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📰 News : Assam’s rice wine Judima recognized with GI tag. • Assam’s Judima rice wine is northeast’s 1st traditional brew to get GI tag. • Judima, the wine brewed by the Dimasa community in Assam. • This wine is made from rice with traditional herbs, the wine has a distinct sweet taste and takes around one week to prepare. However, it can be stored for years. It is a speciality of the Dimasa tribe of Assam. • To produce Judima, the Dimasa tribe uses a glutinous rice called Bora that is indigenous to the region and the bark of a plant called Thembra (Acacia pennata) collected from forests surrounding the region. • The powdered bark is mixed with rice flour and some water and made into a dough that, on fermentation, yields the beverage. The uniqueness of this product lies in the use of Thembra. • The agricultural research division of Jorhat-based Assam Agriculture University acted as a facilitator in the process of Judima getting the GI tag. The division had earlier got three products of Assam including Kaji Nemu (a type of lemon), Joha Rice (a variety of flavoured rice) and Chokuwa Rice, the GI recognition. □ About Geographical Indication Tag (GI Tag) : • Under the international agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the GI tag is assigned to a product that has a specific geographical origin and possesses qualities or a reputation that are unique to that place. • The GI recognition gives local producers exclusive brand protection. • Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India in 2004. • Award of a GI sign not only helps in tracing the origins of products but also helps in confirming authenticity and marketing of indigenous specialities. • Besides ensuring quality control mechanisms, the GI tag will enable those, who have the right to its use, prevent its misuse by a third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards.

■ Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) : • Recently, Iran became the ninth full member of SCO. • SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation. • It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. • It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003. • The SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese. • The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation. • The Chairmanship of SCO is by rotation for a year by Member States. • Member states (9) : India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, Iran. • Observer states (3) : Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia. • Dialogue partners (6) : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey. • It is known as the 'Alliance of the East' and is the largest regional organization in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population. The organization covers nearly half of the human population. • The SCO is seen as a counter-balance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). □ Objectives of SCO : • The organization aims at strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member nations. • It also promotes effective cooperation in politics, trade & economy, research & technology and culture. • The SCO aims at enhancing ties in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and so forth. • It ensures and maintains peace, security and stability in the region. • The organization jointly efforts towards the establishment of a democratic, rational, and fair new international economic and political order. □ Origin of SCO : • Initially, it was called as Shanghai Five Group which was founded on April 26, 1996 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan. • The group emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet Republics held with China. • After the accession of Uzbekistan in 2001 to the Shanghai Five Group, it was named the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). • India and Pakistan, joined the SCO as full members in 2017. □ Permanent Bodies of SCO : • SCO Secretariat is in Beijing. • Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. □ 8 Wonders of SCO : 1) India — the Statue of Unity. 2) Kazakhstan — the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly. 3) China — The Daming imperial palace complex. 4) Kyrgyzstan — Lake Issyk-Kul. 5) Pakistan — The Great Mughals’ heritage at Lahore. 6) Russia — The Golden Ring cities. 7) Tajikistan — The Palace of Nowruz. 8) Uzbekistan — the Poi Kalon complex.

📰 News : Chola palace remains unearthed at Gangaikondacholapuram • Substantial portions of brick structures of what are believed to be the remains of a Chola palace have been unearthed by archaeologists during the latest excavations at Maligaimedu near Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district of Tamilnadu. • Roofing tiles and iron nails have also been recovered in large numbers. • A Chola-period copper coin and an ivory object, glass beads and bangles, hopscotch markers, spouted knobs, terracotta pieces and ceramics such as red ware, black ware, decorated ware and Chinese ware, including celadon ware, were among the other finds during the excavations. • The recovery of the Chinese ware is an obvious pointer to trade ties that had existed between the two countries then. • Gangaikondacholapuram was established by King Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 CE) after his victorious expedition up to the Gangetic plains. • Gangaikondacholapuram was the capital of the Cholas for about 250 years from about 1025 CE. • Maligaimedu (the mound of palace) lies about two km to the west of the Gangaikondacholeswarar Temple, built by Rajendra Chola and now a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. • It is widely believed that the palaces of Chola kings had existed there about 1,000 years ago. • There are epigraphical references to three palaces that had existed there — Gangaikondacholan Maligai, Mudikonda Cholan Maligai and Cholakeralan Maligai.  • The palaces were believed to have been destroyed during the Pandya invasions or later.

■ SPIN Scheme : • Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched the SPIN (Strengthening the Potential of India) scheme to make potters self-sustainable. • Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. • Under SPIN scheme, KVIC will facilitate potters to get easy loans from banks that will help the potters to diversify their activities and enhance their income. • It is aimed at sustainable development by creating local self employment which is aligned with the Prime Minister’s commitment of “Job to Every Hand” (Har Hath Me Kaam). • It will reduce their dependence on government subsidy and thus make potters self-reliant. • Unlike Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana, which is a subsidy-based program, SPIN scheme is a no subsidy scheme. SPIN scheme enables the registered potters to get a direct loan from the banks under Pradhan Mantri Shishu Mudra Yojana. • No financial burden on the exchequer. Beneficiaries can repay the loans in easy installments. □ Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana : • It was launched by the government in 2015 for providing loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises. • Under this, three products have been created, i.e. 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and ‘Tarun’ as per the stage of growth and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit. ● Shishu : Covering loans up to Rs. 50,000. ● Kishore : Covering loans above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh. ● Tarun : Covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh. • Loans under this scheme are collateral-free loans. □ Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) : • Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana is an initiative of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for empowerment of potters’ community in the remotest of locations in the country. • Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) was launched in 2018. • The main objective of the programme is to bring back the potters’ community to the mainstream. • Under this programme KVIC identify the areas where clusters of traditional pottery workers are available and provide them training and electric pottery wheels and other tools like blunger, Pug Mill, etc. • The main focus of this scheme is to empower the Kumhar (Prajapati) community by improving their socio-economic condition. This is also an important aspect when it comes to preserving the heritage art of pottery. • It aims to strengthen and improve the living of potters in the country by making them self reliant. • The program provides training for advanced pottery products, Latest new technology pottery equipment like the electric Chaak, Market linkages and visibility through KVIC exhibitions. • KVIC has created proper marketing channels including tie-up with the Indian Railway for selling the products of potters. • Proper training and distribution of advanced equipment under the scheme has eliminated drudgery from the process of pottery making and also resulted in increasing the production by 3-4 times. • This has led to an increase in income of potters manifolds.

■ Blue Flag certification : • The Blue Flag Certification is awarded by a non-profit organization called the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). • The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. • The recommendations are done by an independent national jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists. • The Blue Flag label is accorded by the international jury composed of eminent members - United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Denmark-based NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). • The award is given to the safest, cleanest, and environment-friendly beaches of the world. • The certification will also draw more international tourists who will be assured of the best of facilities at the beach. • The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can be obtained by a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator, and serves as an eco-label.  • Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded on the basis of 33 stringent criteria in four major heads which are environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management, and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. • Blue flag beaches should provide clean and hygienic bathing water, along with basic infrastructure for tourists. • Beaches are given blue flag tag for a year and they must apply annually to continue meriting right to fly this flag at their locations. • The Blue Flag Programme originally started in France in 1985. It was presented to the FEE in 1987. It then became the European Blue Flag. • In 2001, when South Africa became the first country outside of Europe to join the programme, the initiative changed its name to International Blue Flag.  • There are more than 4000 blue flag beaches worldwide. • Spain has the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in the world. • On the lines of Blue Flag certification, India has also launched its own eco-label BEAMS. □ Blue Flag Certification in India : • In June 2018, Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odisha is not only India’s but also Asia’s first beach to get the Blue Flag certification.  • Japan, South Korea and the UAE are the only other Asian nations that have been conferred with Blue Flag beaches. • Blue Flag certification has a validity of 1 year. It must apply annually to continue meriting right to fly this flag at their locations. • Currently, India has 10 International Blue Flag beaches. • Re-certification for 8 beaches that were awarded the Blue Flag certificate in October 2020, namely Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha, and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar. • In September 2021 : Kovalam (Tamil Nadu), Eden Beach (Pondicherry). □ Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services (BEAMS) : • India launched its own eco-label BEAMS under ICZM project. • This was launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). • The objectives of BEAMS program is to Abate pollution in coastal waters; Promote sustainable development of beach facilities; Protect & conserve coastal ecosystems & natural resources; Strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness; Hygiene & safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment & regulations. □ Integrated Coastal Zone Management project (ICZM project) : • ICZM aims to improve livelihood of coastal communities and conserve the coastal ecosystem. • The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai is providing scientific and technical inputs. • It is a World Bank assisted project. • The concept of ICZM was born in 1992 during the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro.