GS-1: Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Context
- Prime Minister addressed 200th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Dayanand Saraswati virtually.
About Swami Dayanand Saraswati
- Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, born on February 12, 1824, in Tankara, Gujarat, was a prominent social reformer.
- He founded Arya Samaj in 1875 to address social inequalities and promote Vedic principles.
- Dayanand Saraswati rejected idol worship and ritualistic practices, advocating worship of a formless, attributeless God.
- He initiated the Shuddhi Movement to reconvert individuals who had converted to other religions back to Hinduism.
- Emphasizing a return to the Vedas, he aimed to dispel ignorance and superstition in society.
- Dayanand Saraswati championed women’s rights, advocating for their education and equal participation in social and religious activities.
- He opposed practices like child marriage and sati, considering them harmful to society and against Vedic principles.
- Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati established Gurukuls to impart Vedic knowledge and promote its dissemination.
- His disciples, inspired by his teachings, founded the Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) College Trust and Management Society after his demise in 1883.
- The first DAV High School opened in Lahore on June 1, 1886, under the leadership of Mahatma Hans Raj.
- Dayananda Saraswati’s philosophy is elucidated in his renowned works such as “Satyartha Prakash,” “Veda Bhashya Bhumika,” and “Veda Bhashya.”
- Additionally, his thoughts are reflected in the journal “Arya Patrika,” which he edited.
PM-SVANidhi
Context
- A study examining the impact of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) loan scheme on street vendors’ income revealed that the initial loan of ₹10,000 resulted in an annual income increase of ₹23,460 for each beneficiary.
About PM-SVANidhi Scheme
- Launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India
- Offers a collateral-free loan of Rs 10,000 with low interest rates (below 12%) to street vendors for one year
- Aims to establish credit scores and create digital records of vendors’ socio-economic status
- Seeks to formalize the informal economy and provide access to government schemes and future loans
- Addresses financial needs exacerbated by the pandemic-induced lockdown
- Eligibility requires vending before March 24, 2020, and possession of a vending certificate
- As of February 10, 2024, has disbursed 60.65 lakh first-term loans, 16.95 lakh second-term loans, and 2.43 lakh third-term loans
Analysis of The PM SVANidhi Scheme
- Study commissioned by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, conducted by Centre for Analytical Finance of Indian School of Business between January and June 2023
- Report intended for internal assessment by Ministry, unlikely to be publicized
- 94% of beneficiaries used first loan of Rs 10,000 for business investments; 98% did so for second loan
- First loan resulted in additional income of Rs 1,955 per month, totaling Rs 23,460 during one-year duration
- 13.9% of disbursed loans classified as non-performing assets (NPAs), indicating no payments for three months or more
- Beneficiaries demonstrated lower debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, suggesting high creditworthiness
- Minimal improvement observed in street vendors accessing formal credit from other sources after PM SVANidhi program inception
- Only 9% of beneficiaries had loans from other financial institutions
GS-2: Online Gaming
Context
- MeitY will develop a framework to regulate online games involving money, replacing industry-led self-regulation with government oversight in the gaming sector.
Online Gaming in India
- India’s online gaming industry, primarily comprising home-grown startups, is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27%.
- AI and online gaming are projected to contribute up to $300 billion to India’s GDP by 2026-27.
- India has witnessed the fastest rise in new paying users (NPUs) globally, increasing from 40% in 2020 to an expected 50% in 2021.
- Transaction-based games revenue surged by 26% in India, with the number of paying players rising from 80 million in 2020 to 95 million in 2021, according to a FICCI report.
Need of Regulatory Mechanism
- Lack of regulatory oversight in online gaming poses challenges such as absence of grievance mechanisms, player protection, and control over misleading advertisements.
- Distinguishing between legitimate gaming platforms and illegal gambling sites remains difficult for users.
- Illicit offshore markets contribute to issues like money laundering and national security risks, causing significant revenue loss estimated at $45 billion annually.
- State-level attempts to regulate online gaming face enforcement challenges due to the internet’s cross-border nature.
- Societal concerns include addiction, mental health, financial fraud, and privacy breaches associated with the rapid expansion of online gaming.
GS-3: Darwin Day
Context
- February 12 is recognized worldwide as Darwin Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of naturalist Charles Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882).
About Charles Darwin
- Darwin Day serves as a platform for scientists to showcase advancements in understanding evolution and to promote public appreciation of science.
- Charles Darwin, a British naturalist and biologist, is celebrated for his groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for the modern theory of evolution.
- His seminal book, “On the Origin of Species,” published in 1859, introduced the concept of natural selection as the mechanism driving evolution.
- Darwin is widely regarded as the Father of Evolution for his pioneering contributions to the field.
His Work
- Darwin’s theory of evolution proposes that species change gradually over time through a mechanism called natural selection.
- Natural selection favors individuals with advantageous traits, allowing them to survive and reproduce more successfully.
- These advantageous traits are passed on to offspring, leading to gradual changes within populations over generations.
- Darwin’s theory revolutionized our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth by providing a scientific explanation for how species evolve and adapt to their environments.
- Darwin proposed that variations occur naturally within species.
- Variations that confer an advantage in the struggle for survival are more likely to be passed on to offspring.
- Over time, these advantageous variations accumulate in the population, leading to changes in the species.
- This process, known as natural selection, is a driving force behind evolution according to Darwin’s theory.
Facts For Prelims
Brumation
- Brumation is a state of inactivity or torpor exhibited by reptiles during winter or periods of low temperature.
- Similar to hibernation in mammals, brumation allows reptiles to conserve energy and survive adverse environmental conditions.
- Reptiles may retreat to underground burrows or other sheltered areas during brumation to endure cold temperatures and minimize resource requirements.
- This survival strategy, developed over thousands of years, helps reptiles adapt to sudden climatic changes and endure challenging environmental conditions.
Hastsal Minar
- The “Mini Qutub Minar” is a minaret tower located in Hastsal village, West Delhi, India.
- Built in 1650 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, it is constructed using lakhori bricks and clad with red sandstone.
- Standing at 17 meters tall on a raised platform, it features a reducing diameter and an octagonal body on a square platform.
- Originally five storeys, it was topped with a domed Chhatri pavilion, resembling the Qutub Minar of Delhi.
- The tower, now endangered, has been renovated and opened for tourists.
- It currently has three floors compared to the original five.
- Used by Emperor Shah Jahan for entertainment after hunting, it once stood amidst wilderness surrounding the Hastsal minaret and royal hunting lodge.
