{"id":11848,"date":"2021-06-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/28-06-2021\/facts-in-news-4\/"},"modified":"2024-05-08T13:26:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T07:56:26","slug":"facts-in-news-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/28-06-2021\/facts-in-news-4","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Facts in News<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Siliguri Corridor<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • China encroachments in Bhutan could emerge as a headache for India in <\/span><\/span><\/span>chicken’s neck.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • India\u2019s North East is <\/span><\/span><\/span>geographically isolated<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> from the rest of India and is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land called the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Siliguri Corridor<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> also known as <\/span><\/span><\/span>Chicken\u2019s Neck<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is about 200 km long and 60 km wide. At its narrowest, it is just 17 km wide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The corridor extends from the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Terai areas of West Bengal towards the North East.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The region is important for trade, commerce and tourism for West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • All land trade between the North East and the rest of the country happens through this corridor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Seven Sisters of Northeast India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • The \u2018seven sisters\u2019 of Northeast India comprise Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Sikkim is also <\/span><\/span><\/span>a part of the Northeast<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> but is not included in the Seven Sisters because while the other seven states are contiguous, Sikkim is sort of a neighbour, divided by the Siliguri Corridor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Sikkim is also referred to as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2018Brother\u2019 of the Seven Sisters.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Kaizen Academy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated a Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) in Ahmedabad.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy is a symbol of spontaneity and modernity of relations between Indian and Japan.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • There are similarities between \u2018Zen\u2019 and Indian \u2018Dhyan\u2019 and dwelled on the emphasis on inner peace along with outer progress and growth in the two cultures.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The Prime Minister similarly highlighted both external and internal meanings of Kaizen which not only emphasizes \u2018improvement\u2019 but \u2018continuous improvement\u2019.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Gujarat has implemented the Kaizen in the administrative training in 2004 and a special training camp was held for the top civil servants in 2005. The continuous improvement was reflected in the refinement of processes, leading to a positive impact on governance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Kaizen is now being used in many departments, institutions and schemes of the Central Government.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Kaizen\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sino-Japanese word<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for <\/span><\/span><\/span>“improvement<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>“. It is a concept that refers to business activities that continuously improve all functions involving all employees right from the CEO to assembly line workers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It was first practised in Japanese businesses after World War II, influenced <\/span><\/span><\/span>by American business and quality-management teachers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. It has since then spread across the world.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Aim: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>To eliminate waste and redundancies by improving standardized programmes and processes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n

Gaia Mission<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Gaia is a space observatory of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>European Space Agency (ESA).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The spacecraft is designed for astrometry: measuring the positions, distances and motions of stars with unprecedented precision.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Aim:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> To construct the largest and most precise 3D space catalogue of astronomical objects including stars, planets, comets, asteroids, quasars, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

INS Vikrant<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • India\u2019s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-1, to be named INS Vikrant once it is commissioned, at the Cochin Shipyard after the completion of basin trials in late 2020, as of now, India has <\/span><\/span><\/span>only one aircraft carrier<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, the Russian-origin INS <\/span><\/span><\/span>Vikramaditya.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is likely to be commissioned in 2022.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Earlier, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) for six advanced submarines for the Indian Navy under <\/span><\/span><\/span>Project-75I<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    History of IAC project<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • The original plans for the ship were floated in 1989 after the approval of then Defence Minister George Fernandes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The keel was laid a decade later, the ship was floated out of its dry dock in 2011 and was launched in August 2013.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Combat capabilities of IAC<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • The IAC is 262 metres long and 62 metres wide and has a STOBAR (short takeoff but arrested recovery) configuration with a ski jump capability.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The carrier would have onboard about 35-40 aircraft \u2014 a mix of naval fighters, anti-submarine helicopters, and naval UAVs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The shipborne weapons include Barak LR SAM and AK-630, while it has MFSTAR and RAN-40L 3D radars as sensors<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Significance<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • The combat capability, reach and versatility of the aircraft carrier will add formidable capabilities in the defence in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • It helps in the alignment with <\/span><\/span><\/span>SAGAR mission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the wider goal of a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Free, Open and Inclusive Indo-Pacific.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • It would offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project air power over long distances, including air interdiction, anti-surface warfare, offensive and defensive counter-air, airborne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Other Indian Navy projects<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          • The Indian Navy will get three of the 24 MH-60 helicopters to be delivered by the US Navy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • The <\/span><\/span><\/span>Project Seabird-2<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, a 3,000-feet-long runway, hangars for aircraft and docking space for 30 warships will come up at the naval base.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • India inducted two American drones Sea Guardian, an unarmed version of the Predator series, into the navy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323, the first unit of the indigenously built<\/span><\/span><\/span> ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Mk III aircraft<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at INS Hansa in Goa.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Earlier, the Centre has given approval for the Rs 50,000 crore <\/span><\/span><\/span>Project-75 India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to construct six new-generation stealth submarines.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Launched <\/span><\/span><\/span>Operation Samudra Setu-I & II<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to bring back Indian citizens from overseas amidst coronavirus-induced travel restrictions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

International Day Against Drug Abuse<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n