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  • 25 Aug 2021
  • 51 min read
Indian Economy

National Monetisation Pipeline

Why in News

Recently, the government of India has launched the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP). The NMP estimates aggregate monetisation potential of Rs 6 lakh crores through core assets of the Central Government, over a four-year period, from FY 2022 to FY 2025.

  • The plan is in line with Prime Minister's strategic divestment policy, under which the government will retain presence in only a few identified areas with the rest tapping the private sector.

Key Points

  • About the NMP:
    • It aims to unlock value in brownfield projects by engaging the private sector, transferring to them revenue rights and not ownership in the projects, and using the funds generated for infrastructure creation across the country.
    • The NMP has been announced to provide a clear framework for monetisation and give potential investors a ready list of assets to generate investment interest.
    • Union Budget 2021-22 has identified monetisation of operating public infrastructure assets as a key means for sustainable infrastructure financing.
    • Currently, only assets of central government line ministries and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in infrastructure sectors have been included.
    • The government has stressed that these are brownfield assets, which have been “de-risked” from execution risks, and therefore should encourage private investment.
    • Roads, railways and power sector assets will comprise over 66% of the total estimated value of the assets to be monetised, with the remaining upcoming sectors including telecom, mining, aviation, ports, natural gas and petroleum product pipelines, warehouses and stadiums.
      • In terms of annual phasing by value, 15% of assets with an indicative value of Rs 0.88 lakh crore are envisaged for rollout in the current financial year.
    • The NMP will run co-terminus with the Rs 100 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) announced in December 2019.
      • The estimated amount to be raised through monetisation is around 14% of the proposed outlay for the Centre of Rs 43 lakh crore under NIP.
      • NIP will enable a forward outlook on infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, thereby making growth more inclusive. NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.
      • Other Initiatives for Infrastructure Development include Scheme of Financial Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure, Industrial corridors, etc.

Monetisation

  • In a monetisation transaction, the government is basically transferring revenue rights to private parties for a specified transaction period in return for upfront money, a revenue share, and commitment of investments in the assets.
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (Invits), for instance, are the key structures used to monetise assets in the roads and power sectors.
    • These are also listed on stock exchanges, providing investors liquidity through secondary markets as well.
  • While these are a structured financing vehicle, other monetisation models on PPP (Public Private Partnership) basis include:
    • Operate Maintain Transfer (OMT),
    • Toll Operate Transfer (TOT), and
    • Operations, Maintenance & Development (OMD).
  • Greenfield vs Brownfield Investment
    • Greenfield Project:
      • It refers to investment in a manufacturing, office, or other physical company-related structure or group of structures in an area where no previous facilities exist.
    • Brownfield investment:
      • The projects which are modified or upgraded are called brownfield projects.
      • The term is used for purchasing or leasing existing production facilities to launch a new production activity.
  • Associated Challenges:
    • Lack of identifiable revenue streams in various assets.
    • The slow pace of privatisation in government companies including Air India and BPCL.
      • Further, less-than-encouraging bids in the recently launched PPP initiative in trains indicate that attracting private investors' interest is not that easy.
    • Asset-specific Challenges:
      • Low Level of capacity utilisation in gas and petroleum pipeline networks.
      • Regulated tariffs in power sector assets.
      • Low interest among investors in national highways below four lanes.
      • Konkan Railway, for instance, has multiple stakeholders, including state governments, which own stake in the entity.

Way Forward

  • Execution is the Key: While the government has tried to address many challenges, owing to infrastructure development in the NMP framework, execution of the plan remains key to its success.
  • Dispute Redressal Mechanism: Further, there is a need for an efficient dispute resolution mechanism.
  • Multi-Stakeholder Approach: The success of the infrastructure expansion plan would depend on other stakeholders playing their due role.
    • These include State governments and their public sector enterprises and the private sector.
    • In this context, the Fifteenth Finance Commission has recommended the setting up of a High-Powered Intergovernmental Group to re-examine the fiscal responsibility legislation of the Centre and States.

Source: PIB

Indian Economy

Samarth Udyog Bharat 4.0 Platform

Why in News

Recently, Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) Bangalore, under the SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 Platform organized a webinar on “Expert Talks from Samarth Udyog Centres” to celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

  • The objective was to listen to the experts of the Samarth Udyog Centres on the indigenous technology developments & the ways for collaborations in the domain of Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0.
  • CMTI is a Research & Development organisation under the aegis of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, focusing on providing ‘Technology Solutions’ to the manufacturing sector and assisting technological growth in the country.

Key Points

  • About:
    • Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub (SAMARTH) -Udyog Bharat 4.0 is an Industry 4.0 initiative of the Department of Heavy Industry, under its scheme on Enhancement of Competitiveness in Indian Capital Goods Sector.
      • The scheme on ‘Enhancement of competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector’ was notified in 2014 to encourage technology development and infrastructure creation.
    • CMTI has established Smart Manufacturing Demo & Development Cell (SMDDC) as a Common Engineering Facility Centre (CEFC) to propagate and support the process of adoption of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing practices by the rapidly growing Indian manufacturing industry.
  • Industry 4.0:
    • It refers to the fourth industrial revolution, which is the cyber-physical transformation of manufacturing.
    • It has been defined as “a name for the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, including cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing and creating the smart factory.

  • Benefits of Industrial Revolution 4.0:
    • It will increase productivity, efficiency and quality in processes, greater safety for workers by reducing jobs in dangerous environments, enhance decision making with data-based tools, and improve competitiveness by developing customised products.
  • Challenges:
    • A Gap in Technical Skills:
      • Since, the needs required of the workforce are all evolving so, only with the right workforce will business models be able to successfully implement new technology and maintain operations.
    • Data Sensitivity:
      • The rise in technology has also led to increasing concerns over data and IP privacy, ownership, and management.
    • Innovation:
      • The lack of separation between protocols, components, products, and systems is also a challenge as interoperability impedes companies’ ability to innovate.
    • Security:
      • Threats in terms of current and emerging vulnerabilities in the factory are another significant concern.
      • The physical and digital systems that make up smart factories make real-time interoperability possible—however, it comes with the risk of an expanded attack surface.
    • Handling Data Growth:
      • As more companies become dependent on AI usage, companies will be faced with more data that is being generated at a faster pace and presented in multiple formats. To wade through these vast amounts of data, AI algorithms need to be easier to comprehend.

India’s Scenario

  • Overview of India’s Current Potential:
    • India has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world.
    • It is the largest exporter of generic pharmaceuticals.
    • When it comes to exports of cars, it does not even rank in the top 15.
    • Overall, India's manufacturing sector makes up around 17% of the GDP.
      • The services sector makes up over 65%.
  • Related Initiatives:

Way Forward

  • In terms of Industrial Revolution 4.0, adopting Smart manufacturing, analytics and IoT will give a new lease of life to industrialisation in India.
  • Apart from policy implementation hurdles, one major bottleneck is lack of skilled labour or fear of job losses owing to Robotics & Automation. A smart strategy to counter this is to upskill workers and millennials in these fields and create more jobs.

Source: PIB

International Relations

Delisting Taliban from Sanctions: UN

Why in News

Recently, The United Nations (UN) officials claimed that there are no requests from the UN Security Council Permanent members for the delisting of the Taliban’s top leadership from sanctions thus far.

Key Points

  • Resolution 1988 Committee Meeting:
    • India’s Permanent Representative to the UN (UNPR) is the Chairman of the committee until December 2021, and is key to deciding the date of the meetings, and scrutinising requests to delist the Taliban leaders.
    • The meeting is expected to happen ahead of an important meeting to discuss the renewal of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which expires in September 2021.
    • A decision is likely to be taken on whether to extend the special travel exemptions given to 14 Taliban members to participate in the “peace and reconciliation efforts”.
    • The meeting could also discuss whether to include other Taliban leaders in the exemptions, giving them permission to travel and access some funds, which are frozen at the moment.
  • Significance of the Meeting:
    • This is the first time the Committees would meet after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, and after the deadline for the US troops to pull-out.
    • The stand taken by the UNSC members, particularly the P-5 — US, Russia, China, France and UK — would indicate how they intend to approach a future Taliban-led regime in Afghanistan.
    • This time around, the UN would have to decide on continuing the accreditation with Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai who was appointed by the ‘Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’, given the Taliban control of Kabul, and its insistence on changing the country’s flag, and name to the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’.
      • In 1996, the last time the Taliban took power in Kabul, the UN had refused to recognise the regime, and had continued the Ambassador nominated by the previous Rabbani government.
  • Challenges:
    • The challenge will be to reconcile the ground reality of a Taliban dominated regime with a new mandate for UNAMA.
    • If the UN were to accept the new regime, which seems unlikely at present, it would give the Taliban the mandate to propose the delisting of its own members, as the Afghanistan UNPR is the “focal point” for the Sanctions list.
      • Such a proposal would also run counter to the UN Security Council’s own statement in August 2021 that firmly said that members “do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate”.
  • Importance of Sanctions for India:
    • The reports concerning Sirajuddin Haqqani are significant for India as he and the Haqqani group, founded by his father Jalaluddin Haqqani, are wanted for the Indian Embassy bombings in Kabul in 2008 and 2009.
    • In November 2012, India was instrumental, as the then-President of the UN Security Council, in ensuring that the Haqqani group was designated as a terror entity.
    • India had worked with several countries to ensure the group was banned, both in the UN’s 1988 sanctions committee list as well as the US, which designated it a Foreign Terrorist Organisation at the same time.
      • Sirajuddin Haqqani, deputy to Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada, is now likely to have considerable influence in the next government in Afghanistan.
      • His brother Anas Haqqani, who was arrested in 2014 for financing the group’s terror attacks, and was released as part of a hostage swap in 2019 from Bagram prison, is now one of the chief negotiators in government formation talks in Kabul.

Resolution 1988 Committee/Taliban Sanctions Committee

  • Background:
    • In 1999, the UNSC Committee was established pursuant to Resolution 1267 (1999), which imposed a limited air embargo and asset freeze on the Taliban. Over time, measures became a targeted asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo against designated individuals and entities.
    • In June 2011, after the adoption of resolution 1988 (2011), the Committee split into two.
      • The 1267 Committee was henceforth known as the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, mandated to oversee implementation of the measures against individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida.
      • A separate Committee was established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) to oversee implementation of the measures against individuals and entities associated with the Taliban.
  • About:
    • The Committee comprises all 15 members of the Security Council and makes its decision by consensus. The current Chair of the Committee, for the period ending 31st December 2021, is India.
    • The work of the Committee is supported by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities.
  • Mandate:
    • Oversee the implementation of the sanctions measures.
    • Designate individuals and entities who meet the listing criteria as contained in the relevant resolutions.
    • Consider and decide upon notifications and requests for exemptions from the sanctions measures.
    • Consider and decide upon requests to remove a name from the 1988 Sanctions List.
    • Conduct periodic and specialised reviews of the entries on the 1988 Sanctions List.
    • Examine the reports presented by the Monitoring Team.
    • Report periodically to the Security Council on the implementation of the sanctions measures.

Source: TH

Social Justice

Rapid Urbanisation and Plight of Slums

Why in News

Urbanisation in India has become an inescapable ordeal. With development of the services sector, the population pressure on cities has escalated.

  • Delhi is the sixth-largest metropolis in the world. And yet, a third of its residences are part of slums with no basic resources.

Slums

  • Slums are illegal urban settlements on public land and usually grow over a period of time in a constant and irregular manner. Despite this fact, slums are considered as an integral part of urbanization and as a manifestation of the overall socioeconomic policies and planning in the urban sector.
  • Slums may also be described as “a chaotically occupied, unsystematically developed and generally neglected area, which is overpopulated by persons and overcrowded with ill-repaired and neglected structures" (Indian Conference, 1957).
  • The existence and rapid growth of slums have been noted as a general urban phenomena common prevalent throughout the globe.

Key Points

  • About:
    • Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change.
    • Cities face the adverse outcomes of rapid urbanisation such as overpopulation, acute shortage of housing and basic amenities, environment pollution, unemployment and social unrest.
    • The model of building a developed city comprises unplanned development, which only bolsters the dichotomy prevailing in urban cities between the rich and the poor.
    • Also the Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the misery of urban poor or Slum dwellers dependent on the people working in various sectors in cities.
  • Status of Slum:
    • India has a population of 65.49 million people living in 13.7 million slum households across the country. As much as 65% of Indian cities have adjoining slums where people live in small houses adjacent to each other.
      • Delhi slums are known to be the filthiest among all metropolitan cities in the country.
      • Delhi had approximately 6,343 slums with more than a million households where 52% of its total population resided, according to a survey by National Service Scheme round (July 2012-December 2012).
  • Impact of Covid on Slum Dwellers:
    • Financial insecurity:
      • Nearly 81% of India’s population works in the informal sector. The sudden implementation of complete Covid lockdown has severely affected the ability of slum dwellers to earn their living.
      • After the shutdown, Delhi witnessed a wave of Reverse Migration, when thousands of migrant workers headed back to their hometowns. Nearly 70% slum dwellers reported loss of employment; 1% pending dues from previous months; 10% reduction of wages and 8% other effects.
    • Public Distribution System & Social Sector Scheme Coverage:
      • A large section of rural residents could cushion the blow of pandemic-driven economic disruption due to foodgrain via the Public Distribution System (PDS). The urban poor’s access to such ration, however, was minimal.
      • The social security schemes also had relatively better coverage among the rural poor as rural areas had better access to PDS rations.
      • A larger proportion of households in urban areas did not have access to ration cards.
    • Unveiling Existing Inequalities:
      • The Covid-19 pandemic has now torn open the tapestry to reveal the ugly mess inside the slums. Washing hands and observing physical distancing was impossible to follow in slums.
      • Nearly 21.8% of slum households in Delhi depend on shared water sources such as public taps.
    • Nutrition and Hunger:
      • A decline in nutritional quality and quantity was more among the urban respondents as was the need to borrow money for buying food.
      • Overall, levels of hunger and food insecurity remained high, with little hope of the situation improving without measures specifically aimed at providing employment opportunities as well as food support.
  • Issues Arising from Neglecting Slum Development:
    • Vulnerable to Diseases:
      • People living in slum areas are also prone to suffer from waterborne diseases such as Typhoid and cholera, as well as from more fatal ones like Cancer and HIV/AIDS.
    • Victims of Social Evils:
      • Also, women and children living in slums are prone to become victims of social evils like prostitution, beggary and Child trafficking.
      • Slum dwellers in general and regardless of gender, often become victims of such social evils.
    • Incidence of Crime:
      • Slum areas are also commonly believed to be places that generate a high incidence of crime. This is due to official neglect towards education, law and order, and government services in slum areas.
    • Poverty:
      • Then, the majority of slum dwellers in a developing country earn their living from the informal sector which neither provides them with financial security nor with enough earnings for a decent living, keeping them firmly within the vicious cycle of poverty.
  • Government Initiatives for Slum Dwellers/Urban Poor:
  • Recommendations:
    • Accelerating efficiency of welfare and relief schemes.
    • Ensuring access to free vaccines, food security and adequate shelter in the slums.
    • Improving sanitation and transportation facilities in slums.
    • Establishing clinics and healthcare facilities.
    • Aiding nonprofits and local support bodies who have better reach to these marginalised communities.

Way Forward

  • The benefits reached only a small part of the intended beneficiaries. Most relief funds and benefits do not reach slum dwellers, mainly because these settlements are not officially recognised by the government.
  • An absence of proper social security measures in India has come to the fore and has a huge impact on our ability to fight against the virus. Thus, new approaches to urban planning and effective governance are the need of the hour.
  • Necessary actions should be taken to build sustainable, robust and inclusive infrastructure. Instead of a top-down approach, we need to adopt a bottom-up approach to better understand unique challenges faced by the urban poor.

Source: DTE

Indian Heritage & Culture

Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib

Why in News

Recently, India has brought three saroops of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Book) from Afghanistan, now just three more remain in Afghanistan.

  • There were 13 saroops in Afghanistan, of which seven were already shifted to India earlier.

Key Points

  • About:
    • Saroop is a physical copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, also called Bir in Punjabi. Every Bir has 1,430 pages, which are referred to as Ang. The verses on every page remain the same.
    • The Sikhs consider the saroop of Guru Granth Sahib a living guru and treat it with utmost respect.
      • They believe that all the 10 Gurus were the same spirit in different bodies, and the Guru Granth Sahib is their eternal physical and spiritual form.
    • Guru Arjan Dev (fifth Sikh master) compiled the first Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604, and installed it at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
    • Later, Guru Gobind Singh (tenth Sikh master), added verses penned by his father Guru Tegh Bahadur (ninth master), and compiled the Bir for the second and last time.
    • It was in 1708 that Guru Gobind Singh declared Guru Granth Sahib the living Guru of the Sikhs.
    • Guru Granth Sahib is a compendium of hymns written by six Sikh gurus, 15 saints, including Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Ravidas, Sheikh Farid and Bhagat Namdev, 11 Bhatts (balladeers) and four Sikhs.
      • The verses are composed in 31 ragas.
    • The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has the sole rights to publish the Birs of the Guru Granth Sahib, and this is done at Amritsar.
    • The installation and transportation of Guru Granth Sahib is governed by a strict code of conduct called Sikh Rahit Maryada.
      • Under ideal circumstances, five baptised Sikhs are required to transfer the Guru Granth Sahib from one place to another. As a mark of respect, the Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib is carried on the head, and the person walks barefoot.
    • Gurdwaras have a separate resting place for the Saroop, called ‘Sukh Asan Sthan’ or ‘Sachkhand’ where the Guru rests at night.
    • In the morning, the saroop is again installed in a ceremony called ‘Prakash’.
  • Sikh Rahit Maryada: It is the manual that specifies the duties of Sikhs, names four rituals that qualify as rites of passage.
    • The first is a birth and naming ceremony, held in a gurdwara.
    • A second rite is the anand karaj (blissful union), or marriage ceremony.
    • The third rite—regarded as the most important—is the amrit sanskar, the ceremony for initiation into the Khalsa.
    • The fourth rite is the funeral ceremony.

Sikhism

  • The word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple'. Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus.
  • Sikhs believe in one God (Monotheism). The Sikhs call their faith Gurmat (Punjabi: “the Way of the Guru”).
  • Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (1469–1539) and subsequently led by a succession of nine other Gurus.
    • The development of Sikhism was influenced by the Bhakti movement and Vaishnava Hinduism.
  • The Islamic era persecution of Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa, as an order for freedom of conscience and religion.
  • Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa order (meaning 'The Pure'), soldier-saints.
    • The Khalsa upholds the highest Sikh virtues of commitment, dedication and a social conscience and practice the faith of 5 Ks, which are,
      • Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a wooden comb), Kara (a iron bracelet), Kachera (cotton underpants) and Kirpan (an iron dagger).
  • It preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God.
  • The Sikh Literature:
    • The Adi Granth is believed by Sikhs to be the abode of the eternal Guru, and for that reason it is known to all Sikhs as the Guru Granth Sahib.
    • The Dasam Granth is controversial in the Panth because of questions concerning its authorship and composition.
Ten Gurus of Sikh Religion
Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539)
  • He was the first guru of Sikh and the founder of Sikh religion.
  • He started the GURU KA LANGAR.
  • He was contemporary of Babur.
  • Kartarpur corridor was commemorated on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Guru Angad (1504-1552)
  • He invented the new script called Guru-Mukhi and popularized and expanded the system of Guru ka Langar.

Guru Amar Das (1479-1574)
  • He introduced the ceremony of the Anand Karaj Marriage.
  • He abolished the custom of Sati and Purdah system among the Sikhs.
  • He was contemporary of Akbar.

Guru Ram Das (1534-1581)
  • He founded Amritsar in 1577 on the land granted by Akbar.
  • He started the construction of Golden Temple/Swarna mandir at Amritsar.

Guru Arjun Dev (1563-1606)
  • He composed the Adi Granth in 1604.
  • He led to the completion of construction of Golden temple.
  • He was acclaimed as Shaheeden-de-Sartaj.
  • He was executed by Jahangir on charges of helping prince Khusrau.

Guru Hargobind (1594-1644)
  • He led to the transformation of the Sikh Community into a Military community. He is known as “Soldier Saint”.
  • He led to the establishment of Akal Takht and fortified the Amritsar City.
  • He waged wars against Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

Guru HarRai (1630-1661)
  • He was a man of peace thus devoted most of his life in maintaining peace with Aurangzeb and doing missionary work.

Guru Har Krishan 1656-1664)
  • He was the youngest guru of all and was given the title of Guru at a very early age of 5.
  • He was summoned by Aurangzeb against anti-islamic blasphemy.

Guru Teg Bahadur (1621-1675)
  • He founded Anandpur Sahib.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)
  • He founded a warrior community known as Khalsa in 1699.
  • He introduced a new rite ”Pahul”.
  • He joined Bahadur Shah’s as a noble.
  • He was the last Sikh Guru in human form and he passed the Guruship of Sikhs to the Guru Granth Sahib.

Source: IE

Indian History

Sree Narayana Guru

Why in News

Recently, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Sree Narayana Guru on his birth anniversary.

  • Earlier, the Vice President of India launched “Not Many, But One”, an English translation of poems of Sree Narayana Gurudev.

Key Points

  • Birth:
    • Sree Narayana Guru was born on 22nd August, 1856 to Madan Asan and his wife Kuttiyamma in Chempazhanthy, a village near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
  • Early Days and Education:
    • His family belonged to the Ezhava caste and was considered ‘avarna’ according to the social mores of the time.
    • Right from his childhood he loved solitude and always indulged himself in deep contemplation. He was intensely drawn to worship at the local temples and composed hymns and several devotional songs.
    • From an early age, he was drawn towards asceticism. He lived as a hermit in a forest for eight years.
    • He learned Vedas, Upanishads, literature, logical rhetoric of Sanskrit, Hatha Yoga and other philosophies.
  • Important Works:
    • Against Caste Injustice:
      • He gave the famous slogan “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All” (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu).
      • In 1888, he built a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Aruvippuram which was against the caste-based restrictions of the time.
      • In one temple he consecrated at Kalavancode, he kept mirrors instead of idols. This symbolised his message that the divine was within each individual.
    • Against Conversions:
      • He taught equality but felt the inequalities should not be exploited to carry out conversions and therefore generate strife in society.
      • He organized an All-Region Conference in 1923 at Alwaye Advaita Ashram, which was reported to be the first such event in India. This was an effort to counter the religious conversions Ezhava community was susceptible to.
    • Others:
      • Later, in 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), a charitable society as the founder and president. The organisation continues to mark its strong presence to this day.
      • In 1924, the Sivagiri pilgrimage was established to promote the virtues of cleanliness, education, devotion, agriculture, handicrafts, and trade.
  • Philosophy of Sree Narayana Guru:
    • He became one of the greatest proponents and re-evaluators of Advaita Vedanta, the principle of non-duality put forward by Adi Shankara.
  • Literary Works:
    • He wrote various books in different languages. Few of them are: Advaitha Deepika, Asrama, Thevarappathinkangal, etc.
  • Contribution to National Movement:
    • Against the Societal ills:
      • A remarkable social reformer, he was in the forefront of the movement for universal temple entry and against the societal ills like the social discrimination of untouchables.
    • Impetus for Vaikom Agitation:
      • He provided the impetus for Vaikom agitation which was aimed at temple entry in Travancore for the lower castes. It drew nationwide attention and appreciation from Mahatma Gandhi.
    • Unity through his Poems:
      • He captured the essence of Indianness in his poems which highlighted the unity that lies beneath the world’s apparent diversity.
  • Contribution to Science:
    • Emphasized the practice of ideals of cleanliness, promotion of education, agriculture, trade, handicrafts and technical training.
    • His Adyaropa darsanam (Darsanamala) explains the creation of the universe.
    • Daivadasakam and Atmopadesa satakam are a few examples of how the mystic reflections and insights closely resemble recent advances in physics.
  • Current Relevance of Philosophy:
    • Gurudev’s philosophy of Universal Oneness has special relevance in the contemporary global context where the social fabric of many countries and communities are being eroded by hatred, violence, bigotry, sectarianism and other divisive tendencies.
  • Death:
    • He died on 20th September, 1928 and the day is observed as Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi in Kerala.

Source: PIB

Indian Economy

Global Manufacturing Risk Index

Why in News

Recently, India has overtaken the United States (US) to become the second-most sought-after manufacturing destination globally, driven mainly by cost competitiveness in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2021.

  • In last year’s report, the US was at second position while India ranked third.

Key Points

  • About the Global Manufacturing Risk Index:
    • It assesses the most advantageous locations for global manufacturing among 47 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific (APAC).
    • The rankings in the report are determined based on four key parameters:
      • Country’s capability to restart manufacturing,
      • Business environment (availability of talent/labour, access to markets),
      • Operating costs,
      • Risks (political, economic and environmental).
    • The index is released by the US-based property consultant Cushman & Wakefield.
    • China remains at number one position and the US is at third position, in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index, 2021.
    • The improvement in ranking indicates the growing interest shown by manufacturers in India as a preferred manufacturing hub over other countries, including the US and those in the APAC region.
  • Factors Responsible for Improvement in India’s Ranking:
    • The growing focus on India can be attributed to India’s operating conditions and cost competitiveness.
    • India has a huge population, which means a younger workforce with innovative capabilities that has the potential to fuel the country’s manufacturing sector.
    • The improvement in ranking can be also attributed to plant relocations from China to other parts of Asia due to an already established base in pharma, chemicals and engineering sectors.
  • Recent Initiatives to Improve Manufacturing Sector in India:

Source: IE

Important Facts For Prelims

Hampi

Why in News

Recently, the Vice-president of India visited monuments at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka.

Key Points

  • About:
    • The site of Hampi comprises mainly the remnants of the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th century CE), the last great Hindu Kingdom.
    • It encompasses an area of 4187, 24 hectares, located in the Tungabhadra basin in Bellary District, Central Karnataka.
    • Hampi’s spectacular setting is dominated by river Tungabhadra, craggy hill ranges and open plains with widespread physical remains.
    • One of the unique features of temples at Hampi is the wide chariot streets flanked by the row of pillared mandapas.
    • Its Famous places include Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex, Lotus Mahal complex, etc.
  • Background:
    • Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. The old city of Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets.
    • By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world’s second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India’s richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal.
    • The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565 (Battle of Talikota), after which Hampi remained in ruins.
Vijaynagar Empire
  • Vijayanagara or “city of victory” was the name of both a city and an empire.
  • The empire was founded in the fourteenth century (1336 AD) by Harihara and Bukka of Sangama dynasty.
    • They made Hampi as the capital city.
  • It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.
  • Vijayanagar Empire was ruled by four important dynasties and they are:
    • Sangama
    • Saluva
    • Tuluva
    • Aravidu
  • Krishnadevaraya (ruled 1509-29) of the Tuluva dynasty was the most famous ruler of Vijayanagar.
  • He is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive gopurams to many important south Indian temples.
  • He composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada.

Source: TH

Important Facts For Prelims

Chakma and Hajong Communities

Why in News

The Chakma organisations have opposed the proposed deportation of 60,000 people belonging to the Chakma and Hajong communities from Arunachal Pradesh.

Key Points

  • They are ethnic people who lived in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, most of which are located in Bangladesh.
    • Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists, while Hajongs are Hindus.
    • They are found in northeast India, West Bengal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
  • They fled erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1964-65 and came to India and settled in Arunachal Pradesh. Reasons:
    • Chakmas lost their land to the development of the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River, Bangladesh.
    • Hajongs faced religious persecution as they were non-Muslims and did not speak Bengali.
  • In 2015, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajongs who had migrated from Bangladesh in 1964-69.
  • They did not directly come into the ambit of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) because Arunachal Pradesh is among the states exempted from the CAA since it has an Inner Line Permit to regulate entry of outsiders.
    • The 2019 CAA amended the Citizenship Act of 1955 allowing Indian citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian religious minorities who fled from the neighboring Muslim majority countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 2014 due to "religious persecution or fear of religious persecution". However, the Act excludes Muslims.
  • Even as the original immigrants await citizenship, many of their descendants born in India who are eligible for citizenship by birth are struggling to enroll as voters. The refugees were given voting rights in 2004.
  • For a very long time local people have been protesting against Chakmas and Hajongs because of their differing ethnicity.
    • If the Chakmas and Hajongs are ejected from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam shall be the dumping ground for all the unwanted communities in the States covered by the Inner-Line Permit (Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland besides Arunachal Pradesh) and the Sixth Schedule areas (Meghalaya).

Source: TH

Important Facts For Prelims

National Handicraft Award to Madur Mats

Why in News

Recently, the National Handicraft Award was given to two women from West Bengal in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the development of crafts, ‘Madur floor mats’.

Key Points

  • About:
    • Shilp Guru Award, National Award and National Certificate of Excellence are one of the highest awards for handicraft artisans in the country.
      • They are presented by the President of India.
    • Shilp Guru Award was instituted in the year 2002 on the occasion of Golden Jubilee year of handicrafts resurgence in India.
    • While the National Award was instituted in the year 1965 and the National Certificate of Excellence was instituted in the year 1967.
    • Shilp Guru is the country’s highest award in the field of handicrafts given to artisans aged above 50 with 20 years of experience.
    • Similarly, National Award is conferred on a craftsperson in recognition of his/her outstanding contribution towards the development of crafts and who is above the age of 30 years and is having 10 years of experience in the field of handicrafts.
    • And the National Certificate of Excellence is conferred on Master craftspersons in recognition of their body of work, work undertaken to promote the crafts, dissemination of the same and his/her skill level and who is above the age of 30 years and is having 10 years experience in the field of handicrafts.
  • Madur Floor Mats:
    • An intrinsic part of the Bengali lifestyle, Madur mats or Madhurkathi are made of natural fibres.
    • It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the GI Registry in April 2018.
    • It is a rhizome-based plant (Cyperus tegetum or Cyperus pangorei) found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur of West Bengal.
  • Other Items with GI Tags From Bengal:
    • Wooden Mask of Kushmandi, Purulia Chau Mask, Gobindobhog Rice, Tulapanji Rice, Bengal Patachitra, Darjeeling Tea, etc.

Source: TH

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