Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE
Topics Covered
- All India Survey on Higher Education
- Lack of snowfall
- Civilian and Gallantry awards
- Facts for Prelims
1 . All India Survey on Higher Education
Context: The total enrolment in higher education increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in the previous academic session, with female enrolments in the science stream outnumbering male enrolments, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22.
About AISHE
- Ministry of Education conducts the annual web-based All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2010-11.
- The survey covers all the Institutions in the country engaged in imparting of higher education.
- Data is being collected on several parameters such as teachers, student enrolment, programmes, examination results, education finance, infrastructure.
- Indicators of educational development such as Institution Density, Gross Enrolment Ratio, Pupil-teacher ratio, Gender Parity Index, Per Student Expenditure will also be calculated from the data collected through AISHE.
Findings of the Survey
- The survey released by the Ministry of Education pointed out that the overall female enrolment increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21.
- The total enrolment in higher education increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21. There was an increase of around 91 lakh in the enrolment from 3.42 crore in 2014-15.
- Female Ph.D. enrolment doubled to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22 from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15.
- In 2021-22, out of the total enrolment at undergraduate, postgraduate, Ph.D. and M.Phil levels, 57.2 lakh students are enrolled in the science stream, with female students (29.8 lakh) outnumbering male students (27.4 lakh).
- While the enrolment of ST students rose to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2%), the enrolment of ST students increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2%).
- The total student enrolment in northeast States is 12.02 lakh in 2021-22 as compared to 9.36 lakh in 2014-15. The female enrolment in northeast States is 6.07 lakh in 2021-22, higher than the male enrolment of 5.95 lakh.
- The survey reported an increase of 45% in OBC student enrolment in 2021-22 (1.63 crore) from 2014-15 (1.13 crore).
- Among streams at the postgraduate level, maximum students are enrolled in social science (21.1%), followed by science (14.7%). Ph.D. enrolment has increased by 81.2% to 2.12 lakh in 2021-22 compared to 1.17 lakh in 2014-15.
Data is being collected on following broad items
- Institution’s Basic Details
- Teacher’s Details
- Details of Non-Teaching Staff
- Programme conducted under various Faculties/Schools & Departments/Centres
- Students enrolled in these Programme
- Examination result of terminal year of each Programme
- Financial Information such as Receipt and Expenditure under various heads
- Availability of Infrastructure
- Scholarships, Loans & Accreditation
2 . Lack of snowfall
Context: January is usually the month where Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are blanketed with snow. This winter has, however, seen these regions extremely dry. Places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam, known to be popular destinations for skiing, have been unable to offer avenues for the winter sport.
What is the reason for the lack of snowfall?
- Snowfall requires adequate moisture as well as atmospheric temperatures to be zero degrees or less. Temperatures were fairly low since December.
- An analysis by the IMD in mid-January reported that maximum temperatures are running 5-8°C ‘below normal’ over the plains of north India since December 29.
- Minimum temperatures were also below 4 degrees Celsius at many stations of northwest India for most of January. This also resulted in a very dense fog persisting over the plains of northwest India. Several cities in the region reported zero visibility over the entire north-Indian plains from Amritsar to Dibrugarh across Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- While moisture and high aerosol loads contribute to fog, there were three major reasons behind the lack of snowfall — and consequently – intensifying cold waves over north India. These include a drastic fall in Western Disturbances (WDs) over northwest India; prevailing El-Nino conditions; and the absence of a strong jet stream.
How do these three factors influence snowfall?
- Western Disturbances are storms that originate in the mid-latitude regions and travel thousands of kilometres to bring rains to northern India. Such WDs in the winter dissipate fog and increase the sunshine incident on the ground raising temperatures. They also, when the temperatures are low, result in snowfall and water being available as snow melts. The melting glaciers contribute to the water available in the Ganga, Indus and Yamuna. On the other hand, they can also bring in hail, which is destructive to standing wheat crop. Usually, 5-7 WDs impact northwest India during December to January. But this winter there have been none. There were two WDs in this period, but their impact was mainly confined to Gujarat, north Maharashtra, east Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. As a result of the lack of these rains, the Western Himalayan Region got 80% less rain than normal.
- Prevailing El-Nino conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, or warmer ocean temperatures, may also have had a role to play. However, irrespective of El Nino, or the converse, La Nina, the number of WDs in December and January have been on a decline. In the winter of 2022-23 (December and January), India reported its hottest ever December. The northwest region, which usually reports nearly a third of its rainfall during this season, saw an 83% rainfall deficit.
- In recent years, there has been a rise in these WDs in February and March that have caused flash floods, particularly in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Last year for instance, saw record-breaking rain in February. In general, the traditional pattern of WDs have been disrupted since 2019, the last year we saw a conventional WD pattern. These instances of extended dry periods and intense wet spells are characteristic of global warming, as several meteorologists and climate scientists have been pointing out in recent years.
What role do the jet streams play?
- Jet streams are powerful winds, ranging from 250-320 kmph, travelling at about 12 km above mean sea level.
- They are carriers of the western disturbances but the lack of moisture means that so far, they have been contributing to the subsidence of cold air thereby enhancing the cold over north India.
- The jet streams set in after the withdrawal of the monsoon are also able to draw in moisture from the Arabian Sea. In recent years, the jet stream has been shifting northwards. This, emerging research suggests, is a consequence of a warming in the Arctic seas that affects the natural gradient of temperature necessary to ensure the strength and direction of the jet streams.
3 . Civilian and Gallantry awards
Context: President’s nod to gallantry awards for 80 military personnel ahead of R-Day.
Recipients of Civilian Awards
- Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, actors Chiranjeevi and Vyjayanthimala Bali, and Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam will be conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award.
- Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, will be conferred the award posthumously.
- Late actor Vijayakanth, M. Fathima Beevi, the first woman judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court of India, Satyabrata Mookherjee, former president of Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, and Togdan Rinpoche, spiritual leader of the Drikung Kagyu tradition in Ladakh, will be conferred the Padma Bhushan posthumously.
- Young Liu, chairman of Taiwan’s Foxconn Group, has also been conferred a Padma Bhushan.
- Actor Mithun Chakraborty; singer Usha Uthup; O. Rajagopal, BJP leader from Kerala; Tejas Madhusudan Patel, cardiologist from Gujarat; Ram Naik, veteran BJP leader and former Uttar Pradesh Governor; Hormusji N. Cama, senior publisher leading the Gujarati newspaper Bombay Samachar;industrialist Sita Ram Jindal; veteran Marathi film director Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo; Hindi music director Pyarelal Sharma (of Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo); and senior journalist Kundan Vyas have been conferred the Padma Bhushan this year.
- Dukhu Majhi, a tribal environmentalist from Purulia, West Bengal; K. Chellamal, organic farmer from South Andaman; Sanghthankima from Mizoram, who runs the largest orphanage in Aizawl, are among the Padma Shri awardees this year.
- In sports, tennis star Rohan Bopanna, veteran squash player Joshna Chinappa, hockey player Harbinder Singh, Mallakhamb practitioner Uday Deshpande, archer Purnima Mahato, para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna and para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia were chosen for the Padma Shri honour.
Recipients of Gallantry Awards
- President Droupadi Murmu has approved gallantry awards to 80 military personnel, including 12 posthumous, on the eve of the 75th Republic Day. These include six Kirti Chakras (three posthumous); 16 Shaurya Chakras (two posthumous); 53 Sena Medals (seven posthumous); one Nao Sena Medal and four Vayu Sena Medals.
- The six Kirti Chakras were awarded to Major Digvijay Singh from 21 Para (Special Forces), Major Deependra Vikram Basnet from 4 Sikh Regiment and Havildar Pawan Kumar Yadav from 21 Mahar Regiment and posthumously to Captain Anshuman Singh from Army Medical Corps (AMC), Havildar Abdul Majid from 9 Para SF and Sepoy Pawan Kumar originally from Grenadiers and with the 55 Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir.
About Padma awards
- Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954. Except for brief interruptions during the years 1977 to 1980 and 1993 to 1997, these awards have been announced every year on Republic Day. The award is given in three categories, viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, in the decreasing order of importance.
- Padma Vibhushan for “exceptional and distinguished service”. Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award in India.
- Padma Bhushan for “distinguished service of a high order”. Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India .
- Padma Shri is awarded for “distinguished service”. Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
- Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred “in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex
Details of the Award
- The decoration comprises a sanad (Certificate) issued under the hand and seal of the President and a Medallion.
- The recipients are also given a replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if they desire.
Wartime gallantry awards
- Param Vir Chakra — Highest military award, equivalent to the Victoria Cross (which was replaced once India gained its independence).
- Maha Vir Chakra – Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
- Vir Chakra – Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry.
Peacetime gallantry awards
- Ashok Chakra Award – An Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.
- Kirti Chakra – Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
- Shaurya Chakra – Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
4 . Facts for Prelims
Ground penetrating Radar
- Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface.
- It is a non-intrusive method of surveying the sub-surface to investigate underground utilities such as concrete, asphalt, metals, pipes, cables or masonry.
- This nondestructive method uses electromagnetic radiation in the microwave band (UHF/VHFfrequencies) of the radio spectrum, and detects the reflected signals from subsurface structures.
- GPR can have applications in a variety of media, including rock, soil, ice, fresh water, pavements and structures. In the right conditions, practitioners can use GPR to detect subsurface objects, changes in material properties, and voids and cracks.
Important Paintings in the Original Constitution
- The Indian Constitution is not just the lengthiest written Constitution in the world but also the most richly illustrated, with all 22 parts carrying hand-painted images and its pages adorned with elaborate borders.
- While the Constitution was handwritten by calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada, the paintings were conceived and implemented in Santiniketan by artist-pedagogue Nandalal Bose and his team.
- Paintings
- The Preamble page has intricate patterns sketched by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and bears his signature, while Dinanath Bhargava sketched the National Emblem, the Lion Capital of Ashoka.
- The Bull Seal, excavated from the Indus Valley region, is the first pictorial representation in the Constitution, appearing in ‘Part I: The Union and its Territory’. ‘Part II: Citizenship’ features a hermitage scene with male ascetic figures offering prayers in a meditative environment. In another scene of hermitage that appears in Part V, Buddha is the central figure, surrounded by disciples, animals, and birds in a serene setting.
- Out of the select representations in colour is an image in Part VI of Mahavir, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, seated crossed-legged in meditation.
- In Part XIII, we see sculptures from Mahabalipuram and the descent of Ganga to Earth.
- Part IV on Directive Principles of State Policy begins with a scene from the Mahabharata, with the discussion between Arjun and Krishna before the onset of the war. For Part III on Fundamental Rights, the artists turned to the Ramayana, drawing a sketch of Ram, Lakshman and Sita returning home after the battle in Lanka.
- Paintings of Rulers, Emperors
- While Emperor Ashoka is seen seated on an elephant, propagating Buddhism, in Part VII of the Constitution, Part IX has a scene from King Vikramaditya’s court with musicians and dancers, representing him as a patron of art.
- The only female figure illustrated prominently in the Constitution, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, is sketched in her armour as she shares the page with Tipu Sultan, the king of Mysore, in Part XVI of the Constitution. Chhatrapati Shivaji and Guru Gobind Singh are featured in Part XV.
- Freedom Fighters
- Gandhi appears twice, leading the Dandi March and visiting riot-hit Noakhali in Bangladesh. He is being welcomed by women with an aarti thali and Muslim peasants wearing kufi caps.
- In Part XIX, Subhas Chandra Bose is seen against a mountainous backdrop, saluting the flag, with members of Azad Hind Fauj marching ahead.