MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. Analyse the numerous dangers facing the country’s historic structures and monuments. What actions are necessary to protect our cultural heritage?
GS I – Indian Culture
Introduction:
- In order to address areas crucial for the survival and propagation of these forms of cultural heritage, India boasts a vast basket of living and diverse cultural traditions, traditional expressions, and intangible cultural heritage that includes masterpieces. These forms of cultural heritage require institutional support and encouragement. One of our Constitution’s Fundamental Duties is to preserve our legacy.
- In the third week of November, World Heritage Week will arrive. Every year around this time, there are a tonne of heritage-related events and posts on social media. It becomes an opportunity to raise awareness of the variety of cultures that heritage sites represent.
Dangers to the Cultural Heritage of India:
- Theft: Theft instances are typically reported from unguarded landmarks, such as historic temples. Theft instances have also been observed in museums and protected monuments. It is the result of security officers at monuments, museums, etc. being careless.
- Smuggling includes both illegal trade and the smuggling of antiques. Profit is a common driving force behind illegal trafficking, while luxury demand can also play a role.
- Tourism: The art heritage areas have been impacted by unregulated tourism, tout-run tourism, and private agency operations. According to the Indian Culture Ministry, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has deemed up to 24 Indian monuments “untraceable” or “missing.”
- Problems with museum security: A lack of staff means that most museums are not adequately staffed, which makes artefact theft, fire mishaps, and other crimes possible.
- Absence of public awareness: This causes improper upkeep, vandalism, and damage to the artefacts within the monuments. Buildings near the monuments could be replaced, or they could be constructed elsewhere, leading to
- Duplication: Forging fake paintings and other artwork puts artists’ livelihoods in jeopardy.
- Poor Maintenance: Both humidity and neglect are to blame for the wall murals’ deteriorating condition inside the Ajanta caves.
- Encroachment of monuments: This is just another oversight on the part of the government. Government data shows that over 278 centrally protected monuments have either unlawful occupiers or have been encroached upon.
Justification for preserving cultural heritage:
- The process of human consciousness evolution is ongoing: history acts as a laboratory in this instance, and the past acts as a boundary to help us comprehend local laws and social systems. This knowledge aids in our development of the perfect society.
- Our nation’s identity and pride are derived from its artistic legacy. Every person has a responsibility to safeguard, maintain, and advance cultural diversity.
- Museums and art landmarks have enormous tourism potential. Because tourism is a money-multiplier, it benefits both private artists and the state financially.
- Development of the infrastructure occurs both within and outside of the areas. For example. In spite of its tiny size, Hampi boasts first-rate infrastructure.
- It generates employment for a large number of people in the tourism and art industries.
- By strengthening a sense of belonging to a culture or an area, it fosters a sense of attachment and oneness.
- Every historical monument has a significant tale to tell, and these tales have encouraged many people to remain steadfast in their beliefs and in their resolve to oppose oppression and injustice.
Increasing Laws and Initiatives’ Strength:
- The Antiquity Act 1947 and the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act 1972, in particular, prohibit the unlawful selling and smuggling of antiques.
- The Ancient sites and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was recently amended, and it is best to avoid building within 100 metres of any protected sites.
- The ministry started an effort to digitise cultural treasures and to provide e-ticketing services for around 116 monuments under the ASI in 2015.
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) must be more proactive and diligent in its efforts for this goal, according to the CAG report on Preservation and Conservation of Monuments and Antiques, and the ministry must create an aggressive plan for the same.
- utilising public-private partnership strategies to support the arts and crafts industry.
- establishing a minimum of one museum in every district, featuring distinct galleries dedicated to various mediums of art, architecture, science, history, and geography, all with a distinct regional flair.
- The Centre will assign grades to artists in the following disciplines: architecture, sculpture, painting, handicrafts, puppetry, music, dance, theatre, and literature.
- Curriculum modification: Open departments of heritage management modelled after Ahmedabad University; identify and include heritage as an asset in schools
- introduction of a mandatory online and offline training programme for travellers planning to embark on projects.
- Using augmented reality and immersive technology, historical representation and promotion
- Reclassify heritage and give out prizes to those who have a keen feel of it.
- Increased participation from universities in programmes that support the arts and culture, as well as the addition of Fine Arts as a discipline.
- Restoring historical sites through festivals and fostering celebration connect people’s perceptions.
- Acknowledging the nascent field of “cultural heritage tourism” through the development of cultural resources, localised use of scientific and technical expertise, and collaborations with international organisations.
- Every citizen has a responsibility to cherish and protect the rich legacy of our blended culture. Since the beginning of time, our country’s art and culture have been continuously growing, forming a broad continuity. It goes without saying that protecting and preserving India’s rich cultural legacy and advancing all tangible and intangible artistic and cultural expressions—such as monuments and archaeological sites, anthropology and ethnology, folk and tribal arts, literature and handicrafts, performing arts like music, dance, and drama, and visual arts like paintings, sculptures, and graphics—are crucial and highly valued.
Q2. How do seismic shadow zones support the idea that the Earth’s core exists?
GS II – Geography related issues
Introduction:
- The principal cause of seismic shadow zones is the refraction and reflection of seismic waves during their propagation through the interior of the Earth. Seismic waves are produced during an earthquake and travel through the crust, mantle, and core of the Earth in all directions. Shadow zones are created, nevertheless, because of the density and makeup of these strata, which alter the direction and speed of seismic waves.
- Seismic waves are primarily classified as primary (P-waves) or secondary (S-waves). S-waves are shear waves that propagate more slowly and are unable to pass through liquids, whereas P-waves are compressional waves that move faster and can pass through both solid and liquid layers.
Seismic shadow zones exist for the following main reasons:
- Refraction: Seismic waves bend when they come into contact with boundaries that separate distinct layers of the Earth’s interior, such as the mantle-core boundary or the crust-mantle boundary. Shadow zones are created as a result of this bending action, which causes seismic waves to either not be detected at all or to be greatly diminished.
- Reflection: When seismic waves come into contact with layer boundaries at specific angles, they may also experience reflection. Shadow zones can be created when reflected waves interact with direct waves, cancelling out or decreasing seismic signals in some places.
The distinct characteristics of P and S waves:
- Compressional waves, or P-waves, are able to pass through both solids and liquids. A P-wave bends (refracts) at the core-mantle boundary because of the change in material properties. A P-wave shadow zone is produced by this refraction and it lies roughly between 105° and 145° from the epicentre of the earthquake. Direct P-waves do not occur in this zone; instead, they occur later and follow a longer course through the mantle.
- Shear waves, or S-waves, are waves that only pass through solids; liquids totally obstruct their path. An S-wave is completely absorbed and unable to pass through the liquid outer core when it comes into contact with it. This produces an S-wave shadow zone that extends beyond the epicentre by around 105°. Strong evidence for a liquid outer core is provided by the absence of S-waves in this area.
Consequences for the Core of Earth:
- Beyond the shadow zone, S-waves have not been observed, which strongly suggests the existence of a liquid outer core that is unable to transmit these waves.
- P-wave bending and delayed arrival in the P-wave shadow zone point to a denser core material that modifies the P-waves’ trajectory. This provides more evidence in favour of the presence of a unique core makeup.
- Different shadow zones for P and S waves also point to a distinct core, possibly consisting of a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.
- S-waves can travel through the solid inner core, which explains why they can be found outside of the shadow zone of the outer core.
- Seismic shadow zones are a result of the complicated interaction between seismic waves and the heterogeneous interior of the Earth, which includes differences in composition, density, and condition (solid or liquid). Scientists can learn important things about the interior structure of the Earth from these shadow zones, including how seismic waves behave during earthquakes.
