Bhimbetka

• 10 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, along with his members, visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bhimbetka. During the visit, he closely examined the state's historical heritage and India's rich cultural legacy, appreciating its grandeur. 

 Key Points 

• About the Visit: 
  • He observed the artistic and historical significance of the themes of the Bhimbetka rock paintings (mass dance, hunting, war, etc.) and the mineral colours used in them (ochre, red, white). 
  • The Commission was also informed about the proposed 'Rock Art Eco Park Museum’. 
• Bhimbetka: 
  • Location:  
    • It is situated south of Bhopal in the Vindhya mountain range of Madhya Pradesh , where there are rock shelters with more than 500 rock paintings. 
    • Bhimbetka caves were discovered by V.S. Wakankar in the year 1957-58. 
    • It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2003 . 
  • Time period:  
    • The oldest paintings are estimated to be 30,000 years old and are still preserved due to their location inside caves. 
    • The paintings of Bhimbetka date back to the Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic, Early Historic and Medieval periods . 
    • However most of the paintings are from the Mesolithic era. 
  • Painting Technique:  
    • It uses various colours obtained from natural resources like red ochre, purple, brown, white, yellow and green etc. 
  • Themes of the paintings:  
    • Everyday life of prehistoric men is often depicted in stick-like human figures. 
    • Various animals such as elephants, bison, deer, peacocks and snakes are depicted. 
    • Hunting scenes and battle scenes with men at arms. 
    • Simple geometric designs and symbols. 

 Finance Commission  

• Introduction 
• About: 
  • The Finance Commission is a constitutional body , constituted under Article 280 of the Constitution. 
  • Its main objective is to ensure equitable allocation of revenue resources between the Union and the States . 
  • It is a quasi-judicial body , which provides fair and balanced recommendations in financial matters. 
• Constitution and tenure: 
  • The Finance Commission is constituted by the President every five years or mid-term as required . 
  • The Commission works to maintain fiscal balance and strengthen cooperative federalism. 
  • Its recommendations are helpful in establishing financial coordination at all levels of government . 
• Historical perspective: 
  • The first Finance Commission was constituted in 1951 . 
  • Till now 15 Finance Commissions have been constituted and currently the 16th Finance Commission is functioning.