Madhya Pradesh Switch to Hindi
Review of Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Progress
Why in News?
- Recently, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti led a high-level review meeting with State Ministers responsible for rural sanitation from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar to strengthen the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G).
- The session aimed to assess progress, tackle challenges, and streamline strategies to ensure sustainable sanitation outcomes in rural India.
Key Points
- The Union Minister emphasized sanitation as a behavioral mission critical to the health and dignity of rural communities.
- He underlined the importance of shaping a cleaner, healthier India through collective efforts, noting that each State/UT has unique challenges but shares the common goal of achieving a Swachh Bharat.
- State-Wise Progress:
- Madhya Pradesh:
- 99% of villages are Open Defecation Free Status (ODF) Plus, with 95% achieving ODF Plus Model status.
- The state implemented innovative plastic waste management initiatives, including MoUs with RRDA Bhopal.
- Uttar Pradesh:
- 98% of villages are ODF Plus. Over 1 lakh personnel have been trained for SBM-G objectives.
- Focused on waste-to-energy models and scrap dealer linkages for plastic waste management.
- Bihar:
- 92% of villages are ODF Plus. Grey water management coverage is at 91%, and solid waste management at 80%.
- Efforts are concentrated on improving outcomes in underperforming districts.
- Punjab:
- 98% of villages are ODF Plus, with 87% achieving grey water management saturation.
- Enhanced systems are under development.
- Madhya Pradesh:
- Minister’s Guidance for Collective Action:
- ODF Plus Sustainability: Establish robust monitoring mechanisms to verify and sustain ODF Plus Model villages.
- Waste Management Gaps: Address gaps in solid and grey water management by prioritizing household-level solutions.
- Community Sanitation: Strengthen functionality and asset management of community sanitation complexes.
- Plastic Waste Management: Forge partnerships with recyclers and utilize Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
- EPR makes producers responsible for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle. It aims to promote better waste management and reduce the burden on municipalities.
- Behavioral Change: Promote sustained toilet use and waste segregation through targeted IEC (Information Education and Communication) campaigns.
- Community-Led Approaches: States to engage women’s self-help groups, local leaders, and private sector enterprises to foster community-led sanitation efforts.
- Broader Vision and Global Alignment:
- Swachh Bharat Mission is a cornerstone of rural transformation, integrating sanitation, waste management, water conservation, and community well-being.
- The mission aligns with global goals, including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
- The focus extends beyond targets to building ecosystems of health, dignity, and self-reliance.
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G)
- About:
- It was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus on sanitation.
- The mission was implemented as a nation-wide campaign/Janandolan which aimed at eliminating open defecation in rural areas.
- Swachh Bharat Mission (G) Phase-I:
- The rural sanitation coverage in the country at the time of launch of SBM (G) on 2nd October, 2014 was reported as 38.7%.
- More than 10 crore individual toilets have been constructed since the launch of the mission, as a result, rural areas in all the States have declared themselves ODF as on 2nd October, 2019.
- SBM(G) Phase-II:
- It emphasizes the sustainability of achievements under phase I and to provide adequate facilities for Solid/Liquid & plastic Waste Management (SLWM) in rural India.
- It will be implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in a mission mode with a total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores.
- The SLWM component of ODF Plus will be monitored on the basis of output-outcome indicators for 4 key areas:
- Plastic waste management,
- Biodegradable solid waste management (including animal waste management)
- Greywater (Household Wastewater) management
- Fecal sludge management.
Uttar Pradesh Switch to Hindi
UP- First State to Fully Adopt GeM Platform
Why in News?
Recently, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to fully integrate the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform, enhancing transparency and efficiency in public procurement.
- This move is projected to save Rs 2,000 crore annually while fostering fair practices and empowering small businesses.
Key Points
- Prior tendering systems in Uttar Pradesh lacked uniformity and were vulnerable to misuse.
- GeM resolves these issues by enforcing standardized rules, thereby reducing the chances of violations or loopholes.
- The state government aims to scale up GeM usage across all state departments, ensuring compliance and enhancing accountability.
- Demonstrated Success:
- The Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board used GeM to procure materials for 18 Atal Residential Schools.
- These schools, serving students from Class 6 to intermediate level, now offer exemplary learning environments, including support for children orphaned during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board used GeM to procure materials for 18 Atal Residential Schools.
- Policy Reforms and Compliance:
- Strict guidelines: Policies prohibit practices such as offline contracts, price discovery bids, quantity-based bids, and unnecessary requests for samples during bid evaluations.
- All state departments must procure at least 25% of their annual goods and services through GeM, with penalties for non-compliance.
- Support for Small Enterprises: Relaxed tender eligibility criteria (e.g., turnover and past performance) create opportunities for micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
- Worker Welfare Provisions: Policies mandate minimum wages, Employee Provident Fund (EPF), and Employee State Insurance (ESI) benefits for outsourced employees.
- Service providers cannot arbitrarily replace outsourced employees after hiring, ensuring job stability and fairness.
- Anti-Collusion Measures: Collusion or bid manipulation incurs severe penalties, with provisions for reporting cases to the GeM team.
- Complaint Redressal Mechanism: High-level committees, chaired by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, review compliance-related grievances submitted via dedicated emails.
- Strict guidelines: Policies prohibit practices such as offline contracts, price discovery bids, quantity-based bids, and unnecessary requests for samples during bid evaluations.
- Alignment with National Initiatives:
- GeM adoption promotes the vision of "Digital India" by enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.
- The platform supports local suppliers and fosters fair competition, aligning with the "Make in India" initiative.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Platform
- GeM facilitates online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organisations / PSUs.
- The initiative was launched in August 2016, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
- The current version of GeM, i.e., GeM 3.0 was launched on January 26, 2018.
- It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users, achieve the best value for their money and aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.
Uttar Pradesh Switch to Hindi
Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute
Why in News?
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna is set to hear the case on Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura.
- It is among the oldest temple-mosque conflicts in India, with Hindus seeking to reclaim places of worship they allege were converted into mosques during invasions by Muslim rulers.
Key Points
- Background of the Dispute:
- Mathura, considered the birthplace of Lord Krishna, had a temple built in 1618.
- The Hindu side alleges that the temple was demolished in 1670 by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb to construct the Shahi Idgah Mosque.
- The Hindu side claims the mosque contains Hindu religious symbols and features, including a lotus-shaped pillar and an image of the deity Sheshnag.
- Also contends that the mosque was built on a part of the 13.37-acre land belonging to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust and has filed a suit seeking the mosque’s relocation.
- The Shahi Idgah Mosque Committee and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board argue that the mosque does not stand on disputed land.
- Key Developments:
- Court-Monitored Survey:
- On 14th December 2023, the Allahabad High Court ordered a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah Mosque.
- The court appointed a commissioner to oversee the survey, based on claims that signs of the site’s past as a Hindu temple exist on the mosque premises.
- Supreme Court Intervention:
- The Committee of Management, Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah, filed a petition challenging the High Court’s order for the survey.
- On 16th January 2024, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court’s order for the survey, citing vagueness in the Hindu side’s application.
- Court-Monitored Survey:
- Arguments:
- Hindu Side’s Position:
- They demanded that the High Court conduct an original trial, similar to the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case.
- The Hindu side has urged the Supreme Court to allow the High Court to determine the modalities for the commission survey.
- Mosque Committee’s Position:
- The committee argues that the High Court’s order for a survey is invalid as the suit is barred under the Places of Worship Act, 1991 which prevents changes to the character of religious places as of 15th August 1947.
- The committee has also challenged the High Court’s 26th May 2023, order transferring all dispute-related cases from the Mathura court to itself.
- Hindu Side’s Position:
Rajasthan Switch to Hindi
Dark Age Coins Unearthed in Rajasthan
Why in News?
Recently, archaeological sites in Rajasthan have unearthed a wealth of punch-mark coins from 600 BC–1000 BC.
- It offeres insights into a "dark age" in Indian history that spanned the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization to the era of Lord Buddha. Historians refer to this period from 1900 BC to 600 BC, as the Dark Age.
Key Points
- About:
- Rajasthan's archaeological discoveries shed light on its role as a hub of ancient trade and cultural exchange.
- The findings underscore the importance of preserving and studying these artifacts to illuminate India’s lost historical periods.
- Presentation at National Numismatics Conference:
- A retired numismatist from the Rajasthan Department of Archaeology and Museology, presented his research on punch-mark coins at the National Numismatics Conference in Meerut on 5th December 2024.
- Museology is the study of museums and the activities they undertake.
- It includes the study of museums' history, their role in society, and the activities they engage in, such as curating, preservation, education, and public programming.
- A numismatist is a person who studies, collects, and analyzes currency and other objects used as money.
- He highlighted discoveries from sites like Ahar (Udaipur), Kalibanga (Hanumangarh), Viratnagar (Jaipur), and Jankipura (Tonk), showcasing evidence of a thriving ancient trade network.
- A retired numismatist from the Rajasthan Department of Archaeology and Museology, presented his research on punch-mark coins at the National Numismatics Conference in Meerut on 5th December 2024.
- Discoveries and Significance:
- Extensive Coin Studies:
- Major Findings:
- Notable discoveries include 3,300 coins unearthed in Tonk in 1935 and 2,400 coins in Sikar in 1998.
- Metallurgical tools from these regions resemble those found in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Peshawar, linking Rajasthan to a wider cultural and trade network.
- Historical Context and Archaeological Evidence:
- Documentation by Chinese Travelers:
- Chinese travelers Fa-Hien (399–414 CE), Sunyan (518 CE), and Hiuen-Tsang (629 CE) documented ruins in these areas, pointing to their historical importance.
- Their accounts, combined with archaeological evidence, enrich the understanding of Rajasthan's ancient trade and cultural heritage.
- Broader Trade Connections:
- Rajasthan's trade history parallels the Silk Route in significance, supported by discoveries of coins from the Gupta dynasty, Malavas, and Janapadas.
- These findings emphasize Rajasthan’s pivotal economic and cultural role in ancient India.
- Documentation by Chinese Travelers:
- Treasure Collection:
- The Rajasthan Department of Archaeology has amassed over 2.21 lakh ancient coins, including 7,180 punch-marked examples, curated under the Rajasthan Treasure Trove Rules, 1961.
- These coins provide invaluable insights into the state’s historical and economic prominence.
Indus Valley Civilization
- About:
- The history of India begins with the birth of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as Harappan Civilization.
- It flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan and Western India.
- The Indus Valley was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.
- In the 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India carried out excavations in the Indus valley wherein the ruins of the two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.
- In 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI, announced the discovery of a new civilisation in the Indus valley to the world.
- Decline:
- The Indus Valley Civilization declined around 1800 BCE, primarily due to climate change and migration.
- Its two major cities, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, disappeared, marking the end of the civilization.
- Harappa is often associated with the civilization’s name as it was the first city discovered by modern archaeologists
Bihar Switch to Hindi
Excavation of Mauryan Empire in Patna
Why in News?
Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) initiated the excavation of the '80-pillared assembly hall' at Kumhrar, a site regarded as the only surviving evidence of the architectural achievements of the Mauryan emperors in the Indian subcontinent.
Key Points
- Uncovering the Mauryan Palace at Kumhrar:
- According to ASI, the excavation began on 1st December 2024 at the Kumhrar protected site in Patna, focusing on the Asokan Sabha Ghar (assembly hall).
- The primary aim is to assess the current condition of the buried Mauryan stone pillars.
- A detailed scientific analysis will be conducted, including collaboration with the Central Ground Water Board to measure the water table.
- Based on the findings, the possibility of uncovering all 80 pillars will be considered.
- Historical Context and Past Excavations:
- The Mauryan period hall, believed to have been used by Emperor Ashoka for the Third Buddhist Council in the 3rd century BCE, was first revealed through excavations between 1912–1915 and 1951–1955.
- Challenges:
- In the late 1990s, the ruins suffered from waterlogging due to groundwater seepage, causing damage to the structure.
- To prevent further deterioration, the site was covered with soil and sand in 2004.
- Initially, a few pillars will be uncovered for condition assessment. If the condition permits, more pillars may be revealed to the public.
- In the late 1990s, the ruins suffered from waterlogging due to groundwater seepage, causing damage to the structure.
- Importance of Kumhrar:
- Kumhrar, located in Patna, houses remnants of the ancient city of Pataliputra, the Mauryan Empire's capital.
- Archaeological discoveries at Kumhrar, dating to 600 BCE, provide insights into the history of rulers like Ajatasattu, Chandragupta Maurya, and Ashoka.
- The site includes artifacts spanning four historical periods, from 600 BCE to 600 CE, highlighting its historical significance.
Mauryan Dynasty
- Chandragupta Maurya (321–297 BCE): The founder of the Mauryan Empire, overthrew the Nanda dynasty and expanded the empire by annexing regions such as the Hindu Kush.
- In 305–303 BCE, he formed a treaty with Seleucus Nicator, gaining additional territories. Later in life, Chandragupta became a disciple of Jainism.
- Chanakya, the prime minister under the reign of Chandragupta Maurya (322 BCE - 297 BCE) and his successor Bindusar. Chanakya played a significant role in the empire’s success.
- Bindusara (298-272 BCE): Expanded the empire to the Deccan, known as "Amitraghata" (slayer of enemies). Adopted the Ajivika sect. Deimachus was a Greek ambassador at his court.
- Ashoka (272-232 BCE): After the Kalinga War, which led to massive casualties, he embraced Buddhism and promoted peace through his Dhamma (moral laws). Organized the 3rd Buddhist Council and spread Buddhism globally.
- Dasharatha (232–224 BCE): Last Mauryan ruler to issue imperial inscriptions. Faced territorial losses.
- Samprati (224–215 BCE): Re-established Mauryan control over disintegrated territories and promoted Jainism.
- Shalishuka (215–202 BCE): Known as a quarrelsome ruler with a negative reputation.
- Devavarman (202–195 BCE): Brief reign, mentioned in the Puranas.
- Shatadhanvan (195–187 BCE): Lost territories due to external invasions.
- Brihadratha (187–185 BCE): The last Mauryan emperor, assassinated by Pushyamitra Shunga, marking the end of the Mauryan dynasty.