Knowledge Mantra

  Why in News? Recently, the  Scientists in the United Kingdom  said they have achieved a new milestone in producing  nuclear fusion energy,  or imitating the way energy is produced in the Sun. Energy by  nuclear fusion is one of mankind’s long standing quests as it promises to be low carbon, safer than how nuclear energy is now produced and, with an efficiency that can technically exceed a 100%. One  kilogram(kg)  of fusion fuel contains about 10 million times as much energy as a kg of coal, oil or gas. What was the Location of Experiment? The  JET (Joint European Torus facility)  site is the largest operational one of its kind in the world. The energy was produced in a machine called a  tokamak , a doughnut-shaped apparatus. A tokamak is a machine that confines a plasma using magnetic fields in a donut shape that scientists call a torus. Deuterium and tritium,  which are isotopes of hydrogen, were heated to temperatures 10 times hotter than the centre of the sun to create plasma. Thi

Online Storage Management (OSM)”                Central government is set to roll out a digital system called “ Online Storage Management (OSM)” from April 1, 2022 in a bid to bring in operational efficiency in storage, movement and distribution of food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).    Online Storage Management System:-             The online storage management system would provide real time data .The Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution with its principal agency, FCI, has developed a roadmap to roll out Online Storage Management (OSM) in the country.                  The OSM envisages putting in place a single source of information for the food grains stored in the country for central pool through integrating State portals with the central portal.                    The OSM will develop an ecosystem of storage management applications across the DCP States, each being capable of capturing

Why in news:- A pictorial book telling the stories of 20  unsung women freedom fighters  was released by the Culture Ministry recently. The book was brought out in partnership with  Amar Chitra Katha.   Key leaders:- Rani Abbakka   who thwarted Portuguese attacks for several decades. Rani Abbakka Chowta was  the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal who fought the Portuguese  in the latter half of the 16th century. She belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka (Tulu Nadu), India. Their capital was Puttige.   Matangiri Hazra , a freedom fighter from Bengal who laid down her life in the struggle. She participated in the Indian independence movement until she was shot dead by the British Indian police in front of the Tamluk Police Station (of erstwhile Midnapore District) on 29 September 1942. She was affectionately known as  Gandhi buri, Bengali for  old lady Gandhi. In 1930, she took part in the Civil Disobedience movement and was arrested for breaking the Salt Act.

Why in News  United Nations’ culture agency, UNESCO, added the Nordic “clinker boats” to its Heritage List, in December 2021.  Highlights The wooden sailboats have allowed peoples of northern Europe to spread influence, trade and sometime war across continents and seas, for thousands of years. Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway jointly sought the UNESCO designation. The term “clinker” is believed to refer to the way its wooden boards were fastened together. Viking Ship Museum Viking Ship Museum is located in Roskilde, west of Copenhagen. It not only exhibits the remains of wooden vessels which were built 1,000 years ago but also works towards rebuilding and reconstructing other Viking boats. The process of construction involves use of experimental archaeological methods to gain a deeper, and practical understanding of Viking Age. Characteristics of Wooden Clinker Boats Wooden clinker boats are characterized by use of overlapping longitudinal wooden hull planks. These planks a

  Recently, Burkina Faso’s  army had ousted President Roch Kabore, suspended the constitution, dissolved the government   and the national assembly, and closed the country’s borders.  Army has toppled governments over the past 18 months in   Mali  and Guinea.  The military also took over in  Chad last year after president Idriss Deby died fighting rebels  on the battlefield in the country’s north. Key Points about Burkina Faso 1.  A former French colony,   Burkina Faso has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence in 1960,   including several coups. 2. The country's name, meaning  "land of the honest men" , was picked by revolutionary military officer Thomas Sankara who took power in 1983. He was toppled and killed in 1987 .  3. Since 2015, the   country has been fighting an Islamist insurgency   that spilled over from neighbouring Mali. This has fuelled anger in the military and damaged the once important tourist industry. 4. Landlocked Burkina Faso,   one

  A joint maritime exercise Paschim Lehar (XPL-2022) conducted by the Indian Navy off the West Coast was concluded on 25 January 2022.   The exercise  was conducted over a duration of 20 days  with an  objective to validate operational plans of the Western Naval Command and enhance Inter-Service synergy  among the  Indian Navy, IAF, Indian Army and Coast Guard .   The exercise was  conducted under the aegis of FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command .   The intra-theatre exercise included  mobilisation and participation of over 40 ships and submarines of the Indian Navy .   In addition, the  IAF deployed SU 30 MKI & Jaguar maritime strike aircraft, Flight Refuelling Aircraft and AWACs, alongside the Indian Navy’s maritime reconnaissance aircraft P8i, Dorniers, IL 38 SD, unmanned aerial systems and MiG 29K strike aircraft.  Various  elements of the Indian Army including Air Defence batteries  were also mobilised for the exercise. After a long gap, many  OPVs, FPVs and Air Cushion Vessels of

Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.  These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at RashtrapatiBhawan usually around March/ April every year.  Padma Vibhushan   SN Name  Field State/Country   Ms. Prabha Atre Art  Maharashtra   Shri Radheyshyam Khemka (Posthumous) Literature and Education  Uttar Pradesh   General Bipin Rawat  (Posthumous) Civil Service Uttarakhand   Shri Kalyan Singh (Posthumous) Public Affairs  Uttar Pradesh