1. With no iron or steel, Ayodhya temple is a study in sandstone
The edifice will eventually be of three storeys; each floor will be 20 feet high and will have 392 pillars and 44 gates; about 70% of the complex is expected to be maintained as a green area; nearly 600 existing trees are preserved in this belt
The Ayodhya temple, consecrated on Monday, is a sprawling structure built with sandstones by overcoming engineering challenges and showing sensitivity to nature, say authorities connected with its construction.
Champat Rai, general secretary of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, said the temple’s construction was the result of “collective wisdom” of “some of the best brains in the country”.
No iron or steel has been used in the construction of the grand structure. Stones have been sourced from the Bansi Paharpur area in Rajasthan. Images of Lord Hanuman and other deities, peacocks and flower patterns have been carved into them.
“The entire temple superstructure will eventually be three storeys — ground plus two floors,” Mr. Rai said. Visitors will climb 32 steps from the eastern side to reach the main temple.
Nagara style
The temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, will be 380 feet long from east to west, 250 feet wide and 161 feet high. Each floor will be 20 feet high and will have 392 pillars and 44 gates.
During excavation, the ground was found unsuitable for laying the foundation stone, a challenge that engineers overcame by creating an “artificial foundation” over which the superstructure sits. Around the grand temple is a rectangular periphery called percota, a feature found in temples in South India, but not generally in the north, Mr. Rai had earlier said.
The percota will be 14 feet wide and the periphery spans 732 metres. The temple will be nestled within the percota periphery.
Ornate figures of elephants and lions and idols of Lord Hanuman and Garuda were installed at the main entrance earlier this month. They have also been made using sandstones from Bansi Paharpur.
“An ancient Shiva temple that exists on the Kuber Tila has also been revitalised,” Mr. Rai said. After the consecration ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Kuber Tila.
A major part of the temple compound will be a green area with hundreds of trees. Mr. Rai underlined important features such as sewage and water treatment plants, a fire brigade post and a dedicated electricity line.
About 70% of the complex will be a green area. “The green area includes portions which are very dense and, in some segments, even sunlight hardly filters through,” Mr. Rai had said. Nearly 600 trees are preserved in this belt.
More than 3,000 kg of flowers of over 20 varieties have been used to decorate the grand structure, says Sanjay Dhawalikar, head of the floral decoration team.
2. President urges youth to stay vigilant against misuse of technology
Murmu confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for the year 2024 on 19 children; she says India has an invaluable resource in the form of a large population of youth
President Droupadi Murmu stressed the importance of technology for the educational and personal development of children, but cautioned against its misuse such as in the case of deep fakes and financial frauds.
“Social media, while a powerful tool for communication and awareness, is also misused for spreading rumours. Therefore, it is essential to stay vigilant and avoid such activities as a wrong step can jeopardise your future,” Ms. Murmu said after giving away the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (national children awards) here.
She also noted that excessive use of devices such as mobile phones, laptops and television had led to a decline in physical activities among today’s generation. “I urge the youth to at least engage in one sport,” the President said.
Ms. Murmu said India had an invaluable resource in the form of a large number of youth. “This resource can play an important role in the progress of not only India but also the whole world. We have to make our youth capable for using technology. They have to be encouraged for innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Awards presented
A total of 19 children were given the national children’s awards for the year 2024 by the President. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ was given to nine boys and 10 girls in six categories, namely art and culture, bravery, innovation, science and technology, social service and sports.
The awardees belong to 18 States and Union Territories, including two aspirational districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the awardees on Wednesday. Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani met and congratulated them.
The Central government confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) to children for their exceptional achievements. The awards are conferred upon the children in the age group of 5–18. Some of the awardees this year are Charvi A (sports) from Karnataka; Suhani Chauhan (innovation) from Delhi; Pendalaya Lakshmi Priya (art and culture) from Telangana; and R. Surya Prakash (sports) from Andhra Pradesh.
3. ‘Tech enterprises scouting for global talent to expand footprint’
Tech enterprises are looking at newer geographies to scout for talent, to forge collaborations, expand their addressable markets and also to increase competitive advantage, industry body Nasscom said in a study in association with Indeed on Monday.
Companies are focusing on geographical expansion to explore talent in new markets, to gain competitive advantage and market access, Nasscom said.
Industry is also looking at expanding across Tier 2/3 cities in India as service-based organisations and GCCs (global capability centres) look to harness untapped innovation potential found in diverse talent pools in these emerging technology hubs.
While talent availability and cost savings are primary drivers for this phenomenon among smaller organisations with revenue less than ₹25 crore, for larger tech firms with a revenue of more than ₹ 250 crore, the key drivers were the availability of diverse skill sets and untapped talent, Nasscom added.
The study titled “Future of Work – Unravelling the Intricacies of New-Gen Work,” argues that the workforce of the future is set to navigate an increasingly multi-generational landscape. Driven by fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, Generation Z, Millennials, and the future workforce will reshape strategies for employee engagement, retention, and acquisition, and set new benchmarks.
As the dynamics of job roles continue to evolve, the majority of organisations are adopting a hybrid and flexible work approach, with office attendance guided by organizational needs and job profiles, says Nasscom.
Further to equip themselves for the future of work, enterprises are increasingly embracing new technologies, leading to a growing demand for specialist roles such as AI/ML Scientists, Quantum Computing Researchers, Quantum AI Developers, and Blockchain Specialists, Nasscom’s study reported.
Among the sought-after job roles, data analytics is in the lead, followed by positions that enhance customer experiences, automation and efficiencies.
4. PM announces solar rooftop scheme for 1 crore households
Hours after the consecration of the Ram idol in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing divine inspiration, publicly announced a scheme to electrify one crore households with solar electricity.
“Today, on the auspicious occasion of the consecration in Ayodhya, my resolve has been further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar roof-top system on the roof of their houses. The first decision I have taken after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana’ with the target of installing rooftop solar on one crore houses. This will not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class, but will also make India self-reliant in the field of energy,” Mr. Modi tweeted from his personal account.
No information on a timeline for such installations was given.
Accompanying the tweet were photographs of Mr. Modi convening a meeting with officials, including those from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. These included the department’s Minister, R.K. Singh, and Secretary, Bhupinder Bhalla.
Muted growth
Currently, there is no Centrally compiled estimate of the number of households in India with rooftop solar installations.
What is known is that despite increases in installed solar capacity, the growth in the number of rooftop solar installations has been muted. The Hindu spoke to multiple analysts, and though none had definitive numbers, it is estimated that there are fewer than 10 lakh households with rooftop solar installations.
As of July 31, 2023, only 2.2 GW (1 GW is 1,000 MW) worth of rooftop installations were reportedly installed in Indian homes, according to information presented to the Lok Sabha.
