Rakhigarhi Human Remains Handed Over for Scientific Study
- Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has transferred human skeletal remains excavated from Rakhigarhi, Haryana, to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
- The move aims to promote multidisciplinary research on one of the most significant urban centres of the Indus-Saraswati (Harappan) Civilization.
About Rakhigarhi
- Located in Haryana and spread over about 550 hectares, Rakhigarhi is regarded as the largest known settlement of the Harappan Civilization.
- The site, excavated by Amarendra Nath of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is situated in the Ghaggar-Hakra river basin.
- It encompasses the villages of Rakhi Shahpur and Rakhi Khas and is spread over nine mounds, with Mounds 4 and 5 being densely inhabited.
- Excavations have revealed evidence of continuous habitation from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan phases.
- Rakhigarhi is considered the largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization in the Indian subcontinent.
- In the 2020 Union Budget, it was announced as one of the country’s five iconic heritage sites; the other sites are Hastinapur, Sivasagar, Dholavira, and Adichanallur.
- Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Ganweriwala, and Dholavira are other major Harappan-era sites.
Major Findings of Rakhigarhi
- Excavations at Rakhigarhi uncovered numerous skeletal remains, and DNA studies suggest that the Harappan inhabitants had a distinct ancestry, challenging theories linking them to steppe pastoralists or ancient Iranian farmers.
- The site reveals advanced urban planning, with mud and burnt-brick houses, efficient drainage systems, and evidence of an elite settlement at Mound 3.
- Discoveries of steatite beads, semi-precious stones, shells, agate and carnelian objects, hunting tools, and a mud-brick granary indicate flourishing trade and organized storage practices.
- Archaeological evidence of fire altars, animal sacrifices, and burials including two 5,000-year-old female skeletons with pots and artefacts highlights the ritual and funerary traditions of the Harappans.
- Seals bearing Harappan script, along with pottery, shell bracelets, stone beads, animal figurines, copper objects, and a variety of redware ceramics, provide valuable insights into the material culture of the civilization.
Discovery of Human Skeletons
- Mound 7 at the site has been identified as a burial ground.
- A total of 56 skeletons were recovered from the mound.
- Among them was a 4,600-year-old woman’s skeleton, which attracted significant attention in the fields of history, anthropology, genomics, and linguistics.
Significance of DNA Analysis
- DNA studies showed that the Rakhigarhi woman lacked the steppe pastoralist gene.
- The findings contributed to the ongoing debate regarding Indo-Aryan (Aryan) migration into the Indian subcontinent.
- Many scholars now prefer the term Indo-Aryan instead of “Aryan” to avoid racial connotations.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
- Context: As part of the government’s efforts to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and technology-driven reforms in the cooperative sector, the Union Home Minister will launch NAFEX.in NAFED’s digital auction portal in New Delhi.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
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- NAFED is the apex cooperative organization responsible for marketing agricultural produce in India.
- It was established on October 2, 1958, to support and expand the trade of agricultural and forest products across the country.
- The organization is registered under the ‘Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act’.
- Its headquarters is located in New Delhi; it operates through regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, as well as various zonal offices in major cities and state capitals across the country.
Functions
- NAFED acts as the nodal agency for implementing price stabilization measures under ‘Operation Greens’, a scheme aimed at increasing farmers’ income.
- In collaboration with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), it undertakes the procurement of pulses, oilseeds, and copra under the ‘Price Support Scheme’ (PSS).
