Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme (GS Paper 1, Culture)
Why in news?
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has 3696 monuments under protection, which are spread, throughout the country. In order to sustain the rich cultural legacy, the heritage sites require time to time enhancement of the amenities.
- To this end and to further enhance the experience of visitors, ASI launched “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme at Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, New Delhi.
Details:
- Union Minister of Culture urged all entities to come forward and help in better upkeep and rejuvenation of India's rich cultural heritage, in line with the vision of ‘Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi’.
- ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ programme seeks to foster collaboration with corporate stakeholders through which they can contribute to preservation of these monuments for the next generations.
Key Highlights:
- Under this programme, ASI invites corporate stakeholders to enhance the amenities at the monuments by utilizing their CSR funds.
- The programme is a revamped version of the earlier scheme launched in 2017 and clearly defines the amenities sought for different monuments as per AMASR Act 1958.
- The stakeholders can apply for adopting a monument or specific amenities at a monument through a dedicated web portal, which contains details of monuments sought for adoption along with gap analysis and financial estimation of amenities.
Selection process:
- The process for selection will be carried out after due-diligence and discussions with various stakeholders and assessing the economic and developmental opportunities at each monument.
- The selected stakeholders will develop, provide and maintain amenities in hygiene, accessibility, safety and knowledge categories.
- In doing so, they will get an opportunity to be recognized as a responsible and heritage-friendly entity.
- The term of the appointment will be for a period of five years initially, which may be further extended up to five years.
Japan to launch Slim Moon lander on September 15
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has confirmed plans to launch its H-IIA rocket carrying a Moon lander.
Details:
- The launch is set to take place from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan with a launch window open until September 15.
- The H-IIA rocket, jointly developed by JAXA and MHI, has been Japan's flagship space launch vehicle since 2001.
- It boasts an impressive track record, with 45 successful launches out of 46 attempts.
What it holds for Japan?
- This upcoming launch marks a significant milestone as it will carry Japan's first spacecraft destined to land on the Moon.
- The mission's success could potentially accelerate Japan's aerospace development initiatives.
- In support of these efforts, JAXA may receive a subsidy of about 10 billion yen ($68.4 million) in fiscal 2024.
- This funding is expected to be used to compensate companies and universities involved in the development of satellites, rockets, and lunar-exploration technologies.
IAF begins Western Air Command’s annual exercise
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- The annual training exercise, Trishul, of the Western Air Command (WAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) began recently.
- The exercise will see activation of all air assets and force multipliers spread across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Stand-off with China:
- Since the stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, the Indian military has seen a major reorientation from its focus from Pakistan to China and the IAF has maintained a high tempo of operations.
- As the Army mobilised in a big way, the IAF pressed in its entire transport fleet and airlifted over 68,000 troops, 330 infantry vehicles and over 90 tanks in addition to artillery guns.
- The two sides recently held the 19th round of Corps Commander talks towards disengagement and de-escalation on the Line of Actual Control to end the stand-off which was immediately followed by Major-General-level talks at Depsang and Demchok to find a way out. However, the two militaries continue to remain deployed with extensive build-up on both sides.
- Earlier, China released the “2023 edition of the standard map of China”, which continues to show the entire State of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region within its borders. India had lodged a strong protest.
Schedule of the exercise:
- The exercise is scheduled from September 4 to 14 and will validate the command’s operational preparedness and will see the employment of all the frontline assets from fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and other force multipliers in high tempo.
- The exercise will be paused for a few days coinciding with the G-20 summit when the armed forces will be on high alert, coinciding with the high-profile event and the threat perception.
