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By admin: Sept. 23, 2023

Champawat and Pithoragarh districts included in the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme to promote tourism

Tags: Government Schemes

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has included two frontier districts of Uttarakhand, Champawat, and Pithoragarh, in the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.

An Overview of the News

• The objective of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme is to promote tourism activities and develop these areas from a tourism point of view, providing basic facilities to visitors.

• As part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme, Gunji, a place in Pithoragarh district, is set to take up development work in the tourism sector, with an allocated budget of Rs 75 crore.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

• Swadesh Darshan Scheme is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

• It aims to develop theme-based tourism circuits while enhancing the potential of India's tourism sector.

• The scheme is aligned with other national programs such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, and Make in India to harness the potential of tourism for employment generation and economic growth.

15 theme-based circuits under Swadesh Darshan:

1. Buddha Circuit: Covers important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

2. Coastal Circuit: It aims to promote India as a "Sun, Sea and Surf" destination covering the states along the coastline.

3. Desert Circuit: Focuses on showcasing the deserts of India including the Thar Desert, Kutch and areas like Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.

4. Eco Circuit: Develops eco-friendly and natural destinations in states like Kerala, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Mizoram and Jharkhand.

5. Heritage Circuit: Preserves and promotes cultural heritage at UNESCO World Heritage sites in many states.

6. North East Circuit: Promotes tourism development in the North Eastern states.

7. Himalayan Circuit: Extends to the northern border states including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the North-East region.

8. Sufi Circuit: Celebrates Sufi practices and cultural heritage.

9. Krishna Circuit: Focuses on religious tourist destinations.

10. Ramayana Circuit: Centers around places associated with the stories of Lord Rama, mainly in Uttar Pradesh.

11. Rural Circuit: It aims to revive rural economies and provide an authentic Indian experience to tourists.

12. Tirthankara Circuit: Jain Tirthankaras and their teachings are commemorated through various pilgrimage sites across the country.

13. Wildlife Circuit: Focuses on wildlife tourism, especially in states like Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

14. Tribal Circuit: Provides insight into the tribal traditions of India, covering states like Chhattisgarh, Nagaland and Telangana.

15. Spiritual Circuit: Attracts spiritual tourists, focusing on states like Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Bihar, Rajasthan and Puducherry, which are known for their spiritual significance.

Pramila Malik becomes the first woman Speaker of Odisha Assembly

Tags: State News

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party member Pramila Malik became the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Assembly.

An Overview of the News

• The election of Pramila Malik as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly took place on September 22, 2023, and she was elected unopposed.

• The post became vacant due to the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukha in May 2023.

The political background of Pramila Malik:

• Pramila Malik has been a six-time MLA from the Binjharpur assembly seat in Jajpur district of Odisha. This seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste community.

• She initially became an MLA in 1990 as a member of the Janata Dal and later joined the BJD party led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

• Before his role as Speaker, he held the post of Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management in the BJD government.

Notable firsts in Indian politics:

• Amrit Kaur was the first woman cabinet minister of India, responsible for health in the Nehru government from August 16, 1947 to 1957.

• Sarojini Naidu was the first woman Governor of India, serving the United Province (now Uttar Pradesh) from August 15, 1947 to March 2, 1949.

• The first female Chief Minister of India was Sucheta Kripalani, who led Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967.

• Shanno Devi was the first woman Speaker of a state legislative assembly in India, serving in Haryana from December 6, 1966 to March 17, 1967.

• In 1966, Indira Gandhi became the first female Prime Minister of India.

• Pratibha Patil Singh was the first woman President of India, who served from 2007 to 2012.

• Meira Kumar was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha, who held the post from 4 June 2009 to 5 June 2014.

About Odisha

• Formation - 1 April 1936

• Capital - Bhubaneswar

• Governor - Ganeshi Lal

• Chief Minister - Naveen Patnaik

• Rajya Sabha - 10 seats

• Lok Sabha - 21 seats

• There are a total of 147 seats in Odisha Assembly.

1,000-year-old alien corpse unveiled in Mexican Congress

Tags: Science and Technology International News

Jaime Maussan, a leading UFO expert, recently revealed in the Mexican Congress two alleged "non-human" bodies believed to be 1,000 years old.

An Overview of the News

• These bodies were reportedly found in a mine in Cuzco, Peru.

• Researchers claim that the genetic structure of these dead bodies is 30 percent different from that of humans.

• Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) confirmed their age to be over 1,000 years.

Unusual Features:

• The bodies were human-like in shape but displayed distinctive features such as three-fingered hands and feet.

• They had retractable necks and long skulls that resembled bird-like features.

• The bones of these creatures were strong, light, and lacked teeth.

Implantation and Embryo:

• Eggs with embryos were found in one of these bodies.

• Implants made of the metals cadmium and osmium were discovered.

Previous claims by Maussan:

• In 2015, Jaime Maussan presented another alleged "alien" body, found near the Nazca Lines in Peru, famous for its giant and mysterious geoglyphs.

DAC gave its approval to the indigenous missile Dhruvastra

Tags: Defence

The Indian Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its approval to the indigenous short-range air-to-surface missile Dhruvastra.

An Overview of the News

• The Dhruvastra missile is designed to enhance India's combat capabilities against enemy tanks and armored vehicles and will be deployed on DHRUV MK-IV helicopters.

• DAC's approval of the Dhruvastra missile represents a significant enhancement to India's military capabilities.

• Developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), it is a valuable addition to India's military assets.

Dhruvastra Missile:-

• It is a third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system known for its versatility and advanced features.

• Dual Engagement Mode: Dhruvastra can operate in direct hit and top attack modes, increasing its adaptability to various combat scenarios.

• Effective Range: Its range ranges from 500 meters to an impressive 7 kilometers, allowing it to engage targets across a wide spectrum.

• High altitude launch: Dhruvastra can be launched from altitudes up to 4 kilometers, providing a strategic advantage in mountainous terrain.

• Effective Target Tracking: Equipped with an Imaging Infrared-Seeker (IIS), it can track and guide the missile to its target based on the heat signature of the target, ensuring accuracy even in challenging conditions.

• Penetrating Warhead: The Dhruvastra's specialized warhead is designed to penetrate various types of armor, including reactive armor found on modern tanks.

International Sign Language Day - 23 September

Tags: Important Days

International Sign Language Day is designated by the United Nations General Assembly and is celebrated on 23 September each year.

An Overview of the News

• The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the important role of sign language in maintaining the human rights of deaf persons.

• It provides an opportunity to promote and preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Deaf community.

The theme of International Sign Language Day 2023:

• The theme for 2023 is “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”

• This theme underlines the unifying power of sign languages and emphasizes their importance to Deaf communities, governments, and civil society organizations.

History of International Sign Language Day

• International Sign Language Day was established in 2018 by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), an organization dedicated to advocating for the human rights of the approximately 70 million deaf people worldwide.

• The WFD consists of 135 national member federations, and they initiated the concept of this special day.

• The day was introduced as a part of a broader celebration known as the International Week of the Deaf.