Parakram Diwas
Syllabus: GS1/History
Context
- Parakram Diwas is observed annually on 23rd January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
About
- The first Parakram Diwas was held at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
- The year 2022 saw the unveiling of a hologram statue of Netaji at India Gate, New Delhi;
- and in 2023, 21 unnamed islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago were named after the 21 Param Vir Chakra Awardees.
About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
- He was a prominent Indian nationalist and leader who played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement.
- He was the first person to call Mahatma Gandhi “Father of the Nation”, in his address from Singapore.
- Indian National Congress:
- He was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress twice, in 1938 and 1939.
- Ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi led to his resignation and the formation of the Forward Bloc, a political faction committed to radical change.
- Azad Hind Radio 1942: He established Azad Hind Radio in Germany to reach out to Indians and spread his vision of independence.
- He coined several patriotic slogans, including “Jai Hind,” “Dilli Chalo” (On to Delhi), and “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom”.
- Formation of Indian National Army (INA): In 1942, he formed the INA with the help of Japanese forces.
- The INA was an armed force aimed at securing India’s independence through military action against British rule.
- Azad Hind Government: In 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose renamed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as “Shaheed” (Martyr) and “Swaraj” (Self-Rule) during his leadership of the Azad Hind Government.
- This was a symbolic gesture of asserting India’s sovereignty against British rule.
- On October 21, 1943, Netaji declared the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Sarkar).
- Subhash Chandra Bose reportedly passed away in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945, from severe burn injuries.
- Legacy:
- He is widely respected for his contributions to the nationalist movement, and his legacy continues to inspire people across India and beyond.
Source: PIB
Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme
Syllabus :GS 2/Governance
In News
- According to recent reports, many companies are supporting the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, with many embracing internships through CSR.
About Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme
- It has been announced in the Budget 2024-25. It aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in top 500 companies over five years.
- Interns will gain exposure to real-life business environments and employment opportunities.
- Features : Partner Companies can offer internships starting from October 2024
- Top 500 companies identified based on CSR expenditure.
- Participation is voluntary, with approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for other companies to join.
- Internship Duration is 12 months, with at least half of the period in a real-world job environment.
- Eligibility Criteria: Age: Between 21 and 24 years.
- Educational Qualifications: High School, ITI, diploma, or undergraduate degrees (BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, BBA, B.Pharma).
- Ineligibility: Graduates from IITs, IIMs, etc.
- Candidates with master’s or higher degrees.
- Those enrolled in government-sponsored skill/training programs.
- Candidates with family income above Rs 8 lakh or government employee relatives.
- Benefits: Interns gain practical experience, with certificates provided by Partner Companies.
- Financial Assistance is Rs. 5,000 per month (Rs. 4,500 by government, Rs. 500 by company). One-time Rs. 6,000 for incidentals.
- Insurance Coverage under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Companies may provide additional insurance.
Source :TH
Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- The Department of Commerce has introduced the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme.
About
- Aim: To enhance the global competitiveness of India’s diamond sector.
- Key Features of the Scheme:
- Duty-free imports: Allows the duty-free import of Natural Cut and Polished Diamonds, of less than ¼ Carat (25 Cents).
- Export obligation: It mandates export obligation with a value addition of 10%.
- Eligibility: All Diamond exporters holding Two Star Export House status and above and having US $15 Million exports per year, are eligible for availing the benefit under this scheme.
- Need:
- This move comes in response to policies in diamond-producing countries like Botswana and Namibia, where manufacturers must process diamonds locally.
- This scheme is aimed towards retaining India’s position as a global leader in the entire value chain of the Diamond industry.
- Significance:
- The scheme is designed to provide a level playing field for Indian diamond exporters, particularly MSME exporters, enabling them to compete effectively with larger peers.
- It is also expected to create employment opportunities for skilled craftsmen in the diamond industry and is also expected to increase the export of Cut and Polished Diamond from India.
Source: PIB
Pinaka Rocket Systems
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
Context
- The Indian Army has set a Rs 10,200 crore order for ammunition related to the Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket system.
About
- The Pinaka MBRL system was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
- The system is named after “Pinaka,” a mythical weapon used by Lord Shiva.
- It has the capability to hit targets at 75 kilometers and beyond.
- The Pinaka MBRL is capable of launching a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds, which makes it an effective weapon for quickly overwhelming enemy defenses.
- Armenia became the first export customer for the indigenously developed Pinaka with interest expressed by several countries in the system.
Source: FE
Scramjet Engine For Hypersonic Missiles
Syllabus: GS 3/Science and Technology
In News
- Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, under DRDO, is developing long-duration Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet) powered Hypersonic technology.
About the Developments
- Three key air-breathing engine technologies are being developed globally.
- Ramjet: It uses forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor.
- It operates efficiently at Mach 3 to Mach 6 but becomes less efficient at hypersonic speeds.
- It requires rocket assistance for take-off to reach necessary speeds.
- Scramjet: It is an advanced version of the ramjet that operates efficiently at hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5).
- It is an air-breathing engine that sustains combustion at supersonic speeds without moving parts.
- It allows supersonic combustion, making it suitable for hypersonic vehicles.
- In August 2016, ISRO successfully flight-tested its Scramjet Engine in Sriharikota.
- Recently DRDL successfully demonstrated India’s first Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor ground test for 120 seconds, a significant milestone for hypersonic missile development.
- Dual Mode Ramjet (DMRJ): It can operate both as a ramjet at subsonic speeds and as a scramjet at supersonic speeds, typically within the Mach 4-8 range.
| Do you know ? – Hypersonic missiles are a class of advanced weaponry that travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 i.e., five times the speed of sound or more than 5,400 km/hr. 1. These advanced weapons have the potential to bypass existing Air Defence Systems and deliver rapid and high-impact strikes. – Several nations including the USA, Russia, India and China are actively pursuing Hypersonic technology. |
Source :TH
Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Syllabus :GS 3/Economy
In News
- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched multiple projects worth nearly ₹2,000 crore in order to expand capacity at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
- He also launched one Solar powered boat, two indigenously developed tugs and three fire tenders, boosting the safety and efficiency of the port.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port
- It is situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra and is one of the premier container-handling ports in India.
- It was commissioned in 1989 and it is the country’s first 100% Landlord Major Port.
- It is India’s Best-performing port, accounting for around 50% of the total containerised cargo volume across the major ports of the country.
- It is ranked 26th among the top 100 container ports in the world and it is connected to over 200 ports globally.
- In 2024, JNPA achieved a record of 7.05 million TEUs, operating at over 90% capacity with an 11% year-on-year growth.
- It aims to become India’s first port to handle 10 million TEUs((twenty-foot equivalent units) by 2027.
Source :TH
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