Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Source: The Hindu

Context: India is celebrating the 1000th anniversary of Emperor Rajendra Chola I’s northern military conquests, after which he established the grand capital city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Today, it is a UNESCO-listed architectural marvel.

About Gangaikonda Cholapuram:

What is Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

• It served as the imperial capital of the Chola Empire from 1025 CE to 1279 CE.
• It was founded by Rajendra Chola I.
• Located in the Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu.
• The city featured palaces, a massive reservoir (Chola Gangam), and the renowned Brihadeeswarar Temple (Gangaikondacholisvaram).

Founder:

• Rajendra Chola I established this city after conquering the Gangetic plains.
• He took the title “Gangaikonda Chola” (the Chola who conquered the Ganga) and ceremonially poured Ganga water into a tank to symbolize the cultural supremacy of the South over the North.

Architectural Features:

• The Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, mirrors the grandeur of the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur.
• The site includes fine carvings, a majestic Vimana (temple tower), and a unique water pillar known as Chola Gangam (liquid column of victory).
• According to inscriptions and Tamil literary sources, the city once had fortified palaces, royal complexes, and well-planned wide roads.

Epigraphical Evidence:

• Copper plates from Thiruvalangadu and Karanthai, as well as literary works like Kalingattupparani and Muvar Ula, describe the glory of this capital.
• Inscriptions of King Veera Rajendra refer to the royal palace as Chola-Kerala Thirumaligai, highlighting the Chola titles and political philosophy.

Cultural and Political Importance:

• For over two centuries, Gangaikonda Cholapuram was a hub of politics, trade, and culture in South India.
• It symbolized Chola dominance stretching from the Tungabhadra in the north to Sri Lanka in the south.
• Today, it stands as one of the Great Living Chola Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with temples at Thanjavur and Darasuram.

Epstein Files Scandal

Context:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is once again under scrutiny. This comes as the Trump administration refused to release certain files related to Epstein's sex trafficking investigation, citing a "lack of credible evidence."

What is the Epstein Files Scandal?

Definition:
The Epstein Files Scandal refers to the controversial decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to withhold crucial information — such as flight logs, digital content, and sensitive documents — related to Jeffrey Epstein, despite public demands for transparency.

Ethical and Legal Issues:

1. Accountability vs. Privacy:
Balancing the protection of individuals who may not be guilty with the public's "Right to Know."

2. Abuse of Executive Power:
Allegations that Trump used his presidential position to conceal sensitive data for personal or political gain.

3. Delay of Justice:
Victims and human rights advocates argue that hiding names obstructs justice and protects powerful offenders.

4. Victim Protection vs. Transparency:
A moral conflict between protecting the identities of victims and maintaining institutional transparency.

Relevance to UPSC Syllabus:

GS Paper II – Governance, Constitution, Polity:

• Right to Information vs. Right to Privacy:
  The ethical debate on public access to criminal investigation files.
• Whistleblower Protection and Public Accountability:
  Issues related to concealing abuses by powerful individuals.

GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude:

• Moral Responsibility in Public Office:
  Ethical duties of elected leaders during times of crisis.
• Conflict of Interest:
  The influence of personal relationships on administrative decisions.

Integrity in Good Governance:
Selective enforcement of justice raises questions about administrative ethics.

TRF Designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States

Source: Indian Express

Context:

Following its alleged role in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the U.S. Department of State has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

What is TRF?

• Introduction:
  • TRF is an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), created to give militancy in Kashmir a more secular and indigenous image.
  • It was formed around 2019–2020, following the abrogation of Article 370 and a decline in LeT's influence in the Valley.
• Area of Operation:
  • TRF is mainly active in Jammu and Kashmir, and has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks in areas like Kupwara, Sopore, and Pahalgam.
  • The group employs locally and foreign-trained militants, social media propaganda, and infiltration techniques to present itself as indigenous and modern.

What Does the FTO and SDGT Designation Mean?

FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization):

Under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, a group designated as an FTO faces:

• A ban on international operations and movement.
• Criminalization of any support from U.S. citizens or entities.
• Freezing of assets under U.S. jurisdiction.
• Surveillance and financial sanctions.

Implications of the FTO Designation:

• Asset Freezing:
  All TRF-linked properties within U.S. jurisdiction are immediately frozen.
• Legal Penalties:
  Providing funds, training, or resources to TRF is now a criminal offense under U.S. law.
• Global Discreditation:
  The label hinders TRF's ability to recruit new members and gain international legitimacy.
• Secondary Sanctions:
  Organizations dealing with TRF may also face U.S. penalties or sanctions.
• India–U.S. Cooperation:
  The designation reflects the growing counter-terrorism partnership between India and the United States.

Relevance for UPSC/PSC Exams:

GS Paper II:

• India–U.S. bilateral relations
• Terrorism and national security

GS Paper III:

• Internal security challenges
• Global efforts against terrorism

Stablecoins

Source: Indian Express

Context:
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act, creating the first federal legal framework for stablecoins linked to the U.S. dollar. This move has sparked increased global interest in regulated digital currencies.

🪙 What Are Stablecoins?

• Stablecoins are blockchain-based digital currencies whose value is pegged to a stable asset (like the U.S. dollar).
• They aim to reduce the price volatility typically associated with cryptocurrencies.

🛠️ Who Issues Them?

Private Entities:

• Tether (USDT)
• Circle (USDC)
• MakerDAO (DAI)

Now regulated at the federal level in the U.S. under the GENIUS Act.

🎯 Purpose of Stablecoins:

• Ensure price stability
• Enable fast and low-cost digital payments
• Maintain liquidity in the crypto market

🌐 Significance:

• Financial Inclusion: Helpful in countries with poor banking infrastructure
• Low Transaction Fees: Makes cross-border payments faster and cheaper
• Security: A digital safe haven from crypto volatility

🆚 Stablecoins vs Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs):

NISAR Satellite

Source: The Hindu
Context: The NISAR satellite, jointly developed by NASA and ISRO, will be launched on 30 July 2025 from Sriharikota via the GSLV-F16 rocket. It marks a major milestone in Earth observation and space diplomacy.

🛰️ About the NISAR Satellite:

What is NISAR?

• NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
• It is the first Earth observation satellite to use dual-frequency radar technology:
  • L-band radar by NASA
  • S-band radar by ISRO
• The satellite can capture high-resolution data in all weather conditions, day or night.

🤝 Involved Organizations:

NASA (Jet Propulsion Laboratory):

• Developed the L-band radar
• Provided communication system
• GPS and data subsystem

ISRO:

• Developed the S-band radar
• Satellite bus (modified I3K platform)
• Launch vehicle: GSLV-F16
• Ground control systems

🎯 Objectives of NISAR:

• Monitor land surface deformation
• Study glacier movements and ecosystem dynamics
• Analyze cryosphere, soil moisture, coastal and agricultural processes
• Support disaster management, resource mapping, and climate change monitoring

🔍 Key Features:

• Dual SAR technology:
  • L-band (NASA) + S-band (ISRO)
• 12-meter Unfurlable Mesh Reflector Antenna
• SweepSAR technology:
  • 242 km data capture swath
  • 12-day revisit cycle
• Can detect surface changes of less than 1 cm
• Enables global scanning, day or night, in any weather

🇮🇳 India’s Role (ISRO):

• S-band radar system
• Modified I3K satellite bus
• Launch via GSLV-F16
• Ground control system

🌍 Significance:

• World’s first dual-frequency Earth observation mission of its kind
• Symbol of Indo-U.S. space collaboration under the 2014 MoU
• Supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in environmental monitoring