APRIL 4, 2024 | DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR APSC/UPSC
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Exploration of Ancient Monolithic Jar Sites in Dima Hasao
- Why in News?
- A joint team led by the District Museum officer and research scholars conducted an expedition to two previously unexplored ancient monolithic jar sites in Dima Hasao.
- These sites, Longkhai Hamrim Hading and Kolsi Tilla, feature monolithic jars, also known as stone jars, and hold significant archaeological importance.
- Longkhai Hamrim Hading Site:
- Location:
- Northeast of Haflong.
- Situated on a hill summit, requiring a 2.4-kilometer uphill trek from Choto Bathari village.
- Features a single weathered stone jar with a pear-shaped structure, partially buried and facing north.
- Unearthed disturbed cord-marked potsherds and damaged pottery interred with human skeletal remains, suggesting burial practices of an ancient society.
- Further exploratory work is needed to understand the burial practices associated with stone jars.
- Kolsi Tilla Site:
- Location:
- Southwest of Haflong.
- Located on an elevated hill, accessible by a 3.4-km uphill trek from Keyeng Valley.
- Divided into two distinct cluster groups by villagers' passageway.
- The first cluster comprises three partially damaged jars, while the second cluster consists of 25 jars of various shapes and dimensions, predominantly barrel-shaped.
- Jars exhibit oval openings with flat surfaces, covered with flat stone slabs serving as lids in the past.
- The presence of these jars is unique to Dima Hasao district and Saipung Reserve of Meghalaya, suggesting their function as repositories for the deceased, similar to those found in Laos DPR, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Why in News?
- A joint team led by the District Museum officer and research scholars conducted an expedition to two previously unexplored ancient monolithic jar sites in Dima Hasao.
- These sites, Longkhai Hamrim Hading and Kolsi Tilla, feature monolithic jars, also known as stone jars, and hold significant archaeological importance.
- Longkhai Hamrim Hading Site:
- Location:
- Northeast of Haflong.
- Situated on a hill summit, requiring a 2.4-kilometer uphill trek from Choto Bathari village.
- Features a single weathered stone jar with a pear-shaped structure, partially buried and facing north.
- Unearthed disturbed cord-marked potsherds and damaged pottery interred with human skeletal remains, suggesting burial practices of an ancient society.
- Further exploratory work is needed to understand the burial practices associated with stone jars.
- Kolsi Tilla Site:
- Location:
- Southwest of Haflong.
- Located on an elevated hill, accessible by a 3.4-km uphill trek from Keyeng Valley.
- Divided into two distinct cluster groups by villagers' passageway.
- The first cluster comprises three partially damaged jars, while the second cluster consists of 25 jars of various shapes and dimensions, predominantly barrel-shaped.
- Jars exhibit oval openings with flat surfaces, covered with flat stone slabs serving as lids in the past.
- The presence of these jars is unique to Dima Hasao district and Saipung Reserve of Meghalaya, suggesting their function as repositories for the deceased, similar to those found in Laos DPR, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Strongest Earthquake in Taiwan in 25 Years
- Why in News?
- Strongest Earthquake in Taiwan in 25 Years.
- Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency recorded the quake as 7.2 magnitude.
- Epicenter:
- The epicenter was approximately 18 km off Hualien's coast, with a depth of about 35 km.
Conversation Between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden Regarding Taiwan
- Why in News?
- Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed to his US counterpart, Joe Biden, that the Taiwan question is the "first red line" that Washington must not cross.
- Beijing warned against any support for "Taiwan independence" forces, stating that China will not remain passive if separatist activities escalate with external backing.
North Korea's Test of New Hypersonic Missile
- Why in News?
- The missile test, supervised by Kim Jong Un, involved the Hwasong-16B missile, described as a key component of North Korea's nuclear deterrent strategy aimed at countering its adversaries, including the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
- North Korea has been developing more missiles with solid propellants, which are easier to transport, conceal, and launch quickly compared to liquid-propellant missiles.
- North Korea's Missile Arsenal:
- North Korea conducted its first test of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last year, adding to its array of long-range weapons capable of targeting the US mainland.
- It also possesses a variety of short-range and mid-range solid-fuel missiles deployable via land vehicles, ships, and submarines, with the potential to target South Korea and Japan.
- Recent months have seen North Korea conducting drills simulating nuclear strikes with some of these missiles.
India's First Commercial Crude Oil Strategic Storage: Padur-II
- Why in News?
- India gets its first commercial-cum-strategic petroleum reserve at Padur in Karnataka.
- Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL), a government-created entity, is tasked with building and operating strategic petroleum reserves in the country.
- Project Details:
- The first phase of strategic petroleum reserves involved building storage for 5.33 million tonnes of crude oil at three locations: Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur.
- Phase-II entails constructing a commercial-cum-strategic petroleum reserve at Padur-II, with associated above-ground facilities, dedicated single-point mooring (SPM), and pipelines for storing 2.5 million tonnes of crude oil.
- Financing and Implementation:
- The cost of constructing Padur-II is estimated at Rs 5,514 crore.
- Unlike Phase-I, which was government-funded, Padur-II will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
- Private parties will handle the design, construction, financing, and operation of the storage facility.
- Significance:
- This initiative aims to enhance India's energy security by ensuring sufficient crude oil reserves to mitigate supply disruptions.
- The commercial nature of Padur-II signifies a shift towards leveraging private sector expertise and investment in critical infrastructure projects.
- It represents a proactive step by India to safeguard against potential geopolitical and economic risks related to oil supply fluctuations.
Wildlife Officials' Plan to Address Human-Monkey Conflict in Lopburi, Thailand
- Why in News?
- Lopburi, a central Thai city, has experienced a decade-long conflict between humans and macaque monkeys, which are both symbols of local culture and a major tourist attraction.
- Despite several failed attempts to control the monkey population, dangerous encounters with residents and visitors have persisted.
- Recent incidents, including a woman dislocating her knee and a man being knocked off a motorcycle by hungry monkeys, have escalated public outrage and concerns for safety.
- Proposed Solution:
- Wildlife officials plan to round up approximately 2,500 urban monkeys and place them in massive enclosures.
- Collaboration with wildlife experts will determine how a limited number of monkeys can remain in the city while ensuring public safety.
- The goal is to prevent harm to both humans and monkeys, fostering peaceful coexistence.
The Assam Tribune Editorial Summary (April 4, 2024)
Child Trafficking in Assam
- Why in News?
- Child trafficking remains a significant problem in Assam, evidenced by numerous instances of rescued trafficked children within and outside the state.
- The Railway Protection Force (RPF) alone rescued a total of 100 children, including 21 girls, from Guwahati Railway Station in the last financial year.
- Modus Operandi and Vulnerability:
- Traffickers often lure children out of the state under false promises of education, only to exploit them as domestic workers, industrial laborers, or beggars in exploitative conditions.
- Children from poor families in backward areas are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, providing a sustained source for trafficking rackets.
- Trafficked children are subjected to physical and mental abuse as domestic servants, hazardous industrial workers, beggars, and sometimes even forced into prostitution or the organ trade.
- A significant number of trafficking victims, up to 50%, are never seen again, highlighting the lack of proper rehabilitation for rescued victims and the insensitivity of government authorities towards the issue.
- Way Forward:
- The state government must adopt a multi-pronged approach to combat child trafficking, including sustained crackdowns on trafficking rackets, rehabilitation of rescued victims, and spreading awareness among vulnerable sections.
- Long-term measures should focus on making education accessible to every child, tackling poverty, illiteracy, and lack of employment opportunities, which are breeding grounds for trafficking.
- A state-level action plan for trafficking prevention, with clear roles and responsibilities for government departments, is essential, along with strengthening law enforcement and addressing socio-economic issues through good governance.
- Developmental issues such as poverty, illiteracy, and lack of employment opportunities are interconnected and must be addressed cohesively and prioritized to overcome the scourge of child trafficking.
Tea Industry Dynamics in China and India
- Why in News?
- A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry mandates that 100% of dust grades tea from North Indian tea gardens be sold through public tea auctions from April 1, 2024, for a trial period of three months.
- The Assam government has requested a deferral of the enforcement, citing potential challenges and livelihood impacts.
- Local tea organizations advocate against government intervention, emphasizing the need for price realization guarantees and efficient auction processes.
- History:
- Tea has historically played a crucial role in the Chinese economy, starting as a cottage industry where farmers grew tea bushes and manufactured tea at home.
- Buyers from hongs would purchase teas from individual households during the season, which would then be auctioned collectively in tea exporting centers, benefiting both farmers and the country's economy.
- The British introduced tea industry in India as a capitalist enterprise, benefiting only a few individuals and bringing minimal benefits to the local economy.
- This trend of benefiting only a select few continued even after India gained independence.
- Emergence of Small Tea Growers in India:
- In recent decades, the introduction of small tea growers, who cultivate tea bushes in small plots of land and sell their green leaves to bought-leaf factories (BLFs), has transformed the tea industry's role in the economy.
- Assam currently boasts over 1.25 lakh small tea growers, producing around 48% of the total green tea leaves in the state.
- Challenges Faced by Traditional Tea Industry:
- The traditional tea industry is displeased with the competition posed by the small tea grower phenomenon.
- They raise concerns about BLFs not following guidelines for reliable testing of samples to check pesticide use, impacting the global image of Assam tea.
- Way Forward:
- Revocation of the notification is urged, and
- The State government should establish mechanisms for testing tea purity within Assam itself.
Life and Contributions of Kali Ram Medhi
- Career and Achievements:
- He edited the Prahlad Charitra and authored significant works like
- Mahapurush Sankardevar Bani,
- Ankavali, and
- Asomiya Vyakarana aru Bhasha Twatta, among others.
- Medhi's essays and literary works were highly regarded by the Assamese literary community, with his essay "Gaurav" being included in the Assamese textbook for Class X.
- His scholarly endeavors, including his presidential speech at the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1919, marked significant milestones in the development of Assamese literature.
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