30 Oct 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Tata - Airbus C-295 (Aircraft Manufacturing Facility)
2. Maze Garden & Miyawaki Forest
3. Pasumpon Mathuramalinga Thevar

1. Tata – Airbus C-295 (Aircraft Manufacturing Facility)

Syllabus – GS 3, Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Prelims – C-295 Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Context – Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of C-295 Aircraft Manufacturing Facility- the country’s first in the private sector, in Vadodara, Gujarat 

Details –

• Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of C-295 Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in Vadodara, Gujarat and said that India is moving forward with the mantra of “Make in India, Make for the Globe”. It is India’s giant leap towards becoming self-reliant in the aviation sector.
• The facility will manufacture C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force IAF through collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Spain S.A., Spain. The aircraft can also be used for civilian purposes. 
• Under the terms of the deal, 16 C-295 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between September 2023 and August 2025 in flyaway condition, while the remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured at the Vadodara facility. The first Made in India aircraft is expected from September 2026. 
• 96% of the work that Airbus does in Spain will now be done at the new facility, Vadodara. Systems such as avionics, engines, landing gear, EW suite will be provided by Airbus Defence & Space and integrated on the aircraft by the TATA Consortium. The aircraft will be flight tested and delivered through a delivery centre at the TATA Consortium facility. 
• Following the delivery of 56 aircraft to IAF, Airbus Defence and Space will be allowed to sell the Indian manufacturing aircraft to civil operators and countries cleared by the GoI.

Feature of the C-295 aircraft 

• The transport aircraft has 5 – 10 tonne capacity with advanced technology. The Indian Air Forces will no longer have to depend on the old Avro planes of the 1960 generation for the transport needs.
• The aircraft has a flight endurance of upto 11 hours and can perform multi-role operations under all-weather conditions.
• Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is yet another feature of the C-295 aircraft.

About Airbus – Airbus is a leader in designing, manufacturing and delivering aerospace products, services and solutions to a customer base that spans the globe – with operations for commercial aircraft, helicopters, defence, space and security.

2. Maze Garden & Miyawaki Forest

Syllabus -GS 3 – Environment Conservation, GS 1 Indian Architecture (Modern) 

Prelims – Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest

Context – The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the Maze Garden and the Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.

About Maze Garden –

• The Maze garden is spread over three acres of land and is the largest such garden in the country.
• It has been designed in the shape of the “Yantra” which is believed to bring positivity to the place.
• The maze garden has a pathway of about 2.1 km.
• About 1,80,000 saplings have been planted in this garden including Madhu Kamini, Glory Bowar, Mehndi and Orange Gemini.
• It was originally a dumping site for debris which has been turned into a beautiful garden.

About Miyawaki Forest –

• The Miyawaki forest has been developed in an area of about 2 acres.
• It has been developed using a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. The method involves planting saplings of various species close to each other which develops into a dense urban forest in a short span of time.
• By this method, the forest can be developed in just two-three years which otherwise takes 20-30 years through the traditional method.
• The Miyawaki forest will include a timber garden, a fruit garden, a medicinal garden, a native floral garden, a Miyawaki section of mixed species and a digital orientation centre.

Both Maze garden and the Miyawaki forest add to the tourist value of the iconic “Statue of Unity”. Other attractions at the Statue of Unity include Tent City, Theme based Parks such as Arogya Van (Herbal Garden), Butterfly garden, Cactus garden, Vishwa Van, Unity Glow garden, the Valley of Flowers, Children Nutrition Park, Jungle Safari (State of art Zoological Park) among others.

3. Pasumpon Mathuramalinga Thevar

Syllabus – GS 1, Important Personalities

Prelims – Pasumpon Mathuramalinga Thevar

Context – Shri Narendra Modi paid homage to freedom fighter – Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on the occasion of his Guru Pooja.

About Pasumpon Mathuramalinga Thevar –

• He was born on 30th October 1908 in Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu.
• He is seen as a deity among the Mukkulathor Community, a cluster community comprising the Maravar, Ahambadiar and the Kallar.
• He was a freedom fighter and a spiritual leader.
• Traditional Hinduism did not appeal to him as it encouraged “Varnashrama”. He fought against the evils of hindu religion.
• He served as the National Deputy Chairman of All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) from 1952 – 54. He was elected to AIFB’s national parliamentary constituency thrice. 
• He supported the Temple Entry and Authorization and Indemnity Act which was passed by C. Rajagopalacharya’s government in 1939. This act lifted restrictions prohibiting Dalits from entering Hindu temples. 
• Due to illness he died on 30th October, 1963. 

October 30th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here

Read the previous PIB articles here.