Facts in News

                                 Facts in News

Maritime India Summit 2021

• It is the flagship initiative of the Ministry of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• The 3-day event (2nd-4th March) comprises a Summit and Exhibition.
• Aims: Visualise a roadmap for India’s maritime sector for the next decade and work to propel India to the forefront of the global maritime sector.
• Partner Country: Denmark.
• Participants: Various stakeholders in the maritime sector, eminent policy planners, domestic and international investors, industry experts, thought leaders, technology providers, representatives of major ports and shipping lines, etc.
• Functions
  • Project vast investment opportunities in each of the Indian maritime States and UTs.
  • Showcase the latest technology, products and services.
  • Help disseminate knowledge about the latest developments in the maritime sector.
  • Provide a platform to interact closely to explore business opportunities.
  • Create awareness amongst participants about the latest technology trends.

Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) Project

• The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
• It is being coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State governments.
• The initiative aims at enhancing the experience of both domestic and foreign visitors by improving the sanitation and cleanliness standards at and around the sites.
• The objective of SIP is to achieve a distinctly higher level of Sanitation/Cleanliness at selected places, especially on the peripheries and in approach areas.

Operation Green          

• Operation Green was originally launched in 2018.
• It was launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
• It aims to promote farmer producers organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management of agri-produce.
• The objective of the intervention is to protect the growers of fruits and vegetables from making distress sale due to lockdown and reduce the post -harvest losses.
• Recently ,the Finance Minister announced the extension of the Operation Greens Scheme from Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) to 22 perishable commodities for a period of six months on a pilot basis as part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a detailed agreement reached by Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) in 2015.
•  Iran agreed to significantly cut its stores of centrifuges, enriched uranium and heavy-water, all key components for nuclear weapons.
  • It agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections in exchange for billions of dollars’ worth of sanctions relief.

Asteroids

• Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets.
• Asteroids are leftover from the formation of our solar system.
  • Our solar system began about 4.6 billion years ago when a big cloud of gas and dust collapsed.
• They are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
• Composition of Asteroids-The asteroids are broadly classified into three broad classes on the basis of composition. They are
  • The C-type (chondrite)-These asteroids are most common, probably consist of clay and silicate rocks, and are dark in appearance. They are among the most ancient objects in the solar system.
  • The S-types (“stony”): These steroids are made up of silicate materials and nickel-iron.
  • The M-types are metallic (nickel-iron): These asteroids compositional differences are related to how far from the sun they formed. Some experienced high temperatures after they formed and partly melted, with iron sinking to the centre and forcing basaltic (volcanic) lava to the surface.

Mannathu Padmanabhan (1878-1970)

• An Indian social reformer and freedom fighter from the south-western state of Kerala.
• Founder of the Nair Service Society (NSS), which claims to represent the Nair community that constitutes 12.10% of the population of the state.
• He fought for social equality, the first phase being the Vaikom Satyagraha, demanding the public roads near the temple at Vaikom be opened to low caste Hindus.
• He took part in the Vaikom (1924) and Guruvayoor (1931) temple-entry Satyagrahas; the anti-untouchability agitations. He opened his family temple for everyone, irrespective of caste distinction.
• He became a member of the Indian National Congress in 1946 and took part in the agitation against Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer’s administration in Travancore.
• As the first president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, he revitalised many temples which had almost ceased to function.
• He received the Padma Bhushan award in 1966.

Why in News?

• Recently, Prime Minister remembered Mannathu Padmanabhan on his Punya Tithi (death anniversary).

Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project

• It is also known as the ‘Puri Shreemandira Parikrama Yojana’.
• Under it, the entire area within 75 metres around the temple will be transformed into a heritage corridor to attract devotees from across the world.
• Aims: To enhance the security of the shrine, to better amenities for devotees and to create a spiritual ambience.
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 3,200 crore.
• Three Objectives: Security of the temple, the safety of the devotees and creation of a spiritual atmosphere.
• Jagannath Temple, Puri
  • A revered Vaishnava sites, it is one of the four Dhamas (Holiest of the holy place) i.e. Puri, Dwarika, Badrinath and Rameswar.
  • Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra are being worshipped in the temple.
  • It is constructed in Kalinga architecture, with a height of 65 meters placed on an elevated platform.
  • Its main shrine was built by Anantavarman of the Chodaganga dynasty in the tenth century.
    • The deities within the shrine, however, are believed to be much older and are associated with the great mythical ruler of the Satya-yuga, King Indrayumna, nephew of Lord Ram.
  • European sailors recognised it as the “white pagoda”.
  • In 1975, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) undertook a project to remove the multiple layers of lime plaster to uncover the original designs beneath and displayed the natural colours of the khondalite stone.
  • Many festivals are observed throughout the year, of which the most important festival is the world-famous Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra.

(Image Courtesy: MCL)

Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT)

• The Surya Kiran (meaning “rays of the sun”) team has continued to be at the centre of attraction in the Indian Air Force (IAF) with its dazzling and thrilling air formations.
• Genesis
  • The first aerobatic team in the IAF was first formed in 1982 on the occasion of the Air Force’s Golden Jubilee anniversary.
    • The team flew nine Hawker Hunter F.56A fighters, which were painted in overall dark blue with white trim.
    • This team received the name “Thunderbolts“.
  • In May 1996, Kiran MK-II aircraft were added to the formation team along with one spare. This revised team then received its present name of “Surya Kiran” and first took flight in 1998.
• In 2001, “Surya Kiran” made its foreign debut while performing in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• It displays flying manoeuvres and is not used for standard air force operations.
• It usually performs with nine aircraft and is based out of the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka.
• Interestingly, SKAT is also the youngest nine-aircraft aerobatic team in the world.
• The team, which forms the 52nd squadron of the IAF, is the only current military nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia.

(Image Courtesy: Aerobatic Teams)

Sarang

• The word ‘Sarang’ means peacock in Sanskrit.
• It is Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aerobatic team that flies on four Dhruvs, helicopters built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It was formed in March 2002, as a part of the Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) at Bangalore.
• Its first public display was in February 2004 during Asian Aerospace in Singapore.
• Sarang’s present home is the IAF base at Yelahanka near Bangalore.
• These helicopters sport a thematic paint scheme with a peacock superimposed on a bright red background. Both the smoke generators and the external attire enhance the impact of the flying display.

(Image Courtesy: Aerobatic Teams)