dOSE -World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites - Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves ( 1987), Maharashtra

Location-------The Elephanta Caves (180 56’ 20” N; 720 55’ 50” E), taluka Uran, district Raigad is located on island hills about 11 km north-east of the Apollo Bandar, Mumbai and 7 km from the shore of the mainland, approximately covering an area of 7 km in circumference.

The island is named after a colossal elephant found in the island, which is popularly known as ‘Gharapuri’. At present, the statue of elephant is housed at Jijamata Garden in Mumbai. In ancient period, the place is variously identified as Puri which is mentioned in the Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II. It seems, different dynasties held their sway over this island, namely, the Konkan-Mauryas, Trikutakas, Chalukyas of Badami, Silaharas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Yadavas of Deogiri, Muslim rulers of Ahmedabad and then by the Portuguese. The Marathas also had this island under their control and from them it passed into the control of the British.

There are seven cave excavations in the Elephanta group and these are datable from circa 6th – 7th centuries A.D. Among the cave excavations, the Cave 1 is the most impressive which represents the evolved Brahmanical rock-cut architecture. The cave is also famous for the exquisite and vibrant sculptures. On plan it almost resembles the Dumar Lena (Cave 29) of Ellora. The cave has a main entrance on the north with two other openings on the east and west respectively and a central hall with six rows of pillared columns, six in each row except on the western corner, where a shrine of lingam is provided.

On plan, there are three large square recesses divided off by pilasters each of them bearing a gigantic image of a dvarapala. The panel on the east has a figure of ardhanarisvara, a form of Siva with the combined energies of male and female; and on the west figures of Siva and Parvati playing chausar is carved. The central recess holds the most famous and remarkable sculpture of this period known as the Mahesa-murti. It is a colossal bust of the three forms of Siva, the aghora, turbulent and fearsome; tatpurusha, benign and meditative and vamadeva, mild pleasing and lovable. The other notable panels in the main cave are Andhakasuravada murti; cosmic dance of Nataraja; Kalyanasundara murti; Gangadhara murti; Ravana shaking Kailasa and Siva as Lakulisa. A panel depicting Saptamatrikas near the eastern opening is also remarkable.

Open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Closed on Monday

Entrance Fee:
Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) - Rs. 10 per head.

Others: US $ 5 or Indian Rs. 250/- per head

(children up to 15 years free)

Source---http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_elephanta.asp

Sariska

Sariska is probably one of the most visited parks in India. Unfortunately though, the main reason for this is not wildlife enthusiasm but only it's excellent proximity to some large towns like Delhi and Jaipur. The park was, as with many other parks, the hunting reserve of the royal family in the area. In this case, it was the Royal family of Alwar Rajasthan . The reserve was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and came under the "Project Tiger" as a Sariska tiger reserve in 1979. The park covers quite a large area of 800 square kilometers, 480 square kilometers of which form the core area of the national park. It is located among the Aravalli hill ranges in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Due to the presence of monuments of religious importance located within the park boundaries, the park authorities are compelled to keep the park open throughout the year. The summer months are better for animal viewing but are extremely hot with temperatures going up to as high as 49 degrees centigrade. In the winter months, the temperature touches a low of 4 degrees.

Research and Analysis Wing [RAW]

Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW or RAW) is India's external intelligence agency. It was formed in September 1968, after the newly independent Republic of India was faced with 2 consecutive wars, the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and the India-Pakistani war of 1965, as it was evident that a credible intelligence gathering setup was lacking. Its primary function is collection of external intelligence, counter-terrorism and covert operations. In addition, it is responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and persons, in order to advise Indian foreign policymakers. Until the creation of R&AW, the Intelligence Bureau handled both internal and external intelligence.

The R&AW has its headquarters on Lodhi Road in New Delhi. The current director of the organization is K. C. Verma, a 1971 Jharkand batch IPS officer

Amendments to Article 243 T of the Constitution for enhancing reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies to 50 percent

REPORTED ON Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for moving a Constitutional Amendment Bill for enhancing reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies from one third to fifty percent. This provision will apply to

(i) the total number of seats to be filled by direct election,

(ii) offices of Chairpersons and

(iii) seats and offices of the Chairpersons reserved for SCs and STs.

Increased representation of women is likely to yield significant benefits in terms of higher priority to women’s issues in critical areas of urban Governance and service delivery such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, education and health etc.

BACKGROUND :

The President of India in her address to the Parliament on 4.6.09 stated that the Government will initiate steps for Constitutional Amendment to provide fifty percent reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies as women suffer multiple deprivations of class, caste and gender and enhancing reservation in Urban Local Bodies will lead to more women entering the public sphere.

Implementation Strategy & Targets

Ministry of Urban Development will move a Bill for amendment to Article 243 T of the Constitution in the next session of Parliament after approval of the Cabinet.

Major Impact

Enhancement of reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies will not only ensure their increased representation and participation at grassroots levels in various Urban Local Bodies but also mainstream gender concerns in governance and decision making process.

Expenditure involved

There is no financial implication in operationalization of the proposal.

States/Districts covered

The proposed Constitution Amendment Bill would cover All States/UTs and parts thereof, which are covered by Part IX A of Constitution.

500 Indian Stamps Collection

500 Indian Stamps Collection

"The Woman of the Millennium"

"The Woman of the Millennium" selected by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was India's first female prime minister

Indira Gandhi has been voted the greatest woman of the past 1,000 years in a poll by BBC News Online.

India at a Glance

Image by Shashwat_Nagpal via Flickr

BACKGROUND
The civilization of India is one of the oldest civilizations in the World, spanning more than 4000 years and witnessing the rise and fall of several Empires, and projecting a unique assimilation of various cultures and heritage. The Country has always been portrayed as a land of spiritual integrity with professors of Philosophy, who have engineered the magnanimity of its nationalism. One of the oldest scriptures in the World, the four-volume Vedas that many regard as the repository of national thoughts, which have anticipated some of the modern scientific discoveries, has been created in the orb of this myth oriented Country. This strong affinity with religion and mythology has been reflected time and again through various art forms and performing arts, which are symbolical of the composite culture of India. Unity in diversity is another facet of the Country’s inherent nationalism, which had been fused by the feeling of national fervour incited by various foreign invasions that ever made its way to the Indian shores. Religious tolerance and cultural amalgamation have given shape to a uniquely secular Nation, which has created an impressive status of itself in the global arena.
GEOGRAPHY
Location:   The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.        Geographic Coordinates:   Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8° 4' and 37° 6' latitudes north of the Equator, and 68°7' and 97°25' longitudes east of it.       Indian Standard Time:   GMT + 05:30       Area:   3.3 Million sq km       Border Countries:   Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.       Coastline:   7,516.6 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.       Climate:   The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons - winter (December-February), (ii) summer (March-June), (iii) south-west monsoon season (June-September), and (iv) post monsoon season (October- November).       Terrain:   The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula.       Natural Resources:   Coal, iron ore, manganese ore, mica, bauxite, petroleum, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, magnesite, limestone, arable land, dolomite, barytes, kaolin, gypsum, apatite, phosphorite, steatite, fluorite, etc.       Natural Hazards:   Monsoon floods, flash floods, earthquakes, droughts, and landslides.       Environment – Current Issues:   Air pollution control, energy conservation, solid waste management, oil and gas conservation, forest conservation, etc.       Environment – International Agreements:   Rio Declaration on environment and development, Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on climatic change, World Trade Agreement, Helsinki Protocol to LRTAP on the reduction of sulphur emissions of nitrogen oxides or their transboundary fluxes (Nox Protocol), and Geneva Protocol to LRTAP concerning the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds or their transboundary fluxes (VOCs Protocol).       Geography – Note:   India occupies a major portion of the south Asian subcontinent.
PEOPLE
Population:   India's population, as on 1 March 2001 stood at 1,028 million (532.1 million males and 496.4 million females).       Population Growth Rate:   The average annual exponential growth rate stands at 1.93 per cent during 1991-2001.        Birth Rate:   The Crude Birth rate according to the 2001 census is 24.8        Death Rate:   The Crude Death rate according to the 2001 census is 8.9        Life Expectancy Rate:   63.9 years (Males); 66.9 years (Females) (As of Sep 2005)       Sex Ratio:   933 according to the 2001 census        Nationality:   Indian       Ethnic Groups:   All the five major racial types - Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India.       Religions:   According to the 2001 census, out of the total population of 1.028 million in the Country, Hindus constituted the majority with 80.5 %, Muslims came second at 13.4%, followed by Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.       Languages:   22 languages have been recognized by the Constitution of India, of which Hindi is the official national language. Besides these, there are 844 different dialects that are practiced in various parts of the Country.        Literacy:   According to the provisional results of the 2001 census, the literacy rate in the Country stands at 64.84 per cent, 75.26% for males and 53.67% for females.
GOVERNMENT
Country Name:   Republic of India; Bharat Ganrajya       Government Type:   Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government.       Capital:   New Delhi       Administrative Divisions:   29 States and 6 Union Territories.       Independence:   15th August 1947 (From the British Colonial Rule)       Constitution:   The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950.       Legal System:   The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country.       Executive Branch:   The President of India is the Head of the State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government, and runs office with the support of the Council of Ministers who form the Cabinet Ministry.       Legislative Branch:   The Indian Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) forming both the Houses of the Parliament.       Judicial Branch:   The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.       Flag Description:   The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle, and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. At the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel, which is a representation of the Ashoka Chakra at Sarnath.
ECONOMY
Economy – Overview:   Half a Century after gaining its independence, India has overcome all odds and achieved phenomenal standards of economic stability, courtesy the indomitable contributions of various sectors such as agriculture, tourism, commerce, power, communications, science & technology, etc., which have acted as the pillars of the Indian economy. India is today one of the six fastest growing economies of the world. The country is ranked fourth in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2001. The business and regulatory environment is evolving and moving towards constant improvement.       GDP – Real Growth Rate:   The second quarter (July-September) of the financial year 2005-06 registers a growth rate of 8 percent.       GDP – Purchasing Power Parity:   India is the fourth largest economy, with US$ 3 trillion GDP in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) after USA, China, and Japan.       GDP – Per Capita:   As of September 2005, the GDP per capita of the Country stood at US$ 543.       GDP – Composition by Sector:   Services 56%, Agriculture 22%, and Industry 22% (As of September 2005).        Labour Force:   According to the Report of the Committee on India Vision: 2020, India’s labour force has reached approximately 375 million in 2002.       Unemployment Rate:   9.1% (As of Sep 2005)       Population below Poverty Line:   26.10% as on 1999-2000        Inflation Rate:   4.1% as on July 2005.        Public Debt:   The total Debt as on 31st March 2002 stands at Rs. 1372117.58 crores.       Exchange Rates:   Indian Rupee/ 1 US$ - 45.3700; Indian Rupee/ 1 Euro – 53.8600; Indian Rupee/ 1 Pound Sterling – 79.7100 (Latest rates).       Agriculture Products:   Rice, wheat, tea, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, jute, oilseed, poultry, etc.       Industries:   Steel, garments, petroleum, cement, machinery, locomotive, food processing, pharmaceutical products, mining, etc.       Currency (Code):   Indian Rupee (INR)       Fiscal Year:   1st April to 31st March.

Source :	Ministry of Environment, Planning Commission, Ministry of Health, Press Information Bureau, Census of India , Minestry of External Affairs, Union Budget, Reserve Bank of India, India 2005 - A Reference Annual, www.indiainbusiness.nic.in

Dolphins national aquatic animal

Prime Minister Mmanmohan Singh chaired the first meeting of recentlyset up National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) on Monday, where it was decided to declare dolphins as a national aquatic animal. Dolphins in the country are on the brink of extinction.

The Centre also decided to spend additional Rs 1,5000 crores to make the river pollution free within the next ten year.

eINDIA Awards

The eINDIA Awards aim to honour the distinguished professionals and institutions working in the domains of e-Agriculture, e-Governance, Digital Learning, eHealth, Telecentre, and Municipal Information Technology (IT). The awards aim to recognise exemplary and innovative projects which demonstrate the use and application of information and communication technology (ICT) that have transformed social development opportunities into a sustainable social enterprise. The eINDIA Award programme is held annually alongside the eINDIA conference proceedings and are open for all national and international government organisations, civil society organisations, bilateral, multilateral development organisations and enterprises.
Nominations of individuals, organisations, and institutions are sought in the following 6 award categories:
Award Catagories for Nominations in e-Governance -

• Goverment to Citizens (G2C) Initiative of the Year
• Goverment to Business (G2B) Initiative of the Year
• Goverment to Goverment (G2G) Initiative of the Year
• m-Governance Initiative of the Year
• Civil Society/ Development Agency Initiative of the Year.

Award Catagories for Nominations in eHealth -

• ICT Enabled Hospital of the Year
• Goverment/Policy Initiatives of the Year
• Civil Society/ Development Agency Initiative of the Year.

Award Catagories for Nominations in Municipal IT -

• ICT Enabled Municipal Initiative of the Year.

Award Catagories for Nominations in Digital Learning -

• ICT Enabled School of the Year
• ICT Enabled University of the Year
• Goverment Policy/ Initiative of the Year
• Civil Society/Development Agency Initiative of the Year.

Award Catagories for Nominations in Telecentre -

• Innovative Grassroots Telecentre of the Year
• Goverment/Policy Initiatives of the Year
• Civil Society/Development Agency Initiative of the Year.

Award Catagories for Nominations in e-Agriculture -

• ICT Enabled Agriculture Initiative of the Year
• Goverment/Policy Initiative of the Year
• Civil Society/Development Agency Initiative of the Year.

special - Maoists: We control 5,000 villages

 Top Maoist Kishenji says outfit plans to `levy taxes' on big companies Rejects talks, says free prisoners

The Maoists on Friday claimed they have been able to establish control in nearly 5,000 villages  and around West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia in the ongoing bat le with the security forces n West Bengal. Speaking exclusively to his newspaper, one of the Maoist leaders wanted most by the security forces, CPI Maoist) politburo member Kishenji, claimed that the "Maoists have established people control in areas like Lalgarh, Goaltor, Shalboni, Belpahari, Balrampore, Sorega among others".

He said they now plan to "levy taxes" on any big companies operating or coming up in these areas.
"Generally we levy between eight to 10 per cent taxes on the big companies operating in areas controlled by the Maoist government," Kishenji revealed on the phone. While rejecting the state government's terms to come to the negotiating table and giving up their arms, Kishenji said, "Before any talks we also want the release of all Maoist prisoners from jail."

The Maoists also want those arrested in the Lalgarh operation freed without delay. Kishenji claimed that in its protracted war against the state, the Maoists have established themselves strongly in at least 50 per cent of the districts in Orissa, 60 per cent of the districts in Chhattisgarh, 25 per cent in Bihar, 10 per cent in Maharashtra and 25 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.

He claimed the Maoists still have a considerable presence in north Andhra.
Though he admitted that the arrest of the other politburo member, Kobad Gandhy, "is a blow to the outfit", he, however, claimed this "will not hamper our work".

Kishenji, also a member of the CPI (Maoist) central committee, is in charge of Assam, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. He had been instrumental in the resurgence of the Naxalite movement in West Bengal.
In Orissa, he claimed that the Maoists have established total control in Malkangiri, Korapur, Raigara, Ganjam and other adjoining areas. Speaking about the so-called "revolutionary activities" of the outfit, Kishenji claimed the organisation was getting its supply of arms mainly by looting police armouries or snatching them from security personnel. He also admitted the outfit was getting "revolutionary help" from groups like the Manipur People's Army and Ulfa in the Northeast. In fact, he said.

the CPI (Maoist) and Manipur Revolutionary Front have signed a "memorandum of understanding". He claimed that in West Bengal the Maoists were looting arms from CPI(M) activists. Kishenji maintained that in Bengal it's virtually a war between the "people (read Maoists)" and the CPI(M) cadre.

"The People's Liberation Guerrilla Army have been getting 50 per cent of their arms from the CPI(M) cadre. During the encounters we take away the arms of the slain and fleeing CPI(M) men." He claimed the people of these West Bengal districts have been "providing money and food for the PLGA members fighting for their cause". He said a major chunk of Rs 5 crores recently looted from a van carrying the amount to a Tata unit in Ranchi was being pumped into Bengal.

Kishejni maintained that the Maoists, who are reestablishing themselves in Bengal, have also been in constant touch with the state's intellectuals and the media. Ridiculing Union home minister P. Chidambaram's remarks that the government "will flush out the Maoists", the Maoist leader said: "Flush us out and do what? Deport us? We are living very much among the people."

He also rejected the Centre's proposed rehabilitation package. "We need no charity from the government," he said.
He refuted the government's claims that nearly 30 Naxalites were recently killed by a Cobra unit in Chhattisgarh. "It's a lie.

While three of our comrades were martyred, 15 Cobra jawans, including two assistant commanders, were killed in the encounter with our comrades," he claimed and accused the security forces of shooting tribals in Chhattisgarh and declaring them to be Maoists.

India space programme till now

India

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India Credit - © Mark Wade Launch Sites in India Balasore. Agency: DRDO. Type: Suborbital Launch Site. Location: Interim Test Range, Balasore Range, Chandipur-On-Sea, Orissa. Latitude: 20.9758. Longitude: 87.0491. Sriharikota. Agency: ISRO. Type: Orbital Launch Site. Location: Sriharikota Range, Andhra Pradesh. Latitude: 13.7374. Longitude: 80.2351. Thumba. Agency: ISRO. Type: Suborbital Launch Site. Location: Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launch Station, Trivandrum, Kerala. Latitude: 8.5314. Longitude: 76.8690. Rockets Developed in India Agni. - intermediate range ballistic missile - Status: Active. Two stage ballistic missile consisting of 1 x Agni + 1 x Prithvi ASLV. - all-solid orbital launch vehicle - Status: Retired 1994. GSLV. - orbital launch vehicle - Status: Active. Indian launcher for geosynchronous satellites using a Lox/LH2 upper stage developed from Russian technology. Prithvi. - short range ballistic missile - Status: Active. Single stage vehicle. First units deployed in 1995. PSLV. - all-solid orbital launch vehicle - Status: Active. Indian third-generation launch vehicle, large enough to carry polar-orbiting earth resources satellites. RH. - sounding rocket - Status: Active. Indian solid propellant sounding rocket family using indigenous rocket motors derived from French Belier / Jericho rocket engine technology. SLV. - all-solid orbital launch vehicle - Status: Retired 1983. Spacecraft Designed in India Aryabhata. - Earth Atmosphere Bhaskara. - Earth Landsat GSat. - Communications Insat 1. - Communications Insat 2. - Communications Insat 3. - Communications IRS. - Earth Landsat METSAT. - Earth Weather Orbital Vehicle. - Manned Spacecraft Rohini. - Earth Landsat Rohini 1A. - Technology Rohini 2. - Technology SRE. - Technology RV SROSS. - Earth Magnetosphere TES. - Surveillance Military Space-related People born in India Bhat. - Nagapathi Chidambar Bhat Indian Payload Specialist Astronaut. Born 1948. Chawla. - Dr Kalpana Chawla American Mission Specialist Astronaut. Born 1 July 1961. Died 1 February 2003. Number of Flights: 2.00. Total Time: 31.63 days. Malhotra. - Ravish Malhotra Indian Pilot Cosmonaut. Born 25 December 1943. Nair. - Paramaswaren Radhakrishnan Nair Indian Payload Specialist Astronaut. Born 10 October 1943. Sharma. - Rakesh Sharma Indian Pilot Cosmonaut. Born 13 January 1949. Number of Flights: 1.00. Total Time: 7.90 days.