Highlights
- History: the Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh, built in 1533 by the Vijayanagara rulers, came under focus amid concerns about limestone mining near Chittorgarh Fort.
- Governance: the States' Startup Ranking 2022 placed Karnataka, Gujarat, and Kerala as top performers.
- International: Taiwan's presidential election saw pro-independence DPP candidate Lai Ching-te win; Taiwan produces 92 per cent of the world's most advanced logic chips.
- Technology: the World Economic Forum's Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution opened in Hyderabad.
1. Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi: Vijayanagara architecture
GS area: Art and Culture, History (medieval)
The Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh is a 16th-century temple built in 1533 during the Vijayanagara period.
- Etymology: "Lepakshi" means "rise, oh bird" in Telugu and is linked to the legend of Jatayu, the eagle that tried to stop Ravana in the Ramayana. The site is believed to be where Jatayu fell.
- Architecture: Vijayanagara style. Notable features include hanging pillars (one of which is suspended from the ceiling without touching the floor), cave chambers, and mural paintings.
- Deities: dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra (a fierce form of Shiva), along with Ganesha, Shiva as Saptamatrikas, and Durga.
- Significance: contains one of the finest examples of Vijayanagara mural painting. The temple complex also includes a large monolithic Nandi sculpture nearby.
Static linkage: medieval Indian history, temple architecture, Vijayanagara.
2. Chittorgarh Fort: mining ban upheld
GS area: Heritage, Environment
The Supreme Court upheld the prohibition on limestone mining by blasting within a 5 km radius of Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan.
- Chittorgarh Fort: the largest fort in India by area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Rajasthan.
- Built: originally constructed in the 7th century by Maurya rulers. Expanded by successive Rajput rulers of Mewar.
- Historical significance: site of three famous Jauhars (mass self-immolation by Rajput women) and associated with Rani Padmavati, Mirabai, and the Mewar resistance against Alauddin Khilji, Bahadur Shah, and Akbar.
- UNESCO listing: part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan (inscribed in 2013), which includes Amber, Gwalior, Jhansi, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, and Gagron forts.
Static linkage: heritage conservation, Rajasthan, medieval history.
3. States' Startup Ranking 2022: Karnataka leads
GS area: Economy, Governance (innovation ecosystem)
The DPIIT released the States' Startup Ranking 2022. Karnataka, Gujarat, and Kerala were the top performers.
- Ranking body: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Categories: Best performers, top performers, leaders, aspiring leaders, and emerging ecosystems.
- Also strong: Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh.
- DPIIT's role: implements the Startup India policy, which grants tax exemptions, regulatory relaxations, and access to government procurement for recognised startups.
Static linkage: startup ecosystem, innovation policy.
4. Kashmir: declining snowfall and its consequences
GS area: Environment, Geography (J&K, climate)
Reports in January 2024 noted a dramatic decline in snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, threatening winter tourism, agriculture, and water resources.
- Causes: fewer western disturbance events reaching the region, El Niño warming, and longer-term temperature rise.
- Consequences: reduced snowmelt in spring and summer, threatening irrigation, hydroelectric power, and glacial mass balance.
- Impact on crops: apples and saffron, Kashmir's two most valuable crops, depend on adequate snow cover and chilling hours. Both face reduced yields under lower snowfall conditions.
- Glacial melt: Kashmir's glaciers (Siachen, Zoji La group) are retreating. The Indus basin depends heavily on glacier melt during lean monsoon months.
Static linkage: climate change, J&K geography, agriculture.
5. WEF Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution, Hyderabad
GS area: Science and Technology, Economy
The World Economic Forum opened its Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution in Hyderabad, Telangana, focusing on life sciences and healthcare technology.
- 4IR technologies: the Fourth Industrial Revolution involves the convergence of physical, digital, and biological technologies. Core technologies include AI, robotics, virtual reality, quantum computing, IoT, 3D printing, and biotechnology.
- WEF's C4IR network: centres in 38 countries. India's centre joins those in San Francisco, Tokyo, and others.
- Life sciences focus: Hyderabad is India's pharmaceutical hub. The centre will work on regulatory sandboxes for biotech and digital health innovations.
Static linkage: technology policy, innovation, global organisations.
6. Briefly noted
- Scientific communication in India: Vigyan Prasar (established 1989) and CSIR-NIScPR (2021) are the primary national science communication agencies. Article 51A(h) of the Constitution (inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976) places a duty on citizens to develop scientific temper.
- SpaceX Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3): launched from Kennedy Space Center on 18 January, carrying Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravci along with crew from Spain, Italy, and Sweden for a 2-week ISS mission. The first all-European commercial astronaut mission.
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