Art and Culture

From Ashokan Times to Now: Sanchi to Europe, Story of the Great Stupa - Indian Express

Context:

The External Affairs Minister recently visited a replica of the East Gate of Sanchi’s Great Stupa at the Humboldt Forum Museum in Berlin. The replica, unveiled in December 2022, is a 1:1 reproduction of the original, standing at nearly 10 meters tall and 6 meters wide, weighing about 150 tonnes.

Stupa:

• Meaning: In Buddhism, a stupa is a hemispherical structure that contains relics (usually of the Buddha or Buddhist monks/nuns) and is used for meditation.
• Origin: Pre-Buddhist burial mounds in ancient India, initially non-religious memorials.
• Development:
  • Ashoka's Expansion (250 BCE): Emperor Ashoka reportedly built 84,000 stupas across India to distribute Buddha's relics.
  • Decorated Stupas (125 BCE onwards): Stupas became adorned with sculptural reliefs, seen in Bharhut, Bodh Gaya, and Sanchi.
  • Gandhara Influence (3rd century BCE - 5th century CE): Spread Buddhist architecture to Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan.

Sanchi Stupa:

• Construction: Built in the 3rd century BCE by Emperor Ashoka; India’s oldest stone structure. Final construction dated to the 12th century CE.
• Significance: Contains relics of Buddha’s disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayan.
• Rediscovery: By British General Henry Taylor in 1818; formal excavation by Alexander Cunningham in 1851.
• Restoration: Led by ASI director-general John Marshall in the 1910s.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized in 1989.
• Toranas (Gateways): Added in the 1st century BCE during the Satavahana reign, featuring sculptural depictions from Buddha’s life and Jataka tales.

Society

Role of CSTT in Standardising Technical Terms - The Hindu

Context:

In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the government is pushing for technical education in Indian languages. The Shabd Portal has been launched to centralize and digitize scientific and technical terms.

Shabd Portal:

• Aim: Central repository for technical terminologies in Indian languages.
• Content: Contains 450 dictionaries with three million words.
• Significance:
  • Users can search for scientific and technical terms in various Indian languages.
  • Allows feedback on the prepared terms.
  • Provides diverse search options based on language, subject, and dictionary type.

Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT):

• Plays a crucial role in standardizing and developing technical terms in Indian languages, aiding in making technical education accessible.

Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)

Polity

What Does Dissolution of SCoS Entail? - The Hindu

Context:

• The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently dissolved the 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), headed by economist Pronab Sen. The implications of this decision are being analyzed in the context of statistical governance in India.

Gram Nyayalayas - The Hindu

Context:

• The Supreme Court has emphasized the need to establish Gram Nyayalayas across India to improve access to justice in rural areas.

Gram Nyayalayas:

• Village courts aimed at ensuring swift and affordable justice for rural populations, particularly addressing petty civil and criminal cases.

Environment

Mithun Spotted in Assam for the First Time - Indian Express

Context:

• For the first time, the bovine species Mithun was spotted in Assam, as confirmed by the Chief Minister of Assam.

Mithun (Gayal):

• Scientific Name: Bos frontalis.
• About: Heavily built, semi-domesticated bovine species; state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• Origin: Descended from wild Indian gaur or bison more than 8,000 years ago.
• Distribution: Primarily found in the North Eastern region of India, Southeast Asia (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan).
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable.
• CITES Status: Appendix I.

Ahaetulla Longirostris - Indian Express

Context:

• A new species of snake, the long-snouted vine snake (Ahaetulla longirostris), has been discovered in Bihar and Meghalaya.

Long-Snouted Vine Snake:

• Appearance: Slender, elongated body with bright green or orange-brown coloration; orange belly.
• Size: Can grow up to 4 feet in length.
• Significance: Adds to India’s rich biodiversity.

India's Second Largest Butterfly Species Found in Madurai - The Hindu

Context:

• The Southern Birdwing butterfly, India's second largest, has been spotted on the satellite campus of The American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Southern Birdwing (Sahyadri Birdwing):

• Known for its large size and vibrant colors, this butterfly is an important part of India’s lepidopteran diversity.

Science and Technology

Cholera - The Hindu

Dark Patterns Pose a Growing Concern in India’s Digital Landscape - The Hindu

Context:

With the rise in online shopping, dark patterns — manipulative design strategies used to influence user decisions — have become a growing concern.

Dark Patterns:

• Techniques used in websites or apps that manipulate users into making unintended decisions, such as accidental purchases or subscriptions, exploiting the digital surge in India.