Garuda Aerospace Receives Type Certification and RTPO Approvals from DGCA

Why In News

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace has received the Type Certification and RPTO approvals from the Director General of Civil Aviation.

Key Points

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace has received the Type Certification and RPTO (Remote Pilot Training Organisation) approvals from the Director General of Civil Aviation for the indigenously designed kisan drones.

DGCA Type certification is provided on the basis of the quality check and is issued after a rigorous testing process of the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Kisan drones: The kisan drones are developed for agricultural purposes and with the Type Certification received for the GA-AG model, Garuda Kisan drones were eligible for Rs 10 lakh unsecured loans from the agri-infrastructure fund offered by the Centre.

Remote pilot training organisation: According to DGCA, a remote pilot training organisation is an organisation authorised by the DGCA to impart remote pilot training to any individual seeking for a remote pilot certificate under Rule 34 of Drone Rules 2021.

Significance:

The elusive double certification by DGCA for Type and RPTO certification is a testament to the indigenous Made in India drone manufacturing capacities. The Company is powered and blessed with strong demands of manufacturing 5,000 drones in the next five months.

10th Edition of North East Festival Begins at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Why In News

The 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The festival aims to promote the North East region's diverse life, culture, traditions, and tourism.

Key Points

The 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The festival aims to promote the North East region’s diverse life, culture, traditions, and tourism. Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Narayan Rane inaugurated the MSME Exhibition at the North East Festival.

The last two editions were held in Guwahati in a hybrid model due to rising Covid in the national capital. Since its inception in 2013, this festival has contributed a lot in promoting tourism in the North Eastern states.

Significance:

The festival will provide an opportunity to entrepreneurs from North East regions especially women and SC/ST entrepreneurs to showcase their skills, products and create new opportunities for growth.

This festival has contributed a lot to boosting tourism in the northeastern states. The four-day cultural festival will showcase the best of North East India’s cultural resources in Delhi.

More than one hundred MSME businesses are taking part in the festival. They are showcasing the northeast’s handloom, handmade jewellery, handicrafts, agricultural-horticultural products, and processed food items.

Importance of North East Region:

Strategic Location: The NER is strategically located with access to the traditional domestic market of eastern India, along with proximity to the major states in the east and adjacent countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Links with Southeast Asia: With ASEAN engagement becoming a central pillar of India’s foreign policy direction, NE states play an important role as the physical bridge between India and Southeast Asia.

Significant for India’s Act East Policy: The Act East Policy places the northeastern states on the territorial frontier of India’s eastward engagement.

Economic Significance: The NER has immense natural resources, accounting for around 34% of the country’s water resources and almost 40% of India’s hydropower potential.

Sikkim is India’s first organic state.

Tourism Potential: Northeast of India is home to many wildlife sanctuaries like Kaziranga National Park famous for the one horned rhinoceros, Manas National Park, Nameri, Orang, Dibru Saikhowa in Assam, Namdhapha in Arunachal Pradesh, Balpakram in Meghalaya, Keibul Lamjao in Manipur, Intanki in Nagaland, Khangchendzonga in Sikkim.

Cultural Significance: Tribes in NER have their own culture. Popular festivals include Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Pang Lhabsol of Sikkim, etc.

Good Governance Day 2022 celebrates on 25 December

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Good Governance Day 2022: Every year, in honour of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee’s birthday, India observes "Good Governance Day".

Key Points

Good Governance Day: Every year, in honour of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee’s birthday, India observes “Good Governance Day“. The day is devoted to former prime minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi 2014 announced that “Good Governance Day” will be observed annually on December 25 in memory of the former PM.

History

The Indian government decided that every year December 25 would be a full day of work. The government has been commemorating Good Governance Day every year since 2014. The day is celebrated to t make sure that the country’s residents are treated fairly by the government and they receive the advantages of various government services. The purpose of Good Governance Day is to increase public access to various government programmes and services via good governance. It was established with the slogan “Good Governance through e-Governance.”

Atal Vihari Vajpayee:

Atal Vihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

He was elected three times as the nation’s prime minister. In 1996, he was elected as the nation’s Prime Minister for the first time.

In 1998–1999, he was elected prime minister for a second term. On October 13, 1999, he was elected as the nation’s prime minister for the third time.

Significantly, former prime minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee was the first head of state to address the UN in Hindi.

The “Bharat Ratna” award was given to him on March 27, 2015.

Veer Bal Diwas 2022: History, Significance and Celebration in India

Why In News

Veer Bal Diwas 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to observe Veer Bal Diwas 2022 on the occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Key Points

Veer Bal Diwas 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to observe Veer Bal Diwas 2022 on the occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Veer Bal Diwas is going to be celebrated in India every year on 26th December. Veer Bal Diwas 2022 marks the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.

History

Veer Bal Diwas is observed to pay honor and tribute to the sacrifices made by Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. The Veer Bal Diwas will be observed to honor the ‘Sahibzadas’, the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh. On this day, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh who was just 6 years old, and Fateh Singh who was just 9 years old, were killed by Mughal forces in Sirhind, Punjab.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji had four sons Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth and final Sikh guru. Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his army were attacked by the Mughal Army at the Anandpur Sahib Fort. The Anandpur Sahib Fort was attacked by the Mughals and after holding for months, food and other essentials started to diminish. By this time, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his family accepted an offer by Aurangzeb of safe passage out of Anandpur.

Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. They were held captive by the Mughal army and were forced to convert to Islam. The two young Sahibzadas refused to convert and expressed their love for their religion. After this, the emperor ordered the army to bury them alive between the walls.

Significance

Veer Bal Diwas is observed in honor of the “Sahibzadas”, the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Indian government has announced to observe Veer Bal Diwas every year on 26th December. This day commemorates the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh.

Veer Bal Diwas 2022 Celebration in India

Losar Festival Celebrated to Mark Ladakhi New Year in Ladakh

Why In News

Ladakh celebrated Losar Festival to mark the Ladakhi New Year. Losar Festival is celebrated in Ladakh on 24th December 2022.

Key Points

Ladakh celebrated Losar Festival to mark the Ladakhi New Year. Losar Festival is celebrated in Ladakh on 24th December 2022. The Losar Festival or the Ladakhi New year is a major socio-religious festival of Ladakh celebrated during winter.

The Losar Festival will continue for nine days from the new year. People will celebrate by offering prayers in the name of God and goddess. They will also dance and sing in honor of Ibex and the pilgrimage of Mount Kailash.

The Losar Festival celebrated in Ladakh marks the beginning of the New year.

Losar has been celebrated in Ladakh for centuries and has strengthened the existing community bond.

The festival brings joy to the lives of inhabitants of the landlocked Himalayan territory of Ladakh.

The celebrations begin with offering prayers to God and goddesses common to a group of families known as Faspun.

In the evening, family ancestors are remembered by offering goods and lighting traditional lamps in the graveyards.

During the Losar Festival, Lardaak is responsible for offering prayers to the village God and goddess.

The Lardaak carries out all the rituals to purify the individuals.

They perform the traditional role of the three Lama Jogis and Grandparents.

Lardaak is the head of Karoks, the dancers of the grand celebration.

Karoks have to complete the dance 360 times before the deadline set by the astrologer of the village.