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There are nearly 60 properties in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> that find a place in the Tentative List for further inclusion in the <keyword id="20413005" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UNESCO-World-Heritage-List" source="keywords">UNESCO World Heritage List</keyword>, according to information shared by the government in Parliament on Monday. A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties that each State Party intends to consider for nomination as a <keyword id="19908797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNESCO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNESCO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNESCO">UNESCO</keyword> <keyword id="20989756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heritage" source="keywords">World Heritage</keyword> Site. The 46th session of the World <keyword id="19960510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heritage" source="keywords">Heritage</keyword> Committee (WHC) is being held in New Delhi from July 21 to July 31. India is hosting the key event of UNESCO for the first time. The mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam -- '<keyword id="22553829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Moidams" source="keywords">Moidams</keyword>' -- was, on July 26, inscribed on the UNESCO <keyword id="22552065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heritage-list" source="keywords">World Heritage List</keyword>, making it the first <keyword id="22477662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cultural-property" source="keywords">cultural property</keyword> from the Northeast to get the coveted tag. 'Moidams' was submitted as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2023-24. The site was put in the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014. In a written response to a query in Lok Sabha, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "There are 57 properties in the Tentative List for further inclusion in the World Heritage List. However, as per the Operational Guidelines 2023, only one property can be submitted for the World Heritage inscription process each year. As of now, 42 properties have been inscribed on the World Heritage List." The updated list for India, after the inclusion of centuries-old 'Moidams', is now 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 56 properties on the Tentative List, according to the website of UNESCO, which adds that out of the 195 States Parties to the <keyword id="22589969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Heritage-Convention" source="keywords">World Heritage Convention</keyword>, 189 have submitted a Tentative List. Shekhawat was also asked whether the government has formulated any scheme for the protection of cultural heritage in compliance with the guidelines of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). "No, sir, there is no such scheme formulated for the protection of cultural heritage in compliance with the guidelines of UNESCO. However, India has ratified the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. All the World Heritage properties, along with other sites and monuments under the jurisdiction of the <keyword id="19946002" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Archaeological-Survey-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Archaeological Survey of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Archaeological Survey of India">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword>, Ministry of Culture, are protected and conserved by funds provided by the Government of India based on their requirements and Annual Conservation Plan (ACP)," the Union minister replied. In response to another query, he said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes up conservation and maintenance work of protected monuments and sites throughout the country, including 286 in the state of Maharashtra. "Conservation and maintenance of monuments and archaeological sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per the need of monuments and availability of resources," the minister said. Shekhawat, in his response, also shared details of expenditure incurred on conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments during the last three years and till July 15 of the current financial year. The figures stand as follows -- Rs 269.57 crore (2021-22), Rs 391.93 crore (2022-23), and Rs 443.53 crore (2023-24), while it was Rs 73.36 crore (2024-25) till July 15 of the current financial year.

Nearly 60 properties from India on Tentative List for inclusion on World Heritage List, says govt

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> has long captivated the imaginations of Central Asian invaders. But what exactly made the subcontinent so irresistibly alluring? A recent study, unearthing secrets hidden within tiny shells from <keyword id="19906863" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gujarat" source="keywords">Gujarat</keyword>, offers a captivating new perspective: the verdant bounty brought by India's monsoons may have played a pivotal role in drawing these historical conquerors. Imagine the parched plains of <keyword id="19946000" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-asia" source="keywords">Central Asia</keyword> locked in the throes of a relentless drought. Now picture India, basking in the vibrant embrace of a bountiful monsoon, its fields overflowing with life-giving crops. This stark contrast, the study suggests, may have been the very impetus behind the seven Central Asian invasions that plagued India over the past two millennia. A team of researchers, hailing from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and the Archaeological Survey of India, meticulously combed through <keyword id="19970813" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vadnagar" source="keywords">Vadnagar</keyword>, a treasure trove of <keyword id="29052" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="history" source="Orion">history</keyword> nestled in Gujarat. This ancient town, predating even the rise of Jainism and Buddhism, boasts a staggering 2,800 years of human habitation. By meticulously analysing the oxygen isotopes trapped within freshwater molluscs and shells unearthed from the region, the researchers embarked on a captivating journey through time, reconstructing the environmental tapestry of the past. Their findings revealed a remarkable correlation between climate and historical events. Periods of robust monsoons, translating to bountiful harvests, coincided with an upsurge in cultural exchange. Vadnagar, during these verdant chapters, amassed a captivating collection of artefacts, bearing eloquent testimony to Greco-Bactrian, Saka, and Indo-Sassanian influences. Significantly, these prosperous monsoon-blessed eras mirrored the very periods when India faced invasions. Anindya Sarkar, the lead author of the study, further bolstered this connection by highlighting the conspicuous absence of major invasions during times of Indian famine and drought. India, a historical melting pot brimming with the echoes of ancient interactions, continues to unveil its secrets, one fascinating discovery at a time. While unearthing artefacts to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of our past remains crucial, this study serves as a compelling reminder to broaden our perspective and appreciate the rich tapestry of Indian history in all its nuanced complexity. The findings of this groundbreaking research have been published in the Quaternary Science Reviews.

Shells from Gujarat suggest that India’s lush monsoons might've helped attract several invaders in the past!

Gusty wind with heavy showers that lashed Agra Friday evening left behind a trail of destruction in the city. Some minor structures in the <keyword id="6355354" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="taj-mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword> were also damaged. According to reliable sources, a part of the iron scaffolding that was being used for the mud pack treatment of the <keyword id="7257185" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="17th-century-monument">17th century monument</keyword> of love came crashing down. A red sand stoned "jaalidaar" boundary was also damaged at the rear, overlooking the Yamuna river. It fell on the Chameli <keyword id="9319763" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="farsh">Farsh</keyword> down below. At the main western gate entrance a stone supporting the arch was loosened, but was restored by on Saturday. The visitors' gallery at the eastern gate also suffered some damage, particularly the artificial ceiling in the security area. The 124 km per hour velocity storm ravaged several structures in the city, and caused extensive damage to greenery in the monument's complex. The Taj Mahal is closed for visitors due to the lockdown. Conservationists of <keyword id="7654611" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-Archaeological-Survey-of-India">the Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (ASI) could not be contacted for an official version on the extent of the damage. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/anti-tobacco-day-next-gen-technology-to-help-you-quit-smoking/slidelist/76115123.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Anti-tobacco day — Next-gen technology to help you quit smoking</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/one-in-8-museums-around-the-world-may-never-reopen-due-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic-unesco-reports/articleshow/76112768.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">One in 8 museums around the world may never reopen due to the coronavirus pandemic, UNESCO reports</a>

Thunderstorm in Uttar Pradesh's Agra damages minor structures in Taj Mahal

<ul><li>The Supreme Court pronounced the historic <keyword id="399476" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayodhya-verdict">Ayodhya verdict</keyword> today. </li><li>The Hindus get to keep the land of dispute and build a temple, while the Muslims get a 5 acre land within <keyword id="6354931" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayodhya">Ayodhya</keyword> to build a mosque. </li><li>The SC cited the findings of <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="archaeological-survey-of-india">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> in its verdict.</li></ul>The evidence from Archaeological Survey of India played a crucial part in the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya dispute, where the judges allowed the construction of a temple for Lord Rama and ordered that the government must give the Muslims a separate 5-acre site for the construction of a mosque. While it cited ASI findings, the SC also said that the title for the disputed property cannot be based solely on the report. The archaeological findings in Ayodhya didn't prove the existence of Lord Rama, or even the existence of a Hindu temple beneath the Babri Masjid. They only exposed the holes in the arguments of the Muslim side, particularly, the Waqf Board. Babri Masjid was not built on vacant land According to the judgement the discovery of structures and articles showed evidence of continuous public use of the disputed land starting from the Gupta era to the early medieval Rajput era through the Delhi Sultanate era up until the construction of the mosque in the 16th century. This finding helped debunk the claim by Muslims, particularly the Sunni Waqf Board, that the Babri Masjid was built on a vacant piece of land. At that juncture, the counsel for the Muslim side went back on the earlier claim, and insisted that the underlying structure was an Idgah⁠— an open space used for Id prayers. The change in stance from the Waqf Board brought the argument to a point where the court had to decide whether the underlying structure was an Islamic or non-Islamic. The court eventually decided that it was non-Islamic, based on the ASI report. However, while the Supreme Court clearly dismissed the presence of an Islamic structure, it didn’t confirm a Hindu temple too. “The possible linkages of Buddhist or Jain traditions cannot be excluded. Indeed, in assessing archaeological or historical material one must eschew a unidimensional view. The excavation in the present case does in fact suggest a confluence of civilisations, cultures and traditions," said the order. Against the Allahabad HC verdict The Supreme Court’s order also quashed the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict by Justice SU Khan. Justice Khan had discarded the ASI findings to say that, <ul><li>firstly, there was evidence of continuity in structural phases from the tenth Century onward upto the construction of the disputed structure is directly in conflict with the pleadings, gazetteers and history books </li></ul><ul><li>secondly, that in the case a temple had been demolished for constructing a mosque, the super structure of the temple would not have gone inside the ground</li></ul>But the SC called the first argument ‘specious’ and the second one ‘pure conjecture’. Historians’ report debunked The Supreme Court also dismissed a report “Babri Mosque or Rama‘s Birth Place? Historians‘ Report to the Indian Nation” released by four historians in 1991. The report said that there is no basis to prove that the site of Babri Masjid is the birthplace of Lord Rama, and that the pillar carvings in the mosque do not bear any relation to a Vaishnavite among other claims. The SC went on to say in its verdict that the historians didn’t have the ASI material assessed by them and thus the 1991 report doesn’t carry any weight. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/ayodhya-ram-mandir-case-supreme-court-verdict-top-highlights/articleshow/71979856.cms">Hindus get the disputed site in Ayodhya for a Ram Temple-- that and other top highlights from the Supreme Court verdict</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/inside-details-of-supreme-court-verdict-on-ayodhya-dispute-on-land-rights/articleshow/71983309.cms">Supreme Court ensured that the Ayodhya verdict can’t be used to take over land by citing faith</a>

The archaeological survey findings played a crucial part in the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute

<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

Are you an avid traveller? Is time the major constraint that’s stopping you from planning your next vacation? Now search giant <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> has a solution to all your worries. People across the globe can view over 1,400 cultural objects belonging to India. This includes images from 76 heritage sites like Safdarjung Tomb in Delhi, Ellora Caves in Maharashtra and Purana Quila in Delhi on <keyword id="1412042" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-Cultural-Institute">Google Cultural Institute</keyword>. 
 As per a statement issued by Google, the search engine is releasing new 360-degree online imagery of 76 iconic historical sites with the support of the <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Archaeological-Survey-of-India">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (ASI). 
 
These immersive panoramas are collected using Street View technology and one can view these on the Google Cultural Institute (GCI) site, the statement said. With this launch, the total number of ASI sites online has jumped to over 100. 
 
The statement also revealed that several arts and archival institution will use the Google Cultural Institute (GCI) and unveil immersive online exhibitions of their collections, photographs, prints and paintings, it said. The list includes institution like the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Daricha Foundation, Parzor Foundation and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Now Enjoy Virtual Tour Of 76 Indian Heritage, Courtesy Google

<keyword id="155922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Google-Street-View">Google Street View</keyword> executives might be crashing cars into buses in <keyword id="8692" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indonesia">Indonesia</keyword> and making the headlines for the wrong reasons. But in India, they are in news for the right ones. <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> has entered into an alliance with the <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Archaeological-Survey-of-India">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (ASI) to create panoramic 360 degree views of 100 popular and famous monuments of India. 
 This has been done in various other countries across the globe and has proved to be fruitful for both Google and its users. Google will create virtual walkthroughs of monuments such as the <keyword id="6355354" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Taj-Mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword>, the Qutub Minar and the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. The list has not been finalised yet, but the <keyword id="101796" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Culture">Ministry of Culture</keyword> will do that soon. With this move, people from all over the country and across the world would be able to tour through those famous monuments with ease in the virtual world. 
 Google’s Street View Trekker will be used to create the virtual walkthroughs. The search giant has already created walkthroughs of places such as the Grand Canyon in the US and the <keyword id="36539" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="eiffel-tower">Eiffel Tower</keyword> in <keyword id="6354785" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="France">France</keyword>. The Indian monuments will be an interesting addition for the world to watch and appreciate.

Google Will Soon Give You Wall-To-Wall View Of 100 Indian Monuments

The Union Culture Ministry on Sunday approved opening of 820 centrally protected monuments under the Archeological Survey of India which has places of worship from June 8, Minister Prahlad Patel said. The ministry said that as per the instructions of the ministry of home affairs, the culture ministry has decided to open only those monuments among the over 3,000 ASI-maintained monuments, where religious worship takes place such as Nila Mosque at Hauz Khas enclave, the Qutub archaeological area, Lal Gumbad in Delhi. He said that all coronavirus-related protocols issued by the health ministry will be followed by the monument authorities. There are 3,691 Centrally-protected monuments and archaeological sites maintained by the ASI were shut from March 17 in view of the coronavirus crisis. Sources said that wearing masks might be made the norm at such sites for visitors. "Today, the Culture Ministry has approved the opening of 820 of its living monuments under the ASI from June 8. All protocols issued by the MHA and the Health ministry will be followed," Patel tweeted. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/with-233-fresh-cases-bihars-covid-19-tally-rises-to-4831/articleshow/76238545.cms">Bihar registers 233 new coronavirus cases with its overall tally rising to 4.831</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/noida-21-new-covid-19-cases-tally-591/articleshow/76238339.cms">Noida’s total coronavirus cases hit 591 with 21 new cases detected in the past 24 hours</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/342-new-coronavirus-cases-in-pune-district-six-deaths/articleshow/76239001.cms">Six more people die of coronavirus in Pune with 342 fresh cases</a>

Over 800 ASI monuments which have places of worship will open from June 8

<ul><li>There are 11,052 active cases of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> in Telangana and 39,327 people have been cured so far. </li><li>So far, the state has reported 447 deaths due to Coronavirus.</li><li>On July 23, the state reported 1,567 new cases and 9 new deaths.</li></ul>Telangana reported 1,567 new cases of Coronavirus in the state on July 23, taking the total confirmed cases in the state to 50,826. Out of the 1,567 new cases, 662 cases were reported in the state's capital Hyderabad. The death toll in the state increased to 447 after the state recorded 9 new deaths on July 23. In some good news, the state government in its health bulletin has revealed that 1,661 people have been discharged on July 23, taking the total number of cured people to 39,327 at a recovery rate of 77.3%. "But people should not entertain any fear or anxiety. The government is ready to provide treatment to any number of cases in the state. The required PPE kits, test kits, masks, beds, ventilators, hospitals are all ready," a statement from the Chief Minister's Office quoted him as saying at a high-level meeting called by him to review Covid-19 situation. <table style="width: 540pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 74pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: black;">State</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 175pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Total Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 179pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Active Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Cured</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Death</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">Telangana</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">50,826</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">11,052</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">39,327</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">447</td></tr></tbody></table> COVID-19 victim's body carried in autorickshaw In a shocking incident highlighting the utter negligence of health officials in Telangana's Nizamabad town, body of a COVID-19 victim was carried in an autorickshaw. The visuals of the body being carried in the three-wheeler in total violation of the guidelines for transporting the bodies of COVID-19 victims, went viral on social media on Saturday. The body was seen protruding from both sides of the vehicle as it was kept at the bottom of the rear seat. Neither the autorickshaw driver, said to be a relative of the deceased nor the local municipal employee sitting with him was wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits. Hyderabad MP urges people to undergo COVID-19 test AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday underwent a COVID-19 test to create public awareness in his constituency about the need to undergo the test. He visited the Government Nizamia General Hospital near the historic Charminar to give his samples for testing. "Got my antigen &amp; RT PCR tests done for COVID-19 today. My antigen test results were negative, Alhamdulilah. There are 30 odd centres in the South of Hyderabad where antigen testing is being conducted, I encourage all of you to not hesitate &amp; get tested," he later tweeted. Charminar, Golconda Fort shut after brief re-opening The Charminar and the Golconda Fort, two of Hyderabad's most famous monuments, were re-opened for visitors on Monday, only to be shut again as authorities took a U-turn. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is responsible for the upkeep of the centrally protected monuments, went back on its decision after the Telangana government opposed their re-opening as both were located close to areas witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases. Few people had booked their tickets online and were allowed entry but sale of tickets was stopped after local authorities expressed the apprehension that re-opening of the monuments could lead to violation of social distancing and other Covid-19 norms. 2 Hyderabad jewellers' corona deaths create panic among party guests The death of two city jewellers due to coronavirus within five days has led to panic among around 150 people from various walks of life who attended a birthday party thrown by one of them in Hyderabad a few days. A 63-year-old diamond jeweller who had organised the party for his relatives and friends two weeks ago succumbed on Friday. One of his guests, another city jeweller, had died earlier. A leading politician from the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and 11 others who attended the party have since tested positive and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.As many as 150 people had attended the birthday bash hosted by the jeweller who owns a shop in Himayatnagar area. Many leading jewellers, politicians and prominent people from various walks of life were among the attendees. As new lockdown looms over Hyderabad, migrants head for Andhra With another lockdown looming over Hyderabad, hundreds of people were heading to their native places in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Fearing that they may be stuck in the city if the lockdown was re-imposed, workers and businessmen were returning to be with their near and dear ones. Using whatever mode of transport available to them, the migrants were leaving Hyderabad, which is witnessing a big spike in Covid-19 cases. Majority of those returning home were daily wagers, construction labourers, domestic help and traders. Most of them had returned to Hyderabad after easing of lockdown in May. Biggest single-day jump takes Telangana Covid tally to 18,570 In the biggest surge since the outbreak of Covid-19, Telangana on Thursday registered 1,213 cases, taking the tally to 18,570 cases. With this, Telangana overtook Rajasthan and climbed to the seventh spot in the list of states with most cases. Under fire from different quarters for low testing, the state authorities ramped up the testing. According to the director of public health and family welfare, 5,356 tests were conducted. Covid fight in Telangana gets mired in political slugfest The fight against Covid-19 in Telangana has become mired in a political slugfest between the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government and the opposition parties. With the daily jump in new infections almost touching 1,000 and the state touching a new high with each passing day, the criticism of the government's response to the crisis is also mounting. Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by activists and the reprimands received by the government from the High Court has given ammunition to the opposition to attack the government, which claims to be handling the situation effectively and sees a conspiracy by "vested interests" to malign the government and state-run hospitals. The Centre's assessment is that between June 10 and 23, Telangana had the highest positivity rate in India at 27.7 per cent (ratio of people testing positive to number of people tested) and the latest data that Telangana is doing lowest number of tests per 10 lakh population at just 2,356 has also come handy to the opposition. HC asks Telangana govt to spell out stand on online classes The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to spell out its stand on the ongoing online classes by private schools and inform it by Friday if any policy on online classes had been framed or not. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Hyderabad School Students Parents Association, seeking directions to ban online classes. The petitioner argued that conducting online classes before the beginning of an academic year is "illegal". The court was told that the government had not yet issued orders with regard to the beginning of the new academic year. Telangana postpones all common entrance examinations The Telangana government on Tuesday decided to postpone all the Common Entrance Examinations (CETs) for admission to various professional courses in the state, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The CETs, including the Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (TS EAMCET) 2020 were scheduled to begin from Wednesday. The government conveyed its decision to the Telangana High Court during hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking direction to postpone the examinations. Telangana pauses mass testing in hotspot Hyderabad The health authorities in Telangana on June 25 decided to pause the ongoing mass testing for Covid-19 in Hyderabad and surrounding districts in view of the piling-up of samples in testing laboratories. With 8,235 samples still pending in the labs for testing, the authorities said collection of more samples without testing the pending ones will create problems. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had announced on June 14 that 50,000 Covid-19 tests will be done in 30 Assembly constituencies in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. Till June 16, the health authorities collected 36,000 samples. With inputs from IANS. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-andhra-pradesh-news-and-updates/articleshow/74828808.cms">Coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-gujarat-news-and-updates/articleshow/74830845.cms"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/checkout-gujarat-covid-19-cases-and-death-numbers-for-today/articleshow/76510489.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Coronavirus cases in Gujarat</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-bihar-news-and-updates/articleshow/74833815.cms">Coronavirus cases in Bihar</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-patient-cases-in-uttar-pradesh-news-and-updates/articleshow/74833735.cms">Coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh</a>

Telangana Coronavirus cases rise to 50,826 – 447 dead and 39,327 cured till July 23

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image">David Becker/GettyIf found guilty of the violations, the beauty queen and other members of her group could reportedly face up to two years in <keyword id="6363869" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="jail">jail</keyword> and a $1,600 fine.</div></div><keyword id="6381672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Miss-Universe">Miss Universe</keyword> <keyword id="1493355" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Olivia-Culpo">Olivia Culpo</keyword>, 21, is <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Miss-Universe-caught-on-the-wrong-foot-at-Taj-Mahal/Article1-1132152.aspx" target="_blank">in trouble for an unauthorized photo shoot</a> outside of <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s iconic Taj Mahal.
Culpo, who is dating pop star Nick Jonas, is being accused of violating the country's Heritage Act after she allegedly shot a footwear commercial Sunday in front of the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site.
According to the <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Miss-Universe-caught-on-the-wrong-foot-at-Taj-Mahal/Article1-1132152.aspx" target="_blank">Hindustan Times</a>, the state-run Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filed a complaint with police after Culpo posed for a photograph, showing off red high heeled shoes for a footwear company.
While no police who were on duty at the time raised any objections, India's Supreme Court strictly prohibits any commercial activity or branding and publicity on the Taj Mahal grounds.
According to the the Times, ASI officials are saying Culpo's visit was actually a covert fashion shoot and not authorized by its organization nor the tourism police.
If found guilty of the violations, the beauty queen and other members of her group <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57606939-504083/olivia-culpo-miss-universe-in-trouble-over-unauthorized-photo-shoot-at-taj-mahal-police-say/" target="_blank">could reportedly face up</a> to two years in jail and a $1,600 fine.
But Culpo clearly didn't know she was breaking any laws at the time of the shoot, tweeting:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Taj Mahal is breathtaking!!!!!!!!! Never thought I would actually make it here. Amazing experience <a href="http://t.co/nzDqDpVZxy">pic.twitter.com/nzDqDpVZxy</a>
- Olivia Culpo (@oliviaculpo) <a href="https://twitter.com/oliviaculpo/statuses/387075251320147968">October 7, 2013</a></blockquote>

And instagramming:
"Gorgeous Taj Mahal #india #instabeauty #nofilter."

"Thank you #India ??"

Miss Universe Facing Possible Jail Time After Unauthorized Taj Mahal Photo Shoot 

The legacy of the medieval <keyword id="662943" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="swahili" source="Orion">Swahili</keyword> civilisation is a source of extraordinary pride in East Africa, as reflected in its language being the official tongue of Kenya, Tanzania and even inland countries like Uganda and Rwanda, far from the Indian Ocean shore where the culture developed nearly two millennia ago. Its ornate stone and coral towns hugged 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometres) of the coast, and its merchants played a linchpin role in the lucrative trade between Africa and lands across the ocean: Arabia, Persia, India, Southeast Asia and China. By the turn of the second millennium, Swahili people embraced Islam, and some of their grand mosques still stand at the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Lamu in Kenya and Kilwa in Tanzania. Self-governance ended following Portuguese colonisation in the 1500s, with control later shifting to the Omanis (1730-1964), Germans in Tanganyika (1884-1918) and British in Kenya and Uganda (1884-1963). Following independence, coastal peoples were absorbed into the modern nation-states of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar. So who were the Swahili people, and where did their ancestors originally come from? Ironically, the story of Swahili origins has been moulded almost entirely by non-Swahili people, a challenge shared with many other marginalised and colonised peoples who are the modern descendants of cultures of the past with extraordinary achievements. Working with a team of 42 colleagues, including 17 African scholars and multiple members of the Swahili community, we've now published the first ancient DNA sequences from peoples of the Swahili civilization. Our results do not provide simple validation for the narratives previously advanced in archaeological, historical or political circles. Instead, they contradict and complicate all of them. Colonisation affected how the story was told Western archaeologists in the mid-20th century emphasised the connections of the medieval Swahili to Persia and Arabia, sometimes suggesting that their impressive achievements could not have been attained by Africans. Post-colonial scholars, including one of us (Kusimba), pushed back against that view. Earlier researchers had inflated the importance of non-African influences by focusing on imported objects at Swahili sites. They minimised the vast majority of locally made materials and what they revealed about African industry and innovation. But viewing Swahili heritage as primarily African or non-African is too simplistic; In fact, both perspectives are byproducts of colonialist biases. The truth is that colonisation of the East African coast did not end with the departure of the British in the middle of the 20th century. Many colonial institutions were inherited and perpetuated by Africans. As modern nation-states formed, with governments controlled by inland peoples, Swahili people continued to be undermined politically and economically, in some cases as much as they had been under foreign rule. Decades of archaeological research in consultation with local people aimed to address the marginalisation of communities of Swahili descent. Our team consulted oral traditions and used ethnoarchaeology and systematic surveys, along with targeted excavations of residential, industrial and cemetery locations. Working with local scholars and elders, we unearthed materials such as pottery, metal and beads; food, house and industrial remains; and imported objects such as porcelain, glass, glass beads and more. Together they revealed the complexity of Swahili everyday life and the peoples' cosmopolitan Indian Ocean heritage. Ancient DNA analysis was always one of the most exciting prospects. It offered the hope of using scientific methods to obtain answers to the question of how medieval people are related to earlier groups and to people today, providing a counterweight to narratives imposed from outside. Until a few years ago, this kind of analysis was a dream. But because of a technological revolution in 2010, the number of ancient humans with published genome-scale data has risen from nothing to more than 10,000 today. Surprises in the ancient DNA We worked with local communities to determine the best practices for treating human remains in line with traditional Muslim religious sensitivities. Cemetery excavations, sampling and reburial of human remains were carried out in one season, rather than dragging on indefinitely. Our team generated data from more than 80 people, mostly elite individuals buried in the rich centres of the stone towns. We will need to wait for future work to understand whether their genetic inheritance differed from people without their high status. Contradicting what we had expected, the ancestry of the people we analysed was not largely African or Asian. Instead, these backgrounds were intertwined, each contributing about half of the DNA of the people we analysed. We found that Asian ancestry in medieval individuals came largely from Persia (modern-day Iran) and that Asians and African ancestors began mixing at least 1,000 years ago. This picture is almost a perfect match to the Kilwa Chronicle, the oldest narrative told by the Swahili people themselves, and one almost all earlier scholars had dismissed as a kind of fairy tale. Another surprise was that mixed in with the Persians, Indians were a significant proportion of the earliest migrants. Patterns in the DNA also suggest that, after the transition to <keyword id="152879" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="omani" source="Orion">Omani</keyword> control in the 18th century, Asian immigrants became increasingly Arabian. Later, there was intermarriage with people whose DNA was similar to others in Africa. As a result, some modern people who identify as Swahili have inherited relatively little DNA from medieval peoples like those we analysed, while others have more. One of the most revealing patterns our genetic analysis identified was that the overwhelming majority of male-line ancestors came from Asia, while female-line ancestors came from Africa. This finding must reflect a history of Persian males travelling to the coast and having children with local women. One of us (<keyword id="3529902" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="reich" source="Orion">Reich</keyword>) initially hypothesised that these patterns might reflect Asian men forcibly marrying African women because similar genetic signatures in other populations are known to reflect such violent histories. But this theory does not account for what is known about the culture, and there is a more likely explanation. Traditional Swahili society is similar to many other East African Bantu cultures in being substantially matriarchal - it places much economic and social power in the hands of women. In traditional Swahili societies even today, ownership of stone houses often passes down the female line. And there is a long recorded history of female rulers, beginning with Mwana Mkisi, ruler of Mombasa, as recorded by the Portuguese as early as the 1500s, down to <keyword id="685506" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sabani" source="Orion">Sabani</keyword> binti Ngumi, ruler of Mikindani in Tanzania as late as 1886. Our best guess is that Persian men allied with and married into elite families and adopted local customs to enable them to be more successful traders. The fact that their children passed down the language of their mothers, and that encounters with traditionally patriarchal Persians and Arabians and conversion to Islam did not change the coast's African matriarchal traditions, confirms that this was not a simple history of African women being exploited. African women retained critical aspects of their culture and passed them down for many generations. How do these results glean from ancient DNA restore heritage for the Swahili? Objective knowledge about the past has great potential to help marginalised peoples. By making it possible to challenge and overturn narratives imposed from the outside for political or economic ends, scientific research provides a meaningful and underappreciated tool for righting colonial wrongs. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/mani-ratnams-ps-2-trailer-launched-sets-the-tempo-for-a-gripping-sequel/articleshow/99109845.cms">Mani Ratnam's PS-2 trailer launched, sets the tempo for a gripping sequel</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/unacademy-lays-off-12-of-workforce-in-its-latest-round-of-job-cuts/articleshow/99109510.cms">Unacademy lays off 12% of workforce in its latest round of job cuts</a>

Ancient DNA is restoring the origin story of the Swahili people of the East African coast

<ul><li>The 60-feet temple, believed to be around 500 years old, was located recently during an exercise as part of the project, said <keyword id="2300281" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Dhir">Anil Dhir</keyword>, project coordinator of the Indian National Trust for Art &amp; Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in Odisha.</li><li>The temple dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century, considering the construction style of the Mastaka and the materials used for the construction, Dhir said, adding that INTACH would approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take steps for relocating and restoring the temple.</li></ul> An ancient temple that remained submerged in Mahanadi in Odisha has been found, said experts who are leading a documentation project of heritage sites in the river valley. <div type="twitter" handle="otvnews" handlename="OTV" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1009286155626516480/PpJZIpfh_normal.jpg" favoritecount="635" retweetcount="97" status="Submerged temple believed to be 500 years old emerges to view in Mahanadi river near Bhapur in Nayagarh#Odisha https://t.co/hK5Stmgau7" createdat="1591807986000" id="1270760914736857088"></div> The 60-feet temple, believed to be around 500 years old, was located recently during an exercise as part of the project, said Anil Dhir, project coordinator of the Indian National Trust for Art &amp; Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in Odisha. The temple was found in the mid-river near Baideswar in the <keyword id="15943" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Padmavati">Padmavati</keyword> area in Cuttack, he said on Sunday. The temple dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century, considering the construction style of the Mastaka and the materials used for the construction, Dhir said, adding that INTACH would approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take steps for relocating and restoring the temple. We will soon write to the ASI requesting it to take steps to relocate the temple to a suitable site. They have the required technology to do it. The state government should also take up the matter with the ASI, he said. Stating that INTACH has so far located as many as 65 ancient temples in the Mahanadi river during its documentation project, Dhir said many of the temples in the Hirakud reservoir too can be dismantled and reconstructed. INTACH's project assistant Deepak Kumar Nayak, who with the help of a local heritage enthusiast <keyword id="9399772" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rabindra-rana">Rabindra Rana</keyword> located the temple, said he was aware of its existence. The temple was dedicated to <keyword id="9399773" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gopinath-dev">Gopinath Dev</keyword>, he said. The region used to be known as "Satapatana" in the early days. However, with the river changing its course due to catastrophic floodings, the entire village was submerged, Nayak said. In the mid 19th century, the deities of the vulnerable temple were shifted and installed in a safer and higher place, which is presently the Gopinath Dev temple of Padmavati village, he said. Dhir said INTACH Odisha had launched its project on the documentation of the heritage of the Mahanadi valley early last year. A systemic survey of all the tangible and intangible heritage of the entire length of the Mahanadi, from the source to the sea, covering a distance of nearly 1,700 km, is in its final stage of completion, he said. A multi-volume report of the nearly 800 monuments that have been documented will be released next year, he added. Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, the state convener of INTACH, said this will be the first of its type study on any river in India and is the pilot project of the trust. A comprehensive survey of the heritage, on either bank, has been undertaken in the nine districts through which the Mahanadi flows, he said. Dhir, who had earlier led the Old Jagannath Sadak and the Prachi valley documentation projects, said the richness and diversity of the Mahanadi valley have not been studied properly till date. He lamented that many of the ancient monuments have been destroyed, or are in a state of advanced decay. Nearly 50 ancient temples were lost due to the Hirakud dam, he said.

You Searched For "Archaeological Survey of India" and got 12 results

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Telangana Coronavirus cases rise to 50,826 – 447 dead and 39,327 cured till July 23

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Miss Universe Facing Possible Jail Time After Unauthorized Taj Mahal Photo Shoot

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Ancient DNA is restoring the origin story of the Swahili people of the East African coast

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A 500 year old temple of Lord Vishnu — which was under the water for several years — was found in Mahanadi in Odisha

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