Avars
DNA analysis of ancient graves has revealed insights on the social life of Avars
- Nomadic people who survived in eastern central Asia between 6th-9th century.
- Considered as successors of – Huns
- Followed strict patrilineal descent (father’s line)
- Hired by the Byzantine Empire to subdue other tribes
- Avoided inbreeding and practised limited intermarriage with non-Avar neighbours.
Alagar Temple
The procession of the Lord Kallazhagar back from the Vaigai river marked the end of the Chithirai festival
- Location – Tamil Nadu, on the foothills of Alagar hills in Madurai
- Chief deity – Lord Vishnu, worshipped here in the name of Kallazhagar.
- Mentioned in – Tamil epic Silappadikaram and in the hymns of the Alvars.
- Architecture – Pillars of mandapam are depicted in the Nayaka art style
World Coral Conservatory Project
Self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project nested among Europe’s largest coral reefs in Netherlands.
- Launched in – Monaco in 2019.
- Aim – To protect, in a network of partner public and private aquariums, a global collection of the majority of coral species and strains in the form of living colonies.
- Coral reefs – Large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of colonial marine invertebrates called coral.
AEO status (Authorised Economic Operator)
The Centre has extended AEO status to the gem and jewellery sector.
- Under the aegis of – World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework.
- Aim – To enhance international supply chain security and facilitate movement of legitimate goods.
- In sync with the commitments made under the World Trade Organisation trade facilitation agreement.
- Enables Indian Customs to enhance and streamline cargo security through close cooperation with the principle stakeholders of the international supply chain
Mission ISHAN
India has kickstarted the process of unifying its 4 airspace regions into one spanning the entire nation.
- ISHAN – Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management at Nagpur.
- Aim – All coordination for domestic flights flying in upper airspace (above 25,000 ft) will be handled by air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in Nagpur.
- Based on the motto One Nation, One Airspace
- FIRs are controlled by a single authority, which is responsible for providing air traffic services as well as alerting services.
- Air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in every region would only be required to guide the flights approaching or taking off from an airport until they enter the upper space.