21 March 2025 ; Daily Current Affairs Updates

Menhirs; GS-1 (Art and Culture)

▪️Why in the News:

The Menhirs or the standing stones of Mudumal in Narayanpet in Telangana have made it to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

> Menhirs: Ancient Standing Stones:

• A menhir is a large, upright standing stone that is typically tapered at the top and manually placed by humans.

• The term "Menhir" comes from the Brittonic words: "Maen" meaning stone and "Hir" meaning long.

• Famous Menhirs Around the World:

o The Grand Menhir Brisé (Great Broken Menhir) in Brittany, France, is the largest known menhir.

o Originally standing at 20.6 meters, it is a significant example of prehistoric stone structures.

o Cultural Reference: Menhirs are featured in the Asterix comic series, where the character Obelix is often depicted carrying them.

• Menhirs in Europe:

o Associated with the Beaker Culture from the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age.

o Some of the oldest menhirs in Europe date back 7,000 years Before Present (BP)

• Menhirs in India (Mudumal Menhirs):

o The Mudumal menhirs, located in India, are considered the oldest in the country, dating back 3,500 to 4,000 BP.

Sansad Bhashini initiative; GS-2(Governance) ▪️Why in the news:

Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the Sansad Bhashini initiative.

> Definition:

• The Sansad Bhashini Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• The project aims to develop an in-house Al-powered system to enhance parliamentary operations, particularly in multilingual communication and documentation.

> Key Features and Technologies:

• The initiative incorporates Al-driven tools to provide multilingual support, optimize documentation processes, and improve parliamentary efficiency.

• Advanced Al applications such as real-time speech-to-text transcription, speech-to-speech translation, and interactive Al chatbots will be deployed.

• These tools will enable seamless translation of parliamentary debates, committee reports, and legislative documents into multiple Indian languages, promoting greater accessibility and inclusivity.

• Real-Time Speech Transcription and Documentation:

• Al will be used to transcribe spoken debates into text instantly, ensuring better accessibility and easy reference for lawmakers and the public.

World of Debt Report 2024; GS-3(Economy) ▪️Why in the news:

Developing countries are sinking deeper into a debt-driven development crisis.

> UNCTAD'S 'A World of Debt Report 2024': Key Findings of the Report:

> Global Debt Increase: The total public debt worldwide surged to $97 trillion in 2023, with developing nations experiencing debt growth at twice the rate of developed countries.

> India's Debt Levels: India's public debt was recorded at $2.9 trillion in 2023.

> Debt Servicing Challenges: 54 developing countries are allocating more funds toward interest payments than toward essential social sector expenditures.

> Disparities in the Financial System: Developing nations incur interest rates that are 2 to 12 times higher than those paid by developed countries, reflecting financial inequalities in global lending structures.

Neglected Tropical Diseases; GS-3 (General Science) ▪️Why in the news:

India is progressing towards eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) through political support, community involvement, and regional cooperation.

> Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs):

• Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.

• These diseases result in serious health, social, and economic hardships for affecte individuals and communities.

• NTDs predominantly impact impoverished populations in tropical regions; but some have a broader global presence.

> Prevalence and Impact:

• NTDs are common in areas where safe drinking water, sanitation, and healthcar services are inadequate or unavailable.

• They are termed "neglected" as they have historically received minimal attention and funding on the global health agenda.

• India is home to around 12 NTDs, making them a significant public health concern in the country.

World Health Organization

• Examples of NTDs: Some well-known

NTDs include:

• Guinea worm disease

• Chikungunya

• Dengue

• Kala Azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis)

• Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis)