1. World famous Durga Puja of Bengal Included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list
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- The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has included ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session, held virtually from 13 to 18 December 2021.
- Durga Puja is an annual festival celebrated in September or October, most notably in Kolkata, in West Bengal of India, but also in other parts of India and amongst the Bengali diaspora. It marks the ten-day worship of the Hindu mother-goddess Durga from Mahalaya to Vijaya Dashami.
UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Intangible culture includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
- It is different from Tangible heritage which refers to historical monuments, archaeological sites etc which are important to a community or country.
List of all Intangible Cultural Heritage from India
Year of Inclusion Intangible heritage
- 2021: Durga Puja in Kolkata
- 2017: Kumbh Mela
- 2016: Nawrouz, Persian New Year
- 2016: Yoga
- 2014: Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India
- 2013: Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
- 2012: Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India
- 2010: Chhau dance
- 2010: Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
- 2010: Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
- 2009: Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India
- 2008: Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
- 2008: Tradition of Vedic chanting
- 2008: Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
UNESCO (United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)
- It is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the arts, the sciences, and culture.
- It was founded on 16 November 1945.
- It’s Headquarters: Paris, France.
2. Conflict in Nagaland
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Relevance: Recently violence has erupted in Nagaland after Indian Armed Forces have ‘mistakenly' killed the civilians. The killing of civilians in Mon district has cast a shadow on the already struggling peace talks between the Centre and NSCN (I-M). This has also led to further protests related to removal of the Armed Force Special Protection Act (AFSPA).
Background and History:
- Maoist guerrilla leaders Isak Chisi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and S S Khaplang had created the NSCN in 1980 to oppose the decision of the Naga National Council (NNC) to accept the Indian Constitution-the 1975 Shillong Accord was signed by Angami Zapu Phizo-led NNC.
- On August 14, 1947, the Naga National Council (NNC) led by Angami Zapu Phizo declared independence for Nagaland. Phizo formed an underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and a Naga Federal Army (NFA) in 1952, in response to which the Centre sent in the Army and enacted the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, or AFSPA.
- After differences between the top leaders, the group split into the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K.
- In 1997, the NSCN-IM agreed to a ceasefire which led to the start of almost two decades of peace talks with the Indian government.
- It refers to ongoing talks between the Indian government and Naga insurgent groups, in particular the NSCN(IM), since 1997 with the aim to sign a Naga Peace Accord.
- The 2015 agreement was signed between the Centre and the Naga groups led by National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) after the latter agreed to give up its long-standing demand for sovereignty.
- There was a broad understanding of a settlement within the Indian constitutional framework, with due regard to the uniqueness of Naga history and tradition.
- The process, however, halted when the group insisted on a separate flag as well as the inclusion of all Naga-inhabited areas in one administrative apparatus.
- The NSCN-IM’s “Greater Nagalim” consists of present Nagaland and all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, which includes many districts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, and most interestingly, a part of neighbouring Myanmar.
Major Issues and Concerns
- Most of the states except Plains of Assam were deliberately excluded from mainstream government administration of Britishers and categorised as excluded areas in Government of India Act 1935 and the ethnic people were called backward tribes. This has led to the exclusion of the ethinic people from the rest of India.
- Recent killings of civilians have invoked the demand of removal of AFSPA which gives armed forces special powers to control “disturbed areas”, which are designated by the government.
- Under its provisions, the armed forces have been empowered to open fire, enter and search without warrant, and arrest any person who has committed a cognisable offence, all while having immunity from being prosecuted.
- Currently, AFSPA is in effect in Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Naga people consider the act as “decorian’’ and have been asking for its removal for a long time.
- Further, these killings could be exploited by certain insurgent groups to recruit and even strengthen the hands of the NSCN(I-M), which will likely push for its demands and adding fuel to the insurgency in the North east areas.
- The current demands of the NSCN (IM) have toned down from complete sovereignty to a greater autonomous region within the Indian constitutional framework.
- They have been asking for a separate Naga flag also.
- The unrest in the region is a great challenge to the internal security of border areas as it continues to get young recruits and wields considerable influence in the region.
- After the removal of the interlocutor N. Ravi by the centre, the state has been waiting for the new appointment.
Government’s Stand
- According to the GoI, AFSPA is a “a very simple measure” to control the “misguided Nagas indulging in mischievous activities”.
- Further, over such a vast area to depute civil magistrates to accompany the armed forces is not possible.
- There is no way the government would accept a separate constitution for Nagaland as it is against the sovereignty of India.
- The idea of providing a separate flag was also weakened after Kashmir region’s flag was taken away in 2019.
- GoI considers Nagaland as an inseparable part of the country and is taking security measures to strengthen the border areas by curbing the insurgent groups.
- GoI considers that accepting the demand of a particular group will give rise to the separatist tendency in the entire northeast which would be against India's overall security and sovereignty.
Conclusion:
- The Naga insurgency, rooted in Naga nationalism, is one of the oldest insurgencies in the country. Lasting peace in the Northeast is not possible without resolving the Naga insurgency.
- It is important to understand that there cannot be an accord without the NSCN(IM). The idea is to slowly bring them to accept what India can give without compromising the country's sovereignty and security.
- For the same there is a need to have collaborative talks between the centre and state and the separatist group as well. GoI must consider the suggestions given by the Jeevan Reddy Committee formed in 2004 which had recommended a complete repeal of the AFSPA.
- Setting up Bicameral Assembly with at least 40 nominated members representing different tribes; absorption of cadres as local armed forces or in the Indian paramilitary; setting up of autonomous councils in Naga-dominated areas of neighbouring states; and the use of the Naga flag for at least customary events can provide amicable solutions to the current crisis.
Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/naga-peace-talks-nagaland-insurgent-group-7533021/
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/nagaland-insurgency-peace-accord-pm-modi-5545506/
3. Over half of UAPA detainees are under 30 age
Tags: National News
The Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that:
- Nearly 53% of persons arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967, in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were below the age of 30.
- UAPA has been amended in the past keeping in view the requirement and “presently no amendments in the UAPA are under consideration” by the government.
- In 2020, the maximum number of arrests under UAPA of persons below 30 years of age was made in Uttar Pradesh (205) followed by Jammu and Kashmir (166), Manipur (113), and Jharkhand (35).
4. Sports News
Tags: Sports News
1. Perfect ten for Ajaz Patel
- New Zealand bowler Ajaz Patel became the third player in the history of test Cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings.
- He took all ten Indian wickets in the first innings of the India In the Second Test Match of the series being played at Mumbai, Wankhede Stadium.
2. BWF World Tour Finals: Sindhu settles for silver
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu lost the final of the BWF World Tour Finals to South Korea's An Seyoung in straight games 21-16 21-12.
- The season-ending HSBC BWF World Tour Finals was held in Bali, Indonesia, from 01-05 December 2021.
3. India win the Test Series against New Zealand
- India defeated New Zealand in the second test by a record 372 runs to win the series 1-0.
- The second test match was held at Wankhede stadium, Mumbai.
4. Russia wins Davis Cup
The Russian Tennis Federation defeated Croatia in the final held at Madrid, Spain.
- 18 teams were competing in the tournament which was held from 25 november to 5 December 2021 at Innsbruck, Austria, Madrid, Spain and Turin, Italy.
5. Lewis Hamilton wins Saudi Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes team won the Saudi Arabia Formula 1 racing title at Jeddah. He is from Great Britain.
- Saudi Arabia hosted the Formula 1 race for the first time.
6. Rohit Sharma becomes new white ball-captain
The BCCI, cricket selection committee has appointed Rohit Sharma as the captain of the ODI side till 2023 World Cup to be held in India and was made the Vice-Captain of the Test team removing Ajinkya Rahane as the Test team Vice-Captaincy.
7. India A wins 2021–22 BCCI Senior Women's Challenger Trophy Title
- It was held at the Mulapadu Cricket Complex in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
- It took place from 4 to 9 December 2021.
8. Manipur Claims 26th Senior Women’s National Football Championship title
Manipur defeated Railways 2-1 on penalties in the final of 26th Senior Women's National Football Championship held at EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode, Kerala. The league consisted of 32 teams for the 2021-22 season.
9. FIDE World Chess Championship 2021
Magnus Carlsen of Norway defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and won the World Chess championship 2021.
5. State News
Tags: State News
1. Nagaland Government demands withdrawal of AFSPA form Nagaland
- Nagaland Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio has demanded the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special powers Act from the state following the death of 14 civilians in the Army operation against the Naga insurgents in the Mon district of Nagaland on 4 December 2021.Nagaland’s Mon district
- Nagaland’s Mon district borders Myanmar from where members of the NSCN (Khaplang-Yung Aung) are said to carry out hit-and-run operations.
- The Konyak Union, the apex body of the Konyak Naga Tribe from the Mon district of Nagaland has also demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or, AFSPA, from the entire Northeast of India and withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the Mon district of Nagaland .
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangama has also demanded the withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur .
- The Nagaland government has two member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances leading to the killing of the civilians by the armed forces.
2. KVIC Rolls Out Project RE-HAB in Assam to Prevent Elephant – Human Conflicts Using Tiny Bees
Following the success of its innovative Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) in Karnataka, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has now replicated the project in Assam.
- Under Project RE-HAB, “Bee-fences” are created by setting up bee boxes in the passageways of elephants to block their entrance to human territories.
- It is a cost-effective way of reducing human-wild conflicts without causing any harm to the animals.
- It is scientifically recorded that elephants are annoyed by the honey bees.
3. Nagaland Government cancel Hornbill festival
Nagaland Government has cancelled the famous annual “Hornbill festival “ as a respect to the 14 villagers mistakenly killed by the army during an anti-insurgent operation in the Mon district of Nagaland on 4 December .
- Chief Minister of Nagaland : Neiphiu Rio
- Governor : Jagdhish Mukhi
4. Bird Flu confirmed in Ducks
The Alappuzha district was put on alert, after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at Kunnumma South (ward 10) in Thakazhy grama panchayat.
Highlights:
- The presence of H5N1 subtype of the Influenza A virus was reported in ducks.
5. NEDFI Announces New Scheme Atmanirbhar Hastshilpkar Scheme for the Artisans under Ministry of Doner
With the objective to develop the petty artisans of the North Eastern Region by providing financial assistance in the form of term loan for income generating activities for setting up / expansion / modernization / working capital requirement and other activities related to the sector NEDFi has introduced Atmanirbhar Hastshilpkar Scheme to the grass root Artisans of the region.
6. Nagaland Government demands withdrawal of AFSPA form Nagaland
Tags: National News
- Nagaland Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio has demanded the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special powers Act from the state following the death of 14 civilians in the Army operation against the Naga insurgents in the Mon district of Nagaland on 4 December 2021.Nagaland’s Mon district
- Nagaland’s Mon district borders Myanmar from where members of the NSCN (Khaplang-Yung Aung) are said to carry out hit-and-run operations.
- The Konyak Union, the apex body of the Konyak Naga Tribe from the Mon district of Nagaland has also demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or, AFSPA, from the entire Northeast of India and withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the Mon district of Nagaland .
- The Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangama has also demanded the withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur .
- The Nagaland government has two member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances leading to the killing of the civilians by the armed forces.
AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act )1958 To deal with the Naga insurgents in the Naga denominated areas of the state of Assam and the Union Territory of Manipur the Government of India parliament passed a law Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958(AFSPA), which was later extended to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Under this act President ,Governor of the has the power to declare the whole or a part of the state as a disturbed area. It confers special powers to certain officers of the armed forces to:
Similar law has been enacted by the Parliament for other regions of India which are facing insurgency . The Armed Forces (Punjab and Chandigarh) Special Powers Act, 1983 was enacted to deal with the terrorism in Punjab. It was withdrawn in 1997.The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 was enacted by the Parliament to give special powers to the armed forces to deal with insurgency and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.The wide power given to the Armed force has also given rise to its abuse. In any counter -insurgency operation there is bound to be civilian casualties . The civilian casualties have inflamed the local public opinion against the armed forces . Committee and Commission report on AFSPA
Why Government is not repealing the act The armed forces operating in the area says that they need the law operate in a very hostile area were the local population is also hostile to the armed forces. Army officials also cite the need to protect the morale and integrity of the army as reason not to scrutinize allegations against army personnel.
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7. Manipur Claims 26th Senior Women’s National Football Championship title
Tags: Sports News
Manipur defeated Railways 2-1 on penalties in the final of 26th Senior Women's National Football Championship held at EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode, Kerala. The league consisted of 32 teams for the 2021-22 season.
The women from the North East claimed the title 21 out of 26 times at the National senior football championship
Roshini was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper and captain Irom Prameshwori Devi the most valuable player
8. Bangladesh will be connected to North-East by 2024
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While virtually addressing the delegates at a function organised by the Indian Chambers of Commerce, Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperations Amit Shah said that the government will connect capitals of all the eight States by air, seven of the eight state capitals will be connected through rail, and a network of roads is operational.
He said the northeast states will be linked by road and railway to Bangladesh in a year or two, creating many opportunities in the region.
Key Points:
- The connectivity problem in the North East is being resolved by signing a land border agreement with Bangladesh. The North East will be connected to the ports of Bangladesh in two years and this will open up a huge avenue for setting up industry in the North East and for connectivity to the rest of the world.
- In a year or two, the North East region will be connected with Bangladesh by rail and road and after that, there will be immense possibilities to go East. The trade with Bangladesh will get a boost with the start of the Agartala-Akhaura railway link.
- Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed with Bangladesh in 2014 ensured proper connectivity in the region.
North East States and Capitals:
States Capital
- Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar
- Assam Dispur
- Manipur Imphal
- Meghalaya Shillong
- Mizoram Aizawl
- Nagaland Kohima
- Tripura Agartala
- Sikkim Gangtok
- The capitals of all the eight States will be connected by air.
- The capitals of Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh are already connected by rail, work to extend similar connectivity in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya are underway.
9. NFHS -5 Data Released by the Union Health Ministry
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- The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has released the National Family Health Survey - 5 data.The NFHS-4 was released in 2015-16 and the latest, which captured population health indicators in 2017-19, was delayed due to the pandemic.
Who Conducts the Survey?
- The NFHS is conducted by the Union Health and Family affairs Ministry.
What is the usefulness of the NFHS data?
- The main objective of successive rounds of the NFHS is to provide reliable and comparable data relating to health and family welfare and other emerging issues.
- It provides information on important indicators which are helpful in tracking the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.
Important Highlights of the NFHS -5 data
- The Total Fertility Rates (TFR), an average number of children per woman, has further declined from 2.2 to 2.0 at the national level. The urban TFR is 1.6 and rural 2.1. All states except Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Manipur and Meghalaya, have attained TFR l of 2.1.
- Overall Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) has increased substantially from 54% to 67% at all-India level.
- Full immunization drive among children aged 12-23 months has recorded substantial improvement from 62 per cent to 76 per cent at all-India level.
- Institutional births have increased substantially from 79 per cent to 89 percent at all-India Level.
- Child Nutrition indicators show a slight improvement at all-India level as Stunting has declined from 38 per cent to 36 per cent, wasting from 21 per cent to 19 per cent and underweight from 36 per cent to 32 percent at all-India level.
- Exclusive breastfeeding to children under age 6 months has shown an improvement in all-India level from 55 percent in 2015-16 to 64 per cent in 2019-21
Terms :
TFR (Total Fertility Rates)
- It refers to the average number of children which a woman can give birth to during her reproductive life cycle .
- According to the UN Population Division, a TFR of about 2.1 children per woman is called replacement-level fertility. If replacement level fertility is sustained over a sufficiently long period, each generation will exactly replace itself. The population of the country will neither increase nor decline if the fertility rate of the country is 2.1
Malnutrition in Child Nutrition:
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Malnutrition refers to deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, imbalance of essential nutrients or impaired nutrient utilization. It consists of both undernutrition and overweight and obesity, as well as diet-related noncommunicable diseases.
- Undernutrition manifests in four broad forms: wasting, stunting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies.
Wasting:
- Wasting is defined as low weight-for-height .It usually occurs when a person has not had food of adequate quality and quantity and/or they have had frequent or prolonged illnesses.
Stunting:
- Stunting is defined as low height-for-age.It is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition, usually associated with poverty, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness and/or inappropriate feeding and care in early life
Underweight
- Underweight is defined as low weight-for-age. A child who is underweight may be stunted, wasted or both.
Micronutrient
- Micronutrient deficiencies are a lack of vitamins and minerals that are essential for body functions such as producing enzymes, hormones and other substances needed for growth and development.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India.
Institutions involved in Survey
The NFHS is a collaborative project of the International Institute for Population Sciences(IIPS), Mumbai, India; ICF, Calverton, Maryland, USA and the East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, designated IIPS as the nodal agency, responsible for providing coordination and technical guidance for the NFHS.
Survey and its Phases
The First National Family Health Survey (NFHS-1) was conducted in 1992-93.
The Second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) was conducted in 1998-99 in all 26 states of India
The Third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) was carried out in 2005-2006.
The Fourth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) was carried out in 2015-2016.
The Fifth National Family and Health Survey(NFHS-5)was conducted in two phases, in 2019 and 2021.
10. “Kaiser-i-Hind” butterfly:
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Why in the news?
Recently, Arunachal Pradesh, govt. approved “Kaiser-i-Hind” as the state butterfly.
Key highlights:
- Kaiser-i-Hind is scientifically known as Teinopalpus imperialis. In literal terms, it means Emperor of India.
- Kaiser-i-Hind' is a large and brightly colored butterfly.
- It is an elusive swallowtail butterfly, which carries 'India' in its name.
- They are also found in Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, southern China and Vietnam.
- This butterfly with a 90-120 mm wingspan is found in (West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim and Manipur) along the Eastern Himalayas.
- It flies high in the canopy of broad leaved temperate evergreen forests.
- The Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature has red-listed the Kaiser-i-Hind.
Butterfly:
- Butterflies are insects from the order Lepidoptera of phylum Arthropoda which also includes moths.
Significance:
Rich Biodiversity:
- Abundance of butterflies in any area represents the rich biodiversity.
Indicator Species:
- The butterfly acts as an indicator species.
- An indicator species provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and of other species in that ecosystem. They reflect the quality and changes in environmental conditions as well as aspects of community composition.
Pollinator:
- It acts as a pollinator by helping in pollination and conserving several species of plants.
India's Largest Butterfly:
- A Himalayan butterfly known as Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus) has been discovered as India’s largest butterfly after 88 years.
- The female butterfly was recorded from Didihat in Uttarakhand, the male was from the Wankhar Butterfly Museum in Shillong, Meghalaya.
- With a wingspan of 194 mm, the female of the species is marginally larger than the Southern Birdwing (190 mm).
Other butterflies in news:
- The Malabar Banded Peacock or the Buddha Mayoori which was recently declared the ‘State Butterfly’ of Kerala will have a dedicated butterfly park in Kochi.
Other states to have state butterflies are:
- Maharashtra: Blue Mormon.
- Uttarakhand: Common peacock.
- Karnataka: Southern birdwings.
