GS 1

INDIAN CULTURE
Kashmir rightly knows as the "Crown of India" has been very significant in
the enrichment of Indian art and culture.
Some of the Famous Kashmiris and their Contribution:
1 .Abhinavgupta :- A kashmiri Shaiva Philosopher , who contributed in
the field of Music, Philosophy, dramaturgy ,cognitive sciences, Tantra,
yoga etc.
Notable Contribution and Significance: Some of his most notable
works include:
Tantraloka:To throw Light on Tantra", a synthesis of all the Trika system.
Paratrisikavivarana: Detailing the signification of the phonematic energies
and their two sequential ordering systems, Matka and Malini
2. Kalhana Kashmiri author who has contributed vastly in the
development of Sanskrit language and Indian literature.
Most Notable Work :- Rajatarangini (an account of the history of Kasmir)
3. Charaka Contributed in the earliest of the Medical traditions.
Charaksamhita book was written by him , vastly taken as base for Indian
Medicine even today.
4. Habba Khatun Poetess and ascetic, who is also known as 'Nightingale
of Kashmir',
Contribution:Habba Khatun introduced lol to Kashmiri poetry, lol is more
or less equivalent to the English 'lyric'.
5. Contribution in Painting/Handcrafts/Wood Carvings Kashmir has
contributed in the painting forms such as the Pahari school of Painting,
Shawls from Kashmir are a true example of Art form.
6. Some Contemporary Contributors:
Malika Pukhraj-singer , Deen Bandhu Sharma-writer, Ghulam Rasool
Santosh-painter.
Jallikattu is a bull taming event held in madurai and nearby areas during
the pongal(harvest) season.Indus valley civilization also had such sports
being practised.It is an inherent part of their tradition.SC had banned
jallikattu in 2014 citing animal welfare issues.
Animals should be treated ethically and hence need our care and
protection.Prevention of cruelty to animals act,1960 support this
claim
Pongal festivals might be hampered ,jallikattu being so closely
linked with their tradition
SC also argued that Bulls do not enter the arena on their will, they
are frightened and are pushed into the closed area and troubled for
human enjoyment
The Jalikkattu event take place in the 3rd day of 4 days festival
known as "Maattu Pongal", a dedicated day to worship cattle which
is part and parcel of Tamil culture. So, the intention of the people
will be playing with their beloved animals and exhibit their bravery

and not to trouble them.

The event has significant role in protecting and preventing the
cattles being exported to nearby states for slaughtering
WORLD HISTORY
MIDDLE EAST
KURDS
Kurds are an ethnic Muslim minority group of middleeast. They are found
in south-eastern Turkey, north-eastern Syria, northern Iraq, north-western
Iran and south-western Armenia.(attached pic).They are sunni Muslims but
follow different traditions and practices from mainstream Arab Sunnis,thus
forming the Shia-sunni-Kurd triangle of conflict in middle east.

History:

-After death of Prophet Muhammad in 7th century Islam divided in

two: Sunni and Shia.
-Kurd as a separate group emerged in 10th century in northwest
Iran.
-They formed a minority group and have been demanding a
separate nation "Kurdistan". During Skyes-Picot agreement of 1916
and later in Treaty of Sevres, Allies gave them false promise to form
a separate Kurdistan nation. That didn't happen and conflict
continues till now.
-Under Saddam Hussein,Sunni carried out a reign of terror. The
target were both Shia and Kurds.

Relation with other countries:

Turkey: They form a minority here.Various Kurdish insurgent groups
are engaged in an armed conflict with republic of turkey because of

their separate demand of Kurdistan.

Iraq: In Iraq Kurds are found in north part.In south there are Shias
and middle portion occupied by Sunnis.Thy have been targets of
oppressive regimes under Saddam Hussein.
Iran: Here the oppression against Kurds are not as prominent as in
Turkey and Iraq.

Fight against ISIS:

-ISIS is a Sunni organisation which aims to create a caliphate where
there will be no place for Apostates(those who don't believe in core
Islamic belief)
-Kurds are also Sunni but they are different from Arab Sunnis and
hence ISIS treats them as Apostates,hence fight against it.
-On Kurd part, Fight against ISIS is to capture the territories which
they see as "their land",

So many fights leads to complex mess that Middle east has currently
engulfed into. Kurds are a major player in this mess and hence all fight
against ISIS must consider their role
ROLE OF WOMEN AND WOMENS ORGANISATION, POPULATION AND
ASSOCIATED ISSUES ,POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT
ISSUES,URBANISATION,THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR REMEDIES
LOW PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN LABOUR FORCE
1. Patriarchal Mindset
2. Stereotypes: As income increase participation decreaes
3. Biological Reasons: maternity leaves etc.
4. Household work not recognized:
5. Poor Post Natal Infrastructure Facilities: Women after giving birth
to child, have to stay at home and take care of their children due to poor
availability of Day Care Facilities in many areas.
6. Machine Age : .
7. Lack of skill training, discrimination in wages
Safety and Security Issues: .
How Can Govt. Help in Improving Women's Participation:
1) Adequate Maternity Protection
2. Provision of Post Natal
3. Promotion of SHG's to Hinterlands
4. Special Focus on Women in the Startup-Policies .
5. Awareness Programs/Promotion Schemes . Various schemes of
Govt. are laudable in this respect. like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ladli
Laxmi Yojana etc.

6. Promotion of Handloom/Textile Sector Handloom and Textile

industries(with special focus on Women's Participation) can attract and
absorb Women Section and thus can help in improvement in their status.
7. Provision of Safety Provisions/ Flexibility in Shifts: panic button
on mobile phones,cctv, special mahila police volunteer programme
8. Reservation for womens just like in pRI and CAPF
9 .promotion of jobs for women in MGNREGA
10. Nai Roshni scheme of govt. for women, SABLA SCHEME for all around
development of adolescent girls, Support to Training and Employment
Programme for Women (STEP)- The scheme aims to provide skills that give
employability to women and provide competencies that enable them to
become self -employed/entrepreneurs
SOCIALEMPOWERMENT, COMMUNALISM , REGIONALISM AND SECULARISM
SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT-WOMEN
Women account for almost half of the country's population. But, still their
participation in total workforce stands only at 24% , according to the 2015
report of McKinsey
Recent move by govt. of bihar and Madhya pradesh for 35 %reservation in
job for women
REASONS
1) GENDER GAP preferance of son and this gap is maintained up to high
education
2) Fear of unemployment for males
3) Patriarchal mindset
Solution
Sexual Haraasmant law and its implementation like constitution of Internal
Compliants Committeee; poor performance on Gender Inequality Index of
UNDP for female labour rate participation; recently IMF said about 27%
jump of Indian GDP possible due to female participation;
measures like women security being responsibility of the employer; Giving
financual incnetives to firns who employ more women than national
average.
Most important is political empowerment by 1/3rd reservations in
Parliament and State legislatures; and health aspects of women like

maternity, etc..
Also economic empowerment by boosting SHGs, Kudumbashree example,
etc. Fenale foeticide, using technology to develop entrepreneurial spirit
COMMUNALISM-Communal ism is an ideology based on the belief that
Indian society is divided into religious communities, whose
economic, political, social and cultural interests diverge and are even
hostile to each other because of their religious differences. As an ideology
it is akin to racialism, anti-Semitism. In fact, it can be considered the
Indian form of
fascism
1. Constitution: minorities community rights under Article 28,29 and 30
are being used, above the individual rights (Shah Bano case), absence of
Uniform civil code still perception that all communities have divergent and
contradictory interests
2. Religious: fundamentalists approach, Our belief alone is true and rest
is untrue or incomplete. not have tolerance
3. Political: vote bank, the policy of appeasement flaring up religious
sentiments at the time of elections
4. Socio-economic: Population, Poverty, illiteracy and unemployment
5. International: External elements (including non-state actors)
Govts role to stop
1. Economic integration of minority community. Various REccomendations
of SACHAR COMMITTEE, NANAVATI COMMITTEE and RANGANATH MISHRA
COMMISSION.
2. Legal Reform: IPC, CrPC, Strict law to deal with communal elements.
Clear policy for relief and rehab
3. Access to Justice and Reparations Bill, 2011 ensuring accountability of
the district administration
4. Police Reform: no interference in police by politicians
5. Policy Measures: eradicating the problem of unemployment among the
youths, illiteracy and poverty, quality education. Although latets trend
show that more affluent people are get attracted towards communalism
through social media. Security agency can deploy tools and technology to
monitor such incidents.
6. Spreading harmony, unity, cultural exchange @ school, college level

DISTRIBUTION OF KEY NATURAL RESOURCES ACROSS THE WORLD

(INCLUDING SOUTH ASIA AND INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ): FACTOR

RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCATION OF PRIMARY ,SECONDARY AND TERTIARY

SECTOR INDUSTRIES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD(INCLUDING
INDIA)
Location factors-

Bengaluru has more people with an engineering degree than New Delhi
(all three corporations)
Today Bangalore has become synonymous with IT,Software and startups
and has been a cornerstone of education and technology development in
India. The enabling factors are :
- Role of Government : Karnataka was the first Indian state to evolve an IT
policy in 1992 which has heralded an economic revolution since then.
Private participation,ease of business were enhanced.
- Education spread : Great Deal of Investment by Mysore kings went into
education. Establishment of IISC has transformed the education
landscape. Today the city boasts largest number of private
universities,colleges and research centres.
- Entrepreneurial Culture : IT Giants like Infosys and Patni systems have
taken birth in the city which furthered the IT ecosystem.
- Geographical : The pleasant climatic conditions owing to the plateau
location, regular orographic rainfall. Locational proximity to major cities
like Hyderabad and Chennai
- Infrastructure : First city in Asia to be electrified in 1906 owing to the
shivasamudram hydropower plant. City also boasts good urban infra,public
transport.
Impact on Indian Economy :
- Emergence of Bangalore as the IT capital has fuelled rapid growth of IT
industry and services sector which is the largest contributor to GDP.
- Ripple effect on the growth of industries like real estate,hospitality and
Pharma.
- Bangalore contributes one-third of India's IT exports earning huge forex.
- The extensive education facilities cater to millions of students from
across India. City presents a successful model of industry-university
partnerships.
- Bangalore is today India's start-up capital and has a key role to play on
the 'Startup India Mission'.
-City's IT potential and capabilities are crucial for the success of digital
India,skill India missions
4TH INDIA AFRICA HYDROCARBON SUMMIT
India's can satisfy its hunger by tapping the untapped resources in Africa
because of:
--> Increased Demand and limited home resources make India bound to

depend on imports, where Africa untapped resources benefits on India

exchequer due to infant stage of exploration and production.
--> .Volatile West Asia Conditions make India to look for a stable and
consistent exporter as Africa.
--> Charges of premium on oil by Saudi Arabia Changes India interest from
importer to investor which has great scope in Africa.
--> India expertise in refinery increases the exploration and production of
Hydrocarbons in Africa which in turn to satisfy India energy needs.
Geological reason of emerging African oil exporter:
--> Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya in Northern Part due to marine deposits and
subduction of O-C plates.
--> Due to ancient continent shelf Egypt, Eritea, Sudan are rich in oil
deposits.
--> Pre Silurian Rocks makes the south Africa, Mozambique and Morocco
rich in oil reserves.
Overall , with growing oil and gas demand in India and supply in Africa
creates a stable and sustainable demand and supply center which fosters
the economic development of both the countries