11 Oct | UPSC Current Affairs: Jayaprakash Narayan, Nanaji Deshmukh, Caracal, NMHC, and More

UPSC GS 1

Jayaprakash Narayan

• News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently paid tributes to socialist stalwart and anti-Emergency movement icon Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary.
• Personal Background: Jayaprakash Narayan was born on October 11, 1902, in Sitab Diara, Bihar.
• Education and Early Activism:
  • • Left college to join the Non-Cooperation Movement.
    • Later pursued studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where Karl Marx’s ideas deeply influenced him.
    • Return to India and Role in the Freedom Struggle:
    • Returned to India in 1929 and joined the freedom movement.
    • Invited by Jawaharlal Nehru and inspired by a speech by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, he became a part of the Indian National Congress.
    • Played a key role in founding the Congress Socialist Party (CSP).

• Call for Sampoorna Kranti:
  • • His call for Sampoorna Kranti (Total Revolution) played a crucial role in rallying public opinion against Indira Gandhi’s government, ultimately leading to the formation of the first non-Congress government, the Janata Party, in 1977.
• Recognitions and Awards:
  • • Posthumously honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1999 for his contributions to social service.
    • Received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1965.

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Nanaji Deshmukh

• News:  PM Modi today paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh on his birth anniversary.
• Early Life: Nanaji Deshmukh was born in Maharashtra in 1916.
• Contribution to Education:
  • • Credited with establishing Saraswati Shishu Mandir (SSM), which operates a network of private schools in India, considered the educational arm of the RSS.
    • Founded the first SSM in Gorakhpur in 1950 and established the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) in Chitrakoot.
    • Instrumental in the creation of India’s first rural university, Chitrakoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya.
• Role in JP Movement:
  • • Played a significant role in the JP movement of 1974, opposing the Emergency.
    • A key figure in supporting Jayaprakash Narayan’s call for Total Revolution during the agitation.

• Contribution to Rural Development:
  • • Through the DRI, he implemented alternative rural development models based on traditional knowledge in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh’s remote areas.
• Other Reform Movements:
  • • Actively involved in the Bhoodan Movement led by Vinoba Bhave.
    • Spearheaded social restructuring in over 500 villages across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
    • Worked on reforms related to agriculture, cottage industries, rural health, and education.
• Awards and Recognition: Posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna for his contributions.

UPSC GS 3

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)

• News:  The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat. 
• Location and Overview:
  • • The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) will be situated in Lothal, Gujarat, with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) leading the initiative.
• Vision and Objective:
  • • The NMHC is in line with the Prime Minister’s goal of highlighting India’s 4,500-year-old maritime history.
• Employment Generation:
  • • The project is set to create around 22,000 jobs, consisting of 15,000 direct and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities.
• LightHouse Museum:
  • • The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) will fund the construction of a LightHouse Museum, which is part of Phase 1B.
• Governing Council:
  • • The project will be supervised by a Governing Council chaired by the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, responsible for overseeing the project’s implementation, management, and operation.

• Beneficiaries:
  • • NMHC will benefit local communities, tourists, researchers, government bodies, educational institutions, cultural organizations, conservation groups, and businesses.
• Phases and Features:
• Phase 1A:
  • • Includes a museum with six galleries, featuring a large Indian Navy & Coast Guard gallery.
    • Displays naval artifacts, a replica of the Lothal township, an aquatic gallery, and a jetty walkway.
• Phase 1B:
  • • Expands the complex with eight additional galleries, the world’s tallest Light House Museum, and the Bagicha complex.
    • Provides parking for 1,500 cars, a food hall, and a medical center.
• Phase 2:
  • • Will feature Coastal State Pavilions developed by respective states and union territories.
    • Includes a hospitality zone with a maritime-themed eco-resort and museotels.
    • Features a recreation of the ancient Lothal City and a maritime institute with a hostel.
    • Offers four theme-based parks: Maritime & Naval, Climate Change, Monuments, and Adventure & Amusement Parks.

MALABAR Exercise 2024

• News:   This marks the 28th edition of the MALABAR maritime exercise.
  • • Originally launched in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States, it later expanded with the inclusion of Japan and Australia, making it a multinational engagement.
    • The exercise aligns with India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
    • It highlights India’s increasing cooperation with like-minded nations to bolster regional security.
• Duration:
  • • The exercise began on October 8, 2024, and will continue until October 18, 2024.
• Attendees:
  • • Participants include crew members and planning staff from the ships, aircraft, and Special Forces of the involved nations.
• Objective:
  • • The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding, collaboration, and engagement to address shared maritime challenges.
• Key Features:
  • • The exercise is conducted in two phases—at the harbor and at sea.
    • Key drills include live weapon firings, complex surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare operations, along with joint maneuvers.
• Asset Participation:
  • • The exercise involves a wide range of assets, including destroyers, frigates, corvettes, fleet support ships, long-range maritime patrol aircraft, jet aircraft, helicopters, and submarines. 

Agasthyamalai Bambootail 

• News:   A group of researchers from the state and outside has discovered a new species of damselfly called Agasthyamalai Bambootail  from Manjadininnavila in Thiruvananthapuram district.

• Discovery of Agasthyamalai Bambootail:
  • • A newly discovered species of damselfly belonging to the bambootail group.
    • Named for its long, cylindrical abdomen that resembles a bamboo stalk.
    • Found in the Agasthyamalai landscape of the Western Ghats.
    • The only other species in the same genus is the Malabar Bambootail (Melanoneura bilineata), native to the Coorg-Wayanad region of the Western Ghats.
• Distinctive Features:
  • • This genus can be distinguished from other bambootails by the absence of the anal bridge vein in their wings.
    • Members of this genus have long black bodies with striking blue markings.
    • The Agasthyamalai Bambootail differs from the Malabar Bambootail in its prothorax structure, anal appendages, and secondary genitalia.
• Key Facts about Damselflies:
  • • Damselflies belong to the order Odonata and are predatory aerial insects.
    • They typically inhabit shallow, freshwater environments and are known for their graceful flight, slender bodies, and net-veined wings.
    • Generally smaller and more delicate than dragonflies, damselflies also have weaker flight capabilities.
    • Unlike dragonflies, damselflies’ eyes are always widely separated.
    • Their vibrant colors are often stunning.
    • The wingspan of damselflies varies, ranging from 18 mm (0.71 inches) to 19 cm (7.5 inches) in species like Megaloprepus caerulatus, a giant damselfly from tropical Central and South America.
    • Damselfly larvae, often referred to as nymphs or naiads, are aquatic predators living in freshwater habitats.

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Caracal

• News:  In India, caracals face habitat loss and are listed as critically endangered under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act.
• General Characteristics:
  • • The caracal is a secretive, primarily nocturnal animal known for its agility and exceptional ability to catch birds mid-flight.
    • In India, it is referred to as siya gosh, a Persian term meaning ‘black ear,’ in reference to its distinctively dark, tufted ears.
    • For maternal dens, caracals often use abandoned porcupine burrows and rock crevices, though they may also be found with their young in areas of dense vegetation.
    • While caracals can live in small groups, their shy and elusive nature makes them difficult to observe in the wild.
• Habitat:
  • • Caracals inhabit woodlands, savannahs, and scrub forests.

• Distribution:
  • • In India, the most suitable habitats are found in regions such as Kutch (Gujarat), the Malwa Plateau, the Aravalli hill range, and the Bundelkhand area of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
    • They are also present across numerous countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia.
• Threats:
  • • Major threats to caracals include large-scale hunting, illegal wildlife trade, and the loss of their natural habitats.
• Conservation Status:
  • • According to the IUCN, caracals are classified as a species of Least Concern.
    • Under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, caracals are listed in Schedule I, granting them the highest level of protection.