Pushpak

The Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to conduct the second landing test of the Reusable Launch Vehicle, Pushpak.

• Pushpak is the reusable launch vehicle of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The vehicle is designed as an all-rocket, fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle.
• It incorporates several major elements such as the X-33 advanced technology demonstrator, the X-34 testbed technology demonstrator, and the upgraded DC-XA flight demonstrator.
• The reusable launch vehicle promises to revolutionise the sector by slashing launch costs by nearly 80%, thereby making space exploration more accessible and sustainable.
• The winged RLV prototype serves as a versatile test platform, facilitating the evaluation of hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, and powered cruise capabilities.

El Cano Archaeological Park

Archaeologists have recently found a grave of a religious leader dubbed as “Lord of the Flutes” buried over 1200 years ago with a cache of gold objects in the El Cano Archaeological Park, Panama.

• El Cano Archaeological Park, once a thriving necropolis, was built around 700 AD and abandoned around 1000 AD.
• Necropolis is a cemetery, especially a large one belonging to an ancient city.
• Its location in the Cocle province, approximately 100 miles southwest of Panama City, Panama.
• Archaeologists found a bunch of cool old stuff, including jewelry and fancy things for rituals, along with skeletons that seem like they were killed in a special ceremony.
• Archaeologists in their recent discovery have found a new tomb, 9th since 2008. It contains gold items and other remains thought to be sacrifices.
• Those buried were important in their communities, as shown by the valuable objects with them.
• The main person in this tomb, likely a religious leader, is called the "Lord of the Flutes" because bone flutes were found with them, probably used in ceremonies.

PM-SURAJ Portal

• PM-SURAJ – Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan.
• It is aimed at offering credit support to the marginalized segments of society.
• Provides financial assistance directly to beneficiaries, eliminating middlemen and commissions.
• The portal will help empower people deprived of opportunities.
• It will provide information about various government schemes at one place.
• The portal was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Neo Vaishnavism

Recently Majuli masks made in Assam’s sattras, or monasteries was accredited with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

• The Neo Vaishnavism is a movement, spearheaded by Saint Srimanta Sankaradeva.
• Neo Vaishnavism, also known as Ekasarana Nam Dharma, is a sect of the Vaishnava sect of Shankardeva.
• It is a socio-cultural revolution in Assam, which takes an important role to create a strong social bond among the people of Assam.
• Chinha Jatra is a dance-drama created by Srimanta Sankardeva that introduced the Majuli mask art form.
• Majuli, the largest river island in the world and the seat of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition, has been home to the art of mask-making since the 16th century.
• Majuli masks – The masks have been made in Assam's sattras, or monasteries, since the 16th century.
• They are handmade masks that are traditionally used to depict characters in bhaonas or theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition.
• It was introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
• The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals and birds
• It has characteristics features of Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha, Hanuman and Varaha Surpanakha.
• Masks had historically been made in all sattras, but the practice gradually died out in most over time.
• While the masks were traditionally made only for the purpose of theatre, over the past couple of decades, the Samaguri sattra has been trying to promote mask-making as an art form in its own right.
• Sattras – Are monastic institutions established by Srimanta Sankardev and his disciples as centres of religious, social and cultural reform.
• Today, they are also centres of traditional performing arts such as borgeet (songs), xattriya (dance) and bhaona (theatre), which are an integral part of the Sankardev tradition.
• Majuli has 22 sattras and the patent application states that the mask-making tradition is by and large concentrated in four of them which are:
  1. Samaguri Sattra
  2. Natun Samaguri Sattra
  3. Bihimpur Sattra
  4. Alengi Narasimha Sattra
• Samaguri Satra – This satra is famous worldwide for its traditional Mask-making practices.
• The masks of Samaguri satra, are renowned for their creativity in the art form.
• Samaguri satra was established in 1663 by Sri Sri Chakrapani, grandson of Srimanta Shankardeva.
• This art form has been passed down through generations of satriya bhakats (priests).

Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme, 2024

The union government recently announced Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 to promote the sale of electric two- and three-wheelers.

• Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme, 2024 is a fund limited scheme for faster adoption of electric two-wheeler (e-2W) and three-wheeler (e-3W).
• It aims to provide further impetus to the green mobility and development of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing eco-system in the country.
• The programme also aims to spur localisation of EV components while also driving sales up.
• The scheme is valid for 4 months from April 1 onwards.
• It is applicable only to the electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler.
• Eligible EV categories
  1. Two Wheelers (electric) (e-2W)
  2. Three-wheeler (electric) including registered e-rickshaws & e-carts and L5 (e-3W)
• Scheme will be applicable mainly to those e-2W and e-3Ws registered for commercial purposes.
• Further, in addition to commercial use, privately or corporate owned registered e-2W will also be eligible under the scheme.
• It is an initiative of The Ministry of Heavy Industries, in collaboration with the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• Under the scheme, financial support of Rs10,000 per two-wheeler and Rs50,000 for three-wheeler will be provided.