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Subject: Trivia

  • Ben Gurion Canal Project: Joining Red Sea with Mediterranean

    Ben Gurion Canal Project

    Central Idea

    • Israel’s aspirations to gain full control over the Gaza Strip and eliminate Hamas may be linked to an ambitious economic opportunity—the creation of the Ben Gurion Canal Project.

    Ben Gurion Canal Project

    • Vision: Named after Israel’s founding father, David Ben-Gurion, the Ben Gurion Canal Project remains an ambitious infrastructure proposal.
    • Route: It envisions cutting a canal through the Negev Desert to connect the Gulf of Aqaba with the Eastern Mediterranean, challenging Egypt’s dominance over the Suez Canal.
    • History: A declassified 1963 US government memorandum explored the idea of using nuclear explosives for digging the canal.
    • Need: It would offer an alternative route to connect Europe and Asia, bypassing the Suez Canal.
    • Transformational Impact: If realized, this project could reshape global trade dynamics by breaking Egypt’s monopoly over the shortest trade route.

    Bypassing the Suez

    • Historical Significance: The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, revolutionized global maritime trade by reducing travel distances between Europe and Asia.
    • Congestion Issues: Despite expansion efforts, the Suez Canal remains congested, causing significant delays and economic losses.
    • Political Conflicts: Egypt’s control over the canal has led to conflicts and wars, impacting global geopolitics.

    Logistical and Political Challenges

    • Complexity and Cost: Building the Ben Gurion Canal is a massive and costly endeavour, potentially exceeding $100 billion.
    • Route Length: The proposed canal route is over 100 km longer than the Suez Canal, primarily due to terrain limitations.
    • Security Concerns: Constant military threats, such as Hamas rockets or Israeli attacks, would pose a significant challenge to the canal’s operation.

  • MS Swaminathan: Father of the Green Revolution

    Swaminathan

    What’s the news?

    • Monkomb Sambasivan Swaminathan, the legendary agricultural scientist widely regarded as the Father of the Green Revolution, passed away at the age of 98 on September 28. His contributions to agriculture in the 1960s and ’70s transformed India’s farming landscape, ushering in an era of food security.

    Central idea

    • The passing of MS Swaminathan marks the end of an era in Indian agriculture. His unwavering commitment to the welfare of farmers and his pioneering efforts in the Green Revolution have left an indomitable legacy. This op-ed is dedicated to the father of the Green Revolution.

    Early life and education

    • Born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
    • Initially, I aimed for a career in the civil services and even cleared the civil services examination.
    • He switched to agriculture due to his passion, inspired by the Quit India Movement and the Bengal famine of 1942–43.
    • He enrolled in the Agriculture College in Coimbatore to pursue his interest in agriculture.

    Diverse Roles in Agriculture

    • Swaminathan held various significant positions related to agriculture, both in India and abroad.
    • His roles included Independent Chairman of the Food and Agricultural Organization Council (1981–85), President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (1984–90), and President of the World Wide Fund for Nature (India) from 1989–96.
    • He also served as the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), among other positions.

    Swaminathan

    The Green Revolution: A Turning Point

    • Swaminathan’s mission was to transform Indian agriculture.
    • Introduced high-yielding crop varieties, improved irrigation facilities, and promoted fertilizer use.
    • Wheat production in India surged from 6 million tonnes in 1947 to 17 million tonnes between 1964 and 1968.
    • The Green Revolution bolstered India’s food security and reduced dependence on imports.

    Swaminathan’s Contributions to the Green Revolution

    • Swaminathan worked on enhancing crop varieties, particularly rice and wheat.
    • He pioneered the development of semi-dwarf wheat varieties to reduce lodging and boost yields.
    • Collaboration with Norman Borlaug resulted in the introduction of dwarfing genes into wheat varieties, leading to the “Wheat Revolution.”
    • Swaminathan recognized the challenges of the Green Revolution, including the displacement of local crop varieties, soil fertility conservation issues, and indiscriminate pesticide use.
    • He also noted the risks of overexploiting groundwater.

    Advocacy for Farmers

    • As the head of the National Commission on Farmers from 2004 to 2006, Swaminathan advocated for the welfare of farmers.
    • He recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce should be at least 50% more than the cost of production, ensuring fair compensation to farmers.

    Awards and recognition

    • Swaminathan was awarded the first World Food Prize Laureate in 1987 for his contributions to India’s wheat and rice production.
    • He received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, two of India’s highest civilian honors.

    Conclusion

    • As we remember the Father of the Green Revolution, we must also reflect on the challenges that persist in Indian agriculture and work towards a sustainable and equitable future. Swaminathan’s vision and dedication will continue to inspire generations of agricultural scientists and policymakers in their pursuit of a food-secure India.

  • [pib] Nuakhai Festival

    Nuakhai

    Central Idea

    • The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai.

    About Nuakhai

    • Nuakhai, also known as Nuakhai Parab or Nuakhai Bhetghat, is alternatively referred to as Navakhai Parv in Chhattisgarh.
    • Nuakhai is predominantly an agricultural festival celebrated by tribal communities and Hindus residing in Western Odisha.
    • It is also observed in the adjacent regions of Simdega in Jharkhand, where the cultural influence of Western Odisha is prominent.
    • Nuakhai is observed to mark the arrival of the new rice harvest.
    • The term “nua” signifies new, and “khai” represents food, symbolizing the farmers’ possession of the freshly harvested rice.
    • This festival falls on the panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada (usually August- September).
    • It occurs the day following the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

    Historical Roots

    • Nuakhai traces its origins back to ancient times, with its roots in the Pralambana Yajna, which involves harvesting the first crop and making a reverential offering to the mother goddess.
    • In its present form, the festival is linked to the time of the first Chauhan King Ramai Deva of Patnagarh in western Odisha.

    Course of Celebrations

    • Nuakhai festivities encompass a series of nine rituals commencing with Behrana and culminating in Juhar Bhet.
    1. Beheren: This marks the announcement of the scheduled meeting date.
    2. Nuakhai: The highlight of the celebration involves partaking in the freshly harvested crop after offering it to the deity, accompanied by lively dancing and singing.
    3. Juhar bhet: It involves seeking blessings from elders and exchanging gifts with them as a gesture of respect and affection.

  • Fediverse: Understanding Decentralized Social Networking

    fediverse

    Central Idea

    • Meta, the parent company for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has launched Threads, a Twitter rival, which is set to become a part of the fediverse.
    • While Meta’s move has garnered attention, the company is yet to reveal its plans for utilizing the fediverse to build a decentralized social network.

    What is the Fediverse?

    • Network of Servers: The fediverse is a group of federated social networking services that operate on decentralized networks using open-source standards.
    • Third-Party Servers: It comprises a network of servers run by third parties, not controlled by any single entity. Social media platforms can utilize these servers to facilitate communication between their users.
    • Cross-Platform Communication: Users on social media platforms within the fediverse can seamlessly communicate with users of other platforms within the network, eliminating the need for separate accounts for each platform.
    • Media Platforms Using: Meta’s Threads is set to join the fediverse, along with other platforms like Pixelfed (photo-sharing), PeerTube (decentralized video-sharing), Lemmy, Diaspora, Movim, Prismo, WriteFreely, and more.

    Benefits of Using the Fediverse

    • Decentralized Nature: Social media platforms adopt the fediverse to leverage its decentralized nature, giving users more control over the content they view and interact with.
    • Cross-Platform Communications: The fediverse enables easier communication between users of different social media platforms within the network.
    • Data Portability: Users can freely transport their data to other platforms within the fediverse, ensuring greater flexibility and control over their online data.

    Challenges Hindering Wider Adoption

    • Scalability: Decentralized servers might face challenges in handling large amounts of traffic, leading to potential scalability issues.
    • Content Moderation: The decentralized nature of the fediverse poses difficulties in implementing and enforcing uniform content moderation policies across servers.
    • Data Privacy: Enforcing data privacy policies becomes more challenging since data posted on one server might not be deleted due to differing data deletion policies on other servers.

    The Fediverse’s Evolution

    • Long-standing Idea: The concept of the fediverse has been around for decades, with attempts made by companies like Google to embrace decentralized networks.
    • Emergence of Notable Platforms: Platforms like Identi.ca (founded in 2008) and Mastodon and Pleroma (emerged in 2016) have contributed to the development of the fediverse.
    • ActivityPub Protocol: In 2018, the W3 (World Wide Web Consortium) introduced the ActivityPub protocol, a commonly used protocol in applications within the fediverse.

  • Global Peace Index, 2023

    peace

    Central Idea: The 17th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), ranking 163 independent states and territories based on their level of peacefulness was released.

    What is Global Peace Index?

    • Released by: Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) since May 2009.
    • Extensive Coverage: The GPI covers 163 countries, representing 99.7% of the world’s population, utilizing 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from reputable sources.
    • 3 Domains of Peace: The index measures peace across three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization. These domains provide a holistic understanding of a country’s peacefulness.

    Rankings and Highlights

    • Most Peaceful Countries: Iceland continues to hold the title of the most peaceful country since 2008, followed by Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Austria.
    • Least Peaceful Countries: Afghanistan remains the least peaceful country for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
    • India’s Position: India has climbed two spots to the 126th position in the rankings. It experienced an improvement of 3.5% in peacefulness, attributed to reductions in violent crime, improved relations with neighboring countries, and decreased political instability.
    • Prominent Countries: Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, USA, and Pakistan have been ranked 79, 80, 107, 131, and 146, respectively.

    Global Peace Trends

    • Overall Deterioration: The 2023 report highlights a 0.42% deterioration in the average level of global peacefulness. This marks the thirteenth deterioration in the last fifteen years.
    • Improvements and Deteriorations: In 2022, 84 countries demonstrated improvements in peacefulness, while 79 countries experienced deteriorations.
    • Long-term Perspective: Over the past fifteen years, the global average score of peacefulness has deteriorated by five percent, indicating a decline in peace worldwide.

  • Heliopolis Memorial for Indian Soldiers

    heliopolis

    Central Idea

    • PM Modi will pay his respects at the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt.
    • Here the names of nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1 in Egypt and Palestine are commemorated.

    Heliopolis Memorial

    • Unveiling and Destruction: The original Port Tewfik memorial unveiled in 1926 and later destroyed during the Israeli-Egyptian War of 1967.
    • New Memorial: A new memorial was erected in Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in 1980, commemorating Indian soldiers who died in the First World War campaigns in Egypt and Palestine.
    • Inclusion of Names: The new memorial includes the names of Indian soldiers, unlike its predecessor.

    Role of the Indian Army in West Asia during World War 1

    • Significance of Indian Troops: Indian troops played a major role in securing the Suez Canal in Egypt and participating in campaigns in Palestine and Mesopotamia.
    • Battle of Haifa: Indian cavalry’s participation in the Battle of Haifa, commemorated by a war memorial in New Delhi.
    • Diverse Representation: The memorial commemorates numerous Indian regiments from the Indian Army and State Forces of princely states.
    • Princely States’ Contribution: Troops from princely states actively participated in various theatres of the war effort during World War 1.

    Prominent Indian Soldier Commemorated  

    • Risaldar Badlu Singh: Risaldar Badlu Singh, a brave soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, is commemorated at the memorial.
    • Selfless Sacrifice: Risaldar Badlu Singh displayed exceptional bravery and self-sacrifice during a charge against enemy positions.

     

  • In news: Guinness World Record

    Guinness yoga day

    Central Idea

    • Prime Minister Modi’s leadership of a yoga session at the UN headquarters on the 9th International Yoga Day resulted in the creation of a Guinness World Record for the largest participation of people from different nationalities in a yoga event.
    • This article explores the history, significance, and criticisms associated with Guinness World Records.

    Origin and Evolution of Guinness World Records

    • The idea for Guinness World Records originated from a pub argument in the 1950s, where Sir Hugh Beaver, the Managing Director of Guinness Brewery, sought a definitive answer to settle a debate.
    • In response to the need for settling contentious facts, Sir Hugh conceived the idea of a book providing comprehensive and authoritative records.
    • Two researchers, Norris and Ross McWhirter, were hired to compile the first edition of the Guinness Book of Records, which became an unexpected success.
    • Over time, the book expanded into an annual publication that updated existing records and set new ones.

    Scope and Coverage of Guinness World Records

    • Guinness World Records documents and lists a wide range of human achievements and extreme natural phenomena.
    • The organization currently maintains 62,252 active records, including the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa, Dubai) and the longest fingernails ever (Lee Redmond).
    • It has expanded its presence through television shows and a robust online platform, garnering a significant social media following.

    Making and Validating the Records

    • Guinness World Records has a global network of over 75 adjudicators responsible for determining record-breaking attempts.
    • An application process allows individuals to invite an adjudicator to witness and verify the record.
    • Specific criteria must be met, such as objective measurability, breakability, standardizability, verifiability, and being the best in the world.
    • In 2022, Guinness World Records received over 56,000 record enquiries from 171 countries, with more than 7,300 records approved.

    Criticisms and Policy Changes

    • Guinness World Records faced criticism for its business model, which involved creating records as publicity stunts for companies and individuals, attracting accusations of supporting risky activities.
    • Comedian John Oliver criticized the organization in 2019 for accepting money from authoritarian governments for vanity projects.
    • In response to the criticisms, Guinness World Records revised its policies and disqualified records causing harm to animals, endangering participants or spectators, or resulting in food waste.

    Back2Basics: Yoga

    • Origin: Yoga originated in ancient India and has its roots in Indian philosophy, spirituality, and culture.
    • Etymology: The word “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means “to join” or “to unite.” It signifies the union of mind, body, and spirit.
    • Historical References: Yoga-like practices were mentioned in the Rig-Veda, an ancient Hindu text dating back to approximately 1500 BCE. References to yoga can also be found in the Upanishads, which are philosophical texts from around 800 to 400 BCE.
    • Sage Patanjali: The sage Patanjali is considered the father of classical yoga. He compiled the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text that provides a systematic and philosophical framework for the practice of yoga. The Yoga Sutras were written around the 2nd century BCE.
    • Eight Limbs of Yoga: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras outline the eight limbs or stages of yoga, known as Ashtanga Yoga. These limbs include ethical principles (yamas and niyamas), physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), sense withdrawal (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and self-realization (samadhi).
    • Schools and Styles: There are various schools and styles of yoga, each with its own approach and emphasis. Some popular styles include Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, Kundalini, and Yin yoga.

  • Gita Press to receive Gandhi Peace Prize

    gandhi gita

    Central Idea

    • Gita Press, located in Gorakhpur is awarded the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021.
    • The jury, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unanimously selects Gita Press for this honor.

    The  International Gandhi Peace Prize
    Establishment 1995
    Award Details Cash prize of ₹1 crore (US$130,000), which can be converted into any currency worldwide

    Includes a plaque and a citation
    Jury composition PM (Chair), Leader of the Opposition, Chief Justice, Speaker, and Eminent person
    Evaluation Evaluation based on contributions to non-violence and Gandhian methods

    Nominees are considered from competent individuals

    Award can be withheld if no deserving candidate is found
    Recent laureates Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangladesh Founder) was posthumously awarded in 2020

    Significance of the Prize

    • The International Gandhi Peace Prize pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy.
    • The award recognizes outstanding contributions to social, economic, and political transformation through non-violence and Gandhian methods.

    About Gita Press

    • Founding and Establishment: Gita Press was officially founded in 1923 by Jaydayal Goyandka, a businessman from Bankura, West Bengal.
    • Authenticity of texts: Goyandka’s extensive travels as a businessman led him to form satsangs with like-minded individuals in various towns.
    • Translation work: The group desired an authentic translation and commentary of the Bhagavad Gita, which led to the establishment of Gita Press.
    • Publication: Gita Press emerged as a prominent publisher with the launch of its monthly magazine, Kalyan, in 1926.
    • Versatility: It offers over 1,850 religious books in 15 languages, with approximately 93 crore copies sold.

    Pioneering work by the Press

    • Promotion of Hindi: It played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Hindi as a language of masses.
    • Bridging Divisions: Gita Press strategically focused on emotional cultivation and avoided highlighting differences between various Hindu sects, fostering unity among the Hindu community.

  • Golden Globe Race: Voyage of mad men

    golden globe

    Central Idea

    • Abhilash Tomy, a former Commander in the Indian Navy, has achieved the remarkable feat of completing a solo circumnavigation worldwide by finishing second at the Golden Globe Race (GGR), 2022.
    • He achieved this record under even more challenging circumstances than his previous record-breaking feat of going worldwide on a sailboat solo and unassisted back in 2013.

    golden globe

    What is Golden Globe Race?

    • The Golden Globe Race is a non-stop, solo, unassisted yacht race around the world which was held for the first time in 1968-69.
    • The race requires contestants to use boats designed to prescribed premodern specifications and rely entirely on sextants and paper charts.
    • Satellite phones are available for extremely restricted use, and the use of modern navigational gear is not allowed.
    • The sailing would be along a stipulated route, rounding the three great capes (Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia, and Cape Horn in Chile).

    His return to GGR

    • After several injuries, in 2021, Tomy began to look for sponsors and boats to participate in GGR-2022.
    • He announced his participation in the race on the Bayanat in March 2022, sponsored by a UAE-based company in the field of geospatial artificial intelligence.
    • However, just three weeks before the race, the boat collided with a ship and required massive repairs.

    Significance of his achievement

    • Only three of the 11 contestants of GGR-2022 lasted the course of the race, with Kirsten Neuschafer becoming the first woman to win a solo around-the-world yacht race.
    • Tomy’s boat was the most ‘repaired’ boat in the race and it was all carried out by the sailor fighting unimaginable sea conditions and lack of sleep.
    • In the end, Tomy became the first Asian to complete the 30,000-mile GGR by finishing second after Neuschafer.

     

     

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  • Zero Shadow Day: What is it, why does it happen?

    shadow

    Central idea: Many cities across India are experiencing Zero Shadow Day since the sun was directly overhead at that time.

    What is Zero Shadow Day?

    • Zero Shadow Day is a phenomenon that occurs twice a year at every point on Earth located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
    • During Zero Shadow Day, vertical objects appear to cast no shadow at local noon, when the sun is at its zenith directly above the object.
    • It occurs when the sun’s location moves from 23.5°N to 23.5°S of Earth’s equator and back, causing the shadow to disappear beneath objects at local noon.

    Why does it happen?

    • It occurs due to the movement of the sun from south to north during the Uttarayan and back from north to south during Dakshinayan.
    • This movement is caused by Earth’s rotation axis being tilted at an angle of roughly 23.5° to the axis of revolution around the sun.
    • All places whose latitude equals the angle between the sun’s location and the equator on that day experience Zero Shadow Day, with the shadow disappearing at local noon.

    Try this PYQ:

    On 21st June, the Sun-

    (a) Does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle

    (b) Does not set below the horizon at Antarctic Circle

    (c) Shines vertically overhead at noon on the Equator

    (d) Shines vertically overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”bqrtq7d9ey” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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