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Himachal Pradesh government trying to obtain GI tags for 5 products native to the State Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – GI tags In news The Himachal Pradesh government is trying to obtain GIs (Geographical Indication) tags for five products from the state. These are Karsog Kulth, Thangi of Pangi, Chamba Metal Crafts, Chamba Chukh, and Rajmah of Bharmour. Key takeaways Karsog Kulth: Kulthi or Kulth (horse gram) is a legume grown as a kharif crop in Himachal Pradesh. Kulth grown in the Karsog area of Mandi district is believed to be particularly rich in amino acids. Pangi ki Thangi: It is a type of hazelnut which grows in Pangi valley located in the north-western edge of Himachal. It is known for its unique flavour and sweetness. Chamba metal crafts: These include items such as metal idols and brass utensils which were made by skilled artisans in the courts of kings of Chamba. Chamba Chukh: It’s a chutney made from green and red chillies grown in Chamba, and prepared in traditional and unique ways. Bharmouri Rajmah: It’s more specifically called the Kugtalu Rajmah, since it grows in the area around Kugti Pass in the Bharmour region of Chamba district. It is rich in proteins and has a unique flavour. Do you know? Himachal pradesh currently has GI tags in four handicrafts (Kullu Shawl, Chamba Rumal, Kinnauri Shawl and Kangra Paintings), three agricultural products (Kangra Tea, Basmati and Himachali Kala Zeera) and one manufactured product (Himachali Chulli Oil). 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2020 India ranked high along with the European Union and the United Kingdom in the latest edition of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2020 released by non-profitGermanwatch. It's a very rare feat that India has performed so better in any climate-related index. We can use this data to highlight India's dedicated efforts for Paris Agreement. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) The CCPI is an independent monitoring tool for tracking countries' climate protection performance. It has been published annually since 2005. It evaluates 57 countries and the European Union, which together generate 90%+ of global greenhouse gas emissions. Using standardised criteria, the CCPI looks at four categories, with 14 indicators: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (40% of the overall score), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%), and Climate Policy (20%). The CCPI's unique climate policy section evaluates countries' progress in implementing policies working towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals. Global scenario No country was doing enough to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, according to the index. Six G20 countries were ranked among very low performers. The United States, with a rank of 61, was the worst performer. India's performance India, for the second time in a row, continued to remain in the top 10. The country scored 63.98 points out of 100. It received high ratings on all CCPI indicators except 'renewable energy', where it was categorised as having a 'medium' performance. Last year, India had been ranked at the ninth position, with an overall score of 66.02. India needed to focus more on renewable energy, both, as a mitigation strategy and for its post-novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) green recovery, the report said. Renewable energy No country was rated very high on indicators defining the 'renewable energy' category. India has been ranked at 27th out of 57 countries under the category this time. Last year, it was ranked at 26th. India's performance has been rated as 'medium' for its current share of renewable energy. Its performance for the development of renewable energy supply during the last year was rated as 'high'. A positive sign for India India's improved policy framework has been responsible for the country's good performance in this global index. However, the report underlined the need for long-term planning. Unlike the other two 'BASIC' countries of China and South Africa, India is yet to announce its mitigation strategy. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Who are the Tharu Tribals? The Uttar Pradesh government has recently embarked upon a scheme to take the unique culture of its ethnic Tharu tribe across the world. The Terai or Tarai is a lowland region in northern India and southern Nepal that lies south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This lowland belt is characterized by tall grasslands, scrub savannah, sal forests and clay rich swamps. Tharu Tribals The community belongs to the Terai lowlands, amid the Shivaliks of lower Himalayas. Most of them are forest dwellers and some practised agriculture. The word Tharu is believed to be derived from their, meaning followers of Theravada Buddhism. The Tharus live in both India and Nepal. In the Indian Terai, they live mostly in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. According to the 2011 census, the Scheduled Tribe population in Uttar Pradesh was more than 11 lakh; this number is estimated to have crossed 20 lakh now. The biggest chunk of this tribal population is made up of Tharus. Members of the tribe survive on wheat, corn and vegetables are grown close to their homes. A majority still lives off the forest. Tharu language, food, and culture They speak various dialects of Tharu, a language of the Indo-Aryan subgroup, and variants of Hindi, Urdu, and Awadhi. In central Nepal, they speak a variant of Bhojpuri, while in eastern Nepal, they speak a variant of Maithili. Tharus worship Lord Shiva as Mahadev and call their supreme being "Narayan", who they believe is the provider of sunshine, rain, and harvests. Tharu women have stronger property rights than is allowed to women in mainstream North Indian Hindu custom. Standard items on the Tharu plate are bagiya or dhikri - which is a steamed dish of rice flour that is eaten with chutney or curry - and ghonghi, an edible snail that is cooked in a curry made of coriander, chili, garlic, and onion. What is this scheme about? The UP government is working to connect Tharu villages in the districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit bordering Nepal, with the homestay scheme of the UP Forest Department. The idea is to offer tourists an experience of living in the natural Tharu habitat, in traditional huts made of grass collected mainly from the forests. Tharu homeowners will be able to charge tourists directly for the accommodation and home-cooked meals. The government expects both domestic and international tourists to avail of the opportunity to obtain a taste of the special Tharu culture by staying with them, observing their lifestyle, food habits, and attire. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Good morning, have a nice day ! * Useful Alerts * ❇️ * COVID Highlights: * ▪️* Recovery rate improves to 94.59% * ▪️* Over 10,26,000 samples tested in the last 24 hours * ▪️* India records lowest daily new cases (26,567) after a gap of 5 months * ❇️ * PM to lay the foundation stone of New Parliament Building tomorrow * ▪️* The new building will energy-efficient, with highly non-obtrusive security facilities * ❇️ * Prime Minister Modi has interacted with all vaccine manufactures and scientists; 6 vaccine candidates in the clinical trial stage in India: Govt * ❇️ * All the preparations have been made to ramp up production of vaccine and to make it available to each and every person in the shortest possible time: Govt * ❇️ * While the COVID situation around the world is deteriorating, India has seen a steady and continuous decline in new cases since mid-September * ❇️ * NITI Aayog and Patna High Court initiate a drive for the use of technology to advance Access to Justice through Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) * ❇️ * MSP operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 * ▪️* About 36.13 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement operations with MSP value of ₹66,135.01 crore * Join >> @dailynewscom

Indo-Nepal Relations 2020 Border Disputes Kalapani, Lipulekh, Treaty of Sugauli 1816 https://youtu.be/D7bMDbzsGv8

New Height of Mt Everest: https://youtu.be/jhAgXHrnaik

Operation Trident Every year, India celebrates December 4 as Navy Day to commemorate Operation Trident. It was a key offensive during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, when the Indian Navy inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani vessels in Karachi harbour. On December 4, under Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank three vessels near the Pakistani port city of Karachi. The stars of the mission were the then-recently acquired Soviet Osa missile boats, fitted with 4 SS-N-2 (P-15) Styx missiles. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Japan’s Hayabusa2 Mission set to return back to Earth Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Space In news Six years after Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission was launched, it is set to return back to Earth. It will be carrying samples from the Ryugu asteroid that orbits the Sun. Key takeaways The Hayabasu2 mission was launched in December 2014. The spacecraft was sent on a six-year-long voyage to study the asteroid Ryugu and collect samples. NASA’s OSIRIS-REX mission also brought back samples from asteroid Bennu late in October, 2020. According to the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), this is the first time that a probe has visited a celestial body that is less than 100 metres in diameter. Important value addition Ryugu is classified as a Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). It was discovered in 1999. It was given the name by the Minor Planet Center in 2015. It is 300 million kilometres away from Earth. It took Hayabusa2 over 42 months to reach it. Hayabasu2’s predecessor, the Hayabusa mission brought back samples from the asteroid Itokawa in 2010. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

IIT-Bombay comes up with Urban Quality Of Life Index Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Society In news IIT-Bombay researchers have come up with an urban quality of life index which is related to real urban life in India presently. Key takeaways Top city: Mumbai The other top cities: Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Most women-friendly: Chennai Least women-friendly: Patna Highest crime rate against women: Jaipur Lowest crime rate against women: Chennai Widest gap in literacy rate between men and women: Jaipur (13.2%) Lowest gap in literacy rate between men and women: Kolkata (5.4%). Highest overall Literacy rate: Pune (91%) Lowest overall Literacy rate: Hyderabad (83%). Highest unemployment rate for women: Patna Gender parity was taken into consideration for the first time. According to the research, women experience cities differently. Meeting women’s needs becomes essential in promoting sustainable urban development. Also, only 36% urban households in Patna have access to treated tap water. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Rat Hole Mining in Meghalaya Rat-hole coal mining had sucked the life out of a village in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. Rat Hole Mining It is a primitive and hazardous method of mining for coal, with tunnels that are only 3-4 feet in diameter (hence, rat-hole), leading to pits ranging from 5-100 sq. mt deep. It involves digging of very small tunnels in which workers, more often children, enter and extract coal. Although the coal is of bad quality, people see it as a treasure chest. In backward regions, where there is the loss of livelihood, lack of employment opportunities and under-education, people see rat-hole mines as an opportunity to earn daily bread. A major portion of these employees are children, who are preferred because of their thin body shape and ease to access depths. Despite a ban The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014 on a petition that said acidic discharge from the mines was polluting the Kopili River. But the practice continues unabated. Threats of such mining Water from rivers and streams in the mining area has become unfit for drinking and irrigation and is toxic to plants and animals. Layers of rock above the coal removed during mining contain traces of iron, manganese and aluminium that get dissolved from mining sites through the acid run-off or are washed into streams as sediment. There are several mishaps where workers get trapped to death due to the sudden collapse of such mines. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Places in news: Temple architecture of Hampi Tourists can no longer get too close to the iconic stone chariot in front of the Vijaya Vittala Temple due to a protective ring by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Vijayanagara Capital: Hampi Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. The old city of Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins. Major attractions The Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex, Lotus Mahal complex, can be highlighted. Suburban townships (puras) surrounded the large temple complexes contains subsidiary shrines, bazaars, residential areas and tanks applying the unique hydraulic technologies. The Vitthla temple is the most exquisitely ornate structure on the site and represents the culmination of Vijayanagara temple architecture. It is a fully developed temple with associated buildings like Kalyana Mandapa and Utsava Mandapa within a cloistered enclosure pierced with three entrance Gopurams. In addition to the typical spaces present in contemporary temples, it boasts of a Garudashrine fashioned as a granite ratha and a grand bazaar street. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Species in news: Red Sea Turtles Turtle populations in the Red Sea could be turning overwhelmingly female because of a rise in sea temperatures caused due to anthropogenic climate change, a new study has showed. Red Sea Turtles There are seven extant species worldwide, five of which can be found in the Red Sea: the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the olive ridley turtle and the leatherback turtle. In order to maintain a 50:50 ratio of male and female in the population, a temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius is pivotal. Above this, hatchlings would be predominantly female. The sand temperatures at four of the sites exceeded 29.2 degrees; leading the team to the conclusion that 'feminization' of the population could be already happening. Their significance Marine turtlesas all top predatorshave a prominent role in maintaining balanced and healthy ecosystems, in particular seagrass beds and coral reefs. They also help in transporting nutrients towards naturally nutrient-poor ecosystems (the nesting beaches), and providing food and transportation for other marine species (e.g., barnacles and commensal crabs). Marine turtles also play an important role in the economy of the tourism industry. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Take a look at the key highlights from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address during the inaugural session of the construction work of the Agra Metro Project.

📕This day in history:-📕 1. Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine state heads decided to gather to discharge the soviet union in 1991, December 8. 2. Clifton Suspension Bridge was opened in England in 1864 December 8. 📕 Invention History : 📕 💥Electric Guitar💥 An electric guitar is a fretted string instrument that uses a pickup to convert the vibration of its strings which are typically made of steel, and which occurs when a guitarist strums, plucks or fingerpicks the strings into electrical signals. The vibrations of the strings are sensed by a pickup, of which the most common type is the magnetic pickup, which uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction. Electric guitars were originally designed by guitar makers and instrument manufacturers. Inventor : Adolph Rickenbacker Born : April 3, 1886 Died : March 21, 1976 History : Adolph Rickenbacker was a Swiss-American who co-founded the Rickenbacker guitar company along with George G. Beauchamp and Paul Barth. Rickenbacker was born in Basel, Switzerland as Adolf Rickenbacher. Starting in the late 1920s, his Rickenbacher Manufacturing Company made metal bodies for the National String Instrument Corporation.Adolph Rickenbacker died from cancer in Orange County, California in 1976 at the age of 89. 🔶️🔷️🔶️🔷️🔶️🔷️🔶️🔶️🔷️🔶️🔷️ Join >> @dailynewscom

Good morning, have a nice day ! * Useful Alerts * ❇️ * COVID Highlights: * ▪️* Recovery Rate improves to 94.45% * ▪️*Active Caseload falls below 4 Lakhs after 140 days * ❇️ * PM Modi to give the inaugural address at virtual IMC 2020 today at 10:45 AM * ▪️* It aims to drive foreign and local investments, encourage R&D in the telecom and emerging technology sectors * ❇️ * PM Modi to lay the foundation stone of new proposed Parliament Building in New Delhi on December 10 * ❇️ * Govt will continue MSP & old Mandi system along with agricultural reforms: PM Modi * ❇️ * India in the forefront of developing COVID-19 vaccines. In India, about 30 vaccines are in different stages of development. 2 of them are in the most advanced stage of development: Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan * ❇️ * Serum Institute of India applies for emergency approval of covid vaccine candidate ‘Covishield’ * ❇️ * Air Pollution a serious problem and Govt. committed towards fighting it: Union Minister Prakash Javdekar * ❇️ * MSP operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 * ▪️* About 35.03 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement operations with MSP value of ₹65,111.34 crore * ❇️ * NCC girl cadets in Badvel town of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, helped in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in town * ▪️* They volunteered to contain the spread in different ways including stitching & distributing masks * ❇️ * Protect yourself and your loved ones in the times of COVID-19. Always wear a mask, sanitize your hands and maintain 2 gaj ki doori! * Join >> @dailynewscom

BHASAN CHAR • Bhasan Char, the site where Bangladesh has begun sending Rohingya refugees from the overcrowded camps at Cox’s Bazar, is an island formed by sedimentation (char is Bengali for sediment) close to the coast. Bangladesh’s plan is to move some 1 lakh refugees to Bhasan Char, 39 km from Naokhali on the mainland. • Bhasan Char is less an island and more mud flat, and is vulnerable to going under water from tides and flooding. Much of it is submerged during the monsoon. • Located near the mouth of the river Meghna where it flows into the Bay of Bengal, Bhasan Char surfaced only in 2006 from the sediment deposited by the river. • Located close to the much larger Sandwip, Bhasan Char spans 40 sq km. Join >> @dailynewscom