Srimukhalingam temple

🔆 Srimukhalingam temple

↪️ Union government urged to include Srimukhalingam temple in UNESCO list.

🔸 The Srimukhalingam temple was also known as Kalinganagaram.

🔸 It was the capital of the early Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

↪️ Located in Jalumuru mandal of Srikakulam district Andhra Pradesh, near Vamsadhara River.

↪️ Constructed in the 9th century CE , it is built in the Kalinga architectural style.

↪️ Dedicated to lord Srimukha Lingeswara (a form of Shiva).

↪️ Here, Shiva Lingams do not have facial carvings and hence the temple differs from other shiva temples.

🔸 It is also known as Dakshina Kaasi.
↪️ It is believed that visiting this temple and taking a dip in the river relieves one from the cycle of rebirth.

#GS1

The 5th edition of the Kochi-Muziris

🔘The 5th edition of the Kochi-Muziris

In News

The 5th edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale opens on December 12, 2022, displaying works of over 90 artists from across the globe in varied media.

About

◾️The Kochi Muziris Biennale was founded in 2011 by Kerala-born, Mumbai-based artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu.

◾️It aims to “create a platform that will introduce contemporary, global visual art theory and practice to India”.

◾️A biennale is an international large-scale showcase of art that takes place every two years at a particular site, centred around a curatorial theme.

◾️The theme for 2022: “In Our Views Flow Ink and Fire”.

◾️One of the most prestigious and oldest biennales in the world is the Venice Biennale, which was established through a resolution by the city council in 1893 to celebrate national artistic talent.

◾️Biennales often named after the host city, become a reason for local pride, promoting cultural tourism and generating revenue through visitors.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

🔆Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

✅Aim: provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market-entry & commercialization.
✅Nodal Department: Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
✅An Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) has been created by DPIIT to execute and monitor the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
✅Eligibility conditions for startups: A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application.
✅Individual entrepreneurs are not eligible to apply for support under the scheme. Only DPIIT-recognized startups can apply for this scheme.
✅Shareholding by Indian promoters in the startup should be at least 51% at the time of application to the incubator for the scheme.

#government_scheme

Vikram S rocket

🔆Vikram S rocket

✅ Why in News:  On November 18, 2022, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace scripted history by becoming the first private Indian organisation to launch a rocket from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s launchpad in Sriharikota.

▪️Vikram S rocket:

✅It is a part of Mission Prarambh, which means the beginning.
✅It is a sub-orbital rocket, which reached outer space and then splashed into the sea.
✅Has payload capacity of up to 300 kilograms.
✅Vikram-S used solid fuel-ammonium perchlorate, which is not completely green fuel.
✅With Vikram-2, it is planned to use liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is greener compared with traditional kerosene fuel.

▪️Mechanisms of Vikram S:

✅There are four spin thrusters, which will generate the rocket’s spin and stability so that it doesn’t deviate from the trajectory.
✅Max-Q is the maximum stress on the rocket and is experienced during the lift-off.
✅At around 23 seconds, the rocket achieves five times the speed of sound or Mach 5.
✅‘Apogee’ is the maximum point after which it descends, falls back and splashes down into the sea.
✅It takes around two and a half minutes to reach the Apogee and another two and a half minutes to splash down.

▪️Technologies used:

✅carbon composites: porous structure made of carbon and carbon fibre and four times lighter and has higher strength than steel.
✅The lighter the rocket, the more payload we can use.
✅3D printing: reduces the cycle time by 90 per cent compared with traditional methods and allows to build complex shapes.
✅Cycle time is the time required to manufacture a component.
✅Cost-effectiveness
✅Efficient technology
✅Utilising existing govt infrastructure
✅Operating out of India

▪️About Skyroot Aerospace:

✅It is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider headquartered in Hyderabad.
✅Mandates: cutting-edge innovation and cost-effectiveness
Next launch will be Vikram-1, an orbital vehicle that puts satellites into orbit.
✅Vikram-2 will have a higher capacity than Vikram-1.
✅Skyroot Aerospace focuses on reusability of rockets.

#science_and_technology
#prelims

🔆India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to pursue resumption of FTA Negotiations

🔆India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to pursue resumption of FTA Negotiations

✅The Government of India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced the intent to pursue negotiations on the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

♻️India-GCC FTA :

✅Both India and the GCC have acknowledged the need to expedite the conclusion of the FTA negotiations. 

✅The FTA between the two is envisaged to be an advanced and comprehensive agreement that covers wide aspects of goods and services. 

✅The FTA between India and the GCC is expected to help create new jobs, better living standards, and provide increased social and economic opportunities to India and the GCC countries. 

✅Both sides have agreed to expand and diversify the trade basket in line with the huge potential existing because of the complementary business and economic ecosystems of India and the GCC. 

♻️India-GCC Trade Relations :

✅At present, GCC is India’s largest trading partner bloc with bilateral trade in FY 2021-22 crossing $154 billion with exports being valued at about $44 billion and imports at $110 billion. 

✅The bilateral trade in services between India and the GCC was valued at around $14 billion in FY 2021-22 (Exports: $5.5 Billion and Imports: $8.3 Billion). 

✅Further, the GCC countries account for close to 35% of India’s total oil imports and 70% of overall gas imports.

✅India’s total crude oil imports from the GCC in 2021-22 were valued at $48 billion with LNG and LPG imports being valued at $21 billion. 

✅Also, the investments from the GCC in India are valued at over $18 billion.


#⃣Tag:   #GS2  #IR  #FTA #Pre

✳️ Mains: Trends in India-GCC Relations and the significance of FTA

IEC:-🔆International Electrotechnical Commission

🔆International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

✅India won the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Vice Presidency and Strategic Management Board (SMB) Chair for the 2023-25 term.

♻️International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) :

✅The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was founded in 1906 in London.

✅IEC is the world’s leading organisation for the preparation and publication of international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies which are collectively known as “electrotechnology”.

✅IEC International Standards serve as the basis for risk and quality management.

✅The IEC is a global not-for-profit membership organisation that helps collaborate with over 170 countries and coordinates the work of experts from across the world.

♻️Headquarters :

✅Geneva in Switzerland
Standardization Management Board (SMB) is an apex governance body of the IEC responsible for technical policy matters.

♻️India and IEC :

✅India started taking part in IEC in 1911 and subsequently, the then-Indian Standards Institution which is now the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) took over the responsibility of the Indian National Committee of IEC (INC-IEC) in 1949 from the Institution of Engineers. 

✅Since then the INC-IEC has been actively participating in the activities of the IEC both at the policy level and technical work and carrying out the responsibilities as a member body of the IEC Council.

✅The representation of BIS in policy and governance bodies of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and IEC ensures that Indian viewpoints on important strategic and policy matters are heard and also provides opportunities to align the national standardisation priorities with global best practices.

✅By securing about 90% of the votes cast by full members of IEC during its General Meeting held in San Francisco, USA, India’s representatives were elected as Vice President of IEC and the Chair of SMB for the 2023-25 term.

✅Vimal Mahendru will be the IEC Vice President representing India. 


#⃣Tag:   #GS2  #IR  #Commission  #Electrotechnology #Pre

Clouded leopardl

🔆Clouded leopard

✅Named after cloud shaped pattern on its skin.
✅It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
✅It is the State animal of Meghalaya.
✅Dampa(mizoram) had one of the highest population densities of clouded leopards.
✅It has been added to India’s Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species to aid more research and strengthen conservation efforts.

🔆Habitat:
✅Clouded Leopard prefers grassland, shrubs, subtropical and dense tropical forest up to a height of 7,000 feet occurring from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into China.
✅In India, it occurs in Sikkim, northern West Bengal, Meghalaya subtropical forests, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.