• 24 Dec 2024

Milkweed Fiber

Why in News? 

Recently, the Ministry of Textiles has strengthened collaboration in developing India’s textile industry by extending its research and development efforts into new natural fibers, including milkweed fiber. 

 Key Points 

• Strategic Engagement: 
  • The Minister of Textiles, in a meeting facilitated by Invest India, engaged with Uniqlo’s senior officials to reaffirm the commitment to strengthening India’s textile sector. 
  • This also focuses on improving cotton production capabilities, productivity, and quality in India. 
• Uniqlo’s Contribution to India’s Textile Ecosystem: 
  • Uniqlo operates 15 stores across India, achieving a retail revenue of Rs 814 crore as of 31^st March 2024, with a growth rate of 30%. 
• Alignment with India’s Textile Growth Goals: 
  • India targets a textile market size of USD 350 billion and USD 100 billion in exports by 2030. 
  • The Ministry has invited Uniqlo to invest in the Prime Minister’s Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks, offering a ready-to-perform ecosystem with sustainable operations. 
• Upcoming Collaboration Opportunities: 
  • Uniqlo will participate in the “Bharat Tex” Global Textile Expo in February 2025 highlighting innovation, sustainability, and traceability. 
• Milkweed Fiber: 
  • About: 
    • It is the seed fiber obtained from milkweed plants. 
    • Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L) plant belongs to the genus Asclepias of the family Asclepiadaceae and is also known as stubborn weed. 
    • In India, it is found as a wild plant in the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 
    • Milkweed contains an abundance of milk sap in its leaves, stems and pods. 
  • Properties:  
    • It contains oily material and lignin, a woody plant substance, which makes them too brittle for spinning.  
    • It has a hydrophobic–oleophobic surface due to the natural waxes found on the surface of the fiber. 
  • Applications: 
    • It is used in paper industries. 
    • In addition, it is also used as an insulative filling material. 
    • It is used in such water-safety equipment as life jackets and belts. 
    • Researchers discovered that it readily absorbs oil while simultaneously repelling water, thus making it an effective fiber to help clean up oil spills. 

 PM MITRA Scheme 

• PM MITRA Park will be developed by a Special Purpose Vehicle which will be owned by the Central and State Government and in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode. 
• Each MITRA Park will have an incubation centre, common processing house and a common effluent treatment plant and other textile related facilities such as design centres and testing centres. 

IGNCA Regional Centre Inaugurated in Jammu

Why in News? 

Recently, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated the regional center of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in Jammu. 

 Key Points 

• Role of Folk Traditions and IGNCA’s Contribution: 
  • Jammu’s folk traditions have been a source of enduring values and ideals, sustaining society through generations. 
  • The IGNCA regional centre will nurture cultural virtues, enhance quality of life, and support the preservation and promotion of Jammu's rich art and cultural heritage. 
  • The intelligentsia was urged to collaborate with organisations like IGNCA to promote Jammu and Kashmir’s artistic heritage and to preserve and propagate the Vedic oral tradition. 
  • India’s civilisational ethos of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family) and its ongoing relevance globally was highlighted. 
• Role of Youth in Cultural Preservation: 
  • The L-G called on enlightened citizens and stakeholders to encourage artistic thinking in the younger generation, leveraging their creative potential to benefit society. 
  • He stressed the importance of making regional literature, folk music, drama, and Pahari art accessible in every household through articles, monographs, and books. 
• ‘Toycathon’ Initiative: 
  • The L-G commended ‘Toycathon 2024’, an initiative aimed at grassroots innovation by designing toys based on local cultural ethos and the lives of regional heroes. 

 Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)  

• It was established in 1987 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, as a centre for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts. 
• The IGNCA has a trust (i.e. Board of Trustees), which meets regularly to give general direction about the Centre’s work. The Executive Committee, drawn from among the Trustees, functions under a Chairman. 
• It is a research unit under Project Mausam. 
  • Project ‘Mausam’ is a Ministry of Culture project with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi as the nodal agency. 
  • The central themes that hold Project ‘Mausam’ together are those of cultural routes and maritime landscapes that not only linked different parts of the Indian Ocean littoral, but also connected the coastal centres to their hinterlands. 

Infrastructure Development at J&K Tourist Sites

Why in News? 

Recently, the World Bank has enlisted four places in Jammu and Kashmir to be developed as international tourist destinations.  

• These places are Bhaderwah in Doda, Bradari in Reasi, Kokernag in Anantnag and Dodapathri in Budgam. 

 Key Points 

• World Bank’s Intention in Development: 
  • The World Bank intends to fund infrastructure in specific locations in Jammu and Kashmir to meet international tourism standards. 
• Planned Projects and Funding: 
  • The World Bank plans to fund infrastructure projects, including: 
    • Development of Bhal Padri meadow and Guldanda meadow 
    • Upgradation of Jai Valley 
    • Establishment of Gondola cable car services at Seoz meadows in Bhaderwah 
  • Interest has been shown in developing the Kailash Yatra route to leverage its significant pilgrimage tourism potential. 
• Broader Revamp in J&K: 
  • Other locations to benefit from the initiative include: 
    • Dodapathri in Budgam district 
    • Kokernag in Anantnag district 
    • Bradari in Reasi district 
• Collaboration and Approval: 
  • The project will be executed in collaboration with the central government. 
  • Final approval for funding rests with the World Bank, which will assess the potential of these locations before proceeding. 
• Significance of the Initiative: 
  • The initiative aims to boost pilgrimage tourism, handicrafts, herbal tourism, and adventure tourism in the region. 

 World Bank 

• About: 
  • It was created in 1944, as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IBRD later became the World Bank. 
  • The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. 
  • The World Bank is one of the United Nations' specialized agencies. 
• Members: 
  • It has 189 member countries. 
  • India is also a member country. 
• Major Reports: 
  • Ease of Doing Business (Stopped publishing). 
  • Human Capital Index. 
  • World Development Report. 
• Its Five Development Institutions: 
  • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 
  • International Development Association (IDA) 
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC) 
  • Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA) 
  • International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) 
    • India is not a member of ICSID. 

Rise in Forest Fires in Uttarakhand

Why in News? 

According to the report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Uttarakhand has recorded a 74% rise in forest fires. 

 Key Points 

• Satellite Observations and Fire Counts: 
  • In Uttarakhand, satellite data recorded a significant rise in fire incidents, with 21,033 fire counts from November 2023 to June 2024, compared to 5,351 during the same period in 2022–2023. 
    • A total of 1,808.9 sq km of forest area was impacted by fires during the season. 
  • Andhra Pradesh reported the highest fire-affected area (5,286.76 sq km) followed by Maharashtra (4,095.04 sq km) and Telangana (3,983.28 sq km), Himachal Pradesh (783.11 sq km). 
• Top Affected States: 
  • Chhattisgarh: 18,950 incidents. 
  • Andhra Pradesh: 18,174 incidents. 
  • Maharashtra: 16,008 incidents. 
  • Madhya Pradesh: 15,878 incidents. 
  • Telangana: 13,479 incidents. 
• High-Risk Areas: 
  • Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir were declared as "very high risk" zones. 
• Nationwide Risk:  
  • Approximately 11.34% of India’s forest cover and scrub area lies in extremely to very highly fire-prone zones, with vulnerable patches in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. 
• Fire Susceptibility: 
  • Climatic conditions like extreme heat and availability of fuel wood contribute significantly to forest fire susceptibility. 
  • Fires often spread rapidly to other forest areas due to the presence of combustible material. 
  • This data highlights the growing severity of forest fires in India, with substantial ecological and environmental implications. 

 Forest Survey of India   

• Established: Established on 1st June 1981, succeeding the Pre Investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR) initiated in 1965.  
  • In 1976, the National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) recommended establishing a National Forest Survey Organization, leading to the creation of FSI.  
  • PISFR was initiated in 1965 by the Government of India with the sponsorship of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  
• Parent Organization: Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.  
• Primary Objective: To assess and monitor the forest resources of India regularly.  
  • In addition, it is also engaged in providing the services of training, research and extension.   
• Functioning: FSI has headquarters at Dehradun and has pan India presence with four regional offices at Shimla, Kolkata, Nagpur and Bangalore.   
  • The Eastern zone has a sub centre at Burnihat (Meghalaya). 

Ancient Stepwell Unearthed in UP

Why in News? 

Recently, a stepwell approximately 125 to 150 years old, covering an area of 400 square meters, was unearthed during excavation in the Laxman Ganj area of Chandausi. 

 Key Points 

• Excavation Overview: 
  • The excavation follows the reopening of the Bhasma Shankar temple in Sambhal on 13^th December 2024, after 46 years of closure. 
  • Officials reported discovering the structure during the excavation, including two damaged idols found in the temple's well. 
    • Locals claim the stepwell was built during the reign of the maternal grandfather of the king of Bilari. 
• Architectural Features: 
  • The well's upper floor is made of bricks, while the lower two floors are constructed with marble. 
  • The structure also includes four rooms and a well. 

MP High Court Give NOC to Slaughterhouse in Mandsaur

Why in News? 

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a civic official in Mandsaur to grant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a buffalo slaughterhouse, calling the denial of permission "unacceptable." 

 Key Points 

• Argument by Local Body: 
  • The local body denied the NOC application, citing that Mandsaur is a religious city, making it inappropriate to permit a slaughterhouse. 
  • The court termed this reasoning as “wholly unacceptable” during the hearing. 
• Sacred Area: 
  • The State government, in a notification dated 9th December 2011, declared a 100-metre radius around Lord Shiva’s Pashupatinath temple in Mandsaur as a "sacred area." 
• Court’s Observation: 
  • The Court clarified that the entire city cannot be categorized as a sacred area based on the notification. 

 Pashupatinath Temple 

• It is also known as the Mandsaur Shiva temple. 
• It is located on the Shivna River and is known for its eight-faced Shiva Linga. The temple's sculptures are dated to the 5^th or 6^th century. 
• It is made of a smooth, dark coppery rock block.  
  • The temple also has a 100 kg gold-plated pitcher.