THE WEF’S GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT 2023
In News, why?
The World Economic Forum (WEF) just published the 17th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, which assesses the status of gender parity in 146 nations.
The Global Gender Gap Index is what?
About:
It compares nations’ advancements towards gender parity across four key parameters with supporting submatrices.
Economic Opportunity and Participation
Academic Achievement
Safety and Well-being
Democratic Empowerment
The GGG index assigns scores between 0 and 1 to each of the four sub-indices as well as the overall index, where 1 indicates full gender parity and 0 indicates total imparity. Since its debut in 2006, it has been the longest-running index that analyses advancements in bridging these gaps across time.
Objectives:
to act as a guide for measuring improvements in the relative inequalities between men and women in the areas of health, education, the economy, and politics. The stakeholders in each nation are able to establish priorities that are appropriate in each unique economic, political, and cultural setting thanks to this annual yardstick.
What are the main conclusions?
Gender Gap Score Worldwide:
The global gender gap score for 2023 is 68.4%, which represents a slight gain over the previous year of 0.3% points. Full gender parity would take 131 years to attain at the current rate of development, indicating a significant slowdown in the overall rate of change.
Top-Rated Nations:
With a gender gap score of 91.2%, Iceland has continued to hold the title of most gender-equal nation for the 14th year in a row. It is the only nation whose gender disparity has been reduced by more than 90%. Iceland is joined in the top five rankings by three further Nordic nations: Norway (87.9%), Finland (86.3%), and Sweden (81.5%), underscoring the region’s steadfast commitment to gender equality.
Survival and Good Health
Globally, the gender difference in health and survival has shrunk by 96%.
Power in Politics:
It will take 162 years to close the gender gap in political empowerment, which currently has a closure rate of 22.1% worldwide.
Academic Achievement:
95.2% of the gender gap in educational achievement has been closed, reflecting considerable advancements between 2006 and 2023. In 16 years, it is anticipated that the gender gap in educational attainment would close.
Economic Opportunity and Participation:
Globally, there remains a 60.1% gender disparity in terms of economic opportunity and participation, showing the ongoing difficulties in achieving gender equality in the workplace. It is anticipated that in 169 years, the gender gap in economic opportunity and participation would close.
How did India perform in the 2023 Gender Gap Report?
India’s Position
India improved significantly in the rankings, moving up from 135th (in 2022) to 127th (out of 146 countries) in the report’s 2023 edition. Pakistan was placed at 142, Bangladesh at 59, China at 107, Nepal at 116, Sri Lanka at 115, and Bhutan at 103 among India’s neighbours. Since the prior edition, the nation has advanced by 1.4 percentage points and eight positions, signalling a partial turnaround towards its 2020 parity goal. India had reduced the global gender gap by 64.3%.
Gender Equality in the Classroom:
India has equal enrollment at all educational levels, demonstrating progress in the nation’s educational system.
Economic Opportunity and Participation:
With only 36.7% gender parity achieved in this field, India’s growth in economic participation and opportunity remains a struggle. The representation of women in technical and senior professions has somewhat decreased, notwithstanding an increase in wage and income parity.
Power in Politics:
India has made progress towards political equality, attaining a 25.3% parity in this area. The percentage of female lawmakers, 15.1%, is the highest it has been since the first report in 2006. Women now make up more than 40% of local government in 18 nations, including Bolivia (50.4%), India (44.4%), and France (42.3%).
Survival and Good Health
After more than a decade of sluggish improvement, India’s sex ratio at birth has improved by 1.9% points. Due to skewed sex ratios, India still has relatively low scores on the Health and Survival sub-index, along with Vietnam, China, and Azerbaijan.
What initiatives are being taken in India to close the gender gap in social, economic, and political life?
Economic participation, survival, and health:
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: This programme guarantees the safety, wellbeing, and education of young girls.
Mahila Shakti Kendra seeks to give rural women options for work and skill advancement.
Mahila Police Volunteers: This programme aims to place Mahila Police Volunteers in States and UTs who serve as a liaison between the police and the community and assist women who are in need.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh is a leading microfinance organisation that offers impoverished women microcredit on favourable conditions for a variety of sources of income.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna: Through this programme, girls have gained financial independence by creating bank accounts.
Female business: The government has launched programmes like Stand-Up India and Mahila e-Haat (an online marketing tool to empower women entrepreneurs/SHGs/NGOs), as well as the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESSDP), to encourage female business.
The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya has been established in EBBs, or Educationally Backward Blocks.
Political Reservatiom: In Panchayati Raj Institutions, the government has allotted 33% of the seats to women.
The goal of capacity building for elected women representatives is to enable women to engage fully in political processes.
Questions from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Exam (PYQ)
- Which of the following groups ranks the nations of the world according to their “Global Gender Gap Index”? (2017)
World Economic Forum (a).
The UN Human Rights Council is (b).
UN Women c
Organisation mondiale de la santé (d)
Ans: (a)
Origin: TH
ANXIETY DISORDERS
In News, why?
In recent years, there has been an increasing understanding of how anxiety disorders affect people’s daily lives and general wellbeing. These widespread mental health issues can cause enduring anguish and disability in a sizeable section of the population. Although anxiety is a common emotion, when it persists and causes disruptions, it can become serious. In certain situations, it might be a sign of an anxiety illness that needs attention and the right care.
What is a disorder of anxiety?
About:
A set of mental health issues known as anxiety disorders entail excessive and illogical fear and worry about many different elements of life. Anyone, regardless of age, gender, culture, or background, can develop an anxiety disorder.
Background of Anxiety Disorders in History:
Up to the late 19th century, anxiety disorders were typically categorised under mood disorders. Sigmund Freud developed the idea of “anxiety neurosis” to distinguish the symptoms of anxiety from those of depression. People with phobias and panic episodes were included in Freud’s original theory of anxiety neurosis. Anxiety neurosis can also be divided into anxiety hysteria, which affects persons with phobias and physical symptoms of fear, and anxiety neurosis, which affects those with primarily psychological symptoms of anxiety.
Prevalence:
The National Mental Health Survey of India estimates that 3.5% of Indians suffer from neurosis and other stress-related diseases. In basic care settings, these diseases are more frequently seen in women and are frequently disregarded or incorrectly diagnosed. Early adulthood, youth, and childhood are times when anxiety disorders are most likely to develop.
Common anxiety disorders’ clinical characteristics include:
Disorder of generalised anxiety (GAD):
excessive worry is prolonged worry that lasts longer than six months, is not limited to one situation, and is frequently accompanied by bodily symptoms and suffering.
Anxiety Disorder
Unexpected panic attacks that happen frequently, with severe physical symptoms and fear of dire consequences.
Disorder of Social Anxiety:
intense anxiety about being judged negatively by others, which causes avoidance of social situations and major distress.
Disorder of Separation Anxiety:
Fear and distress at losing attachment to key people, coupled with overzealous worry about potential harm.
Particular phobias
irrational aversion to particular things, creatures, or circumstances.
Anxiety Disorders’ Causes:
Genetics:
People with a family history of anxiety are more likely to experience anxiety disorders, which may indicate a genetic susceptibility.
Mental chemistry:
Neurotransmitter imbalances, which are in charge of controlling mood and emotions, may contribute to the emergence of anxiety disorders.
character traits:
People with certain personality qualities, such as shyness, perfectionism, or a tendency to become stressed, may be more likely to develop an anxiety condition.
Life Occasions
Anxiety disorders can be triggered or made worse by traumatic or stressful experiences, such as abuse, violence, loss, or disease. On the other hand, for some people, even happy life events like getting married, having a child, or starting a new profession can cause anxiety.
Conditions Medicinal:
The onset or expression of anxiety symptoms might be influenced by underlying physical health conditions such diabetes, heart disease, thyroid difficulties, or hormone imbalances.
Disorders of Anxiety Treatment:
In addition to patient preferences, treatment options are based on the degree, effect, and persistence of symptoms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are examples of evidence-based therapies.
Depression that co-occurs needs to be treated specifically and with separate consideration. After symptom remission, treatment is typically continued for 9–12 months before being gradually discontinued as advised.
Which Programmes Has The Indian Government Launched To Address Mental Health?
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): In response to the high prevalence of mental diseases and the lack of mental health specialists, the government established the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982.
To provide community mental health services at the level of primary healthcare, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) was also introduced in 1996.
Every affected person has access to government-run facilities for mental healthcare and treatment under the 2017 Mental Health Care Act. The impact of Section 309 IPC has been greatly diminished, and attempts at suicide are now only punished under special circumstances.
Kiran Support:
A 24/7 toll-free helpline called “Kiran” was introduced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2020 to offer mental health support.
Manodarpan Project:
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was designed to offer psychosocial assistance to students, teachers, and family members.
Mobile MANAS App:
The Government of India launched MANAS (Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System) in 2021 to promote mental health across age groups.
Questions from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Exam (PYQ)
- What does the following quote from the Dalai Lama, from 2021, imply to you? “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves.”
Origin: TH
GREENWASHING BY AIRLINES AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CARBON POLLUTION
In News, why?
In the US, a lawsuit has been launched alleging Delta Air Lines of “Greenwashing” by making exaggerated and fraudulent claims about its sustainability initiatives and status as a “Green” and carbon-neutral airline. The airline pledged to offset the carbon emissions from passengers’ flights and stated that it will be carbon neutral by March 2020. However, investigations and media exposes have brought to light flaws and errors in Delta’s carbon offsetting procedure.
How does greenwashing work?
American environmentalist and researcher Jay Westerveld coined the phrase “greenwashing” in 1986. Greenwashing is the practise of businesses and governments portraying a wide range of activities as being environmentally benign, as something that would result in emissions being avoided or reduced. Many of these assertions are unsubstantiated, false, or questionable. They do nothing to combat climate change, but they do help to improve the organization’s reputation. Numerous global companies have been accused of greenwashing, including Coca Cola and oil tycoons Shell and BP. Across a wide spectrum of environmental operations, greenwashing is common. Developed nations are sometimes accused of “greenwashing” their regular commercial investments in developing nations by emphasising the cash flows’ positive climatic impacts, sometimes with scant evidence. Under India’s Consumer Protection Act of 2019, which forbids false advertising, greenwashing is regarded as an unfair business practise, but enforcing these restrictions is still difficult.
What are the issues with air travel and carbon pollution?
Significant Airlines Engage in Greenwashing
The carbon neutrality claims made by the industry have been called into question by investigations and studies such as those in the (Guardian investigation and Greenpeace study) that have exposed weaknesses and fraud in major airlines’ carbon offset programmes. Similar charges of greenwashing and deceiving passengers with promises of being environmentally friendly have been levelled against other airlines, including KLM (a Netherlands-based airline), Ryanair (Europe), Air Canada, and Swiss Airlines. These findings cast doubt on the validity of the International Air Transport Association’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2050, which experts have called a case of greenwashing.
Significant Carbon Pollution Sources from Airlines:
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that in 2021, aviation accounted for over 2% of all worldwide energy-related CO2 emissions. Flying is a substantial source of carbon pollution. According to predictions, aviation emissions could increase by 300–700% by 2050. one roundtrip flight from Mumbai to L.A. produces 4.8 tonnes of CO2—the equivalent of 6,000,000 smartphone charges.
Offset System Blind Spots:
In order to count carbon offsets, there aren’t any widely accepted criteria or tracking systems, which makes it challenging to assure additionality—the reduction of emissions that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. The oversight and verification procedures have come under fire for allowing deceptive projects and phantom credits, although certification organisations play a role in connecting buyers and sellers of carbon credits.
How do carbon credits work?
Companies who invest in projects that decrease, minimise, or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, or environmental conservation, obtain carbon credits (also known as carbon offsets). The amount of carbon dioxide that would have been taken out of the atmosphere as a result of these actions is represented by these credits. One metric tonne of CO2, which contributes to global warming, is represented by each credit. Companies utilise these credits to claim that they are lowering emissions in other places, such far-off rainforests, in order to offset their carbon emissions in one region, like air travel. According to a forecast by Morgan Stanley in 2023, the market for voluntary carbon offsets is predicted to develop dramatically, from USD 2 billion in 2020 to over USD 250 billion by 2050.
What is the impact of greenwashing on carbon credits?
Unofficial Markets
There are credits available for a variety of actions, like planting a particular crop, growing trees, and installing energy-efficient machinery in office buildings. Credits for such actions are frequently accredited by unauthorised third-party businesses and sold to others. Due to their double counting and lack of integrity, these transactions have been flagged.
Credibility:
India and Brazil, two nations that had collected significant carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol, intended to transfer those credits to the new market being established by the Paris Agreement. Many industrialised nations disagreed, stating the certificates lacked credibility and did not adequately reflect pollution reductions.
The carbon offset market may become less transparent as a result of greenwashing. Businesses may only disclose a limited amount of information about the initiatives they sponsor, making it challenging to confirm their claims and evaluate the programmes’ actual environmental impact. The reliability and dependability of the carbon credit system are compromised by this lack of openness.
Abandoning True Emission Reductions:
Genuine efforts to reduce carbon emissions may be neglected or harmed by greenwashing tactics. Companies who want to reduce their emissions but don’t want to make major operational changes or switch to more environmentally friendly practises may rely on carbon credits. This may obstruct efforts to reduce emissions in a significant way and move towards a low-carbon economy.
Way ahead
Regulations are difficult to enact and enforce due to the complexity of carbon offsetting and the lack of agreement on practical requirements. Better regulation, openness, and comprehension of carbon offset programmes are thus necessary. Despite the challenges these options confront, attention should shift to decarbonizing commercial aircraft using Sustainable aircraft Fuel (SAF), hydrogen, and full-electric propulsion methods. In order to lessen aviation’s carbon footprint, there is a need for stricter regulation, increased monitoring, and the creation of more effective techniques.
Questions from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Exam (PYQ)
- Which of the following statements about “carbon credits” is untrue? (2011)
(a) The Kyoto Protocol and the carbon credit system were both ratified.
(a) Nations or groups that have lowered their greenhouse gas emissions below their emission quota are given carbon credits.
(c) The carbon credit system aims to prevent carbon dioxide emissions from rising.
(d) The price at which carbon credits are traded is occasionally set by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Ans: (d)
Origin: TH
INDIAN ADOPTION
In News, why?
With the most pending adoption cases in India (329 awaiting resolutions), Maharashtra has a huge backlog of adoption cases, which has lately come to the attention of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. As required by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act of 2021, the Bombay High Court ordered the state administration not to transfer ongoing adoption procedures to District Magistrates in January 2023, which caused uncertainty and slowed down the process.
What is the situation with adoption of children in India?
About:
Accepting the duty of raising a kid who is not a biological relative of the adoptive parents is a legal and emotional process. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), a division of the Ministry of Women and Child Care, oversees and controls the adoption process in India. CARA is the organisation in charge of overseeing and regulating domestic adoptions for Indian children. The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, 1993, which the Government of India ratified in 2003, designates CARA as the Central Authority to handle international adoptions.
Adoption-related laws in India:
The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956 (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 both regulate adoptions in India. For adoptive parents, each law has a different set of requirements. A specialised adoption agency does a home study report after applicants for the JJ Act have registered on the CARA portal. A child who has been deemed legally available for adoption is forwarded to the applicant once it determines that the candidate is eligible for adoption. A “dattaka hom” ceremony, an adoption deed, or a court order are all required under HAMA in order to secure irrevocable adoption rights. This Act makes it legal for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs to adopt children.
New Development
To alter the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act), 2015, the Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2021. One of the most significant modifications is that Section 61 of the JJ Act now permits District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates to make adoption orders. According to a previous section of the JJ Act 2015, an adoption order issued by a civil court makes a child’s adoption legally binding. The Adoption Regulations-2022, which have expedited the adoption procedure, were introduced by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. District Magistrates (DMs) have been instructed to post adoption orders and case status in real time, as have Child Welfare Committees. 2,297 adoption orders have been issued by DMs nationally since the Adoption Regulations-2022 went into effect, concluding a sizable part of open cases.
What are the biggest obstacles to adoption in India?
Adoption Procedure Can Be Protracted and Complicated: The adoption procedure in India can be drawn out, bureaucratic, and difficult, which causes delays in matching up children with suitable families. Statistics from the CARA show that while more than 30,000 prospective parents are now waiting to adopt, less than 7% of children—2131—are legally available for adoption, highlighting India’s laborious and protracted adoption process. The adoption procedure takes three years to complete, and about two-thirds of them are kids with special needs. Regulated and Illegal Practises: Regulated and Illegal adoption practises do unfortunately exist in India. This involves the use of vulnerable children and biological parents by unregistered adoption organisations, infant trafficking, and child selling. As a result of a nun from the shelter admitting to selling four children, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Ranchi came under scrutiny for having a “baby-selling racket” in 2018. Returning Children After Adoption: Adoptive parents are returning children after adoption at an unusually high rate in India. In 2020, CARA reported that in the previous five years, adoptive parents had returned more than 1,100 adopted children to child care facilities across the nation.
Way ahead
Strengthening Adoption rules: To simplify, increase transparency, and guarantee the best interests of the child, adoption rules need to be reviewed and updated. This entails streamlining paperwork, cutting back on hold-ups, and correcting any gaps or inconsistencies in current law.
Post-Adoption Services: To help both adoptive parents and adopted children, extensive post-adoption support services must be established. This can include counselling, assistance with education, access to healthcare, and advice on how to handle any difficulties that may emerge during the adoption process.
Education and Awareness: Adoption needs to be made known as a viable choice for creating families. It involves informing the general public of the advantages, processes, and legal ramifications of adoption. Encouragement of good attitudes towards adoption as well as the dispelling of myths or stigma attached to it.
Origin: IE
PHONON MANIPULATION FOR QUANTUM COMPUTING
In News, why?
Researchers from IBM have just created an Acoustic Beam-Splitter to manipulate phonons for use in quantum computing, which may be able to solve difficult problems that are beyond the capabilities of ordinary computers. A beam of light is divided into two halves using beam-splitters, which are frequently employed in optics research. A beam-splitter uses quantum physics to function.
How do phonons work?
Phonons, which are bundles of vibrating energy, can be thought of as the quantum counterpart to sound. Phonons have the potential to function as quantum bits (qubits), which are units of information similar to photons, which are packets of light energy. To enable quantum computing, researchers are looking into phonon manipulation and control. Finding ways to influence phonons in a similar way to how one might manipulate electrons or photons is the difficult part.
Describe the Acoustic Beam-Splitter.
It is a tiny gadget with metal bars in the shape of a comb. It was positioned in a small lithium niobate channel. There was a superconducting qubit that could emit and detect individual phonons at each end of the channel. The entire system was maintained at extremely low temperatures. The phonons acted similarly to how photons interact with an optical beam-splitter because they represented the combined vibration of billions of atoms. A phonon’s propagation path consisted of half reflection and half transmission when it was emitted from one side. Photons would all land on one side if they were released simultaneously from both sides. The findings showed that such two-phonon interference did occur, proving that phonons behave in a quantum manner identical to that of photons.
Quantum computing: what is it?
About:
With the help of the fast developing field of quantum computing, problems that are too complicated for conventional computers can now be resolved. A branch of physics known as quantum mechanics explains how particles such as atoms, electrons, photons, and nearly all molecules and sub-molecules behave. It is a fascinating new technology that will influence the world of tomorrow by giving us an advantage and a wide range of opportunities. Compared to the traditional computing systems of today, it processes information in a completely different manner.
Features:
Quantum computers use quantum bits (Qubits) to perform calculations, as opposed to today’s classical computers, which store information as binary 0 and 1 states. A qubit can be in a variety of states, unlike a bit, which can either be a 0 or a 1, allowing for exponentially greater calculations and the possibility to tackle complicated problems that are beyond the power of even the most advanced classical supercomputers.
Significance:
Quantum computing is the manipulation of information using the quantum mechanical phenomenon. It is anticipated that quantum computing would help to understand how molecules and chemicals interact, solve challenging optimisation issues, and advance artificial intelligence. These could pave the way for cutting-edge medical research, life-saving medications, and advancements in logistics, supply chains, and financial data modelling.
Questions from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Exam (PYQ)
Prelims
Which of the following best describes the setting in which the term “qubit” is used?
Cloud Services (a)
Quantum computing (b)
(c) Technologies for Visible Light Communication
Technologies for wireless communication (d)
Ans: (b)
Origin: TH
ROCK PAINTINGS FROM THE MESOLITHIC FOUND IN ANDHRA PRADESH
In News, why?
In the Guntur region of Andhra Pradesh, a former member of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently unearthed a Mesolithic period rock painting showing a person tilling a plot of land. It was discovered as surveyors looked for religious architectural characteristics in the lower River Krishna Valley. Archaeologists had discovered Neolothic era prehistoric rock art on naturally occurring limestone formations close to Dachepalli in the Guntur region earlier in 2018. This art is thought to date from around 1500–2000 BC.
What are the main conclusions?
Shelters made of natural rock
On a hillside in Orvakallu, the rock drawings were discovered on the walls and ceilings of naturally formed caves. The prehistoric people who lived in the area at that time used these caves as shelters.
Prehistoric Rock Art:
Two of the five caverns that were investigated stood out due to their distinctive rock art. These paintings were created by Mesolithic Age individuals and provide insight into their artistic prowess and lifestyle.
Materials for the Arts:
Red ochre and natural white kaolin pigments were used to make the rock art. A mixture of clay, sand, and ferric oxide makes up the colour ochre. By chemically weathering aluminium silicate minerals like feldspar, kaolinite is a soft, earthy, and often white mineral that is created. The paintings have sustained substantial deterioration as a result of exposure to air and wind over time. But some of the outlines and sketches are still there.
Scenes Presented:
Numerous scenarios from the daily lives of the prehistoric communities are shown in the rock paintings. In one artwork, a guy is shown masterfully controlling a wild goat with his left hand while catching it with his right. Another artwork shows a toddler standing behind two couples with their hands outstretched, potentially implying rituals or communal activities.
Agriculture Methods:
An important picture shows a man appearing to till the ground while wielding a plough. This portrayal depicts a semi-settled lifestyle in which members of the society engaged in animal domestication and crop cultivation, mirroring early agricultural practises.
Rock Ages
Age of the Palaeolithic (Old Stone):
Basically a culture of food collecting and hunting. The majority of palaeolithic tools, such as the sharpened stone, chopper, hand axe, scraper, spear, bow, and arrow, etc., were fashioned of quartzite, a hard rock. In Madhya Pradesh’s Bhimbetka, rock sculptures and paintings depict hunting as the primary means of livelihood. India’s palaeolithic period is classified into three stages:
Palaeolithic period, early or lower (500,000–100,000 BC)
(100,000–40,000 BC) Middle Palaeolithic
(40,000–10,000 BC) Upper Palaeolithic.
Age of the Middle Stones, or Mesolithic (10,000–8000 BCE):
The transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene periods and favourable climate changes characterise the age. Early Mesolithic times are characterised by hunting, fishing, and food collection. At this time, the first animals were domesticated. Compared to the Palaeolithic era, the tools known as Microliths were smaller and had better geometry.
Age of the Neolithic (New Stone) (8000–1000 BCE):
The age, often known as the end of the Stone Age, marked the start of food production. The neolithic age is distinguished by sedentism, which is the practise of staying put for an extended period of time, the usage of pottery, and the development of crafts. Heavy ground tools including pestles, grinders, pounders, as well as axes and sickles made up the majority of the neolithic tools.
Megalithic Civilization
Large stone monuments known as megaliths were built as either graveyards or memorial places. The majority of the megaliths in India are dated by archaeologists to the Iron Age (1500 BC to 500 BC), while some sites date back as far as 2000 BC. All over the Indian subcontinent are megaliths. The majority of them are in peninsular India, mostly in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, as well as Maharashtra (particularly in Vidarbha).
Origin: TH
LIGHTNING-FAST CURRENT AFFAIRS
LEGAL SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN ESTONIA
As the first nation in Central Europe to legalise same-sex unions, Estonia’s parliament passed the legislation. This action distinguishes Estonia from its regional neighbours, where samesex marriage is still not legal. In 34 other nations, same-sex marriage can be performed legally and is accepted as valid. Of them, 23 legalised same-sex marriages by law and 10 through judicial rulings, totaling 34. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to formally recognise same-sex unions. Currently, same-sex unions are not recognised by Indian law, which defines marriage as a partnership between a man and a woman. However, in November 2018, the Supreme Court struck down portions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to decriminalise homosexuality.
‘DHRUV’ INTEGRATED SIMULATOR COMPLEX
The Southern Naval Command in Kochi’s Integrated Simulator Complex (ISC) “Dhruv” was recently opened by India’s Defence Minister. This state-of-the-art facility, which is furnished with cutting-edge simulators created locally, is expected to revolutionise practical training for the Indian Navy. The ISC ‘Dhruv”s simulators will offer real-time experiences in navigation, fleet operations, and naval tactics, considerably increasing the training process. Especially noteworthy is the fact that these simulators will be used to educate troops from friendly nations, enhancing defence cooperation. The Multi-Station Handling Simulator (MSSHS), Air Direction and Helicopter Control Simulator (ADHCS), and Astronavigation Dome were the simulators that attracted the most interest. The Astronavigation Dome, a first-of-its-kind in the Indian Navy, highlights the nation’s inventive abilities while the ship handling simulators, supplied to 18 countries, represent India’s ability in simulator manufacture.
THE US SENATE SUGGESTS GIVING INDIA ‘NATO PLUS FIVE’ DEFENCE STATUS.
In a momentous development that coincided with the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Washington, the co-chairs of the U.S. A bill granting India ‘NATO plus five’ defence status will be introduced, according to the Senate. The US, its NATO allies, and the following five nations are currently parties to this agreement:
Israel, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and New Zealand. aims to strengthen defence ties and ease the transfer of weapons systems. S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs for India, has previously rejected this concept, claiming that it did not apply to India. In support of the idea, the US emphasised the value of boosting defence commerce between the two countries in order to strengthen India’s security capabilities, particularly in light of the danger posed by China. A complete collaboration between the two countries is the aim.
SPIEF, THE ST. PETERSBURG INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM
The 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) demonstrated Russia’s will to keep its economy going in the face of Western sanctions. Russia is looking for alternative economic and geopolitical ties as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. Due to the absence of senior delegates and CEOs from the West, the SPIEF this year had a lower level of international participation. SPIEF is a yearly business conference for the Russian economy that has taken place in St. Petersburg since 1997 and under the leadership of the Russian President since 2006. In order to address important topics on the global economic agenda and to exchange best practises and expertise for sustainable development, the Forum brings together heads of state, heads of government, political leaders, experts, and members of civil society. The Forum also offers an exposition of business and investment plans and projects from various Russian regions and industries.