Advancing SC/ST Welfare in India

For Prelims: SCs, STs, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Article 342, Article 341, Article 15(4), Article 16(4), Article 46, Article 340, NCST, Fifth Schedule, Sixth Schedule, Forest Rights Act, 2006, NAMASTE, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).  

For Mains: Issues Related to SCs & STs, Government policies & interventions and way forward. 

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment held the 28th Coordination Committee meeting, focused on strategies to curb untouchability offences and atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).  

• Key discussions revolved around the implementation of existing laws like the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955  and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 

What are SCs and STs and How are they Recognized in Indian Legal Frameworks? 

• About SCs and STs : Article 366 defines the term 'Scheduled Caste.'  
  • According to Article 341, the President, after consulting the Governor of the respective State, may notify the Scheduled Castes for that state or Union Territory (UT). The list can be amended by Parliament through legislation.  
  • The term "Scheduled Castes" was initially introduced in the Government of India Act, 1935, marking its recognition in legal and administrative frameworks. 
  • STs: Article 366 defines STs as tribes, tribal communities, or parts/groups within them that are designated as such under Article 342 of the Constitution. 
    • Under Article 342, the President of India, in consultation with the Governor of the concerned state, is empowered to specify the STs for each state or union territory. 
• Framework to Address Caste-Based Atrocities in India: 
  • Fundamental Rights: Article 14, 15, 16 and 17. 
  • Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Article 46 directs the state to promote the educational and economic interests of SCs. 
  • Article 338 establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to safeguard the rights of SCs. 
  • Legal Framework: 
    • Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955: Enacted to penalize the practice of untouchability, which was later amended and renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1976, making untouchability, resulting from social and religious disabilities, punishable. 
    • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: A special law addressing crimes specifically committed against SC/ST communities, defined as "atrocities." It mandates the establishment of Special Courts for the speedy trial of such cases. 
    • Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: This Act aims to eliminate manual scavenging and ensure the rehabilitation of those involved in the practice. 
    • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015: This amendment expanded the definition of atrocities to include sexual offences against women from SC/ST communities, thereby strengthening legal protection. 

What are the Major Issues Related to SCs and STs in India? 

• Economic Vulnerability: Land alienation and bonded labor, coupled with the non-payment of minimum wages, place SCs in a disadvantaged economic position. 
  • Around 34% of SCs live below the poverty line (BPL), compared to 9% of the general population. 
• Social Prejudices: In regions like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the dominance of other castes often results in caste-based violence. 
  • In 2022, 97.7% of atrocities against SCs were reported in 13 states. 
• Weak Legal Enforcement: There is a failure to implement legal protections effectively, and educational discrimination continues, as highlighted by the Thorat Committee in 2007. 
  • Of the 498 districts with the highest number of reported atrocities, only 194 had established special courts to handle SC/ST cases. 
• Rejection of Traditional Roles: Rising political influence among SCs due to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts (CAA) has led to tensions with dominant castes. 
  • This has also resulted in a rejection of traditional works that SCs were once obligated to perform, fueling further conflict. 
• State Complacency: The lack of Protection Cells and the indifference of law enforcement hinder timely intervention. Victims of atrocities also face insufficient relief and rehabilitation, worsening their plight. 
  • Only 5 states- Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh, have set up special police stations to register complaints of offences against SCs and STs. 
• Systemic Failures: Many schemes for SCs, like NAMASTE and Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) face poor implementation, leading to unmet goals like zero fatalities among sanitation workers. 
  • Fund surrender and delays, as seen in Scheme of Residential Education for Students in High School in Targeted Area (SHRESHTA) further weaken welfare efforts. 

What Measures can be Implemented to Enhance the Welfare of SCs and STs in India? 

• Strengthening Legal & Judicial Mechanisms: Increase funding and improve infrastructure for exclusive SC/ST atrocity courts with mandatory time-bound trials and specialized training for judges and prosecutors. 
  • Enhance police sensitivity through compulsory training, enforce strict penalties for delays, and provide 24/7 helplines for prompt atrocity reporting. 
• Improve Reporting & Monitoring: Implement digital complaint portals with a national SC/ST atrocity tracking dashboard and whistleblower protections for victims and witnesses. 
  • Map atrocity-prone districts using NCRB data and deploy special task forces for preventive policing and conflict resolution. 
• Economic Empowerment: Accelerate Forest Rights Act, 2006, FRA claims to secure land for STs and expand Pradhan Mantri Dakshta aur Kushalta Sampaan Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) skill training with increased budgets and industry ties. 
  • Promote financial inclusion via zero-balance accounts, microloans, and 25% procurement quotas for SC/ST-owned businesses in government tenders. 
• Education & Awareness: Expand Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) to all tribal blocks. 
  • Implement anti-caste curriculum and run mass campaigns to combat caste discrimination. 
• Political & Administrative Accountability: Rank states on SC/ST welfare, linking central funding to performance, and empower the National Commission for SCs/STs with suo moto investigation powers plus mandatory annual social audits to Parliament. 

Conclusion 

Effective SC/ST welfare, strengthened legal mechanisms, better reporting, enhanced education, economic empowerment. Addressing deep-rooted caste prejudice, systemic failures, targeted policies, accountability, robust infrastructure can reduce atrocities, uplift marginalized communities, ensure social justice, inclusive development in India’s diverse society. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. Examine the challenges faced by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India and suggest measures to effectively curb atrocities and promote their socio-economic welfare. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Prelims

Q. Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination? (2020)

(a) Right against Exploitation  

(b) Right to Freedom  

(c) Right to Constitutional Remedies  

(d) Right to Equality 

Ans: (d) 

Q. If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (2022) 

(a) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.  

(b) This would create a local self-governing body in that area.  

(c) This would convert that area into a Union Territory.  

(d) The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.  

Ans: (a)

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Mains

Q. Whether the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (2018)

Q. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (2017) 

Revitalising UN for the 21st Century

For Prelims: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations, P5 veto power, 2015 Paris Agreement, World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Peacekeeping Missions, UN Security Council, UNFCCC, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), International Court of Justice (ICJ).         

For Mains: Need for reforms in United Nations (UN), Challenges related to the UN and measures needed to reform the UN. 

Source: IE  

Why in News? 

Global conflict levels have reached their highest since World War II, with over 233,000 lives lost and 120 million people displaced in 2024. This escalating violence and instability is revealing the limitations of the United Nations (UN), highlighting the need for essential reforms to strengthen its ability to address such global challenges. 

What are Key Achievements of the United Nations in the Contemporary World? 

• Climate Leadership: The UN played a key role in the 2015 Paris Agreement and continues to mobilise global cooperation on climate goals, sustainability, and green transitions through its global convening power. 
• Food Security: The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest global food aid initiative, providing life-saving assistance in emergencies and making a transformational impact on hunger reduction, nutrition, and disaster response. 
• Post-Conflict Reconstruction: The UN and its agencies, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have supported post-conflict states by rebuilding governance, promoting entrepreneurship, and investing in infrastructure—as seen in Liberia, where UNDP aided economic recovery and stability. 
  • UNDP’s microfinance programmes have been vital in restoring local trade, revitalising conflict-affected economies, and enhancing household resilience and livelihoods. 
• Peacekeeping and Security Enhancement: UN Peacekeeping Missions have helped restore peace in volatile regions like South Sudan, enhancing security perceptions and improving local economic and household well-being. 
• Promotion of Human Rights: The UN has played a key role in advancing global human rights through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the UN Human Rights Council, tackling discrimination, oppression, and violence against minorities.

What are the Limitations of the United Nations in the Contemporary World? 

• Inability to Prevent or Resolve Conflicts: Global conflict is at its highest since World War II, with 56 ongoing wars involving 92 countries, highlighting the UN’s declining role in conflict prevention and resolution—as seen in its limited impact on the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. 
  • Conflicts are undermining progress in poverty reduction, education, health, and infrastructure, with 40% of the world's poor (455 million) living in war-torn countries. This threatens the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. 
• Weak Enforcement of Peace and Security: Over 233,000 deaths and 120 million displaced in 2024 due to war and persecution reflect the UN’s limited effectiveness in ensuring peace and human rights, and undermining the UN Charter’s core goals. 
  • Reliance on voluntary troops causes delays (e.g., Rwanda genocide), and sanctions often hurt civilians more than regimes (e.g., Iraq in the 1990s). 
  • Massive humanitarian breakdowns in Yemen (only 54% health facilities functional), Sudan (15 million lacking water and sanitation), and Nigeria (economic loss of USD 91.2–USD 112.8 billion) highlight the UN’s limited influence in securing human rights and basic services in fragile and war-torn states. 
• Insufficient Response to Economic and Environmental Fallout: Violence cost the global economy USD 19.3 trillion in 2023 (13.5% of GDP), yet the UN lacks tools to address economic fallout like trade disruption and investment losses. 
  • Climate impacts of war, including 5.5% of global emissions from military activity and ecosystem destruction, remain largely excluded from global climate frameworks, exposing a major policy gap. 
• Eroding Influence and Outdated Structure: Formed in 1945, the UN’s structure, particularly the P5 veto power, often blocks timely and impartial action. 
  • For instance, the veto power of the UN Security Council's P5 has often blocked resolutions in conflicts like Israel-Hamas favoring national interests over global justice. 
    • India and Brazil's exclusion from permanent membership in the UN Security Council reflects a power imbalance within the UN system. 
  • Its failure to adapt to modern challenges—like climate-conflict links, asymmetric warfare, and transnational extremism—makes it seem outdated and rigid. 
• Rise of Minilateral Forums: The rise of minilateral forums like Quad, BRICS, G7, and G20, EU, African Union, undermines the UN by bypassing its inclusive framework, weakening its legitimacy and consensus-building role.  
  • These groups often divert focus and resources, operate with less transparency, and exclude smaller nations, sidelining the UN’s “one country, one vote” principle and reinforcing power hierarchies in global decision-making. 
• Chronic Underfunding: The UN has repeatedly highlighted underfunding, which hampers peacekeeping, climate resilience, and humanitarian aid, as major economies often delay or cut contributions—e.g., US funding cuts to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). 

What Institutional Reforms are Crucial to Enhance the UN's Effectiveness in the Modern World? 

• Reforming Veto Power: Limit unilateral veto use by introducing a nonpartisan review panel to assess its motives and impacts, ensuring transparency and accountability.  
  • A super-majority (2/3rd) in the General Assembly should be empowered to override a vetoed resolution.  
  • The France-Mexico proposal, which seeks to ban the use of veto in cases of genocide and mass atrocities, deserves serious consideration. 
• Expand Permanent & Non-Permanent Membership: There is a need to add India, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, and Japan as permanent members, and create rotating seats for climate-vulnerable states like Pacific Islands and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 
  • These steps would enhance equity, representation, and legitimacy in global decision-making. 
• Accountability for Conflict Pollution: Mandate military emissions reporting under UNFCCC, set binding decarbonization targets for the defence sector (e.g., green fuels, renewables), and recognise its role in climate accountability. 
  • Create a UN-administered fund for post-conflict reforestation and clean energy reconstruction. 
• Funding & Financial Reforms: Establish an automatic funding mechanism with penalties for defaults, and explore global taxes—such as a billionaires tax, carbon tax on aviation/shipping, and digital tax on Big Tech—to fund UN aid, climate adaptation, and SDGs. 
  • Ensure timely contributions from member states, especially large economies, while encouraging voluntary funding for conflict, climate, and poverty-affected regions. 
• Fair and Ethical Decision-Making: Establish universal jurisdiction for war crimes and support decision-making under a “veil of ignorance” (blind voting system) to minimize bias and national self-interest. 
  • Create an independent ethics panel to address conflicts of interest, with automatic sanctions for non-compliance with International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings. 
• Strengthening Regional Partnerships: The UN should strengthen its partnerships with regional organizations, such as the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to address regional conflicts and crises more effectively. This could involve joint peacekeeping missions, disaster relief efforts, and policy coordination. 
  • It will also balance multilateralism with minilateralism.

Conclusion 

Reforming the United Nations is essential to ensure it remains a relevant and effective actor in the contemporary global order. These reforms, including changes to its decision-making processes, peacekeeping mandates, budget structure, and governance, would allow the UN to better address the complex and interconnected challenges of the 21st century, ensuring a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. 

Drishti Mains Question:

The United Nations’ inability to prevent modern conflicts highlights its structural weaknesses. Suggest reforms to make it more effective in maintaining global peace and security.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims 

Q. With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.  
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year  
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.  

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2022)

(a) 3 only  

(b) 1 and 3  

(c) 2 and 3  

(d) 1 and 2  

Ans: (a) 

Q. With reference to the United Nations, consider the following statements: (2009) 

1. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN consists of 24 member States. 
2. It is elected by a 2/3rd majority of the General  Assembly for a 3-year term. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  

(a) 1 only   

(b) 2 only  

(c) Both 1 and 2   

(d) Neither 1 nor 2  

Ans: (b)  

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Mains: 

Q. What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it. (2017) 

Q. Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (2015)

Digital Platforms to Enhance India’s PDS System

Source: PIB

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched 3 digital initiatives- Depot Darpan Portal, Anna Mitra Mobile App, and Anna Sahayata Grievance Redressal System. 

• These initiatives aim to improve transparency, efficiency, and accessibility within India's Public Distribution System (PDS), benefiting over 81 crore people under the National Food Security Act. 

What are Depot Darpan Portal, Anna Mitra Mobile App and Anna Sahayata? 

• Depot Darpan Portal: Depot Darpan is a self-assessment and monitoring portal for food grain depots managed by the  Food Corporation of India (FCI)  and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC).  
  • Key Features: 
    • Tech-Driven Ratings: It uses a composite rating system evaluating occupancy, profitability, storage efficiency, safety, environmental sustainability, and statutory compliance, supported by IoT sensors, CCTV, live video feeds, and real-time analytics. 
    • The portal is expected to result in Rs 275 crore in savings for FCI and generate Rs 140 crore additional revenue for CWC by optimizing storage space and operations. 
• Anna Mitra App: Anna Mitra is a mobile app designed for Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers, District Food & Supply Officers (DFSO), and Food Inspectors under the Public Distribution System (PDS). 
  • Key Features: 
    • Role-Based Functionalities: It enables FPS dealers to track stock receipts, sales, and alerts; DFSO to monitor FPS performance, handle grievances, and access beneficiary data; and inspectors to conduct geo-tagged inspections. 
    • Aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability, the app is piloted in Assam, Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Punjab, and is available in Hindi and English. 
• Anna Sahayata Platform: Anna Sahayata is a grievance redressal platform for beneficiaries of PMGKAY and the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, covering over 81 crore people. 
  • It enables grievance registration via WhatsApp, IVRS, and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), improving accessibility, accountability, and efficiency. 

What is the Public Distribution System (PDS)? 

• About: The PDS is a food security mechanism that provides essential foodgrains at subsidized rates to vulnerable populations.  
  • It is governed by the NFSA, 2013 covering about two-thirds of the population based on Census 2011.  
  • PDS mainly supplies wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene, with some states also distributing pulses, edible oils, and salt. 
• Implementation: Jointly managed by the Centre and States/UTs, the Central Government (through FCI) overseas procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation of foodgrains. 
  • While State Governments handle local distribution, beneficiary identification, ration card issuance, and Fair Price Shop (FPS) operations.  
• Initiatives to Reform India's PDS: 
  • Anna Chakra is a supply chain optimization tool for the PDS to reduce transport distances by 15–50% and save Rs 250 crore annually.  
  • SCAN (System for Computerized Allocation and Notification) streamlines food subsidy claims through a unified, automated, rule-based portal. 
  • One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) 
  • Technology-Driven Reforms in PDS: 
    • SMART-PDS Scheme (2023–2026) to upgrade technology in End-to-End Computerization and Integrated Management of PDS (ImPDS). 
    • Computerized FPS and use of POS machines for real-time authentication and tracking of grain distribution. 
    • Aadhaar linkage improves beneficiary identification;  DBT enables cash transfers. 
    • GPS tracking of grain delivery and SMS alerts to update citizens on dispatch and arrival. 

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)   

Prelims

Q.1 In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: (2021)   

1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme.   
2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France.   
3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centers.   

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 only   

(b) 2 and 3 only   

(c) 1 and 3 only   

(d) 1, 2 and 3   

Ans: (d)  

Q.2 With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements: (2018)   

1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidized food grains.   
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.   
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 only   

(b) 2 only   

(c) 1 and 3 only    

(d) 3 only   

Ans: (b)

Core-Mantle Connectivity

Source: LS 

Why in News? 

A study by German researchers reveals that precious metals like gold, platinum, and ruthenium are leaking from the Earth's core to the surface via volcanic activity, challenging the long-standing belief that the core is geochemically isolated.

What are the Key Insights from Recent Studies on the Interaction Between Earth’s Core and Mantle? 

• Core-Mantle Material Exchange: Researchers studied volcanic rocks from Hawaii, created by mantle plumes (hot rock columns) rising from the core-mantle boundary.  
  • They detected high levels of ruthenium-100 (^100Ru), an isotope mainly found in the Earth’s core, showing that core materials travel upward through mantle plumes. 
    • This reveals greater connectivity between the core and mantle than earlier assumed. 
• Precious Metals Locked in Earth’s Core: The Earth’s core contains over 99.999% of the planet’s gold along with other siderophile (iron-loving) elements like platinum, iridium, and ruthenium.  
  • These metals were traditionally thought to be inaccessible due to a thick rock barrier separating the core from the mantle and crust. 

What are the Key Facts About Earth’s Mantle & Core? 

 

• Mantle: 
  • Structure: The mantle constitutes about 83% of Earth’s volume and 67% of its mass, extending from the Moho discontinuity ( around 7-35 km depth) down to the core-mantle boundary at 2,900 km depth.  
    • It is primarily composed of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium, with elemental composition approximately 45% oxygen, 21% silicon, and 23% magnesium. 
      • Common silicates found in the mantle include olivine, garnet, and pyroxene. 
  • Density and State: The upper mantle’s density ranges from 2.9 to 3.3 g/cm³, while the lower mantle’s density varies from 3.3 to 5.7 g/cm³. 
    • The asthenosphere is a layer of the upper mantle, while the lower mantle extends deeper into the Earth. 
    • While the asthenosphere is partially molten and can flow, the immense pressure in the lower mantle keeps it in a solid state, despite the high temperatures. 
  • Temperature Gradient and Convection: Temperatures increase from around 200°C near the crust to nearly 4,000°C at the core-mantle boundary.  
    • This temperature difference drives mantle convection, where solid silicate rock behaves plastically and circulates slowly.  
    • This convection is fundamental to the movement of tectonic plates at the surface. 
  • Seismicity: Despite high-pressure conditions that normally inhibit seismic activity, earthquakes occur in subduction zones down to depths of 670 km, within the mantle. 
• Earth’s Core: 
  • Structure: The Earth’s core lies beneath the mantle, starting at about 2,900 km depth and extending to the planet’s center at approximately 6,371 km.  
    • It is primarily composed of iron and nickel, with some lighter elements. 
  • Outer Core: Extending from 2,900 km to about 5,150 km depth, the outer core is a molten, liquid layer approximately 2,250 km thick, with temperatures ranging between 4,000°C and 6,000°C.  
    • The movement of its liquid iron generates Earth’s magnetic field through the geodynamo process. Its density is lower than the inner core due to its liquid state. 
  • Inner Core:  Located from approximately 5,150 km depth to the Earth's center, the inner core is a solid sphere with a radius of about 1,220 km.  
    • Despite extremely high temperatures ranging from 5,000°C to 7,000°C, it remains solid due to the immense pressure exerted by the overlying layers. 
    • Composed primarily of an iron-nickel alloy, the inner core is highly dense and plays a critical role in Earth’s internal heat transfer.  
    • It also influences the planet's magnetic field, although the geodynamo effect (magnetic field generation) is primarily driven by the swirling liquid iron in the outer core. 
    • The inner core exhibits high thermal and electrical conductivity and rotates eastward slightly faster than the Earth's surface, completing an extra rotation approximately every 1,000 years. 
    • It is separated from the outer core by a boundary known as the Lehmann Discontinuity. 

Asthenosphere: 

• The asthenosphere is the upper mantle layer from 80 to 200 km depth, located beneath the rigid lithosphere.  
• It is ductile, mechanically weak, and highly viscous, with density greater than the crust. These properties facilitate tectonic plate movement and isostatic adjustments.  
  • It is also the main source of magma for volcanic eruptions. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Prelims

Q. In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core is mainly made up of which one of the following? (2009)

(a) Aluminium  
(b) Chromium  
(c) Iron  
(d) Silicon  

Ans: (c)

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Source: IE 

The Prime Minister inaugurated 103 redeveloped railway stations across 86 districts in 18 States/UTs under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS).

 

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) 

• About: ABSS, introduced  by the Ministry of Railways in December 2022, aims to redevelop 1,309 railway stations into modern integrated transport hubs across India. 
  • It is also aimed at integrating regional architecture, enhancing passenger amenities, promoting inclusivity, and supporting urban development. 
• Key Features: 
  • Customised & Culturally Integrated Redevelopment: Stations are redeveloped in phases with location-specific plans, combining modern amenities with regional architectural themes. 
    • Eg: Dwarka (Dwarkadheesh Temple), Ahmedabad (Modhera Sun Temple), Kumbakonam (Chola style) and Gurugram (modern urban design). 
  • Passenger Amenities: Stations include modern waiting halls, clean toilets, roofed platforms, streamlined access points, along with Wi-Fi, escalators, lifts, executive lounges, business areas, and improved signage for a seamless travel experience. 
  • Inclusive & Accessible Design: Aligned with the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), features include ramps, lifts, Braille signage, tactile paths,  accessible toilets, and lift-equipped subways/FOBs etc. 
  • Urban Development Focus: Stations are developed as multimodal city centres, integrating with bus and metro systems, connecting both sides of cities, and incorporating eco-friendly, noise-reducing infrastructure to support urban mobility. 

Read More: Amrit Bharat Stations Scheme 

Major Breakthrough in Indigenous Heeng Cultivation

Source: TH 

After about 5 years of continuous effort, the first flowering and seed setting of heeng (asafoetida) at IHBT Palampur were successfully reported. This achievement is a landmark milestone in heeng cultivation, demonstrating that the plant can be acclimatized to Indian conditions. 

• In 2020, the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur launched a national mission to introduce heeng cultivation with plantation in Kwaring village, Lahaul Valley (HP), using seeds sourced from Iran and Afghanistan. 

Heeng 

• About: This plant is a perennial herb belonging to the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family. 
  • The oleo-gum resin, extracted from the plant’s thick root after 5 years of maturity, forms the edible asafoetida used in culinary and medicinal applications. 
• Ideal Environmental Conditions: Heeng thrives in cold, arid climates such as those found in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.  
  • The plant prefers sandy, well-drained soils with minimal moisture. It requires temperatures between 10-20°C but can tolerate extremes of 40°C in the heat and -4°C in the cold.  
  • It also needs very little rainfall (under 300 mm annually) for optimal growth.  
  • In India, regions such as Lahaul-Spiti and Uttarkashi are well-suited for cultivating heeng due to their semi-arid, high-altitude conditions. 
• Significance: This ancient Ayurvedic herb, mentioned in the Mahabharata, Charaka Samhita, and Panini's texts, is prized for its digestive benefits, relieving abdominal pain, enhancing taste, and aiding digestion. 
  • Despite being the world’s largest consumer, India relied entirely on imports from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan until early last decade.

Read More: Heeng Cultivation Project in India 

Indian Grey Wolf

Source: DTE 

Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) was sighted near the Yamuna floodplains in Delhi, marking the rare & first sighting in Delhi since the 1940s.

Indian Grey Wolf: 

• About: The Indian Grey Wolf is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf native to the Indian subcontinent and Southwest Asia. 
  • It is nocturnal and apex predator that hunts in small packs and is less vocal compared to other wolf subspecies. 
• Appearance:  A carnivore of the Canidae family, the Indian Grey Wolf is intermediate in size between the Tibetan and Arabian wolves and lacks a thick winter coat, adapting to warmer climates. 
• Habitat & Distribution:  From Israel in the west to the Indian subcontinent in the east, inhabiting scrublands, grasslands, pastoral agro-ecosystems and semi-arid agro-ecosystems in warmer regions. 
• Protection Status:  
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.  
• Threats: The species faces several threats, including the loss of grasslands due to agricultural and industrial expansion, habitat modification, depletion of natural prey, and the spread of diseases from feral dogs. 

Read More: Indian Grey Wolf 

800-Year-Old Shiva Temple Discovered in Tamil Nadu

Source: TH 

An 800-year-old Shiva temple from the later Pandya period (1216–1345) has been discovered in Tamil Nadu, offering significant insights into the region’s historical and socio-economic dynamics. 

• Inscriptions and Shilpa Sastram confirm the temple, named Thennavanisvaram, was dedicated to Lord Shiva. 
  • Dated to 1217–1218 CE during Maravarman Sundara Pandya’s reign, it is located in the village formerly called Attur (now Udampatti). 
  • Thennavan is a title used by the Pandyas, showing the temple had royal support. 
• The inscriptions record the sale of a waterbody named Nagankudi for 64 kasu (coins).   
  • The land tax was to be paid to the God of Thennavaniswaram ensuring financial independence of the temple. 
• About Later Pandyas: The early Pandyas (4th to 3rd centuries BC) lost power to the Kalabhras, regained it in the 6th century, were overshadowed by the Cholas in the 9th century, and ruled again in the 12th century as Later Pandyas.  
  • They had ties with the Roman Empire, Greeks, Chinese, and Egyptians, and were praised by travelers like Marco Polo (Italian traveller of the 13th century).  
  • Their kingdom ended in the 14th century after the Delhi Sultanate invasion, leading to their incorporation in the Vijayanagar Empire. 

Temples patronized by Pandyas: Meenakshi Temple (Madurai), Aranganathar Temple (Srirangam), Vijayanarayana temple (Nanguneri), Lakshmi Narayana temple (Athur). 

Read More: Sangam Age