#dholavira drainage system

[evokedholavira]

Ancient Engineering Marvels: The Water Harvesting of Dholavira

Introduction

Dholavira, a Harappan city in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India, is a testament to ancient innovation and sustainability. Its sophisticated Dholavira water management system is a marvel of ancient engineering, reflecting the ingenuity of the Dholavira civilisation.

The Genius of Dholavira's Water Management

Water was a precious resource in an environment as arid as Dholavira's. The inhabitants developed an advanced Dholavira water harvesting technique, including reservoirs, dams, and channels, to capture and store rainwater from two seasonal rivers. This system was pivotal for their survival and prosperity.

Components of the Water Management System

The Dholavira water management system consisted of several key components. Large reservoirs were excavated near the city walls, designed to store rainwater. The Dholavira drainage system was equally impressive, with covered drains lining the city streets, ensuring hygiene and preventing waterlogging.

Sustainability and Efficiency

What sets Dholavira apart is not just the scale of its water management endeavours but the sustainability and efficiency of the system. The ancient engineers of Dholavira had a profound understanding of hydrology and civil engineering, allowing them to maximise water retention and usage.

The Role of Water in Dholavira's Urban Planning

Water management in Dholavira was not an afterthought but a cornerstone of its urban planning. The city's layout, including its citadel, middle town, and lower town, was designed with water storage and distribution in mind, showcasing a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics.

Technological Advances and Innovations

The Dholavira civilisation employed several technological advances in their water management system. These included stone-cut channels and reservoirs, meticulous town planning to prevent erosion and maximise water collection, and even methods to purify and distribute water.

Conclusion

The water harvesting techniques of Dholavira are a remarkable legacy of the Harappan sites, demonstrating the advanced understanding of engineering and sustainable practices in ancient times. Dholavira's ingenuity in water management is a beacon of innovation, reminding us of the importance of harmonising with our natural environment.

Experience Dholavira

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[molinabiancavalentina]

MODERN HISTORY

2ND BLOG _ The Indus Valley Civilization / HISTORICAL EVENT

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the oldest urban civilizations, dating from 2500 BC to 1500 BC. Although research is still being done on how they handled the issue of water conservation in this interesting part of the world, some advanced water conservation and management practices can be named. In fact, the covered drains that run under the streets of the ruins of Mohenjodaro and Harappa show that their inhabitants were well versed in hygiene. The relevance that exists in relation to the problems of excessive water consumption and the events that occurred within this civilization are interestingly compatible, since at this point in the blog is where my theory is that in ancient times, water consumption was not as excessive as it is today, the reasons for this is not only because there was less population at that time, but because people knew how to distribute and appreciate the resources provided by the earth and they respected it very much. 

The Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished along the banks of the Indus River and other parts of western and northern India about 5,000 years ago, had one of the most sophisticated urban water supply and sanitation systems in the world. Ruins such as Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh and Dholavira in Gujarat had settlements with some of the most sophisticated sanitation systems in the ancient world. They included drainage canals, rainwater harvesting, and street sewers. Sewage was disposed of through underground drains built with precisely laid bricks, and an elaborate water management system with numerous reservoirs was established. In the drainage systems, the drains from the houses were connected to the wider public drains laid along the main streets. The drains had holes at regular intervals for cleaning and inspection. Water from bathrooms on the roofs and upper floors was carried through closed terracotta pipes or open chutes that emptied into the street drains.

Some of the cities of this civilization contributed in a certain way to the conservation of water, since they had their own irrigation systems that allowed the conservation of water in a better way. These cities are the following:

Dholavira: One of the oldest water´s harvesting systems is located about 130 km from Pune along Naneghat in the Western Ghats. A large number of cisterns were carved into the rocks to provide drinking water to the traders who traveled along this ancient trade route. Each fort in the area had its own water harvesting and storage system in the form of rock-cut cisterns, ponds, tanks and wells, which are still in use today. A large number of forts like Raigad had tanks that supplied water.

Western Rajasthan: In ancient times, houses in parts of western Rajasthan were built so that each had a water harvesting system on the roof. Rainwater from these roofs was channeled into underground tanks. This system can still be seen today in all the forts, palaces and houses of the region.

Jodhpur: The old city of Jodhpur has over 200 stepwells, built from around the 6th century as part of an incredibly sophisticated water architecture," he explains. During the little rain the region receives between June and September, water is diverted from canals built on the hilly outskirts of the city to man-made tanks, or talabs.

In addition, one of the main figures in water conservation in this civilization were the engineers and urban planners, who were in charge of drainage systems and so on. They were known to have extensive knowledge on how to conserve water.

The results obtained by this civilization in terms of water conservation are the different implementations they gave to water conservation related to the system they had to maintain cleanliness at the time of using the water resource. The effects they had on the future plans of water conservation are mainly positive, since it is well known that this civilization was an intelligent and organized one, that knew how to control its resources very well and how to improve day by day, but above all, to do it in peace with the environment.

If we want to go deeper into this topic of the Indus civilization and water conservation, let's make a connection with the present time. Actually, water conservation is so important especially in environmental topics that are given in schools or in those talks that are given in any convention, but the thing here is that how could it be possible? Well, the answer is because of the ancient civilization that paved the way for us and made it easier for us to continue to practice water conservation today.

To finish this blog, let's review everything about this historical event, basically the Indus Valley civilization makes it easier for actual people to organize well water and not make such a mistake when we have to preserve it in the right way. If we start to become aware of this whole problem and start to organize our resources in the best possible way like this civilization did, we can probably improve all over the world with this issue of conniving water for a better change in general.

[biglisbonnews]

The Mystery of the World’s Oldest Billboard The 5,000-year-old port city of Dholavira can be found on an island in the salt flats of the Great Rann of Kutch on India’s western edge. It has been described as “one of the best preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia” by UNESCO. Researchers have found step-wells and reservoirs that formed a sophisticated water management system, the remains of ancient streets and boulevards lined by houses of varying sizes, the ruins of a jewelry workshop, and one of the most remarkable discoveries in Indian archeology: what is believed to be the world’s oldest billboard The billboard—typically called the Dholavira signboard—was discovered when a team from the Archaeological Survey of India began excavating the southern center of the Indus Valley Civilization in the 1990s. At Dholavira’s northern gate, archaeologists came across two chambers flanking the gate on either side. These chambers looked like storage spaces. And like most storerooms, they were an absolute mess. The team in the western chamber was gently clearing fallen debris and stones that hadn’t been touched for thousands of years when glints of white became visible. After more careful excavation, they found ten large symbols, each about 15 inches tall and made out of multiple pieces of white gypsum, a material that’s used in drywall today. Archaeologists also found evidence of decomposed wood surrounding the symbols. These clues led the researchers to conclude that the symbols were part of a billboard. The bright white gypsum would have made the symbols visible from a distance even at night, as torch light reflected off the mineral, while the surrounding wood would have supported the symbols. R. S. Bisht, who led the team that excavated the site throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, believes that the Dholavira signboard sat atop the largest of the ancient city’s five entrances. Bisht says, “the wooden board was 3.5 meters [11 feet] long and the threshold of the northern gate was also 3.5 meters [11 feet] wide. It seems that it was bolted on the facade of the northern gate and could have been seen from the lower and middle town.” Researchers wondered why the sign was in a chamber next to the northern gate rather than on it. But Bisht believes that an earthquake, a common occurrence in the area, could have been responsible for dislodging the sign, after which the citizens of Dholavira carefully moved it to a storeroom next to the gate. Still, one big mystery remains: What did the billboard say? The symbols are remarkably well preserved, perhaps because the billboard was lying face down for thousands of years, the wood of the board protecting the gypsum symbols from the environment. But they are written in the script of the Indus Valley Civilization, which has not yet been deciphered, so no one knows what information was displayed so prominently in the city. The Dholavira signboard is now in the collection at the National Museum in New Delhi, though it is not on display because of preservation concerns. It remains an object of ongoing research as one of the longest inscriptions in the Indus or Harappan script. Until the script is deciphered, everything that is known about the people and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization comes from archaeological evidence. From its earliest beginnings as the neolithic Mehrgarh culture over 9,000 years ago, the Indus Valley Civilization thrived for thousands of years across the lands of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The people traded with the civilizations of Mesopotamia and China and built settlements with better-planned drainage systems than some modern cities. Yet, around 4,000 years ago, they abandoned their cities and writing and disappeared. “The Indus Valley people could not get basic needs like fresh water for irrigation and drinking,” says Mahesh Thakkar, professor of geology and head of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at K.S.K.V. Kachchh University in Bhuj—the closest major city to Dholavira. “Slow climate change over time led them to migrate to the fertile and perennial river basins of the Ganga and Yamuna, leaving their old urban centers abandoned.” The climate events that caused the people of Dholavira to abandon their city were not caused by humans but while we cannot decipher what was written on the sign that the people of Dholavira left forgotten in a storeroom before leaving their city for good, its message about the dangers of climate change is clear. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oldest-billboard-in-world

[finditonamap]

The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer. - John Madden When you get into a drainage system that dates back a few thousand years and try to figure your way around. Dholavira, Gujarat. #wanderlust #wandergram #roadtrip #gujarat #reallyancient #historyalive #travelstories #traveladventure #finditonamap #incredibleindia #mobileclick #shotongalaxy #drainage (at Dholavira Harappan Metropoly) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bym_qNWJKry/?igshid=7jxjfrg8jpxl

[ajaymodicare]

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

The background of India began with the beginning of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also called the Harappan Civilization.

It flourished between 2,500 BC in the western region of South Asia, in modern Pakistan as well as Western India.

In the Indus Valley was the home of The most ancient of four urban cultures that comprised Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.

In 1920s In the 1920s, in the 1920s, Archaeological Department of India carried excavations within the Indus valley. The ruins of two cities were discovered. Mohenjodaro as well as Harappa were found.

In the year 1924 John Marshall, Director General of the ASI made public that he had discovered of a new civilization within the Indus valley to the rest of the world.

Phases of IVC

Three types IVC are: IVC are:

It is believed that the Early Harappan Phase is related to the Hakra Phase, found in the Ghaggar Hakra River Valley.

The earliest instances from writing in Indus script go back to 3000 BC.

This phase is marked by central authority and an increasing urban lifestyle.

trade networks were in place and there is evidence regarding an increase in the cultivation of various crops. Sesame seeds, peas dates, cotton and many others were cultivated at the time.

Kot Diji symbolizes the period that leads to Mature Harappan Phase.

In 2600 BC in the 2600 BC period, 2600 BC, the Indus Valley Civilization had moved into an maturing stage.

The first Harappan communities were transforming into cities of immense size, like Harappa as well as Mohenjodaro within Pakistan as well as Lothal within India.

during the Early Harappan Phase between 3300 and 2600 BCE,

the mature Harappan Phase from 2600 to 1900 BCE and

during the Late Harappan Phase between 1900 and 1300 BCE.

The signs of the slow decrease in the Indus The signs of a gradual decline in the Indus Valley Civilization is thought to have started in the 1800s BC and, by 1700 BC many cities had been abandoned.

But, it is possible to observe the different aspects of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization throughout the subsequent cultures.

The archaeological evidence indicates the existence in archaeological evidence that suggests the existence of Late Harappan culture till 1000-900 BC.

Town Planning and Structures

Harappan culture was distinguished by its town planning system. Harappan style of living has been distinctive by its method of city planning.

Harappa and Mohenjodaro had their own acropolis or citadel that could have been used by the upper class.

In each city was below the citadels of each city lay a lower town with brick homes which were used by people of the common.

The interesting aspect of the layout of the homes in the city is the fact that they were arranged according to the grid arrangement.

Granaries were a major element of Harappan cities.

The burning of bricks in Harappan cities is remarkable due to the fact that in the current constructions of Egypt the majority of dried bricks were utilized.

Its water drainage scheme in Mohenjodaro was awe-inspiring.

In most cities, each house, small or large included a backyard and bathroom..

In Kalibangan there were many homes with bathrooms.

In places like Dholavira or Lothal (Gujarat) The entire town was secured, and the parts of the town were separated from each other by wall.

Agriculture

Harappan villages Harappan communities, mostly situated near the floodplains provided enough grain for food.

Barley, wheat sesame, peas chickpea, lentil, and mustard were also produced. Millets were also discovered from places in Gujarat. Although rice was uncommon.

Indus people were the Indus tribe were among the first to develop cotton..

Although the widespread use of agriculture is evident from the presence of grains however, it is difficult to trace the actual practices in agriculture.

Seals' representations and Terracotta sculptures suggest it was the case that bulls were used for ploughing. bull was a popular animal, and archaeologists infer that the oxen were also used for plowing.

The majority of Harappan sites are situated in semi-arid areas, where irrigation was likely required for agricultural purposes.

Canals are found in Harappa, which is located at Harappan website in Shortughai in Afghanistan however, they are not found located in Punjab as well as Sindh.

While the Harappans practiced agriculture, animals were also raised on a massive scale.

The evidence of the horse originates from a very superficial level of Mohenjodaro as well as an unproven terracotta statue from Lothal. However, there is no evidence that suggests the Harappan tradition was certainly not entirely horse to be centered.

Economy

The significance of trade in the daily life of Indus people is evident by the presence of seals as well as uniform scripts, and weights and measurements over a large space.

Harappans conducted a significant trading in metal, stone and shells, etc.

The metal currency was never utilized and trade was conducted via barter systems.

They practiced navigation along shores of the Arabian Sea.

They set up the commercial colony the northern region of Afghanistan which , it appears, helped commerce to Central Asia.

They also conducted commerce with the people of the land that was the Tigris and the Euphrates.

Harappans were involved in long distance commerce with lapis-lazuli and this may have helped in the social standing for the elite class.

Crafts

The Harappans were well familiar with the manufacture and usage of Bronze.

Copper was sourced through in the Khetri Copper mines in Rajasthan along with Tin may have been brought by Afghanistan.

Impressions of textiles were also discovered on a variety of objects.

Massive brick structures suggest it was building bricks was a major craft. It also demonstrates to the fact that masons were masons as a distinct class.

The Harappans were adept at boat-making, beads making, and sealing. The manufacture of terracotta was also the most important art.

Goldsmiths created jewellery made of gold, silver along with precious stones.

The wheel of the potter was working at full capacity and the Harappans made their unique pottery that was smooth and shiny.

Institutions

A few writings have been found within the Indus valley and scholars haven't been able to understand the Indus script to date.

In the end that there is difficult to comprehend how the government functions as well as the institutions that were part of Indus Valley Civilization. Indus Valley Civilization.

There are no temples were found in all Harappan sites. Thus the possibility of having priests in charge of Harappa is eliminated.

Harappa may have been controlled by a group that included merchants.

If we are looking for a power centre or images of people in positions of power, archeological records do not provide immediate solutions .

A few archaeologists are of the belief that Harappan society was ruled by no ruling class and that everyone had equal rights.

Another theory suggests that there was no one ruler and that there was several rulers from each of the cities.

Religion

In Harappa many terracotta figures of women There have been some discoveries. In one figure, a plant appears to be growing out of the embryo of the woman.

The male god is depicted on a seal by three heads with horns, depicted in the sitting position of yoga yogis.

Numerous images of the female sex and phallus organs constructed from stone have been discovered.

The inhabitants of Indus region worshipped trees. Indus Region also worshipped animals and trees..

The most famous of them all is the one-horned unicorn which can be distinguished as a rhinoceros. The second most important was the bull with the hump..

Amulets are also found in large quantities.

Harappans therefore saw the earth as an fertility god and revered her in the same way that they worshiped the Egyptians revered Isis, the Nile goddess Isis.

The god is surrounded an elephant or a tiger, rhinoceros, and an animal on his throne below. On his feet, there are two deer.The God depicted is identified with the title Pushupati Mahadeva.

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization

The IVC was a decline in the 1800 BCE however the exact motives behind its demise are still being debated.

One theory suggests that Indo-European is a tribe i.e. Aryans were encroached upon and defeated and conquered the IVC.

However some scholars consider natural elements is the reason for the decline in the IVC.

It is possible that there were radical shifts in course of the rivers, which might have resulted in flooding of the regions that produced food.

Due to the combination with these causes, there was a gradual, but inevitable decline of IVC.

In the later civilizations, various aspects that are part of IVC are discovered that suggest that civilization did not vanish in a flash because of an invasion.

The natural causes could be geo-climatic and geological.

The theory is that the Indus Valley region was subject to many destructive tectonic events that led to earthquakes. These also altered the course of rivers, or dried them out.

Another reason could be shifts in patterns of rain.

[iasshikshalove]

Daily Current Affairs Dated on 07-Feb-2020

Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Contents: 1. CEA sees growth rebounding to 6% 2. WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a global emergency 3. Crop dusting with drones is illegal, says Centre 4. Needed: fewer regulations for startups 5. A chance to chart China-like export trajectory 6. Thalinomics: the formula behind one square meal 7. Budget 2020: Archaeological Sites set to be developed CEA SEES GROWTH REBOUNDING TO 6% Why in news? The economic survey expects GDP growth to revive from the 5% estimated or this year to a range between 6%-6.5% next year. To make a point about how being pro-crony is different from being pro-business, the Survey refers to the gains made unfairly by stocks of connected companies before the CAG report on the 2G spectrum allocations came out in 2011, again rejuvenating UPA-era malfeasance memories. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Economic Survey on GDP Growth Rate WHO DECLARES CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK A GLOBAL EMERGENCY  The last time WHO declared a global health emergency was in 2019 for the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo that killed more than 2,000 people.  The WHO declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern when there is “an extraordinary event which is determined… to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease.”  The agency also declared global emergencies for the 2016 Zika virus, the 2009 H1N1 swine flu, and the 2014 polio and Ebola outbreaks. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 What does it mean?  Countries are reminded that they are legally required to share information with WHO under the IHR.  Any detection of 2019-nCoV in an animal (including information about the species, diagnostic tests, and relevant epidemiological information) should be reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as an emerging disease  All countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of 2019-nCoVinfection, and to share full data with WHO.  Countries must inform WHO about any travel measures taken. Countries are cautioned against actions that promote stigma or discrimination, in line with the principles of Article 3 of the IHR. CROP DUSTING WITH DRONES IS ILLEGAL, SAYS CENTRE Why in news? Use of drones for agrochemical spraying had increased of late. This would create a lot of problems. What are problems? Aerial spraying impacts a larger area, while decreasing the efficacy on the target pests. Eg. Kasargod in Kerala reeling under such impact due to aerial spraying of Endosulfan for over 25 years The Insecticide Act does not allow aerial spraying. Drones and unmanned machines can be hazardous tools for spraying hazardous chemicals in many ways. Allowing Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 aerial spraying, using drones and unmanned, remote controlled vehicles can be catastrophic, NEEDED: FEWER REGULATIONS FOR START-UPS India needs to work on improving the ease of doing business, especially the ease of starting business, registering property, paying taxes, or enforcing contracts, according to the Economic Survey. World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Rankings Cumbersome norms “If you want to start up a firm in India, it takes 18 days on an average with 10 procedures that can be often cumbersome. If we contrast it with New Zealand, which is the best in business, it takes half a day to fill up one form Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 A CHANCE TO CHART CHINA-LIKE EXPORT TRAJECTORY Why in news? The Economic Survey says India has an unprecedented opportunity to chart a China like, labour Intensive, export trajectory by integrating “Assemble in India for the world” into the Make in India policy and thus can raise its export market share to 3.5 % by 2025 and 6% by 2030 THALINOMICS: THE FORMULA BEHIND ONE SQUARE MEAL For the average worker in India’s organised manufacturing sector, the affordability of a plate of vegetarian food — comprising rice or roti, dal and sabzi has improved 29% since 200607, according to Thalinomics, a take on the economics of food by the Economic Survey. For non-vegetarians, affordability has risen 18%. BUDGET 2020: KNOW ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES SET TO BE DEVELOPED Rakhigarhi, Haryana Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Rakhigarhi, Haryana  Pre-Harappan Civilisation settlement, and later a part of the ancient civilisation itself, between 2600-1900 BCE.  What are found?: Remnants of a planned township with mud-brick houses and proper drainage system, along with terracotta jewellery, conch shells, vase and seals, things the Harappans were known for. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh  We know Hastinapur as the ancient capital city of Pandavas and Kauravas from the epic Mahabharata.  Excavations at Hastinapur reportedly began in 1950-52  What are found?: Arrows, spearheads, shafts, tongs, hooks, axes and knives, amounting to about 135 iron objects.  Shri Digamber Jain Bada Mandir is one of the oldest temples at the site, among others like Jambudweep Jain temple, Shwetambar Jain temple, Prachin Digambar Jain Temple and Astapad Jain Temple. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Sivasagar, Assam  This place used to be the capital of the Ahom kingdom from 1699-1788, and was formerly called Rangpur.  The province was later conquered by the British.  Guwahati Circle Archaeological Survey of India mentions excavations conducted at the Karenghar (Talatalghar) complex, the citadel of Ahom power.  What are found?: Structural remains of pathways, long walls, terracotta pipes for drains, vase, and vessels, to name a few. The other important historical site is Rang Ghar, an amphitheatre for the Ahom kings, known to have been used for enjoying sports. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Dholavira, Gujarat  Ruins of the Harappan civilisation  Deemed the fifth largest Harappan site  What are found?: Artefacts excavated range from terracotta items and seals to urns and copper ornaments. About 10 large stone inscriptions have also been found at the site, written in Indus Valley script  Most importantly, it has one of the world’s earliest water conservation systems–a rainwater harvesting system–ever excavated Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu  This is an archaeological urn-burial site in the Thoothukudi district  The objects yielded by these burial sites are finely made pottery of various kinds in great number; many iron implements and weapons; vessels and personal ornaments in bronze; a few gold ornaments; a few stone beads; bones; and some household stone implements used for grinding curry or sandalwood, besides the excavated urns which reportedly contained “complete skeletons”.

[margdarsanme]

NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation

NCERT Class 12 History Solutions

Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS :

Q 1. List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.

Ans. Q 2. How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice? [Delhi, All India 2009, 2011]

Ans. Following examples can be cited to show the existence of social and economic variations : in the Harappan society:

(i) Study of burials is one example. In the Harappan sites, the deads were usually laid in pits. There were differences in the Way burial pits were made. At some instances, the hollowed-out spaces were lined with bricks. But these may not be taken as an indication of social differences.

(ii) In some graves pottery and ornaments have been found. Jewellery has been found from the graves of men and women as well. These findings can point out social and economic differences. ‘

(iii) The artefacts have been classified into two categories, Utilitarian and Luxurious. Objects of daily uses and objects made of ordinary materials made of clay or stone come under utilitarian category. Ordinary articles consisted of querns, pottery, flesh-rubbers and needles. These have been found distributed throughout settlements.

(iv) Objects of luxuries were rare and made from precious, non-local materials. The technology used was advanced and complicated. Little pots of faience were considered precious. They were also not easy to make. These show the existence of social and economic variations in the Harappan society. Q 3. Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Yes, I agree with that the drainage system in Harappan cities which indicates the town planning. I can cite the following reasons in support of my answer.

The drainage system needed a planning for its execution. It seems that first drainages were laid out and then houses were built along with the drains. Every house was supposed to have at least one wall along a street to allow the domestic waste water to flow out in the street drains. The plans of the lower town show that roads and streets were laid out along an approximate grid pattern, intersecting at right angles.

It appears that human settlement was made by planning from the beginning. The city was restricted to a fixed area on the platforms.

Bricks, sundried or baked, were of standard ratio. The length and breadth of bricks were of four times and twice the height respectively These bricks were used at all the settlements of the Harappan Civilisation.

Q 4. List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan Civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.

Ans. Making beads was an important craft of the Harappan people. It was mainly prevalent in Chanhudaro.

Materials for making beads included beautiful red coloured stone-like camelian, jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite. Besides these, use of copper, bronze, gold, shell, faience, terracotta or burnt clay was also used.Process of making beads Making of beads differed as per the materials used. Beads had variety*of shapes. They did not make geometrical shapes like one made of harder stones.

Nodules were to be chipped for making rough shapes. They were finally flaked into the final form. By firing the yellowish raw material, the red colour of camelian was obtained. Grinding, polishing and drilling constituted the last phase. Chanhudaro, Lothal and Dholavira were famous for specialized drilling. Q 5. Look at figure 1.30 (See NCERT page-26) and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton ?

Ans. Following observations can be obtained after looking at the figure:

Body has been kept in North-south direction in a pit,

Many graves contain pottery and ornaments which include jar.

Yes, jewellery like bangles are there on the body.

Yes, this indicates towards the sex of the skeleton, Le. it is the body of a woman.

It is concluded that there were great social or economic differences among the people living within the area of the Harappan Civilisation. But as a whole it appears that the Harappan did not believe in burying precious things with the dead.

Q 6. Describe some ofthe distinctive features of Mohenjodaro. [Delhi 2013]

Ans. Planned City: Harappa as a planned urban centre. It had two parts. One part of the city was small. It was built on a higher place.

The second part was comparatively large. It was built on a lower place. The first part was designed as citadel and the second part was as lower town. The citadel owed its height to the fact that it was built on mud brick platforms.It had walls on all sides and these walls were separated from the lower town.The Lower Town: It was also a walled town.Most of the buildings were built on platforms.

In fact, these platforms were considered as foundation stones. It required huge quantity of labour force to build these platforms. It is obvious that settlement was first planned and then implemented as per the building plan.Quality of sun-dried bricks or baked bricks also prove the concept of planning. All the bricks were of standard ratio. The length and width was four times and twice the height of the bricks respectively. These bricks were used in the settlements of the Harappan Civilisation.

Drainage System: The drainage system was well planned. All the roads and streets were laid out on a grid pattern. They intersected one another at the right angles. It seems that streets featuring drains were laid out first and houses were built thereafter along with them. To make the flow of domestic water, every house had at least one wall along the street.

The Citadel: There were many buildings in the citadel. These buildings were used for many special public purposes. The Warehouse and the Great Bath were the two most important constructions.

Q 7. List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.

Ans. Following is the list of materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation: Stone, clay, copper, tin, bronze, gold, faience, shell, camelian, jasper, crystal, steatite, quartz, timber. Some of the raw materials were locally available whereas some were purchased from the distant places. Soil and wood were locally available raw materials. Stones, fine quality wood, metals were procured from distant places.

Settlements of the Harappans were situated at such places where raw materials were easily available. Nageshwar and Balacot were famous for shell. Some places were famous for Lapis Lazuli like Shortughai in Afghanistan. Rajasthan and Gujarat were famous for copper. Lothal was famous for camelian.

Another way of obtaining raw material was sending expeditions to different places. Evidences show that expedition was sent to Khetri region of Rajasthan for copper and to South India for Gold. Through these expeditions local communities were contacted. Harappan evidences found at these places indicate contacts between each other. Evidences found at Khetri region were given the name of Ganeshwar Jodhpura Culture by archaeologists. Huge reserves of copper products were found here. It is assumed that inhabitants of these area sent copper to Harappan people. Q 8. Discuss, how archaeologists reconstruct the past.

Ans. Archaeologists excavate the sites of the ancient past related to culture or civilization. They find out the art and craft such as seal, material, remains of houses, buildings, pots, ornaments, tools, coins, weights, measurements and toys, etc.

Skulls, bones, jaws, teeth of the dead bodies and materials kept with these dead bodies are also helpful for archaeologists. With the help of the botanists, and zoologists, archaeologists study the plants and animal bones found at different places.

Archaeologists try to find out the tools used in the process of cultivation and harvesting. They also try to find out traces of wells, canals, tanks, etc. as they served means of irrigation. Different layers of sites are observed to find out different things. These things give the picture of socio-economic condition such as religious life and the cultural life of the people. 

Tools, unfinished products, waste materials, help in identifying the centres of craft production. Indirect evidences also help the archaeologists in reconstructing the past.

Archaeologists develop frames of references, It can be better understood by this fact that the first Harappan seal that was found could not be understood till archaeologists had a context in which to place it-both in terms of cultural sequence in which it was found and in terms of a comparison with finds in Mesopotamia.

Examination of seals help in constructing the concept of religious belief of the period. Seals depict religious scenes. Some animals such as the one-homed animal, often called the unicorn depicted on the seals appear mythical, composite creatures. In some seals, a figure has been shown sitting crossed legs in a yogic posture. All these represent the religious concept of the period. Q 9. Discuss the functions that may have been performed by rulers in Harappan society.

Ans. There are different views on the Harappan society. One group of archaeologists suggest that the Harappan society had no rulers and so everybody enjoyed equal status. The other group of archaeologists are of the opinion that there was no single ruler but several ones. The third theory seems the most suitable. It suggests that it is unlikely that entire communities could have collectively made and implemented such complex decisions.

Evidences show that complex decisions were taken and implemented in the Harappan society. Extra ordinary uniformity of Harappan artefacts as evident in pottery, seals, weights and bricks show the complex decisions.

Plans and layouts of the city were prepared under the guidance and supervisions of the rulers. Big buildings, palaces, forts, tanks, wells, canals and granaries were constructed.

Cleanliness was the responsibility of the ruler. Roads, lanes and drains were also constructed. The rulers also looked after the welfare of the economy. They hsed to inspire the farmers to increase agricultural production. They also motivated the craftsmen to promote different handicrafts. External and internal trade were both promoted by the ruler. The ruler used to issue common acceptable coins or seals, weights and measurements.

Rulers were expected to provide relief during natural calamity. During flood, earthquake, epidemics, the ruler provided grains and other eatables to the affected people. During foreign aggression, the rulers defended the city. Q 10.On the given map, use a pencil to circle the sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.

Ans. 

(i) Sites of agriculture: Harappa, Banawali, Kalibangan, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira (Gujarat).

(ii) Sites of craft production: Chanhudaro, Nageshwar, Balakot.

(iii) Sites of raw material: Nageshwar, Balakot, Khetri.

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[evokedholavira]

Discovering Dholavira: Unveiling the Secrets of Harappan Civilization

Nestled in the heart of the Kutch district, Dholavira is a testament to the ingenuity and foresight of the Harappan civilization. Known for its historical significance and archaeological marvels, Dholavira offers a unique glimpse into one of the world's oldest urban settlements. This Dholavira tourist guide aims to unveil the secrets of this ancient city, guiding you through its mesmerizing ruins and the remnants of a once-thriving culture.

The Journey to Dholavira

Dholavira, located in the arid landscapes of Gujarat, India, is accessible by road from major cities in Gujarat. The journey to this ancient site is as fascinating as the destination itself, with the rugged terrains of the Kutch offering a stark yet beautiful backdrop. Once you arrive, the sense of stepping back in time is palpable, as the ruins whisper tales of a civilization that mastered the art of living in harmony with nature.

Exploring the Marvels of Dholavira

Dholavira tourism is not just about exploring the ruins; it's about connecting with a civilization that was advanced beyond its years. The city is divided into multiple zones, including the citadel, the middle town, and the lower town, each showcasing the Harappan way of life. Notable places to see in Dholavira include the water reservoirs, which highlight the Harappans' expertise in water conservation, and the signboard, which bears one of the earliest examples of written language.

The archaeological site also offers insight into the town planning, architecture, and social hierarchy of the Harappan people. As you wander through the ruins, the strategic planning of the city, with its well-laid streets and expertly constructed drainage systems, becomes evident, showcasing the advanced urban planning skills of its inhabitants.

Embracing Dholavira's Tranquility

Beyond its historical and archaeological significance, Dholavira exudes a serene ambiance that captivates every visitor. The vast expanses of the surrounding desert, the stunning sunsets, and the clear night skies make Dholavira not just a place for historical exploration but also a retreat for those seeking tranquility amidst nature.

Accommodation in Dholavira

For those wondering about places to stay in Dholavira, Evoke Dholavira offers a comfortable and immersive experience. Nestled close to the archaeological site, the resort provides a perfect base for exploring the ancient ruins and soaking in the timeless beauty of the surrounding landscape. With well-appointed rooms and top-notch facilities, it ensures that your stay is both memorable and comfortable. 

The best time to visit Dholavira is from October to March when the weather is cooler and more conducive to exploration. Ensure to carry water, sun hats, and sunscreen, as the area can get quite hot during the day. Hiring a local guide can greatly enhance your understanding of the site and its historical context.

Conclusion

Dholavira is not just a tourist destination; it's a journey back in time to one of humanity's earliest urban centers. Through its impressive ruins and museums, it tells the story of a civilization that, though ancient, was incredibly advanced. The tranquility of its desert surroundings, coupled with the rich historical tapestry, makes Dholavira a must-visit for anyone fascinated by history, archaeology, or simply the beauty of ancient cultures. And with accommodations like Evoke Dholavira, your trip to this timeless city will be as comfortable as it is enlightening.

[margdarsanme]

NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation

NCERT Class 12 History Solutions

Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS :

Q 1. List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.

Ans. Q 2. How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice? [Delhi, All India 2009, 2011]

Ans. Following examples can be cited to show the existence of social and economic variations : in the Harappan society:

(i) Study of burials is one example. In the Harappan sites, the deads were usually laid in pits. There were differences in the Way burial pits were made. At some instances, the hollowed-out spaces were lined with bricks. But these may not be taken as an indication of social differences.

(ii) In some graves pottery and ornaments have been found. Jewellery has been found from the graves of men and women as well. These findings can point out social and economic differences. ‘

(iii) The artefacts have been classified into two categories, Utilitarian and Luxurious. Objects of daily uses and objects made of ordinary materials made of clay or stone come under utilitarian category. Ordinary articles consisted of querns, pottery, flesh-rubbers and needles. These have been found distributed throughout settlements.

(iv) Objects of luxuries were rare and made from precious, non-local materials. The technology used was advanced and complicated. Little pots of faience were considered precious. They were also not easy to make. These show the existence of social and economic variations in the Harappan society. Q 3. Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Yes, I agree with that the drainage system in Harappan cities which indicates the town planning. I can cite the following reasons in support of my answer.

The drainage system needed a planning for its execution. It seems that first drainages were laid out and then houses were built along with the drains. Every house was supposed to have at least one wall along a street to allow the domestic waste water to flow out in the street drains. The plans of the lower town show that roads and streets were laid out along an approximate grid pattern, intersecting at right angles.

It appears that human settlement was made by planning from the beginning. The city was restricted to a fixed area on the platforms.

Bricks, sundried or baked, were of standard ratio. The length and breadth of bricks were of four times and twice the height respectively These bricks were used at all the settlements of the Harappan Civilisation.

Q 4. List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan Civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.

Ans. Making beads was an important craft of the Harappan people. It was mainly prevalent in Chanhudaro.

Materials for making beads included beautiful red coloured stone-like camelian, jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite. Besides these, use of copper, bronze, gold, shell, faience, terracotta or burnt clay was also used.Process of making beads Making of beads differed as per the materials used. Beads had variety*of shapes. They did not make geometrical shapes like one made of harder stones.

Nodules were to be chipped for making rough shapes. They were finally flaked into the final form. By firing the yellowish raw material, the red colour of camelian was obtained. Grinding, polishing and drilling constituted the last phase. Chanhudaro, Lothal and Dholavira were famous for specialized drilling. Q 5. Look at figure 1.30 (See NCERT page-26) and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton ?

Ans. Following observations can be obtained after looking at the figure:

Body has been kept in North-south direction in a pit,

Many graves contain pottery and ornaments which include jar.

Yes, jewellery like bangles are there on the body.

Yes, this indicates towards the sex of the skeleton, Le. it is the body of a woman.

It is concluded that there were great social or economic differences among the people living within the area of the Harappan Civilisation. But as a whole it appears that the Harappan did not believe in burying precious things with the dead.

Q 6. Describe some ofthe distinctive features of Mohenjodaro. [Delhi 2013]

Ans. Planned City: Harappa as a planned urban centre. It had two parts. One part of the city was small. It was built on a higher place.

The second part was comparatively large. It was built on a lower place. The first part was designed as citadel and the second part was as lower town. The citadel owed its height to the fact that it was built on mud brick platforms.It had walls on all sides and these walls were separated from the lower town.The Lower Town: It was also a walled town.Most of the buildings were built on platforms.

In fact, these platforms were considered as foundation stones. It required huge quantity of labour force to build these platforms. It is obvious that settlement was first planned and then implemented as per the building plan.Quality of sun-dried bricks or baked bricks also prove the concept of planning. All the bricks were of standard ratio. The length and width was four times and twice the height of the bricks respectively. These bricks were used in the settlements of the Harappan Civilisation.

Drainage System: The drainage system was well planned. All the roads and streets were laid out on a grid pattern. They intersected one another at the right angles. It seems that streets featuring drains were laid out first and houses were built thereafter along with them. To make the flow of domestic water, every house had at least one wall along the street.

The Citadel: There were many buildings in the citadel. These buildings were used for many special public purposes. The Warehouse and the Great Bath were the two most important constructions.

Q 7. List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.

Ans. Following is the list of materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation: Stone, clay, copper, tin, bronze, gold, faience, shell, camelian, jasper, crystal, steatite, quartz, timber. Some of the raw materials were locally available whereas some were purchased from the distant places. Soil and wood were locally available raw materials. Stones, fine quality wood, metals were procured from distant places.

Settlements of the Harappans were situated at such places where raw materials were easily available. Nageshwar and Balacot were famous for shell. Some places were famous for Lapis Lazuli like Shortughai in Afghanistan. Rajasthan and Gujarat were famous for copper. Lothal was famous for camelian.

Another way of obtaining raw material was sending expeditions to different places. Evidences show that expedition was sent to Khetri region of Rajasthan for copper and to South India for Gold. Through these expeditions local communities were contacted. Harappan evidences found at these places indicate contacts between each other. Evidences found at Khetri region were given the name of Ganeshwar Jodhpura Culture by archaeologists. Huge reserves of copper products were found here. It is assumed that inhabitants of these area sent copper to Harappan people. Q 8. Discuss, how archaeologists reconstruct the past.

Ans. Archaeologists excavate the sites of the ancient past related to culture or civilization. They find out the art and craft such as seal, material, remains of houses, buildings, pots, ornaments, tools, coins, weights, measurements and toys, etc.

Skulls, bones, jaws, teeth of the dead bodies and materials kept with these dead bodies are also helpful for archaeologists. With the help of the botanists, and zoologists, archaeologists study the plants and animal bones found at different places.

Archaeologists try to find out the tools used in the process of cultivation and harvesting. They also try to find out traces of wells, canals, tanks, etc. as they served means of irrigation. Different layers of sites are observed to find out different things. These things give the picture of socio-economic condition such as religious life and the cultural life of the people. 

Tools, unfinished products, waste materials, help in identifying the centres of craft production. Indirect evidences also help the archaeologists in reconstructing the past.

Archaeologists develop frames of references, It can be better understood by this fact that the first Harappan seal that was found could not be understood till archaeologists had a context in which to place it-both in terms of cultural sequence in which it was found and in terms of a comparison with finds in Mesopotamia.

Examination of seals help in constructing the concept of religious belief of the period. Seals depict religious scenes. Some animals such as the one-homed animal, often called the unicorn depicted on the seals appear mythical, composite creatures. In some seals, a figure has been shown sitting crossed legs in a yogic posture. All these represent the religious concept of the period. Q 9. Discuss the functions that may have been performed by rulers in Harappan society.

Ans. There are different views on the Harappan society. One group of archaeologists suggest that the Harappan society had no rulers and so everybody enjoyed equal status. The other group of archaeologists are of the opinion that there was no single ruler but several ones. The third theory seems the most suitable. It suggests that it is unlikely that entire communities could have collectively made and implemented such complex decisions.

Evidences show that complex decisions were taken and implemented in the Harappan society. Extra ordinary uniformity of Harappan artefacts as evident in pottery, seals, weights and bricks show the complex decisions.

Plans and layouts of the city were prepared under the guidance and supervisions of the rulers. Big buildings, palaces, forts, tanks, wells, canals and granaries were constructed.

Cleanliness was the responsibility of the ruler. Roads, lanes and drains were also constructed. The rulers also looked after the welfare of the economy. They hsed to inspire the farmers to increase agricultural production. They also motivated the craftsmen to promote different handicrafts. External and internal trade were both promoted by the ruler. The ruler used to issue common acceptable coins or seals, weights and measurements.

Rulers were expected to provide relief during natural calamity. During flood, earthquake, epidemics, the ruler provided grains and other eatables to the affected people. During foreign aggression, the rulers defended the city. Q 10.On the given map, use a pencil to circle the sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.

Ans. 

(i) Sites of agriculture: Harappa, Banawali, Kalibangan, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira (Gujarat).

(ii) Sites of craft production: Chanhudaro, Nageshwar, Balakot.

(iii) Sites of raw material: Nageshwar, Balakot, Khetri.

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[margdarsanme]

NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation

NCERT Class 12 History Solutions

Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS :

Q 1. List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.

Ans. Q 2. How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice? [Delhi, All India 2009, 2011]

Ans. Following examples can be cited to show the existence of social and economic variations : in the Harappan society:

(i) Study of burials is one example. In the Harappan sites, the deads were usually laid in pits. There were differences in the Way burial pits were made. At some instances, the hollowed-out spaces were lined with bricks. But these may not be taken as an indication of social differences.

(ii) In some graves pottery and ornaments have been found. Jewellery has been found from the graves of men and women as well. These findings can point out social and economic differences. ‘

(iii) The artefacts have been classified into two categories, Utilitarian and Luxurious. Objects of daily uses and objects made of ordinary materials made of clay or stone come under utilitarian category. Ordinary articles consisted of querns, pottery, flesh-rubbers and needles. These have been found distributed throughout settlements.

(iv) Objects of luxuries were rare and made from precious, non-local materials. The technology used was advanced and complicated. Little pots of faience were considered precious. They were also not easy to make. These show the existence of social and economic variations in the Harappan society. Q 3. Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Yes, I agree with that the drainage system in Harappan cities which indicates the town planning. I can cite the following reasons in support of my answer.

The drainage system needed a planning for its execution. It seems that first drainages were laid out and then houses were built along with the drains. Every house was supposed to have at least one wall along a street to allow the domestic waste water to flow out in the street drains. The plans of the lower town show that roads and streets were laid out along an approximate grid pattern, intersecting at right angles.

It appears that human settlement was made by planning from the beginning. The city was restricted to a fixed area on the platforms.

Bricks, sundried or baked, were of standard ratio. The length and breadth of bricks were of four times and twice the height respectively These bricks were used at all the settlements of the Harappan Civilisation.

Q 4. List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan Civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.

Ans. Making beads was an important craft of the Harappan people. It was mainly prevalent in Chanhudaro.

Materials for making beads included beautiful red coloured stone-like camelian, jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite. Besides these, use of copper, bronze, gold, shell, faience, terracotta or burnt clay was also used.Process of making beads Making of beads differed as per the materials used. Beads had variety*of shapes. They did not make geometrical shapes like one made of harder stones.

Nodules were to be chipped for making rough shapes. They were finally flaked into the final form. By firing the yellowish raw material, the red colour of camelian was obtained. Grinding, polishing and drilling constituted the last phase. Chanhudaro, Lothal and Dholavira were famous for specialized drilling. Q 5. Look at figure 1.30 (See NCERT page-26) and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton ?

Ans. Following observations can be obtained after looking at the figure:

Body has been kept in North-south direction in a pit,

Many graves contain pottery and ornaments which include jar.

Yes, jewellery like bangles are there on the body.

Yes, this indicates towards the sex of the skeleton, Le. it is the body of a woman.

It is concluded that there were great social or economic differences among the people living within the area of the Harappan Civilisation. But as a whole it appears that the Harappan did not believe in burying precious things with the dead.

Q 6. Describe some ofthe distinctive features of Mohenjodaro. [Delhi 2013]

Ans. Planned City: Harappa as a planned urban centre. It had two parts. One part of the city was small. It was built on a higher place.

The second part was comparatively large. It was built on a lower place. The first part was designed as citadel and the second part was as lower town. The citadel owed its height to the fact that it was built on mud brick platforms.It had walls on all sides and these walls were separated from the lower town.The Lower Town: It was also a walled town.Most of the buildings were built on platforms.

In fact, these platforms were considered as foundation stones. It required huge quantity of labour force to build these platforms. It is obvious that settlement was first planned and then implemented as per the building plan.Quality of sun-dried bricks or baked bricks also prove the concept of planning. All the bricks were of standard ratio. The length and width was four times and twice the height of the bricks respectively. These bricks were used in the settlements of the Harappan Civilisation.

Drainage System: The drainage system was well planned. All the roads and streets were laid out on a grid pattern. They intersected one another at the right angles. It seems that streets featuring drains were laid out first and houses were built thereafter along with them. To make the flow of domestic water, every house had at least one wall along the street.

The Citadel: There were many buildings in the citadel. These buildings were used for many special public purposes. The Warehouse and the Great Bath were the two most important constructions.

Q 7. List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.

Ans. Following is the list of materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation: Stone, clay, copper, tin, bronze, gold, faience, shell, camelian, jasper, crystal, steatite, quartz, timber. Some of the raw materials were locally available whereas some were purchased from the distant places. Soil and wood were locally available raw materials. Stones, fine quality wood, metals were procured from distant places.

Settlements of the Harappans were situated at such places where raw materials were easily available. Nageshwar and Balacot were famous for shell. Some places were famous for Lapis Lazuli like Shortughai in Afghanistan. Rajasthan and Gujarat were famous for copper. Lothal was famous for camelian.

Another way of obtaining raw material was sending expeditions to different places. Evidences show that expedition was sent to Khetri region of Rajasthan for copper and to South India for Gold. Through these expeditions local communities were contacted. Harappan evidences found at these places indicate contacts between each other. Evidences found at Khetri region were given the name of Ganeshwar Jodhpura Culture by archaeologists. Huge reserves of copper products were found here. It is assumed that inhabitants of these area sent copper to Harappan people. Q 8. Discuss, how archaeologists reconstruct the past.

Ans. Archaeologists excavate the sites of the ancient past related to culture or civilization. They find out the art and craft such as seal, material, remains of houses, buildings, pots, ornaments, tools, coins, weights, measurements and toys, etc.

Skulls, bones, jaws, teeth of the dead bodies and materials kept with these dead bodies are also helpful for archaeologists. With the help of the botanists, and zoologists, archaeologists study the plants and animal bones found at different places.

Archaeologists try to find out the tools used in the process of cultivation and harvesting. They also try to find out traces of wells, canals, tanks, etc. as they served means of irrigation. Different layers of sites are observed to find out different things. These things give the picture of socio-economic condition such as religious life and the cultural life of the people. 

Tools, unfinished products, waste materials, help in identifying the centres of craft production. Indirect evidences also help the archaeologists in reconstructing the past.

Archaeologists develop frames of references, It can be better understood by this fact that the first Harappan seal that was found could not be understood till archaeologists had a context in which to place it-both in terms of cultural sequence in which it was found and in terms of a comparison with finds in Mesopotamia.

Examination of seals help in constructing the concept of religious belief of the period. Seals depict religious scenes. Some animals such as the one-homed animal, often called the unicorn depicted on the seals appear mythical, composite creatures. In some seals, a figure has been shown sitting crossed legs in a yogic posture. All these represent the religious concept of the period. Q 9. Discuss the functions that may have been performed by rulers in Harappan society.

Ans. There are different views on the Harappan society. One group of archaeologists suggest that the Harappan society had no rulers and so everybody enjoyed equal status. The other group of archaeologists are of the opinion that there was no single ruler but several ones. The third theory seems the most suitable. It suggests that it is unlikely that entire communities could have collectively made and implemented such complex decisions.

Evidences show that complex decisions were taken and implemented in the Harappan society. Extra ordinary uniformity of Harappan artefacts as evident in pottery, seals, weights and bricks show the complex decisions.

Plans and layouts of the city were prepared under the guidance and supervisions of the rulers. Big buildings, palaces, forts, tanks, wells, canals and granaries were constructed.

Cleanliness was the responsibility of the ruler. Roads, lanes and drains were also constructed. The rulers also looked after the welfare of the economy. They hsed to inspire the farmers to increase agricultural production. They also motivated the craftsmen to promote different handicrafts. External and internal trade were both promoted by the ruler. The ruler used to issue common acceptable coins or seals, weights and measurements.

Rulers were expected to provide relief during natural calamity. During flood, earthquake, epidemics, the ruler provided grains and other eatables to the affected people. During foreign aggression, the rulers defended the city. Q 10.On the given map, use a pencil to circle the sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.

Ans. 

(i) Sites of agriculture: Harappa, Banawali, Kalibangan, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira (Gujarat).

(ii) Sites of craft production: Chanhudaro, Nageshwar, Balakot.

(iii) Sites of raw material: Nageshwar, Balakot, Khetri.

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[iasshikshalove]

Daily Current Affairs Dated on 08-Feb-2020

Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Contents: 1. CEA sees growth rebounding to 6% 2. WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a global emergency 3. Crop dusting with drones is illegal, says Centre 4. Needed: fewer regulations for startups 5. A chance to chart China-like export trajectory 6. Thalinomics: the formula behind one square meal 7. Budget 2020: Archaeological Sites set to be developed CEA SEES GROWTH REBOUNDING TO 6% Why in news? The economic survey expects GDP growth to revive from the 5% estimated or this year to a range between 6%-6.5% next year. To make a point about how being pro-crony is different from being pro-business, the Survey refers to the gains made unfairly by stocks of connected companies before the CAG report on the 2G spectrum allocations came out in 2011, again rejuvenating UPA-era malfeasance memories. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Economic Survey on GDP Growth Rate WHO DECLARES CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK A GLOBAL EMERGENCY  The last time WHO declared a global health emergency was in 2019 for the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo that killed more than 2,000 people.  The WHO declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern when there is “an extraordinary event which is determined… to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease.”  The agency also declared global emergencies for the 2016 Zika virus, the 2009 H1N1 swine flu, and the 2014 polio and Ebola outbreaks. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 What does it mean?  Countries are reminded that they are legally required to share information with WHO under the IHR.  Any detection of 2019-nCoV in an animal (including information about the species, diagnostic tests, and relevant epidemiological information) should be reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as an emerging disease  All countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of 2019-nCoVinfection, and to share full data with WHO.  Countries must inform WHO about any travel measures taken. Countries are cautioned against actions that promote stigma or discrimination, in line with the principles of Article 3 of the IHR. CROP DUSTING WITH DRONES IS ILLEGAL, SAYS CENTRE Why in news? Use of drones for agrochemical spraying had increased of late. This would create a lot of problems. What are problems? Aerial spraying impacts a larger area, while decreasing the efficacy on the target pests. Eg. Kasargod in Kerala reeling under such impact due to aerial spraying of Endosulfan for over 25 years The Insecticide Act does not allow aerial spraying. Drones and unmanned machines can be hazardous tools for spraying hazardous chemicals in many ways. Allowing Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 aerial spraying, using drones and unmanned, remote controlled vehicles can be catastrophic, NEEDED: FEWER REGULATIONS FOR START-UPS India needs to work on improving the ease of doing business, especially the ease of starting business, registering property, paying taxes, or enforcing contracts, according to the Economic Survey. World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Rankings Cumbersome norms “If you want to start up a firm in India, it takes 18 days on an average with 10 procedures that can be often cumbersome. If we contrast it with New Zealand, which is the best in business, it takes half a day to fill up one form Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 A CHANCE TO CHART CHINA-LIKE EXPORT TRAJECTORY Why in news? The Economic Survey says India has an unprecedented opportunity to chart a China like, labour Intensive, export trajectory by integrating “Assemble in India for the world” into the Make in India policy and thus can raise its export market share to 3.5 % by 2025 and 6% by 2030 THALINOMICS: THE FORMULA BEHIND ONE SQUARE MEAL For the average worker in India’s organised manufacturing sector, the affordability of a plate of vegetarian food — comprising rice or roti, dal and sabzi has improved 29% since 200607, according to Thalinomics, a take on the economics of food by the Economic Survey. For non-vegetarians, affordability has risen 18%. BUDGET 2020: KNOW ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES SET TO BE DEVELOPED Rakhigarhi, Haryana Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Rakhigarhi, Haryana  Pre-Harappan Civilisation settlement, and later a part of the ancient civilisation itself, between 2600-1900 BCE.  What are found?: Remnants of a planned township with mud-brick houses and proper drainage system, along with terracotta jewellery, conch shells, vase and seals, things the Harappans were known for. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh  We know Hastinapur as the ancient capital city of Pandavas and Kauravas from the epic Mahabharata.  Excavations at Hastinapur reportedly began in 1950-52  What are found?: Arrows, spearheads, shafts, tongs, hooks, axes and knives, amounting to about 135 iron objects.  Shri Digamber Jain Bada Mandir is one of the oldest temples at the site, among others like Jambudweep Jain temple, Shwetambar Jain temple, Prachin Digambar Jain Temple and Astapad Jain Temple. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Sivasagar, Assam  This place used to be the capital of the Ahom kingdom from 1699-1788, and was formerly called Rangpur.  The province was later conquered by the British.  Guwahati Circle Archaeological Survey of India mentions excavations conducted at the Karenghar (Talatalghar) complex, the citadel of Ahom power.  What are found?: Structural remains of pathways, long walls, terracotta pipes for drains, vase, and vessels, to name a few. The other important historical site is Rang Ghar, an amphitheatre for the Ahom kings, known to have been used for enjoying sports. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Dholavira, Gujarat  Ruins of the Harappan civilisation  Deemed the fifth largest Harappan site  What are found?: Artefacts excavated range from terracotta items and seals to urns and copper ornaments. About 10 large stone inscriptions have also been found at the site, written in Indus Valley script  Most importantly, it has one of the world’s earliest water conservation systems–a rainwater harvesting system–ever excavated Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu  This is an archaeological urn-burial site in the Thoothukudi district  The objects yielded by these burial sites are finely made pottery of various kinds in great number; many iron implements and weapons; vessels and personal ornaments in bronze; a few gold ornaments; a few stone beads; bones; and some household stone implements used for grinding curry or sandalwood, besides the excavated urns which reportedly contained “complete skeletons”.

[iasshikshalove]

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 2020 1st February 2020

Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Contents: 1. CEA sees growth rebounding to 6% 2. WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a global emergency 3. Crop dusting with drones is illegal, says Centre 4. Needed: fewer regulations for startups 5. A chance to chart China-like export trajectory 6. Thalinomics: the formula behind one square meal 7. Budget 2020: Archaeological Sites set to be developed CEA SEES GROWTH REBOUNDING TO 6% Why in news? The economic survey expects GDP growth to revive from the 5% estimated or this year to a range between 6%-6.5% next year. To make a point about how being pro-crony is different from being pro-business, the Survey refers to the gains made unfairly by stocks of connected companies before the CAG report on the 2G spectrum allocations came out in 2011, again rejuvenating UPA-era malfeasance memories. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Economic Survey on GDP Growth Rate WHO DECLARES CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK A GLOBAL EMERGENCY  The last time WHO declared a global health emergency was in 2019 for the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo that killed more than 2,000 people.  The WHO declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern when there is “an extraordinary event which is determined… to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease.”  The agency also declared global emergencies for the 2016 Zika virus, the 2009 H1N1 swine flu, and the 2014 polio and Ebola outbreaks. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 What does it mean?  Countries are reminded that they are legally required to share information with WHO under the IHR.  Any detection of 2019-nCoV in an animal (including information about the species, diagnostic tests, and relevant epidemiological information) should be reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as an emerging disease  All countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of 2019-nCoVinfection, and to share full data with WHO.  Countries must inform WHO about any travel measures taken. Countries are cautioned against actions that promote stigma or discrimination, in line with the principles of Article 3 of the IHR. CROP DUSTING WITH DRONES IS ILLEGAL, SAYS CENTRE Why in news? Use of drones for agrochemical spraying had increased of late. This would create a lot of problems. What are problems? Aerial spraying impacts a larger area, while decreasing the efficacy on the target pests. Eg. Kasargod in Kerala reeling under such impact due to aerial spraying of Endosulfan for over 25 years The Insecticide Act does not allow aerial spraying. Drones and unmanned machines can be hazardous tools for spraying hazardous chemicals in many ways. Allowing Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 aerial spraying, using drones and unmanned, remote controlled vehicles can be catastrophic, NEEDED: FEWER REGULATIONS FOR START-UPS India needs to work on improving the ease of doing business, especially the ease of starting business, registering property, paying taxes, or enforcing contracts, according to the Economic Survey. World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Rankings Cumbersome norms “If you want to start up a firm in India, it takes 18 days on an average with 10 procedures that can be often cumbersome. If we contrast it with New Zealand, which is the best in business, it takes half a day to fill up one form Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 A CHANCE TO CHART CHINA-LIKE EXPORT TRAJECTORY Why in news? The Economic Survey says India has an unprecedented opportunity to chart a China like, labour Intensive, export trajectory by integrating “Assemble in India for the world” into the Make in India policy and thus can raise its export market share to 3.5 % by 2025 and 6% by 2030 THALINOMICS: THE FORMULA BEHIND ONE SQUARE MEAL For the average worker in India’s organised manufacturing sector, the affordability of a plate of vegetarian food — comprising rice or roti, dal and sabzi has improved 29% since 200607, according to Thalinomics, a take on the economics of food by the Economic Survey. For non-vegetarians, affordability has risen 18%. BUDGET 2020: KNOW ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES SET TO BE DEVELOPED Rakhigarhi, Haryana Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Rakhigarhi, Haryana  Pre-Harappan Civilisation settlement, and later a part of the ancient civilisation itself, between 2600-1900 BCE.  What are found?: Remnants of a planned township with mud-brick houses and proper drainage system, along with terracotta jewellery, conch shells, vase and seals, things the Harappans were known for. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh  We know Hastinapur as the ancient capital city of Pandavas and Kauravas from the epic Mahabharata.  Excavations at Hastinapur reportedly began in 1950-52  What are found?: Arrows, spearheads, shafts, tongs, hooks, axes and knives, amounting to about 135 iron objects.  Shri Digamber Jain Bada Mandir is one of the oldest temples at the site, among others like Jambudweep Jain temple, Shwetambar Jain temple, Prachin Digambar Jain Temple and Astapad Jain Temple. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Sivasagar, Assam  This place used to be the capital of the Ahom kingdom from 1699-1788, and was formerly called Rangpur.  The province was later conquered by the British.  Guwahati Circle Archaeological Survey of India mentions excavations conducted at the Karenghar (Talatalghar) complex, the citadel of Ahom power.  What are found?: Structural remains of pathways, long walls, terracotta pipes for drains, vase, and vessels, to name a few. The other important historical site is Rang Ghar, an amphitheatre for the Ahom kings, known to have been used for enjoying sports. Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Dholavira, Gujarat  Ruins of the Harappan civilisation  Deemed the fifth largest Harappan site  What are found?: Artefacts excavated range from terracotta items and seals to urns and copper ornaments. About 10 large stone inscriptions have also been found at the site, written in Indus Valley script  Most importantly, it has one of the world’s earliest water conservation systems–a rainwater harvesting system–ever excavated Daily Current Affairs Dated on 01-Feb-2020 Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu  This is an archaeological urn-burial site in the Thoothukudi district  The objects yielded by these burial sites are finely made pottery of various kinds in great number; many iron implements and weapons; vessels and personal ornaments in bronze; a few gold ornaments; a few stone beads; bones; and some household stone implements used for grinding curry or sandalwood, besides the excavated urns which reportedly contained “complete skeletons”.

[iasshikshalove]

Current Affairs Dated On 29-07-2019

C.A Dated On 29-07-2019 GS-1 Iconic tourists site Why in news? During her Budget speech earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that 17 “Iconic Tourist Sites” in the country would be developed by the government “into world class tourist destinations, to serve as a model for other tourism sites”. The initiative was aimed at enhancing India’s soft power. The Sites Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh), Ajanta & Ellora (Maharashtra), Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar (Delhi), Colva (Goa), Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Somnath and Dholavira (Gujarat), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Hampi (Karnataka), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Kaziranga (Assam), Kumarakom (Kerala) and the Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar). The Vision  “The government is looking at overall development from the tourism point of view in and around these sites — which includes roads and infrastructure, hotels and lodges, connectivity and access”.  As such, several ministries, from Railways to Civil Aviation, will be involved, while the Tourism Ministry will be the nodal agency. In keeping with international standards, interventions in and around the monuments will have elements of universal accessibility, green technology, and enhanced security for tourists. The Funding  The Tourism Ministry has been allocated Rs 1,378 crore for the development of tourism infrastructure. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  This is only marginally more than the allocations in 2017-18 (Rs 1,151 crore) and 2018-19 (Rs 1,330 crore). Status of ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme  Many of these monuments were opened up for adoption in late 2017 under the Ministry of Tourism’s Adopt a Heritage scheme.  The Red Fort was adopted by the Dalmia Group, while the Qutub Minar and the Ajanta Caves were adopted by Yatra Online.  But the momentum of the scheme has slowed down since, and only 11 MoUs have been signed so far. Punjab agriculture crisis Context Huge swathes of agricultural land have been damaged by the severe waterlogging in five districts of Punjab, mainly in Bathinda, after unprecedented single day rain. Waterlogging happens due to several factors like the geography of the land, excessive flow of water into a place without proper drainage systems and certain soil conditions. In Punjab, a potent mix of incessant rain coupled with a lack of clean and capable drainage system and water storage pits has led to the present situation. How can wells prevent waterlogging?  With proper drainage system in the fields, experts say, the excessive water in the fields can be directed into these wells which have a good capacity of holding water. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  The Soil and Conservation Department of the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) in Ludhiana has been reviving these abandoned wells under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP).  Before sending water into the well, a small pit is dug in the field close to the well where the water is first held. The water from here overflows into the well.  The bottom of the well is covered with brick blast (small pieces of bricks) up to 10 to 12 inch so as to protect against soil erosion at the bottom due to water falling directly from a height.  This was one of the safest ways of water recharging and preventing water logging to a large extent. How does the pit help clean the water?  Since Punjab is a heavy user of pesticides, the impurities in the field water will get diluted in the pit after which the brick blast at the bottom of well will absorb these impurities as well as the silt,  “The safe water goes into the earth from the first layer of soil to the other layers slowly,” he added.  The brick blast will need to be cleaned after every five years and protected by removable slabs.  The biggest benefit is that if the farmer needs water for irrigation he can use the well instead of extracting water from the ground using a tube well.  With about 84 per cent of Punjab’s land under cultivation, this method has huge potential to recharge the entire state’s water table which has been depleting over the years because of extensive use of tubewell for faring. Is it safe to send excessive water into the fields through bore wells?  Experts warn against this method as it “will contaminate the safe groundwater” as the chemicals from crop sprays will directly enter the deep layer of soil. What are other benefits of old abandoned wells? C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  In canal fed areas, the excess water can be stored in these wells to recharge the earth. This is can also reduce the expenditure on tube wells which now need to be deepened every other year. GS-3 Crypto currency An inter-ministerial committee (IMC) that was set up to assess the viability of virtual currencies has recommended that India should ban private cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. An inter-ministerial committee (IMC) that was set up to assess the viability of virtual currencies has recommended that India should ban private cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The detailed report of the IMC was submitted on February 28 but it was made public only on July 23. It is available on the Department of Economic Affairs’ website. What are virtual currencies?  A virtual currency is a digital representation of value that can be digitally traded and functions as (a) a medium of exchange, and/ or (b) a unit of account, and/or (c) a store of value, but, unlike fiat currency like the rupee, it is not legal tender and does not have the backing of a government.  A cryptocurrency is a subset of virtual currencies, and is decentralised, and protected by cryptography. What are Distributed Ledger Technologies and Blockchain?  Broadly speaking, this is how Distributed Ledger Technologies, and Blockchain, in particular, function.  DLT refers to technologies that involve the use of independent computers (also referred to as nodes) to record, share, and synchronise transactions in their respective electronic ledgers. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  Keeping such distributed ledgers obviates the need for keeping the data centralised, as is done in a traditional ledger. All virtual currencies use DLT.  A transaction under DLT essentially refers to the transfer of “value” from one to another.  This “value” could be any record of ownership of assets — money, security, land titles — or the record of specific information such as information about one’s identity or health information, etc.  That is why DLT has applications in several fields. About block chain  Blockchain is a specific kind of DLT that came to prominence after Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that used it, became popular.  Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin use codes to encrypt transactions and stack them up in blocks, creating Blockchains.  It is the use of codes that differentiates cryptocurrencies from other virtual currencies. What is the IMC’s view on DLT and cryptocurrencies?  The first thing to understand is that the IMC recognises the potential of DLT and Blockchain.  The IMC accepts that internationally, the application of DLT is being explored in the areas of trade finance, mortgage loan applications, digital identity management or KYC requirements, cross-border fund transfers and clearing and settlement systems.  To that extent, it recommends the Department of Economic Affairs (within the Finance Ministry) to take necessary measures to facilitate the use of DLT in the entire financial field after identifying its uses.  The IMC also recommends that regulators — RBI, SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA, and IBBI — explore evolving appropriate regulations for development of DLT in their respective areas.  However, the IMC has recommended a ban on “private” cryptocurrencies Why have private cryptocurrencies attracted a ban? While it is true that the technology used in virtual currencies has immense potential, without a central regulating authority, they can have numerous downsides. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  The IMC’s first concern is that non-official virtual currencies can be used to defraud consumers, particularly unsophisticated consumers or investors.  Second, scaling up such a currency system over a large population would require crippling levels of energy resources.  Currencies such as Bitcoin require humongous processing power. According to a report by the Bank of International Settlement, Bitcoin processing already uses as much energy as is used by Switzerland; it called this an environmental disaster.  Third, the IMC is worried that if private cryptocurrencies are allowed to function as legal tender, the RBI would lose control over the monetary policy and financial stability, as it would not be able to keep a tab on the money supply in the economy.  Fourth, the anonymity of private digital currencies make them vulnerable to money laundering and use in terrorist financing activities while making law enforcement difficult.  Fifth, there is no grievance redressal mechanism in such a system, as all transactions are irreversible. It is for these broad reasons that the IMC singled out private cryptocurrencies for a ban. BS-VI emission norms The story so far: The Union Government, through an order dated September 16, 2016, mandated Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) mass emission standards for various classes of motor vehicles throughout the country from April 1, 2020, leapfrogging BS-V. While this will lead to better air quality in the short term, it also means higher vehicle prices and costs. For the automobile industry, this has meant accelerated development of all related technologies and components and big investments. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019 What makes BS-VI fuels cleaner?  As per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms for upgraded fuels, (IS: 2796 – petrol and IS: 1460 – diesel), sulphur content is reduced to 10 mg/kg max in BS-VI from 50 mg/kg under BS-IV.  This key reduction in sulphur makes it possible to equip vehicles with better catalytic converters that capture pollutants.  BS-VI confers several benefits, the most important of which is limits set on Particle Number (PN) for engines, a reference to direct injection engines that emit more particulates but are more efficient and release less carbon dioxide.  Also, there are lower limits for hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in diesel engines and lower Particulate Matter limits for both petrol and diesel engines. What impact will it have on consumers?  Prices are the biggest impact factor both for commercial and passenger vehicles under the BS-VI regime, with one industry research estimate putting the increase at up to ₹20,000 for petrol cars, ₹65,000 to ₹90,000 for diesel cars, going up to ₹2.25 lakh for heavy commercial vehicles.  Even two wheelers, requiring fuel injection technology, will witness a price spike of ₹3,000 to ₹6,000.  The giant scale of the shift needed to BS-VI can be gauged from the production base: the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) says the industry produced 30,915,420 vehicles ranging from two-wheelers to commercial vehicles in the year ended April 2019, with an annual growth of 6.26%. What about the BS-IV vehicles already manufactured?  Since there is no bar on the operation of existing vehicles beyond the cut-off date for BS-VI, that is, April 1, 2020, the inventory of personal and commercial vehicles will continue to be sold.  This is significant for the commercial sector, which involves higher investments. After the deadline, however, all new vehicles sold must comply with BS-VI. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  A spike in sales of BS-IV vehicles is expected closer to the festival season, when buyer sentiment turns positive, and the industry prepares to liquidate its stock of soon-to-be obsolete vehicles.  The outlook is unclear for heavy commercial vehicles due to recent changes that enable higher freight loading, and depressed demand for expansion.  The availability of higher financing through banks after the move to recapitalise them, and higher liquidity in non-banking financial companies could also influence sales. What will the shift mean?  As of January 1 this year, there were 57,468 retail fuel outlets of the oil marketing companies across the country.  Although BS-VI fuel was introduced in the national capital last year, and extended to some contiguous districts in neighbouring States, the release of the higher grade fuel in all the pumps in the country has to be simultaneous.  The auto industry wants it done by February.  The cost of upgrading refineries to produce the higher-quality fuel is estimated at between ₹25,000 crore and ₹30,000 crore. State butterfly in Tamil Nadu Why in news? Tamil Nadu became the fifth State to declare a State butterfly and Tamil Yeoman bagged the distinction. About the butterfly  The medium-sized butterfly may not be considered very beautiful, but has many special attributes because of which it was chosen.  One reason is the name.  There are about five butterflies endemic to the Western Ghat that bear the prefix ‘Tamil’ in their names.  But this particular species scored high as it is found in abundance across most parts of the State.  Secondly, the word ‘yeoman’ is translated in Tamil as ‘maravan’, meaning warrior, which again gave the species an edge over the others. C.A Dated On 29-07-2019  Another speciality of Tamil Yeoman is that the species, although endemic to the Western Ghats, can also be sighted in small numbers in the Eastern Ghats and in open country. Except for coastal areas, there are chances of sighting it in all other landscape. Other states butterflies  Tamil Nadu is the only State to choose a member of the Nymphalidae family, members of which are not considered attractive and colourful. Maharashtra (Blue Mormon), Kerala (Malabar Banded Peacock), Uttarakhand (Common Peacock) and Karnataka (Southern Birdwing), have chosen from Swallow Tails, which are usually big and beautiful with bold patterns.  “Maharashtra’s State butterfly Blue Mormon is also considered a pest for some food plants.  Tamil Yeoman however, feeds only on wild plants found in the Western Ghats