Pushpak, ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle, clears test

• Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the third Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
• The experiment successfully showcased autonomous landing capabilities under more demanding conditions.
• Pushpak conducted cross-range correction maneuvers and executed a precise horizontal landing at the centerline of the runway.
• The mission simulated high-speed landing scenarios typical of vehicles returning from space. Advanced guidance algorithms were validated for error corrections, crucial for future orbital re-entry missions.

Pushpak Viman

• Pushpak RLV is designed as a fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle, utilizing advanced technology derived from earlier prototypes such as the X-33, X-34, and the upgraded DC-XA.
• Landing Conditions Simulation: During the mission, RLV simulated high-speed landing conditions and approaches used when returning from space.
• Advanced Landing Experiments: ISRO’s second series of RLV landing experiments showcased autonomous landing capability and performed challenging maneuvers with precision.
• ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Initiative: This mission is a continuation of ISRO’s endeavors to develop critical technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle (RLV), aimed at achieving cost-effective access to space.
• Past RLV Missions: ISRO had previously conducted successful RLV missions in 2016.
• The experiment involved launching a winged spacecraft into space using a rocket powered by ISRO’s conventional solid booster engine (HS9).

Reusable Launch Vehicle

• An RLV is a spacecraft designed for multiple launches into space, significantly reducing costs by enabling reuse. The concept aims to recover costly rocket boosters used in spacecraft launches, potentially refueling and reusing them for future space missions.
• Operational Aspects by ISRO: These launch vehicles feature added safeguards like heat shields, grid fins, and other flight control surfaces.
• They are heavier than their expendable counterparts due to extra avionics and propellant. The design of the spaceplane is also tailored to facilitate recovery.
• Advantages: RLV is perceived as a cost-effective, dependable, and readily available means of accessing space.
• Challenges: The selection and crafting of materials such as special alloys, composites, and insulation materials are highly intricate and require skilled manpower.
• Two-Stage RLV Concept: ISRO’s RLV features a two-stage propulsion system to achieve orbit. After the first stage exhausts its fuel, it is jettisoned, allowing the vehicle to continue using the second stage.
• The separated first stage autonomously re-enters the atmosphere and lands at a predetermined location. Following maintenance, it is ready for reuse.

Amaravathi: The rise and fall of one of the greatest Buddhist sites in India

• Chandrababu Naidu’s return as Andhra Pradesh CM brings the spotlight back on Amaravati, one of the most important sites of Buddhism in South Asia.

Amaravathi and the Making of Andhra Buddhism

• Buddhism in the Andhra Region: Buddhism emerged in the fifth century BCE in the ancient kingdom of Magadh, located in the eastern Ganges plain of Southern Bihar. It appears to have reached the Andhra region in the Krishna River Valley fairly early on, mainly through trade.
• The real impetus to Andhra Buddhism though, came in the 3rd century BCE when the emperor Ashoka set up an inscription in the region.
• Thrive: Buddhism had thrived in the region for almost six centuries till about the 3rd century CE. Although, in isolated sites such as Amaravathi, Nagarjunakonda, Jaggayapeta, Salihundam and Sankaram, the religion seems to have lingered on till as late as the 14th century CE.
• Significance of Amaravathi: It was the birthplace of Mahayana Buddhism.
• Acharya Nagarjuna who propounded the Madhyamika philosophy which is the basis of Mahayana Buddhism, lived in Amaravathi for a long time, and his teachings brought about a significant shift in the practice of Buddhism.
• From Amaravathi, Mahayana Buddhism spread across South Asia, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. Before the cultural revolution in China in 1969, Mahayana Buddhism was the largest faith in the world.

Distinctive Features of Buddhism developed in Andhra Region

• Important Patrons: In North India, there are so many legends about Buddha talking to king Bimbisara or Ajatashatru, in contrast, Andhra don’t have a lot of legends about royal patronage. Merchants were important patrons of the Amaravathi Stupa.
• At Amaravathi, patrons came from a broad cross-section of society, especially traders, craftsmen and wandering monks who were involved in accepting and spreading Buddhism.
• Easy Absorption of Local Practices into the Buddhist Doctrines: The whole concept of the Buddhist stupa here seems to have been a natural transition from the existing practice of venerating the dead in megalithic burials.
• Amaravathi Megaliths were massive stones set up over pits in which the dead were buried, and are said to have been predecessors of the Buddhist stupas which were commemorative monuments housing the relics of Buddhist monks.
• Other local forms of religious expression popular in the Andhra region such as Goddess and Naga (snake) worship were also incorporated into the Buddhist corpus.
• Aesthetic Sculptures: The largest quantity of highly aesthetic sculpture which encased the drum of the stupa and their sheer scale is quite unparalleled.
• They were sculpted on a special kind of limestone called Palnad marble, which allowed very fine and intricate carvings.
• No External Influence: There is yet no evidence that there was any external influence on the art at Amaravathi, unlike Mathura and Gandhara where there was a lot of Graeco-Roman influence.

1. Material Used: White marble
2. Carving of Sculpture: In a naturalistic manner.
3. Example: Taming of an elephant by the Buddha.
4. Reflects: Narratives theme based on life of Buddha and Jataka stories
5. Depiction: Buddha is depicted both in human as well as in animal form

• Both religious and secular images were present.
• Elegant and Sophisticated: The sculptured panels of Amaravati are characterised by delicacy of forms and linear grace. Numerous scenes of dance and music adorn these reliefs.

The Amaravathi School of Art and its Influence

• It is regarded as one of the three most important styles of ancient Indian art along with Mathura and Gandhara.
• Amaravathi stupa is popularly known to be the “jewel in the crown of early Indian art”.
• Made Influence on World: It went on to influence Buddhist artistic productions in several other parts of India, such as the Ajanta caves, as well as other parts of South and Southeast Asia.

The Decline of Amaravathi, and Buddhism, in Andhra Region

• Rise of Shaivism: Chinese travelers who came to Andhra in the seventh century CE found that the stupas were on a decline but the Shiva temples were thriving, and receiving patronage from aristocrats and royals.
• Socio-economic Conditions: The appeal of Buddhism among traders lay in its emphasis on a casteless society, which meant fewer barriers to conducting commerce. The religion underwent a decline six centuries later with the economic degradation of the region.
• Colonial Interest in the Monument: Following Mackenzie’s survey, a considerable number of sculptures were removed from the site and sent to places like Masulipatam, Calcutta, London, and Madras.
• No Priority for Conservation: In the early 19th century when Amaravathi was first surveyed, the conservation of ancient monuments was hardly a priority among government circles.
• Indeed, the local people had regarded the old stupa as convenient sources of building materials, while British officials also used them for construction of canals and roads.
• The British made the first landscape drawings of the Amaravathi Heritage Town, but never excavated Amaravathi Stupa in a systematic way.
• Lack of Consciousness: Lack of consciousness among Indians, especially Andhra people about their own heritage is equally responsible for the decline of the “largest Buddhist stupa in South Asia.”
• Scattered Across the World: Today the sculptures from the Amaravathi stupa and other sites in Andhra are scattered across the world.
• While the British Museum has one of the largest collections, they can also be found in Chicago, Paris, New York, Chennai and New Delhi among others.
• In recent years Australia remains to be the only country to have returned a stolen Amaravathi style sculpture from Chandavaram.
• Australia returned the sculpture because of their own policies on provenance research and repatriation.

Srinagar recognised as ‘World Craft City’

• Recently, Srinagar has earned the World Craft City (WCC) tag from the World Crafts Council (WCC).

World Craft City:

• It is a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2014 by the World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-International) in recognition of the pivotal role local authorities, craftspeople, and communities play in cultural, economic, and social development worldwide.
• It establishes a dynamic network of craft cities across the globe, aligning with the principles of the creative economy.
• Under the World Craft City Programme, Jaipur (Rajasthan), Mammalapuram (Tamil Nadu) and Mysore (Karnataka) have been added as craft cities from India.

Some of the famous crafts from Srinagar

1. Papier-Mache: It refers to the art of making an object from mashed and molded paper pulp. The object so made is traditionally painted and usually covered with a layer of lacquer or varnish.
2. Pashmina: Shawls, Kani, Sozni: The Pashmina fabric, hand spun and hand woven, emerged from the picturesque landscape of Kashmir.
3. Sozni shawls: Sozni embroidery is one of such arts that have its origin into the geography of Kashmir. The word Sozni is a Persian derived word which means needle and sozankari, the needle work. The person who performs this craft is called the sozankar.

Key facts about World Crafts Council

• It was founded by Ms.Aileen O.Webb, Ms.Margaret M.Patch, and Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay in 1964, as a non-governmental and non-profit organization.
• The main objective of the World Crafts Council is to strengthen the status of crafts in cultural and economic life.
• Aim: The Council aims to promote fellowship among crafts persons by offering them encouragement, help, and advice.
• It fosters and assists cultural exchange through conferences, international visits, research study, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and other activities.

International Sugar Organisation

• India is hosting a global event in the sugar sector ‘International Sugar Organisation (ISO) Council Meeting’ in New Delhi from 25th till 27th June, 2024.

International Sugar Organisation:

• It is an inter-governmental body completely devoted to improving conditions in the world sugar market.
• It was established in 1968 and it is also a UN affiliated body.
• It has about 85 countries as members covering almost 90% of sugar production in the World.
• Mandate: It is mandated to bring major sugar producing, consuming and trading nations together to bring mutual understanding and progressive approach in dealing with issues pertaining to the sugar sector.
• It has also been working on biofuels, especially ethanol as sugarcane is the second major feedstock for ethanol production in the world.
• The ISO exists to administer the internationally negotiated 1992 International Sugar Agreement (ISA), the objectives of which are:
• To ensure enhanced international cooperation in connection with world sugar matters and related issues.
• To provide a forum for intergovernmental consultations on sugar and on ways to improve the world sugar economy.
• To facilitate trade by collecting and providing information on the world sugar market and other sweeteners.
• To encourage increased demand for sugar, particularly for non-traditional uses.
• Headquarters: London

Sugar industry in India

• Sugar industry is an important agro-based industry that impacts rural livelihood of about 50 million sugarcane farmers and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills.
• India is the largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar in the world with about 15 per cent share in global sugar consumption and about 20 per cent in production.
• Brazil is the top sugar producer in the world.