UPSC Prelims Bits For Today 21 June 2022 | Daily Important Selective Current Affairs For UPSC

”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.

In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.

West Seti Hydroelectric Project

In News

Nepal has decided to hold talks with India for the development of the West Seti Hydropower Project, which has remained in hibernation for six decades over investment concerns.

Key Points

• The proposed 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project, which is to be built on the Seti river in far-western Nepal, has remained on the drawing board for the last six decades.
• In November 2017, Nepal signed the final agreement with China to develop the 750-megawatt West Seti Project.
• In 2018, China pulled out of the project saying it was financially unfeasible because of the steep resettlement and rehabilitation costs.
• Lately, the Nepalese government has remodelled the project as West Seti and Seti River (SR-6), a joint storage project, with the capacity to generate 1,200 megawatts of electricity.
• This storage or reservoir will fill up during the monsoon season (mid-June to late September) and the water will be drawn to generate power during peak hours each day in the dry season.

India’s Concerns

India, early this year and earlier too, communicated to the Nepalese government and independent power producers that they must ensure there will be no Chinese components in their hydropower projects if Nepal’s private sector plans to sell electricity in India’s power exchange market.

PM’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga

In News

The Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga, one of the most coveted honours in the field of Yoga, has been announced for the year 2021.

Know about the awards

• The awards for the Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yogawas announced by the Prime Minister of India on the occasion of the 2nd International Day of Yoga celebrations at Chandigarh on 21st June, 2016.
• The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India developed the guidelines for the said awards.
• A two-stage selection process through a Screening Committee (for preliminary evaluation) and Evaluation Committee, is followed in a transparent manner for finalizing the awards.

Kapilvastu Relicts

In News

In a landmark step for India-Mongolia relations, a 25-member Indian delegation led by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju recently reached Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with the holy relics of Lord Buddha to coincide with Mongolian Budhha Purnima celebrations.

What are Kapilvastu Relicts?

• These are four relics come from among 22 Buddha relicts, currently housed at Delhi’s National Museum. Together, they are known as the ‘Kapilvastu Relics’ since they are from a site in Bihar believed to be the ancient city of Kapilvastu.
• Lord Buddha was cremated as a universal king by the Mallas of Kushinagar.
• The relics were divided into eight shares among the Licchavis of Vaishali, Sakyas of Kapilavastu, Ajathsatrus of Magadha, Mallas of Kushinagar, Mallas of Pava, Bullies of Allakappa, Koliyas of Ramagrama and a Brahmana of Vethadipa.

Know more about the Kapilvastu Relicts

• These relics were recovered from a site in 1898 in Bihar – the ancient city of Kapilavastu.
• Located at the stupa site in Piprahwa (near Siddharthnagar in Uttar Pradesh), an inscribed casket was found.
• This helped in identifying the ancient city of Kapilavastu. The inscribed casket contained relics of Buddha and Sakya, his community.
• Archaeological Survey of India, excavation of the stupa in 1971-77 brought to light two more steatite relic caskets containing 22 sacred bone relics. This is now under the National Museum.
• Along with this, over 40 terracotta sealings were also discovered.

Mysuru Palace

In News

Key Details

• The Palace of Mysore (also known as the Amba Vilas Palace) is a historical palace in the city of Mysore in Karnataka.
• Designed by the English Architect, Henry Irwin, the Mysore Palace dominates the skyline of Mysore.
• A three storied structure in the Indo-Saracenic style built between 1897-1912, the palace has beautifully designed square towers at cardinal points, covered with domes.
• The Durbar Hall with its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars and the Kalyanamantapa (marriage pavilion) with its glazed tiled flooring and stained glass, domed ceiling are worth noting.
• Intricately carved doors, the golden howdah (elephant seat), paintings as well as the fabulous, jewel encrusted golden throne (displayed during Dasara) are amongst the palace’s other treasures.
• The walled palace complex houses the Residential Museum (incorporating some of the Palace’s living quarters), temples and shrines including the Shwetha Varahaswamy temple.
• The Palace has four entrances. Main entrance is called “Jaya Maarthaanda” to the east, “Jayarama” to the North, ”Balarama” to the South and “Varaha” to the west.

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