BAPS Hindu Mandir in Paris
Context: PM Modi hailed the consecration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir at Bussy-Saint-Georges, Seine-et-Marne, near Paris, France.
UPSC Online Coaching
About the BAPS Hindu Mandir
- Organisation: Built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
- Principal deity: Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan tradition.
- The temple also houses idols (murtis) of Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj, Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Shiva-Parvati, Hanuman, and Ganesh.
- Philosophy: BAPS follows the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, which is centered on the relationship between Akshar (the ideal devotee) and Purushottam (Bhagwan Swaminarayan).
- Distinction: This Mandir is France’s first traditionally designed stone Hindu temple and is regarded as the largest of its kind in mainland Europe.
- Architecture: It is built in the traditional Nagara style, using intricately carved stones from India and assembled with French engineering expertise.
- Soft power: Demonstrates India’s use of religion, culture, spirituality and diaspora engagement as instruments of cultural diplomacy.
- India-France linkage: The temple adds a civilisational and people-to-people dimension to the existing India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership.
- Notable Temples: Akshardham Temple, New Delhi; BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi (UAE).
Chief Justice of a High Court
Context: Punjab government has sought a hold on Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra’s appointment as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, citing non-consultation of the State Government under the Memorandum of Procedure.
About the Chief Justice of a High Court
- The Chief Justice of a High Court is the head of the judicial administration in an Indian state.
- Appointed by: The President of India under Article 217 of the Constitution.
- Eligibility Criteria: Under Article 217(2), a person is eligible for appointment as a High Court judge if he/she:
- Is a citizen of India.
- Has held a judicial office for at least 10 years in the territory of India; or
- Has been an advocate of a High Court or two or more High Courts for at least 10 years.
- Appointment Process
- The Collegium (comprising the Chief Justice of India and senior-most Supreme Court judges) recommends a name.
- The Union Law Minister is required to seek the views of the concerned State Government under the established Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).
- The State Government and Governor are consulted during the process.
- The President formally appoints the Chief Justice after completion of the prescribed process.
- The appointed Chief Justice takes the oath of office before the Governor of the concerned State.
- Role of State Government
- The concerned State Government is expected to provide its views on the proposed appointment under the MoP.
- The MoP does not prescribe a specific time limit for furnishing the State Government’s views.
- However, State consultation does not amount to a constitutional veto over the appointment.
- Transfer of High Court Judges: High Court judges may be transferred by the President after consultation with the CJI under Article 222.
- The Supreme Court Collegium plays the central role in recommending such transfers.
- Retirement Age: High Court judges and the Chief Justice retire at 62 years.
- Acting Chief Justice: Under Article 223, when the office of Chief Justice is vacant or the Chief Justice is unable to perform duties, the President may appoint another judge as Acting Chief Justice.
- The senior-most available judge of that specific High Court is normally chosen to act as the Chief Justice
Constitutional Provisions Involved
- Article 217: Appointment of High Court Judges (including the Chief Justice) is made by the President after consultation with the CJI, the Governor of the state, and (in case of a judge other than the Chief Justice) the Chief Justice of the High Court.
- Article 216: Provides for the constitution of High Courts, including a Chief Justice and other judges.
Bhutan Eliminated Dog-mediated Rabies
Context: Bhutan has become the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to eliminate dog-mediated rabies as a public health problem.
Rabies Control in Bhutan
- Programme Dedicated to Elimination: Bhutan adopted a One Health approach, integrating human healthcare, veterinary services, local governments and communities for coordinated rabies control.
- The programme focused on mass dog vaccination, dog population management, community awareness, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and strengthened surveillance.
- Bhutan also established coordinated field investigations involving animal and human health authorities whenever suspected rabies cases were reported.
- Bhutan will continue its nationwide dog population management, rabies-control programme and cross-border coordination with neighbouring Indian States.
- Achievement: The WHO validated Bhutan’s elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies, with the country’s last recorded rabies death occurring in June 2023.
- WHO validation requires no human deaths from dog-mediated rabies for at least two years, along with demonstrated capacity to prevent re-emergence.
About Rabies
- Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease caused by viruses of the Lyssavirus genus that attacks the central nervous system and is almost invariably fatal after clinical symptoms appear.
- Transmission primarily occurs through the saliva of infected animals, especially through bites or contamination of wounds and mucous membranes.
- Key Animals Responsible for Spread: Dogs are the principal source of human rabies deaths globally, accounting for around 99% of human rabies transmission.
- Other susceptible mammals, including cats, monkeys, mongooses, jackals and other wildlife, can also transmit the virus.
- Treatment: Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) includes immediate wound washing with soap and water, rabies vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) for eligible severe exposures.
- Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal.
- Prevention: Effective prevention requires mass dog vaccination, dog population management, timely PEP, surveillance and community awareness.
- The One Health approach links human, animal and environmental health interventions.
- Rabies Burden in India: India is a significant global hotspot, accounting for 36% of worldwide deaths, with an estimated 18,000–20,000 fatalities annually
- India’s Target: India’s National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) aims to achieve zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
- The strategy emphasises mass dog vaccination, animal birth control, accessible PEP and inter-sectoral coordination.
Hooch and Spurious Liquor
Context: At least 11 people died in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district after consuming suspected spurious liquor, with preliminary findings indicating methyl alcohol poisoning.
UPSC Coaching Classes
About Hooch and Spurious Liquor
- Hooch is a common term for illicitly manufactured, homemade or bootleg liquor, often produced without quality control and sold cheaply.
- Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) is the alcohol present in regulated alcoholic beverages and is metabolised by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) into acetaldehyde, followed by conversion into acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).
- Spurious liquor refers to illegally manufactured or adulterated alcoholic beverages that may contain toxic substances such as methanol.
- Key Concerns
- Methanol Poisoning: Methanol contamination or substitution is a major danger in spurious liquor.
- Methanol (CH₃OH) is a simple, highly toxic, and volatile alcohol widely used as an industrial solvent, chemical feedstock, and fuel.
- Methanol, unlike ethanol, is highly toxic and is metabolised into formaldehyde and formic acid, which can cause severe poisoning.
- Its toxic metabolites can cause metabolic acidosis, optic-nerve damage, blindness, neurological complications and death.
- Weak Enforcement and Supply Chains: Illegal production, inadequate inspections and poor enforcement enable spurious liquor networks to operate.
- High taxation and restrictive regulation can also create incentives for illicit liquor markets.
- Public Health and Governance: Repeated hooch tragedies highlight the need for random testing, stronger excise enforcement, supply-chain disruption and accountability of officials.
Constitutional Provisions on Liquor Regulation
- Article 47: Directive Principle of State Policy under Article 47 directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health, except for medicinal purposes.
- State Subject: Intoxicating liquors fall under the State List (Entry 8) of the Seventh Schedule, giving States primary legislative and regulatory authority over their production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale.
- State-level Regulation: States determine excise duties, licensing, distribution and prohibition policies, resulting in considerable variation in liquor regulation across India.
Anak Krakatau Volcanic Activity
Context: Mount Anak Krakatau’s recent eruptions have caused widespread volcanic-ash disruption in Indonesia.
About Anak Krakatau
- Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau”, is an active volcanic island that emerged in 1927 within the caldera formed after the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption.
- Location: Situated in Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra and falls within Indonesia’s Lampung Province.
- It forms part of the Sunda volcanic arc, associated with the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian/Sunda Plate.
- Key Features
- Anak Krakatau is a stratovolcano whose cone and height continuously change because of repeated eruptions, lava accumulation and structural collapses.
- A stratovolcano is a tall, cone-shaped mountain formed by alternating layers of hardened lava, ash, and volcanic rocks
- Its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it part of a highly active zone of earthquakes and volcanism.
AI-Generated Music- Australia’s New Chart Rules
Context: Recently, Australia became the first country to bar wholly AI-generated songs from official music charts, while allowing substantially human-made AI-assisted music.
Australia’s Approach
- No blanket AI Ban: ARIA permits the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) where substantial human creativity remains involved.
- Chart Eligibility: Wholly AI-generated recordings are ineligible for chart listing, while substantially human-made recordings can qualify.
- Anti-manipulation Safeguard: Eligible tracks must also raise no concerns regarding stream or chart manipulation.
- Enforcement: ARIA may reject or remove recordings, adjust chart positions, withdraw accreditations or rescind awards.
- Underlying Principle: Balancing technological innovation with human authorship and fair competition.
About AI-Generated Music
- Meaning: Music created wholly or partly using Generative Artificial Intelligence to produce vocals, lyrics, melodies, arrangements or complete tracks.
- AI-assisted Music: AI functions as a creative tool, while meaningful creative control remains with human artists.
- Wholly AI-generated Music: Music produced with little or no substantial human creative contribution.
Click to Know UPSC Coaching Centres in India
Associated Concerns
- Transparency and Labelling: Difficulty distinguishing human-made, AI-assisted and AI-generated music necessitates clear disclosure standards.
- Copyright and Consent: Use of copyrighted songs, recordings and lyrics for AI training without permission raises questions of licensing, authorship and compensation.
- Creator Rights: AI-generated versions and voice cloning may affect artists’ income, reputation and creative control.
- Chart Manipulation: Mass-produced AI content could distort streaming figures, rankings, recommendations and revenue distribution.
- Platform Accountability: Streaming and social-media platforms need stronger systems for AI detection, labelling, recommendation and content removal.
7 Sep 2026
