28 Jan 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Launch of Pandit Jasraj Cultural foundation
2. ‘Beating Retreat’ Ceremony 2022
3. Advanced Light Helicopter MK III
4. Lala Lajpat Rai
5. INS Khukri

1. Launch of Pandit Jasraj Cultural foundation

Syllabus: GS I, Indian Heritage and Culture, salient aspects of art forms

Prelims: About Pandit Jasraj, Mewati Gharana

Mains: Contributions of Pandit Jasraj

Context: The Prime Minister offered tribute to Pandit Jasraj on the occasion of his birth anniversary and addressed the launch of the Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation.

Pandit Jasraj:

• Pandit Jasraj is regarded as the doyen of Hindustani classical music and will be immortal for his path-breaking contributions towards the enrichment of classical music. 
• He was born on the 28th of January 1930 at Hisar (At present, Fatehabad, Haryana) which was a part of Punjab under British rule. 
• He devoted 75 years of his career to classical music that accorded him national and international fame.
• This maestro was a recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. 
• Pandit Jasraj died at the age of 90 on August 17, 2020.
• He belonged to the Mewati Gharana which is a school of Hindustani classical music.
• Pandit Jasraj taught music to amateur and professional students in India, Europe, Canada and the United States. 
• He is popularly known for his memorable performances of classical and semi-classical vocal music, devotional music and film soundtracks.
• Several innovations were introduced under his initiative in Haveli Sangeet. 
• In order to bring revolutions in the field of music and to restore the legacy of classical music nurtured by Pandit Jasraj, the Prime Minister launched the Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation that aims to globalize Indian music.

Read about Padma Awards in the linked article.

About Mewati Gharana:

• The Mewati Gharana is a musical family (Gharana) of Hindustani classical music founded in the late 19th century by Ustad Ghagge Nazir Khan. 
• Ustad Ghagge Nazir Khan belonged to the kingdom of Jodhpur in the Mewat region in Rajasthan. 
• This was the reason for which the evolved musical tradition under the patronage of Ustad Ghagge Nazir Khan became popular as Mewati Gharana. 

The Philosophy of Mewati Gharana:

• According to Maniram Pandit and Jasraj, the philosophy of Mewati tradition is based on the “shuddha vani” which means pure sound, “shuddha mudra” or pure expression and “shuddha sur” or pure notes.

2. ‘Beating Retreat’ Ceremony 2022

Syllabus: GS III, Security, Various security forces

Prelims: Beating retreat ceremony, Make in India, Drones

Context: The Beating retreat ceremony culminated the Republic Day week at the national capital.

About the Beating Retreat Ceremony:

• This ceremony has been an integral part of the celebrations which are of national importance.
• The event was held at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi and was addressed by the President of India and Supreme Commander of the armed forces. 
• The Beating retreat ceremony in 2022 will be marked on a grand scale to commemorate 75 years of Independence which is famous as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
• It is a centuries-old military tradition that dates back to the days when troops disengaged from the battle at sunset. 
• As soon as the buglers sounded the retreat, the troops withdrew from fighting and firing. 

The Drone Show:

• The Beating Retreat Ceremony 2022 was accompanied by a spectacular drone show for a duration of 10 minutes.
• 1,000 drones fabricated through indigenous technology were part of the drone show which was organized by a startup called Botlab Dynamics and supported by IIT Delhi along with the Department of science and technology. 
• This reflected the true spirit of India’s Make in India vision.

3. Advanced Light Helicopter MK III

Syllabus: GS III, Technology, Indigenization of technology

Prelims: Features of MK III

Mains: India’s progress in achieving self-reliance in the defense sector

Context: The indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter MK III was inducted at INS Utkrosh by the Commander-in-chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command at Port Blair. This is a major impetus to the maritime security of the nation.

MK III: Salient features

• This advanced light helicopter is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and it exemplifies a major leap of the defense sector in India towards self-reliance or Atma Nirbharta. 
• The MK III is equipped with a glass cockpit, shakti engines (manufactured by HAL), advanced maritime patrol radar, electro-optical payload and a night vision device.
• This will act as a force multiplier in retaining the safety of India’s far eastern seaboard and island territories.
• It is provided with state of the art sensors and weapons that add to India’s preparedness in terms of maritime security. 
• The advanced light helicopter is capable of carrying out maritime surveillance, offering support to the special forces, medical evacuations and delivering rescue roles. 

Read about Atmanirbhar in Defence in Perspective, Sansad TV.

4. Lala Lajpat Rai

Syllabus: GS I, History, The freedom struggle

Prelims: About Lala Lajpat Rai

Mains: Contributions of Lala Lajpat Rai in the freedom struggle

Context: The Prime Minister of India rendered homage to the captivating personality of Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary. Every 28th day of January is celebrated as Lajpat Rai Jayanti.

About Lala Lajpat Rai:

• He has played a role of enormous significance in the freedom struggle of India through his nationalist ideas and oratory skills.
• This inspiring personality is famous as the ‘Lion of Punjab’ or the ‘Punjab Kesari’. 

Read in detail about Lala Lajpat Rai in the linked article.

5. INS Khukri

Syllabus: GS III, Technology, Indigenization of technology

Prelims: Features of INS Khukri

Context: The decommissioned naval ship INS Khukri was handed over to the Diu administration so that it can be transformed into a full-scale museum. 

About INS Khukri:

• This missile corvette was decommissioned after 32 years of service and it had been a part of the western and eastern fleets. 
• It was built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, according to the Indian Navy.
• This missile corvette was commanded by 28 commanding officers and travelled over 6,44,897 nautical miles. 
• The museum will be located in the same location as the existing Khukri Memorial where the scaled-down version of the first INS Khukri (F 149) was placed. The F 149 was a blackwood class anti-submarine frigate. 
• The first INS Khukri was lost during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 off the coast of Diu. 
• It is the second INS Khukri that was recently handed over to the Diu administration for revamping the Khukri Memorial.

Read previous PIB here.

January 28th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here