UPSC: Qutb Shahi Tomb Complex, Vadhvan Port Project, and More

Table of Contents

UPSC GS 1

Qutb Shahi Tomb Complex

News: After a decade-long restoration effort by the Telangana government, the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park was opened to the public recently.
Location:
- - The complex is situated in Ibrahim Bagh, Hyderabad.
Historical Background
- - The Qutb Shahi Tomb Complex was established by the Qutb Shahi dynasty, which ruled the region from 1518 A.D. to 1687 A.D.
Structure and Components:
- - Number of Structures: The complex includes 30 tombs, along with mosques and a mortuary bath.
  - Significance: The tombs belong to the rulers of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty and form a 500-year-old cluster of grand mausoleums, idgahs, graves, funerary mosques, a hammam (bath), and baolis (stepwells).

Architectural Style:
- - Architectural Example: The complex is a prominent example of an Indo-Muslim dynastic necropolis.
  - Platform and Structure: The tombs are arranged in a large group on a raised platform. They are characterized by their resemblance to Persian, Pathan, and Hindu architectural styles.
  - Materials and Decoration: The structures are built using grey granite with stucco ornamentation. This design makes the complex unique as it is the only place in the world where an entire dynasty is buried in a single location.
  - Gardens and Carvings: The tombs are set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and feature intricately carved stonework.
Key Facts about the Qutb Shahi Dynasty
- - Rulers: The Qutb Shahi dynasty were Muslim rulers of the kingdom of Golconda, located in the southeastern Deccan region of India. They were one of the five successor states of the Bahmanī kingdom.
  - Founder: The dynasty was founded by Qulī Quṭb Shah, a Turkish governor of the Bahmanī eastern region.
  - Reign: The Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled from 1518 to 1687.
  - Initial Capital: Qulī Quṭb Shah declared independence in 1518 and established his capital at Golconda.
  - Later Capital: Toward the end of the 17th century, Muḥammad Qulī Quṭb Shah, a later ruler, founded a new capital at Hyderabad, located a few miles away from Golconda.
  - Territory: The kingdom stretched from the Godavari River in the north, bordered by Tamil Nadu to the south, Bijapur to the west, and the Bay of Bengal to the east.

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UPSC GS 2

Bureau of Police Research and Development

News: The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), celebrated its 54th Foundation Day recently.
Establishment:
- - BPR&D was established in 1970 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, replacing the Police Research and Advisory Council.

Mandate and Objectives:
- - Identifying Needs and Problems: To identify the needs and challenges faced by the police forces across the country.
  - Research and Solutions: To undertake research projects and studies, suggesting effective modalities to address and overcome these challenges.
  - Promoting Technology: To keep pace with the latest developments in science and technology, both in India and internationally, with the aim of promoting the use of appropriate technologies in police work.
Additional Responsibilities:
- - Monitoring Training Needs: Monitoring the training needs and quality of training in State and Central Police Organizations and providing assistance in this regard.
  - Modernization of Police Forces: Assisting States in modernizing their police forces and correctional administration.
  - Development of Standards: Assisting the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Police Forces (CPFs) in developing Standards and Quality Requirements (QRs) for various equipment and infrastructure-related items.
  - National Police Mission: Coordinating and anchoring the work of the National Police Mission.
Organizational Structure: When BPR&D was first established, it had two primary divisions:
- - Research, Statistics & Publication Division
  - Development Division
  - Expansion Based on Gore Committee Recommendations: Based on the recommendations of the Gore Committee, BPR&D created a Training Division in 1973.
Central Detective Training Institutes (CDTIs):
- - BPR&D operates five Central Detective Training Institutes located in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ghaziabad, and Jaipur.
  - These institutes are dedicated to the training of police officers and other stakeholders, ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties effectively.
Headquarters: New Delhi.

National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP)

News: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the PM Modi has approved 12 new project proposals under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
Objective:
- - The NICDP is India’s most ambitious infrastructure programme, aimed at developing new industrial cities as “Smart Cities” and integrating next-generation technologies across various infrastructure sectors.
  - It seeks to facilitate significant investments from both large anchor industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), supporting the government’s target of achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030.
Newly Sanctioned Industrial Areas:
- - These industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in, Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerela, Agra and Prayagraj in UP, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in AP and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.

Key Highlights:
- - Strategic Investments:
    - NICDP is designed to foster a vibrant industrial ecosystem by facilitating investments from both large anchor industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
    - These industrial nodes will act as catalysts for achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030, reflecting the government’s vision of a self-reliant and globally competitive India.
  - Smart Cities and Modern Infrastructure:
    - The new industrial cities will be developed as greenfield smart cities of global standards, built “ahead of demand” on the ‘plug-n-play’ and ‘walk-to-work’ concepts.
    - This approach ensures that the cities are equipped with advanced infrastructure that supports sustainable and efficient industrial operations.
  - Area Approach on PM GatiShakti:
    - Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the projects will feature multi-modal connectivity infrastructure, ensuring seamless movement of people, goods, and services.
    - The industrial cities are envisioned to be growth centers for transformation of whole region.

UPSC GS 3

Vadhvan Port Project

News: PM Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra today to lay the foundation stone of the Vadhvan Port project and several other projects in Palghar.
Definition:
- - Vadhavan Port is an ambitious project under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ Sagarmala Program.
  - This project is also aligned with the objectives of PM Gati Shakti program.
Location:
- - This port will be developed as an all-weather Greenfield deep draft major port in Vadhavan, Palghar District, Maharashtra.
Budget:
- - The total cost of the project, including the land acquisition component, is Rs 76,220 crore.
  - This will include development of Core infrastructure, Terminals and other commercial infrastructure in public-private partnerships (PPP) mode.
Partners:
- - The port will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd, an SPV formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board with a shareholding of 74 % and 26%, respectively.
Key Features:
- - This port will be India’s 13th Major Port.
  - This port will aid EXIM trade flow through IMEEC (India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor) and INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor).
  - The Vadhavan Port which will be one of the top ten ports of the world, upon completion.
  - The Port is expected to handle 23.2 million twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) a year ( TEU—a standard unit of measurement to determine container capacity—refers to a shipping container that is 20 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall).
  - The Port will comprise nine container terminals, four multipurpose berths, including the coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth.
Note: The Jawaharlal Nehru Port is so far the largest container handling port in India.
Importance:
- - The port aims at providing direct connectivity to international shipping routes, reducing transit times and costs.
  - The project port will further the economic activity and also have direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 12 lakh individuals, contributing to the local economy.
  - The port incorporates sustainable development practices with a focus on minimizing environmental impact and adhering to stringent ecological standards.
  - The Port will enhance India’s maritime connectivity and further strengthen its position as a global trade hub.

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

News: Four monkeys were found dead in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur district of Kerala, raising concerns among wildlife authorities.
Location:
- - Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the western slopes of the Western Ghats, making it the northernmost wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.
  - It shares its boundaries with several other protected areas, including the Wayanad-Brahmagiri region, the northern slopes of Wayanad, and the protected areas of Karnataka State, such as the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and the forests of Coorg.
  - Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is the only protected area of the West Coast Tropical Evergreen forest of Dipterocarpus-Mesua- Palaquium type .

Rivers:
- - The sanctuary’s primary drainage system on the southern side is formed by the Cheenkannipuzha river.
  - Other significant rivers in the area include Narikkadavu Thodu, Kurukkathodu, and Meenumuttithodu.
Vegetation: Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary features a diverse range of vegetation types, including:
- - West Coast tropical evergreen forest
  - West Coast semi-evergreen forests
  - South Indian moist deciduous forest
  - Southern hilltop evergreen forest
Highest Peak:
- - The highest peak within the sanctuary is Katti Betta.
Fauna: Elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Nilgiri Langur, Hanuman Langur and the Malabar Giant Squirrel.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme

News: The Cabinet has approved the expansion of the credit scheme at subsidised interest rate under the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
Introduction:
- - The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a Central Sector Scheme that was launched in 2020.
  - The scheme aims to provide medium- to long-term debt financing for investments in viable projects focused on post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets, facilitated through interest subvention and financial support.
Duration:
- - The scheme is set to operate from FY2020 to FY2032, spanning a period of 10 years.
Objectives:
- - The primary goal of the AIF scheme is to offer financial support to create and enhance post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
  - This is achieved through medium- to long-term debt financing for eligible projects.

Eligibility Criteria:
- - Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
  - Marketing Cooperative Societies
  - Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
  - Farmers
  - Self Help Groups (SHGs)
  - Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)
  - Multipurpose Cooperative Societies
  - Agri-entrepreneurs and Startups
  - Central/State agency or Local Body-sponsored Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects
Exclusions:
- - Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are directly ineligible for the scheme, but projects sponsored by them under PPP arrangements are eligible.
Financial Institutions Participating:
- - Scheduled Commercial Banks
  - Scheduled Cooperative Banks
  - Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
  - Small Finance Banks
  - Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
  - National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
Refinance Support:
- - NABARD will provide need-based refinance support to all eligible lending entities, including cooperative banks and RRBs, as per its policy.
Key Features of the Scheme:
- - Interest Subvention
    - Loans up to ₹2 crores under this scheme will benefit from an interest subvention of 3% per annum.
    - This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years.
  - Project Limits and Eligibility
    - Applicants can submit up to 25 projects in different locations, with each project eligible for a loan of up to ₹2 crore.
    - The 25-project limit applies to private sector entities like farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and startups.
    - This limitation does not apply to state agencies, cooperatives, national and state federations of cooperatives, FPOs, federations of FPOs, SHGs, and federations of SHGs.
    - Multiple projects in one location are also eligible, with an overall cap of ₹2 crore.
  - Borrower Contribution
    - Borrowers must contribute at least 10% of the total project cost, regardless of the availability of capital subsidy.
  - Repayment Moratorium
    - The moratorium for loan repayment may vary, with a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years.
- SC/ST Allocation:
  - - 24% of the total grants-in-aid under the scheme must be utilized for SC/ST entrepreneurs (16% for SC and 8% for ST).
    - Lending institutions should also ensure adequate coverage for women entrepreneurs and other weaker segments of society, prioritizing them for loans.
- Credit Guarantee Coverage:
  - - Eligible borrowers can receive credit guarantee coverage under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loans up to ₹2 crores. The fee for this coverage will be paid by the government.
    - For FPOs, credit guarantees may be availed from the facility created under the FPO promotion scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DACFW).

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Deepfakes

News: The Delhi High Court recently observed that deepfakes are going to be a serious menace in society and that the Centre should “start working on this”.
Definition:
- - Deepfakes are synthetic media, including images, videos, and audio, generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  - These creations portray events or entities that do not exist in reality or depict actions that never actually occurred.

Origin of the Term:
- - The term “deepfake” is a combination of “deep,” derived from AI deep-learning technology (a form of machine learning involving multiple levels of processing), and “fake,” indicating that the content is not real.
  - The word “deepfake” originated in 2017, when a Reddit user with the username “deepfakes” posted explicit videos of celebrities.
How Deepfakes Work?
- - Deepfakes are generated using machine learning models, specifically neural networks that can manipulate images and videos.
  - To create a deepfake video, a creator first trains a neural network using many hours of real video footage of a person.
  - This training gives the network a realistic “understanding” of the person’s appearance from various angles and under different lighting conditions.
  - The trained network is then combined with computer-graphics techniques to superimpose a copy of the person onto a different actor, making it appear as though the person is performing actions or speaking words they never actually did.
Applications and Risks:
- - While deepfake technology has various applications, it has increasingly been used for malicious purposes, including:
  - Scams and hoaxes
  - Celebrity pornography
  - Election manipulation
  - Social engineering
  - Automated disinformation attacks
  - Identity theft
  - Financial fraud
Challenges in Identification:
- - One of the significant concerns with deepfakes is their ability to mimic reality so convincingly that they are very difficult to identify as false, setting them apart from other forms of misinformation.

SIG 716 Rifle

News: The Ministry of Defence has signed a repeat order for 73,000 SIG716 rifles from Sig Sauer of the U.S. and deliveries are expected to be completed by end-2025.
Origin and Manufacturer:
- - The SIG 716 is an American-made automatic assault rifle, manufactured by the U.S. firearms maker Sig Sauer.
Usage in India:
- - In India, the SIG 716 has been extensively integrated into the army’s arsenal, particularly for troops operating in mountainous areas and critical border regions.
Features
- - Dimensions and Weight
  - Total Length: 34.39 inches
  - Barrel Length: 15.98 inches
  - Total Weight: 3.58 kg

Performance
- - Caliber: The rifle is chambered for the high-powered 7.62x51mm caliber, providing a longer range and greater lethality compared to the existing INSAS and AK-47 rifles currently in service with the Indian armed forces.
  - Recoil and Range: It has a higher recoil and is designed to shoot-to-kill targets at up to 600 meters.
Design and Functionality
- - Gas Piston System: The SIG 716 features a gas piston system that enhances reliability and reduces maintenance needs.
  - Modularity: The rifle’s modular design allows for easy adaptation to various roles through the addition of accessories on its Picatinny rail, making it extremely versatile for armed forces and specialized tactical units.

Facts for Prelims

National Awards to Teachers

News: President Droupadi Murmu will honour 50 educators with the National Teachers Award 2024 to mark the National Teachers’ Day celebration on September 5, 2024.
Purpose:
- - The National Teachers Awards aim to celebrate and honor exceptional teachers who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of school education and enriching the lives of their students through dedication and hard work.
Award Recipients:
- - This award is conferred on exemplary teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics.

Eligibility Criteria:
- - Regular Faculty Members: The award is open to regular faculty members of colleges, universities, higher educational institutions, and polytechnics in India.
  - Experience: Applicants must have at least five years of full-time teaching experience at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.
  - Age Limit: Nominees should be under 55 years of age as of the last date for receiving applications.
Exclusions:
- - Vice-Chancellors/Directors/Principals: Individuals holding or who have held the position of Vice-Chancellor, Director, or Principal (either regular or officiating) are not eligible to apply. However, those who have held such positions but are below 55 years of age and still in active service may apply.
Awards:
- - Medal and Certificate: Winners will receive a medal and a certificate.
  - Monetary Prize: The award includes a financial grant of ₹50,000.

Anubhav Awards

News: The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare recently organised the 7th Anubhav Awards Ceremony in New Delhi.
Purpose:
- - The ANUBHAV Awards recognize the contributions of retired officials to nation-building and aim to document the administrative history of India through written narratives.
ANUBHAV Portal
- - Establishment: The ANUBHAV Portal was established in March 2015 by the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare.
  - Function: It serves as an online platform where retiring and retired government employees can share their experiences and insights.

Objectives:
- - Database Creation: The programme aims to create a comprehensive database of significant suggestions and work experiences shared by retiring officials.
  - Human Resource Utilization: It channels the valuable human resources of retiring employees towards nation-building efforts.
  - Useful Suggestions: The initiative helps Ministries and Departments consider useful and replicable suggestions for policy improvements and administrative efficiency.
Eligibility and Submission
- - Retiring Employees: Central Government employees who are retiring or have recently retired can participate.
  - Submission Timeline: Write-ups should be submitted 8 months prior to retirement or up to 1 year after retirement.
Publication and Awards
- - Assessment and Publication: Write-ups are assessed by concerned Ministries/Departments and published accordingly.
  - ANUBHAV Awards: Shortlisted write-ups are considered for ANUBHAV Awards and Jury Certificates.
Award Details:
- - ANUBHAV Award: Each awardee receives a medal, certificate, and a prize of ₹10,000.
  - Jury Certificate: Winners of the Jury Certificate are awarded a medal and a certificate.