Content

1. Bhadrakali Temple Inscription & Somnath Legacy
2. National Youth Day 2026

Bhadrakali Temple Inscription & Somnath Legacy

Why in News?

• PIB highlighted a 12th-century Bhadrakali Temple inscription at Prabhas Patan.
• The inscription chronicles Somnath Temple’s reconstruction history, especially Solanki ruler Kumarapala’s role (1169 CE).
• Reinforces archaeological, epigraphic, and cultural continuity of Somnath amid repeated destruction and revival.

Relevance

• GS I (Art & Culture / History):
  • Temple architecture, epigraphy, Solanki dynasty.
• GS I (Indian Heritage & Culture):
  • Sacred geography, continuity of religious traditions.
• GS II (Culture & Governance):
  • Role of state patronage in heritage conservation.

Chronology & Dating

• Inscription date:
  • 1169 CE
  • Valabhi Samvat 850
  • Vikram Samvat 1255
• Period:
  • Solanki (Chaulukya) dynasty, Gujarat’s medieval golden phase.

Nature of the Inscription

• Eulogistic epigraph.
• Dedicated to:
  • Param Pashupata Acharya Shriman Bhavabrihaspati.
  • Spiritual preceptor of Maharajadhiraj Kumarapala (Anhilwad Patan).
• Language & tradition:
  • Reflects Shaiva–Pashupata lineage.
  • Combines mythology + historical memory (typical of medieval inscriptions).

Somnath Temple Reconstruction Narrative

• Satya Yuga: Built by Chandra (Soma) in gold.
• Treta Yuga: Built by Ravana in silver.
• Dvapara Yuga: Built by Shri Krishna in wood.
• Kali Yuga:
  • Bhimdev Solanki: Artistic stone temple (4th temple).
  • Kumarapala (1169 CE): 5th reconstruction on same sacred site.

Demonstrates how epigraphy blends sacred cosmology with verifiable medieval history.

Role of Solanki Rulers

• Bhimdev Solanki:
  • Constructed major stone phase of Somnath.
• Siddharaj Jaysinh:
  • Known for justice, administrative consolidation.
• Kumarapala:
  • Patron of temple revival after destruction.
  • Symbol of state-backed religious reconstruction.
• Result:
  • Prabhas Patan emerged as a hub of religion, architecture, literature.

Archaeological & Architectural Significance

• Confirms:
  • Continuity of sacred geography despite invasions.
  • Use of Solanki-era architectural idioms.
• Reinforces Somnath as:
  • A palimpsest site—layers of destruction and reconstruction.
• Museum preservation:
  • Converts ruins into historical testimony, not mere relics.

Cultural & Civilisational Dimensions

• Represents:
  • Sanatan Dharma’s resilience.
  • Valor, devotion, and cultural self-respect.
• Inscriptions as:
  • Primary sources validating India’s temple-revival traditions.
• Symbolism:
  • Somnath as a civilisational constant, not a static monument.

Takeaway

• The Bhadrakali inscription at Prabhas Patan is a crucial epigraphic source linking mythology, Solanki-era statecraft, and the enduring civilisational resilience of the Somnath Temple.

National Youth Day 2026

Why in News?

• National Youth Day observed on 12 January 2026, commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary.
• PIB outlines India’s youth empowerment architecture aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.
• Highlights scale, outcomes, and convergence across youth engagement, skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, health, and civic participation.

Relevance

• GS II (Governance & Social Justice):
  • Youth policy, skilling, employment, health.
• GS III (Economy):
  • Human capital, labour markets, entrepreneurship.

Demographic Context

• Over 65% of India’s population below 35 years.
• Youth as:
  • Demographic dividend
  • Key drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, and governance renewal.
• Policy focus: Youth as partners, not mere beneficiaries.

Institutional Framework

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS).
• Whole-of-government approach:
  • MYAS, MSDE, MeitY, MoHFW, DPIIT, MoRD, Defence.
• Emphasis on digital platforms, decentralised participation, outcome-based skilling.

Youth Engagement, Leadership & Civic Participation

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)

• Autonomous body under MYAS; launched 31 Oct 2023.
• Technology-driven national youth platform.
• Core functions:
  • Volunteering
  • Experiential learning
  • Leadership development
  • Skill discovery
• Scale (as of 26 Nov 2025):
  • 2.05 crore youth registered
  • 14.5 lakh volunteering opportunities
  • 16,000+ youth clubs
  • 60,000+ institutional partners
• Governance logic:
  • “Yuva Shakti se Jan Bhagidari”
  • Youth as co-creators of development.

MY Bharat Mobile App 

• Mobile-first governance.
• Features:
  • Multilingual interface
  • AI chatbots, voice navigation
  • Smart CV Builder
  • Digital certificates & badges
• At launch:
  • 1.81 crore youth
  • 1.20 lakh organisations onboarded.

MY Bharat 2.0

• MoU (30 June 2025): MYAS + Digital India Corporation.
• Objectives:
  • Deeper digital engagement
  • Career services, mentorship, Fit India integration.
• Strategic intent:
  • Empower Amrit Peedhi
  • Align youth governance with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

National Service & Social Capital

National Service Scheme (NSS)

• Launched 1969.
• Coverage:
  • 657 universities
  • 20,669 colleges
  • 11,988 schools
• Annual engagement:
  • ~39 lakh volunteers
• Focus:
  • Community service
  • National integration
  • Personality development.
• Key instruments:
  • National Integration Camps
  • Republic Day Parade Camp
  • National Youth Festivals.

Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD)

• Reimagined National Youth Festival.
• 2nd edition: 9–12 Jan 2026, Bharat Mandapam.
• Participation:
  • ~3,000 youth
  • 100 international delegates.
• Process innovation:
  • Four-stage Challenge Track
  • 50.42 lakh youth participated in digital quiz.
• Outcome:
  • Youth policy ideas presented to national leadership.

Youth & National Security

Agnipath Scheme

• Launched 15 June 2022.
• Youth aged 17.5–21 recruited as Agniveers for 4 years.
• Outcomes:
  • 46,000 trained in first batch (2023)
  • ~1.5 lakh enrolled till Feb 2025
• Governance logic:
  • Youthful armed forces
  • Skills + discipline + post-service employability.

Education-to-Employment Pipeline

PM-SETU

• Investment: ₹60,000 crore.
• Objective:
  • Modernise 1,000 Government ITIs.
• Model:
  • 200 hub ITIs + 800 spoke ITIs
  • “Government-owned, industry-managed”.
• Linked initiatives:
  • 1,200 vocational labs in JNVs & EMRS.
• Alignment:
  • NEP 2020
  • Aspirational districts
  • Tribal & remote inclusion.

Skill India Ecosystem

Skill India Mission (SIM)

• Launched 15 July 2015.
• Beneficiaries since 2014: 6+ crore.
• Restructured programme (2022–26):
  • Outlay: ₹8,800 crore
  • Merged PMKVY 4.0, NAPS, JSS.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• Total enrolment (till 31 Oct 2025): 1.76 crore.
• Trained: 1.64 crore.
• Evolution:
  • PMKVY 1.0 → PMKVY 4.0.
  • Shift to On-the-Job Training (OJT).
• Inclusivity:
  • 45% women
  • Strong SC/ST/OBC participation.
• Future-ready skills:
  • AI, drones, robotics, IoT.

Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)

• Non-formal, doorstep skilling.
• Beneficiaries (2018–2025): 32.5 lakh.
• 82% women beneficiaries.
• Focus:
  • Non-literates
  • School dropouts
  • Marginalised communities.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

• Since 2016:
  • 49.12 lakh apprentices engaged.
• NAPS-2 (2025–26):
  • Target: 13 lakh apprentices.
• Instrument for industry-integrated skilling.

Rural Youth & Livelihoods

DDU-GKY

• Rural youth placement-focused scheme.
• Placement rate: ~65%.
• Trained: 16.9 lakh
• Placed: 10.97 lakh.

RSETIs

• Bank-led entrepreneurship model.
• Trained (till June 2025): 5.67 crore candidates.
• Emphasis:
  • Credit linkage
  • Self-employment.

Entrepreneurship & Employment

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana

• Announced 15 Aug 2025.
• Outlay: ₹1 lakh crore.
• Target:
  • 3.5 crore jobs in 2 years.
• Dual incentive:
  • Youth wage support
  • Employer contribution subsidy.

Startup India

• Launched 16 Jan 2016.
• Recognised startups (Oct 2025): 1.97 lakh.
• Key pillars:
  • Ease of doing business
  • Tax incentives
  • Fund of Funds (₹10,000 crore).
• Structural shift:
  • Rise of Tier-II & Tier-III startups.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

• Early-stage risk capital.
• Approved:
  • 219 incubators
  • ₹945 crore.

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana

• 10 years completed (2025).
• Loans sanctioned:
  • 53.85 crore
  • ₹35.13 lakh crore.
• Focus:
  • Women
  • First-generation entrepreneurs.

Health, Fitness & Well-being

Fit India Movement

• Launched 29 Aug 2019.
• Behavioural change approach.
• Instruments:
  • Fit India School Certification
  • Sundays on Cycle
  • Fitness Pledge
  • Fit India App.

Youth Spiritual Summit & Kashi Declaration

• Held July 2025, Varanasi.
• Theme:
  • “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”.
• Kashi Declaration:
  • 5-year roadmap
  • Youth-led, stakeholder-defined roles.
• Integrates:
  • Spiritual capital + public health governance.

Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK)

• Launched 2014.
• Target group: 10–19 years.
• Six domains:
  • Nutrition
  • Mental health
  • SRH
  • Substance misuse
  • Violence & injuries
  • NCDs.
• Shift from curative to preventive-adolescent-centric model.

Takeaway

• National Youth Day 2026 underscores India’s shift from welfare-centric youth policy to a participation-driven, skill-linked, and purpose-oriented youth governance model aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.