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<ul><li>The court has asked the <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="archaeological-survey-of-india">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (<keyword id="46215" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>) why the monument is changing its hue from a bright white to a dull brown and green.</li><li>ASI has cited many reasons for this, including dirty socks, green slime emitted by millions of mosquito-like insects and algae. </li><li>The ASI said the <keyword id="6355354" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="taj-mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword> floor was dirty at several places because many walking on it do not wear socks. </li></ul> India’s <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> is supremely <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-expresses-concern-over-change-in-colour-of-taj-mahal/articleshow/63985113.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">annoyed</a> with the caretakers of the Taj Mahal, who have not been able to prevent or combat the world heritage site’s discolouration. It has sought answers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as to why the monument is changing its hue from a bright white to a dull brown and green. The apex court has been hearing the case based on a plea filed by environmentalist M.C. Mehta, seeking protection of the Taj. On May 1, the court asked the Centre and <keyword id="6357713" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> government to consider hiring experts from outside if local experts could not get the job done. "We don't know whether you have or perhaps don't have the expertise. Even if you have the expertise, you are not utilising it," Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta told the government. "Or perhaps you don't care," the bench added. “You all appear to be helpless. Money should not be the consideration. We might order you to hire experts from within India or abroad. We need to save it,” it further added. ASI, the body entrusted with the upkeep of the 17th-century tomb, has cited many reasons for this, <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/saving-taj-mahal-supreme-court-says-throw-out-asi-govt-says-calling-experts-5170706/" data-type="tilCustomLink">including</a> dirty socks, green slime emitted by millions of mosquito-like insects and algae. ASI also suggested that water stagnation in the Yamuna river and high phosphorus levels on the riverbed made it a breeding ground for insects that formed patches on the walls of the Taj every summer. On hearing ASI’s advocate A.D.N Rao’s comment that algae were a big source of the discolouration, Justice Madan B. Lokur asked how the algae reached the top parts of the Taj Mahal. “It flew there,” the lawyer said. “Can algae fly?” the judge asked. The ASI also told the court that the Taj Mahal floor was dirty at several places because many walking on it do not wear socks. Apparently, the ASI provides clean socks only to VIPs when they tour the Taj Mahal. Rao also told the bench, "I am not saying that there is no problem but we are trying our best." Clearly miffed with the ASI's feeble attempt to provide a satisfactory explanation or a solution, the judges told the Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre: “You (Centre) please consider if the ASI is needed there or not. The view of ASI is very clear from their submissions. They are not prepared to accept the problem… you have to remove the ASI because they are saying they are doing an excellent job. ASI will have to be thrown out of the picture.” To this, Nadkarni told the bench that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) was already considering the recommendation to involve international experts in the monument’s conservation.

India’s Supreme Court asks for the top archaeological body to be “thrown out” to preserve the Taj Mahal

<keyword id="391816" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="General-Atomics-Aeronautical-Systems">General Atomics Aeronautical Systems</keyword> (<keyword id="3490519" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="GA-ASI">GA-ASI</keyword>), America's top armed drones maker plans to open an office in New Delhi by the end of this year, thus giving boost to the rumours about India acquiring state of the art armed drones from the US. 
 "We are looking forward to continuing to enhance our cooperation with India by working with the US government to provide the Indian Navy with persistent, operationally proven maritime domain awareness," said Linden Blue, <keyword id="3490521" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="GA-ASI-CEO">GA-ASI CEO</keyword>. GA-ASI is the leading manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions. 
 
A statement from GA-ASI talked about its plans to expand its presence in India and open an office in New Delhi by 2016 end, from where it can work closely with the Indian Government adding that it recognises India’s importance. 
 
The company also plans to increase its collaboration with India in the areas of maritime security and maritime domain awareness, two key missions for the Indian Ministry of Defence and the Indian Navy. 
 
<a href="http://dronesonvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Drones.jpg">Image source</a>

India calling: Top drone manufacturer from US to soon have its office in New Delhi

For those who think there is dearth of <keyword id="6362949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Government-jobs">government jobs</keyword> in the country, it might come as a shock that there are over 5,000 vacant posts in 45 organisations, under the Ministry of Culture. This is also leading to difficulties in security, conservation and preservation of historical monuments, as told by Culture Minister <keyword id="210147" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mahesh-Sharma">Mahesh Sharma</keyword>. 
 
It was during his address to Lok Sabha that Sharma informed of 15,607 sanctioned posts in 45 organisations under his Ministry, of which only 10,284 posts are filled. 
 
"These vacancies have occurred over the years and we have taken a number of steps, including appointing people on contractual basis, to fill the vacant posts," he said during Question Hour. He added that old and stringent rules of hiring are the reasons behind these vacant posts. 
 
There are around 80,000 historic monuments in India, of which 3,686 were protected by Archaeological Survey of India. He however added that "no monument of national importance has been neglected or defaced for want of adequate manpower." 
 
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3405520/images/o-MAHESH-SHARMA-facebook.jpg">Image source</a>

Culture Ministry has 5,000 vacant positions 45 organisations

A 60-kg British-era copper chandelier at the main entrance of 17th century <keyword id="6355354" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Taj-Mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword> crashed down on Wedenesday, sources said. 
 A probe under <keyword id="46215" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>'s superintending archaeologist Bhuvan Vikram has been initiated into the matter, they said. 
 
 
Though there was no official word as to what caused the chandelier to fall, the sources said it probably came down due to "aging and wear and tear". 
 
"Luckily, there was no one around or else it would have resulted in a major tragedy," a tourist guide Ved Gautam said. 
 On Thursday, Agra ASI chief <keyword id="3013863" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhuvan-Vikram-Singh">Bhuvan Vikram Singh</keyword> had said that the decision to fix the chandelier would be taken only after carefully examining its structure and its present state. 
 
 
Meanwhile, some tourist guides have accused the ASI officials of "gross negligence" and questioned their expertise in handling the monument's artifacts. 
 
The six-feet high and four-feet wide chandelier was gifted by Lord Curzon and installed at the Royal Gate of Taj Mahal in 1905. 
 
(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Crash of Taj Mahal chandelier prompts ASI probe

The politically charged town of <keyword id="6354931" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ayodhya">Ayodhya</keyword> in Uttar Pradesh would have a state of-the-art Ram museum to promote <keyword id="6363500" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="ramayana">Ramayana</keyword>. <keyword id="6358079" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tourism-Minister">Tourism Minister</keyword> <keyword id="210147" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mahesh-Sharma">Mahesh Sharma</keyword> told the Economic Times that the <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword> is coming up with the museum, which would be part of the proposed 'Ramayana circuit'. Fortunately, the ‘disputed site’, the reason for all the battles, would not be touched by the project. "This will be an exclusive museum which will be part of a larger holistic plan. The idea is to depict the mahima (grandeur) of <keyword id="353792" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lord-Ram">Lord Ram</keyword> and Ramayana," Sharma said. "It is on high priority and the scale will depend on funds available. We will do this next year." The museum would be build on the model of the Swaminarayan <keyword id="76721" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akshardham-Temple">Akshardham temple</keyword> in Delhi - which features a sound and light show, boat ride and a film on Swaminarayan - and house archaeological material related to the deity. 

	The minister said work would soon begin on the detailed project report. 
 

	In order to again turn Ayodhya into a major cultural hub, the Modi government plans to develop all sites related to Lord Ram in and around the town.. When asked about the political ramifications, the minister said that the museum may reach the state of completion in 2017, a time when UP elections are due. He added, "Tourism we can develop. We are not saying we are going to make a Ram mandir there."
 

	The tourism minister further stated that the government is already working on a chain of five circuits. "For every year we will declare a different circuit. Ramayana circuit will start with the centre somewhere in Ayodhya and Chitrakoot and definitely we go to Makohda in Basti, then Janaki kund in Unnao and nearby areas and places relevant to the life of Ram...that is our idea," he said. 
 

	The Centre would also host what it calls are cultural activities revolving around Ram and Ramayana at events abroad, including festivals and travel marts. According to officials of the Tourism Ministry, the government has already asked Uttar Pradesh to send a proposal for the project under the Centre's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme. 
 

	"We have requested the state government to develop the proposal under the PRASAD scheme. Cost estimates are open-ended as of now and depend on the outline and scale of the proposal. This is actually an inter-state project as well so we will talk to other states as well," Tourism Secretary Lalit Pawar said. Rakesh Tiwari, director-general of Archaeological Survey of India (<keyword id="46215" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>), said that discussions on the Ramayana circuit are still at a preliminary stage and the ASI would help the tourism ministry with all related inputs. 

	"We will help develop the circuit in whichever way the government asks us to. Cultural bodies are also going to be roped in to bring alive the folklore and legends associated with Ramayana," said Tiwari. 
 

	(Image: Indiatimes)

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India’s Supreme Court asks for the top archaeological body to be “thrown out” to preserve the Taj Mahal

Kavita Majumdar

India calling: Top drone manufacturer from US to soon have its office in New Delhi

Culture Ministry has 5,000 vacant positions 45 organisations

BI India Bureau

Crash of Taj Mahal chandelier prompts ASI probe

BI India Bureau

Not a temple, but a hi-tech Ram museum is coming up in Ayodhya

BI India Bureau

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