ISRO conducts 200th consecutive successful launch of RH200 sounding rocket (GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s lead facility Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) launched its 200th consecutive 'RH-200' Rohini Sounding rocket.
What are sounding rockets?
- Sounding rockets are small, low-cost, solid-fuelled rockets meant for experimental purposes, meteorology, and atmospheric studies.
- They are used to probe the earth's atmosphere or to test newly developed sub-components, before actually flying them on larger rockets or on satellites.
- These rockets take far lesser time to assemble and launch, given that they use solid fuel, which is less sophisticated when compared to liquid fuels.
- Typically, sounding rockets are launched at sub-orbit (lesser than 100 kilometres) in altitude and are not spacefaring rockets. However, there are larger sounding rockets that are also capable of reaching the low earth orbit (550kms altitude).
Background:
- November 21, 1963, is widely regarded as the beginning of the Indian Space programme, as the maiden launch of the sounding rocket took place from the then Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (now a part of the larger VSSC campus).
- In 1967, ISRO started launching a series of indigenous sounding rockets named 'Rohini' from TERLS. RH-75, with a diameter of 75mm, was the first truly Indian sounding rocket, which was followed by RH-100 and RH-125 rockets.
- The sounding rocket programme was indeed the bedrock on which the edifice of launch vehicle technology was built. The experience gained was of immense value in the mastering of the solid propellant technology and allied systems of the launch vehicles.
- Several scientific missions with national and international participation have been conducted using the Rohini sounding rockets.
Sounding rocket variants:
- At present, India operates three sounding rocket variants —RH-200, RH-300-Mk-II and RH-560-Mk-III.
- These cover a payload range of 8 to 100 kg and can fly to an altitude of 75-550kms.
Move to change ‘cumbersome’ procedure for inclusion on ST list is put on hold
(GS Paper 2, Polity and Governance)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Union Government has put on hold a proposal to change the procedure for scheduling new communities as Scheduled Tribes, which has been in the pipeline for more than eight years.
Background:
- The proposal to change the procedure was based on the recommendations of a government task force constituted in February 2014, headed by then-Tribal Affairs Secretary Hrusikesh Panda.
Highlights of Panda task force’s report:
- It called the existing procedure “cumbersome” and “time-consuming”, adding that it “defeats the Constitutional agenda for affirmative action and inclusion”.
- In its report, the Panda committee had explained that there were multiple obstacles unnecessarily preventing at least 40 communities from being listed as ST.
- For instance, several tribes pronounced or spelt their community’s name in different ways; some communities were split when new States were created, leaving them as ST in one State and not in the other; and some tribespeople were forcefully taken as indentured labour to other States where they were left out of the ST list.
Current procedure:
- As per the current procedure, each proposal for the scheduling of a new community as ST has to originate from the relevant State Government, and is sent to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which sends it to the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI).
- Once approved by the Office of the RGI, it is sent to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), and only after its approval is it sent to the Cabinet.
Buddhist Nyingma sect finds ‘reincarnation’ of famous Rinpoche
(GS Paper 1, Culture)
Why in news?
- In a significant development in the Tibetan Buddhist circles, the Nyingma sect has identified a boy from Spiti in Himachal Pradesh as the reincarnation of the late Taklung Setrung Rinpoche, a scholar known for his knowledge of Tibetan Tantric school.
About Nyingma sect:
- The Nyingma sect is the oldest of all Buddhist sects, and Taklung Setrung Rinpoche was a profound scholar renowned for his expertise in Tibetan Tantric school.
- The Rinpoche used to live in the Takthok monastery of Ladakh, one of the oldest monasteries related to the Nyingma sect.
- The followers of the sect are spread across Tibet, Bhutan, Ladakh, Sikkim and other Himalayan Buddhist pockets. The Rinpoche was widely consulted by the followers of the faith.
Why reincarnation of a prominent Rinpoche matters?
- The “reincarnation” of a prominent Rinpoche is important in the contest for supremacy over Buddhist affairs.
- The veteran monks of various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Dalai Lama, spread in many of the ancient monasteries in the Himalayas command a wide following across the Buddhist community in Tibet, India and other parts of the world.
- In view of their regional and global influence, there is a nascent race to gain control over the monasteries and the process of reincarnation that has to be determined following the physical demise of a revered monk.
