IAS

#ChausathYoginiTemple, Morena:
A Testimony of Ancient Scientific Achievements!

The Chausath Yogini Temple is a 11th century CE Shiva Temple in Mitaoli village, near Padaoli in Morena district (Madhya Pradesh, India). It was built by king Devapala (reign. 1055-1075 CE) of Kachchhapaghatas dynasty of Gwalior.

The temple is located on a hill which is about 100 feet (30 m) in height. It is externally circular in shape with a radius of 170 feet (52 m). Within its interior part it has 64 small chambers, thus the name "Chausath" (64).

Within the main central shrine there are slab coverings which have perforations in them to drain rainwater to a large underground storage. The pipe lines from the roof lead the rain water to the storage are also visible

According to an inscription found from there dated to 1323 CE, the temple was a venue of providing education in astrology and mathematics based on the transit of the Sun.

The temple is situated on a highly earthquake prone area. But, due to its unique circular architecture style, it was able to withstand earthquakes for many centuries. However, it still suffered destruction from wars & invasions.

Some historians & archeologists believe that this temple became the inspiration for the Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan) of India, though other tell that Parliament is completely a European-styled construction.

#MonumentsOfIndia

#HoysalaArchitecture

▪️Hoysala architecture is the building style in Hindu temple architecture developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India.

▪️ Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th century, when it dominated the Southern Deccan Plateau region. Large and small temples built during this era remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural style, including the Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.

▪️ Other examples of Hoysala craftsmanship are the temples at Belavadi, Amruthapura, Hosaholalu, Mosale, Arasikere, Basaralu, Kikkeri and Nuggehalli. Study of the Hoysala architectural style has revealed a negligible Indo-Aryan influence while the impact of Southern Indian style is more distinct.

▪️Temples built prior to Hoysala independence in the mid-12th century reflect significant Western Chalukya influences, while later temples retain some features salient to Western Chalukya architecture but have additional inventive decoration and ornamentation, features unique to Hoysala artisans. Some three hundred temples are known to survive in present-day Karnataka state and many more are mentioned in inscriptions, though only about seventy have been documented. The greatest concentration of these are in the Malnad (hill) districts, the native home of the Hoysala kings.

▪️Other terms for the tradition are Vesara, and Chalukya architecture, divided into early Badami Chalukya architecture and the Western Chalukya architecture which immediately preceded the Hoysalas.

▪️ The whole tradition covers a period of about seven centuries began in the 7th century under the patronage of the Chalukya dynasty of Badami, developed further under the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta during the 9th and 10th centuries and the Western Chalukyas (or Later Chalukyas) of Basavakalyan in the 11th and 12th centuries.

▪️Its final development stage and transformation into an independent style was during the rule of the Hoysalas in the 12th and 13th centuries.

▪️Medieval inscriptions displayed prominently at temple locations give information about donations made toward the maintenance of the temple, details of consecration and on occasion, even architectural details.

#TheIndianExpress : 20/11/24
1) Jaishankar ,Wang discuss next steps : page 1
2) Defence to space : page 8
3) Apathy in the air : page 12
4) The AQI we choose: page 12
5) Guidelines for incentives : page 15
6) Meta disagrees with CCI : page 15
7) The China emission paradox : page 16

#TheHindu : 20/11/24
1) Prison tag : page 8
2) How India could counter the CBAM : page 9
3) The danger of high altitude sickness: page 10
4) If diamond and pencils are made out of carbon: page 11
5) India's vision for free open maritime network: page 12
6) Paying huge costs for climate action: page 14
7) T.N. has highest number of women councillors : page 14

#TheIndianExpress : 19/11/24
1) Delhi breaths poison: page 1
2) COP must note negative impacts : page 6
3) Report on dip in India forest cover : page 8
4) 1st time in 15 years India overtakes China as top source of foreign students: page 9
5) GRAP - IV : page 11
6) RBI's blind spots : page 13
7) Neighborhood first in practice: page 13
8) Centre tweaks dividend: page 15

#TheHindu : 19/11/24
1) Twin negligence: page 8
2) Manipur as a case for imposing Article 356 : page 8
3) No X Factor : page 9
4) Chennai- Vladivostok maritime corridor is operational : page 12
5) Global South hit by food, fuel crises : page 14
6) Monitor portfolio proactively: page 15
7) How sustainable is India’s path to net zero : page 20

Difference between NRI and OCI

NRI means Non-Resident Indian, and OCI means Overseas Citizen of India.

• NRI is a residential status given to a citizen of India with an Indian Passport who resides in a foreign country for the purpose of work/business, or education.
• OCI is an immigration status given to a foreign citizen of Indian origin as an alternative for dual-citizenship which is not allowed by the Indian Constitution.

🔴"THE HANGING PILLARS OF LEPAKSHI"

This pillar is part of Veerabhadra Temple in Lepakshi, Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh, India). The pillar is actually hanging from the roof, instead of being its support. One can move thin materials through the gap between the pillar & ground. Its construction was completed by 1530 CE.

The temple is one of the perfect examples of Vinayanagara architecture style. It was built by Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna Nayaka, both brothers who were Chief Treasurers under the Vijayanagar Empire during the reign of Emperor Achutaraya (r. 1529–1542 CE), at Penukonda. The cost of building the temple was defrayed by the government. When the Emperor found out of this, legends say Virupanna punished himself by piercing out of his both eyes in front of the Temple he built, to show his faith & loyalty to the sovereign.

#IndianArchitecture
#WondersOfIndia

#TheIndianExpress : 18/11/24
1) Delhi's air severe plus : page 1
2) Modi in Nigeria: page 6
3) Democracy by force : page 8
4) Reaching out with AI : page 9
5) Capex recovery: page 11
6) Why CO2 has contributed the most to global warming: page 12
7) AFSPA in Imphal Valley: page 12

#TheHindu : 18/11/24
1) COP- 29 discussions : page 1
2) India conducts historic flight test : page 1
3) Two cheers for the top Court's bulldozer judgement: page 6
4) Why were the Kerala IAS officers suspended ?: page 8
5) New infectious diseases among bees threaten world's economics : page 18

#JanjatiyaGauravPakhwada is being observed by educational institutions across the country to mark the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The nationwide celebration honours India's rich tribal heritage and the contributions of tribal communities.

#TheIndianExpress : 17/11/24
1) Why Canada reduced tourist stay permits : page 12
2) India Googles immigration and H1B : page 15
3) Safe harbour clause for platforms needs a revisit : page 15

#TheHindu : 17/11/24
1) Digital platforms must take measures to curb fake news : page 1
2) Electronically track undertrials to cut crowding of jails : page 11
3) ICMR- NIN scientists: page 11
4) 35% Doctors in India feel unsafe: page 13
5) What has SC ruled on bulldozer property?: page 14

Dholavira - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Dholavira, the archaeological site of a Harappan-era city, has recently received the UNESCO world heritage site tag.
• Dholavira is the 5th largest metropolis of IVC.
• It comes after Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala and Harappa in Pakistan and Rakhigarhi in Haryana of India.
• The site has a fortified citadel, a middle town and a lower town.
• There are walls made of sandstone or limestone instead of mud bricks in many other Harappan sites.
• There are a cascading series of water reservoirs, outer fortification, two multi-purpose grounds, and nine gates with unique designs.
• The site also has a funerary architecture featuring tumulus - hemispherical structures like the Buddhist Stupas.
• Unlike graves at other IVC sites, no mortal remains of humans have been discovered at Dholavira.
• Memorials that contain no bones or ashes but offerings of precious stones, etc. add a new dimension to the personality of the Harappans.
• Key economic activities - Remains of a copper smelter indicate that Harappans in Dholavira knew metallurgy.
• The traders of Dholavira might have sourced copper ore from present-day Rajasthan, and Oman and UAE, and exported the finished products.
• Dholavira also used to export timber and jewellery made of shells and semi-precious stones, like agate.
• Such beads peculiar to the Harappan workmanship have been found in the royal graves of Mesopotamia, indicating trade with the Mesopotamians.
• Reason for its fall - Its decline also coincided with the collapse of Mesopotamia, indicating the integration of economies.
• Harappans, who were maritime people, lost a huge market.
• The local mining, manufacturing, marketing and export businesses got affected once Mesopotamia fell.
• From 2000 BC, Dholavira was affected by aridity due to climate change and rivers like Saraswati drying up.
• Because of a drought-like situation, people started migrating towards the Ganges valley.
• Or, they moved towards south Gujarat and further beyond in Maharashtra.
• [In those times, the Great Rann of Kutch, which surrounds the Khadir island on which Dholavira is located, used to be navigable.
• But the sea receded gradually and the Rann became a mudflat.]
Other Harappan sites in Gujarat
• Before Dholavira’s excavation, Lothal was the most prominent site of IVC in Gujarat.
• Lothal is on the bank of Sabarmati in Ahmedabad district.
• Excavated between 1955 and 1960, it was discovered to be an important port city of the ancient civilisation, with structures made of mud bricks.
• From a graveyard in Lothal, 21 human skeletons were found.
• Foundries for making copperware were also discovered.
• Ornaments made of semi-precious stones, gold etc. were also found from the site.
• Besides Lothal, Rangpur on the bank of Bhadar river in Surendranagar district was the first Harappan site in the state to be excavated.
• Rojdi in Rajkot district, Prabhas in Gir Somnath district, Lakhabaval in Jamnagar, and Deshalpar in Kutch are among other Harappan sites in the state.

#TheHindu : 16/11/24
1) India says climate finance is not an investment goal : page 1
2) Universities are different from religious institutions: page 6
3) India voices dissent against trade barrier : page 10
4) sex with minor wife amounts to rape, says HC : page 10

#TheIndianExpress : 16/11/24
1) Resource spending gap 42% in urban local bodies: page 5
2) Not at WTO, COPs : page 8
3) Another job scam : page 12
4) Blunt instrument : page 12
5) What is the Kerala waqf land dispute : page 15
6) Economy in sweet spot : page 16

Asia's largest open-air trade fair, Bali Jatra started today to celebrate Odisha's ancient sea-trading history. This year's fair opens on the full moon day of Kartika and will run until 22nd November.

#TheIndianExpress : 15/11/24
1) Delhi air severe for second day : page 4
2) A correction: page 12
3) Severe air again: page 12
4) India's market correction: page 17
5) India expects Trump's return will improve oil availability: page 21
6) Christmas orders : page 21

#TheHindu : 15/11/24
1) Saving Doctors: page 10
2) Leverage similarity, complementarity in Nigeria: page 10
3) How will SDS visa move hit students?: page 12
4) Hate speech : page 14
5) DRDO announces successful trials of Pinaka rocket : page 16
6) BASIC countries ask nations at COP29 : page 18
7) The Discovery of insulin and the Flame of hope : page 24

Nanak is said to have traveled throughout Asia spreading the message of it Onkar (, 'one God,' who dwells in all of his creations and is the eternal Truth. With this concept, he intended to establish a distinct spiritual, social, and political platform based on equality, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue.

Guru Nanak is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus and the founder of Sikhism. Nanak was also a social reformer and Nirguna Bhakti saint.

Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Guru Nanak, the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, was born in the village Talwandi in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent in the year 1469.In modern- day Pakistan, the village of Nankana Sahib is located near the city of Lahore. Guru Nanak's birth is commemorated by Sikhs all over the world on the Pooran- mashi (full moon) day in the Lunar month of Katak (October-November), which varies from year to year.He was a proponent of Nirguna School and was inspired by Kabir Das.

He emphasized "Nam Japna," or repeating God's name in order to sense his presence. It is important to stress, however, that Sikhism is not a continuation of the Bhakti movement. He also chastised discriminatory caste systems and called for all people to be treated equallyEveryone was welcome to come and eat in the community kitchens (langars), regardless of their caste or creed.

Guru Granth Sahib, the renowned Sikh text, contains his teachings. He taught about God's unity and fiercel condemned idol worship, pilgrimages, and other formal religious observances.
He called for a medium road in which a spiritual life could coexist with domestic responsibilities. One of his famous quotes was, "Abide pure amidst the impurities of the world."

He intended to blur the lines between Hindus and Muslims in order to foster a climate of peace, friendliness, and reciprocal giving and taking.Guru Nanak was venerated by both Hindus and Muslims throughout his lifetime on Earth, and many people outside of the Sikh faith still hold him in high regard today.

Teachings
Teachings of Guru Nanak
Nanak's teachings are documented as a collection of verses in Gurmukhi in the Sikh book Guru Granth Sahib.Guru Nanak and subsequent Sikh Gurus emphasized bhakti (love, "devotion,' or worship,' and taught that spiritual and secular life are inextricably linked.The everyday world is part of an infinite reality in the eyes of the Sikhs, and enhanced spiritual awareness leads to increased and lively engagement in the daily world.

Guru Nanak Dev ji established and formalized Sikhism's three pillars:
Naam Japna - Guru Nanak taught the Sikhs how to meditate on God through recitation, chanting, singing, and persistent memory, as well as thorough study and grasp of God's Name and attributes.

To practice and tread the road of Dharam (righteousness) in actual life. The Sikh's inner thinking is always immersed in praises and appreciation of the Creator and the One eternal god, Waheguru.

Kirat Karni - He intended Sikhs to live honorably as homeowners and to practice Kirat Karni, which means earning honestly through physical and mental work while accepting both pains and pleasures as God's gifts and blessings. One must always be genuine and fear none but the Eternal Super Soul. Live a life based on decency and guided by lofty spiritual, moral, and social ideals while immersed in Dharam.

Vand Chakna - Vand Chakna Sikhs were encouraged to share their wealth throughout the community by practicing "Share and Consume together."
The Sadh Sangat, or community, is an important aspect of Sikhism. One must be a part of a community that lives by the faultless objective values established by the Sikh Gurus, and every Sikh must contribute to the common community pool in whatever way they can.Guru Nanak's key message is one of sharing and giving.

Dev Deepavali is a festival that is celebrated to commemorate the fall of Tripura cities at the hands of Bhanwaan Shankar. That is the reason this day is also called Tripura Purnima. Dev Deepawali celebrations on the day of Kartik Purnima at Kashi are very special and divine.

On this occasion we present to you the story of Tripura dahan.

After fall of Tarakasura, by the hands of Kartikeya his three sons Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali and Kamalaksha (together referred as Tripurasura) performed great penance to Brahmadev and got a boon that they will live in three separate cities which can only be destroyed by a single arrow, knowing that the task was impossible.
With the help of asura architect Mayasura they built three cities, which were moving constantly and would align only once in one thousand years.

Unable to control Asuras all the Gods requested Shivaji to help.
Earth became the chariot with Sun and Moon its wheels. Bhagwaan Vishnu took the form of a bull to pull the chariot, with Brahmadev as charioteer. Mount Meru became the bow, Vasuki naag its string. ShriHari provided the arrow with Agnidev its tip and Vayudev feathers at the end.

When the cities got aligned and time to fire the arrow came, all the Gods felt proud that they are helping Shivaji in this massive task. Shivaji felt this pride and instead of firing the arrow, just looked at the cities and smiled. The cities started burning.

Brahmadev pleaded to Shivaji to fire the arrow and finally He fired the arrow invoking the Pashupatastra to destroy the Tripura cities with a single arrow.

However just before the destruction he sent Nandi ahead to save his devotee Mayasura from the carnage.

After the destruction of Tripura cities Shivaji performed the tandav, which is also referred as “Tripura Nasha Nartana”. This act of destroying Tripura cities earned Shivaji the name Tripurantaka.

Literature during Mughal period:- In shorts:-
- The Razmnama (Book of War), the first-ever Persian translation of the Mahabharata was commissioned by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1582.
- His court historian Abdul Qadir Badauni recorded that it took nearly four years to compile four lavishly bound volumes of the book. It had 168 album bound paintings and 707 folios.
- Sanskrit scholars and Persian translators and artisans worked together to produce this sumptuous volume.
- The Padshahnama (Book of Emperors) is a chronicle commissioned by the fifth Mughal emperor Shah-Jahan ( 1628–58). The text is about his reign and Mughal dynasty.
- The Baburnama (Memoirs of Babur) is the work of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur (1483-1530), the founder of Mughal dynasty in India.
- Written in the form of a diary, Babur's memoirs have formed the first true autobiography in Islamic literature, and also of medieval India.
- The Memoirs were translated into Persian and illustrated during the reign of Babur's grandson Emperor Akbar.

#Dominica announces its highest national honour to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana.

"The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country." - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, also fondly called as Chacha Nehru was a renowned Nationalist leader who was elected as the Prime Minister of the independent country in 1947.

Nehru was also a prolific writer and orator and authored books like 'The Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of the World History'.

Highlights
* His education and schooling was from England and he returned to India in 1912 and practiced law till 1916.
* He then got elected as the president of the Indian National Congress.
* Nehru had called for complete independence from the British Raj in 1929.
* He opposed the notion of country's separation on the basis of religion suggestioned by Louis Mountbatten.
* When he became the prime minister of independent India, Nehru had initiated socio-economic policies of the idealistic socialist kind.
* Nehru's first commitment was to make India a self-sufficient economy. As a result, he set up temples of modern learning and giant public sector industries that catered to the needs of a growing nation and its people.
* He formed the policy of positive neutrality against cold war and become a key leader of the Non Aligned countries in Asia and Africa.
* Creating the Planning Commission of India, Nehru drew up the first Five-Year Plan in 1951, which charted the government's investments in industries and agriculture.
* Nehru pursued land redistribution and launched programmes to build irrigation canals, dams and spread the use of fertilizers to increase agricultural production.
* He also pioneered a series of community development programs aimed at spreading diverse cottage industries and increasing efficiency into rural India.
* His government oversaw the establishment of many institutions of higher learning, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management.

He was very fond of children and known for his love for them, which is why his birthday is nationally celebrated as Children's Day on 14 November.

Numerous public institutions and memorials across India are dedicated to Nehru's memory. The Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi is among the most prestigious universities in India.

More about Children's Day'
- November 14, is celebrated as Children's Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of independent India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
- It aims at recognising the needs of children, protecting their rights and preventing exploitation for the proper growth of children.
- Initially, it was celebrated on November 20 in accordance with the Universal Children’s Day declared by the United Nations.
- But after the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, a resolution was passed in the Indian Parliament and November 14 was marked as Children’s Day to honour his legacy.

#Registration open for new batch at #JiaSaraiCentre
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#CHEMISTRY_optional
Course Detail : Class room course + phase tests + All India Test series
PAPER : 1
Atomic Structure-08 Hours
Chemical Bonding–13 Hours
Solid State–08 Hours
Liquid State–03 Hours
Gaseous State –04 Hours
Thermodynamics–14 Hours
Phase Equilibrium  –06 Hours
Electrochemistry–12 Hours
Chemical Kinetics–08 Hours
Surface Chemistry  –03 Hours
Photochemistry  –03 Hours
f-block  –03 Hours
Coordination Compounds  –12 Hours
P –block Chemistry  –03 Hours
Phase Test 1         –         Atomic Structure + Chemical Bonding + Solid State
Phase Test 2         –         Liquid State + Gaseous State + Thermodynamics
Phase Test 3         –         Phase Equilibrium + Electrochemistry + Chemical Kinetics
Phase Test 4         –          Surface Chemistry + Photochemistry + f-block
Phase Test 5         –         Coordination Compounds + P –block Chemistry
Paper – II
Course Detail
Aromaticity–05 Hours
Reactions Mechanism–45 Hours
Rearrangements–05 Hours
Named Reaction–10 Hours
Pericyclic Reaction–06 Hours
Photochemistry–06 Hours
Reagents–05 Hours
Spectroscopy–14 Hours
Polymers–04 Hours
Phase Test 1 -  GOC and Aromaticity
Phase Test 2   –  Reaction mechanism and name reactions   
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Q) Most of the protests, revolts and movements launched by the peasants against British policies grew out of local grievances, remained localised and had no regular organisation and leadership. Discuss with examples.

Answer:

During the British rule, the peasant movements surfaced mainly due to impoverishment of Indian
peasantry owing to high rents, arbitrary evictions and unpaid labour in zamindari areas. They were
centered on the issue of land ownership and land distribution. However, they witnessed gradual
evolution in terms of their nature of demands and geographical reach.

Phase-I (19th Century)

Initially, the peasant revolts were largely localized, had no organized leadership and centered on local
grievances with following features:

•They fought only for their own local demands, colonialism wasn’t their main target, as the nationalist feeling didn’t fully develop till then. These revolts were directed against the immediate enemies, like planters, moneylenders and indigenous zamindars.
For example, Indigo Revolt (1859-60) stood merely to protect the interests of indigo growers against
the foreign planters. Similarly, Deccan riots (1870s) remained confined to the Deccan region and were against the local moneylenders.

•The objectives were specific and limited to the redressal of particular grievances. For example, Pabna Leagues (1870s-80s) were against the exploitation of tenants by local Zamindars.

•Their territorial reach was limited to the region of their occurrence. For example, not even half the
Indian mainland witnessed any agrarian revolt during the 1857 Revolt.

•There was no formal enduring organization which could provide meaningful direction to these
revolts.

These struggles were also marked by inadequate understanding of colonialism and even lacked coherent ideology about future socio-economic and political programmes. As a result, they couldn’t sustain themselves for long despite being militant in nature.

Phase-II (1905-1947)

However, with the onset of Swadeshi Movement there was a palpable shift in orientation of these
movements. They were deeply influenced by and had a marked impact on the national freedom struggle.

•They organized themselves under enduring leadership through Kisan Sabha Movements. They had wide-ranging demands which were directed against the British rule. For example, due to the efforts of Home Rule activists, Kisan Sabhas were organized in UP under the leadership of nationalists like Gauri Shankar Mishra and Madan Mohan Malviya.

•These movements had better sense of brotherhood against the common enemy. For example, the Eka Movement of 1921 stood for the collective interests of peasants coming from different social backgrounds.

•They served as conduit for mobilizing public opinion. For example, Bardoli Satyagraha Patrika was brought out in 1926 to mobilize public opinion.

During this phase the agrarian movement served as the means for mobilizing masses, especially with the coming of Gandhiji on the political scene. These served as the link between the nationalist leaders and the masses.

Thus, on one hand these agrarian movements represented the cause of peasants, while on the other they also served as vehicles for broadening the nationalist movement on subcontinent scale. In fact, movements like Tebhaga Movement and Telanagana Movement, served as the blueprint for postindependence agrarian reforms. These movements later eroded the hegemony of landed classes and paved way for transformation of the existing oppressive agrarian structure.

#TheIndianExpress : 3/11/24
1) Private, not govt is primary school for children in Haryana : page 1
2) Rural development: page 1
3) Stuck in limbo : page 4
4) More than half of Indian women remain outside labour force : page 11

#TheHindu : 3/11/24
1) India committed to Sendai framework for risk reduction: page 7
2) New scheme by ICMR : page 9
3) Doctors ask NMC for a simpler way to register: page 9
4) Glacial lakes : page 11
5) What are the key takeaways from COP-16 : page 12
6) How is Tamil Nadu bracing for Heat waves : page 12
7) UN summit : page 14

#AnswerWriting
Q) METHANE IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOBAL WARMING. DISCUSS THE REASONS AND MEASURES TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE. (GS 3 ENVIRONMENT )

A) Methane is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, after carbon dioxide, and, therefore, pledges related to cutting down its emissions are significant.
The Global Methane Pledge was launched at the ongoing UN COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. So far, over 90 countries have signed this pledge, which is an effort led jointly by the United States and the European Union.

Sources of Methane emissions:

1) Approximately 40% of methane emitted is from natural sources and about 60% comes from human-influenced sources, including livestock farming, rice agriculture, biomass burning and so forth.
2) There are various sources of methane including human and natural sources. Human sources of methane include landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes.
3) The oil and gas sectors are among the largest contributors to human sources of methane.
4) NASA notes that human sources (also referred to as anthropogenic sources) of methane are responsible for 60 per cent of global methane emissions.
5) These emissions come primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, decomposition in landfills and the agriculture sector.
6) In India, for instance, in 2019, the Ministry of Coal asked state-run coal miner Coal India Limited (CIL) to produce 2 MMSCB (million metric standard cubic metres) per day of coalbed methane (CBM) gas in the next 2 to 3 years.
7) CBM, like shale gas, is extracted from what are known as unconventional gas reservoirs — where gas is extracted directly from the rock that is the source of the gas (shale in case of shale gas and coal in case of CBM).
8) The methane is held underground within the coal and is extracted by drilling into the coal seam and removing the groundwater.
9) The resulting drop in pressure causes the methane to be released from the coal.

Why is dealing with methane important for climate change?

1) According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), while methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime (12 years as compared to centuries for CO2), it is a much more potent greenhouse gas simply because it absorbs more energy while it is in the atmosphere.

2) In its factsheet on methane, the UN notes that methane is a powerful pollutant and has a global warming potential that is 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, about 20 years after it has been released into the atmosphere.

3) Significantly, the average methane leak rate of 2.3 per cent “erodes much of the climate advantage gas has over coal”.

4) The IEA has also said that more than 75 per cent of methane emissions can be mitigated with the technology that exists today, and that up to 40 per cent of this can be done at no additional costs.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed an anti-methanogenic feed supplement ‘Harit Dhara’ (HD), which can cut down cattle methane emissions by 17-20% and can also result in higher milk production.The India GHG Program led by WRI India (non-profit organization), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an industry-led voluntary framework to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions.

https://t.me/gsDIAS
Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut or Annakoot is a Hindu festival in which devotees worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as a mark of gratitude. For Vaishnavas, this day commemorates the incident in the Bhagavata Purana when Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to provide the villagers of Vrindavan shelter from torrential rains.

The incident is seen to represent how God will protect all devotees who take singular refuge in him. Devotees offer a mountain of food, metaphorically representing the Govardhan Hill, to God as a ritual remembrance and to renew their faith in taking refuge in God. The festival is observed by most of Hindu denominations all over India and abroad.

#TheIndianExpress : 2/11/24
1) With 23 national targets, India submits biodiversity action plan : page 2
2) The UN - lifted grain : page 8
3) Piercing the pall : page 8
4) GST records 2nd highest collection: page 11
5) First black hole Triple system discovered: page 13
6) Consumption and food inflation: page 14

#TheHindu : 2/11/24
1) Sickness, infirmity are grounds for Bail in PMLA case : page 1
2) Spousal privacy is fundamental right: page 4
3) India's first analog space mission kicks off at Leh in Ladakh: page 5
4) Core correction: page 6
5) Zeroing in on methane diplomacy : page 6
6) India spells out finance needs for biodiversity: page 10

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Greetings & best wishes for the People of
Andhra Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh,
Haryana,
Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh,
Punjab,
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
&
The Union Territories of
Andaman & Nicobar,
Lakshadweep and
Pudducherry
on their Foundation Day on 01 November.

1-November-1956
Indian Government re-organizes the states according to linguistic principles and inaugurates second Five-Year Plan.

The states declared were Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab by merging Patiala & PEPSU, Mumbai was divided in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Union Territories namely Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshdeep Minikai and Amin Divi were approved.

• India comprises of a total of 36 states and Union territories. Of these, 28 are states while 8 are Union Territories.
• Today, that is November 1, marks the foundation day of seven Indian states namely Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• Though these states were formed in different years, they were founded on November 1, making the date a special one considering that the states celebrate their foundation day on November 1.

1. Karnataka
• The state of Karnataka was formed on Nov 1, 1956.
• In the 1950s, after India became a republic nation, demand for states and provinces based on linguistic basis grew louder.
• Kannada speaking part was named a state called 'Mysore'. However, the name 'Mysore' was not accepted by all and the people demanded that the name be changed to Karnataka.

2. Kerala Piravi
• "God's Own Country" Kerala was created on Nov 1, 1956 and every year, November 1 is celebrated as 'Kerala Piravi Dinam' in the state.
• Before India won independence in 1947, Kerala as we know today stretched in three independent provinces namely Malabar, Cochin and Travancore.
• These major parts were brought together to form the state of Kerala.

3. Chhattisgarh
• The state of Chhattisgarh was carved out of the state of Madhya Pradesh on Nov 1, 2000.
• It range 135,194 sq kms in terms of area and has a population of about 25.5 million.
• Chhattisgarh has 27 districts and 5 divisions namely Bastar, Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur and Surguja.
• Chhattisgarh is the tenth largest state in India.

4. Haryana
• Haryana celebrates its Formation Day on November 1.
• It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on Nov 1, 1966.
• Haryana proved to be a boon for India as it led the Green Revolution movement in terms of crop output.
• The 'Milliennium City' of Gurgaon, now known as Gurugram is an important business hub.

5. Punjab
• On November 1, Punjab celebrates its Formation Day.
• Going back to history, the Punjabi Suba movement was one of the key events in the formation of Punjab in the erstwhile East Punjab state of India in the 1950s.
• The movement, led by the Akali Dal, resulted in the formation of the Punjabi-majority Punjab state, the Haryanvi-Hindi-majority Haryana state and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

6. Rajasthan
• Rajasthan was re-organised on November 1, 1956.
• Under State Re-organisation Act 1956 the former part ‘C’ State of Ajmer, Abu Road, Taluka, the former part of princely State, Sirohi which was amalgamated in former Bombay and Sunel Tappa area of the former Madhya Bharat fused with Rajasthan.
• The Sironj subdistrict, Jhalawar was relocated to Madhya Pradesh.

7. Madhya Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh celebrates its Formation Day on November 1.
• Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in India in terms of area and has the sixth-largest population among Indian states

*दीपो ज्योति परं ब्रह्म दीपो ज्योतिर्जनार्दन:।*
*दीपो हरतु मे पापं संध्यादीप नमोऽस्तु ते।।*

*तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय*

On the auspicious day of Diwali, wishing you and your loved ones Success, Happiness and Prosperity. May this day mark the beginning of a new era and the end of the pandemic crisis.

Have a safe and mindful Diwali, everyone! Times are trying for most. It is all the more important for each of us to stay calm and help others.

IST is observed throughout the country, with a time offset of UTC + 5.30. IST means that India is five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. 

How is it calculated?
- India does not follow Daylight Saving Time, like other countries in the world.
- IST is calculated on the basis of 82.5 degrees East longitude from a clock tower in Mirzapur near Allahabad, as it is near the corresponding longitude reference line.

History
- During the British Raj in 1884, India used to have two time zones, Bombay time and Calcutta time.
- Dating back to the 4th century CE, the book ‘Surya Siddhanta’ states that India referred to the beginning of a 24-hour day with the sunrise at the prime meridian passing through Ujjain.
- The ancient Indian astronomy divided the time measured from the onset of the sunrise into smaller time units equalling one prana (time span of one breath which is 4 seconds). 15 breaths equaled a minute.
- However, throughout the history of India, there was no standardized time zone.
- Most of the towns and cities in India followed their local time reference until the railway system was introduced in the 1850s which gave rise to a significant need for a unified time zone.
- The British Raj marked the use of the current time zone in 1802.
- Finally, Indian Standard Time (IST) is the only time zone followed in India.

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What is the Vienna Convention of 1961?
An international agreement known as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides a framework for diplomatic relations between nations. The United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Relations and Immunities in Vienna, Austria, adopted the treaty in 1961. By creating a unified set of norms and values, the treaty seeks to foster cordial ties between countries.

The treaty outlines the guidelines for diplomatic relations between nations, comprising: The privileges that diplomats enjoy in other countries.
Sixty-one nations signed the treaty in 1961. As of right now, 193 nations have signed the agreement.

What is the Purpose and background behind the Vienna Convention?
By offering a standardized set of procedures and guidelines for diplomatic interactions, the Vienna Convention primarily seeks to foster cordial ties between nations.It is extensively ratified, observed, and regarded as one of the most effective legal tools under the United Nations.

What is the historical background behind the Vienna Convention?
Throughout the history of sovereign governments, diplomats have typically enjoyed a unique status. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the Havana Convention respecting Diplomatic Officers in 1928 were the first attempts to formally incorporate diplomatic immunity into diplomatic law. Adopted in 1961, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations became operative in 1964, governing the treatment of diplomats.

What are the key provisions of the convention?
53 articles in the Convention cover different facets of diplomatic relations.

Diplomatic immunity: According to Article 29, diplomats are exempt from arrest and detention, allowing them to do their duties without worrying about being harassed or forced to make decisions by their host nation.
Inviolability of diplomatic premises: Diplomatic missions and their properties, including the residences of diplomats, are inviolable and must be guarded against destruction or intervention by the host nation (Article 22).
Inviolability of archives and documents: According to Article 24, a diplomatic mission’s archives and papers are inviolable and cannot be taken or opened by the host country.

Free communication: Diplomats’ home country and the host nation must be able to communicate freely. The host nation must guarantee this. According to Article 27, diplomatic couriers may not be held or imprisoned, nor may diplomatic baggage be opened.
Immunity from the jurisdiction of the host nation: Except in certain cases about professional activity conducted outside of official duties, diplomats are exempt from the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the host nation (Article 31).

Exemptions from taxes and customs: According to Article 34 and Article 36, diplomatic posts are not subject to taxes or customs charges.
Protections for family members: According to Article 37, diplomats’ families who reside in the host nation are granted the majority of the same protections as the diplomats themselves.

What is the relation between India and the Vienna Convention?
In 1965, India became a member of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Vienna Convention came into effect in India when the Diplomatic Relations (Vienna Convention) Act, of 1972 was passed.

• Homi Jehangir Bhabha  was a multifaceted personality - scientist,  visionary and institution builder. 
• He was born on October 30, 1909 in an illustrious family with a long tradition of learning and service to the country.
• He was an Indian physicist who is often considered the father of the Indian nuclear program.
• The brilliant physicist was the founding director of two institutions Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, both of which led to immense growth and development in the field of research.

1. In 1939, he came to India only for a brief holiday but was unable to go back to complete his research at Cambridge as World War II had started. So, he joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, as a reader.
2. As a student, Homi worked with a Nobel Prize winner, Niels Bohr in Copenhagen and played a major role in the development of The Quantum Theory.
3. He was the one who identified and named the Meson particle. He also worked with one of the German Physicists to develop the Cascade theory to understand cosmic radiations.
4.  He was the 1st chairman of the first United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy held in 1955.
5.  In 1954, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan award for outstanding contributions to nuclear science. He also won the Adams Prize in 1942 and honoured with Fellow of the Royal Society.