Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Services (JKPSC)

• 24 Dec 2024

IGNCA Regional Centre Inaugurated in Jammu

Why in News? 

Recently, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated the regional center of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in Jammu. 

 Key Points 

• Role of Folk Traditions and IGNCA’s Contribution: 
  • Jammu’s folk traditions have been a source of enduring values and ideals, sustaining society through generations. 
  • The IGNCA regional centre will nurture cultural virtues, enhance quality of life, and support the preservation and promotion of Jammu's rich art and cultural heritage. 
  • The intelligentsia was urged to collaborate with organisations like IGNCA to promote Jammu and Kashmir’s artistic heritage and to preserve and propagate the Vedic oral tradition. 
  • India’s civilisational ethos of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family) and its ongoing relevance globally was highlighted. 
• Role of Youth in Cultural Preservation: 
  • The L-G called on enlightened citizens and stakeholders to encourage artistic thinking in the younger generation, leveraging their creative potential to benefit society. 
  • He stressed the importance of making regional literature, folk music, drama, and Pahari art accessible in every household through articles, monographs, and books. 
• ‘Toycathon’ Initiative: 
  • The L-G commended ‘Toycathon 2024’, an initiative aimed at grassroots innovation by designing toys based on local cultural ethos and the lives of regional heroes. 

 Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)  

• It was established in 1987 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, as a centre for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts. 
• The IGNCA has a trust (i.e. Board of Trustees), which meets regularly to give general direction about the Centre’s work. The Executive Committee, drawn from among the Trustees, functions under a Chairman. 
• It is a research unit under Project Mausam. 
  • Project ‘Mausam’ is a Ministry of Culture project with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi as the nodal agency. 
  • The central themes that hold Project ‘Mausam’ together are those of cultural routes and maritime landscapes that not only linked different parts of the Indian Ocean littoral, but also connected the coastal centres to their hinterlands. 

Infrastructure Development at J&K Tourist Sites

Why in News? 

Recently, the World Bank has enlisted four places in Jammu and Kashmir to be developed as international tourist destinations.  

• These places are Bhaderwah in Doda, Bradari in Reasi, Kokernag in Anantnag and Dodapathri in Budgam. 

 Key Points 

• World Bank’s Intention in Development: 
  • The World Bank intends to fund infrastructure in specific locations in Jammu and Kashmir to meet international tourism standards. 
• Planned Projects and Funding: 
  • The World Bank plans to fund infrastructure projects, including: 
    • Development of Bhal Padri meadow and Guldanda meadow 
    • Upgradation of Jai Valley 
    • Establishment of Gondola cable car services at Seoz meadows in Bhaderwah 
  • Interest has been shown in developing the Kailash Yatra route to leverage its significant pilgrimage tourism potential. 
• Broader Revamp in J&K: 
  • Other locations to benefit from the initiative include: 
    • Dodapathri in Budgam district 
    • Kokernag in Anantnag district 
    • Bradari in Reasi district 
• Collaboration and Approval: 
  • The project will be executed in collaboration with the central government. 
  • Final approval for funding rests with the World Bank, which will assess the potential of these locations before proceeding. 
• Significance of the Initiative: 
  • The initiative aims to boost pilgrimage tourism, handicrafts, herbal tourism, and adventure tourism in the region. 

 World Bank 

• About: 
  • It was created in 1944, as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IBRD later became the World Bank. 
  • The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. 
  • The World Bank is one of the United Nations' specialized agencies. 
• Members: 
  • It has 189 member countries. 
  • India is also a member country. 
• Major Reports: 
  • Ease of Doing Business (Stopped publishing). 
  • Human Capital Index. 
  • World Development Report. 
• Its Five Development Institutions: 
  • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 
  • International Development Association (IDA) 
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC) 
  • Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA) 
  • International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) 
    • India is not a member of ICSID.