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Foreign architects of Indian cities A controversy has been playing out over the last several days over a decision by the IIM Ahmedabad to bring down 18 dormitories built by legendary American architect Louis Kahn on the old campus. This newscard is full of facts. But one must note the features of present-day Indian Architecture and the western influence on it. Kahn, in fact, is one among several foreign architects whose work defines several Indian cities. Take a glimpse of all important architects and their works: Antonin Raymond & George Nakashima Golconde, one of India's first modernist buildings, was conceptualized in Puducherry by the founders of the experimental township of Auroville. Tokyo-based Czech architect Antonin Raymond was invited to design this space as a universal commune, and Japanese-American woodworker George Nakashima would complete it after Raymond left India. It is possibly India's first reinforced concrete buildings, built between 1937 and 1945. Its faade creates the impression that one could open or shut these concrete blinds, without compromising on privacy, while the ascetic interiors helped provide a meditative atmosphere. Otto Koenigsberger Berlin-bred Koenigsberger was already working for the Maharaja of Mysore in the late 1930s when he was commissioned by Tata & Sons to develop the industrial township of Jamshedpur in the early 1940s. He would later design the masterplan for Bhubhaneswar (1948) and Faridabad (1949). Having seen children and women walk large distances to reach schools and workplaces, he planned for schools and bazaars in the city centre and for a network of neighbourhoods. His friends Albert Mayer and Mathew Nowicki would go on to design Chandigarh. However, much before Koenigsberger, there was the Scottish biologist and geographer Patrick Geddes, who wrote town planning reports, from 1915 to 1919, for 18 Indian cities, including Bombay and Indore. Frank Lloyd Wright Though the legendary American architect never built a structure in India, his influence was unmistakable. Two of his students, Gautam and Gira Sarabhai, founders of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, requested him to design the administration building for Sarabhai Calico Mills in 1946. It would possibly have been the city's first high-rise with terraces and a podium. Padma Vibhushan Charles Correa, one of India's finest architects and urban planners, was hugely influenced by Wright. Le Corbusier Before Swiss-French painter-writer-architect Corbusier came on the scene in Chandigarh, there was Polish architect Mathew Nowicki, an admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright and American developer Albert Mayer. Nowicki's death in a plane crash ended the commission, and Corbusier came on board. With English architect Maxwell Fry and his wife Jane Drew, Corbusier with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret would design many of Chandigarh's civic buildings, from courts to housing. Corbusier's modernist approach, without decoration, gave India its brutalist, bare concrete buildings. He won favour with the Sarabhai's of Ahmedabad and built the Sarabhai House, Shodhan House, Mill Owner's Association Building and Sankar Kendra. He is often called the "father of modern Indian architecture". Joseph Allen Stein He was invited by Vijayalakshmi Pandit in 1952 to come to India and establish the Department of Architecture and Planning at the West Bengal Engineering College. Though he also practised briefly in Orissa and West Bengal, it's in New Delhi where Stein left the deepest imprint. From the Triveni Kala Sangam, the High Commissioner's Residence and Chancery for Australia, where his polygon-shaped masonry with local stone made its first appearance to 'Steinabad'. Louis Kahn The importance of being Kahn is never more real than now, as the American architect's only project in India faces bulldozers. The design for IIM Ahmedabad (1962-1974) carried the essence of learning in the humility of its material, and the way spaces were managed. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Proxima Centauri: the closest star to the Sun Astronomers running the world's largest initiative to look for alien life have recently picked up an "intriguing" radio wave emission from the direction of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun. Proxima Centauri Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light-years away from the Sun - considered a close distance in cosmic terms. Its mass is about an eighth of the Sun's, and it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye from Earth. Proxima b, one of the two planets that revolve around the star, is the subject of significant curiosity. Sized 1.2 times larger than Earth, and orbits its star every 11 days, Proxima b lies in Proxima Centauri's "Goldilocks zone". Goldilocks zone is the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets. To give an example, the Earth is in the Sun's Goldilocks zone. The mystery of radio signals Astronomers at the Breakthrough Listen project, started by the legendary physicist Stephen Hawking, regularly spot blasts of radio waves using two powerful telescopes. They are Parkes Observatory in Australia or the Green Bank Observatory in the US. All of their findings so far, though, have been attributed either to natural sources or interference caused by humans. This raises the possibility that the emission could be an alien "techno-signature", meaning something which provides evidence of alien technology. There are also reasons to believe that the signal might not mean 'aliens'. Another possibility could be that the signal could have been caused by something behind Proxima Centauri or by a natural phenomenon whose existence we so far do not know of. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Prime Minister has launched the ambitious National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) service for the Delhi Metro's Airport Express Line. Q.What is the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)? How it a step moving towards a one nation one card system? (150W) National Common Mobility Card The idea of NCMC was floated by the Nandan Nilekani committee set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The committee had suggested that NCMC should contain two instruments - a regular debit card which can be used at an ATM and a local wallet. Banks mandated by the department of financial services have been asked to make their debit cards NCMC compliant, to ensure availability of service. The committee has also proposed a host of measures, including all payments by the government to citizens through the digital mode, to reduce the number of cash transactions in the country. Features of the NCMC NCMC will allow passengers with RuPay debit card, issued in the last 18 months by 23 banks, including SBI, UCO Bank, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank etc, to be swiped for Metro travel. It can be used at all transit locations making all new metro and transit payments interoperable via one card. NCMC is an automatic fare collection system. It will turn smartphones into an inter-operable transport card that commuters can use eventually to pay for Metro, bus and suburban railways services. NCMC service is slated to cover the entire 400km stretch of Delhi Metro. It will allow entry and exit from Metro stations with the help of a smartphone, known as the automatic fare collection (AFC) system. To make AFC compliant indigenous gates for metro stations the government has engaged Bharat Electronics Limited. Eventually, all Metro stations will be fitted with AFC gates. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Status Of Leopards Report released Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Biodiversity In news Union Minister for Environment released the Status of Leopards report. Key takeaways The leopard population has been estimated using camera trapping method. There are 12,852 leopards in India as of 2018 as compared to the previous estimate of 7910 conducted in 2014, an increase of 60% in 4 years. The highest concentration of the leopard in India is estimated to be in Madhya Pradesh (3,421) followed by Karnataka (1,783) and Maharashtra (1,690). Recent meta-analyses of leopard status and distribution suggest 48–67% range loss for the species in Africa and 83–87% in Asia. In India, leopards have experienced a possibly human-induced 75-90% population decline in the last ~120-200 years. In Indian subcontinent, poaching, habitat loss, depletion of natural prey and conflict are major threats to leopard populations. All these have resulted in changing the species status from ‘Near Threatened’ to ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. As for region-wise distribution, the highest number of 8,071 leopards were found in central India and eastern ghats. In the northeast hills, there are just 141 leopards. Do you know? The leopard was estimated across forested habitats in tiger range areas of the country but other leopard occupied areas such as non-forested habitats, higher elevations in the Himalayas, arid landscapes and majority of North East landscape were not sampled. Therefore, the population estimation should be considered as minimum number of leopards in each of the landscapes. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Preventive measures started against Shigellosis in Kerala Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health In news Health officials in Kozhikode district of Kerala began preventive measures after 6 cases of shigella infection and nearly 24 suspected cases were detected. Important value additions Shigellosis, or shigella infection, is a contagious intestinal infection caused by a genus of bacteria known as shigella. The bacteria is one of the prime pathogens responsible for causing diarrhoea, fluctuating between moderate and severe symptoms, especially in children in African and South Asian regions. The bacteria, after entering the body through ingestion, attacks the epithelial lining of the colon resulting in inflammation of the cells and subsequently the destruction of the cells in severe cases. Symptoms: Diarrhoea (often bloody and painful), stomach pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Transmission: It spreads person-to-person when the bacteria is swallowed accidentally. Spread through contaminated food and water is the most common form of transmission across the world. Prevention: Wash hands with soap especially after dealing with a child’s diaper and before preparing/eating food. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Rehabilitation Centre For Monkeys Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In news The first rescue and rehabilitation centre for monkeys in Telangana was inaugurated at Gandi Ramanna Haritavanam near Chincholi village in Nirmal district. Key takeaways Monkeys that venture into human habitations would be caught in a phased manner, brought to the centre where they would be operated on for birth control and would be released into the forests again after the rehabilitation period. To make the rehabilitation centre a sustainable habitat for the primates, several fruit and flowering plants, a variety of trees that provide shade, and medicinal plants would be grown. It is the second such facility for the primates in the country. The rehabilitation centre for the monkeys was also the first such facility in south India. The other facility in the country was in Himachal Pradesh. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games include: Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba. Key takeaways Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala and has practitioners all over the world. Mallakhamba has been well-known across India. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport. Gatka originates from the State of Punjab. This traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors is used both as self-defense and a sport. Thang-Ta is a Manipur marital art which has passed into oblivion in the recent decades. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

What is El Nino? El Nino iss the warm phase of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and is associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (between approximately the International Date Line and 120°W), including the area off the Pacific coast of South America. The ENSO is the cycle of warm and cold sea surface temperature (SST) of the tropical central and eastern Pacific Ocean. El Nino is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific. @dailynewscom

Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) The US and China sparred over Tibet and the South China Sea over the passing of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA). Do you think that India's support for the Tibetan cause is the root cause of all irritants in India-China relations? About TPSA The TPSA, once signed into law would make it the official policy of the US Government to oppose any effort by the govt. of People's Republic of China to select, educate, and venerate Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders in a manner inconsistent with Tibetan Buddhism. The proposed legislation will empower the US Government to impose sanctions on the China who might try to interfere in the process of selecting the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama. Why such a law? Tibetans were concerned over the possibility of the Chinese Government making an attempt to install someone loyal to it as the 15th Dalai Lama after the death of the incumbent. The PRC could use him as a puppet to fizzle out the global campaign against its occupation of Tibet. The incumbent and the 14th Dalai Lama have been living in exile in India ever since his 1959 escape from Tibet, which had been occupied by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1950-51. He has been leading the movement for "genuine autonomy" for Tibet and the Tibetans. Significance of TPSA The TPSA acknowledged the legitimacy of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile elected by the exiled community as well as the CTA. It seeks to introduce key provisions aimed at protecting the environment and water resources on the Tibetan Plateau. In an aggressive move, PRC government has forced resettlement of the nomads from grasslands. TPSA recognizes the importance of traditional Tibetan grassland stewardship in mitigating the negative effects of climate change in the region. In addition, it calls for greater international cooperation to monitor the environment on the Tibetan plateau. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

No need for a Two-Child Policy The latest data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) proves that the country's population is stabilizing and fears over a "population explosion" and calls for a "two-child policy" is misguided. Two-Child Policy The two-child policy is a state-imposed limit of two children allowed per family or the payment of government subsidies only to the first two children. A two-child policy has previously been used in several countries including Iran, Singapore, and Vietnam. In British Hong Kong in the 1970s, citizens were also highly encouraged to have two children as a limit (although it was not mandated by law), and it was used as part of the region's family planning strategies. Since 2016, it has been re-implemented in China replacing the country's previous one-child policy. Present status in India There is no national policy mandating two children per family. A parliamentarian had tabled a Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2019 on the matter, proposing incentives for smaller families. PM in 2019 had appealed to the country that population control was a form of patriotism. Months later, the NITI Aayog called various stakeholders for a national-level consultation on the issue, which was subsequently cancelled following media glare on it. In 2020, the PM spoke about a likely decision on revising the age of marriage for women, which many stakeholders view as an indirect attempt at controlling the population size. Why doesn't India need it? The survey provides evidence of uptake in the use of modern contraceptives in rural and urban areas. It gives an improvement in family planning demands being met and a decline in the average number of children borne by a woman. The report stated that most States have attained replacement level fertility, i.e., the average number of children born per woman at whom a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

https://youtu.be/avR4ERmTZgU We are starting a series of Complete India History. Today will be launched Part -1 of Indian History, From 06:00 PM onwards. Lecture1- Paleolithic Age: Pre Historic Period. This series also consist of important MCQs asked in the Previous Year Papers. *Video will be Bilingual* (Contents will be in English medium and voice over in Hindi)

‘Legion Of Merit’ Award US President presented the prestigious Legion of Merit award to Indian Prime Minister. Mr. Narendra Modi was presented with the highest degree Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit which is given only to the Head of State or Government. The US President also presented the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib Indian Prime Minister visited historic Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi where the pious Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s mortal remains were cremated. It is a historic gurudwara near Parliament House, New Delhi. It was built in 1783, after Sikh military leader Baghel Singh Dhaliwal (1730–1802) captured Delhi, on 11 March 1783. This one marks the site of cremation of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Winter Solstice December 21 was Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, conversely, December 21 was Summer Solstice, the year’s longest day. The Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees away from the perpendicular. This tilt, Earth’s spin and orbit leads to variations in the duration of Sunlight that any location on the planet receives on different days of the year. The winter solstice or hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). Its opposite is the summer solstice. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

India-Vietnam Leaders’ Virtual Summit Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news Indian Prime Minister held a Virtual Summit with H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam. Key takeaways A ‘Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People’ document was adopted during the Summit, to guide the future development of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both leaders also welcomed the signing of a Plan of Action for period 2021-2023 for further implementation of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to implement the Joint Vision. Announcements made: Implementation of the High Speed Guard Boat (HSGB) Manufacturing Project for Vietnam Border Guard Command under the US$ 100 million Defence Line of Credit extended by Government of India to Vietnam; Completion and handing over of seven Development Projects with Indian ‘Grant-in-Aid’ Assistance of US$ 1.5 million for the benefit of local community in Vietnam’s Ninh Thuan province. Enhancing the number of annual Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) from currently five to ten commencing FY 2021-2022. Three new Development Partnership projects in heritage conservation in Vietnam (F-block of Temple at My Son; Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery in Quang Nam province; and Nhan Cham Tower in Phu Yen province). Launch of bilateral project for preparing an Encyclopaedia on India – Vietnam Civilizational and Cultural Relations. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

B.1.1.7 Lineage: New variant of SARS-CoV-2 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health In news Recently, India suspended all flights from and to the UK until December 31, amid concerns about a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that is spreading & growing rapidly there. Key takeaways Last week, the new SARS-CoV-2 variant was revealed to be the reason behind the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in South and East England. It is being referred to as VUI (Variant Under Investigation) 202012/01, or the B.1.1.7 lineage. The variant is the result of multiple mutations in the spike protein of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, as well as mutations in other genomic regions of the RNA virus. Preliminary analysis suggests that it is more transmissible than previously circulating variants. However, it is not deadlier. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves proposals to procure equipment Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Defence & Security In news The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting approved proposals to procure equipment worth Rs 28,000 crore. Ministry: Ministry of Defence Key takeaways Acquisition proposals approved include the DRDO designed and developed Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Systems for the Indian Air Force, Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Navy and Modular Bridges for the Indian Army. This is the first meeting of the DAC under the new regime of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. These are the first set of Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) accorded. Majority of AoNs are being accorded in the highest categorization of Buy Indian (IDDM). 6 of the 7 proposals for which AoNs were granted will be sourced from the Indian industry to give a boost to the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Winter session Of Parliament cancelled this year due to Covid-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Parliament; Constitution In news Due to Covid-19, the Winter session of the Parliament has been cancelled this year. Budget Session shall be held in January, 2021. Key takeaways The power to convene a session of Parliament rests with the government. The decision is taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which currently comprises nine ministers, including Defence, Home, Finance, and Law Ministers. The decision of the Committee is formalised by the President, in whose name MPs are summoned to meet for a session. The summoning of Parliament is specified in Article 85 of the Constitution. This provision specified that the central legislature had to be summoned to meet at least once a year, and that not more than 12 months could elapse between two sessions. India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar. By convention, Parliament meets for three sessions in a year. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

GPS-Based Toll Collection System Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news The Government has finalised GPS-based (Global Positioning System) toll collection to ensure seamless movement of vehicles across the country. Ministry: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Key takeaways This will ensure India becomes ‘toll booth free’ in next two years. The toll amount will be deducted directly from the bank account based on the movement of vehicles. While now all commercial vehicles are coming with vehicle tracking systems, the Government will come up with some plan to install GPS technology in old vehicles. The Minister expressed hope that the toll collections may reach Rs 34 thousand crore by March 2021. By using GPS technology for toll collection, the toll income in next five years will be Rs 1.34 lakh crore. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom