• UGI USER
  • Sep 08, 2023
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Preliminary Pointers

Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme

  • News: ASI’s “Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme” Indian Heritage app and e-Permission portal launched.

About “Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme”

  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has 3696 monuments under its care distributed across the country.
  • These monuments not only display India’s rich cultural past, but they also play an important role in supporting economic prosperity.
  • To preserve their rich cultural heritage, heritage places must periodically upgrade their amenities.
  • To that purpose, and to further enrich tourists’ experiences, ASI launched the “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme on September 4, 2023 at New Delhi, in accordance with the goal of ‘Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi’.
  • The ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ campaign aim: To develop engagement with business stakeholders in order to help to the preservation of these monuments for future generations.

Features of the programme 

  • Under this scheme, ASI asks corporate stakeholders to use their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to improve the amenities at the monuments.
  • The programme is a modified version of a previous strategy launched in 2017 that clearly describes the amenities needed for various monuments in accordance with the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act AMASR Act of 1958. 
  • Stakeholders can apply for the adoption of a monument or specific amenities at a monument using a dedicated web portal with the URL www.indianheritage.gov.in, which contains information about the monuments sought for adoption as well as a gap analysis and budgetary estimation of amenities.

Benefits of such campaign

The programme seeks to foster collaboration with corporate stakeholders in order for them to contribute to the preservation of these monuments for future generations, and the selection process will be carried out after due diligence and discussions with various stakeholders, as well as an assessment of the economic and developmental opportunities at each monument.

Note: It is a project of the Ministry of Tourism in association with the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Archaeological Survey and the previous version was unveiled on World Tourism Day in September 2017.

 

‘Indian Heritage’ app 

·  On the same day the Adopt a Heritage 2.0 was launched, a user-friendly smartphone app called ‘Indian Heritage’ was released, which will exhibit India’s heritage landmarks.

·  The app will provide state-specific monument facts, images, a list of available public amenities, a geo-tagged location, and a feedback option for citizens.

·  An e-permission site, with the URL www.asipermissionportal.gov.in, was also developed to get permission for photography, videography, and development projects on monuments. The site will expedite the process of getting numerous approvals while also resolving operational and logistical constraints.

Archaeological Survey of India (key facts)

·  The ASI is the country’s leading organization for archaeological research and cultural heritage protection.

·   ASI’s principal purpose is to preserve archaeological sites, ancient monuments, and remains of national significance.

·  Headquarter: New Delhi

·  Establishment: Alexander Cunningham in 1861.

·  It governs all archaeological activities in accordance with the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

·  It operates under the auspices of the Union Ministry of Culture.

·  It also oversees the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act of 1972.

 

 

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

News: Government approves scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for development of BESS with an initial outlay of about Rs. 9,400 crore.

 

 

About BESS

    • “The approved scheme targets the development of 4,000 megawatt hour (MWh) of BESS projects by 2030-31 with budgetary support of up to 40% of the capital cost in the form of VGF.
    • The project intends to offer clean, reliable, and inexpensive electricity to citizens by harnessing the potential of renewable energy (RE) sources such as solar and wind power.
    • The government will provide 40%, or 3,760 crore, of the overall project outlay of 9,400 crore as VGF, with the rest amount to be funded by the participating enterprise.
    • The project aims to achieve a levelised cost of storage (LCoS) ranging from 5.50 to 6.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) by offering VGF support, making stored renewable energy a viable option for controlling peak power demand across the country.
    • To ensure that the scheme’s benefits reach consumers, distribution companies (Discoms) will be given access to at least 85 percent of the BESS project capacity.
    • This will not only improve the integration of renewable energy into the electricity grid, but it will also reduce waste while optimising transmission network use. As a result, there will be less need for expensive infrastructure updates.

NOTE: A transparent competitive bidding method will be used to choose BESS developers for VGF grants.

  • What exactly is battery storage?

Battery storage, also known as battery energy storage systems (BESS), are technologies that allow renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to be stored and then released as needed.

  • Analysis of the scheme 

This government support has the advantage of supplying non-dilutive money to battery tech enterprises, reducing the pressure to raise funds during the early technology development stage of different battery tech start-ups. Overall, a wonderful step by the government, and India is demonstrating its obvious determination to develop and promote battery technology in the country.

 

What is VGF?

·  A VGF grant is one that is given to projects that are economically reasonable but not financially viable.

·  It was established in 2004 to assist initiatives involving Public-Private Partnerships.

·  The framework is established as a plan system to be overseen by the Ministry of Finance, and budget allocations are made on an annual basis.

·  A VGF grant is offered as a capital subsidy to attract private sector participants to participate in PPP projects that would otherwise be financially unviable.

 

Wagh Nakh that Shivaji used to kill Afzal Khan to come home from the UK

News: ‘Wagh Nakh’ which was used by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan, general of the Bijapur sultanate, to come home to India officials said.

 

 

It was given James Grant Duff, an East India Company officer who was appointed resident of Satara state in 1818, by the Prime Minister of the Peshwas of Marathas.

Duff served in the court from 1818 to 1824, after which he took it to Britain with him and his descendants donated the weapon to the V&A museum.

About ‘Wagh Nakh’

· It is a fist-loading, claw-like dagger designed to fit over the knuckles.

· It is designed to slash through the opponent’s skin and muscle.

· It can be concealed under against the palm and comprises 4 curved blades fixed to a crossbar or glove.

· ‘Wagh Nakh’, a dagger designed like tiger claws, was used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to kill Bijapur Sultanate’s general Afzal Khan in 1659.

·  This weapon is popularly used by Nihang Sikhs who wear it in their turbans and often hold one in their left hand while wielding a larger weapon such as a sword in the right hand.

·  Nihang women carry a ‘Bagh Nakh’ when going alone to dangerous areas.

 

 

About Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj

 

 

  • He was born to Shahji Bhonsle and Jijabai in 1627 at fortress of Shivner in Poona. Shahji was a military officer in the state of Bijapur and he owned the territory of Poona as a jagir.
  • He was highly impressed by his mother, Dadaji Kondadeo (his guardian), Guru Ramdas Samarth and Sant Tukaram (both Bhakti saints).
  • From 1656, he started capturing many forts from the local officer’s of Bijapur.
  • Ali Adil Shah, sultan of Bijapur sent Afzal Khan to teach Shivaji a lesson in 1659. But Shivaji killed him in a meeting with his tiger claws.
  • Ultimately, in 1662, the Sultan of Bijapur made peace with Shivaji and acknowledged him as an independent ruler of his conquered territories.
  • Aurangzeb got worried by Shivaji’s extensive conquest. He sent Shaista Khan (Viceroy of Mughal Deccan) to kill him. Here again, in a daring manner, Shivaji attacked Shaista Khan’s camp in night, injuring him.
  • Then Aurangzeb sent Raja Jai Singh (of Amber) who forced him to sign the Treaty of Purandar in 1665. Under the treaty, Shivaji had to surrender 23 of his major forts out of the total 35 forts. Shivaji also agreed to help the Mughals in their attack of Bijapur.
  • Shivaji visited Agra with his son Sambhaji in 1666.  There he was put on a house arrest. But he escaped fromthere, concealing in a basket of sweets.
  • He very soon conquered all the forts which he had surrendered to the He defeated a Mughal force in the Battle of Salher in 1672.
  • He was crowned in 1674 at Raigarh and assumed the title of ‘Chattrapati.’ He became the sovereign rulers of Maharashtra.
  • Unfortunately, Shivaji didn’t live long. He died in 1680 at the age of 53.