Daily News Simplified - DNS

13 04 20 Notes

SL. NO. TOPICS

THE HINDUPAGE NO.

1 Framework of PDS (Enough Grains for 9 months) 10

2 Pattachitra (Heritage Crafts village in Odisha wears deserted look) 04

3 Kalarippayattu (Six microsites to promote Kerala) 05

4 Martial arts of India 01

5 COVID and Crumbling World Order 07

Dated: 13-April-2020 DNS Notes

Title 1. Framework of PDS (Enough Grains for 9 months) (The Hindu – Pg. 10)

Syllabus Prelims: Indian EconomyMains: GS Paper III- PDS System

Theme PDS System- Functioning, Problems and Reforms Needed

Highlights While the centre procures food grains at the MSP, the price at which food grains are sold under TPDS is much lower. The centre sells food grains to states at subsidised prices, known as central issue prices. The food subsidy is the difference between the costs incurred by the centre on MSP (including additional costs) and the central issue price.

Minimum support priceThe MSP is the price at which the centre buys food grains from farmers. Typically, the MSP is higher than the market price and is intended to incentivise production. The MSPs for various agricultural commodities are fixed by the central government based on rates recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The CACP considers certain factors such as the cost of cultivation and remunerative prices for farmers on their produce while determining the MSP. The MSPs recommended by the CACP are finally approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.Central issue priceWheat and rice are sold by the central government at uniform central issues prices (CIP) to states and union territories for distribution under TPDS. The issue prices for food grains for AAY and BPL categories

have remained constant since 2000 and the CIP of APL categories since 2002.

Food SubsidyThe food subsidy is the difference between the cost (MSP and handling and transportation costs) and the issue price at which the beneficiary buys food grains. The centre reimburses FCI and state agencies with the food subsidy, since they are responsible for procurement and selling the procured food grains to states at CIP. The food subsidy also includes the buffer subsidy, which is the cost borne by FCI and states for maintaining buffer stocks beyond the prescribed time frame.

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Title 2. Pattachitra (Heritage Crafts village in Odisha wears deserted look) (The Hindu Pg. No. 04)Syllabus Prelims: Indian Art and Culture Theme About PattachitraHighlights Meaning:

In the Sanskrit language, "Patta" literally means "cloth" and "Chitra" means "picture". Most of these paintings depict stories of Hindu deities.

The traditions of pattachitra paintings are more than thousand years old.Region:

Pattachitra is a traditional painting of Odisha, India. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha.

Themes: These paintings are based on Hindu mythology and specially inspired by Jagannath and

Vaishnava sect. Since beginning of Pattachitra culture, Lord Jagannath who was an incarnation of Lord Krishna

has been the major source of inspiration. The subject matter of Patta Chitra is mostly mythological, religious stories and folk lore. In the 16th century, with the emergence of Bhakti movement the paintings of Radha and

Krishna were painted in vibrant shades of orange, red and yellow. There are typical scenes and figures like Krishna, Gopis, elephants, trees and other creatures are seen in these paintings. Krishna is always painted in blue and Gopis in light pink, purple or brown colours.

Themes are chiefly on Lord Jagannath and Radha-Krishna, different "Vesas" of Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, temple activities, the ten incarnations of Vishnu basing on the 'Gita Govinda' of Jayadev, Kama Kujara Navagunjara, Ramayana, Mahabharata.

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The individual paintings of gods and goddesses are also being painted.

Method: All colours used in the Paintings are natural and paintings are made fully old traditional way by

Chitrakaras that is Oriya Painter. The master hand, mostly the male member, draws the initial line and gives the final finishing. Patta paintings are done on small strips of cotton cloth. The canvas is prepared by coating the

clothing with a mixture of chalk and gum made from tamarind seeds. The painters do not use pencil or charcoal for the preliminary drawings. They are so expert in

the line that they simply draw directly with the brush either in light red or yellow. Then the colours are filled in. The final lines are drawn and the patta is given a lacquer coating to protect it from weather, thus making the painting glossy. This process of glazing or varnishing is quite interesting. The painting is held over a fireplace so that the back of the painting is exposed to heat. On the surface of the painting fine lacquer is applied.

Colour They prepare their own colours.

o White colour is made from the conch-shells by powdering, boiling and filtering in a very hazardous process

o Pure lamp-black or black prepared from the burning of coconut shells are used.

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Title 3. Kalarippayattu (Six microsites to promote Kerala) (Page number 05) Syllabus Prelims: Indian Art and Culture Theme About KalarippayattuHighlights Context

Kalaripayattu (sometimes shortened as Kalari) is an Indian martial art and fighting system that originated in modern-day Kerala.

Kalaripayattu is a martial art designed for the ancient battlefield (the word "Kalari" meaning "battlefield"), with weapons and combative techniques that are unique to India.

Legend traces the 3000-year-old art form to Sage Parasurama- the master of all martial art forms

Significance

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Kalaripayattu is held in high regard due by martial artists due to it's long-standing history within Indian martial arts. It is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India. It also is considered to be among the oldest martial arts still in existence, with its origin in the martial arts timeline dating back to at least the 3rd century BCE.

What it includes?

Kalaripayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods. Practioners of Kalaripayattu possess intricate knowledge of pressure points on the human body

and healing techniques that incorporate the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga.

Ancient evidences

Kalaripayattu originated in ancient South India. Kung- fu, popularized by the monks of the Shoaling Temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma

- an Indian Buddhist monk and Kalaripayattu master. The primary source of Indian martial arts is in Sangam literature. The Akananuru and

Purananuru describe the use of spears, swords, shields, bows and silambam in the Sangam era. There is also mention a form of Kalaripayattu called Tulunadan Kalari in the Northern ballads of

the Chekavar in the Malabar region.

Why did it lose significance?

Following the collapse of the princely states and the advent of free India - Kalaripayattu has lost its significance as a mortal combat code.

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Personal Notes

Title 4. Martial arts of India (The Hindu Pg. No. 1)Syllabus Prelims: Art and CultureTheme About Martial Arts of India Highlights The Nihang is an armed Sikh warrior order originating in the Indian subcontinent.

Early Sikh military history was dominated by the Nihang, known for their victories where they were heavily outnumbered.

What does this word mean? Anyone who lives free from fear is called a ‘Nihang’.

How did they come into existence? The Nihangs, are members of an order established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji more than 300

years ago. Renowned for their martial skills the Nihangs main task was to be a warrior and protect the

Gurdwaras and be on the forefront of battles.

Lifestyle: Nihang Singhs are unattached to worldly materials. They wear blue clothes and tie a turban that is a foot high with a “dumala” on top of it.

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o The Dumalla is a type of turban worn by Sikhs. This turban is worn mainly by Sikhs who are initiated into the Khalsa, through participating in the Amrit Sanchar but can be worn by all Sikhs.

They always keep several weapons such as chakars or a khanda on themselves.o Chakram is a throwing weapon from the Indian subcontinent. It is circular with a

sharpened outer edge and a diameter of 12–30 centimetres (4.7–11.8 in). Gatka

o It is the name of an Indian martial art associated with the Sikhs of the Punjab and the Tanoli and Gujjar communities of the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan who practice an early variant of the martial art.

o It is a style of stick-fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate swords.

Personal Notes

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Title 5. COVID and Crumbling World Order (Page number 07)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II: International RelationsTheme Impact of COVID-19 on World Order Highlights Summary

The article flags the structural flaws in the current global governance revealed by the COVID 19 pandemic and explores the unprecedented changes the world order will undergo to emerge with new political and social realities in the aftermath.

What are structural flaws flagged?1. Failure of global institutional structures

The current system of global governance is a remnant of World War II days like UNSC. The UNSC has failed to deal with the global pandemic any measure owing to the difference of

opinion over the source of virus among the veto-yielding members US and China. In fact China which is the head of the Council currently has even said that UNSC is not an ideal

platform to deal with the pandemic. Thus the UNSC has failed to pass resolution for international solidarity.

2. Failure of regional insitutions The regional institutions haven’t fared any better as it has been difficult to reach any consensus

in actions. For instance India’s effort to revive SAARC by establishing the 10 Million SAARC Emergency

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Response Fund has not taken off owing to cold response from Pakistan The European Union has failed to achieve any substantial outcomes with members resorting to

closing of borders and thus lack of regional coordination3. Failure of Globalisation

The neoliberal globalization has failed to withstand the shocks of the pandemic as the world is headed towards a protracted phase of recession

According to WTO the global trade will shrink by 32% by 2021 and this will have serious hit on global growth number.

Likely characteristics of new global order1. Hypernationalism

According to Shivshankar Menon we are headed for a poorer, meaner, and smaller world where there will be more support for protectionist tendencies driven by hypernationalism

2. Return of Licence Raj The failure of big corporations to effectively deal with the pandemic and aftereffects will

increase the ‘role of the state’ which might lead to return of the licence raj This might also lead to emergence of surveillance state that will also get popular support.

3. New forms of discrimination With growing protectionist tendencies new forms of discrimination will emerge against

migrants and refugees. 4. Changing face of trade

The world will see more stringent imposition of phytosanitary measures by advanced states on products emanating from the less developed countries.

5. China-dominated world order Given the manufacturing prowess China will emerge as the new leader of global world order

which will be dominated by Chinese framework of institutions like BRI

Personal Notes

Dated: 13-April-2020 DNS Notes