Prelim Exam
Revision Notes
Art and Culture
Indulekha Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Why in News ?
- Unveiling of the first true copy of Raja Ravi Varma’s “Indulekha” painting at Kilimanoor Palace on his 176th birth anniversary.
About the Painting
- Masterpiece by Raja Ravi Varma
- Depicts Indulekha: Protagonist of the first modern Malayalam novel by O. Chandu Menon (1889)
- Believed to be the inspiration for Ravi Varma’s “Reclining Lady” painting.
- Indulekha holding a letter: Addressed to her lover Madhavan (novel’s hero).
Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906)
- Born in Kilimanoor, Travancore (present-day Kerala).
- Known for:
- Fusing European art with Indian themes and iconography.
- Paintings of Hindu epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata) and deities.
- Making art accessible through affordable lithographs.
Polity
2.GANHRI Reviews India’s Human Rights Accreditation
Why in News ?
- The UN-backed Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) will assess India’s National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) accreditation status.
NHRC’s Accreditation Review
- The NHRC will defend India’s human rights record at the meeting in Geneva.
- NHRC’s A-rating (highest) was put on hold in 2023 due to concerns about:
- Selection process
- Police involvement in investigations
- Lack of gender and minority representation
- A or B rating affects NHRC’s voting rights in UN bodies.
Background of GANHRI
- Largest human rights network globally, established in 1993.
- Headquartered in Geneva with a global governance structure.
- Recognized partner of the United Nations.
- 120 members: 88 with A-status, 32 with B-status.
- Responsible for accrediting NHRIs based on the Paris Principles.
Paris Principles and Accreditation
- Set international standards for NHRIs to ensure credibility and independence.
- Require NHRIs to be independent in:
- Law
- Membership
- Operations
- Policy
- Resource control
- Also require a broad mandate, diverse membership, and strong functions and powers.
- Rigorous peer-based review process conducted every five years.
Significance of Accreditation
- Accreditation grants international recognition and protection to the NHRI.
- A-status allows participation in GANHRI, Human Rights Council, and other UN mechanisms.
Human Rights
What are Human Rights?
- Fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all people, regardless of background.
- Universal, inalienable, and indivisible.
- Foundation for human dignity, equality, and justice.
- Distinct from civil rights, which are legal and changeable.
Significance of Human Rights
- Inherent Dignity: Affirm the inherent dignity of every person.
- Equality and Non-Discrimination: Promote equal opportunities and treatment.
- Protection from Abuse: Provide a framework for accountability against violations.
- Global Standards: Establish international standards for treatment.
- Human Dignity in Crisis: Guide responses to emergencies while protecting human dignity.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Landmark document outlining fundamental human rights.
- Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.
- Includes 30 articles guaranteeing basic rights to everyone.
National Human Rights Commission (India)
- Statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
- Function: Promote and protect human rights in India.
Composition
- Chairperson (retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court)
- Five full-time members
- Seven deemed members (appointed for expertise)
Functions
- Investigate complaints of human rights violations.
- Take appropriate action (suo motu or based on complaints).
Powers
- Similar to a civil court (summon witnesses, examine evidence).
- Recommendations hold significant weight but are not binding.
Reports
- Submit annual and special reports to the government.
- Highlight human rights situation and recommend improvements.
Economy
3.Foreign Exchange (Forex)
Why In News ?
- RBI cautioned banks and customers about unauthorized forex trading using banking channels.
About Forex
- Foreign exchange (Forex): Exchanging the currency of one country for another at prevailing exchange rates.
- Foreign Exchange Rate: Price of one currency in terms of another.
- Importance:
- Links currencies of different countries.
- Enables comparison of international costs and prices.
- Demand for Forex:
- Purchase goods and services from other countries.
- Send gifts abroad.
- Purchase financial assets of a foreign country.
- Impact of Exchange Rate:
- Increase in forex price increases cost of imported goods (assuming INR weakens).
- Decrease in demand for imports and forex (other things being equal).
4.NEER vs REER
Why In News ?
- Depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar has brought focus on Nominal and Real Effective Exchange Rates (NEER & REER).
Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER)
- Unweighted average exchange rate of a country’s currency against a basket of foreign currencies.
- Indicates a country’s international competitiveness in the forex market.
- RBI constructs NEER indices for:
- A basket of 6 currencies (USD, EUR, CNY, GBP, JPY, HKD)
- A basket of 40 major trading partner currencies (88% of India’s trade)
- Base year: 2015-16 (100)
- Increase: Rupee appreciation against the basket.
- Decrease: Overall exchange rate depreciation.
Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)
- Weighted average of a country’s currency relative to an inflation-adjusted basket of foreign currencies.
- NEER adjusted for inflation differentials between a country and its trading partners.
- REER reflects a country’s competitiveness considering both exchange rates and inflation.
Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/rupee-modi-government-9285946/
Science and Technology
5.Phi-3-Mini
Why In News ?
- Microsoft unveiled Phi-3-Mini, its latest lightweight AI model.
About Phi-3-Mini
- Microsoft’s smallest AI model (possibly the first in a series of three).
- Outperforms models of similar size and even the next size up in language, reasoning, coding, and math tasks.
- Note: Language models are the foundation of AI applications like ChatGPT and LaMDA.
Comparison with Large Language Models (LLMs)
- Phi-3-Mini is a Small Language Model (SLM), a streamlined version of LLMs.
- Advantages of SLMs over LLMs:
- Cost-effective to develop and operate.
- Better performance on smaller devices (laptops, smartphones).
- More efficient for resource-constrained environments (on-device and offline use).
Additional Information
- Phi-2 (released in December 2023) reportedly matched models like Meta’s Llama 2.
- Phi-3 models outperform several similar-sized or larger models (e.g., Gemma 7B, Mistral 7B) in key areas.
6.Oldest Remnants of Earth’s Early Magnetic Field
Why In News ?
- Geologists at MIT and Oxford University discovered ancient rocks in Greenland containing the oldest evidence of Earth’s early magnetic field.
About the Discovery
- The rocks are approximately 3.7 billion years old and exhibit traces of a magnetic field with a strength of at least 15 microtesla (Earth’s current magnetic field is around 30 microtesla).
- Iron particles within these rocks act as tiny magnets, recording the Earth’s ancient magnetic field.
- The rocks were found in the Isua Supracrustal Belt, Greenland.
Significance
- This discovery sheds light on Earth’s early history and the conditions that allowed life to emerge.
- Scientists believe an early magnetic field was crucial for life’s development by:
- Protecting the planet from harmful solar radiation.
- Contributing to the formation of a life-sustaining atmosphere.
- Detailed analysis can help detect traces of the early magnetic field elsewhere, enabling researchers to reconstruct its global form and evolution over Earth’s 4.5 billion-year history.
Isua Supracrustal Belt
- This belt has unique geological features:
- It rests on a thick layer of Earth’s crust, protected from tectonic activity and deformation for billions of years.
- It’s one of the oldest rock formations on Earth (3.7 to 3.8 billion years old).
- It’s a critical site for studying early Earth’s geological and environmental conditions.
- Location: Southwestern Greenland (remote and inaccessible region).
Earth’s Magnetic Field (Geomagnetic Field)
- Generated in Earth’s interior and extends into space, forming the magnetosphere.
- Created by the movement of molten iron and nickel in the outer core (convection).
- Convection generates electric currents, which in turn produce magnetic fields.
- These magnetic fields combine to form Earth’s overall magnetic field.
Significance of Earth’s Magnetic Field
- Protects Earth from harmful solar wind and cosmic radiation.
- Crucial for navigation (influences compass needles).
- Essential for life on Earth (shields us from constant bombardment by charged particles from the sun).
Defense
7.INS Vikrant
Why In News ?
- INS Vikrant, along with INS Vikramaditya, showcased its capability for “twin carrier operations,” a feat achievable by only a few nations.
About INS Vikrant
- India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, commissioned in September 2022.
- Achieved full operational status and integrated into operations in record time.
Historical Significance
- The name “INS Vikrant” honors India’s first aircraft carrier (acquired from the UK).
- Played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
- Decommissioned in 1997. (Originally laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during WWII)
Role and Capabilities
- Operates an air wing of 30 aircraft:
- MiG-29K fighter jets
- Kamov-31 helicopters
- MH-60R multi-role helicopters
- Indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy)
- Offers unmatched military capabilities:
- Long-range airpower projection
- Offensive missions
- Air interdiction
- Anti-surface warfare
- Defensive counter-air
- Airborne anti-submarine warfare
- Airborne early warning
- Commissioning places India among nations (US, Russia, France, UK, China) with indigenous aircraft carrier design and construction capabilities.
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