mustard.
• Cotton Production: The Harappans were among the first to grow cotton, called “Sindon” by the Greeks.
• Animal Husbandry: This practice was widespread, along with crop cultivation.

Economy:

• Trade Significance: Trade was essential, facilitated by seals, a uniform script, and standardized weights and measures.
• Major Items Traded: Included stone, metal, and shell.
• Barter System: Used for trade, as no metal currency existed.
• Navigation and Trade Routes: Navigation was practiced along the Arabian Sea, and a trading colony in northern Afghanistan facilitated Central Asian commerce.
• Mesopotamian Trade: Engaged in trade with Mesopotamia and long-distance trade in lapis lazuli.

Crafts:

• Bronze Manufacturing: Harappans used copper from Rajasthan (Khetri mines) and tin from Afghanistan.
• Textile and Weaving: Impressions suggest knowledge of weaving.
• Key Crafts: Included boat-making, bead-making, seal-making, terracotta, and pottery.
• Jewelry: Goldsmiths crafted jewelry from gold, silver, and precious stones.

Religion:

• Fertility Worship: Numerous terracotta figurines suggest worship of a fertility goddess.
• Pashupati Seal: A male deity, Pashupati Mahadeva, is depicted surrounded by animals like elephants, tigers, and buffalo.
• Animal and Tree Worship: Symbols like the unicorn (possibly a rhinoceros) and humped bull were significant.

Possible Reasons for Decline:

• Invasion Theory: Some scholars propose Indo-European tribes, like the Aryans, invaded and overthrew the civilization, although cultural continuity challenges this idea.
• Environmental Changes: Earthquakes may have altered rivers, and monsoon pattern shifts could have impacted agriculture, leading to food shortages and eventual decline.

-Source: The Hindu

PM E-DRIVE Scheme

Context:

The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme strategically omits direct subsidies for electric cars. Instead, the government opts to support the electric vehicle sector through fiscal measures, such as reduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on electric cars.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is the PM E-DRIVE Scheme?
2. Key Facts About the Promotion of Electric Cars
3. About FAME-II

What is the PM E-DRIVE Scheme?

• Objective: Promotes electric mobility in India with a financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over two years.
• Replaces FAME II: This scheme has been launched to replace the FAME II initiative.
• Fiscal Incentives:
  • Supports approximately 25 lakh electric two-wheelers, 3 lakh electric three-wheelers, and 14,000 electric buses through demand-based incentives.
  • Automakers can claim reimbursements for eligible electric vehicle (EV) sales, continuing the provisions of the FAME-II scheme.
• Exclusion of Electric Cars: Notably, electric cars are excluded from the subsidy.
• Charging Infrastructure: Provisions for the installation of Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS) in selected cities and highways.
• Technology Modernization: Test agencies will be updated to handle new and emerging green mobility technologies.

Key Facts About the Promotion of Electric Cars:

• Impact of Exclusion from Subsidies:
  • Following the exclusion of electric cars from the PM E-DRIVE scheme, electric car sales dropped by 9% between April and August 2024, compared to earlier months when FAME-II was active.
• Inadequate Charging Infrastructure:
  • India has approximately 25,000 public charging stations for 46 lakh registered EVs.
  • The current ratio of 184 EVs per charging station is higher than in other nations promoting electric mobility.
• Measures Beyond Subsidies:
  • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes: The government provides support for auto components and advanced cell chemistry (ACC) batteries.
  • These PLI schemes help lower production costs by fostering economies of scale, especially within the EV supply chain.
  • Tax Benefits: Electric cars still benefit from a lower Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate of 5%, compared to 28% on hybrid/CNG vehicles and 49% on internal combustion engine vehicles.

About FAME-II

• FAME India is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM) Plan. Main thrust of FAME is to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies.
• NEMM intends to allow hybrid and electric vehicles to become the first choice for the purchasers so that these vehicles can replace the conventional vehicles and thus reduce liquid fuel consumption in the country from the automobile sector.
• The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles.
• Monitoring Authority: Department of Heavy Industries, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
• Under this scheme, demand incentives will be availed by buyers (end users/consumers) upfront at the point of purchase and the same shall be reimbursed by the manufacturers from Department of Heavy Industries, on a monthly basis.
• Fame India Scheme has four focus areas:
  1. Technology development
  2. Demand Creation
  3. Pilot Projects
  4. Charging Infrastructure

-Source: The Hindu

India Joins IPEF Agreements on a Clean and Fair Economy

Context:

India has officially signed onto the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), led by the US and comprising 14 members, aimed at promoting a clean and fair economy. The signing took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US. The agreements under the IPEF focus on enhancing the development, access, and deployment of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies. Additionally, these agreements emphasize strengthening anti-corruption efforts and advancing tax transparency among the member countries, marking a significant step towards sustainable economic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Overview of IPEF Agreements
2. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

Overview of IPEF Agreements:

• Significance:
  • India signed groundbreaking agreements focused on promoting the Clean Economy and Fair Economy under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
  • Additionally, an Overarching Agreement was signed to oversee the effective implementation of these agreements.

IPEF Clean Economy Agreement (Pillar-III):

• Objective:
  • Aims to promote cooperation in clean energy and climate technologies to enhance energy security, climate resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Areas of Focus:
  • Technical cooperation, workforce development, capacity building, and collaborative research.
  • Facilitates investment, project financing, and joint ventures, particularly supporting MSMEs and integrating Indian companies into global value chains in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Initiatives:
  • Joint efforts will be supported through Cooperative Work Programmes, the IPEF Catalytic Capital Fund, and the IPEF Accelerator.

IPEF Fair Economy Agreement (Pillar-IV):

• Objective:
  • Aims to create a more transparent and predictable trade and investment environment by enhancing anti-corruption measures, including preventing bribery and improving tax transparency.
• Key Actions:
  • Focus on information sharing, facilitating asset recovery, and strengthening cross-border investigations and prosecutions.
  • Supports India’s efforts in combating corruption, money laundering, and terror financing.
• Collaboration:
  • Partners will work together on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (TACB) initiatives to improve tax administration efficiency and implement anti-corruption measures.

Overarching IPEF Agreement:

• Oversight Mechanism:
  • Establishes a high-level Ministerial oversight mechanism to monitor the implementation of the various IPEF agreements.
• Goals:
  • Provides political oversight and ensures long-term stability of the IPEF partnership.
  • Aims to facilitate the effective implementation of agreements under Pillars II-IV, enhancing India’s productive capacity, supply chain integration, and innovation in alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF):

• Inception:
  • First proposed by US President Joe Biden during the October 2021 East Asia Summit.
  • Aimed at developing an Indo-Pacific economic framework in partnership with countries in the region.
• Focus Areas:
  • Trade facilitation, digital economy and technology standards, supply chain resiliency, decarbonization, clean energy, infrastructure, and worker standards.
  • No Market Access: It does not include traditional market access commitments, such as tariff reductions. Instead, it functions more as an administrative arrangement.

Overview of IPEF:

• Launch:
  • Officially launched in Tokyo, May 2023 to strengthen economic ties and promote growth, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
• Non-Traditional Agreement:
  • Unlike traditional trade agreements, the IPEF is structured into different modules or pillars addressing various economic aspects.

Four Pillars of IPEF:

1. Pillar I: Fair and Resilient Trade.
2. Pillar II: Supply Chain Resilience.
3. Pillar III: Clean Economy (infrastructure and decarbonization).
4. Pillar IV: Fair Economy (tax and anti-corruption).

• Participation: Countries are required to sign up for all the components within a pillar but are not obliged to participate in every module.

IPEF Members:

• Total Members: 14 countries, including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.

Significance of IPEF:

• Economic Impact:
  • The IPEF bloc represents approximately 40% of global GDP and 28% of the world’s trade in goods and services.
• Geopolitical Strategy:
  • Viewed as a US-backed strategy to counter China’s economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

India’s Involvement in IPEF:

• India’s Participation:
  • In September 2022, India joined three of the four pillars: Supply Chain, Clean Economy, and Fair Economy.
• Exclusion from Trade Pillar:
  • India opted out of the Trade Pillar but maintains observer status during negotiations in this area.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB

Quality Assurance from AR Dairy Amid Tirupati Laddu Controversy

Context:

Amid a growing controversy over the quality of the Tirupati Laddu, AR Dairy, the supplier of ghee to the renowned Lord Balaji temple, has come forward to defend the integrity of its products. The company recently announced that samples of their ghee have been officially cleared by relevant authorities, affirming their commitment to maintaining high-quality standards. This statement aims to reassure devotees and consumers about the purity and safety of the offerings used in one of the most famous religious treats in India.

Relevance:

GS I: History

About Tirupati Balaji Temple:

• Location:
  • The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, commonly known as Tirupati Balaji Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Elevation:
  • The temple is located at an altitude of 853 meters on Venkata Hill, one of the seven hills (Saptagiri) of the Tirumala Hills.
• Deity:
  • The temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu.
• Scriptural Mentions:
  • The temple is mentioned in several holy scriptures, including the Garuda Purana, Brahma Purana, and others.

Historical Background:

• Pallava Dynasty:
  • The temple’s origins trace back to the Pallava dynasty during the 9th century, which played a significant role in the region.
• Chola Dynasty:
  • The Chola dynasty further developed and supported the temple.
• Vijayanagara Empire:
  • During the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire, the temple received generous contributions, establishing it as a significant religious center in South India.
• Revival by Ramanuja:
  • In the 12th century, the renowned saint Ramanuja revitalized the temple’s rituals and traditions, leaving a lasting impact.

Religious and Cultural Significance:

• Richest Temple:
  • It is one of the richest temples globally in terms of wealth and donations.
• Devotional Practices:
  • A notable practice at the temple is the donation of hair by devotees, along with offerings of riches to seek divine blessings.
• Tirupati Laddu:
  • The famous Tirupati Laddu, distributed as prasad, holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Architecture:

• Dravidian Architecture:
  • The temple is built in Dravidian architectural style, with construction dating back to 300 AD.
• Entrances:
  • The temple has three entrances leading to the sanctum sanctorum, with the first entrance called Mahadwaram.
• Gopuram:
  • The temple’s gopuram (gateway) stands at a height of 50 feet, situated in front of the entrance.
• Circumambulation Paths:
  • The temple features two parikrama (circumambulation) paths.
• Main Shrine:
  • The central shrine has a gold-plated tower known as Ananda Nilayam, and the deity is housed inside the tower.
• Sculptures and Courtyards:
  • The temple’s courtyards, pillars, and halls are decorated with intricate sculptures, reflecting the spiritual essence of Hinduism.

-Source: The Hindu

Koodiyattom

Context:

Cholliyattom is an informal platform for the younger generation of Koodiyattom artists in Kerala following different styles to collaborate and to keep alive various Koodiyattom traditions and styles.

Relevance:

GS I: Culture

About Koodiyattom:

• Koodiyattom is one of the oldest traditional theatre forms from Kerala, rooted in Sanskrit theatre traditions.
• Etymology:
  • The prefix “kuti” in Malayalam means “combined” or “together,” while “attam” means “acting.” Thus, “Koodiyattom” translates to “combined acting”.
• Key Characters:
  • Chakyaar (actor), Naambiyaar (instrumentalists), and Naangyaar, who perform female roles.
• Theatrical Language:
  • The art form uses a highly stylized and codified language, with key features being neta abhinaya (expressions through the eyes) and hasta abhinaya (gestural language).
• Pakarnattam:
  • A unique aspect of Koodiyattom where actors portray both male and female roles, switching between genders and multiple characters simultaneously—considered a challenging and skilled performance.
• Temple Theatres (Kuttambalams):
  • These are permanent theatre structures found in major temples of Kerala, where performances are traditionally held.
• Performance Style:
  • Koodiyattom treats individual acts from Sanskrit plays as full-fledged performances rather than staging the entire play.
• UNESCO Recognition:
  • It was designated as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.

-Source: The Hindu

Project 200

Context:

Bengaluru-based space startup Bellatrix Aerospace recently unveiled Project 200 on the inaugural day of the Bengaluru Space Expo 2024.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

About Project 200:

• Innovative Satellite: Designed to function in an Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (180 km – 250 km).
• Developed by: Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based space technology startup.
• Traditional Satellite Altitudes:
  • Satellites have typically been deployed at altitudes above 450 km, primarily to avoid atmospheric interference.
• Challenges at Lower Orbits:
  • While a satellite’s performance improves at lower altitudes like 200 km, limitations in propulsion technology have previously prevented satellites from sustaining such orbits.
• Technology Demonstration:
  • Project 200 is a mission to demonstrate a new satellite powered by an innovative propulsion system developed by Bellatrix Aerospace.
  • This propulsion system allows the satellite to maintain a 200 km orbit for years, as opposed to deorbiting within days.
• Enhanced Capabilities:
  • At 200 km, satellites experience significantly lower communication latency (reduced by half) and better image resolution (improved by three times).
• Cost-Effectiveness:
  • Satellites operating at this lower altitude also have a lower cost compared to those placed in 450 km orbits.

-Source: The Hindu

Greater One-Horned Rhino

Context:

Kaziranga and other protected habitats of the one-horned rhinoceros in Assam recorded an 86% drop in poaching of the herbivore since 2016, Chief Minister said recently.

Relevance:

GS III: Species in News

About the Greater One-Horned Rhino:

• Common Name: Also known as the Indian rhinoceros, it is the largest of the three Asian rhino species and one of the largest rhino species worldwide, alongside the African white rhinos.
• Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis

Distribution:

• Found in India and Nepal, particularly in the Himalayan foothills.
• Historically, they roamed freely in the floodplains and forests near the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus River valleys.
• The Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, holds the largest population with 2,401 rhinos.

Habitat:

• Semi-Aquatic: They often reside in swamps, forests, riversides, and areas near mineral licks that are rich in nutrients.

Physical Features:

• The largest of the Asian rhinos, male Indian rhinos weigh about 2,200 kg (approx. 4,840 pounds), with a height ranging from 170 to 186 cm (67 to 73 inches) and a length of 368 to 380 cm (145 to 150 inches).
• Distinguished by a single black horn that measures between 8-25 inches, and a grey-brown skin with folds that give it an armor-plated appearance.
• Solitary Nature: They are generally solitary animals, except for females with calves. Males maintain loosely defended territories.
• Diet: Primarily grazers, they consume grasses, but also eat leaves, branches, fruit, and aquatic plants.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: The species is classified as Vulnerable.

-Source: The Hindu