Facts in News

                                         Prelims Oriented Facts/ Topics

8th India International Silk Fair

• India’s biggest silk fair was recently inaugurated by the Textiles Minister.
• It is a 5 days event, being organised on Indian Silk Export Promotion Council’s virtual platform (Virtual due to COVID).
• India is the 2nd largest producer of Silk in World.
• India is the only country in the world that produces all four major varieties of silk – Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga.
• India has around 11 Geographical Indications such as Pochampally Ikat, Chanderpaul Silk, Mysore Silk, Kanchipuram Silk, Muga Silk, Salem Silk, Arni Silk, Champa Silk, Bhagalpur Silk, Banaras Brocade and Sarees, etc.

Aadi Mahotsav

• NEWS: The first Aadi Mahotsav post the pandemic is taking place between January 20-January 30, 2021 at GPRA Complex, New Moti Bagh, New Delhi
• Organised by TRIFED in association with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Purpose: To showcase tribal art and culture by having their crafts and natural produce and cuisine on display.
• In 2019-20, TRIFED has organized 16 Aadi Mahotsav all across the country (Please note: It’s not an Annual Event.)
• Tribes constitute over 8% of our population however, they are among the disadvantaged sections of the society.
• The fair works towards delivering the message that instead of need to modernise them, a lot can be learnt from tribals by Urban India.
• Their crafts have a timeless appeal and are characterised by natural simplicity.
• The wide range of handicrafts which include hand-woven cotton, silk fabrics, wool, metal craft, terracotta, bead-work, all need to be preserved and promoted

Periyar Tiger Reserve

Source: (WPSI)

• Saddled in the southern region of the Western Ghats, spread across an area of 777 sq. km of forest land in Kerala
• Key Attraction: Bamboo Rafting, Tiger Trail, Nature Walk
• Six tribal communities nestled inside the reserve such as Mannans, Paliyans, Malayarayans, Mala Pandarams, Uralis and Ulladans.
• It is a part of Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) which is situated in Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills.
• PNP is both a tiger reserve and elephant reserve. It is valuable for Asian elephants and also for a few of white tigers.
• Important ecosystem services included
  • gene-pool protection (7.86 billion),
  • water provisioning to districts of Tamil Nadu (4.05 billion),
  • habitat and refugia for wildlife (3.55 billion),
  • employment generation for local communities (25 million),
  • water purification services to nearby towns and districts (483 million) and
  • recreation value (425 million)

Vembanad Lake

• Vembanad is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala.
• With an area of 2033 square kilometres, it is the second-largest Ramsar site in India only after the Sunderbans in West Bengal.
• It receives water from rivers like the Pamba and Periyar.
• The lake is a major source of freshwater for the state but also has brackish water areas.
• also known as Vembanad Kayal, Vembanad Kol, Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad) and Kochi Lake (in Kochi)
• The lake witnessed Snake boat race known as Nehru Trophy Boat Race (locally known as Vallam Kali) in August.
• The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake.

‘Prabuddha Bharata’

• The Prime Minister addressed the 125th anniversary celebrations of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’,
• ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ is a monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Order which was started by Swami Vivekananda. It has been in publication since 1896 and carries articles on social sciences and humanities comprising historical, psychological, cultural and social sciences themes.
• Prabuddha Bharata’ is regarded as a significant medium for spreading the message of India’s ancient spiritual wisdom.

Mob Control Vehicle prototypes

CSIR has demonstrated three Variants of Mob Control Vehicles .

• Three innovative variants ‘Compact, Medium, Heavy’
  •  The Heavy category of these MCV prototypes has a 7.5-ton payload capacity.
  • The Medium category is of 2.5-ton payload capacity.
  • The compact one is a tractor-based vehicle for easy maneuvering.

• The prototypes consist of several independent operational units unified as per vehicle category and operational requirement during mob control.
  •  Few examples of the operational units are height adjustable front shovel, retractable protective front shield, all round irritant spray system, foam spray system and tear smoke munitions system.

• This is a first of its kind advanced indigenous design and featured development in the country.

Indian Coast Guard 45th Raising Day

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is celebrating  its 45th Raising Day on 1 February 2021

• The Indian Coast Guard is a multi-mission organization, conducting round-the-year real-life operations at sea.
• The Indian Coast Guard was formally established in 1977 .
•  Despite being relatively small, it has a wide range of task capabilities for both surface and air operations.
• The organization is headed by the Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) exercising his overall command and superintendence from the Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ) located at New Delhi.
• It is the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world, Indian Coast Guard has played a significant role in securing the Indian Coasts and enforcing regulations within the Maritime Zones of India.
• The Coast Guard became the first force to deploy women officers in operational roles on board ships.