Daily Current Capsules

09 June 2023

MAIDEN INDIA-FRANCE-UAE MARITIME PARTNERSHIP EXERCISE

• The first edition of the India, France, and UAE Maritime Partnership Exercise commenced on 07 Jun 23 in the Gulf of Oman.
• INS Tarkash and French Ship Surcouf both with integral helicopters, French Rafale aircraft, and UAE Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating in the exercise.

About the exercise

• The maiden exercise aims to enhance trilateral cooperation between the three navies and pave the way for adopting measures towards addressing traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime environment.
• The exercise will also enhance collaboration in ensuring the safety of mercantile trade and freedom of navigation at high seas in the region.

Agni Prime

• New Generation Ballistic Missile ‘Agni Prime’ was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on June 07, 2023.
• This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by the users after three successful developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability of the system.
• The launch of the Agni-Prime was conducted by the tri-service Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

All about Agni-P or Agni-Prime

• It is a new generation nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by the DRDO that incorporates technological advances from Agni-IV and Agni-V and is considered a successor for Agni-I and Agni-II missiles in the operational service of the SFC.
• Agni-Prime strike range – 1,000 to 2,000 km
• It is a two-stage, surface-to-surface, road-mobile, and solid-fueled missile which is transported by a truck and launched via a canister, like the country’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Agni-V (over 5,000 km).
• It is a ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
• Agni-Prime looks similar to Agni-III, the weight is reduced by half.
• Agni-P will replace older generation missiles such as Prithvi-II (350 km), Agni-II (2,000 km), Agni-III (3,000 km), and Agni-4 (4,000 km) ballistic missiles.
• Agni-Prime incorporates upgrades such as propulsion systems, composite rocket motor casings, and advanced navigation and guidance systems.
• Along with Agni-V, Agni-P will provide India with stronger deterrence against countries such as China and Pakistan.
• While Agni-V brings all of China within its strike range, Agni-P seems to have been developed to counter Pakistan’s forces.
• Agni-P is developed to achieve maximum maneuverability against missile defense systems and higher accuracy for precision strikes.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)

• In the 1980s, India started developing the Agni missile series under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) led by former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.
• IGMDP received approval from the government in 1983.
• IGMDP was aimed at making India self-sufficient in missile technology. The program has five missiles P-A-T-N-A: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, and Akash.
• Agni-P is the sixth missile in the Agni (missile) series of ballistic missiles. It is a family of medium to intercontinental-range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the five elements of nature.

Agni-I

• It is a two-stage Agni technology demonstrator with a solid-fuel first stage.
• It was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur in 1989. It has a strike range of 700-1200 km and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg.
• As compared to Agni-II, Agni-I is less costly, simple, accurate, and more mobile.

Agni-II

• It is a two-stage ballistic missile with a strike range of 2,000-3000 km.
• It can carry a payload of 1,000 kg and was first launched on August 9, 2012.

Agni-III

• It is the third in the Agni series of missiles.
• It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a 3,500-5,000 km range.
• Agni-III was first tested on July 9, 2006, from Wheeler Island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha. It can carry a payload of 1,500 kg.

Agni – IV

• The fourth missile in the series is Agni-IV.
• It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of around 4,000 km.
• It was first tested on November 15, 2011, and September 19, 2012, from Wheeler Island off the coast of eastern Orissa.
• Agni-IV bridges the gap between Agni II and Agni III.
• Agni-IV can take a warhead of 1,000 kg. With state-of-the-art technologies, Agni-IV is designed to increase kill efficiency and higher range performance.
• It can be fired from a road-mobile launcher.

Agni-V

• It is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which has a strike range of over 7,000 km. \It was first test-fired on April 19, 2012, from Wheeler Island.
• The second test launch was successfully done on September 15, 2013.
• The last test launch of Agni-V was conducted on December 15, 2022, from Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

Agni-VI

• It is a MIRV-capable intercontinental ballistic missile currently under development by the DRDO.
• Agni-VI is reported to be the most advanced version of the Agni missiles.

Sagar Parikrama Phase VII

• The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has launched the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program on the occasion of the 75^th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The Sagar Parikrama program is being organized through a pre-decided sea route covering coastal states/UTs.
• The ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program envisages covering the maritime States/UTs in a phased manner.

Sagar Parikrama’ aims to

1. facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities, and stakeholders so as to disseminate information on various fisheries-related schemes and programs being implemented by the Government
2. demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers, and concerned stakeholders
3. promote responsible fisheries with a focus on a sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for the food security of the nation and the livelihoods of coastal fisher communities
4. protection of marine ecosystems.

Benefits

• The fishermen, fisher communities, and stakeholders in the coastal areas are likely to be benefitted with awareness of various beneficiary-oriented schemes and programs being implemented by the Government and showcasing them the best practices that may be adopted.

Technical Textiles

• The Union Minister of Textiles chaired the 6th Mission Steering Group (MSG) meeting of the National Technical Textiles Mission in New Delhi

Know! about Technical textiles

• Textile materials that are manufactured for their technical performances and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative features fall under the technical textiles category.
• These products are broadly classified into 12 different categories- Agrotech, Oekotech, Buildtech, Meditech, Geotech, Clothtech, Mobiltech, Hometech, Sportstech, Indutech, Protech, and Packtech.

• Technical Textiles are a futuristic and nice segment of textiles, which are used for various applications ranging from agriculture, roads, railway tracks, sportswear, and health on one end to bulletproof jackets, fireproof jackets, high altitude combat gear and space applications on another end of the spectrum.

National Technical Textiles Mission

• With a view to positioning the country as a global leader in Technical Textiles, National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) has been approved with a four-year implementation period from FY 2020-21 to 2023-24.
• The mission aims to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles by increasing the domestic market size from USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion by 2024.
• It also supports the ‘Make in India’ Initiative, which encourages domestic production of related machinery and equipment.
• Technical textile penetration in India is low, at 5-10%, compared to 30-70% in advanced countries. The mission also seeks to increase the penetration of technical textiles in the country.
• The Mission will concentrate on the use of technical textiles in various flagship missions and programs of the country, including strategic sectors.

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) intends to grow the technical textiles industry in the following ways:

• The “Make in India” program
• Market development and promotion
• International technical collaborations
• Promotion of Investment

Benefits Of The National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM)

• The mission’s goal is to increase agricultural productivity.
• The use of these textiles in dairy, Swachh Bharat Mission, agriculture, poultry, and other industries will significantly reduce economic costs.
• It encourages the country’s manufacturing and export activities.
• The mission can help conserve soil and water.
• A rise in agricultural productivity will increase farmers’ incomes per acre.

The Ministry will carry out this mission through a three-tier institutional mechanism comprised of the following groups:

• The Mission Steering Group will approve all financial standards pertaining to the mission’s schemes, programs, and components.
• The empowered Programme Committee will approve all projects with the exception of research projects that fall within the financial constraints of several programs as approved by the mission steering group.
• Technical Textiles Research, Development, and Innovation Committee identify and recommends research projects for approval to the mission steering group. The projects are in strategic areas such as space, defense, paramilitary, security, and atomic energy.

International Archives Day

• The National Archives of India is celebrating International Archives Day on 9 June 2023
• Minister of State for Culture inaugurated an exhibition under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) titled “Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” today to celebrate 75^th International Archives Day at the National Archives of India, New Delhi.

International Council on Archives

• The ICA is a neutral, non-governmental organization, funded by its membership, which operates through the activities of that diverse membership.
• The aim of the ICA is to promote the management and use of records and archives, and the preservation of the archival heritage of humanity around the world,
• It was decided at the 2007 ICA Annual General Meeting that June 9 would be celebrated as International Archives Day.
• The date, June 9, was chosen to commemorate the date ICA was created under the auspices of UNESCO in 1948.

National Archives of India -Highlights

• India is blessed with extraordinary language diversity.
• According to an estimate out of 7,111 languages spoken globally, about 788 languages are spoken in India alone.
• India is thus one of the four most linguistically diversified countries in the world, along with Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
• On the occasion of International Archives Day, the National Archives of India has made available the Gilgit Manuscripts written between the 5″ -6″ centuries CE, which is the oldest surviving manuscript collection in India.
• The birch bark folios documents written on pieces of the inner layer of the bark of birch trees were found in the Kashmir region and contain both canonical and non-canonical Jain and Buddhist works

Gilgit Manuscripts

• The Gilgit Manuscripts were discovered in three stages in the Naupur village (Gilgit region) and first announced by archaeologist Sir “Aurel Stein in the year 1931.

National Archives of India – Background

• The National Archives of India was established on 11 March 1891 at Kolkata (Calcutta) as the Imperial Record Department.
• Following the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the present building of the National Archives of India was constructed in 1926 which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
• The transfer of all records from Calcutta to New Delhi was completed in 1937.
• The National Archives of India is also the nodal agency for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and Public Record Rules, 1997.
• National Archives of India has at present in its repositories a vast collection of records, which include files. volumes, maps, bills assented to by the President of India, treaties, rare manuscripts, oriental records, private papers, cartographic records, an important collection of Gazettes and Gazetteers, Census records, assembly, and parliament debates, proscribed literature, travel accounts, etc.

Chhitkul village of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

What’s the NEWS

• Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh participated in an interaction program with local villagers, organized under Vibrant Villages Programme at Chhitkul in District Kinnaur

Vibrant Villages program

• It is an initiative of the Union Government to strengthen infrastructure facilities in the northern land border of the country and to provide all facilities there at par with those in cities.
• Chhitkul, Pooh, Nako, Leo and Chango villages of district Kinnaur will be developed under the Vibrant Villages Programme, informed the Minister.
• A Central Public Sector Undertaking will adopt Chhitkul Village and assist the state government in developing it as Vibrant Village.

Gulabi meenakari handicraft

• The Uttar Pradesh state government has decided to gift GI-tagged Gulabi meenakari handicrafts for the visiting delegates from G20 nations.
• The national awardee of the craft, Kunj Bihari said that Gulabi meenakari peacocks were specially ordered for the G20 delegates.

About Gulabi meenakari handicraft

• Gulabi Minakari is one of the rarest crafts in India that is practiced in the bylanes of Varanasi, near Gai Ghat.
• Minakari is an art form from Persia and involves colouring the surface of metals by fusing different colours.
• This art was brought to the city of Varanasi by Persian enamellists during the Mughal era around the early 17th century.
• The word ‘mina’ is the feminine form of the Persian word ‘Minoo’ and means ‘heaven’.
• It refers to the azure colour of heaven.
• In Varanasi, it is practiced on jewelry and home decor items.

Minakari can be found popularly in three forms

• Ek Rang Khula Meena in which only gold outlines are exposed and a single transparent colour is used
• Panch Rangi Meena in which the five colours of red, white, green, light blue, and dark blue are used;
• Gulabi Meena in which pink is the dominant colour. Varanasi is highly popular for Gulabi Minakari.

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