News In Short 07-12-2024

Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Martyrdom Day

Syllabus: GS1/ History

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid heartfelt tributes to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji on his martyrdom day.

Guru Tegh Bahadur: The Ninth Sikh Guru

• Early Life:
  • Born in 1621, at Guru Ke Mahal (now a Gurudwara) in Amritsar.
  • Learned classical music and military skills such as horsemanship, swordsmanship, and archery.
  • Witnessed and participated in battles like Amritsar and Kartarpur, earning the title “Teg Bahadur” for his valor.
  • Fifth and youngest son of Guru Hargobind Sahib.
• Role as the Ninth Sikh Guru:
  • Became the ninth Sikh Guru after Guru Har Krishan in 1664.
  • Succeeded by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru.
• Religious and Social Reform:
  • Opposed forced religious conversions under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
  • Preached Sikh teachings and set up community kitchens and wells for locals.
• Literary Contributions:
  • Added hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib, including Saloks (couplets).
  • Urban Development:
  • Founded Chak-Nanki, later part of Anandpur Sahib, a key Sikh holy city.
• Martyrdom and Legacy:
  • Executed in 1675 in Delhi for opposing Aurangzeb’s religious persecution.
• Sites of Martyrdom:
  • Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib: Execution site.
  • Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib: Cremation site.

Impact

• Galvanized Sikh resistance, paving the way for the creation of the Khalsa.
• Highlighted tyranny, inspiring widespread opposition to Aurangzeb’s regime.

Recognition and Honors

• The All India Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament is named in his honor.
• His legacy continues as a symbol of sacrifice, justice, and religious freedom.

Source: IE

New Navodaya Vidyalayas Under Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme

Syllabus: GS 2/Education

In News

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the establishment of 28 new Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) in uncovered districts across the country under the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (Central Sector Scheme).

Navodaya Vidyalayas Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme

• Navodaya Vidyalayas are residential, co-educational schools that provide quality education from Class VI to XII, primarily to talented rural children, regardless of their socio-economic background.
  • Admissions are based on a Selection Test, with around 49,640 students admitted annually to Class VI.
• Present Status:  Currently, there are 661 sanctioned NVs, with 653 operational. As part of the National Education Policy 2020, many NVs have been designated as PM Shri schools, serving as models for other schools.
  • The scheme is increasingly popular, with rising enrollment of girls (42%) and students from SC (24%), ST (20%), and OBC (39%) backgrounds.
• Relevance: The establishment of these schools will also create 1,316 permanent jobs and generate employment for skilled and unskilled workers during construction. Local vendors and service providers will benefit from supplying food, consumables, furniture, and other essentials.

Source :IE

PM e-VIDYA Channel 31

Syllabus: GS2/Education

Context

• Union Minister of Education launched PM e-VIDYA Channel 31, a DTH channel dedicated to sign language. 

About

• This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for promoting and standardising Indian Sign Language (ISL) across India to create a more inclusive educational environment.
• According to the Census 2011, a total of 2.68 crore persons in India were reported as having disabilities out of which 19% have hearing disabilities. 
• In 2023, WHO estimates that in India, approximately 63 million people suffer from significant auditory impairment.
• PM e-Vidya was launched as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan by the Ministry of Education in 2020.
  • The initiative aims to provide multi-mode access to education through digital, online, and on-air platforms to minimise learning losses, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Indian Sign Language (ISL)

• Indian Sign Language (ISL) is a well-structured language that serves as the primary means of communication for hearing-impaired individuals. 
• In 2020, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) signed an MoU with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to translate textbooks for classes I–XII into ISL. 
• This process is expected to be completed by 2026.

Source: IE

Polavaram Multipurpose Project

Syllabus: GS 3/Infrastructure 

In News

• The Polavaram Multipurpose Project has become a point of contention among states, particularly Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. 

About The Polavaram Irrigation Project

• Location: Godavari River, Andhra Pradesh.
• Objective: Address irrigation, drinking water supply, hydroelectric power, and flood control.
• Inception: Conceived in 1980 following the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT).
• National Project Status: Declared a national project under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, making the Union Government responsible for executing it and obtaining requisite clearances.

Major Concerns Raised By States

• Odisha: Potential submergence of 162 villages in Malkangiri district, affecting tribal populations.
  • Odisha alleges that the revised design warrants a fresh backwater study, which the Central Water Commission (CWC) has refused.
• Chhattisgarh: Raised concerns about submergence and environmental impact in downstream regions.
• Telangana: Questioned the project’s feasibility and its effect on local ecology and water resources.

Source: IE

European Space Agency to Support Gaganyaan Mission

Syllabus: GS 3/Space 

In News

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) for ground tracking support for India’s Gaganyaan missions.

About Technical Implementing Plan (TIP)

• The TIP enables ESA to provide ground station support, ensuring continuous data flow and communication with the Orbital Module for monitoring and orbital operations during the Gaganyaan missions.

Gaganyaan Mission Overview

• Key Objectives: Demonstrate human spaceflight capability to a 400 km orbit for a 3-day mission and safely return them to Earth.
  • Conduct scientific experiments in microgravity.
• Timeline:
  • Uncrewed Flights: 2024-2025.
  • Crewed Mission: Targeted for 2025.
• Components:
  • GSLV Mk III (LVM3): Modified as a Human-Rated Launch Vehicle.
  • Crew Module (CM): Houses astronauts with life-support systems.
  • Service Module (SM): Provides propulsion and power.
  • Crew Escape System (CES): Ensures astronaut safety during emergencies.
• Technological Innovations:
  • Life-support systems.
  • Radiation protection.
  • Parachute-assisted sea recovery.

Source: TH

Gait Analysis

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• Kolkata Police recently utilized gait analysis to apprehend a suspect in a heinous crime, identifying him through CCTV footage that revealed a distinct limp.

What is Gait Analysis?

• Gait analysis is the study of human motion patterns, particularly walking or running, to assess body movements, mechanics, and muscle activity. 
• It involves visual observation, sensors, and advanced technologies like optical marker-based frameworks to evaluate gait abnormalities.

Applications of Gait Analysis

• Clinical settings: To diagnose and treat movement abnormalities in people with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, or stroke.
• Sports biomechanics: To help athletes run more efficiently and identify movement problems.
• Forensic science: To compare a suspect’s gait to evidence at a crime scene, such as footprints or CCTV footage.

Source: TOI

Coconut Plantations

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• Coconut plantations have led to deforestation on over 80 per cent of Pacific atolls, such as Tokelau, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and Fiji.

Key Requirements for Coconut Plantation

• Location: It thrives in a tropical climate, between 20°N and 20°S latitude.
• Climate: It requires high humidity (above 60%) and average annual temperatures of 27°C.
• Annual rainfall should range between 1,500 to 2,500 mm.
• Soil: Prefers sandy loam or well-drained soils with high organic matter.
  • However it can tolerate saline soils, making it suitable for coastal areas and islands.
• Water Requirements: Although coconut palms are drought-resistant, they consume significant groundwater for optimal growth, which can lead to groundwater depletion in sensitive ecosystems.
• Propagation: Primarily propagated through seed nuts or saplings.

What is an Atoll? – An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef that surrounds a lagoon, often with small islands (islets) formed on the coral rim.  – Atolls are fragile ecosystems that provide habitat to diverse marine and terrestrial life.

Source: DTE

Rangeen Machhli App

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has developed the “Rangeen Machhli” app.

About

• It aims to support hobbyists, farmers, and professionals in the ornamental fish industry by providing multilingual, reliable, and comprehensive information on ornamental fish care, breeding, and maintenance. 
• The app caters to a broad audience by offering content in eight Indian languages.
• The objectives of the Rangeen Machli App are as below:
  • To provide information on popular ornamental fish species and their care.
  • To promote local businesses through dynamic directories of aquarium shops.
  • To enhance knowledge of ornamental aquaculture techniques, thereby empowering fish farmers and shop owners.
  • To serve as an educational tool for newcomers and professionals in the ornamental fish industry.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) 

• It is the flagship scheme of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and was launched in 2020.
• Aim: To give momentum to the ‘sunrise’ fisheries sector through consolidated efforts from various schemes and initiatives.
• The PMMSY is an umbrella scheme with two separate Components namely Central Sector Scheme (CS) and  Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
• The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Component is further segregated into Non-beneficiary oriented and beneficiary orientated subcomponents/activities:
  • Enhancement of Production and Productivity;
  • Infrastructure and Post-harvest Management;
  • Fisheries Management and Regulatory Framework.

Source: PIB

Silicosis 

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

Context

• Mine workers exposed to silica dust for many years have a heightened risk of developing silicosis.

Silicosis 

• Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust, often found in industries such as mining, construction, and stone cutting. 
• It leads to inflammation and scarring of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. 
• Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain, which may develop years after exposure.
  • Chronic Silicosis: Develops after long-term exposure to low levels of silica dust.
  • Accelerated Silicosis: Occurs with higher levels of exposure over a shorter period.
  • Acute Silicosis: Results from extremely high exposures over a brief period, leading to severe lung damage.
• Silicosis isn’t contagious as it is not caused by a virus or bacteria. 
• There’s no cure for silicosis because the lung damage can’t be reversed. 

Source: TH

Research and Technology Hub In Defence Sector

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In Context

• The Ministry of Defence has implemented various initiatives to position India as a global research and technology hub. 

About Key programs

• Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme:
  • Objective: To encourage industries, particularly MSMEs and startups, to design and manufacture defense technologies.
  • Scope: Funded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and executed by DRDO under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
  • Features: Funding of up to ₹50 crore per project as Grant-in-Aid. Aimed at integrating new industries into defense R&D and production.
• DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE):
  • Objective: To foster research collaboration between DRDO, academia, and industry for cutting-edge defense technologies.
  • Structure: Centers established at premier institutions like IISc Bangalore, IITs, and Central/State Universities. State-of-the-art infrastructure for research and innovation.
• Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX):
  • Purpose: To promote innovation and self-reliance in the Defense and Aerospace sectors by engaging MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D institutions, and academia.
• Dare to Dream Innovation Contest:
  • Launched: Annually since 2019 by DRDO.
  • Aim: To bring together innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs to propose ideas for defense and aerospace advancements.
  • Key Features: Winners are awarded cash prizes (₹543 lakh distributed over four editions). Supported projects are developed into prototypes under the TDF scheme.
    • Dare to Dream 5.0 was launched in October 2024 by Raksha Mantri.

Impact

• Promotion of indigenous research and development, aligning with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Increased collaboration between DRDO, industry, and academia, accelerating innovation in defense technologies.
• Encouragement for MSMEs and startups to contribute to the Defense and Aerospace sectors.

Source: PIB

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Syllabus: MIscellaneous

Context

• Former President of Chile, Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024.
  • The prize honours her work to improve gender equality, human rights, democracy and development in difficult circumstances.

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

• Instituted in 1986, the award is given annually by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and consists of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.
• The award is named after Indira Gandhi, the first and only woman Prime Minister of independent India.
• It aims to honor women, men and institutions that have done exemplary work in the service of humanity and the planet Earth.
• Recipients are chosen from a pool of national and international nominees.
  • In 2023 it was presented to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad.

Source: TH