- CENTRE YET TO FORMALLY SCRAP FMR WITH MYANMAR
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- The Free Movement Regime (FMR)between India and Myanmar was a bilateral arrangement that permitted residents within 16 kilometers of the border to travel freely into each other’s territories without a visa.
- Implemented in 2018as part of India’s Act East Policy, the FMR aimed to facilitate cultural and economic ties among border communities.
- Key Features of the FMR:
- Visa-Free Travel:Allowed border residents to cross up to 16 km into the neighboring country without a visa, fostering people-to-people connections.
- Cultural Integration:Acknowledged the shared ethnic and familial ties among border communities, promoting social cohesion.
- Economic Interaction:Encouraged local trade and business activities, enhancing the economic well being of border residents.
- In early 2024, the Indian government decided to terminate the FMR to address security concerns and maintain demographic stability. This decision was influenced by issues such as illegal immigration, drug peddling, and arms smuggling.
2. 76 PROJECTS SANCTIONED UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME
SUBJECT: SCHEMES
- The Swadesh Darshan Scheme is a central sector initiative launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15, aiming to develop theme-based tourist circuits across India.Its primary objective is to promote, develop, and harness the potential of tourism in the country by creating world-class infrastructure that enhances tourist experiences and fosters economic development.
- Theme-Based Circuits:The scheme identifies and develops tourist circuits based on specific themes to showcase the diverse cultural, heritage, and natural attractions of India. Fifteen such circuits have been identified, including the Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, and Desert Circuit, among others.
- 100% Central Funding:The scheme is entirely funded by the central government, ensuring uniform development across various states and regions. It also leverages voluntary funding available through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and the corporate sector.
- Integrated Development:Focuses on the holistic development of tourism infrastructure, including facilities like tourist information centers, way-side amenities, and last-mile connectivity, to provide a seamless travel experience for tourists.
- Swadesh Darshan 2.0:In 2022, the Ministry of Tourism revamped the scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, emphasizing sustainable and responsible tourism.This iteration adopts a destination-centric approach, aiming to develop tourism and allied infrastructure, enhance human capital, and promote destination management backed by policy and institutional reforms
3. PM TO DISTRIBUTE 58 LAKH PROPERTY CARDS TO PROVIDE RECORD OF RIGHTS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Four years after the Union government launched the Svamitva scheme to digitise property records in rural areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute 58 lakh property cards providing a “record of rights” to owners.
- The Svamitva scheme of the Panchayati Raj Department was launched in April 2020 with the objective of recording property rights.
- The scheme is aimed at facilitating monetisation of properties, helping the owners get bank loans, reducing property disputes and aiding in village-level planning. The officials said that the property cards were now being recognised by banks for providing loans. In many cases, it has also helped women establish their ownership. The scheme has also aided in identifying open spaces, facilitating better planning for community development.
- 92% of the drone mapping has been done covering around 3.17 lakh of the over 3.44 lakh villages targeted. The scheme’s targets are likely to be achieved by 2026
4. U.S AND CHINA RENEW S&T AGREEMENT
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- U.S. and China renewed their Agreement on Co operation in Science and Technology (S&T)for five years, starting August 27, 2024. The renewal comes with amendments addressing researcher safety, data reciprocity, and intellectual property concerns
- First signed in 1979between Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter, focusing on agriculture and technology cooperation.
- Renewed every five years, adapting to advancements in science and technology
- Facilitates collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
- Enhances mobility of researchers and boosts infrastructure for scientific instruments.
- Allows countries to monitor advancements and secure intellectual property rights
- Prevents technological isolation, especially in critical areas like emerging technologies and quantum research.
- Strengthens nonzero cooperation by maintaining open dialogues while monitoring China’s advancements.
5. TWO STRUCTURES AT MEHRAULI PARK HAVE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
SUBJECT: HISTORY
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has told the Supreme Court that two structures inside the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi bear religious significance as devotees visit daily to the Ashiq Allah Dargah and Chillagah of Baba Farid, the revered 13th century Sufi saint
- The Ashiq Allah Dargah, located in Mehrauli, Delhi, is a revered Sufi shrine dedicated to Sheikh Shahabuddin, also known as Ashiq Allah. Established in 1317 by Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah Khilji, the dargah is situated near the Shahi Eidgah, adjacent to the Sanjay Van forest
- Baba Farid, also known as Farīduddīn Masʿūd Ganjshakar, was a prominent Punjabi Sufi saint. He was a leading figure in the Chishti Sufi order and is celebrated for his spiritual teachings and literary contributions.
- He was a disciple of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, who in turn was a disciple of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the founder of the Chishti order in the Indian subcontinent.
- After Khwaja Qutbuddin’s passing, Baba Farid became his spiritual successor, further propagating the Chishti teachings. His disciples included prominent saints like Nizamuddin Auliya, under whom the Chishti order reached significant prominence in Delhi.
