Daily Current Affairs October 3, 2024

1. DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 3 October, 2024 General Studies I - Geography Mount Everest: Height Increasing With a Higher Rate Than Expected Context According to a new study, the height of Mount Everest has been increasing more than expected. Prelims Question 1. Consider the following statements with reference to the formation of Himalayan Mountains: 1) Island Arcs are formed by the convergence of the Oceanic Crusts of two tectonic plates. 2) Volcanic mountain ranges are formed on the margin of the continents when the heavi- er oceanic crust of a tectonic plate is subducted beneath the continental crust of the other. 3) The young fold mountains are formed when the continental crusts of the two tectonic plates converge with each other. Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 1 and 2 Only C. 1 and 3 Only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: D 2. Consider the following statements with reference to the formation of the Himalayas: 1) The Karakoram range, which is part of Trans-Himalayas, is a volcanic mountain range. 2) Trans Himalayan Ranges are geographically part of the Greater Himalayas. Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 Only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: A 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

2. Mains Question 1. Discuss the Formation of Himalayan Mountain Ranges by plate tectonic theory. How has ‘Isostatic Rebound’ helped in a rapid increase in the height of the Hima- layan ranges? Approach 1. Introduce the Himalayas and the rapid rate of increase in height of the Himalayas. 2. Discuss in detail the formation of the Himalayan ranges by plate tectonic theory and the rate of increase of its height by ‘Isostatic Rebound Theory’. 3. Conclude with the need for such studies to study the Himalayas in detail. About ● A new study which focused on the increasing height of Mount Everest has provided evi- dence that a river flowing nearby has aided in an increase in its height. ● Mt. Everest is currently the tallest peak in the world with a height of about 8,849 meters. Role of Arun River ● The study has attributed the loss of landmass of the Arun River Basin to increasing the height of the peak. ● The height of Mount Everest is increasing at a higher rate than expected because the Arun River is eroding rock and soil at its base and has pushed it upwards. ● The river basin is spread across Nepal and Tibet and is 75 km away from Everest. ● According to the study, the river is causing the world’s tallest peak to rise by up to 2 mm a year. Process of ‘Isostatic Rebound’ ● Mt. Everest has been experiencing an additional boost to its height due to a geological process called isostatic rebound. ● The process involves the rise of land masses on the Earth’s crust when the weight of the surface diminishes. ● The crust, which is the earth’s outermost layer, essentially floats atop a mantle layer of hot, semi-liquid rock. ● In the case of Mount Everest and its neighbouring mountains, the surface weight started to reduce after the Arun River merged with the Kosi River around 89,000 years ago. ● It resulted in accelerated erosion that carried off huge amounts of rock and soil, reducing the weight of the region near Everest. ● The process of isostatic rebound occurs when a floating object adjusts its position when weight is removed. For Example, a boat rises in water when cargo is unloaded. ● In the case of Himalayan ranges, when a heavy load, such as ice or eroded rock, is re- moved from the Earth’s crust, the land beneath slowly rises in response. 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

3. ● Like Everest, its neighbouring peaks such as Lhotse (the world’s fourth highest) and Maka- lu, the fifth highest, also get a boost from the same process. What is the main reason behind the upliftment of the Himalayan Ranges? ● According to Plate Tectonics Theory, the Himalayan Ranges have been formed by the collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The collision can be studied in three states. Stage I: Ocean-Ocean Convergence ● In this stage, the oceanic crust of the Indian Plate collided with the oceanic crust of the Eurasian Plate, leading to the subduction of the Eurasian plate beneath the Indian Platee,e, leading to the formation of the Island Arcs. ● The Island Arcs present in the Drass sector are examples of arcs which were formed during this period. Stage II: Ocean-Continent Convergence ● The Indian plate continued to march towards the Eurasian plate, and the oceanic crust of the Indian plate subducted beneath the continental crust of the Indian plate, leading to the 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

4. formation of the volcanic mountains on the edge of the Eurasian plate. ● The Trans-Himalayas comprising the Karakoram Range is an example of such a mountain range. Stage III: Continent-Continent Convergence ● The Indian plate continued its northward journey and now the continental crust of the Indian and the Eurasian plate collided with each other to form the Young Fold Mountains called the Himalayas. Conclusion The formation of the Himalayan ranges is a continuous process. Various theories have ex- plained it, such as Plate Tectonics, Convection Current Theories and Isostatic theory. The cur- rent theory of static rebound, which has explained the increment in the rate of the height of the Himalayan range, has given a new edge to the studies of the ‘Himalayas Mountain System’. Sources: Indian Express, Indian Geography Prelims - General Studies I - Governance Management of Temples in India Context Recently, the adulteration of ‘Prasadam’ in Tirumala Devasthanam caused con- troversy in the way of management of Temple in India. About ● A lab report of the ghee which was being used for making ‘Prasadam’ in the Tirumala Temple indicated the presence of Beef tallow, Lard (pig fat), and Fish oil. ● It led to a large number of protests and petitions across the country to bring the perpetrator to Justice. ● Recently, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court for a court-monitored probe into the alleged adulteration of the ghee in Lord Venkateswara’s laddu prasadam. 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

5. ● Further, several Hindu organizations have revived their demand to free temples from government control. ● The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced a nationwide campaign to denounce the government’s control over temples while a “Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board” was demanded by the Andhra Pradesh deputy CM to look into all issues relating to temples. Current State of Management of Hindu Temples in India ● Minorities in India such as Muslims and Christians manage their places of worship and religious institutions through boards or trusts which are run by the community. ● While many religions such as Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist places of worship, the government exercises considerable control. Definition of ‘Hindu’ according to the Constitution and Law ● According to Article 25(2) of the Indian Constitution, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are classified as “Hindus” and subject to Hindu personal laws. ● According to various judgments of the Supreme Court which challenged the above article, Hindus, Sikhs, Jain, and Buddhists are considered Hindus in India. 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

6. ● Hindu temples form the majority of the around 30 lakh places of worship in India (2011 census). ● It is the reason the religious places or ‘Places of Worship’ of these communities are governed by the government. ● For Example, Temples in Tamil Nadu are managed by the state’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department whilethe AP government controls and appoints the head of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the Tirupati Temple. How are ‘Temple Donations’ used by the States? ● Various state governments use a part of the income from offerings and donations at large temples for the administration and upkeep of those and smaller temples. ● These funds are also used for welfare activities that may or may not be connected to the temple. ● It includes running hospitals, orphanages, or schools/ colleges that provide secular education. Enactment of Laws for Temple Administration ● There are several states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have enacted laws for the management of temples. ● These laws give the government the power to administer temples, their incomes and expenditures. ● For Example, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir enacted The Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act in 1988. ● It aimed to manage, specifically, the Vaishno Devi Mata Shrine in Katra, Jammu. ● Article 25(2): According to Article 25(2) of the constitution, the states can enact such legislation under which a government can make laws “regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice”. ● It can be done by “providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus”. ● Both the Centre and states can legislate on the subject of ‘Religious endowments and institutions’ which is listed in List III (Concurrent List) of the Seventh Schedule. Source: The Indian Express 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com