Adam’s Bridge & ICESat-2

Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have collaborated with NASA's ICESat-2 satellite to produce the most comprehensive map of Adam's Bridge.

• Adam’s Bridge is also known as Ram Setu.
• This submerged ridge stretches from Dhanushkodi in India to Talaimannar Island in Sri Lanka.
• It is chain of shoals between Mannar Island and Rameswaram Island.
• Adam's Bridge is believed to have once served as a land connection between India and Sri Lanka, supported by existing geological evidence.
• ISRO scientists observed an asymmetry in transverse slopes on either side of Adam's Bridge, indicating varying sedimentation patterns influenced by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.
• Their research computed Adam's Bridge to have a volume of approximately 1 km³, with only 0.02% of this volume above mean sea level.
• Optical satellite imagery corroborates that nearly 99.98% of the structure remains submerged in shallow and super-shallow waters.
• ICESat-2 – Is an initiate of NASA for better measurement of Earth's surface.
• Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have collaborated with NASA's ICESat-2 satellite to produce the most comprehensive map of Adam's Bridge.
• The mapping exercise, conducted by ISRO's Jodhpur and Hyderabad National Remote Sensing Centres.
• They have utilized ICESat-2's laser beams to ascertain that 99.8% of Adam's Bridge lies submerged in shallow waters.
• Previous satellite observations focused primarily on elevated portions of Adam's Bridge. ICESat-2's green laser enabled deeper penetration, detecting the seafloor up to 40 meters depth.
• Researchers collected approximately 0.2 million photons from ICESat-2, providing depth information crucial for generating high-resolution bathymetric data at a 10-meter resolution.
• Using 3D-derived parameters such as contours, slope analysis, and volumetrics, scientists confirmed the current physical characteristics of Adam's Bridge.

Austria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi have recently officially visited Austria to deepen their bilateral relationship and closer cooperation on the many geopolitical challenges.

• This is the first visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Austria and by an Indian PM in 41 years.
• The first Indian Prime Minister to visit Austria was Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1955.
• ‘2024’ marks the 75th year of diplomatic relations between India and Austria.
• Anton Zeilinger – Is a renowned Austrian physicist who is known for his work on quantum mechanics and was awarded Nobel Prize for Physics in 2022.
• Austria – Is a landlocked country in Central Europe, situated in the Eastern Alps.
• It is at the centre of European traffic between east and west along the great Danubian trade route and between north and south through the magnificent Alpine passes.
• Austria is home to about 31000 Indian diaspora. The Indian diaspora mainly consists of professionals working in the health-care and other sectors and in multilateral UN bodies.
• There are around 500 Indian students pursuing higher education in Austria.
• Implications of PM visit to Austria – The two countries agreed to adopt a strategic approach to upgrade their bilateral partnership, focusing on:
  • Sustainable economic and technology partnership
  • Green and digital technologies
  • Infrastructure, renewable energy, water management
  • Life sciences, smart cities, mobility and transportation
• Both leaders supported a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific in accordance with international law.
• The leaders discussed the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) launched at the G20 summit in Delhi in September 2023.
• They supported ongoing India-EU trade and investment negotiations.
• Commitment to UN reforms, including Security Council reforms.
• India invited Austria to join the International Solar Alliance.
• Austria expressed support for India's UNSC candidature for 2028-29, while India supported Austria's candidature for 2027-28.

GAINS Scheme, 2024

• GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS) is an innovative scheme which seeks solution to the problems related to the shipyards.
• It aids to promote technology development using the start-ups created and nurtured in the country.
• It is an initiative of Ministry of Defence.
• It encourages and enables MSMEs and start-ups to develop innovative solutions for further technological advancement.
• This initiative is in keeping with the ‘the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up India’ policies of the India.
• It is a unique national scheme to encourage and enable MSMEs and start-ups to develop innovative solutions that GRSE may incorporate for further technological advancement.

Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS)

• Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) aims to recognize media efforts in promoting and spreading awareness about yoga.
• AYDMS 2024 will honour excellence in Yoga coverage across three main categories such as Print, Television, and Radio.
• Categories – 33 awards across three categories:
  1. 11 for Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Newspaper
  2. 11 for Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Electronic Media (TV)
  3. 11 for Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Electronic Media (Radio)
• Languages – Awards cover 22 Indian languages and English.
• Eligibility – Open to all media houses/companies in print, radio, and TV registered with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Evaluation period – Content created and published/broadcast from “June 12 to 25, 2024”.
• Criteria – Contribution to knowledge about yoga
• Promotion of yoga for mental, physical, and spiritual health
• Judging – An independent jury will decide the winners.

Tanjore Painting

• Origin and Development – Rooted in 16th century Indian art during Vijayanagara Empire.
• Flourished under Maratha rule in Thanjavur (1676 onwards).
• Further developed under British patronage (post-1773)
• Geographical Significance – Named after Thanjavur (Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu.
• Influenced by and related to other South Indian styles like Mysore painting.
• Cultural Importance – Represents the rich artistic tradition of South India.
• Reflects Hindu religious and mythological themes.
• Artistic Characteristics – Vibrant colours, especially reds, blues, and greens.
• Use of gold foil (gesso technique).
• Embellishments with glass, pearls, and precious/semi-precious stones.
• Dense compositions with figures often placed within arches and ornate borders.
• Gold Foil Usage – Gold leaf or gold foil is a key feature of Tanjore paintings.
• It's applied over gesso work (a mixture of limestone powder and a binding medium) to create raised areas.
• This technique gives the painting a three-dimensional effect and depth.
• Geographical indication – Thanjavur painting has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2007-08.
• Themes – Hindu deities and mythological scenes.
• Significance during the British rule – Expanded to include local scenes, occupations, flora, and fauna.
• Technique – Traditionally painted on wooden planks (jackfruit or teak wood).
• It is locally known as "palagai padam" (picture on wooden plank).
• Artist Communities – Primarily executed by Raju community (from Tanjore and Tiruchy) and Naidu community (from Madurai)
• Artists were originally Telugu-speaking migrants from Andhra Pradesh
• Historical Connections – Linked to the fall of Vijayanagara Empire and subsequent migrations
• It was influenced by Vijayanagara school, including Kalamkari and Tirupati styles.
• Evolution and Contemporary Status – Shift from natural to synthetic colours.
• Plywood replacing traditional wood bases.
• Efforts to preserve the art form through workshops and training camps.
• Socio-economic Aspects – Importance of patronage in the development of the art form.
• Current commercialization and its impact on quality.