Daily Prelims Notes 20 December 2020

December 20, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Table Of Contents

Subject: Defence

Context: President Ram NathKovind became the first President to visit Goa on the state’s Liberation Day as he inaugurated a cultural event to mark the beginning of Goa’s 60th year of liberation from 451 years of colonial Portuguese rule.

Concept:

Every year 19th December is celebrated by India as on this day Operation Vijay was completed by the Indian Forces liberating Territories of Goa, Daman and Diu and the Anjadiv Island and from the Portuguese rule.
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ordered a military intervention for the liberation of Goa after all the diplomatic talks failed with the Portuguese, thereby launching the Operation Vijay on 17th December 1961.
Portuguese army was not well prepared to handle the attack of Indian armed forces.
The operation lasted for two days and was done with minimal bloodshed.
The Portuguese Governor General Vassalo da Silva was coerced to give up control of Goa with which Goa finally became independent and a part of India.
Major-General K. P. Candeth was appointed as the military governor of Goa and kept directly under the administration of the President of India.

2. ARCHITECTURE OF PARLIAMENT

Subject: History & Culture

Concept:

The SansadBhavan is the seat of the Parliament of India. It houses the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha which represent lower and upper houses respectively in India’s bicameral parliament.
The existing building draws inspiration from Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple (in M.P.) and was built under the British empire for its Imperial Legislative Council in 1927.
The opening ceremony, which then housed the Imperial Legislative Council, was performed on 18 January 1927 by Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India.
Following the end of British rule in India, it was taken over by Constituent Assembly of India which was succeeded by the parliament of India once Constitution of India came into force in 1950.

Architectural details:

Originally called the House of Parliament, it was designed by the British architects’ Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in 1912-1913.
It was held as part of their wider mandate to construct a new administrative capital city for British India.
The perimeter of the building is circular, with 144 columns on the outside.
The building is surrounded by large gardens and the perimeter is fenced off by sandstone railings (jali).
Construction of the House began in 1921 and it was completed in 1927.

3. HYPERSONIC WIND TUNNEL FACILITY

Subject: Current Events

Context: Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh visited DRDO’s Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex during his visit to Hyderabad on 19th Dec 2020. On this occasion, he inaugurated the advanced Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility.

Concept:

The state-of-the-art HWT Test facility is pressure vacuum driven enclosed free jet facility having nozzle exit diameter of 1 meter and will simulate Mach No 5 to 12 (Mach represents the multiplication factor to the speed of sound).
After USA and Russia, India is the third country to have such a large facility in terms of size and operating capability. It is an indigenous development and an outcome of synergistic partnership with Indian industries.
The facility has the capability to simulate hypersonic flow over a wide spectrum and will play a major role in the realization of highly complex futuristic aerospace and defence systems.

4. ABDUL RAHIM KHAN-e-KHANA TOMB

Subject: Culture

Context: The 16th-century mausoleum of one of the nine prominent courtiers during Mughal emperor Akbar’s reign, which is believed to inspire the Taj Mahal, has been restored to its lost glory and is now open to the public.

Concept:

The tomb of poet Abdur Rahim Khan- I- Khana, popularly known as ‘Rahim’- one of Akbar’s ‘Navratnas’ and a military leader has been restored by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and InterGlobe Foundation.
The tomb stands within an ensemble of 16th century medieval monuments in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital.
The tomb was originally built by Rahim for his wife, making it the first ever Mughal tomb to be built for a woman, with the more celebrated Taj Mahal having been built later.
Abdul Rahim was the son of Bairam Khan, Akbar’s trusted guardian and mentor, who was of Turkic ancestry.
Apart from writing various dohas, Rahim translated Babar’s memoirs, Baburnama from Chagatai language to Persian language. In Sanskrit, he wrote two books on astrology -‘Khetakautukam’ and ‘Dwatrinsha Yogavali’.

5. HIMALAYAN HERB

Subject: Environment

Context : The Himalayan trillium (Trillium govanianum), a common herb of the Himalayas was declared ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last week.

Concept:

Found in temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas, at an altitude from 2,400-4,000 metres above sea level, the existence of the plant has been traced across India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In India, it is found in four states only- Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand. Often called Nagchatri, in local areas this herb grows to a height of 15-20 cm.
Given the suspected rate of decline and an expected continued demand for rhizomes into the foreseeable future, population declines of at least 50% are expected to occur between 2010 and 2079.

Factors causing decline:

Several factors threatening the survival of the plant such as over-exploitation, long life cycle – slow to reach reproductive maturity – and poor capacity for seed dispersal. The highly specific habitat requirement, high trade value, and increasing market demand are all causing its decline.

Uses:

It has been used in traditional medicine to cure diseases like dysentery, wounds, skin boils, inflammation, sepsis, as well as menstrual and sexual disorders.
Recent experiments have shown that the rhizome of the herb is a source of steroidal saponins and can be used as an anti-cancer and anti-aging agent. This increased its market value and has now become an easy target for poachers.

6. SENTINELESE

Subject: Environment / Social Issue

Context: Any exploitation of the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans for commercial and strategic gain would spell the death knell for its occupants, the Sentinelese, a most secluded, particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) who reside in complete isolation on the island, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) has said.

Concept:

In a policy document, which comes almost two years after American national John Allen Chau was allegedly killed by the Sentinelese on the island, the AnSI says the “right of the people to the island is non-negotiable”.
The Sentinelese, with a population of about 50 to 100 on the North Sentinel Island, are not only among the most isolated of nearly 70 PVTGs across the country, but also among the five in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which include the Great Andamanese, the Onge, the Jarawa, and the Shompens.
This is the first detailed policy draft for the Sentinelese island, prepared at the request of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

Sentinelese

The Sentinelese are a negrito tribe who live on the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans.
The inhabitants are connected to the Jarawa on the basis of physical, as well as linguistic similarities. Their numbers are believed to be less than 150 and as low as 40.
Based on carbon dating of kitchen middens by the Anthropological Survey of India, Sentinelese presence was confirmed in the islands to 2,000 years ago.
Genome studies indicate that the Andaman tribes could have been on the islands even 30,000 years ago.

Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI)

Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) is the apex Indian government organisation involved in anthropological studies and field data research for human and cultural aspects.
Operating under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, it is headquartered in Kolkata.
Anthropological Research in India was founded 1945 in Varanasi and shifted to the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1948.

7. PANDIT DEENDAYAL UPADHYAY TELECOM SKILL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Subject: Current Events

Context: Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad presented Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Skill Excellence Awards including cash award of Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively, to both awardees.

Concept:

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Skill Excellence Awards scheme in 2017.
Objective is to reward the successful telecom skilled people for their special contributions in the areas of Telecom Skilling, Telecom Services, Telecom Manufacturing, deploying Telecom Applications in different fields such as agriculture, commerce, health, education etc.
The award was named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay to commemorate his birth centenary.

8. MIYAWAKI FOREST

Subject: Environment

Context: The Greater Chennai Corporation will develop Miyawaki urban forests at 1,000 locations across the city, said Corporation Commissioner.

Concept:

The Miyawaki method, developed by a Japanese botanist after whom it is named, involves planting saplings in small areas, causing them to “fight” for resources and grow nearly 10 times quicker.
It originated in Japan, and is now increasingly adopted in other parts of the world. It has revolutionised the concept of urban afforestation by turning backyards into mini-forests.

Process:

A pit has to be dug, and its dimensions depend on the available space. Before digging the pit, the list of tree species should be chosen judiciously. As there is very little space to work around with, trees with varying heights should be chosen.
Fill it with one layer of compost, followed by a layer of natural waste such as bagasse and coconut shells and then top it with a layer of red soil.
Plant the saplings following interval and tree height specifications.
The whole process can be completed in two to three weeks. The saplings have to be maintained regularly for a year.

9. ADVANCED TOWED ARTILLERY GUN SYSTEM (ATAGS)

Subject: Defence

Context: User trials of the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) jointly with private industry are scheduled to be resumed later this month and the trials will be completed by mid-2021.

Concept:

The ATAGS is a 155-mm, 52-calibre artillery gun jointly developed by the DRDO in partnership with Bharat Forge of the Kalyani Group and the Tata Power SED.
ATAGS has greater than 95% of indigenous content. It set a world record for the longest unassisted projectile range of 48 kilometres.

Features:

The gun consists of a barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to fire 155 mm calibre ammunition with a firing range of 48 km.
It has an all-electric drive to ensure reliability and minimum maintenance over a long period of time.
It has advanced features like high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night capability in direct fire mode.

10. MATRU SAHYOGINI SAMITI

Subject: Governance

Context: The Madhya Pradesh government has issued an order for the appointment of committees led by mothers to ensure better monitoring of services delivered at anganwadi or day care centres across the State.

Concept:

‘Matru Sahyogini Samiti’ or Mothers’ Cooperation Committees, these will comprise 10 mothers at each anganwadi representing the concerns of different sets of beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services, or National Nutrition Mission —

children between six months to three years,

children between three years and six years,

adolescent girls and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The committees will include mothers of beneficiary children as well as be represented by pregnant women and lactating mothers who are enrolled under the scheme.
The Committees will also include a woman panch, women active in the community and eager to volunteer their support to the scheme, teachers from the local school, and women heads of self-help groups (SHG).
These mothers will keep a watch on weekly ration distribution to beneficiaries as well as suggest nutritious and tasteful recipes for meals served to children at the centres.
The move is being taken as per the mandate of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

11. NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS AND CHEST DISEASES (NATCON)

Subject : Current Events

Context : Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the Platinum Jubilee of the National Conference of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases (NATCON).

Concept :

The Tuberculosis Association of India (TAI) is one of the oldest and largest voluntary organizations having its affiliates all over the country.
It was set up in February, 1939 as a registered society by incorporating the King Emperor’s Anti-Tuberculosis Fund and King George Thanks-giving (Anti-Tuberculosis) Fund.
Since the year 1939 the Association is organizing National Conference on Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases (NATCON), an annual conference wherein around 500 delegates from all over India assemble and exchange views on tuberculosis.

12. RIME MINISTER’S SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME (PMSSS)

Subject: Govt Schemes

Context : Extending support to J&K and Ladakh students, AICTE has decided to release the instalment of Rs. 20,000/- as maintenance allowance under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS).

Concept :

An Expert Group was constituted by the Prime Minister for enhancing employment opportunity among youths of J&K and Ladakh and formulate job opportunities in public and private sectors.
Subsequently, Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) is being implemented by the All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE), New Delhi.
The Scheme aims to build the capacities of the youths of J&K and Ladakh by Educating, Enabling and Empowering them to compete in the normal course.
Under the Scheme, the youths of J&K and Ladakh are supported by way of scholarship in two parts namely the academic fee and maintenance allowance.