{"id":12528,"date":"2021-08-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/17-08-2021\/facts-in-news-46\/"},"modified":"2021-08-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-17T00:00:00","slug":"facts-in-news-46","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-08-2021\/facts-in-news-46","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Facts in News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Navroz<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Recently, the Parsi New Year \u201cNavroz\u201d\u00a0 was celebrated.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Key Points\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • In Persian, the word \u2018Nav\u2019 means \u2018new\u2019 and \u2018Roz\u2019 means \u2018day\u2019. This translates to <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2018New Day<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Parsi New Year has been observed by <\/span><\/span><\/span>Iranians and Zorastians for the past 3,000 years.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is also known as<\/span><\/span><\/span> Jamshed-i-Nouroz,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> after the Persian <\/span><\/span><\/span>king Jamshed<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, who introduced the<\/span><\/span><\/span> Parsi calendar.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is said emperor Jamshed began the celebrations when the <\/span><\/span><\/span>North and South poles<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> had an equal duration of <\/span><\/span><\/span>day and night<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> or the Spring Equinox.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The celebrations begin on the eve of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>New Year and are known as \u2018Pateti\u2019.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • \u00a0It is also the day of <\/span><\/span><\/span>remittance of sins and repentance.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Zoroastrians dedicate it to cleaning their minds and souls from evil deeds and thoughts, so as to make <\/span><\/span><\/span>space for peace and love.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • \u00a0Historical Background\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • In more modern times, in A.D. 1079, a king of Iran named Jalaluddin Malekshah started <\/span><\/span><\/span>observing it on March 21.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u00a0In the 18th century, a rich tradesman from Surat, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Nusservanji Kohyaji,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> who often travelled to Iran, came to know about <\/span><\/span><\/span>Navroz and brought the festival to India.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • In the 19th century, another Parsi, Merwanji Panday, started celebrating the day in Bombay after his wife who was from Iran told him about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Over a period of time, the festival was introduced in India on a wide scale by members of the Parsi community who eventually connected it to <\/span><\/span><\/span>Jamshed, the illustrious king of Iran<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • \u00a0Thus, the day came to be known as Jamshedi Navroz<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

National Gene Bank<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\t\u00a0<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare inaugurated the <\/span><\/span><\/span>world’s second-largest refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • Agri-farmers would be greatly benefited by the new gene bank with state-of-the-art facilities for germplasm.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      National Gene Bank\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • It was established in 1996<\/span><\/span><\/span> to preserve<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> the seeds of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>for future generations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It has the capacity to <\/span><\/span><\/span>preserve about one million germplasm<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the form of seeds.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of <\/span><\/span><\/span>in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional stations in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Cave lion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Recently<\/span><\/span><\/span>, the Cave lion cub<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> found in Siberian permafrost is 28,000 years old and may even still have traces of its mother’s milk in it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\t\u00a0<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Launched in May 2020.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Objective<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • To <\/span><\/span><\/span>boost domestic defence & aerospace<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> manufacturing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • It envisages the setting up of 6-8 Greenfield Defence Testing Infrastructure facilities that are required for defence and aerospace-related production.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Launched by:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> the Ministry of Defence (MoD)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Duration:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The scheme would run for the duration of five years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Outlay:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Rs 400 crore to create state-of-the-art testing infrastructure in partnership with industry.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Funding:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The projects under the scheme will be provided with:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • Up to <\/span><\/span><\/span>75 per cent<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of Government funding in the form of \u2018Grant-in-Aid\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The remaining <\/span><\/span><\/span>25 per cent<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the project cost by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) constituents of which will be the Indian private entities and state governments.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Exercise ‘Zair-Al-Bahr’<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\t\u00a0<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Recently, the second edition of exercise Zair-Al-Bahr was conducted in the Persian Gulf.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      \n
    • It is the joint naval exercise between the<\/span><\/span><\/span> Indian Navy and Qatar Emiri Naval Force <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>(QENF).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The present edition of the exercise included:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • a three-day <\/span><\/span><\/span>harbour <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>phase and<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • a two-day <\/span><\/span><\/span>sea <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>phase.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • The sea phase consisted of tactical maritime exercises involving Surface Action, Anti-Piracy exercises, Air Defence, Maritime surveillance, Boarding operations and SAR exercises.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • In the sea phase of the exercise, Indian Navy Stealth Frigate INS Trikand,\u00a0 QENF Missile Boats of Barzan and Damsah class, Fast-Attack Crafts of MRTP 34 class and Rafale Fighter Aircraft participated.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • Significance:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • It will contribute towards the Indian Navy\u2019s efforts to consolidate Interoperability with the Qatari Navy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • It would further strengthen the maritime exchanges between the two countries.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • It will enhance peace, stability and maritime security in the region.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

International Baccalaureate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Recently, The Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) signed an MoU with International Baccalaureate (IB) to implement IB programmes in 30 government schools this year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      \n
    • The IB programme will be introduced from class IX to XII in 20 of its new Schools of Specialised Excellence (SOSE) and from nursery to class VIII in 10 Sarvodaya Vidyalayas in East Delhi.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • International level experts will come to the schools and train the teachers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • IB and the government will get the opportunity to together groom the poorest students to international standards.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      About International Baccalaureate (IB)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • It was founded in 1968.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It is a private international education board.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Its mission has been built on a cornerstone of creating a better world through education.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It offers a continuum of international education through four challenging, high-quality educational programmes to students aged 3 to 19.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • Primary Years Programme (for students aged 3 to 12)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Middle Years Programme (for students aged 11 to 16)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Diploma Programme (for students aged 16 to 19)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Career-related Programme (for students aged 16 to 19)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • The IB has a presence in over 150 countries throughout the world.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • It is headquartered in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Geneva, Switzerland<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • It has around 5,000 schools globally.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • There are currently <\/span><\/span><\/span>193 IB schools in India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, all of which are top-end elite private schools.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Facts in News Navroz Recently, the Parsi New Year \u201cNavroz\u201d\u00a0 was celebrated. Key Points\u00a0 In Persian, the word \u2018Nav\u2019 means \u2018new\u2019 and \u2018Roz\u2019 means \u2018day\u2019. This translates to \u2018New Day.\u00a0 Parsi New Year has been observed by Iranians and Zorastians for the past 3,000 years.\u00a0 It is also known as Jamshed-i-Nouroz, after the Persian king […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-12528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1731052NEXT_IAS_logo.JPG","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12528"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53879,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12528\/revisions\/53879"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}