New Naval Ensign: The naval prowess of Chhatrapati Shivaji
GS Paper 1: Modern Indian History
Important For:
Mains exam: Naval might during Maratha empire
Why in News
Prime Minister unveiled the new Naval Ensign (flag) at Kochi on September 2, which bears the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundations of a modern navy.
Shivaji and the seas
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj put great emphasis on sea-faring prowess, and laid the foundations of a modern naval force in the 17th century.
• The Indian Navy has always acknowledged this fact, and has named a training establishment in Lonavla as INS Shivaji and a shore-based logistics and administrative hub of Western Naval Command, Mumbai, as INS Angre after Kanhoji Angre, the acclaimed Maratha naval commander.
• The use of the octagonal design of the seal of Shivaji on the new Naval Ensign is a formal stamp on the umbilical ties of the Indian Navy with the navy of the Maratha empire.
Extent of Shivaji’s naval prowess
• Shivaji’s strategic thought ensured that a strong naval presence was established along the Konkan coast to protect the sea trade of the Maratha empire.
• The navy under Shivaji was so strong that the Marathas could hold their power against the British, Portuguese and Dutch. (As per an Indian Navy document)
• Shivaji realised the importance of having a secure coastline and protecting the western Konkan coastline from the attacks of Siddis’ fleet.
• Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa, both for trade and to establish a fighting navy.
• He also built a number of sea forts and bases for repair, storage and shelter.
• Shivaji fought many lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline.
• He started trading with foreigners on his own after possession of eight or nine ports in the Deccan. (The Navy document states.)
Who was Kanhoji Angre?
• Kanohji Angre was the commander of Maratha navy, and is credited with laying a strong naval foundation which ensured that the Marathas were a sea-faring power to reckon with.
• Kanhoji is credited with holding his own against the English, Portuguese and Dutch naval forces.
• In the estimation of many historians, Kanhoji was the greatest naval commander in pre-modern Indian history.
Surrogate Advertisements
GS Paper 2: Government policies and interventions
Important for
Prelims exam: Surrogate Advertisements
Mains exam: Consumer protection
Why in news
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and Food & Public Distribution has directed to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines for the prevention of misleading advertisements and endorsement, especially the provisions pertaining to surrogate advertisements.
What is Surrogate Advertisement?
• The method of marketing a product that cannot be openly advertised is known as surrogate advertising. In order to advertise another product under the same brand, it duplicates or amplifies the brand image of the first product.
o The order noted that various alcoholic spirits and beverages are being sold as packaged drinking water, club soda, and music CDs while chewing tobacco and gutkha have adopted the guise of fennel and cardamom.
o Furthermore, a lot of these companies use prominent celebrities, which highlights the damaging effects on impressionable youth in particular.
Provision related to Surrogate Advertisement
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified ‘Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022’.
Objective of these guidelines is to curb misleading advertisements and protect the consumers, who may be exploited or affected by such advertisements. Provision related to Surrogate Advertisement includes:
• No surrogate advertisement or indirect advertisement shall be made for goods or services whose advertising is otherwise prohibited or restricted by law.
• No circumventing of such prohibition or restriction and portraying it to be an advertisement for other goods or services shall be allowed.
Penalty For Violation
Penalties for violating the Guidelines are also clearly outlined.
• CCPA can impose a penalty of upto 10 lakh rupees on manufacturers, advertisers and endorsers for any misleading advertisements. For subsequent contraventions, CCPA may impose a penalty of upto 50 lakh rupees.
• The Authority can prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement from making any endorsement for upto 1 year and for subsequent contravention, prohibition can extend upto 3 years.
Night Sky Sanctuary
GS Paper 3: Developments in Science and Technology
Important for
Prelims exam: Night Sky Sanctuary
Mains exam: Significance of Night Sky Sanctuary
Why in news
The Department of Science & Technology (DST) is setting up India’s first-ever “Night Sky Sanctuary” in Ladakh.
What is the plan
• The sanctuary will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.
• The proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is a high altitude wildlife sanctuary located in the Ladakhi adjunct of the Changthang plateau in the Leh District of the union territory of Ladakh.
• It is important as one of the few places in India with a population of the Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, as well as the rare Black-necked Crane.
Why Ladakh has been chosen
• Hanle is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region, away from any form of human disturbance.
• Hanle also provides clear sky conditions and dry weather conditions which exist throughout the year. These factors make it best for the initiative.
What is the significance of this site
• Boost to tourism: Tourism, mainly astro tourism will get a boost in India and Ladakh with the opening of the night sky sanctuary.
o The sanctuary will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.
o The site will have activities that would help boost local tourism and economy through interventions of Science and Technology.
o It will also contribute to the economy of the people of Changthang.
• Benefits to Scientific Society: The night sky reserve at Hanley will be a significant step for the scientific community in India and around the world.
• Benefits to environment: A night sky sanctuary promotes proper illumination where and when it is needed without wasting energy and polluting other areas, especially the night sky, which does not require illumination.
o Unwanted light pollution and illumination is a serious threat to scientific observations and natural sky conditions.
o All the stakeholders will jointly work towards the preservation of the night sky from unwanted light pollution and illumination.
Govt. keen on strengthening India’s maritime sector
GS Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Important For:
Prelims exam: SAGARMALA and other initiatives.
Mains exam: Significance of Indian maritime sector and Initiatives taken for the development of it.
Why in News
The Prime Minister had said the government was keenly working on strengthening the maritime sector, both on defence and economic fronts, for the overall development of the country.
Doubled capacity
• The government is strengthening port-related infrastructure in a big way realising the potential of ports.
• Nearly 250 new projects were identified for port connectivity across the country while several were already completed.
• Because of these initiatives, the capacity of Indian ports had doubled in the last eight years — that was equal to the capacities created since the Independence till 2014.
• There was a significant increase in coastal traffic over the years with government efforts.
• The movement of coastal cargo had become easier due to increased facilities and resources at ports.
• The government is also keen on green growth, green job creation and utilisation of natural gas imported through ports helps in green development.
Initiatives taken to strengthen Maritime sector
SAGARMALA PROJECT: The Sagarmala project has the following components:
• Port modernisation and new port development: Decongestion and capacity expansion of existing ports and developing new greenfield ports.
• Enhancing port connectivity: Connecting ports to areas deprived of river bodies and optimising the cost and time of cargo shipments through multimodal logistics channels including domestic waterways.
• Port-linked industrialisation: Developing port-proximate industrial clusters and Coastal Economic Zones to reduce logistics cost and time of EXIM & domestic cargo.
• Coastal community development: Developing coastal communities through skill development and creating livelihood activities, developing fisheries, coastal tourism, etc.
• Coastal shipping & inland waterways transport: Lending an impetus to ship cargo through environment-friendly coastal and inland waterways channel.
Project Unnati – Operational Efficiency Improvement: It is an initiative by the Ministry of Shipping. It aims to enhance the operational and financial performance of the 12 major ports with selected Indian private ports and best-in-class international ports. Under Project UNNATI 116 initiatives have been identified for various major ports.
Ship Repair Industry: It gives a huge boost to ‘Make in India’ & ‘Aatmanirbharta in Defence’. Currently, India has six major shipyards with a turnover of nearly $2 billion.
The Indian shipbuilding industry is not just carrying out conventional things but is also amalgamating the latest technologies with it.
Coastal Berth Scheme: The Coastal Berth Scheme is a key initiative under the Sagarmala Programme to promote the development of dedicated infrastructure for coastal shipping of goods and passengers across India’s Major and Non-Major Ports. The scheme provides financial aid for projects which promote coastal shipping at Indian ports.
MARITIME INDIA VISION 2030: The MIV 2030 vision document outlines 10 key themes as follows:
• Develop best-in-class port infrastructure
• Drive e2e logistics eficiency and cost competitiveness
• Enhance logistics eficiency through technology and innovation
• Strengthen policy and institutional framework to support all stakeholders
• Enhance global share in ship building, repair and recycling
• Enhance cargo and passenger movement through inland waterways
• Promote Ocean, coastal and river cruise sector
• Enhance India’s global stature and maritime co-operation
• Lead the world in safe, sustainable & green maritime sector
• Become top seafaring nation with world class education, research & training[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]