Facts in News

                                             Facts in News

NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum (NTLF)

• It is the annual flagship event of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).
  • Established in 1988, NASSCOM is a not-for-profit industry association.
• One of Asia’s biggest leadership conferences, the event focuses on how to play out in helping businesses accelerate innovation.
• February 2021 marks the 29th year of NTLF and this year’s theme is: ‘Shaping the future towards a better normal‘.
• NTLF 2021 aims to achieve three key objectives-
  • Mark as a celebration of technology which has served as a backbone to boost businesses during the crisis.
  • Draw a roadmap for the way ahead towards building a better future.
  • Bringing out the importance of trust and responsible tech in this hyper virtual world.

National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

• About NFSM:
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched in 2007-08, based on the recommendations of the agriculture sub-committee of National Development Council (NDC).
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
  • Key Thrust Areas
    • Sustainable increase in the production of targeted crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement.
    • Restoration of soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level.
    • Rise in farm-level net income.
  • Assistance Provided
    • Seed distribution of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), farm machinery/resources conservation machinery/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection, nutrient management, cropping system-based training to the farmers, etc.
  • Achievements
    • Assistance to farmers for organizing cluster demonstrations on an improved package of practices.
    • Demonstrations on the cropping system.
    • Spreading the newer improved crop production technologies.

• About the National Development Council (NDC)
  • Established in August 1952 by an executive resolution on the recommendation of the First Five Year Plan (draft outline).
  • It is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body.
  • Functions
    • Prescribe guidelines for the preparation of the National Plan.
    • Consider the National Plan as prepared by the NITI Aayog.
    • Make an assessment of the resources required for implementing the Plan and suggest measures for augmenting them.
    • Consider important questions of social and economic policy affecting national development and review the working of the Plan from time to time.
    • Recommend measures for achievement of the aims and targets set out in the Plan.

National Marine Turtle Action Plan         

• Launched by: Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change
• Main Features :
  • Coastal development, including the construction of ports, jetties, resorts, and industries, as major threats to turtle populations.
  • Assessments of the environmental impact of marine and coastal development that may affect marine turtle populations and their habitats.
  • Promotes inter-sectoral action for conservation and also guides improved coordination amongst the government, civil society, and all relevant stakeholders.

Leatherback Turtle

• About :
  • Leatherback turtles are named for their shell, which is leather-like.
  • The Largest sea turtle species on the planet.
  • Found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic.
  • The important nesting populations are found in and around the Indian Ocean, including Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and India’s Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.
  • Listed in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
•  IUCN status: Vulnerable

Basant Panchami

• A Hindu and Namdhari Sikh festival signaling the beginning of spring season.
• Celebrated on the Panchami tithi of the Hindu month of Magha, Shukla Paksha (usually in Mid February)
• The yellow color is vividly used during the celebration inspired by blooming trees and mustard.
• Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Wisdom) is worshipped on the day.
• It is also an auspicious day for starting education (Vidyarambam) of young kids.

Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti

About Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti

• He was a sufi mystic saint and philosopher born in Iran but came to preach in Hindustan at age of 52 after a Haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.
• Also known as Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz, he made Ajmer his residence.
• He was one of the most popular saints of Chisti Silsila.
• He died in 1236 (Contemporary of Qutub-ud-din Aibak and Iltutmish). His resting place is the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
• 2021 marks 809th Urs (Death Anniversary) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.
• Chadar is offered for prayer by both Hindu and Muslims at the Dargah which represents the Spirit of Mutual Respect and Unity in Diversity of India.

About Chisti Silsila

• It comes under Ba-shara order which means they were bound by Islamic laws, unlike Be-Shara.
  • Be-shara (literally means without laws) were the Sufi Saints who didn’t follow Islamic laws and lived like wanderers.
  • Due to constant wandering, Be-shara were also called Baba and Mast Kalandar.
• Founded by Abu Ishaq Shami at Chisti-i-sharif in Afghanistan.
• It was established in India by Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti in 1192, just after the death of Prithvi Raj Chauhan.
• Other prominent Saints in this silsila were:
  • Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (Died in 1235 in Delhi, Contemporary of Iltutmish)
  • Nizamuddin Auliya (Also known Mehboob-e-Ilahi) (died in 1335 in Delhi. His disciple was Amir Khusaro, the parrot of India and Father of Qawwali)
  • Nasruddin Chiragh-i-Delhi (14th century, After him Chisti Silsila declined.)
• Saints of this order mingled with people freely and led austere lives.
• They stressed the importance of keeping a distance from worldly power (including Kings and Emperors too).
• Chishti practise is also notable for Sama: evoking the divine presence by listening to and losing oneself in a form of music and poetry, most usually Qawwali.
• There were 12 Sufi silsilas in Bashara order.
  • Few prominent ones, apart from Chisti, were Qadiriyya, Suhrawardiyya and Naqshbandi, etc.

About Dargah Sharif

• The Dargah shrine has Chisti’s grave.
• It has been constructed with white marble in different stages and styles.
• Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and Akbar were the ones who paid homage and expanded the structure significantly.