[Newsbits] 7.10.2023 Current Affairs

Bekal Fort (Kasargod, Kerala)

Bekal Fort (Kasargod, Kerala) upsc mindmap
Context
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) plan
Develop caravan park
Camp shelter at Bekal Fort
About the Fort
Date
1650 AD
Constructor
Shivappa Nayaka of the Keladi dynasty
Largest fort in Kerala
History
Witnessed rise and fall of dynasties
Under control of Kingdom of Mysore
Structure features
Water tank
Observation tower
Attributed to Tipu Sultan
Zigzag entrance
Defensive trenches
Holes in outer walls for naval defence
Comparison
Thalassery Fort
St. Angelo Fort in Kannur
Built by the Dutch

Veer Gatha Project 3.0

Veer Gatha Project 3.0 upsc mind map
Context
3rd edition
Participation from 1.36 crore students
Across 36 States and Union Territories in India
About the Project
Initiated
Under Gallantry Awards Portal (GAP) in 2021
Aims
Highlight bravery of Armed Forces personnel
Instil values in students
Patriotism
Civic consciousness
Submissions
Poems
Paintings
Essays
Videos
Activities
Conducted at school level
Schools upload best entries on MyGov portal
Winners
National Level
Super 100
Honoured by
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Defence
Cash prize
Rs 10,000
District Level
4 winners
State/UT Level
8 winners
Past editions
Edition-I (2021)
Edition-II (2022)

2023 Nobel Prize for Peace: Narges Mohammadi

2023 Nobel Prize for Peace: Narges Mohammadi mind map notes
Context
Iranian activist awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Background
Born 1972
Iranian human rights activist
Nobel laureate
Journalist
Scientist
Description
Vice President of the Defenders of Human Rights Center
Advocates
Women’s rights
Civil disobedience against hijab
Faced
Imprisonment
Abuse
Current Situation
Detained in Iran
Charges
“spreading anti-state propaganda”
Defamation
Sentence
31 years in prison
154 lashes
Activism and Causes
Women’s rights in Iran
Opponent of death penalty
Supporter of political protesters
Nobel committee recognition
Causes aligning with
‘Zan – Zendegi – Azadi (Woman – Life – Freedom)’ in Iran
Member
Centre for Human Rights Defenders
Founded by Shirin Ebadi
Abolition of death penalty
Journalist work
Articles for social reforms in Iran
Published
The Reforms, the Strategy, and the Tactics
Book
‘White Torture’ (2022)
Experiences under solitary confinement
Interviews with other Iranian women
Organized
Protests from within prison
Other Recognitions
2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award
2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
Featured
BBC’s list of 100 inspiring women in 2022
Nobel Peace Prize
Second Iranian woman recipient
After Shirin Ebadi in 2003
Shirin Ebadi
First Muslim woman recipient
Geopolitical Dimension of the Award
Significance
Highlights international support for human rights in Iran
Places pressure on Iranian government
Reflects trend
Recognizing political protestors and activists
Promote democratic values
Challenge authoritarian regimes
Notable examples
Aung San Suu Kyi (1991)
Liu Xiaobo (2010)
Ethical values from her life
Commitment to Human Rights
Even in face of adversity
Courage and Resilience
Pursuit of justice and freedom
Advocacy for Gender Equality
Fight against gender discrimination and inequality
Promotion of Democracy
Rights of individuals to express freely
Peaceful Activism
Means of driving social and political change
Sacrifice for a Cause
Personal freedoms and family life
International Solidarity
Building bridges with international community
Optimism and Hope
Positive change in challenging circumstances
Commitment to Non-Violence
Importance of peaceful resistance

Invasive plant species

Invasive plant species mind map notes
Recent Study Highlights
Invasive plant species
Threat to India's natural systems
Affected regions
Western Ghats
South Eastern Ghats
Central Indian Highlands
Invasion stats
66% natural systems threatened
Economic cost
Up to $182.6 billion
53% plots
At least one high-concern invasive plant
High concern invasive plants
Invaded 72% land (254,880 sq km)
Found in 22% natural areas
Potential threat to 66% natural areas
Impact hotspots
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Western Ghats)
Dominated by
Lantana camara
Prosopis juliflora
Chromolaena odorata
Southern Eastern Ghats
Dense invasion by
Prosopis juliflora
Lantana camara
About Invasive plant species
Definition
Organism not native
Causes harm
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) definition
Alien species
Threatens ecosystems, habitats, species
Causes socio-cultural, economic, environmental harm
Impact
Cause native species extinction
Reduce biodiversity
Compete with native species
Alter habitats
Introduction methods
Ship ballast water
Accidental release
Human introduction
Common features
Asexual and sexual reproduction
Fast growth
Rapid reproduction
High dispersal
Tolerate various conditions
Feed on diverse foods
Risks and Threats
Impact on human health
Livestock health threat
Threaten global food security
Impact developing countries most
Effects include
Change fire regimes
Transmit disease to native species
Cause forest loss
Reduce water flows
Transform habitats
Threat level
Major threat to IUCN Red List amphibians, reptiles, mammals

Swavlamban 2.0

Swavlamban 2.0 mind map
Context
Naval Innovation & Indigenization Seminar
Delhi event
Background
Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms introduction
Details
Date
4th-5th October 2023
Venue
New Delhi
Maiden edition
July 2022
Naming
Swavlamban
Significance
Self-reliance or self-sufficiency (Hindi)
Swavlamban 2.0 features
Indigenization roadmap
Foster self-reliance in technology (Military)
Objective
Showcase Navy tech achievements
Outline future tech developments
Organized by
NIIO annual seminar
Technologies
Blue-green lasers for underwater
Autonomous weaponised swarms
Underwater swarm drones
Multiple firefighting aid
AI introduction
Ultra-endurance drone for maritime missions
Event showcase
75 prototypes
Live demo of some technologies
Historic Background
Prime Minister initiative
75 challenges for start-ups/ MSMEs
SPRINT initiative
Objective
Boost indigenous tech in Navy
Develop 75 tech/products for 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'
Collaborators
SPRINT
DIO
iDEX
NIIO
TDAC
Significance
Reduce foreign tech dependence
Involve MSMEs and start-ups
Goal
Develop cost-effective global standard tech

If you like this post, please share your feedback in the comments section below so that we will upload more posts like this.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
X
Home Courses Plans Account