Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | Mar 1, 2021

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Prime Minister calls for e-marketing of “Channapatna toys”

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has called upon to explore the possibility of e-marketing of Channapatna toys across the country and the world, during the India Toy Fair 2021,

The PM advised the artisans to make use of advanced information technology(IT) technology to popularize toys across the world.

About Channapatna Toys:

• Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys (and dolls). Artisans of the town Channapatna in Karnataka manufactures them.
• In Kannada, Channapatna is also called “Gombegala Ooru”, which means toy town in English.
• Origin: The origin of these toys can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan. He invited artisans from Persia to train the local artisans in the making of wooden toys.
• The Father of Channapatna toy is Bavas Miyan. He is known for his commitment to helping the local artisans with the art of toy-making and bringing in new technologies to improvise the toys.
• Wood Used: The Channapatna toys are made of specific wood, called “Aale Mara or the ivory wood”. Vegetable dyes are used for colors that are safe to use and environment-friendly.
• GI tag: This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication(GI) under the World Trade Organization(WTO).

Other Traditional Indian Toys of Different States:

• Kerala- Kathakali dance dolls, animal-shaped toys, and Wood craft Toys
• TamilNadu- Thanjavur Thalaiyatti Bommai , Choppu saman Toys
• Punjab- Folk toys, Handwai, Chankana, Lattu, Ghuggu
• Telangana: Nirmal Toys
• Madhya Pradesh– Adivasi Gudia Hastashilpa (Dolls), Betel Nut’s Toys, and Tin Toys.
• Uttar Pradesh- lacquered toys and miniature utensils Toys.
• Jammu & Kashmir- Walnut wood carving toys
• Chhattisgarh- Clay & Terracotta, Dhokra Metal Casting, Wood Carving, Metal Craft toys.
• Daman & Diu- Tortoise Shell toys and crafts,
• Andaman & Nicobar Island- Timber Toys, Coconut shell toys

Click Here to Read about Toycathon-2021

Source: The Hindu

ISRO successfully places Brazil’s “Amazonia-1 and 18 Satellites” in orbit

What is the News?

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV-C51) rocket launched Brazil’s Amazonia-1 and 18 co-passenger satellites.

PSLV-C51:

• It is the 53rd flight of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program.
• It was also the first dedicated mission for New Space India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO.
• The mission was undertaken under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc., USA.

Amazonia-1 Satellite:

• It is an earth observation satellite. Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research designed, integrated, tested, and operated the satellites.
• Purpose: It will provide remote sensing data for users monitoring deforestation in the Amazon forests. Furthermore, it will analyze diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.
• The satellite injected into its precise orbit of 758 km in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.
• Significance: It is the first commercial venture for New Space India Limited (NSIL).

Satish Dhawan SAT(SDSAT) Satellite:

• Developed by: Space Kidz India.
• Purpose: It is a nano-satellite. It will study the radiation levels, space weather and will demonstrate long-range communication technologies.
• The satellite has an engraving on the top panel of the satellite. This engraving shows solidarity and gratitude for the Atma Nirbhar initiative and Space privatization.

UNITYsat Satellites:

• Built by: It is a combination of three satellites. It is designed and built jointly by the Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.
• Purpose: The satellites were launched for providing radio relay services.

Other Satellites:

• The other satellites were from the U.S.A. Among them, one was a technology demonstration satellite.
  • Technology demonstration satellites help in the demonstration of new technologies and techniques testing. These technologies will have a use in future space missions.

The satellite that missed the launch:

Anand Satellite:

• Developed by: Pixxel India, a Bengaluru-based start-up developed Anand Satellite.
• Purpose: It is an earth-imaging satellite. It will monitor every part of the globe, and beam high-resolution imagery and other data. Thus, this satellite will have a variety of applications in climate change, agriculture, and urban planning.
• It was supposed to be on this PSLV-C51 rocket mission. However, the launch cancelled due to certain software issues during testing.

Source: The Hindu

ISRO launches DRDO’s “Sindhu Netra Satellite”

What is the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches the ”Sindhu Netra Satellite”. It was a part of ISRO’s PSLV-C51 mission.

About Sindhu Netra Satellite:

• Developed by: Students of Bengaluru based PES University under a contract by  Research Centre Imarat, which is a part of the DRDO.
• Purpose: The satellite is capable of automatically identifying the warships and merchant ships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Significance: The satellite enhances India’s surveillance capabilities on land borders with China and Pakistan.
• It will be useful to identify suspicious movements of sea-faring vessels close to India’s maritime borders.
• Furthermore, It will also be helpful in carrying out surveillance in areas such as the South China Sea or the pirate-infested areas near the Gulf of Aden and the African coast.

Source: Outlook

Union Minister inaugurates “Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021”

What is the News?

Union Minister for Rural Development has inaugurated Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021.

Saras Aajeevika Mela:

• Nodal Ministry: It is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development. This initiative is a part of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Organized by: Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).
  • CAPART: It is an autonomous body. It was established in 1986 by the Ministry of Rural Development. CAPART co-coordinates the partnership between Voluntary Organizations and the Government for sustainable development of rural areas.
• Objective: Mela will bring the rural women Self Help Groups(SHGs) under one platform. By that, SHGs will be able to showcase their skills and sell their products.
• Moreover, these rural SHG women will get vital national-level exposure to understand the demand and taste of urban customers.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• Launched in: It was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in 2011 as a restructured version of Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna(SGSY).
  • In 2015, the program was renamed as Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana(DAY-NRLM).
• Objective: It looks to create efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor. It will enable SHGs to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
• World Bank Support: The mission is aided in part through investment support by the World Bank.
• Target: The mission has set out an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households through self-managed Self Help Groups(SHGs) and federated institutions. It will support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years.

Features of DAY-NRLM:

• Social Mobilization: It will bring at least one woman member from each identified rural poor household, under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time-bound manner. Special emphasis is, particularly on vulnerable communities.
• Community Institutions: The Mission involves working with the community institutions through community professionals to promote self-help.
• Financial Inclusion – The mission works on both the demand and supply sides of financial inclusion. On the demand side, it promotes financial literacy among the poor and provides capital to the SHGs. On the supply side, it coordinates with the financial sector to encourage the use of financial technologies.
• Convergence: The mission places a high emphasis on convergence with other programs of the MoRD and other Central Ministries. Convergence is also sought with programs of state governments for developing synergies directly or indirectly with institutions of the poor.

Source: PIB

5th edition of “Asia Economic Dialogue” held

What is the News?

The 5th edition of the Asia Economic Dialogue(AED) held virtually.

 About Asia Economic Dialogue(AED):

• Asia Economic Dialogue(AED) is the flagship geo-economics conference of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).
• The dialogue focuses on trade and finance dynamics in Asia and its extended neighbourhood.

AED 2021:

• It is jointly organized by the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and Pune International Centre (PIC).
• Theme: “Post Covid-19 Global Trade and Finance Dynamics”.
• Focus: The dialogue focuses on the pandemic’s impact on trade and finance, on the world, and on Asia in particular. It also discusses strategies to deal with this impact.

Source: The Hindu

Nagaland to revive barbed cages for criminals

What is the News?

Some villages in Nagaland are trying to revive a traditional form of punishment. It involves punishing the criminals by putting them into barbed cages.

About the Nagaland traditional form of punishment:

• Villages in Nagaland practice a traditional form of punishment that punishes social offenders or violators of Naga customary laws. They put offenders into a triangular barbed cage that irritates the skin.
• The cage is made of the logs of Masang-fung. It is a local tree that people avoid because of the irritation it causes.
• These cages are referred to in Nagaland as khujli Ghar and in Nagamese as pidgin lingua franca.
• The cage is usually placed at a central spot in the village, usually in full public view. Hence, the punishment is more of humiliation or loss of face within the community or clan than of spending at least a day inside the barbed cages without any space to move.

Article 371A – Nagaland

• Article 371A of the Constitution states that no act of Parliament would apply to the state of Nagaland on the following matters
  • Religious or social practices of Nagas
  • Naga customary law and procedure
  • Administration of civil or criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law and
  • Ownership and transfer of land and its resources.
• Exception: The Legislative Assembly of Nagaland must pass a resolution for an act to be applicable to the state.
• Special Responsibilities: The Governor of Nagaland has special responsibility for law and order in the state. But this responsibility will extend as long as internal disturbances caused by the hostile Nagas continue. In the discharge of this responsibility, the Governor, after consulting the Council of Ministers should exercise his individual judgment and his decision is final.

Source: The Hindu

9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 1, 2021