- Indian Heritage
- Culture
India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale- 2023
India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale, 2023 is being held from 9th to 15th December, 2023 with inaugural on 8th December, 2023 at Red Fort, Delhi. This will be open for public till 31.3.2024.
The Biennale is designed to initiate a holistic conversation between artists, architects, designers, photographers, collectors, connoisseurs, curators, art professionals, gallerists, academic institutions, researchers, students and youth to strengthen the cultural dialogue and provide them with avenues and opportunities.
There are 7 themed pavilions as follows:
Day 1: Pravesh (Doors of India), Rite of Passage.
Day 2: Bagh-e-Bahar (Gardens of India), Gardens as universe.
Day 3: Sampravah (Baolis of India), Confluence of Communities.
Day 4: Sthapatya (Temples of India), Ant fragile Alogrithm.
Day 5: Vismaya (Architectural Wonders of Independent India), Creative Crossovers.
Day 6: Deshaj (Indigenous Design), Bharat x Design.
Day 7: Samatva (Women in Architecture and Design), Shaping the Built.
The India Art Architecture and Design Biennale, 2023 is being organized with the intention of it being a global cultural initiative and the flagship programme of the Ministry of Culture.
Aim: To invigorate the cultural space and creative industries and leverage the Arts for Global Cultural Diplomacy & Connect.
Objective:
- Showcase traditional, grassroot artisans as well as contemporary designers, curators & thought leaders cutting across age, gender & genre lines.
- Celebrate the best that our country has to offer in the fields of ancient, modern, contemporary and tech driven art, architecture and design.
he expenditure made on organizing the said programme will be met from the sanctioned budget of the Ministry of Culture.
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
Supreme Court’s verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is historic
he Supreme Court’s verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is historic and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India on 5th August 2019.
Shri Modi also said that the Court, in its profound wisdom, has fortified the very essence of unity that we, as Indians, hold dear and cherish above all else.
The Prime Minister posted on X;
“Today’s Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is historic and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India on 5th August 2019; it is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The Court, in its profound wisdom, has fortified the very essence of unity that we, as Indians, hold dear and cherish above all else.
I want to assure the resilient people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh that our commitment to fulfilling your dreams remains unwavering. We are determined to ensure that the fruits of progress not only reach you but also extend their benefits to the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of our society who suffered due to Article 370.
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
Divine Heart Foundation (India)
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced the 27 years celebration of Divine Heart Foundation (India) at Lucknow today (December 11, 2023).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that she was happy to get the opportunity to connect with the important topic of healthcare, especially heart care through this event at Divine Heart Hospital and Research Centre. She stated that the best form of humanity is seen in hospitals where the spirit of ‘Nar Seva Narayan Seva’ is strong. She noted that the objective of establishing Divine Heart Hospital and Research Center is based on this feeling. She appreciated the spirit of service to humanity.
The President said that the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ is absolutely correct. She urged all the doctors associated with heart care to spread awareness about life-style for a healthy heart among the people. She said that they can treat a few hundred people in the hospital. But, through awareness they can benefit hundreds and thousands of people. She expressed confidence that doctors will pay special attention to preventive heart care and will also provide good medical facilities to the citizens at low cost.
The loftiest Human Duty is to serve Mankind. Out of all creatures of God, it is only the human being, who can bestow comfort, ease and peace to all leaving creatures through his thoughts, acts and knowledge. In human body, the most crucial organ is the heart, which is also believed to be the seat of Soul. When Soul departs, the body perishes. To nurture the body, the heart pumps 5 to 6 minutes of blood every minute and beats more than 100,000 times relentlessly every day. This valuable organ must be looked after in order to lead a healthy life.
Heart disease respects no boundaries, no geographical limitations. It occurs in every nation of the world, in both sexes, in all races and in every stratum of society. It is one of the most formidable and challenging health problems of our country. Till now it was considered as to be a problem of the developed world in older age group but developing countries too are not spared from affliction of the heart disease, and happens in much younger age group of population in India. With adaptation of western lifestyle, weakening of our traditional bond and culture and increasing average age of the population, the incidence of heart disease in the community has increased manifold.
In India, approximately more than 60 million people are suffering from heart disease and has become a major public health problem. The pattern of heart disease prevalent in our population is based on age. It has found that more than 60% of population in their most productive age between 40 to 65 years, develop coronary artery disease the channel that supplies blood to the heart, which get narrowed due to cholesterol deposition and results in varying degree of pain in chest (Angina). If angina is not relieved the heart muscle die due to lack of oxygen due to lack of blood supply called heart attack (Myocardial Infarction), which is fatal in 25% of cases. To another 40%, rheumatic heart disease occurs between 15 to 25 years of age especially in female child due to rheumatic fever preceded by recurrent sore throat infection. The disease itself causes swelling and pain in various joints, involvement of heart valves leading to shrinkage and leakage. Twenty percent of heart disease occurs at birth, in which the baby is born with a hole in the heart or as a blue baby. Patients with rheumatic heart disease and birth defects are commonly belong to lower stratum of society require costly operation to save their life.
While serving at State Premier Medical Institute at SGPGIMS, Prof (Dr) A K Srivastava had gone to Papworth Hospital at Cambridge University, UK in 1996, for undergoing training in Heart Transplantation procedure and technology, which is an established method of saving lives of patients suffering from irreversible heart failure, unresponsive to medical therapy. Impressed with the mode and patterns of British Heart Foundation, Dr Srivastava conceived an idea to establish a Foundation in India with similar objectives to create awareness regarding healthy heart in the society.
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
THE KRISHI UDAN SCHEME
Krishi Udan Scheme was launched in August 2020 on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products to help improve their value realization. Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 was announced on 27 October 2021 mainly focusing on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas, North Eastern States and tribal areas. The scheme primarily covers 25 airports focusing on North Eastern, Hilly and Tribal region besides 33 airports in other regions/areas.
Krishi Udan Scheme is a convergence scheme where eight Ministries/Departments namely Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region would leverage their existing schemes to strengthen the logistics for transportation of Agri-produce.
In order to facilitate and incentivise movement of agri-produce by air transportation, waiver of Landing charges, Parking charges, etc. are provided under the scheme for Indian freighters by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Ministry of Defence at selected airports under the Scheme
B Health
C. Education
D. Human Resources
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
Contribution of MSMES to the country’s GDP
s per the latest information received from Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, the share of MSME Gross Value Added (GVA) in all India Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the share of MSME manufacturing GVA in all India Manufacturing GVA are as follows:
| Year | Share of MSME Gross Value Added (GVA) in all India Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | Share of MSME manufacturing GVA in all India Manufacturing GVA |
| 2019-20 | 30.48% | 40.67% |
| 2020-21 | 27.24% | 40.30% |
| 2021-22 | 29.15% | 40.83% |
As per the information culled out from the Data Dissemination Portal of Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), the share of export of MSME specified products in all India exports are as follows:
| Year | % share of Export of MSME related products in All India Export |
| 2019-20 | 49.77% |
| 2020-21 | 49.35% |
| 2021-22 | 45.03% |
| 2022-23 | 43.59% |
| 2023-24* | 45.56% |
*upto September 2023
E.issues
14. Technology
BLENDING OF BIO-FUELS
The Government has achieved the target of 10 per cent average blending of ethanol in Petrol in the country under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in June, 2022 i.e. five months ahead of the target of November, 2022.
The Government has set target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol under EBP programme by Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. As per the “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25”, the estimated requirement for 20% ethanol blending in ESY 2025-26 is approximately 1016 crore litres and this quantity of petrol will be replaced by ethanol. As per the Roadmap, a successful E20 program can save the country about 4 billion US Dollar (USD) per annum.
The establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) aims to address major challenges and realising the potential of biofuels. The Alliance intends to expedite the global uptake of biofuels through facilitating capacity building exercises, technical support for national programs and promoting policy lessons-sharing, technology advancements, intensifying utilization of sustainable biofuels through the participation of wide spectrum of stakeholders. Further, it intends to facilitate development, adoption and implementation of internationally recognized standards, codes, sustainability principles, and regulations to incentivise biofuels adoption and trade. The Alliance will also work as a central repository of knowledge and an expert hub. These activities of GBA are expected to increase global biofuel market in the coming years.
ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL
Government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme with multiple objectives including reducing import dependence, savings in foreign exchange, providing boost to domestic agriculture sector and for associated environmental benefits. Under EBP Programme, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have saved approximately 509 crore litres of petrol on account of ethanol blending during the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2022-23 resulting in savings of more than Rs. 24,300 crore of foreign exchange and expeditious payment of about Rs. 19,300 crore to farmers bolstering the agriculture sector.
Government has approved assistance to a total of 1212 projects including 590 molasses-based; 474 grain-based; and 148 dual-feed based projects under interest subvention scheme to enhance ethanol production under EBP.
15. Environment
Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme launched to promote Sustainable Management of forests and agroforestry
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has launched the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme. This national forest certification scheme offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country. The scheme includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification.
The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme can provide market incentives to various entities that adhere to responsible forest management and agroforestry practices in their operations. This includes state forest departments, individual farmers, or Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in agroforestry and farm forestry, as well as other wood-based industries in the value chain.
The Forest Management certification is based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, consisting of 8 criteria, 69 indicators and 254 verifiers, which is an integral part of the National Working Plan Code 2023, launched earlier this year. A separate Trees Outside Forests Standard, is now introduced as a part of the newly launched Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme.
The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme, will be overseen by the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council, which will act as a multistakeholder advisory body. The Council is represented by members from eminent institutions such as Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Forest Survey of India, Quality Council of India, Indian Institute of Forest Management including representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, State Forest Departments, Forest Development Corporations, and representatives from wood-based industries.
Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will act as the scheme operating agency and will be responsible for overall management of the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme.
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)
While the Central and State Governments take all possible steps for the preservation, conservation and restoration of wetlands (includes lakes), developmental activities and anthropogenic pressures do affect wetlands.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These rules, inter-alia, prohibit conversion for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements and any construction of a permanent nature except for boat jetties within fifty meters from the mean high flood level observed in the past ten years calculated from the date of commencement of these rules. Further, vide these rules, the State/UT Wetlands Authorities have been constituted which are responsible for protection and conservation of wetlands.
MoEF&CC is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands in the country on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective State/UT Governments. The scheme covers various activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater.
It is the responsibility of the States/UTs and local bodies to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into wetlands to prevent and control of pollution therein. Further, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provide the statutory framework for management of solid waste in the country. As per these Rules, the local authorities and village panchayats are responsible for solid waste management. Further, every waste generator shall segregate and store the waste generated by them in three separate streams namely, bio-degradable, non-biodegradable and domestic hazardous wastes in suitable bins and handover segregated wastes to authorised waste pickers or waste collectors as per the direction or notification by the local authorities from time to time. The rules also mandate that no waste generator shall throw, burn or burry the solid waste generated by him, on streets, open public spaces outside his premises or in the drain or water bodies
Quad Climate Working Group (QCWG) Side Event on Capturing the Resilience Dividend: Quad Achievements under the Climate Adaptation Pillar
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India along with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) organised a side event under the Adaptation Pillar of Quad Climate Working Group (QCWG) on “Capturing the Resilience Dividend: Quad Achievements under the Climate Adaptation Pillar” on 9th December 2023 at the India Pavilion, on the sidelines of the UNFCCC COP 28 India Pavilion at Dubai. The panel was represented by all Quad countries in person by Environmental Management and Climate Change Group, JICA (Japan), Ms. Rajasree Ray, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (India); Ms. Nicola Ross, Director-Climate Integration Unit, DFAT (Australia); Mr Toru Yoshida, Senior Deputy Director, and Mr. Michael Schiffer, Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia, USAID (USA). The session was moderated by Mr. Krishna Vatsa, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India. The panel advocated on the need to measure and promote resilience dividend amongst all stakeholders.
The panellists highlighted the need for integrating resilience into investments, policies, planning and governance to safeguard infrastructure, investments and community. They further stressed on challenges including lack of data, coordination, financing gaps and conceptual and implementation capacity at local level in integrating adaptation.
ARTHA Ganga
Arth Ganga is an initiative added recently to the Namami Ganga Program launched by the Government in 2014. It was decided in the meeting of National Ganga Council (NGC) held on 14th December 2019 to launch a new concept as the name Arth Ganga, which is a sustainable and viable economic development model to strengthen the river-people connect through an economic bridge. Accordingly, it was decided that the Namami Gange mission should lead the concept of Arth Ganga with the involvement of different ministries/departments and other stakeholders, institution & community organization. So it was added as a vertical of Namami Ganga Program, in addition to the 4 verticals – Nirmal Ganga, Aviral Ganga, Jan Ganga and Gyan Ganga, existing till then.
Six pillars of Arth-Ganga identified are: Promotion of Natural Framing on 5 kms band either side of River Ganga; Monetisation and reuse of Treated water and sludge from the STPs; Improvement of Livelihood opportunities, particularly for women; Promotion of Tourism and Cultural heritage; People’s Participation and Building of capacities and institutions. Implementation of these initiatives is aimed to develop sustainable development model with focus on economic activities related to river Ganga. Several activities under Arth Ganga have been taken up by National Mission for Clean Ganga in coordination with various ministries/departments and other stakeholders, to achieve the goal.
16. Security
MILITARY EXERCISE “VINBAX-2023”
The Indian Armed Forcescontingent comprising 45 personnel reached Hanoi, Vietnam to take part in the fourth edition of Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023. The exercise will be conducted at Hanoi, Vietnam from 11th to 21st December 2023. The Indian contingent comprises 39 personnel from an Engineer Regiment of Bengal Engineer Group and six personnel of Army Medical Corps. The Vietnam People’s Army contingent will also be represented by 45 personnel.
Exercise VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition was conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. It is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam. Last edition was conducted at Chandimandir Military Station in August 2022.
Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote inter- operability and share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations. The exercise will be conducted as a Command Post Exercise cum Field Training Exercise with focus on deployment and employment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team.
The joint exercise will encourage exchange of ideas and both contingents will jointly rehearse tactics, technique and procedures. Ideas will be exchanged on modern methods to construct roads, culverts, helipads, ammunition shelter and observation posts in operational areas. In addition, rehearsals will be carried out for drills related to combat engineering and combat medical tasks.
The Exercise will culminate with a Validation Exercise, wherein standards attained by both contingents will be showcased. Both sides will conduct technical military operations in accordance with scenarios akin to worldwide deployment of United Nations’ contingents.
17. Disaster Management