Karnataka sacred ensembles of Hoysalas inscribed on UNESCO world heritage list (GS Paper 1, Culture)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, which includes three temples in Karnataka, has been inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
- Earlier, Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan, the university town in West Bengal, was also included as a world heritage site.
Sacred Ensembles of Hoysala at Belur:
- Located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, the Hoysala temples of Belur are renowned for their exquisite architecture and intricate stone carvings.
- The temples depict the architectural prowess of the Hoysala dynasty, which ruled over the region between the 10th and 14th centuries. Chennakesava Temple which is one of the most significant temples was constructed by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty in the 12th century to commemorate his victory over the Cholas.
- The other temples part of the Sacred Ensembles of Hoysala at Belur are Kappe Chennigaraya Temple, Veeranarayana Temple, and Ranganayaki Temple which are relatively smaller in size than Chennakesava Temple but are famous for their architectural marvel.
Sacred Ensembles of Hoysala at Halebid:
- Intricate carvings, finely detailed sculptures, and star:shaped architectural plans are the prime features of Sacred Ensembles of Hoysala at Halebid.
- The main Hoysaleswara temple was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Vishnuvardhana and is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the second Kedareshwara Temple showcases remarkable Hoysala architecture and stone carvings.
41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2023:
- Ajanta Caves: This is well:known for their Buddhist rock:cut cave art. It is lavishly brightened with artworks and frescoes like Sigiriya paintings.
- Sun Temple: This is well:known for its traditional Kalinga architecture.
- Ellora Caves: These are home to Hindu and Jain monasteries and temples. These caves were uncovered out of Hills, and it is a stone cut architecture.
- Taj Mahal: This is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This structure was built in honour of King Shahjahan's third wife, Begum Mumtaz Mahal.
- Agra Fort: Another one of the Mughal empire's most notable monumental structures is Agra Fort, located in Agra, UP.
- Mahabalipuram Monuments: Built by the Pallava dynasty which ruled the region between 6th and 9th centuries CE, the group of monuments there consists of rock:cut cave temples, monolithic temples, bas:relief sculptures, and structural temples as well as the excavated remains of temples.
- Kaziranga National Park: This park has the world's two:third population of the rare one:horned rhinoceroses. It has the most dense population of tigers on the planet, swamp deer, wild water buffalo, elephants and the park is likewise regarded as the significant Bird region.
- Keoladeo National Park: This Park is a well:known hotspot for Ornithologists, man:made Wetland Bird Sanctuary and Siberian Cranes.
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary: This sanctuary is renowned for Biosphere Reserve, Project Tiger Reserve and Elephant Reserve.
- Churches and Convents of Goa: It is well:known for Rome of the Orient, Mannerist and Baroque Art Forms in Asia, First Manueline, First Latin Rite Mass in Asia.
- Khajuraho Monuments: This landmark is famous for a gathering of Jain and Hindu Temples. It is located 175 km southeast of Jhansi. Notable for their Nagara style symbolism, figures and models.
- Hampi Monuments: Prosperous realm of Vijayanagar. The ruins at Hampi portray the fine Dravidian style of art and architecture. The main legacy monument in this site is the Virupaksha Temple.
- Fatehpur Sikri: Its structure is of four fundamental monuments – the Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal of Jada Baai ka Mahal, The Buland Darwaza, Diwane:Khas, and Diwan:eaam.
- Pattadakal Monuments: The Chalukya style of architecture, which originated in Aihole and merged with Nagara and Dravidian styles, is what makes Pattadakal Monuments so popular.
- Elephanta Caves: It is well known for Buddhist and Hindu caves. It is located on an island in the Arabian Sea. It has Shiva Temples and Rock Caves.
- Great Living Chola Temples: This temple is famous for Painting, Chola Architecture, Sculpture, and Bronze Casting.
- Sundarbans National Park: This Park is well known as Bengal Tiger, Biosphere Reserve, Largest Estuarine Mangrove Forest and Salt:Water Crocodile.
- Humayun's Tomb: First substantial example of Mughal architecture in India, tomb of Humayun, second Mughal Emperor of India, was built by his widow, Biga Begum (Hajji Begum), in 1569:70, 14 years after his death
- Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park: It is well known for Asiatic Black Bear, Brown Bear, Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, and Himalayan Monal, World Network of Biosphere.
- Monuments of Buddha: It is famous for Palaces, Monasteries, Temples, Mauryan Architecture, Monolithic Pillars, Ye Dharma Hetu Inscriptions.
- Qutub Minar and others: Alai Darwaza, the Qutub Minar, the Alai Minar, the Qubbat:ul:Islam Mosque, the Tomb of Iltutmish, and the Iron Pillar are all included in the Qutub Minar and its Monuments.
- Bhimbetka: It is popular for Rock Paintings within Stone Age Inscriptions, Natural Rock Shelters, Sitting Place of Bhima (Mahabharata).
- Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Kalka Shimla & Nilgiri: The mountain railways of India involve the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and the Kalka:Shimla.
- Mahabodhi Temple: A significant religious center for the Buddhists as here Mahatma Buddha accomplished edification. Bodh Gaya is considered as the holiest journey spot for the Buddhists.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: Became popular after the terror attacks on Mumbai in 2008, central Railways Headquarters, Gothic Style Architecture.
- Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park: This spot is the only complete and unaltered Islamic pre:Mughal city. The recreation area also houses a portion of the old Chalcolithic Indian Sites from the Stone Age era.
- Red Fort: It is well known for Shahjahanabad, Red Sandstone Architecture, Persian, Timuri and Indian Architectural Styles, Moti Masjid.
- Jantar Mantar: Renowned for Architectural Astronomical Instruments, Largest of its kind Observatory, Maharaja Jai Singh II.
- The Western Ghats: Well known among world's ten "Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots". It involves numerous Reserve Forests, Wildlife Sanctuary, and National Parks.
- Great Himalayan National Park: It is home to around 375 fauna species and a few floral species, including some very interesting types of plants and creatures like blue sheep, snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan Tahr, musk deer spruces, horse chestnuts, and huge alpine meadows. It is a part of the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspots.
- Hill Forts: This location is well:known for the distinctive Rajput military defense architecture that it has. It consists of six magnificent posts for Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Chittorgarh, Amber Fort, and Jaisalmer Fort.
- Rani Ki Vav: It is a unique example of fine Old Indian architecture which was developed during the Solanki dynasty.
- Nalanda: A centre of training and a Buddhist monastery from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.
- The Historic City: It is a walled city on the Sabarmati River where Hindu, Muslim, and Jain communities have coexisted for centuries.
- Khangchendzonga National Park: This is famous for its fauna and flora and snow leopards are sometimes seen there.
- Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex): Perceived as a World Heritage Site as a component of an exceptional commitment to Modern Development.
- Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles: It is an assortment of 94 structures of extraordinary cultural importance, located in the Fort Area of Mumbai.
- Dholavira: Dholavira is an architectural site arranged in the Kutch area of Gujarat. It is one of the most noticeable Indus Valley Civilisation sites.
- The Pink City: Jaipur is home to numerous wonderful palaces, temples, forts, and museums and furthermore filled to the edge with local handicrafts and trinkets.
- Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple: The Ramappa Temple is arranged in Palampet Town, Telangana. The temple is assessed to be no less than 800 to 900 years old. The temple is particularly known for lightweight porous bricks which are known as floating blocks.
- Santiniketan: It is the cultural and educational center established by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore that has procured a prestigious spot on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
WHO releases its first ever report on global impact of high BP
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever report on the global impact of high blood pressure.
- Approximately four out of every five people with hypertension are not adequately treated, but if countries can scale up coverage, 76 million deaths could be averted between 2023 and 2050.
Burden in India:
- Hypertension is the most important risk factor for death and disability in India.
- It adds that less than one-fourth of hypertensive patients in India had their blood pressure under control during 2016–2020, though this rate has improved compared to previous years, substantial differences exist across regions.
- It also states that the 2019–2020 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reported a hypertension prevalence of 24% in men and 21% among women, an increase from 19% and 17% respectively from the previous round (2015–16).
- India runs the India Hypertension Control Initiative programme which is a large-scale hypertension intervention under the National Health Mission and has been recognised for its positive work done within the country’s existing primary healthcare system.
Key Highlights:
- The WHO report states that hypertension affects one in three adults worldwide. This common, deadly condition leads to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and many other health problems.
- The number of people living with hypertension (blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher or taking medication for hypertension) doubled between 1990 and 2019, from 650 million to 1.3 billion.
- Nearly half of people with hypertension globally are currently unaware of their condition. More than three-quarters of adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Recommending ways to win the race against this silent killer, the world organisation states that lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, quitting tobacco and being more active can help lower blood pressure.
- Some people may need medicines that can control hypertension effectively and prevent related complications.
Early detection, effective management:
- Prevention, early detection and effective management of hypertension are among the most cost-effective interventions in health care and should be prioritised by countries as part of their national health benefit package offered at a primary care level.
- The economic benefits of improved hypertension treatment programmes outweigh the costs by about 18 to 1.
Way Forward:
- Strengthening hypertension control must be part of every country’s journey towards universal health coverage, based on well-functioning, equitable and resilient health systems, built on a foundation of primary health care.
New Parliament building now designated as Parliament House of India
(GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- Built at a cost of Rs 971 crore, the new Parliament building is being used for the first time during the Special Parliament session called by the Centre between September 18 and 22.
- The foundation stone of the new Parliament building was on December 10, 2020.
Why was a new Parliament building constructed?
- While the construction of the existing Parliament House commenced in 1921, it was not officially commissioned until 1927. The heritage Grade-I building has served the nation for nearly a century.
- During this time, due to the lack of original design records, any time the structure needed an upgrade, "ad-hoc modifications" were made.
- This includes the addition of two storeys in 1956, which obscured the Central Hall's iconic dome and also altered the building's overall facade.
Reasons why a new Parliament building was required:
Space constraints and narrow seating:
- The present structure was never intended to accommodate a bicameral legislature for a fully fledged democracy. With 545 Lok Sabha seats determined by the 1971 Census, the seating arrangements are cramped and cumbersome, offering no desks beyond the second row.
- The Central Hall can seat only 440 individuals, causing severe limitations during Joint Sessions and posing security concerns due to restricted movement.
Distressed infrastructure:
- Over time, essential services like water supply lines, sewer lines, air conditioning, fire-fighting systems, CCTV, and audio-video systems were added despite not being part of the original design. These changes have resulted in seepages, damaging the building's aesthetics.
- Additionally, the building's fire safety was a growing concern as it did not conform to modern fire norms. The introduction of numerous new electric cables also posed a potential fire hazard.
Obsolete communication structures and workspaces:
- The communications infrastructure and technology within the Parliament House had become antiquated, necessitating dire upgrades. Acoustic improvements were also essential in the halls.
- Moreover, structural safety concerns arose as the building was originally constructed in a lower seismic zone than its current classification.
The new design:
- To address the challenges of the old building, the new Parliamentary building has been constructed to be more modern, efficient, and earthquake-resistant. Moreover, it has been designed with a projected lifespan of over 150 years and incorporates diverse Indian architectural styles.
- Architecture firm, HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd led the project with Bimal Patel as the architect.
- The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers have been designed to accommodate potential increases in the number of members of Parliament (MPs).
- With 888 seats in the Lok Sabha chamber, 384 in the Rajya Sabha chamber, and four floors of offices for ministers and committees, the new complex promises to meet the demands of India's growing population and future delimitation.
Construction of the new Parliament building
- While there were bids since 2012, to construct a new Parliament building, the foundation stone for the project was laid only in December 2020 with Tata Projects Ltd leading the construction.
- The total area for the new Parliament is 64,500 square metres. The building itself has eliminated the need for a central hall, allocating space more efficiently.
- It covers an area of 20,866 square metres, including a 2,000 square metre open-sky area for a magnificent banyan tree. This design is 10 per cent smaller in size than the existing circular building, divided into three sectors.
- Three entrances, known as Gyan Dwar (knowledge gate), Shakti Dwar (power gate), and Karma Dwar (karma gate), are guarded by six statues: Gaja, Ashwa, Garuda, Makar, Shardula, and Hams.
- The centrepiece, the Foucault pendulum, is suspended from the central foyer's ceiling. Standing at an impressive 22 meters and weighing 36 kilograms, it symbolises India's integration with the cosmos as it rotates on its axis.
- The construction used 26,045 MT steel, 63,807 MT cement, and around 9,689 cubic metres worth of fly ash. The construction of the Parliamentary building also reportedly generated 2.3 million man-days of employment.
Installation of the Sengol
- The new Parliament building also houses the Sengol, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, symbolising the transfer of power from the British to the Indians, following the Chola tradition.
