State PCS

• 20 Jan 2024

Heavy Snowfall in Kedarnath Dham

Why in News?

After a sudden shift in the weather pattern in the high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Dham has been experiencing continuous and heavy snowfall.

Key Points

• According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in Kedarnath is expected to hover in the range of -16 to -18 until January 23.
• Significant snowfall was reported at key locations such as Badrinath Dham, Hemkund Sahib, Valley of Flowers, Rudranath, Niti Valley, and Mana Valley.
• Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has invited seers at the Badrinath Dham to the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22.
  • The seven-day Vedic rituals for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya began on January 16.
• Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special 11-day 'anushthan' (ritual) ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple.
  • PM Modi will preside over the ceremonial installation of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
• Ram temple will be open for 'darshan' for the general public from January 23, 2024.

Bharatmala Project

Why in News?

In a meeting Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari discussed various issues related to the National Highways, including the Bharatmala project.

Key Points

• The discussion included the demand to open entry and exit points near Baghot in Mahendragarh district on NH-152 D.
• The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised on:
  • The construction of bypass roads under the Bharatmala project in Uchana, Hisar, and Jind.
  • The construction of underpasses on dividing roads in sectors 26 and 27 on the Panchkula-Yamunanagar highway.
  • A survey to upgrade the Gurugram-Farukh Nagar-Jhajjar-Charkhi Dadri-Loharu road.
  • To connect Nelson Mandela Marg Delhi MG Road Gurugram to Faridabad Road.

National Highways

• National Highways (NH) are the arterial roads of the country for inter-state movement of passengers and goods.
• They traverse the length and width of the country connecting the National and State capitals, major ports and rail junctions and link up with border roads and foreign highways.
• The NHs including Expressways constitute only about 1.7% of the length of all roads, they carry about 40% of the road traffic.

Bharatmala Project

• It was started in 2015 by the Union government. It is an umbrella project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• Under the plan the government intends to develop 83,677 km of highways and roads at an investment of around Rs 7 lakh crore.
• In the first phase, the plan is to construct 34,800 km of highways at a cost of Rs 5.35 lakh crore.
• It focuses on the new initiatives like development of Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal & port connectivity roads, improving efficiency of National Corridors, Economic corridors and others.

Mukhymantri Shehri Nikay Swamitva Yojana

Why in News?

Recently, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal directed the officials to swiftly process applications under the Mukhymantri Shehri Nikay Swamitva Yojana and grant ownership rights to occupants of shops and houses built on government land for 20 years.

• This applies to land owned by departments, boards, municipal corporations, nagar parishads and municipalities.

Key Points

• The State Nodal Officers (SNO) have been designated by Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Printing and Stationery Department, Public Health Engineering, Haryana Shari Vikas Pradhikarn and Revenue and Disaster Department.
• It was informed that as of now, 99 applications have been approved for ownership rights, while 901 remain pending. Each department must decide on pending applications within 15 days.
  • If the decision is not taken within this period, then the decision of the district level officer of the department to which the land belongs will be valid.
  • The Urban Local Bodies Department will hold regular meetings with all the concerned departments in this regard and will send their report to the Chief Secretary office.

Mukhymantri Shehri Nikay Swamitva Yojana

• It is designed to give ownership of Commercial Land of Municipalities running on rent or lease for more than 20 years in the State.
• Under this Scheme, individuals who have been occupying the land for 20 years through rent or lease are being given Ownership Rights on payment of up to 80% of the Collector Rate.
• Similarly, according to the limit of years occupied by the land, the Collector Rate will have to be paid at different rates, such as 75% of the Collector Rate for 25 years, 70% for 30 years, 65% for 35 years, 60% for 40 years, 55% for 45 years. There is a provision to give Ownership Rights on payment of 50% for 50 years.

Harvest Festivals

Why in News?

On the occasion of Harvest Festivals Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Bhogi, Magh Bihu and Pongal, the Prime Minister of India has greeted people across the nation.

Key Points

• Makar Sankranti denotes the entry of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn) as it travels on its celestial path.
• The day marks the onset of summer and the six months auspicious period for Hindus known as Uttarayan – the northward movement of the sun.
  • As a part of the official celebration of 'Uttarayan', the Gujarat government has been hosting the International Kite Festival since 1989.
• The festivities associated with the day is known by different names in different parts of the country:
  • Lohri by north Indian Hindus and Sikhs,
  • Sukarat in central India,
  • Bhogali Bihu by Assamese Hindus, and
  • Pongal by Tamil and other South Indian Hindus.

Ex-Ayutthaya and Indo-Thai CORPAT

Why in News?

The Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) conducted a maiden bilateral exercise, named 'Ex-Ayutthaya' and the 36th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was also conducted along with the maiden bilateral exercise.

Key Points

• The 'Ex-Ayutthaya' translates to 'The Invincible One' or 'Undefeatable'.
• It symbolizes the significance of two of the oldest cities, Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
• The historic legacies, rich cultural ties and shared historical narratives dating back to several centuries.
• It is an ancient city of India and the birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Ram.
• It is the setting of the great epic Ramayana. It is also used to be the capital of the ancient Kosala Kingdom.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Why in News?

The Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol will begin with Vishnu Puja and gau daan at the Saryu embankment.

Key Points

• Layout of Ayodhya Ram Mandir:
  • The Temple is built over three 20-foot high floors each with a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors.
  • Makrana Marble and Pink sandstone,granite stone,and colored Marble are used in the construction.
  • Foundation of the temple is built of a 14-metre-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete. And a 21-foot-high granite plinth has been placed to protect against ground moisture.
  • Iron has not been used anywhere in the construction.
• The Architectural style of the temple is Nagara style with Sanctum Sanctorum (garbhagriha), Mandaps (halls), and Mandirs.
• At each corner of the compound will be dedicated to Surya, Bhagwati, Ganesh, Shiv. On the northern and southern arms, temples to Annapurna and Hanuman will be built respectively.
• Temples of Maharshi Valmiki, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Nishad Raj, Shabri etc have also been proposed.

Nagara Style of Temple Architecture

• It was first developed in North India during the Gupta period in the 5^th century AD, this style is popular in Northern, Western and Eastern India (except the Bengal region), especially in the regions around Malwa, Rajputana and Kalinga.
• It is built on a simple stone platform with steps leading up to the temple.
• Its features include:
  • Sikharas: The garbhagriha is always located directly below the highest Sikhara. There is also a Kalash (Amalaka) installed on Shikhara.
    • Types of Shikaras: Rekha-Prasad or Latina (The Sri Jagannath Temple of Odisha), Shekari (The Khajuraho Kandariya Mahadev Temple), Valabhi (Teli ka Mandir), Phamsana (The Jagmohan of Konark Temple).
• Absence of boundary walls or gateways.
• They are Orissa school, Chandel school and Solanki school.