National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal

Union Minister  highlighted the significance of the National Maritime Heritage Complex being developed at Lothal, emphasizing its role in showcasing India's historical maritime prowess and future aspirations.

Vision and Objectives

• The complex aims to preserve India's maritime history and demonstrate its ancient global maritime influence.
• It is envisioned as a hub for tourism and research, reflecting India's past as a maritime leader.
• The project is aligned with Prime Minister's vision of integrating heritage with development.

International Collaboration

• India is engaging with 20 nations and has signed MoUs with Vietnam, Portugal, and the UAE.
• Proposed collaborations include joint excavations and research with various countries, enhancing knowledge of ancient trade routes and shipbuilding techniques.

Project Timeline and Economic Impact

• The first phase is expected to be completed by August 2025, with the entire project by 2028.
• The complex is projected to generate 22,000 jobs and attract 25,000 daily visitors, significantly boosting the local economy.

Additional Insights

• Two major ports are being developed in Maharashtra and Great Nicobar to enhance India's maritime capacity, with a target to handle over 10,000 million metric tonnes of cargo by 2047.

Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24

Overview

The latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey for 2023-24, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), highlights a shift in the consumption patterns of Indian households amidst rising food prices. Notably, the share of spending on food items has increased in both rural and urban areas.

Overall Consumption Spending

• Rural average monthly consumption spending per person rose to Rs 4,122, marking a 9.3% increase from the previous year.
• Urban average monthly consumption was Rs 6,996, with an 8.3% rise over the same period.
• The gap between rural and urban consumption expenditure narrowed to 69.7% from 71.2% the prior year.

State-wise Consumption Patterns

• Western, northern, and southern states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu reported higher per capita consumption compared to national averages.
• Eastern and central states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh recorded lower spending.

Spending on Food and Non-Food Items

• The share of spending on food increased to 47.04% in rural and 39.68% in urban areas in 2023-24.
• Rural households spent Rs 1,939, while urban households spent Rs 2,776 on food monthly.
• Non-food spending accounted for 52.96% in rural areas and 60.32% in urban areas.

Popular Food Items

• Highest spending was on 'beverages, refreshments, processed food' in both rural (11.09%) and urban (9.84%) areas.
• Followed by 'milk and milk products' (rural: 8.44%, urban: 7.19%) and vegetables (rural: 6.03%, urban: 4.12%).
• Rural spending was higher on cereals, while urban areas prioritized fruits.

Trends in Food Spending

• Declining trend in spending on sugar and salt continues.
• Increased spending on 'beverages, processed food'.
• Rise in expenditure on vegetables and spices in 2023-24 compared to previous years.

Non-Food Expenditure Trends

• Rural spending focused on conveyance (7.59%), medical (6.83%), and clothing (6.63%).
• Urban spending emphasized conveyance (8.46%), miscellaneous goods (6.92%), and rent (6.58%).

Human Longevity and Ageing

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a Nobel laureate, addressed the challenges of increasing human life expectancy and the human desire to halt ageing. His insights were shared during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Department of Biochemistry at MS University, aligning with the themes of his book, Why We Die — And How We Can Live Longer.

Key Insights on Ageing

• Life Span Variations:
  • Different species have vastly different lifespans, such as mayflies (a day), giant tortoises (170+ years), and Greenland sharks (several hundred years).
  • This variation suggests potential for understanding ageing and possibly influencing it.
• DNA and Ageing:
  • DNA is comprised of a sequence of chemical letters, which can be altered through environmental impacts.
  • Even non-carcinogenic factors in the natural living process can corrupt DNA.
• Role of Natural Compounds:
  • Many attempts to halt ageing involve natural foods and compounds rather than drugs.
  • While some are scientifically grounded, many lack strong evidence.

Evolution and Mortality

• Mortality Awareness:
  • Humans uniquely understand their mortality, yet all animals have an instinct to live due to evolutionary pressures.
• Lifespan Breakthroughs:
  • Extending human lifespans beyond 110 years requires significant scientific breakthroughs.
  • Comparable to space exploration challenges, these advancements are unpredictable and difficult.

Conclusion

While breakthroughs in science may eventually extend human lifespans, the immediate focus should be on improving health. Most people live into their 80s and 90s, with only a few reaching 110 years. Realistic advancements are expected to improve health rather than significantly increase lifespan.

Women Participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Overview

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections marked a significant increase in women participation, with 800 female candidates contesting across 390 parliamentary constituencies. This is the highest number since the second general elections in 1957.

Trends in Women Candidacy

• The number of women candidates has been rising over the years: 
  • 372 in 2019 from 37 in 1957

Distribution of Women Candidates

• 167 constituencies had at least one woman candidate.
• Three constituencies had the highest number of women candidates at eight: Baramati, Secunderabad, and Warangal.

Election Outcomes for Women

• Of the 800 women candidates, only 74 won their seats.
• 629 women candidates lost their deposits.

Voter Participation

• Women voters again outnumbered men in 2024, continuing a trend from 2019.
• 65.78% of women voters cast their votes in 2024, compared to 65.55% men.
• Assam’s Dhubri seat recorded the highest female voter turnout at 92.17%, followed by Tamluk (West Bengal) at 87.57%.
• The number of female voters per 1,000 male voters reached a new high of 946, up from 926 in 2019.

Statistics

• Total registered women voters in 2024: 47.63 crore out of 97.97 crore electors.
• Comparable data for 1951 and 1971 is unavailable.
• In 2024, the number of constituencies without a female candidate was highest in UP (30), followed by Bihar (15) and Gujarat (14).