UPSC Key | Abhaya mudra, Modinomics, Critical Mineral Recycling and more

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Explained

Abhaya mudra, Buddhist & Hindu cultural symbol conveying freedom from fear

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India

Mains Examination: GS-I: Indian Heritage and Culture

What’s the ongoing story- In his first speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Monday invoked the abhaya mudra, the gesture of the raised open palm that is commonly understood as conveying reassurance and a freedom from fear.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the significance of Buddhism in Indian cultural history?

Key takeaways: 

— In Sanskrit, the term mudra could mean a seal, mark, sign, or currency, but in the Buddhist context, it refers to “hand and arm gestures made during the course of ritual practice or depicted in images of buddhas, bodhisattvas, tantric deities, and other Buddhist images.”

— Mudras are most commonly associated with visual depictions of the Buddha (or Buddharupa), with different gestures conveying different moods and meanings, signifying the subtle manifestations of the Buddha’s states of realisation.

— The earliest depictions of the Buddha in physical form date to roughly around the turn of the first millennium. Depictions started appearing in the Gandhara art from the northwestern edge of the Indian subcontinent… 

— In the earliest depictions of Buddharupa, four mudras can be found: the abhaya mudra, or “gesture of fearlessness”; the bhumisparsha mudra, or “Earth-touching gesture”; the dharmachakra mudra, or “gesture of the wheel of dharma”; and the dhyana mudra, or “gesture of meditation”.

— In Buddhist tradition, the abhaya mudra is associated with the Buddha immediately after he obtained Enlightenment, “portraying a sense of the security, serenity, and compassion that derive from enlightenment” (Buswell and Lopez).

— The “gesture of fearlessness [also] identifies the moment when Shakyamuni (the Buddha) tamed the mad elephant…illustrating the Buddha’s ability to grant fearlessness to his followers” (Buswell, Encyclopaedia of Buddhism, 2004).

— This is why the abhaya mudra is also seen as a “gesture of protection” or “gesture of granting refuge”.

— Over time, the abhaya mudra appeared in depictions of Hindu deities, and the Buddha himself was absorbed into the Hindu pantheon as the ninth avatar of the Puranic god Vishnu.

For Your Information: 

— Buddhism emerged in the fifth century BCE in the ancient kingdom of Magadh, located in the eastern Ganges plain of Southern Bihar. It appears to have reached the Andhra region in the Krishna River Valley fairly early on, mainly through trade.

Points to Ponder: 

— How anti-caste movements have appropriated Buddhism?

— What are the various sects of Buddhism?

— Important Buddhist sites in India

Post Read Question:

Prelims

With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to (UPSC CSE 2018)

(a) Buddhism

(b) Jainism

(c) Vaishnavism

(d) Shaivism

Mains

Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India, Enumerate. (UPSC CSE 2020)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Amaravathi: The rise and fall of one of the greatest Buddhist sites in India

Who was Abdul Hamid, hero of Asal Uttar battle? 

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, III: Modern Indian history and Security

What’s the ongoing story- On Monday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat visited the native village of Hamid, Dhamupur, where he released a book on Hamid titled ‘Mere Papa Paramvir’ and another book titled ‘Bharat ka Musalman’.

Prerequisites: 

— Why India-Pakistan war of 1965 was fought?

— What are the Gallantry Awards of India?

Key takeaways: 

— Born on July 1, 1933, Company Quarter Master Havildar (CQMH) Abdul Hamid laid his life down while fighting Pakistan Army’s Patton tanks in the Battle of Asal Uttar — one of the largest tank battles fought during the 1965 India-Pakistan War. Hamid was awarded Param Vir Chakra — India’s highest gallantry award — posthumously.

— Situated in Punjab, Asal Uttar is quite close to the India-Pakistan border and around seven kilometres away from the town of Khem Karan.

— In September 1965 — almost a month after the war broke out — Pakistan Army’s 1 Armoured Division launched an offensive by crossing the border and capturing many parts of Khem Karan.

— The offensive caught India’s 4th Mountain Division, which was deployed near Khem Karan, by surprise, and was forced to fall back.

— The battle took place between September 8 and September 10, and resulted in the decimation of Pakistan’s offence. 

— But the town of Khem Karan remained under Pakistani occupation till the ceasefire was announced. It was returned to India in exchange for Indian-occupied areas in Pakistan.

For Your Information: 

— Sandwiched between the humiliation suffered at the hands of the Chinese in 1962 and the exhilaration of a Pakistani surrender in 1971, the 1965 war resulted in a stalemate. There were no surrender ceremonies at Dhaka’s Race Course Ground like in 1971 nor was there an emotional “Ae mere watan ke logon…” 

— Post-independence, first three gallantry awards namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950 which were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is Operation Gibraltar?

— How many wars have been fought by India since Independence?

Post Read Question:

Consider the following statements:

1. Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950.

2. These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.

3. Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

On this day, during 1965 war: When Indian Army attacked Lahore from three sides

Iran’s Presidential election

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: International Relations

What’s the ongoing story- On June 28, Iran held the first round of voting to elect a new President, necessitated by the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Since neither of the top two candidates — 69-year-old cardiac surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, and 58-year-old hardliner Saeed Jalili — won more than 50% of votes, they will face off in a run-off election on July 5.

Prerequisites: 

— Iran-USA relationship

— What was the Iranian Revolution?

— What was the Iran nuclear deal?

— What is the Chabahar port project?

Key takeaways: 

— The reformist-conservative (what Western media call “hardliner”) divide in Iranian politics has existed since the beginning of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the subsequent formation of the Islamic Republic.

— US sanctions against Iran go back to the early days of the Islamic Republic. Iran negotiated with the West to sign the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), or the Iran nuclear deal, in 2015. In exchange for certain limits on Iran developing nuclear weapons, the West agreed to ease some sanctions.

— Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the deal in 2018 dealt a blow to the reformists, and served as vindication for the conservatives who were opposed to the outreach to the West. The killing of the senior Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020 by the United States further consolidated the conservative hold on power in Iran.

— The President’s position in Iran can be compared to that of a Vice President elsewhere. While he does have a certain amount of executive power and some leeway in the day-to-day running of the system, broader policymaking must be in line with the overall ideology of the republic, and depends upon the President’s negotiating capabilities with the Supreme Leader.

— Iran has important stakes in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. It backs both Hamas and Hezbollah, with whom the Israelis are in conflict.

— Tehran’s relationship with New Delhi is not impacted by Iran’s domestic ideological and political struggles. The two countries have ties rooted in history. After the Iranian revolution too, their relationship was not impacted negatively. In fact, Iran increased its engagements with India and non-aligned countries, in line with its opposition to the West.

For Your Information: 

— In 2022-23, Iran was India’s 59th biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $2.33 billion.

— India’s trade with Iran has seen a contraction in recent years, before an uptick in the FY 2022-23. It increased by 21.77 per cent — from $1.94 billion in 2021-22 to $2.33 billion in 2022-23.

— However, in the three preceding years (2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22) it saw a contraction in the range of 9.10 per cent to 72 per cent year-on-year, in the wake of US sanctions on Tehran. Trade with Iran also dwindled from the high of $17 billion in 2018-19 to $4.77 billion in 2019-20, and further to $2.11 billion in 2020-21.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of West Asia for India?

— What is the role of Iran in the Israel-Palestine conflict?

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Iran?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India? (UPSC CSE 2017)

(a) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.

(b) India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

(c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

(d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.

Mains

In what ways would the ongoing U.S-Iran Nuclear Pact Controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to this situation? (UPSC CSE 2018)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Where India’s trade with Israel and Iran stands, and whether regional tensions could impact it

 

The Ideas Page

The problem with Modinomics

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economy

Mains Examination: GS-III: Economy

What’s the ongoing story- Josh Felman and Arvind Subramanian write: Modinomics understands return, but is cavalier about risk. On the face of it, Modinomics is a strategy specifically designed to encourage investment, indeed to convince the whole world to “Make in India”. Yet, global investors have been reluctant to beat a path to India’s doorstep and even domestic firms have been investment-shy, especially in manufacturing.

Prerequisites: 

— What is “Make in India” initiative?

— What is the significance of private investment?

— What is corporate tax?

Key takeaways: 

— “In Narendra Modi’s first term, measures were taken to address such investment risk. There was a concerted effort to restore macro stability by introducing an inflation targeting regime and cutting the fiscal deficit. The government also tried to reduce risks for banks by providing them with legal recourse via the IBC in case the loans went wrong.”

— “But during the second term, the idea of risk mitigation eluded Modinomics. Some of the measures taken increased investor risk… From an investor’s perspective, risks emanate from three types of state action that favour competitors, are directly coercive, or jeopardise the supply chain.”

— “The first is what could be termed “national champions risk”. On numerous occasions, the government has abruptly changed the policy framework when it saw the opportunity to promote a national champion… But this strategy has a drawback — it deters all the other domestic firms from entering the same manufacturing space or even a different space, out of fear that once their irreversible investment is made, the policy framework will be changed to their disadvantage.”

— “The second risk stems from direct and coercive state action, such as aggressive tax collection. Admittedly, such policies can benefit the government, with reportedly around 40 per cent of income tax (corporate and individual) revenue accruing from additional tax demands. But if ED or tax authorities raid selectively, while regulatory agencies render arbitrary verdicts, or actions verge on extortion as in the electoral bonds saga, risk perception deteriorates sharply.”

— “Finally, there is supply chain risk. Today, virtually no manufacturing product is made solely from domestic materials. For India to become internationally competitive — and convince the world to “Make in India” — manufacturing firms need to be assured that they will have access to raw materials and inputs from anywhere in the world.”

For Your Information: 

— The female labour force participation rate (LFPR) in India remains among the world’s lowest. Female LFPR declined by 14.4 percentage points (compared to 8.1 percentage points for males) between 2000 and 2019. The trend reversed thereafter, with female LFPR rising by 8.3 percentage points (compared to 1.7 percentage points for male LFPR) between 2019 and 2022.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector?

— What is jobless growth that is impacting Indian economy?

— What initiatives have been taken by the government to overcome the challenges of the Indian economy?

— How to increase private investment in India?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements : (UPSC CSE 2022)

1. A share of the household financial savings goes towards government borrowings.

2. Dated securities issued at market-related rates in auctions form a large component of internal debt.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains

Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard. (UPSC CSE 2023)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

State of employment in India: What a new report says about youths and women, concerns and caution

 

Economy

Critical mineral recycling: Govt plans PLI scheme to boost circular economy

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economy

Mains Examination: GS-III: Economy, Environment

What’s the ongoing story- The Ministry of Mines is in the initial stages of designing a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost the recycling of critical minerals in India, The Indian Express has learnt. This move aims to foster a circular economy and bolster domestic supply chains, following a lacklustre response to recent auctions of critical mineral blocks.

Prerequisites: 

—  What is the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR), 2022?

— What are critical minerals?

— What is circular economy?

Key takeaways: 

— The proposed PLI scheme aligns with policy recommendations from NITI Aayog, the government’s apex think tank, and complements the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR), 2022, which mandate phased recycling of used electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries from 2026 onwards.

— The PLI scheme, while yet to be finalised, will target e-waste recycling– often referred to as “urban mining”– to recover critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite, chromium, and silicon. These minerals are crucial for clean energy technologies like solar PV modules, wind turbines, energy storage systems, and EVs, as well as consumer electronics.

— Some recyclers argue the scheme should benefit only those extracting high-purity critical minerals suitable for reuse as primary inputs. Others advocate for a wider scope that includes the production of black mass, which is shredded and processed e-waste rich in minerals including lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel, since most Indian recyclers currently lack capacities to extract battery-grade minerals from black mass.

— India’s e-waste generation is poised to surge, driven by rapid growth in solar and wind energy infrastructure and EV adoption. Industry estimates project solar PV module waste to jump from 100 kilotonnes (kt) in FY23 to 340 kt by 2030. Additionally, 500 kt of EV batteries are expected to reach recycling units in the coming years. Research indicates that recycling critical minerals can significantly reduce the need for virgin ores and new mines.

— The need to incentivise the growth of critical mineral recycling has become all the more urgent after most critical mineral blocks offered by the Mines Ministry failed to pass the technical bids stage, which requires at least three eligible bidders. This indicates a lack of investor interest in domestic mining of critical minerals.

For Your Information: 

— The new incentives will also build on the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) notified in 2022 by the Central Pollution Control Board. These rules mandate that producers of batteries containing lithium, nickel, cobalt, and lead ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance. 

— EPR compliance, based on the polluter pays principle, holds producers accountable for managing the waste generated by their products. Producers can meet compliance by trading credits with recyclers.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of recycling of critical minerals?

— What is the significance of circular economy for EV?

— What is the objective of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?

— What are the challenges of the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR)?

Post Read Question:

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2019)

1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country.

2. State governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.

3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

MG Motor, Toyota, Ola Electric, others sign up for recycling battery waste to push circular economy for EVs

‘Moderating inflation aiding goods trade recovery in India, China’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economy

Mains Examination: GS-III: Economy

What’s the ongoing story- India and China exhibited “very strong” quarter-over-quarter export performance as the decline in goods trade among major economies reversed during the first quarter of 2024, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in its report released on Tuesday.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the objective of UNCTAD?

— How the global trade is performing right now?

Key takeaways: 

— In the first quarter of 2024, global trade continued its modest and gradual increase that began in the second half of 2023, fuelled by positive trade dynamics for the US amid moderating inflation and improving economic growth forecast.

— The contours of global trade are becoming uneven as global supply is becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few major exporters on the back of heavy subsidies which is hurting global trade and marginalising smaller economies, UNCTAD said.

— Unilateral actions in the form of industrial policies often distort trade and trading partners may respond with trade restrictions, escalating protectionism and potentially triggering retaliatory actions that undermine the rule- based global trading system, the report said.

Points to Ponder: 

— Compare and contrast the economies of India and China

— What are the major reports released by UNCTAD?

— What are the challenges to the global trade?

Post Read Question:

Trade and Development Report is released by which of the following organisation?

(a) UNCTAD

(b) IMF

(c) WEF

(d) USCC

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Ukraine war, Israel conflict impacting global trade: Piyush Goyal

 

Editorial Page

A home for the cheetah

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Environment and Conservation.

What’s the ongoing story- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is set to be the second home for cheetahs in India. An assessment of the carrying capacity of Kuno National Park has revealed that the animal’s current habitat in the country has exceeded its carrying capacity.

Prerequisites: 

— Read about Project Cheetah.

— Protection status of Cheetah, leopards and Chital.

— Map work: Check the location of Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuno National Park.

Key takeaways: 

— The overabundance of cheetahs in the protected area (PA), also in Madhya Pradesh, has led to a 25 per cent loss in the big cat’s main prey base — the chital. The animals from Africa, and their offspring, are not the only predators in the national park. Kuno’s leopards compete with the cheetahs for herbivores.

— The forest department believes that translocating surplus cheetahs to Gandhi Sagar could restore Kuno’s ecological equilibrium. However, the two feline predators will continue to compete for prey — now in two PAs. Project Cheetah will have to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated and translocation is not band aid.

— At Gandhi Sagar, the cheetahs will initially be housed in a 64 sq km enclosure. The first challenge will be to remove leopards from this area. Project Cheetah’s long-term plan, to develop a longer stretch of the 3,600 km sanctuary as habitat for the feline, will pose greater challenges. 

— Apart from leopards, the sanctuary has other co-predators including sloth bears, striped hyenas, gray wolves, golden jackals, jungle cats, Indian foxes, and marsh crocodiles. The PA authorities will also be challenged in monitoring the health of a species that went extinct in the country more than seven decades ago. 

For Your Information: 

— The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across an area of 368.62 sq km, in the districts of Mandsaur (187.12 sq km) and Neemuch (181.5 sq km) in western MP, right on the border with Rajasthan.

— Asiatic Cheetahs were once abundant in India but their numbers dwindled over the centuries due to loss of habitat and widespread hunting. The last cheetah in the country died in 1952.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of Project Cheetah?

— What are the challenges related to the cheetah reintroduction project?

— What other challenges may cheetahs face in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary?

— What measures should be taken for the success of Project Cheetah?

Post Read Question:

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuno National Park are in the news. In which state are they located?

(a) Gujarat

(b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Madhya Pradesh

(d) Uttarakhand

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as India’s second home for cheetahs

 

Express Network

Battered by heavy rainfall and floods, N-E states on high alert; Assam toll rises

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-III: Geography, Environment and Disaster Management.

What’s the ongoing story- The North Eastern states continued to battle the impact of incessant rainfall and subsequent floods even as several rivers were reported to be flowing above the danger level on Tuesday. States such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram continue to be on high alert.

Prerequisites: 

— Read about the floods and their types.

— Causes of floods.

— Map work: Northeastern states and major rivers and their tributaries.

Key takeaways: 

— The flood situation in Assam worsened on Tuesday with 11.34 lakh people being affected across  28 districts even as the death toll rose to 38. Twelve fishermen who had been stranded on a riverine island in Assam’s Dibrugarh since Friday because of the flood situation were airlifted with the help of IAF helicopters on Tuesday.

— In Manipur, major rivers such as the Imphal, Thoubal, Iril were reported to be flowing above the danger level.

— Majority of the rivers and their tributaries in Arunachal Pradesh are flowing above the danger level on Tuesday.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the causes of flooding in northeast India? 

— What are the impacts of floods?

— What measures should be taken for flood management in India? 

— What is the significance of the northeast for India?

Post Read Question:

With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements:

1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.

2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.

3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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