What’s in Today’s Article?

• UNESCO Memory of the World Latest News
• UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme: A Global Effort to Preserve Documentary Heritage
• India’s Contributions to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
• Natyashastra: A Pillar of Indian Performing Arts
• Bhagavad Gita: A Timeless Spiritual Dialogue
• UNESCO Memory of the World FAQs

UNESCO Memory of the World Latest News

• The manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharata’s Natyashastra have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register among 74 new entries. 
• PM Modi hailed this as a proud moment for all Indians, noting that these ancient texts have shaped civilization and continue to inspire globally.

UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme: A Global Effort to Preserve Documentary Heritage

• Launched in 1992, UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme aims to protect valuable archive holdings and library collections worldwide. 
• It seeks to prevent "collective amnesia" by ensuring the preservation and wide accessibility of the world’s documentary heritage.

Objective and Vision

• The programme upholds that the world’s documentary heritage belongs to all and must be preserved, protected, and made permanently accessible, respecting cultural contexts and practicalities.

The MoW Register

• At the heart of the programme is the Memory of the World Register — a curated list of documents, manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual materials, and archival holdings of global significance and universal value.

Updates and Submissions

• The Register has been updated biennially since 1997, with exceptions between 2017 and 2023.
• A maximum of two submissions per country are considered for inclusion in any given year.
• The number of new additions ranges from 9 (in 1999) to 78 (in 2017).

Current Status and Notable Inclusions

• The Register now features 570 entries.
• Examples include:
  • Mahavamsa (Sri Lanka’s historical chronicle)
  • Drawings by Sakubei Yamamoto (Japan, Meiji era)
  • Over 11,000 Shaiva Siddhanta manuscripts
  • 430 hours of Frankfurt Auschwitz trial recordings (1963–65)
  • Video of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7, 1971 speech

India’s Contributions to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

• India has made 13 submissions to the Register, including two joint entries with other nations.

Range of Submissions

• India’s entries span ancient scriptures, philosophical works, and modern political archives:
  • Rig Veda (added in 2005)
  • Works of Shaivite philosopher Abhinavagupta (added in 2023)
  • Archives of the first Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, Belgrade, 1961 (added in 2023)
  • Archives of the Dutch East India Company (added in 2003)

Joint Submissions

• NAM summit archives: Jointly submitted with Algeria, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Serbia
• Dutch East India Company archives: Jointly submitted with Indonesia, Netherlands, South Africa, and Sri Lanka

Recent Additions Highlight Literary Heritage

• India’s 2024 submissions focus on ancient manuscripts — specifically preserved versions of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra — maintained by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune. 
• These reflect the country’s enduring contribution to world literature and philosophical thought.

Natyashastra: A Pillar of Indian Performing Arts

• Traditionally attributed to sage Bharata, the Natyashastra is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts. 
• It comprises around 36,000 verses detailing drama (natya), performance (abhinaya), music (sangita), emotions (bhava), and aesthetic experience (rasa).

Date and Compilation

• Scholars estimate its compilation between 500 BCE and 500 CE, with UNESCO citing around the 2nd century BCE as the most likely period.

Core Contribution: The Concept of Rasa

• The Natyashastra is renowned for its exposition of rasa — the “essence” or emotional flavor of a performance. 
• Bharata declared, “no meaning can blossom forth without rasa,” making it central to all artistic expression.
• According to Wallace Dace, while actors imitate emotions, the audience “tastes” them — a distinct, aesthetic experience separate from real-life emotions.
• Susan L. Schwartz adds that this process transports audiences into a “parallel reality,” enabling reflection on spiritual and moral dimensions of life.

UNESCO Recognition

• UNESCO hails the Natyashastra as a profound contribution to world literature, highlighting its influence on global theories of aesthetics and performance.

Bhagavad Gita: A Timeless Spiritual Dialogue

• Traditionally ascribed to sage Vyasa, the Bhagavad Gita is a Sanskrit scripture consisting of 700 verses divided into 18 chapters. 
• It is embedded within the sixth book (Bhishma Parva) of the epic Mahabharata.

Philosophical Synthesis

• UNESCO describes the Gita as a cornerstone of India’s intellectual tradition, synthesising diverse schools of thought including Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, and Charvaka philosophies.

Dating and Composition

• While the text is generally dated to the first or second century BCE, some scholars, like Winthrop Sargeant, suggest it was first written down in the second or third centuries CE after an earlier oral tradition.

Core Narrative and Themes

• The Gita presents a profound dialogue between warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, on the eve of the great war of the Mahabharata.
• Faced with the moral dilemma of fighting his own kin, Arjuna seeks guidance, and Krishna's response unfolds the Gita’s central themes: duty (dharma), righteousness, detachment, devotion, and self-realization.

UNESCO Memory of the World FAQs

Q1. What is UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme?

Ans. Launched in 1992, it preserves and ensures global access to documentary heritage, including manuscripts and oral traditions.

Q2. What is the significance of Bhagavad Gita's inclusion?

Ans. It represents India's intellectual tradition and philosophical synthesis, with timeless themes of duty, devotion, and self-realization.

Q3. What is the Natyashastra?

Ans. An ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts, detailing drama, music, emotions, and aesthetics, attributed to sage Bharata.

Q4. When was the Natyashastra likely compiled?

Ans. It was compiled between 500 BCE and 500 CE, with around the 2nd century BCE being the most likely period.

Q5. What is the role of UNESCO's Memory of the World Register?

Ans. It curates global documents and manuscripts of significant cultural value, ensuring their preservation and accessibility.

Source: IE | ToI | HT

What’s in Today’s Article?

• SC Sub-Categorisation Ordinance Latest News
• Sub-Categorisation Ordinance – Background
• Rajeev Ranjan Mishra Commission Recommendations
• Proposed Quota Distribution Among SC Sub-Groups
• SC Sub-Categorisation Ordinance FAQs

SC Sub-Categorisation Ordinance Latest News

• The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a draft ordinance by the Social Welfare Department to implement sub-categorisation among Scheduled Castes (SCs). 
• This means the government plans to introduce ‘reservation within reservation’, aiming to allocate quotas based on the relative level of backwardness among different SC communities. 
• The move seeks to ensure more equitable distribution of benefits among the most disadvantaged sections within the SC category.

Sub-Categorisation Ordinance – Background

• Following the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing states to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Andhra Pradesh government initiated steps to implement this within the state.

Formation of Commission

• In November 2024, the then government established a one-man commission under retired IAS officer Rajeev Ranjan Mishra to examine the need and structure for SC sub-categorisation.
• The commission conducted public hearings across the state's 13 districts (now reorganised into 26 districts), gathering views from stakeholders, community members, and experts.

Submission and Adoption of Report

• The commission submitted its comprehensive report in March 2025. 
• The report was subsequently unanimously adopted by both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.

Draft Ordinance Prepared

• Based on the recommendations of the report, the state government has drafted an ordinance to implement sub-categorisation among SCs.

Purpose of SC Sub-Categorisation

• The main goal of SC sub-categorisation is to ensure fair and equitable distribution of reservation benefits among all SC sub-castes, rather than concentrating them within a few dominant groups.

Demand for Proportional Representation

• Leaders from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Backward Classes (BCs) argue that reservation should be based on the numerical strength of individual sub-castes, not just on the overall SC population. 
• This would make the quota system more just and representative.

Call for Criteria-Based Reservations

• Supporters have long advocated that reservations in education, government jobs, and local bodies should be allocated based on the backwardness, and social and financial status of each SC sub-group.

Grievance of the Madiga Community

• The Madiga community, a major SC sub-group in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, claims that the Mala community dominates and corners most reservation benefits. 
• They seek sub-categorisation to correct this imbalance and ensure inclusivity for all marginalised sub-castes.

Rajeev Ranjan Mishra Commission Recommendations

• The Commission recommended dividing the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Andhra Pradesh into three distinct categories, based on the level of backwardness, covering a total of 59 SC sub-castes.

Group 1: Most Backward (Relli Sub-group)

• This group includes 12 sub-castes considered the most socio-economically disadvantaged.
• Sub-castes included:
  • Bavuri, Chachati, Chandala, Dandasi, Dom, Ghasi, Godagali, Mehtar, Paki, Pamidi, Relli, Sapru

Group 2: Backward (Madiga Sub-group)

• Comprising 18 sub-castes, this group is classified as backward, but slightly better off than Group 1.
• Sub-castes included:
  • Arundhatiya, Bindala, Chamar, Chambhar, Dakkal, Dhor, Godari, Gosangi, Jaggali, Jambuvulu, Kolupulavandlu, Madiga, Madiga Dasu, Mang, Mang Garodi, Matangi, Samagara, Sindholu

Group 3: Less Backward (Mala Sub-group)

• This group includes 29 sub-castes, classified as the less backward among the three categories.
• Sub-castes included:
  • Adi Dravida, Anamuk, Arayamala, Arvamala, Bariki, Byagara, Chalavadi, Yellamalavar, Holeya, Holeya Dasari, Madasi Kuruva, Mahar, Mala, Mala Dasari, Mala Dasu, Mala Hannai, Mala Jangam, Mala Masti, Mala Sale, Mala Sanyasi, Manne, Mundala, Samban, Yatala, Valluvan, Adi Andhra, Masti, Mitta Ayyalavar, Panchama

Proposed Quota Distribution Among SC Sub-Groups

• The Rajeev Ranjan Mishra Commission recommended the following reservation split within the Scheduled Caste (SC) quota (total 15%):
  • Group 1 – Most Backward (Relli sub-group): 1.0% reservation
  • Group 2 – Backward (Madiga sub-groups): 6.5% reservation
  • Group 3 – Relatively Less Backward (Mala sub-groups): 7.5% reservation

Objective of Sub-Categorisation

• The key aim of this reform is to promote integrated and equitable development among all SC sub-castes by:
  • Ensuring fair representation in education, employment, politics, and civil society
  • Addressing historical imbalances where dominant sub-castes benefited disproportionately
  • Enabling inclusive progress and preventing marginalisation of the most backward groups

SC Sub-Categorisation Ordinance FAQs

Q1. What is the SC Sub-Categorisation Ordinance?

Ans. It introduces ‘reservation within reservation’, allocating quotas based on the relative backwardness of SC communities.

Q2. Who recommended the SC sub-categorisation?

Ans. The Rajeev Ranjan Mishra Commission recommended dividing SCs into three categories based on backwardness.

Q3. How many groups are there in SC sub-categorisation?

Ans. The ordinance divides SCs into three groups: Most Backward, Backward, and Less Backward.

Q4. What is the proposed quota for each SC group?

Ans. Group 1: 1%, Group 2: 6.5%, and Group 3: 7.5% reservation.

Q5. What is the aim of SC sub-categorisation?

Ans. It aims to ensure equitable development and fair representation in education, jobs, and politics for all SC sub-castes.

Source: IE | IE | TH

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Kailash Mansarovar Latest News
• Resumption of the Yatra after a Four-Year Gap
• Background: Suspension and Diplomatic Reset
• The Significance of Kailash Mansarovar
• Available Routes for the Yatra
• Registration Process and Eligibility
• Looking Ahead
• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 FAQs

Kailash Mansarovar Latest News

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has not taken place since 2020, will resume this year.

Resumption of the Yatra after a Four-Year Gap

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently confirmed that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, one of the most religiously significant pilgrimages for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and the Bon religion, will resume in 2025. 
• The pilgrimage, suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained India-China relations, is now being revived amidst a larger diplomatic rapprochement between the two nations.
• Discussions regarding the resumption began at the Special Representatives’ meeting in Beijing in December 2024, where India’s NSA Ajit Doval met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. 
• A follow-up visit by India’s Foreign Secretary to Beijing in January 2025 paved the way for this year’s planned yatra.

Background: Suspension and Diplomatic Reset

• Although COVID-19 was the initial reason for halting the yatra, tensions following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 delayed its resumption. 
• However, with both countries agreeing to disengage at key border friction points such as Demchok and Depsang in 2024, relations have since improved. The yatra’s reinstatement is symbolic of this shift.
• In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the side-lines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, further easing tensions.

The Significance of Kailash Mansarovar

• Located in Tibet Autonomous Region, Lake Mansarovar (Mapam Yumtso) and Mount Kailash (6,638 meters) are considered sacred. 
• Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva, while Buddhists associate it with spiritual enlightenment. 
• Every year, hundreds of Indian pilgrims undertake the high-altitude trek, which includes circumambulating the holy mountain (a ritual known as parikrama).
• Before its suspension, the yatra was organized by the MEA during June-September each year. 
• Only Indian passport holders aged between 18 and 70 years with sound health were allowed, as the pilgrimage spans 23–25 days and demands considerable physical endurance.

Available Routes for the Yatra

• Lipulekh Pass Route (Uttarakhand)
  • Most direct but physically demanding
  • Involves around 200 km of trekking
  • Lies near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and Tibet
  • Operational since 1981 until halted in 2020
• Nathu La Pass Route (Sikkim)
  • Fully motorable except for the 35–40 km circumambulation of Mount Kailash
  • Longer (approx. 1,500 km), but easier for older or physically less active pilgrims
  • Operational since 2015
• On the Indian side, logistics are arranged by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (Lipulekh) and Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (Nathu La). 
• The Chinese authorities manage facilities across the border.
•  Nepal Route (Private)
  • Operated by private tour agencies
  • Accessible since 2023 but not popular due to high visa fees and lack of support infrastructure
  • Charter flights from Nepalgunj offer darshan of Mount Kailash
  • India is also developing a Mount Kailash viewing point in Dharchula near Lipulekh

Registration Process and Eligibility

• Registration usually opens in April-May on the MEA portal. Due to limited slots, a computerized draw of lots is held.
  • Cost: Over ₹2 lakh per pilgrim.
  • Required: Indian passport, medical and physical fitness clearance.
• Route allocation is computerized, and once assigned, changes are difficult.

Looking Ahead

• The yatra’s revival marks not only a religious milestone but also a geopolitical one, indicating a soft reset in India-China bilateral relations. 
• The MEA is expected to release detailed guidelines, dates, and quotas soon. 
• Meanwhile, preparations on logistics, healthcare, and security fronts are underway to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage for all yatris.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 FAQs

Q1. Why was the yatra suspended earlier?

Ans. The yatra was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later, due to strained India-China relations.

Q2. Which are the two official routes for the yatra?

Ans. The two official routes are via Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).

Q3. When is the yatra expected to resume?

Ans. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is expected to resume in 2025, with final dates to be announced by the MEA.

Q4. What is the significance of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar?

Ans. They are sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.

Q5. What are the eligibility criteria for pilgrims?

Ans. Pilgrims must be Indian passport holders aged 18–70, medically fit, and must apply through the MEA portal.

Source: TH | IE