Prelim Booster News Discussion

LECTURE 2- CULTURE
JULY, 2018
 India gets its 37th UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Context
• India‟s nomination of the “Victorian and Art
Deco Ensembles of Mumbai” has been
inscribed on UNESCO‟s World Heritage list.
• The decision was taken at the 42nd session of
the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO
at Manama in Bahrain.

• This achievement is especially remarkable in

the view of the successive inscription of
another Indian city after Ahmedabad last
year
 India gets its 37th UNESCO World Heritage Site

• This makes Mumbai city the second city in India after Ahmedabad to be
inscribed on the World Heritage List.

• In the past 5 years alone, India has managed to get inscribed seven of its
properties/sites on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

• India now has overall 37 World Heritage Inscriptions with 29 Cultural,

07 Natural and 01 Mixed sites.
• While India stands second largest in number after China in terms of
number of World Heritage properties in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific)
region, it is overall sixth in the world.
 World Heritage site

• World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made area or a

structure that is of international importance, and a space which requires
special protection.
• These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also known as
UNESCO.
• UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are
important for humanity, and they hold cultural and physical
significance.

• In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

announced, 18 April as the “World Heritage Day
 Hyderabad A 216-foot-tall celebration of Ramanuja

• It is set to become the world‟s second tallest

statue of a seated figure.

• Currently, the Great Buddha of Thailand is

the tallest statue, at 302-feet.

• Once the Ramanujacharya statue is

unveiled, it will become the second tallest, a
distinction now held by the Guanyin figure
on Mount Xiqiao in China‟s Guangdong
region, at 203 feet.
Hyderabad A 216-foot-tall celebration of Ramanuja
 Ramanujacharya

• He was a Hindu theologian, philosopher, and

one of the most important exponents of the
Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.
• His philosophical foundations for
devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti
movement.
• He is famous as the chief proponent of
Vishishtadvaita subschool of Vedānta.
• He wrote influential texts, such as bhāsya on
the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita,
all in Sanskrit.
 Restored Buddha of Swat smiles signalling Taliban’s defeat

• Buddha of Swat is restored recently

by Italian government nearly 12
years after the Afghan Talibans
damaged.
• Buddha of Swat is located in
Jahanabad, the epicentre of Swat‟s
Buddhist heritage, a beautiful
valley in the foothills of the
Himalayas.
• It belongs to 7th century depicted in
a lotus position at the base of a
granite cliff in northern Pakistan.
• It was damaged by Afghan Taliban
in 2007.
Buddha of Swat
 Archaeological Survey of India orders photography within
monument premises

 Context
• Archaeological Survey of India has recently
issued a notification regarding photography
within the premises of archaeological
monuments.
• ASI has decided to allow photography
within the premises of all centrally protected
monuments/sites except three sites.

• The 3 monuments/sites in which the

photography would not be permitted are
Ajanta Caves and Leh Palace having
paintings, and Mausoleum of Taj Mahal.
 ANTHROPOLOGICAL SUVEY OF INDIA (AnSI), 1945
1. Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) is the
apex Indian organisation involved in
anthropological studies and field data research
for human and cultural aspects, working
primarily in the fields of physical anthropology
and cultural anthropology.
2. While maintaining a strong focus on indigenous
populations, it also attempts to document the
cultures of other communities and religious
groups.
3. Anthropological Research in India was founded
1945 in Varanasi and shifted to the Indian
Museum at Calcutta in 1948.
4. Operating under the Ministry of Culture,
Government of India.
1. It is headquartered in Kolkata and has branches in Port Blair
(Andaman and Nicobar), Shillong, Dehra Dun, Udaipur, Nagpur (with
Central Library of AnSI), and Mysore (established in 1960),in addition
to two field stations at Jagdalpur in Bastar district, chhattisgarh and
at Ranchi, Jharkhand.
2. The Central Museum of AnSI is located at Kolkata, whereas Zonal
Anthropological Museums at six regional and one sub-regional centres.
 Govardhan Teerth

 Context
• Tourism Ministry recently sanctions Rs.50
crore for development of Govardhan
Parikrama in Mathura under PRASAD
scheme.
• The „National Mission on Pilgrimage
Rejuvenation and Spiritual,
Augmentation Drive‟ (PRASAD) has been
launched by the Ministry of Tourism in
the year 2014-15.
• Its objective is holistic development of
identified pilgrimage and heritage
destinations.
 PRASAD scheme.

• The scheme is a National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and

Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).

• Under the PRASAD scheme thirteen sites have been identified for
development, namely: Amritsar, Ajmer, Dwaraka, Mathura, Varanasi,
Gaya, Puri, Amaravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Kedarnath,
Kamakhya and Patna.

• Under the „PRASAD‟ scheme the focus is on development and

beautification of the identified pilgrimage destinations
PRASAD scheme.
 'Rani ki Vav' on new Rs 100 note: What's the legend?
 Context
• Rani ki Vav was added to UNESCO's
list of World Heritage Sites in 2014 after
it was nominated for the title by
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon

be releasing a new lavender Rs 100
currency note.
• The banknote highlights the rich and
diverse cultural heritage of India as it
prominently displays a photograph of
„Rani-ki-vav‟ (The Queen‟s Stepwell),
an 11th century architectural wonder.
 'Rani ki Vav' on new Rs 100 note: What's the legend?

• It is Located in Gujarat‟s Patan, the 900-year-old structure is a major

tourist attraction, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and was awarded
as the cleanest iconic place in India in 2016.
• It is located on the Banks of Saraswati River.
• It was built by the Solanki dynasty‟s queen Udayamati in the 11th
century as a memorial to her deceased husband Bhimdev I.
• Rani-ki-Vav was built in the complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style.
• It highlights the sanctity of water as it is designed as an inverted temple
under the earth‟s surface.
• The central theme is the Dasavataras, or ten incarnations of Vishnu,
including Buddha.
• The avatars are accompanied by Sadhus, Brahmins, and Apsaras
(celestial dancers).
 Ministry of Culture has proposed upgradation of 7
monuments in Tamil Nadu
 Context
• The Archaeological Survey of India will
upgrade the infrastructural and tourist-friendly
facilities at seven sites in Tamil Nadu and work
is already on at the Shore Temple in
Mamallapuram.

• The Adarsh Monuments proposed to be

upgraded by the Ministry of Culture include
the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram, Vellore
Fort, Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur,
Kailasanathar Temple in Kancheepuram,
Sittannavasal Caves, Gingee Fort and Moovar
Koil in Kodumbalur.
 Ministry of Culture has proposed upgradation of 7
monuments in Tamil Nadu

• Archaeological Survey of India will carry out the upgradation of

infrastructural and tourist-friendly facilities.
• Idea is to create good quality infrastructure.
• Monuments include :-
1. The Shore Temple in Mamallapuram,
2. Vellore Fort,
3. Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur,
4. Kailasanathar Temple in Kancheepuram,
5. Sittannavasal Caves in Pudukottai,
6. Gingee Fort in Villupuram and
7. Moovar Koil in Kodumbalur
 National Culture Fund (NCF)

 Context
• As per the latest data, about Rs.
904.80 Lakhs has been received as
part of the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) under NCF
for development Works at
Historic Monuments in last 3 yrs.
 National Culture Fund (NCF)

• National Culture Fund (NCF) was set up as a Trust under the Charitable
Endowment Act, 1890 in November 1996 by the Government, with a
view to mobilize extra resources through Public Private Partnerships.

• The National Culture Fund is managed and administered by a council

headed by Hon‟ble Culture Minister to decide the policies and an
Executive Committee headed by Secretary, Culture to actualize those
policies.

• The Fund aims at inviting the participation of the corporate sector, non-
government organizations, private/public sector as well as individuals in
the task of promoting, protecting and preserving India‟s cultural
heritage.
 National Culture Fund (NCF)

• All the projects undertaken by the NCF are completed within a specified
period, in accordance with an MoU signed by NCF with the concerned
donor organization.

• The donations/contributions to NCF are eligible for 100% tax deduction

under the Income Tax Act, 1961 subject to the limits and conditions
prescribed in the said Section and relevant Rules.
 Govt plans to promote Kumbh Mela as international event,
invite foreign dignitaries
 Context
• The government plans to promote
the Kumbh Mela as a destination
for tourists, and encourage visitors
and dignitaries from foreign
countries to attend the event.
• The Kumbh Mela will be held
between January 15 and March 4
next year in Allahabad.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi
wants to promote the religious
congregation as an international
event and a destination for tourists
as well as pilgrims.
 Kumbh Mela

• Kumbh Mela is the largest congregation of pilgrims in the planet, held

once in every 12 years in 4 places - Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and
Nashik.
• It represents a syncretic set of rituals related to worship and ritual
cleansing in holy rivers in India.
• The intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of the Intangible
Heritage under UNESCO has recognised Kumbh Mela as an intangible
heritage.

• The “49 day Kumbh Mela” is going to be held in January, 2019.

• The government is taking various measures to promote globally to attract
foreign tourists.
 Kumbh Mela

• Some of the measures are,

1. Launch of „Chalo Kumbh Chalo‟ campaign across the country
2. Development of a designated area for flag hoisting for 192 countries
visiting Kumbh Mela
3. Organising the „Pravasi Bharatiya Divas‟, 2019 in Varanasi to attract
„Pravasi Bharatiya Delegates‟ to visit Kumbh, 2019.
 Atal Innovation Mission and MyGov jointly launch
'Innovate India Platform'

 Context
• The NITI Aayog‟s Atal Innovation
Mission and MyGov platform on
July 26, 2018 jointly launched the
„#InnovateIndia Platform‟,
collaboration between both the
platforms.

• The #InnovateIndia was launched

by R Ramanan, Mission Director
of Atal Innovation Mission and
Arvind Gupta, CEO of MyGov
 Innovate India Platform

• The platform is a collaboration between the Atal Innovation Mission of

NITI Aayog and MyGov, a citizen centric platform of the Government
of India.
• It will serve as the common point for all the innovation happening
across the nation.

• Through the Innovate India portal, users can view, comment, share, and
rate the innovations crowd sourced on the Innovate India platform.

• It provides for registering both grassroots and deep-tech innovators at a

national level.
 Innovate India Platform

Features of this platform are:

1. The platform is open to all Indian citizens.
2. The users can View, comment, share, and rate the innovations crowd
sourced on the #InnovateIndia platform.
3. View the leaderboard which is calculated based on the votes on each
innovation.
4. Citizens can share their/organizations/someone else‟s innovation on
the platform by login to the MyGov website.
5. These innovations can also be shared on various social media
platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.
 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Union Government's flagship initiative

to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
• AIM is mandated to create an umbrella structure to oversee innovation
ecosystem of the country.
• AIM envisions the creation of a collaborative ecosystem, where students,
teachers, mentors and industry partners work to facilitate innovation,
foster scientific temper and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs), Atal Incubation Centre and
Established Incubation Centre will take the innovations to the market and
a network of incubators will help create enterprises around these
innovations.
• So far, AIM has already announced selection of 2441 schools across India
to establish ATLs covering 93 percent of the total districts in India and 98
percent of the upcoming smart cities.
 MyGov platform

• MyGov is a web platform that was created to facilitate citizen

engagement in good governance.
• MyGov enables the citizens especially the youth to volunteer for specific
tasks and projects at grassroots level.
• It will allow the common people to reach the government with ideas and
suggestions.
• The platform is managed by National Informatics Centre (NIC),
Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).
 Behdienkhlam Festival

Context
• Behdienkhlam, one of the most
colourful festivals of the
Meghalaya, was celebrated in the
Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya on 3rd
July, 2018.
 Behdienkhlam Festival

Facts:
• Celebrated by the Pnar (also known as Jaintia) tribe after the sowing is
over celebrated to invoke the gods for a bumper harvest and drive away
plague
• “Khlam” means plague or pestilence and “beh dien” means to drive
away with sticks.
 The Jaintia Tribe

Pnar (Jaintia) People:

• Tribal group in Meghalaya

• Original tribal religion of the Jaintias is
known as Niamtre.
• They are also known as Syntengs and Pnars.
• They are matrilocal and matrilineal people
but not matriarchal.
• They have a traditionally altogether different
system of marriage known as Night Visit
Marriage System.
 Thanjavur Paintings

Context
• Raman Spectroscopy been is now
being used to ascertain if gold or
gemstones on Thanjavur paintings
are fake or not.
 Thanjavur Paintings

• Thanjavur painting is a form of miniature painting that flourished

during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
• However, its origin can be traced back to early 9th century.
• It is characterised by bold drawing, techniques of shading and the use
of pure and brilliant coloursalong with semi-precious stones, pearls and
glass pieces.
• The conical crown appearing in the miniature is a typical feature of the
Tanjore painting.
• Gold is extensively used in Thanjavur paintings as the glitter makes it
more attractive as well as prolongs the life of the painting.
• It has also been granted Geographical identification tag.
 Thanjavur Paintings

 Raman Spectroscopy
• Raman spectroscopy is one of the vibrational spectroscopic techniques
used to provide information on molecular vibrations and crystal
structures.
• This technique uses a laser light source to irradiate a sample, and
generates an infinitesimal amount of Raman scattered light, which is
detected as a Raman spectrum.

 Raman scattering (Raman effect)

• When light is scattered by matter, almost all of the scattering is an elastic
process (Rayleigh scattering) due to which there is no change in energy.
• However, a very small percentage of scattering is an inelastic process
(Raman scattering), thus a scattered light has different energy from inc
ident light.