Nagara Architecture

The Ram temple in Ayodhya, to be inaugurated on January 22 is built on the Nagara style of architecture.

• The style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India is known as Nagara.
• In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it.
• It emerged during the 5th century CE, during the late Gupta period.
• Unlike in South India, Nagara temples does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.
• The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
• There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara that includes:
  • Latina or the rekha-prasada Phamsana
  • Valabhi
  • Shekhari
  • Bhumija
• Latina – Shikhara which is square at the base and whose walls curve or slope inward to a point on top is called the 'latina' or the rekha-prasada type of shikara.
• Phamsana – Buildings tend to be broader and shorter than latina ones.
• Phamsana roofs do not curve inward, instead they slope upwards on a straight incline.
• Valabhi – These are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber.
• The edge of this vaulted chamber is rounded, like the bamboo or wooden wagons that would have been drawn by bullocks in ancient times.
• Shekhari and Bhumija – From the tenth century onwards, composite Latinas began to emerge, giving rise to Shekhari and Bhumija styles.
• The Shekhari shape has attached sub-spires or spirelets, echoing the main shape. These may run up most of the face of the shikhara, and be of more than one size.
• The Bhumija, on the other hand, has miniature spires, in horizontal and vertical rows, all the way to the top, creating a grid-like effect on each face.

Chabahar Port

The Indian External Affairs minister S Jaishankar in his recent visit to Iran discussed about the Chabahar Port which is a strategic importance to both Iran and India.

• It is Iran’s first deep-water port that is located on the Gulf of Oman.
• It is part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• INSTC is a multi-modal transportation project linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and onward to northern Europe via St Petersburg in Russia.
• Chabahar is of strategic importance to both Iran and India.
• India’s involvement in the development of the port began in 2002.
• India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in April 2016, after which the Indian Shipping Ministry worked at a rapid pace towards developing the port.
• There are two distinct ports in the Chabahar project, Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. India’s investment is restricted to the Shahid Beheshti port.

Gangetic Dolphin

The Gangetic dolphin was recently rescued in Jalaka River of Odisha, which indicates that there is presence of more freshwater dolphins in the river.

• Ganges river dolphins are usually a grey or light brown colour, but may also have a pinkish tone to the belly.
• The Ganges river dolphin is known as the “Tiger of the Ganges” for the role it plays as a top predator and because it is an ecosystem indicator species.
• This species is functionally blind and relies heavily on echolocation to navigate and hunt.
• It is categorised as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species.
• Distribution and habitat – It includes over 10,000 km of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna, and the Sangu-Karnaphuli River systems in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
• Ganges river dolphins are commonly found in deeper sections of the river.
• They prefer eddies around islands, river bends and confluences which are often also the places where people prefer to fish.
• Protection – It is protected under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• It is legally protected in all countries within which it is found and is the National Aquatic Animal of India.
• In 2009, Gangetic dolphins were declared the national aquatic animal of India.
• Project Gangetic Dolphin which was announced on 2015 for the conservation of the Gangetic dolphins.

Scrub Typhus

• Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through infected mites.
• “Mite” is a term commonly used to refer to a group of insect-like organisms, some of which bite or cause irritation to humans.
• They are more common in old age people who are more than 60 years, with a prevalence rate of 21.1%.
• The meteorological factors like temperature, rainfall and humidity, along with socioeconomic factors, impact the prevalence of scrub typhus.
• An increase in rainfall and humidity led to a spike in cases of Scrub typhus.
• As for socioeconomic status, farmers, daily wage labourers, and housewives were more likely to contract the disease.
• Seasonal disease – This disease tends to be seasonal in the endemic areas.
• In Northeast India, cases of scrub typhus occur from July to November in Manipur, July to October in Sikkim and September to November in Darjeeling.
• Symptoms – It typically include fever, headache, body ache and sometimes a rash.
• In severe cases, the infection can lead to respiratory distress, brain and lung inflammation, kidney failure and multi-organ failure, ultimately resulting in death.
• Treatment – It should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used in persons of any age.
• Antibiotics are most effective if given soon after symptoms begin.
• People who are treated early with doxycycline usually recover quickly.
• Prevention - No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus.
• Reduce your risk of getting scrub typhus by avoiding contact with infected chiggers.
• When traveling to areas where scrub typhus is common, avoid areas with lots of vegetation and brush where chiggers may be found.

The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the SIGHT Programme for inciting the manufacturing of electrolysers and production of green hydrogen.

• The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme aims to bolster domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production.
• It is a major financial measure with two distinct financial incentive mechanisms to support domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and production of Green Hydrogen.
• It includes incentives for manufacturing of electrolysers and production of green hydrogen.
• It is a sub-component of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• The scheme offers a direct incentive over 3 years from the beginning of production and supply.
• A scheme monitoring committee is co-chaired by the secretary of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, mission director of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and other experts.
• The committee will review the implementation status and performance of capacities awarded or established under the scheme.