NASA sends a Solar Orbiter probe to map poles of the sun
Context :
The US space agency NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are sent a new probe toward the Sun to map its poles. The aim is to help researchers grasp how the sun’s vast bubble of energy affects Earth and humans in space.
Solar Orbiter :
- The Solar Orbiter was launched atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida on February 9.
- The satellite deployed an array of solar panels and antennas before setting off on its 10-year voyage to the Sun.
- It has been designed to use the gravitational influence from Earth and Venus to whip itself as close as 26 million miles from the Sun or 95% of the distance between the sun and Earth.
- The probe will map the sun’s poles, which could allow scientists for the first time to observe the concentrated source of solar wind that permeates our solar system.
Guru Ravidas
Context :
Sant Ravidas Jayanti was celebrated on February 9th.
About Guru Ravidas :
- Guru Ravidas was a North Indian mystic poet of the bhakti movement.
- While the exact year of his birth is not known, it is believed that the saint was born in 1377 C.E.
- Guru Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated on Magh Purnima, which is the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Magha.
- The Adi Granth of Sikhs, in addition to the Panchvani are the two of the oldest documented sources of the literary works of Guru Ravidas.
- Notably, he belonged to an untouchable caste and suffered a lot of atrocities as a result. However, the saint chose to focus on spiritual pursuits and also penned several devotional songs which made a huge impact in the Bhakti movement during the 14th to 16th century CE.
- He is believed to be a disciple of the bhakti saint-poet Ramananda and a contemporary of the bhakti saint-poet Kabir.
- One of his famous disciples was the saint, Mirabai.
- Among Ravidas’s moral and intellectual achievements were the conception of “Begampura”, a city that knows no sorrow; and a society where caste and class have ceased to matter.
Guru Ravidas Teachings :
Guru Ravidas spoke against the caste divisions and spoke of removing them to promote unity. His teachings resonated with the people, leading to a religion being born called the Ravidassia religion, or Ravidassia Dharam based on his teachings.
He taught about the omnipresence of God and said that a human soul is a particle of God and hence Ravidas rejected the idea that people considered lower caste cannot meet God. He said in his teachings that the only way to meet God was to free the mind from the duality.
Indian Army develops cheapest gunshot locator device-Parth
Context :
Indian Army’s College of Military Engineering (CME) in partnership with a private firm developed the cheapest gunshot locator device “Parth”.
Parth :
♦ The cost of the device is Rs.3 lakh. If the device is inducted into the Army, it will replace a similar imported item which costs around Rs.65 lakhs.
♦ The device can locate a bullet from a distance of 400m and will help to neutralize it in a faster way.
♦ The device was showcased at the DefExpo 2020 at Lucknow.
Gunshot locator :
A gunshot locator device can detect and convey the location of gunshot or other weapon fire using optical, acoustic, or other combinations of sensors.
Poor Compensation Rate for Trafficking Survivors
Context :
Based on the data of the NCRB, a non-profit organisation released a report on compensation awarded to survivors of trafficking the country, which highlighted the poor status of compensation awarded during 2011- 2019.
NCRB reports put the total number of cases of human trafficking at 35,983, but only 82 (0.2%) victims were awarded compensation.
Key Points :
- The report titled ‘UNCOMPENSATE VICTIMS’ was released by Sanjog, a technical resource organisation that works to combat trafficking and gender-based violence.
- Following the national outrage over the Nirbhaya gang-rape case (2012), the government had announced ₹1,000 crore fund to be used to combat sexual violence against persons – children or adults.
- The amount of compensation to victims of trafficking varied from State to State, hence the Supreme Court had directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to frame a standardised victim compensation scheme.
- The study also reflects the number of trafficking survivors who applied for the victim compensation scheme to their respective legal services authority.
- While 107 individuals applied under the scheme, in 102 cases between 2011 and 2019, courts directed the authorities to release compensation.
Reasons Behind the Low Rate of Compensation :
- Lack of awareness
- A lack of information provided to survivors on victim compensation.
- Low investment on part of legal aid
- Role of Legal Services Authorities: The study suggests grave inconsistencies on the part of legal services authorities, which have provided the data.
- There is a lack of initiative on the part of legal services authorities.
- Manipur’s 2019 victim compensation scheme does not even have an entry in the schedule corresponding to human trafficking.
- Survivors were able to apply only when they were informed and a private lawyer was involved in assisting them in filing the application for victim compensation.
- Multiple Agencies: From their rescue till rehabilitation, the survivors are in touch with multiple agencies but none of them takes any steps to help them get compensation.
- District Legal Service Authority(DLSA) and State Legal Services Authority (SLSA)’s response to the claims has been slow, and they hold the survivors’ claims with suspicion – often putting the burden of proof on the survivors themselves.
World Pulses Day is observed on 10 February
Context :
World Pulses Day is observed on 10 February. The day aims to create public awareness of the nutritional benefits of eating pulses.
Pulses :
- Pulses (legumes) are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Lentils, peas and dried beans are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.
- Pulses has the nitrogen-fixing properties which will improve the soil fertility. It increases and extends the productivity of the farmland.
- farmers can promote farm biodiversity and soil biodiversity by using pulses for intercropping and cover crops.
- Pulses also play a role in climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on the synthetic fertilizers used to introduce nitrogen artificially into the soil.
- Greenhouse gases (GHG) are released during the manufacturing and application of these fertilizers, and their overuse can be detrimental to the environment.
History:
On 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution to proclaim the year 2016 as the “International Year of Pulses (IYP)”. The day aimed to recognize the value of pulses. In 2019, the UNGA proclaimed 10 February as the World Pulses Day. The day aims to increase the public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.