Daily Current Capsules

29 May 2023

Prelims Factoids/Art and Culture

PM’s address at the celebration of dedication of New Parliament Building to the Nation

Highlights

• PM mentioned the Mahabharata where one can find the description of a Republic and said that India has lived and breathed democracy in Vaishali.
• The Anubhav Mantappa of Lord Basweswara is a thing of pride for all of us
• Highlighting the inscriptions found in Tamil Nadu belonging to 900 AD, the Prime Minister said that it surprises everyone even in today’s day and age.
• The interiors of Lok Sabha are themed on the national bird peacock and Rajya Sabha on the national flower lotus.
• The Parliament premises have the national tree Banyan.
• The new building incorporates the specialities of different parts of the country.
• He mentioned granite from Rajasthan, timber from Maharashtra and carpet by Bhadhoi artisans – spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
• It is the first time that the contributions of Shramiks have been immortalized in the new Parliament”

Know! about Anubhava Mantapa

• Parliament system had come into existence in 12th century itself with Bhagwan Basavanna establishing the Anubhava Mantapam.
• Anubhava Mantapa was an academy of mystics, saints and philosophers of the ‘Veerashaiva’ faith in the 12th century.
• It was the fountainhead of all religious and philosophical thought pertaining to the Human Values, Ethics.
• It was presided over by the mystic Allama Prabhu and numerous Sharanas from all over Karnataka and other parts of India were participants.
• Prabhudeva, a great Yogi of extraordinary achievement, was the president and Lord Basava acted as the prime minister.
• Chennabasava can be compared to the speaker while at the same time working as the editor, and compiler of Vachana literature.
• The members of Anubhava Mantapa were nominated by the higher authorities of the Mantapa
• Problems tackled in Anubhava Mantapa – social, religious, spiritual, yogic psychological, economic and literary spheres.

Prelims Factoids

101^st Mann Ki Baat – Highlight

Highlights

• In this episode PM talked about unique efforts that are strengthening the fraternity of India
• The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam ,Kashi-Telugu Sangamam – unique effort to give strength to the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat has taken place in the country.

Yuva Sangam

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the Ministry of Education’s initiative named ‘Yuva Sangam’, saying that its objective is to increase people to people connect as well as to give an opportunity to the youth of the country to mingle with each other.
• The objective of this initiative is to increase People to People Connect as well as to give an opportunity to the youth of the country to mingle with each other.
• It will provide an immersive, multidimensional experience of various facets-under four broad areas of Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect). 
• Higher educational institutions of various states have been linked to it.
• Yuva Sangam youth visit cities and villages of other states, they get an opportunity to meet different types of people.
• In the first round of Yuva Sangam, about 1200 youths have toured 22 states of the country.
• In line with the spirit of `Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat`, Yuva Sangam will strengthen people-to-people bonds, mainstream the vibrant culture of our north-eastern states and bring immense exposure and opportunities for knowledge exchanges, especially for our youth in the north-east
• Youth between the ages of 18 and 30 will take part in this programme,
• Through the course of the program, students will interact with each other in the areas of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events and tourism.
• They will get a first-hand experience of living in a completely different geographical and cultural scenario

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

• The initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Through this innovative measure, the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different states & UTs will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between the states, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of India.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial museum

• The Prime Minister mentioned that he recently visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial museum in Japan
• PM highlighted the International Museum Expo recently organised in India,

International Organisations

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting

What’s the NEWS

• The second Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting was held in Detroit hosted by the US.
• Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal virtually participated in the Ministerial meeting.

Know! about IPEF

• IPEF was launched jointly by the USA and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23, 2022 at Tokyo.
• IPEF has 14 partner countries including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam & USA.
• It seeks to strengthen economic engagement among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, peace and prosperity in the region.

The framework is structured around four pillars relating to

1. Trade (Pillar I)
2. Supply Chains (Pillar II)
3. Clean Economy (Pillar III)
4. Fair Economy (Pillar IV).

India had joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has an observer status in Pillar-I.  

International Organisations

44th ISO COPOLCO Plenary

What’s the NEWS

• The four-day 44th ISO COPOLCO Plenary hosted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) from 23-26 May, 2023 concluded at New Delhi

Know! about COPOLCO

• COPOLCO—the Committee on Consumer Policy of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)—provides a forum for the exchange of information and experience on consumer participation in the international standardization work of ISO and, by liaison, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• It is responsible for promoting consumer interests in the standardization process and for ensuring that standards are developed with the needs of consumers in mind.
• COPOLCO’s membership includes some 128 ISO member countries
• ISO COPOLCO is reckoned as the major international event that brings together representatives from ISO member countries to discuss and develop strategies for accelerating the development of standards for the world.

Know! about International Standards Organisation (ISO):

• ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization made up of members from the national standards bodies of 168 countries.
• It develops standards for the world impacting a diverse range of business and social sectors.
• Location of Central Secretariat – Geneva, Switzerland.
• India has since long been actively involved in matters of international standardization and was one of the founding members of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Bureau of Indian Standard ( BIS)

• In its capacity as the National Standards Body of India, BIS is actively involved in matters of international and regional standardization.
• BIS is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and through the Indian National Committee (INC) is a member of the International Electro technical Commission (IEC).
• BIS is also a member of regional standards bodies like the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC), and the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) and is under the framework of IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa).

Government Initiatives

VI Phase of Sagar Parikarma Yatra launched

What’s the NEWS

• Union Minister for Fisheries, has taken this unique initiative of “Sagar Parikrama” to visit coastal areas of entire country through a pre-decided sea route to meet fishermen, fish farmers and beneficiaries of various Government Schemes, and to interact with them in order to hear directly from them about their issues and suggestions

Know! about Sagar Parikrama

• The journey of First Phase of “Sagar Parikrama” has started from Mandvi, Gujarat on 5th March 2022 and so far in the Five Phases of Sagar Parikrama the coastal areas of Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra and Karnataka have been covered in the west coast.
• Sagar Parikrama Phase-VI, journey will cover the areas in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, covering locations like Kodiyaghat, Port Blair, Panighat Fish landing center, VK Pur Fish Lending Center, Hutbay, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island etc.

Fisheries sector in India

• Fisheries sector provides livelihood, employment, and entrepreneurship to more than 2.8 crore fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and several lakhs along the value chain.
• Over the past 75 years the sector has transformed with a 22- fold increase in fish production.
• From a mere 7.5 lakh tons in 1950-51, India’s total fish production has reached a record 162.48 lakh tons per annum in 2021-22, with a 10.34% growth in fish production in 2021- 22 in comparison to 2020-21.
• Today, India is the 3rd largest fish producing country with about 8% share in global fish production.
• India stands 2nd in aquaculture production and one of the top cultured shrimps producing nation in the world.

Know! more about Sagar Parikrama

• Sagar Parikrama is a program reflecting the far-reaching policy strategy of the government leading to the direct interaction with fishers and fish farmers to understand the coastal areas issues related to fishermen.
• Sagar Parikrama shall create massive changes in the development strategy of fishermen.
• Sagar Parikrama influences the livelihood and holistic development of fishermen and fisher folk, including climate change and sustainable development, would be far-reaching in coming phases.

Environment Conservation

Solar Decathlon India Design Challenge

What’s the NEWS

• A total of 12 teams won the Solar Decathlon India (SDI) Design Challenge for Net-Zero Future Proof Building in the different categories at the 3rd edition of the challenge conducted at Infosys’ campus in Mysuru.

Know! about the challenge

• The Solar Decathlon India is an innovative platform that encourages and instills a healthy competitive spirit in youngsters by challenging them to think outside the box and use their ingenuity to design a net-zero niche.
• The Solar Decathlon India is conducted every year by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE) under the aegis of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), an autonomous bilateral organisation jointly funded by both the Governments (The Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and the U.S. Department of State are the respective nodal departments on the two sides).
• This year the challenge ran for nine months
• The Council of Architecture (CoA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a knowledge partner with AEEE, who co-organises SDI, to expand outreach and the impact of Solar Decathlon India aimed at building the next generation of leaders to combat climate change in India.
• “The IPCC AR6 2023 Synthesis report emphasises the importance of resilient net-zero buildings in the urban transition to limit global warming.
• The Solar Decathlon India finalists proposed innovative solutions integrating renewable technologies, sustainable design, and community engagement to transform Indian cities to achieve the 1.5oC goal

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving

TEAM CL/GKP