Articles Covered

1. Telangana: 1,300-year-old temples from Badami Chalukyan period discovered
2. 3 ways in which the newly amended Electricity Rules boost rooftop solar power; empower consumers & EV owners
3. Five questions the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 answers
4. How to bridge the North-South divide
5. WTO convenes Ministers in U.A.E. with slim hopes for breakthrough
6. Attukal Pongala
7. Power of virtual reality and augmented reality in education

Telangana: 1,300-year-old temples from Badami Chalukyan period discovered

1. The temples, estimated to be at least 1,300 years old, showcase unique architectural styles of the Badami Chalukyan period.
2. Archaeologists have unearthed two ancient temples dating back to the Badami Chalukyan period, along with a rare inscription, in Mudimanikyam village of Nalgonda district, Telangana. 

• Origin:The temples are estimated to be at least 1,300 years old (8th or 9th century AD).
• Location:on the way to the Krishna river
• Architectural style:They showcase unique architectural styles, blending Badami Chalukyan and Kadamba Nagara influences.
• In one temple, a panavattam(base of a Shiva lingam) in the sanctum sanctorum has been found. In another, a Vishnu idol was recovered.
• The discovery also includes an inscription, labelled as ‘Gandaloranru’, dating back to the 8th or 9th Century AD, offering clues about the historical context of the region.

Temple Architecture

Temple Architecture of Chalukya Period

1. From the 5thcentury CE onwards (535-757CE), the Chalukyas of Badami were the leading force in Deccan.
2. They were indigenous Kannara family with Kannaras as mother tounge.
3. Their early inscriptions indicate that they worship both Vaishnavite and Shaivite deities.
4. The temple architecture of Chalukya Period is actually the mixture of Nagar and Dravida styles. However, this style has been termed as Besar style.
5. This style originate and flourished at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal of Karnataka state between 5th to7th century CE.

Kadamba Architecture

1. The Kadamba have been regarded as one of the foundations upon which the Karnataka architecture is based. 
2. The Kadamba style of architecture has many distinguishing characteristics, including a few things in common with the Chalukyan and the Pallava styles.
3. They drew from the architectural tradition of the
4. The Shikara, called Kadamba Shikara, constitutes the most prominent feature of their architecture.
5. The Kadamba Shikarahas a pyramid-like shape and rises in steps with a Stupika or Kalasha at the top without any decoration.

Nagara or North Indian Temple Architecture:

• Origin:5th century AD.
• Region:From Northern India to Karnataka to parts of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Gujarat, giving it its pan-India appeal.
• The Nagara style is mainly associated with the land between the Himalayas and Vindhyas.
• The basic plan of Nagara temple is square, with a number of graduated projections (rathakas)in the middle of each face which gives it a cruciform shapein the exterior.
• A temple tower or a conical or convex shikhara marks the elevation of the temples.
• The shikhara consists of several layers of carved courses usually crowned by an amalaka (notched ring stone).
• Earlier temples began with a single projection on each face and the plan came to be known as triratha. Later in the course of time, the number of projection was increased.
• The temple’s architecture is characterised by its tower-like structures, known as ‘shikhara’ or spires, which rise vertically, symbolising the sacred mountain, Mount Meru, considered to be the centre of the physical, metaphysical and spiritual dimensions in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cosmology.
• This temple architecture is also closely associated with both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduismand known for its sculptural elements that echo scenes from Hindu epics like like Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Examples: Dashavatara temple at Deogarh, UP, and the brick temple at Bhitargaon, UP.

3 ways in which the newly amended Electricity Rules boost rooftop solar power; empower consumers & EV owners

The amended rules make it easier for households to install solar panels and get new electricity connections. They also have provisions for grievances on faulty meters being addressed.

The Ministry of Power has notified amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, to accelerate the installation of rooftop solar projects and empower consumers – with provisions on connections in residential societies and solving complaints on meter readings.

The amendments notified on February 22 have eased rules around the requirement of a technical feasibility report for rooftop solar projects. They also allow residential societies to opt for individual connections or a single-point connection through a vote

• The Government of India has approved amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020.
• Issuing the amendments, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri R. K. Singh stated that these amendments further reduce the timeline for getting new electricity connections.
• These rules cover aspects such as billing, complaints, compensation and timelines for new connections.
• They also offer support for renewable energy generation by prosumers.
• The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister stated that the present amendments will further empower the consumers.

Major Amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020

Facilitating Easier and Faster installation of Rooftop Solar Systems:

1. Exemption has been given for the requirement of technical feasibility study, for systems up to a capacity of 10 kW.
2. For systems of capacity higher than 10 kW, the timeline for completing the feasibility study has been reduced from twenty days to fifteen days.
3. Further, in case the study is not completed within the stipulated time, the approval will be deemed to have been given.
4. Further, the timeline for the distribution licensee to commission Rooftop Solar PV systems has been reduced from thirty days to fifteen days.

Separate Connections for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations:

1. Consumers can now obtain separate electricity connections for charging their Electric Vehicles (EVs).
2. This aligns with the country’s goal of reducing carbon emissions and reaching Net Zero by the year 2070.

Smart Meter

A smart meter provides detailed information on consumption in order to reduce electricity bills and also increase knowledge about the status of the electricity grid, which improves its performance and the quality of service for customers.

solar panel-

• By weight, the typical crystalline silicon solar panel is made of about 76% glass, 10% plastic polymer, 8% aluminum, 5% silicon, 1% copper, and less than 0.1% silver and other metals, according to the Institute for Sustainable Futures.

New connections and change in existing connections to be obtained faster:

1. The time period for obtaining a new electricity connection under the Rules has been reduced from seven days to three days in metropolitan areas.
2. It has been reduced from fifteen days to seven days in other municipal areas, and from thirty days to fifteen days in rural areas.
3. However, in rural areas with hilly terrain, the time period for new connections or for modifications in existing connections will remain thirty days.

Additional Rights for Consumers in Residential Colonies and Flats:

1. Owners residing in co-operative group housing societies, residential colonies, etc., will now have the option to choose from the distribution licensee either individual connections for everyone or a single-point connection for the whole premises.
2. The exercise of the option will be based on a transparent ballot to be conducted by the Distribution Company.
3. Parity has also been brought in the tariff charged to consumers who get electricity supplied through single-point connection and to those who avail of individual connections.

Mandatory Additional Meter in cases of Complaints:

1. In case of a complaint, the distribution licensee is now required to install an additional meter within five days from the date of receipt of the complaint.
2. This additional meter will be used to verify the consumption for a minimum period of three months, thus reassuring consumers and ensuring accuracy in billing.

Five questions the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 answers

Key takeaways: The poorest rural households got the least to spend in terms of free items; the inflation basket needs to be changed; Bihar, MP, Rajasthan and UP offer a lower quality of life than most Indian states/ UTs.

Household Consumption Expenditure Survey

1. The last survey on consumer expenditure was conducted in the 68th round (July 2011 to June 2012).
2. This is because the government had junked the findings of the last Survey, conducted in 2017–18, citing data quality issues.
3. In November 2019, the Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry said it was examining the feasibility of conducting the next Survey in 2020–2021 and 2021–22.
4. This was to be done after incorporating all data quality refinements in the survey process, as recommended by an expert panel.
5. The expert panel had vetted the discrepancies in the 2017–18 results and recommended certain changes.

• However, the Survey could not be launched in the last two years due to the pandemic.
• Finally, a decision has been taken to conduct the Survey from July 2022.
• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has conducted Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) during August 2022 to July 2023.

For the first time in about 11 years, the government released the broad findings of the All India Household Consumption Expenditure Survey carried out between August 2022 and July 2023.

Household Consumption Expenditure Survey

• It is usually conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) every five years.
• This survey aims at generating estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for the rural and urban sectors of the country, for States and Union Territories, and for different socio-economic groups.

Highlights of the survey

1. The average monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) in Indian households rose by 33.5% since 2011-12 in urban households to ₹3,510, with rural India’s MPCE seeing a 40.42% increase over the same period to hit ₹2,008.
2. The proportion of spending on food has dropped to 46.4% for rural households from 52.9% in 2011-12, while their urban peers spent just 39.2% of their overall monthly outgoes on food compared with 42.6% incurred 11 years earlier.
3. This reduction could translate into a lower weightage for food prices in the country’s retail inflation calculations.
4. Among the States, the MPCE is the highest in Sikkim for both rural (₹7,731) and urban areas (₹12,105).
5. It is the lowest in Chhattisgarh, where it was ₹2,466 for rural households and ₹4,483 for urban household members.

• Significance: The data will play a key role in reviewing critical economic indicators, including the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), poverty levels, and the Consumer Price Inflation (CPI).

Difference in average MPCE between rural and urban households The difference in average MPCE between rural and urban households has narrowed to 71.2 per cent in 2022-23 compared with 83.9 per cent in 2011-12. This suggests rural consumption spending has risen more than urban consumption spending during the 11-year period. Average MPCE of the bottom 5 per cent of rural population and of urban population The bottom 5 per cent of rural population has an average MPCE of Rs 1,373, while it is Rs 2,001 for the bottom 5 per cent of urban population. The top 5 per cent of the rural and urban population has an average MPCE of Rs 10,501 and Rs 20,824, respectively. In other words, while the MPCE of top 5 per cent of rural population is 7.65 times more than its bottom 5 per cent, the MPCE of top 5 per cent of urban population has an MPCE of over 10 times its bottom 5 per cent. Share of expenditure on food In 2022-23, the share of expenditure on food in rural India was 46 per cent (Rs 1,750), and in urban India was 39 per cent (Rs 2,530). In 2011-12, it was 52.90 per cent in rural India and 42.62 per cent in urban India. This has implications for consumer price index-based inflation. Consumption expenditure on non-food items Consumption expenditure on non-food items in both rural India (54%) and urban India (61%) was mainly driven by a rise in share of spending on conveyance, consumer services, durable goods in 2022-23 as against 2011-12. The share of expenditure on cereals, pulses and vegetables moderated during the same period. Comparison among states Among the States, the MPCE is the highest in Sikkim for both rural (₹7,731) and urban areas (₹12,105). It is the lowest in Chhattisgarh, where it was ₹2,466 for rural households and ₹4,483 for urban household members.

How to bridge the North-South divide

To address financial concerns of southern states, finance commission could give weightage to performance on demographic indicators, tax efforts and fiscal position

1. In 2015, the Kerala government constituted the fifth State Finance Commission. The commission’s report dealt with issues such as the devolution of taxes to local bodies.
2. However, the state government delayed presenting the report in the legislative assembly by two years. It also rejected most of the recommendations on devolution.
3. This is not the only instance when a state government has rejected the recommendations of a state finance commission. The Maharashtra government also rejected the recommendations of the fourth state finance commission.
4. There is a deep chasm between the functioning of the state finance commissions (FC) as envisioned and the reality on the ground. Studies have shown that state finance commissions are not set up in a timely manner, and their reports as well as the action taken reports are often marked by significant delays.

Centre-state relations on financial matters

Articles 268 to 293 contained in Part XII of the constitution deal with Centre-state financial relations.

Allocation of Taxing Powers
Parliament and State legislature	The Parliament and State legislature have exclusive power to levy taxes on subjects incorporated in the Union list and state list, respectively.
Residuary powers	The residuary power of taxation lies with Parliament only.
Grants-in-aid
Article 275(1)	The Parliament can issue grant-in-aid of the revenues to such States as Parliament may determine, and different sums may be fixed for different States.
Article 282	The Union or a State may make any grants for any public purpose.
Goods and Services Taxes
The Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act 2016	To change the tax structure and introduce GST. Such an amendment can empower the Centre and the States to levy and collect GST.
FINANCE COMMISSION:
Article 280	It provides for a Finance Commission as a quasi-judicial body. Its responsibility is to recommend the sharing of taxes between them.

Issues pertaining to Centre-state relations in India

These are issues pertaining to Centre-state relations: 

• Allocation of resources: There is often a dispute between the Centre and the states over the allocation of resources, including funds, taxes, and other benefits.
• With the introduction of the GST, revenue collection and sharing have been streamlined. Yet, there are concerns relating to the revenue-sharing criteria used by the Finance Commission.
• Challenging Centre law:Kerala has filed a suit in the Supreme Court of India seeking to declare the CAA as unconstitutional. Chhattisgarh has also filed a similar suit, challenging the constitutional validity of the National Investigation Agency Act.
• Misuse of article 356: It is said that Article 356 was nearly always employed for political purposes rather than a real breakdown of the constitutional machinery. Different cases have been seen in Arunachal Pradesh and then in Uttarakhand.
• Office of Governor:The initial point of tension is that the Centre appoints the Governor as if he/she is a representative of the Centre, and the Centre government has found in the office of the Governor an effective instrument to recapture power for itself.

Fiscal Implications The Public Affairs Index 2018 highlighted the governance disparity, with southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu ranking high in terms of fiscal management and justice, while northern states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar ranked lower. Southern states contribute significantly to the national economy but receive less in terms of central resource allocation, a point of contention that has been raised by political leaders from these states​​. Economic disparities are further exacerbated by the 15th Finance Commission’s terms of reference, which have been a recent point of contention. Southern states argue that their fiscal prudence and demographic control are not adequately rewarded, leading to a situation where they subsidize the fiscal profligacy and higher population growth rates of some northern states​​.

Proposed Measures to Address Fiscal Imbalances To address these fiscal imbalances, several measures can be proposed: Revisiting Resource Allocation Formulas: The central government could consider revising the formulas used by the Finance Commission to allocate resources among states, ensuring that contributions to the national exchequer and efforts in population control and governance are adequately rewarded. Promoting Fiscal Federalism: Enhancing the fiscal autonomy of states by allowing them more leeway in generating their revenues and spending according to their priorities could help reduce imbalances. Encouraging Skill and Infrastructure Development: Targeted investments in skill development and infrastructure in lagging states could help them attract investment and improve their fiscal situation. Creating Platforms for Inter-State Collaboration: Encouraging states to share best practices in governance, fiscal management, and development initiatives could help reduce disparities. Adjusting to Demographic Changes: As demographic trends diverge, with the South aging faster than the North, policies need to adjust to these realities, focusing on healthcare, social security, and labor mobility.

WTO convenes Ministers in U.A.E. with slim hopes for breakthrough

The World Trade Organisation is hoping for progress, particularly on fishing, agriculture and electronic commerce

The World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) commenced recently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

WTO Ministerial Conference Makes Progress on Key Issues, Director-General Announces New Initiative

key-priorities for India

1. India’s primary task is keeping non-trade issues outside the ambit of the WTO.
2. The key priorities for New Delhi at this multi-nation platform.

Food security

1. India will maintain its stand of refusing to discuss issues related to agricultureat the ministerial-level meeting of the WTO, unless a permanent solution is found to public stockholding for food security.
2. WTO members have expressed concerns over India’s minimum support price (MSP) schemefor key agricultural products and export restrictions on commodities such as rice.

Poor fishermen

1. India will continue to bat for a permanent carve-out for nations that practise low-income fishing in a bid to protect the livelihoods of poor fishermen.
2. Apart from this, New Delhi will also push for not restricting countries from giving subsidies to fishermen operating within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Fishing

1. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the previous 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), prohibited “harmful fisheries subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks.
2. India had rejected the text on fisheries subsidy agreed upon after MC12 and is proposing a 25-year moratorium on distant water fishing nations to discourage countries from fishing outside their immediate Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO).

Non-trade issues

• In line with its earlier stance, India will oppose any discussion on what the country considers non-trade issues, including discussions on the environment, MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), and gender matters at the ministerial conference.

EU’s carbon tax

1. Specifically, New Delhi may prefer discussing bilaterally with the European Union (EU) regarding their carbon tax on imports of steel, iron ore, and cement, rather than at MC13.
2. EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) puts a price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU to encourage cleaner production in non-EU countries.

Digital trade

1. India will push to end a moratorium on customs duties on digital goodsat the ministerial conference, saying that such a leeway tends to benefit a few developed nations.
2. India believes that a country should be free to levy duties given that developing nations are losing around $10 billion in revenues due to this moratorium.

WTO disputes

1. India will pitch for revamping the WTO’s appellate body(which settles disputes among member nations), that has been out of action since December 2019 due to a decision by the United States to block appointments of new members to the entity.
2. The body was established in 1995 under Article 17 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
3. It is a standing body of seven persons that hears appeals in disputes brought by WTO members.

Attukal Pongala

• Attukal Pongala is a ten day annual Malayalam event.
• Time: Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (Feb-March) on Karthika star.
• The ‘Attukal Pongala’ is dubbed as one of the biggest gatherings of women in the world.
• It is attended by women from different parts of Kerala and neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu.
• The goddess at the centuries-old Attukal Devi temple is worshipped by the devotees in the form of ‘Bhadrakali’ or ‘Kannaki’ to whom the ‘pongal’ offering is made on the ninth day of the 10-day festival at the temple.
• Ritual: Women gather around the premises of temple and cook ‘pongala payasam’.
• The pongala payasam is a rice pudding made with red rice, jaggery, banana, ghee, and coconut, boiled over in earthen pots as part of the ritual.
• It is offered to the presiding deity, Attukal Amma (Goddess Bhagwati).

Power of virtual reality and augmented reality in education

One of the key advantages of VR and AR in education lies in their ability to create simulations that mimic real-world scenarios.

1. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are among the fastest evolving technologies in the world owing to the many use cases they present. India, which has the world’s youngest population, is on the threshold of exploring the boundless possibilities of these experiential technologies.  
2. “The current generation, mostly those in their 20s and 30s, are showing a strong enthusiasm for cutting-edge technologies. It is remarkable that youth in India eagerly wanted to embrace this technology, driven by their genuine interest and passion for these innovative advancements,” 

Recent advancements in science and technology, particularly augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are revolutionizing education by offering immersive learning experiences. These innovations, fostering problem-solving skills, are garnering attention for their transformative potential in both traditional and continuing education settings.

AR, VR

1. Augmented reality (AR): In AR, the digital content is overlayed onto the real-world scenarios, and this provides an immersive experience of virtual objects in the real world.
2. For example, a teacher can use an AR app to demonstrate a volcanic eruption while teaching geography or geology or even to teach how volcanic eruptions can impact air routes. Such AR technologies promote active learning.
3. Virtual reality (VR):VR technology, on the other hand, offers a completely virtual environment.
4. For example, virtual field trips, foreign language acquisition or virtual laboratories. These technologies when adopted in educational domain offers an enhanced hands-on experience which were never witnessed within the traditional classroom.

Benefits of the technology

• It enhances problem-solving skills in students.It also facilitates opportunities to think critically, collaborate with peers, and to develop innovative solutions.
• Fostering immersive learning experiences: Traditional learning methods often struggle to capture the attention of today’s digital-native students. AR and VR technologies offer a solution by providing immersive learning experiences that cater to their learning styles.
• Promoting collaborative learning: Collaboration is a vital skill in the modern workforce, and AR and VR technologies facilitate collaborative learning experiences within the classroom.