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INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT EVENTS (PAPER 1, UPSC MAINS)

November 2015

Topic: Art and architecture.

Classic erotica at Mattancherry palace closed to public
Some of the most erotic 18th century mural sketches at Mattancherry Palace
have been closed for public for over six years now.
While the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) threw open the upper
level to visitors after an enduring spell of restoration, the lower
chambers featuring more scintillating and lascivious drawings have
remained shut ever since.

About the Palace:

The Palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the
Raja of Cochin around 1555. The Dutch carried out some extensions
and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly
called Dutch Palace.
It features Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and
exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi.
The palace is a quadrangular structure built in Nalukettu style,
the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the
middle.
In the courtyard there stands a small temple dedicated to
'Pazhayannur Bhagavati', the protective goddess of the Kochi royal
family.
Certain elements of architecture are indicative of European influence
in basic Nluketttu style.


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The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring,

which looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of
burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites.

Murals:
There are number of murals, executed in the best traditions of Hindu
temple art, which are religious, decorative and stylized. The murals
have been painted in rich warm colours in tempera technique.
These murals depict scenes from Ramayana, Krishna leela, marriage
of Parvati with Shiva and Siva Leela.

sources: the hindu, wiki.

Hundred Drums Wangala festival begins on a cultural fervor

The annual Hundred Drums Wangala Festival recently began at
Asanang in West Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

About the festival:

Wangala is the most significant post harvest festival of the Garos
generally held in the second week of November every year.
It is a Thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong also known as Pattigipa
Rarongipa (The Great Giver) for having blessed the people with rich
harvest of the season.
The festival was started in the year 1976 at Asanang. The festival has
grown over the years under the patronage of the Government of
Meghalaya.
During the festival, indigenous sports competitions will be held.


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sources: web india.

Topic: urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

AMRUT Action Plans for 81 cities approved with total project
outlay of Rs.5,748 cr
Union government has approved Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT) Action plans for 81 cities in 5 states. The five
states are Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Mizoram.
The total project outlay is Rs.5,748 cr. Central assistance will be
provided to an extent of Rs.2,440 cr while the rest would be
contributed by state governments and urban local bodies.
The fund will be used to enhance basic infrastructure including water
supply and sewerage connections.
State Annual Action Plans(SAAP) of each state is formulated by
integrating Service Level Improvement Plans(SLIP) of each AMRUT
city in respective state.
Half of the urban households in these selected cities do not have
water supply and sewerage connections.

AMRUT:
AMRUT is the new avatar of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission (JNNURM).
AMRUT adopts a project approach to ensure basic infrastructure
services relating to water supply, sewerage, storm-water drains,
transportation and development of green spaces and parks with
special provision for meeting the needs of children.


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Under this mission, 10% of the budget allocation will be given to

states and union territories as incentive based on the achievement of
reforms during the previous year.
AMRUT will be implemented in 500 locations with a population of
one lakh and above.
It would cover some cities situated on stems of main rivers, a few
state capitals and important cities located in hilly areas, islands and
tourist areas.
Under this mission, states get the flexibility of designing schemes
based on the needs of identified cities and in their execution and
monitoring.
States will only submit state annual action Plans to the centre for
broad concurrence based on which funds will be released. But, in a
significant departure from JNNURM, the central government will not
appraise individual projects.
Central assistance will be to the extent of 50% of project cost for cities
and towns with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one-third of the
project cost for those with a population of above 10 lakhs.
Under the mission, states will transfer funds to urban local bodies
within 7 days of transfer by central government and no diversion of
funds to be made failing which penal interest would be charged
besides taking other adverse action by the centre.

sources: the hindu, pib.