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Today in History (December 5th,1958)
In 1958, the Subscriber Trunk Dialing (STD) telephone service for long-distance calls came into effect in the United Kingdom. The first call was made by Queen Elizabeth II from Bristol to Edinburgh.
Let’s Revise
Q.1) What is the Sanchi Stupa known for?
a) Being the largest Hindu temple in India
b) Its significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site
c) Being the oldest church in India
d) Its role as an ancient palace
Answer: b)
Rationale: The Sanchi Stupa is known for being an important Buddhist monument and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historical and architectural value.
Q.2) Where is the Sanchi Stupa located?
a) Rajasthan
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: c)
Rationale: The Sanchi Stupa is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, central India.
Q.3) When was the original Sanchi Stupa constructed?
a) 3rd century BCE
b) 1st century CE
c) 5th century CE
d) 2nd century CE
Answer: a)
Rationale: The original Sanchi Stupa was commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and is one of the oldest stone structures in India.
Q.4) Why is the Sanchi Stupa important in Buddhist history?
a) It was a royal palace for King Ashoka
b) It marks the location of the first Buddhist sermon
c) It contains relics of the Buddha
d) It is where Buddha attained enlightenment
Answer: c)
Rationale: The Sanchi Stupa is significant in Buddhist history because it is believed to enclose relics of the Buddha, making it an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
Q.5) Who was responsible for the construction of the Sanchi Stupa?
a) King Ashoka
b) King Harsha
c) Emperor Chandragupta
d) King Akbar
Answer: a)
Rationale: The construction of the Sanchi Stupa is attributed to Emperor Ashoka, who played a major role in spreading Buddhism across India.
Q.6) What material was primarily used to build the Sanchi Stupa?
a) Marble
b) Red sandstone
c) Brick and stone
d) Iron
Answer: c)
Rationale: The Sanchi Stupa was constructed using brick and stone, which have withstood the test of time and weather over centuries.
7. Which one is correct regarding three jewels of Buddhism?
a) Dharma, Sangha, Sanyas
c) Buddha, Dharma, silence
b) Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha
d) Gyan, Silence, Dhyan
Answer: (c)
Rationale: The three jewels of Buddhism – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Summary of Today’s News
MHA’s Proposal for Job Reservations in Ladakh
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed new measures to benefit the local people in Ladakh:
1. Job Reservations:
• 95% of government jobs in Ladakh would be reserved for locals who have Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
• Jobs for high-level government positions (gazetted posts) will be filled by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), not through the DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services).
2. Women’s Representation:
• 33% of seats in the Leh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) will be reserved for women.
• Each council has 30 seats, with elections held for 26 seats, so around 8-9 seats will be set aside for women.
3. Cultural and Language Safeguards:
• A draft law is planned to protect Ladakh’s land and culture.
• Urdu and Bhoti will be declared official languages of Ladakh.
Background: Since Article 370 was removed in 2019, Ladakh has seen protests calling for:
• Statehood for Ladakh.
• Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, which provides autonomy for tribal areas.
• Job reservations for locals.
• A parliamentary seat for both Leh and Kargil.
What is the Sixth Schedule?
• It is part of the Constitution (Article 244) for forming autonomous regions within a state, mainly for tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, providing them with legislative, judicial, and administrative independence.
Arguments in Favor of Job Reservations:
• Reduces regional inequality and supports underdeveloped areas.
• Decreases migration to bigger cities and eases urban overcrowding.
• Develops local talent, enhancing workforce skills and growth.
• Supports economic development and reduces inequality.
• Fulfills constitutional support for uplifting disadvantaged groups.
• Ensures government services are more responsive to local needs.
Arguments Against Job Reservations:
• May lower job standards by prioritizing quotas over merit.
• Can increase regional divisions and cause resentment.
• Might weaken national unity by making people from other areas feel excluded.
PROBA-3 Mission
ISRO is preparing to launch the European Space Agency (ESA)’s PROBA-3 mission satellites using its PSLV-C59 rocket from Sriharikota.
About PROBA-3 Mission (Project for Onboard Autonomy):
Scientific Goals:
• Study solar storms and coronal mass ejections that can affect Earth’s satellites, communications, and power systems.
• Collect important data on solar behavior and space weather.
• Test new spacecraft technologies and ideas.
• Build on knowledge gained from ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission on the Sun.
Involved Agencies:
• ESA is leading the mission, while ISRO, through NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), is handling the launch.
• Spacecraft Details:
The mission uses two spacecraft:
• Coronagraph: Observes the Sun’s outer layer (the corona).
• Occulter: Blocks the Sun’s light to create an artificial eclipse, making it easier to study the Sun.
Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP)
The Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP) is being highlighted by India at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is the first time the event is held in West Asia.
About AGWP:
• Goal: To restore 1.15 million hectares of degraded land in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
• Scope: The project focuses on a 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range.
• National Objective: It aims to help India meet its goal of creating 2.5 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink by 2030.
• International Commitments: The project supports India’s promises under global agreements like:
• UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification),
• CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity),
• UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
Project Focus:
• The AGWP aims to fight desertification, land degradation, and drought.
• It includes planting native trees, conserving biodiversity, and using advanced water management techniques.
