Daily Currentaffairs: 27 Oct 2020

Tables of contents

1. India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE)

2.Bundi-Architectural Heritage of a Forgotten Rajput Capital

3.New Tectonically Active Zone in Himalayas

4.Common Dotted Garden Skink

5.South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS)

1. India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE)

Recently, the NITI Aayog has launched the India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE).

About India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE)

• It is a joint initiative of AIM (Atal Innovation Mission) and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

• The idea of I-ACE was conceived during a virtual summit between the Indian and Australian prime ministers, exploring innovative ways to boost circular economy in India and Australia.

• I-ACE will focus on identification and development of innovative technology solutions by bright-minded students, startups and MSMEs of both nations.

• The four key themes for the hackathon are as follows:

• • Innovation in packaging reducing packaging waste

  • Innovation in food supply chains avoiding waste

  • Creating opportunities for plastic waste reduction

  • Recycling critical energy metals and e-waste

Source: PIB

2.Bundi-Architectural Heritage of a Forgotten Rajput Capital

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series titled “Bundi: Architectural Heritage of a Forgotten Rajput Capital” focused on Bundi, Rajasthan.

Bundi: Pre-Mughal Period

• Bundi erstwhile capital of Hada Rajput province known as Hadauti located in south-eastern Rajasthan.

• Bundi is also known as City of stepwalls, blue city and also as Chotti Kashi.

• In ancient times, the area around Bundi was apparently inhabited by various local tribes, of which the Parihar Tribes, Meena was prominent.

• The region was later governed by Rao Deva, who took over Bundi from Jaita Meena in 1242 and renaming the surrounding area as Haravati or Haroti.

• The Hadas of Bundi were the vassals of the Sisodias of Mewar and ruled by the title of Rao until 1569, when Emperor Akbar conferred the title of Rao Raja upon Rao Surjan Singh after the surrender of Ranthambore Fort and his submission.

• In 1632, Rao Raja Chattar Sal became the ruler and he built the temple of Keshavarao at Keshoraipatan and Chathra Mahal at Bundi.

• Rao Chattar Sal died fighting valiantly in the Battle of Samugarh in 1658 along with his youngest son Bharat Singh Rao Bhao Singh.

Bundi: Post-Mughal Period

• In 1804 Rao Raja Bishan Singh gave valuable assistance to Colonel Monson in his disastrous retreat before Holkar.

• In 1818, Bishan Singh made a subsidiary alliance with the British East India Company which brought him under its protection.

• At the time of the partition of India in 1947, the British abandoned their soverignity over the princely states, which were left to decide whether to remain independent or to accede to the newly independent Dominion of India or to Pakistan.

• The ruler of the state of Bundi decided to accede to India, which later became the Union of India.

Important Aspects of Bundi

• Hoda Rajputs were fierce, fearless warriors often laying down their life at young age, fighting on behalf of their soverign.

• The City of Bundi grew outwards Taragarh hill.

• The Garh Mahal became the focus and an imposing landmark on skyline of Bundi was visible from the valley below.

• The external use of colour on external façade of houses imparted a unique radiance and vibrancy to streets of Bundi.

• The Darwajas in Bundi can be classified as:-

• • Entrance gateways of Taragarh, the oldest darwajas

  • Four Darwajas of walled city

  • Darwajas of outer city wall

  • Darwajas on principal streets of walled city

  • small darwajas built

Architecture of Bundi

• Bundi was also known as Chotti Kashi owing to presence of over hundred temples within and around the hada capital.

• Bundi was the best example of medieval Indian city exhibiting water harvesting methods adopted at settlement level as well as finest examples of water architecture.

• The temples constructed in early phase of Bundi’s growth were is classical Nagara style, while in later phases new temple typologies emerged from amalgamation of architectural form of traditional haveli with the classical Nagara style.

• The Jain temples formed third type of temple type constructed in an introvert form, integrating typical Jain temple features like serpentine Torna gateways at entrance, large cuboid opaque mass, and central courtyard with and Nagara style shikars on its garbhagriha.

• The absence of monumentality in their scale is a distinctive feature of temples in Bundi.

Taragarh Fort

 

It was constructed by Rao raja Bair Singh in 1354 on a hilltop 1426 feet high.

 

In the centre of the fort is located Bhim Bhurj on which was once mounted a particularly large cannon called Garbh Gunjam, or ‘Thunder from the Womb’.

 

Sukh Mahal

 

It is a small, two-storied palace which was a summer retreat of past rulers.

 

It is located on banks of Jait Sagar lake.

 

The palace was constructed by Rao raja Vishnu Singh in 1773 A.D.

 

Rani Ki Baori

 

Raniji ki Baori, also known as ‘Queen’s Stepwell’, is a famous stepwell built in 1699 by Rani Nathavati Ji.

 

The multi-storied stepwell displays excellent carvings of Gajraj with his trunk turned inwards, giving the impression of having drunk from the baori on its pillars.

 

Source: PIB

3.New Tectonically Active Zone in Himalayas

Recently, a group of Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) have identified new tectonically active zone in Himalayas which could alter earthquake study & predictions.

Key Highlights

• The suture zone of the Himalayas or the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ) in the Ladakh region where Indian and Eurasian Plates are joined has been found to be tectonically active.

• The researchers have found through observations and detailed mapping of geological features that the suture zone of Himalaya that was conventionally thought to be locked is tectonically active.

• The geologists observed that sedimentary beds are tilted and thrust broken, the rivers are associated with uplifted terraces, and the bedrock shows brittle deformation that occurred at much shallower depths.

  • The deformed geological features were then dated in the laboratory using a technique called Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) i.e. the method for carrying Luminescence dating of geological sediments and data of seismicity and denudation rate reviewed.

• The combination of field and lab data suggested the region of the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ) has been neo-tectonically active since the last 78000-58000 years.

• Himalayas were known to be made up of north dipping thrusts like the Main Central Thrust (MCT), the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), and the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT).

  • All of the above mentioned thrusts except MFT are locked, and overall deformation in Himalaya is being accommodated only along with the MFT.

Source: PIB

4.Common Dotted Garden Skink

Recently, the Common Dotted Garden Skink was spotted in the National Capital Region.

About Common Dotted Garden Skink

• It is known as Lygosoma Punctata.

• It is a species of skink found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

• Skinks are lizards that belong to the family Scincidae and are one of the most diverse families of lizards with over 1,500 species described.

• It is smooth and iridescent and does have a snout, like other lizards.

• It can grow up to 85 mm with a very snake-like in appearance with short toes.

• They are natural pest-controllers that feed on insects which could potentially harm our plants.

Source: The Hindu

5.South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS)

Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched the South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS).

About South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS)

• It is aimed at helping disaster management teams and governments make timely evacuation plans ahead of the actual event of flooding.

• India is leading a delegation of nations, including Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, in sharing hydrological and meteorological data towards preparing flash flood forecasts.

• The India’s National Disaster Management Authority and the Central Water Commission have also partnered in this system.

• The dedicated FFGS centre will be established in New Delhi, where weather modelling and analysis of rainfall data observations from member countries will be done.

• It is a robust system designed to provide the necessary products in real-time to support the development of warnings for flash floods about 6- 12 hour in advance at the watershed level with resolution of 4kmx4km for the Flash Flood prone South Asian countries viz. India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Source: PIB

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