26 July 2021 Current Affairs English

1. Telangana’s iconic Ramappa Temple gets UNESCO’s world heritage tag.

• India’s nomination of Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in the state of Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. This is India’s 39th World Heritage Site.

KEY POINT

• The decision was taken at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO .Ramappa temple, a 13th century engineering marvel is named after its architect, Ramappa.
• The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire by RecharlaRudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. The presiding deity here is Ramalingeswara Swamy.
• The temple complexes of Kakatiyas have a distinct style, technology and decoration exhibiting the influence of the Kakatiyan sculptor.
• The foundation is built with the “sandbox technique”, the flooring is granite and the pillars basalt. The lower part of the temple is red sandstone while the white gopuram is built with light bricks that reportedly float on water.
• According to the temple priest, some of the iconography on the temple was damaged during the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310. Treasure hunters vandalised the rest. But the biggest test for the temple was an earthquake in the 17th century ( one of the biggest was that of  7- 8 .2 -magnitude on June 16 , 1819 ). The flooring was rocked by the waves, while the pillars and vertical structure stayed intact because of the sandbox technique used in its construction.

 

 

2. Renowned Marathi poet Satish Kalsekar passes away .

• Renowned Marathi poet Satish Kalsekar passed away following a heart attack at his residence in Pen town in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

KEY POINT

• He was 78.
• Kalsekar was awarded with Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his collection of essays ‘Vachanaryachi Rojanishee’.
• He was mostly known for his work as a poet. His popular collections of poems are ‘Indriyopnishad’, ‘Sakshat’ and ‘Vilambit’.
• He had worked fluently in several forms of literature and contributed in the fields of poetry, translation, prose writing and editing.

 

 

 

 

3. 22nd Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

• 22nd Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, is being celebrated across the country today. The Nation is remembering its war heroes and paying tributes to Martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas.

KEY POINT

• The day marks the victory of Indian armed forces in Operation Vijay in 1999, when they evicted the infiltrators backed by Pakistani army from high outposts in Kargil sector.
• President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Kargil War Memorial at Drass in Ladakh today and pay homage to the indomitable courage and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces during the Kargil Conflict in 1999.
• On the historic Kargil Vijay Diwas, AIR News will bring a special programme remembering the valour of Indian Soldiers which will be broadcast in Parikrama Programme at 4.30 PM today.
• on his second visit to Ladakh, President of India and Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces Ram Nath Kovind will be participating in 22nd Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. He will be the first President to visit Kargil War Memorial at Drass and participate in Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.
• India is also celebrating Golden Victory of Bangladesh Liberation this year. As part of nationwide commemoration of the Golden Victory to Indian Armed Forces in 1971 war, a Victory Flame will be received at War Memorial in Drass around Nine in the morning followed by Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.
• Yesterday in the evening, while releasing Shersha movie trailer based on Kargil war hero, Param Veer Chakra Captain Vikram Batra, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat appealed film makers to make more such inspiring films. Emotional atmosphere filled at Drass War Memorial, when dear ones were lighting the candles in memory of martyrs made supreme sacrifice  defending country sovereignty.

 

 

4. Army to use jammers to protect forward bases from drone attacks.

• The Army is procuring jammers in large numbers, and expanding the range of the existing ones to protect large military bases in forward areas from drone attacks.

KEY POINT

• A senior defence official has said. Also with ceasefire holding along the Line of Control (LoC), both India and Pakistan are using the peace to upgrade their defences on the border, officials said.
• We were cognisant of the threat from drones for sometime. To cover forward bases, we are getting bigger jammers, including from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and an Indian company in Hyderabad,” “We are working to expand the range of our jammers while also importing additional ones.”
• Stating that several measures were being put in place, officials said. To begin with, the sentries posted along the installations were more alert now and on the lookout for possible presence of drones.
• There have been several instances in the last couple of years where quadcopters were used to drop drugs, arms and ammunition from across the border in Jammu and Punjab.
• However, the June 27 attack on Jammu air base is the first instance where small drones were used to drop explosives.

 

5. Monsoon revival sees rise in extreme rainfall events .

• Rainfall amid the monsoon’s revival since the second week of July has seen significant variation across the country.

KEY POINT

• Several parts of the western Konkan coast and the southern peninsula were seeing instances of extreme rainfall. According to the India Meteorological Department data on the regional distribution, the ‘South Peninsula’ has seen 29% more rain than normal for the period from June1-July 23.
• For the same duration, northwest and central India have seen a 10% and 2% deficit respectively and the northeast India a 14% deficit, though this region has a higher base rainfall than other regions.
• According to the IMD’s district rainfall data for Maharashtra, except for five districts, all the other 31 got “large excess rains”.

 

EFFECTSS OF CLIMATE CHANGE:-

• The frequency and strength of cyclones over the Arabian Sea has increased in the last two decades.
• There is a 52% increase in the frequency of cyclones over Arabian Sea from  2001-2019 and 8% decrease over Bay of Bengal compared to 1982-2002, when historically most cyclones have been in Bay of Bengal, according to a study published this month in Climate Dynamics.
• Even the duration of these cyclones has increased by 80%. More cyclones were bringing in more moisture from the Arabian Sea and contributing to extreme rainfall events.

 

 

6. The road ahead is more daunting than the 1991 crisis: Manmohan Singh

• The 1991 economic reforms lifted millions out of poverty, unleashed the spirit of free enterprises, and catapulted India into a $3 trillion economy but the road ahead is even more daunting than the 1991 crisis, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said on July 23.

KEY POINT

• To mark the 30th anniversary of economic liberalisation and the opening up of the Indian economy on July 24, Dr. Singh issued a statement in which he recalled the achievements ,  but expressed his pain at the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , and the loss of lives and livelihoods.
• The country needs to recalibrate its priorities to a dignified life for all Indians, he said.
• “It gives us immense joy to look back with pride at the tremendous economic progress made by our nation in the last three decades. But I am also deeply saddened at the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of millions of fellow Indians. The social sectors of health and education have lagged behind and not kept pace with our economic progress. Too many lives and livelihoods have been lost that should not have been,”

desure to prosper

• Over the last three decades, successive governments have followed this path to catapult our nation to a $3 trillion economy and into the league of the world’s largest economies. More importantly, nearly 300 million fellow Indians have been lifted out of poverty in this period and hundreds of millions of new jobs have been provided for our youth,”
• The liberalisation process helped in the making of some world-class companies and India has emerged as a global power in many sectors.

 

7. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurates Inter-State Bus Terminal at Shillong, Meghalaya.

• The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones of several projects in Shillong . Shri Amit Shah inaugurated a cryogenic oxygen plant and paediatric ward at Umsavali. He also inaugurated the Inter-State Bus Terminal at Maviyang.

KEY POINT

• An Inter-State Bus Terminal is being built here with the help of Government of India and Government of Meghalaya at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
• the Meghalaya government has completed 67 projects costing about Rs 700 crore with central assistance and 38 more projects worth Rs 800 crore are in progress.
• the Narendra Modi government has given Rs 650 crore for various types of jackfruit mission, mushroom mission, silk and milk missions and fisheries.
• In the entire Northeastern region, the Modi government is moving ahead by giving importance to three things – first, to preserve and promote the dialects, languages, dance, music, food, culture, and create awareness about it across the whole of India. Secondly, by resolving all disputes of the Northeast and making it a peaceful region, and thirdly, by making the Northeast a developed region and bring its GDP contribution back to the pre-Independence level.
• Meghalaya also figures in the list of states with 100% ODF.
• There are 3.39 lakh households in Meghalaya where tap water is not available.
• The Union Home Minister said that 39 Eklavya Residential Model Schools have been started in Meghalaya.

 

 

8. Amitabh Kant releases book on Indian start-up ecosystem .

• NITY Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant at the book launch ceremony has said that iVEAIN is a consortium of some of India’s finest institutes. This book, which is a comprehensive guide for start-ups, is authored by some of the most prominent voices in the Indian start-up ecosystem.

KEY POINT

• Remarking that Zomato’s success in securing funding, ahead of its IPO, mirrors the success of Indian start-ups, he said: “IPOs will drive our start-up revolution. Indian start-ups will raise money in Indian markets from the Indian public. This is truly atma nirbhar Bharat. Digitization has provided an impetus to the start-up ecosystem in India. Among 17 economies, India has emerged the second fastest in digitization.”
• The book launch was organized, in the virtual mode, by the Innovation Venturing and Entrepreneurship in India Network (iVEIN). The Directors of IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode also attended the event in Mumbai yesterday.
• It seeks to bring insights and evidence from academic research to support policy making as well as increase the effectiveness of managerial and investment decision making in entrepreneurship. This cross-institutional network can be the glue that bridges the different stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and more importantly, create rigorous and relevant new knowledge that is crucial to sustain an innovative ecosystem.

 

 

 

9. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ​launched the Green Sohra Afforestation Campaign at Sohra (Cherrapunji)

• The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, on the second day of his Meghalaya visit, launched the Green Sohra Afforestation Campaign at Sohra (Cherrapunji)today. Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated the Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme.

KEY POINT

• The entire area of ​​Cherrapunji is going to be adopted by Assam Rifles for the purpose of plantation.
• Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra is a subdivisional town in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is the traditional capital of ka hima Sohra (Khasi tribal kingdom).
• Sohra has often been credited as being the wettest place on Earth, but for now nearby Mawsynram currently holds that distinction. It still holds the all-time record for the most rainfall in a calendar month and in a year.
• Sohra receives rains from the Bay of Bengal arm of the Indian summer monsoon.
• All the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are planting trees across the country today as part of the tree plantation drive launched at the initiative of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. Today more than 16 lakh and 31 thousand saplings are being planted under this campaign.

 

 

10. pmcaresforchildren.in

• Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the web based portal pmcaresforchildren.in to facilitate submission of applications, identification of children eligible to receive support under the ‘PM CARES for Children’ scheme and processing of applications for securing benefits to them. The module on Child registration and identification of beneficiaries has been made functional. The portal shall be regularly updated with necessary information and modules.

KEY POINT

• ‘PM CARES for Children’ schemewas announced by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for supporting children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• The scheme aims to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children who have lost their parents to COVID pandemic, in a sustained manner. It enables their wellbeing through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support of Rs. 10 lakh, on reaching 23 years of age.
• A dedicated Help desk has been set up for the purpose which is accessible by Telephone at 011-23388074 or by email pmcares-children.wcd@nic.in
• Ministry has also requested  the State Chief Secretaries/Administrators of UTs to personally monitor the progress of data entry in the portal.

Eligibility:- All children who have lost

• Both parents or
• Surviving parent or
• legal guardian/adoptive parents due to COVID 19 pandemic, starting from 11.03.2020 till the end of pandemic, shall be entitled to benefits under this scheme.

 

11. The world’s first clean commercial nuclear reactor.

• China has unveiled plans to build the first-of-its-kind experimental nuclear reactor that will not require water for cooling and is expected to be safer than traditional reactors.

 KEY POINT

• The molten-salt nuclear reactor, which runs on liquid thorium rather than uranium, is expected to be safer because the molten salt cools and solidifies quickly when exposed to the air, insulating the thorium.
• Hence, any potential leak would spill much less radiation into the surrounding environment in comparison to leaks from traditional reactors.
• The prototype reactor is expected to be completed next month, with the first tests beginning in September. This will pave the way for the construction of the world’s first commercial reactor. It is expected to be constructed by 2030.

When will the nuclear reactor be ready?

• The prototype will first undergo tests in September. After successful tests, China will look to build its first commercial thorium reactor. The experimental reactor will be capable of generating around 100 megawatts of electricity, which will be enough to provide power to around 100,000 people.
• It will though have to be paired with other equipment, like steam turbines, to make usable electricity.

 

 

 

 

12. Only half of government schools, anganwadis have tap water supply.

• Only half of government schools and anganwadis have tap water supply, despite a 100-day campaign for 100% coverage being launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in October 2020, according to information provided to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources.

KEY POINT

• Less than 8% of schools in Uttar Pradesh and 11% in West Bengal have it, while it is available in only 2-6% of anganwadis in Assam, Jharkhand, U.P., Chhattisgarh and Bengal.
• The campaign to provide potable piped water supply for drinking and cooking purposes and tap water for hand washing and in toilets in every school, anganwadi and ashramshala or residential tribal school was launched on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. The 100-day period should have ended on January 10, 2021. However, as of February 15, only 48.5% of anganwadis and 53.3% of schools had tap water supply, the Ministry told the Parliamentary panel.
• Seven States — Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Punjab — achieved 100% coverage. A number of other States also made significant progress in that time, and 1.82 lakh grey water management structures and 1.42 lakh rainwater harvesting structures were also constructed in schools and anganwadi centres. “However, some States/ UTs have indicated that they need more time to complete the task and sustain the efforts. Therefore, the campaign has been extended till March 31, 2021.

 

 

 

13. PM Modi calls for ‘Bharat Jodo Andolan’ on Mann ki Baat,

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked people to lead a ‘Bharat jodo andolan’ (unite India movement) saying it is the duty of every Indian to bind the country that is filled with diversity.

KEY POINT

• On the eve of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, he exhorted people to read the story of Kargil and salute the heroes of the war.
• India is entering the 75th year of Independence on August 15, the Prime Minister said the need of the hour is to unite and work towards national progress and noted that Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated throughout the country to commemorate 75 years of freedom.
• Just the way the Quit India Movement, (Bharat Chhorro Andolan) was steered under Bapu’s leadership, every countryman today has to lead a ‘Bharat Jodo Andolan’. It is our duty to ensure that our work helps closely knit, bind our India which is filled with diversity,” he said, adding “we have to move forward with the mantra ‘nation first, always first’”.
• Many programmes in connection with Amrit Mahotsav are being organised, the Prime Minister said, adding that the Ministry of Culture has started an initiative to have a maximum number of Indians sing the national anthem together. For this, a website has also been created — Rashtragan.in
• Arguing that handloom is a major source of income for lakhs of weavers and craftsmen in the rural and tribal regions, he asked people to purchase handloom products. “Even small efforts on your part will give rise to a new hope in weavers. Do purchase something or the other…. It is only on account of your efforts that today, the sale of Khadi has risen manifold.”

 

 

14. India-China deal on Gogra, Hot Springs likely soon .

• India and China are set to hold the 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks aimed to resolving the standoff in Eastern Ladakh soon and an agreement for disengagement at Gogra and Hot Springs is likely to be reached.

KEY POINT

• The two sides are also looking at a Major General level talk to be held after the 12th round of talks, a second official said.
• Since the standoff began, the two sides have also held 10 Major General level talks, 55 Brigadier level talks and around 1,450 calls over the two hotlines. India and China have two hotlines for communication at Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO).
• While disengagement has been completed on both banks of Pangong Tso in February, other friction points that remain to be resolved are Gogra and Hot Springs, Demchok and Depsang. The buffer zones established in some places as part of earlier talks remain in place. “Buffer zone varies from place to place,”
• In Eastern Ladakh, India and China have two mutually agreed disputed areas — Trig Heights and Demchok — and 10 areas of differing perception. Officials said since the stand off last year, additional five friction points have emerged. These include Km 120 in Galwan area, Patrolling Points (PP) 15 and PP17 and Rechin La and Rezang La on the South Bank of Pangong Tso, the second official said.
• China wants de-escalation first and disengagement later which is not acceptable to India as they can bring back troops and equipment much faster then we can do,”
• For India, the area is cut off for several months a year which is not the case with China. Both the Zozila and Rohtang passes were kept open longer than usual last year due to the standoff and are available for 7-8 months. Construction work on several tunnels is underway on a priority basis including at Baralacha La and Tanglang La among others, the officials said.

 

 

LAC BECOMING LOC

• However, at least two officials said the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will not become like the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan with very close deployments by both sides.
• “The LAC will not become like the LoC. But the force levels have gone up as the trust is lost. All agreements are broken,” the first official stated. New protocols have to be worked out once de-escalation is complete, another official stated.