Highlights
- Climate: COP29 concluded with a $300 billion annual climate finance commitment from developed nations by 2035 and a broader $1.3 trillion mobilisation goal.
- Governance: The Nayi Chetna 3.0 campaign against gender-based violence ran from 25 November to 23 December 2024.
- Urban finance: Property tax contributes only 0.12 per cent of India's GDP, representing 16 per cent of municipal receipts.
- Culture: The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1009 CE by Raja Raja Chola I.
1. COP29 Baku Agreement: the climate finance deal
GS area: International Relations, Environment
COP29 concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan with a multilateral climate finance agreement.
- New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG): 300 billion dollars annually from developed nations by 2035.
- Broader mobilisation: 1.3 trillion dollars annually from all sources (public and private) by 2035.
- Article 6 finalized: Country-to-country carbon credit trading rules (Article 6.2) and the UN carbon market (Article 6.4) were formally adopted.
- Baku Adaptation Roadmap: Support for National Adaptation Plans, especially for least developed countries.
- Gender: Lima Work Programme on Gender extended for ten years. A new Gender Action Plan mandated by COP30.
- Reaction: India and other developing nations expressed disappointment. The 300 billion is well below the 1 trillion demand.
- CDRI: India's Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure promoted at COP as a vehicle for adaptation finance.
- Next COP: COP30, Belem, Brazil, 2025.
Static linkage: Climate finance, UNFCCC, Paris Agreement.
2. Urban local body revenue crisis: the data
GS area: Governance, Economy
A municipal finance analysis revealed the structural weakness of urban local bodies in India.
- Property tax contribution to GDP: 0.12 per cent. This is among the lowest globally.
- Property tax as share of municipal receipts: 16 per cent.
- Municipal revenue as share of GDP: 0.6 per cent. Compare with 9.2 per cent for central government and 14.6 per cent for state governments.
- Top 10 municipal corporations: Generate 58 per cent of all municipal revenue in India.
- Dependence on transfers: ULBs receive central and state grants (up from 2019-20 levels) but their own revenues remain weak.
- Municipal bonds: Outstanding municipal bonds in March 2024: 4,204 crore rupees, just 0.09 per cent of total corporate bonds. Used only by a handful of large cities.
Static linkage: Urban governance, 74th Amendment, public finance.
3. Nayi Chetna 3.0: campaign against gender-based violence
GS area: Society, Governance
The Ministry of Rural Development launched the third edition of Nayi Chetna.
- Campaign period: 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 23 December 2024.
- Slogan: "Ek Saath, Ek Awaaz, Hinsa Ke Khilaaf" (Together, One Voice, Against Violence).
- Implementation: 9 central ministries. Delivered through Self-Help Groups and community meetings.
- Previous editions: First edition reached 3.5 crore people. Second edition reached 5.5 crore.
- Target: Grassroots awareness about gender-based violence, legal rights and reporting mechanisms.
Static linkage: Women's rights, government schemes, social justice.
4. Brihadeeswarar Temple: a Chola masterpiece
GS area: Art and Culture
The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur came into focus as a well-preserved example of Chola architecture.
- Built: 1009 CE by Raja Raja Chola I (reigned 985 to 1014 CE).
- Location: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
- Architecture: The vimana (tower over the sanctum) is 70 metres high with an octagonal dome at the top.
- Distinctive feature: The capstone (kumbam) at the top is a single granite block weighing approximately 80 tonnes. Its placement required a ramp estimated at 6 kilometres long.
- UNESCO status: Part of the "Great Living Chola Temples" inscription (1987, extended 2004). Includes Brihadeeswarar at Thanjavur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple and the Airavatesvara Temple.
- Inscriptions: Extensive Tamil inscriptions documenting temple administration, rituals, land grants and the arts under Chola patronage.
Static linkage: Architecture, Chola dynasty, UNESCO heritage, ancient history.
5. Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi: constitution builder
GS area: Modern History, Polity
K.M. Munshi (Ghanshyam Vyas) was a key Constituent Assembly member whose contributions deserve UPSC attention.
- Born: 30 December 1887 in Gujarat. Died 8 February 1971.
- Freedom struggle: Civil Disobedience Movement (1930, 1932) and Individual Satyagraha (1940).
- Political career: Elected to Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1927 and 1937. Served as Home Minister of Bombay.
- Constituent Assembly: Active member. Argued for strong centre and Directive Principles.
- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan: Founded 1938. An educational and cultural organisation with over 370 centres. Promotes Indian culture and knowledge.
- Author: Wrote over 50 books in Gujarati and English, including the Krishnavatara series.
Static linkage: Constituent Assembly, freedom struggle, cultural institutions.
6. Briefly noted
- ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024: First hosted in India. Theme: "Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All." Concurrent with the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
- National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024: For dairy farmers, artificial insemination technicians and dairy cooperatives. Cash rewards: 5 lakh (1st), 3 lakh (2nd), 2 lakh (3rd).
- Space junk: Over 10,000 active satellites in orbit. Re-entry of satellites releases aluminium oxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Aluminium oxide depletes the ozone layer. Black carbon from soot particles absorbs solar energy and warms the upper atmosphere.
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