6th Nov Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam

TholpavaKoothu

• TholpavaKoothu is a unique shadow puppet theatre form of Kerala.
• It is an ancient peculiar ritualistic art form dedicated to Bhagavati, worshiped by the people of Kerala as the Mother Goddess.
• It is performed using leather puppets at the specially constructed theatre called Koothu Madam in front of the Bhagavati temple.
• It is believed to have originated in the ninth century AD.
• It uses Tamil epic “Kamba Ramayana” as its basic text.
• The language used is a dialect of Tamil with an admixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam words.
• It is a fine example of the integration of Aryan and Dravidian cultures.
• It is preserved as a family tradition by the Pulavars.
• INSV Tarini
  • INSV Tarini is the Indian Navy’s second ocean going sailboat.
  • Navika Sagar Parikrama is a project wherein a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on INSV Tarini.
  • This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.
  • It has completed its first leg of its maiden voyage (Goa to Australia) and started its second leg of its global expedition from Australia to New Zealand.
  • “INSV Tarini” was built based on the design of famous temple Tara Tarini.
  • The temple is situated in Kumari hills at the bank of the River Rushikulya, Odisha.
  • Click here to know more about Tara Tarini Temple.
  Ancient Spiral Galaxy
  • Scientists have discovered the most ancient spiral galaxy in the universe known as “A1689B11” that existed almost 11 billion years ago.
  • It existed just 2.6 billion years after the Big Bang (13 billion years ago), when the universe was only one-fifth of its present age.
  • It is a spiral galaxy, which could provide insights into the early cosmos.
  • Scientists used a powerful technique on the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii to verify the spiral nature of the galaxy.
  Aircraft Launch System
  • India is going to launch second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II) - INS Vishal, using US based aircraft launch mechanisms.
  • It will have to choose between catapult-based aircraft launch mechanism (CATOBAR) and electro-magnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
  • CATOBAR is powered by a steam catapult and EMALS uses an electric motor-driven catapult instead.
  • The use of electro-magnetic energy allows the launch of much heavier aircraft and also reduces the stress on the aircraft.
  • INS Vishal, 65,000-70,000 tonne nuclear-powered vessel is a follow up of INS Vikrant class of aircraft carriers.
  • India’s first domestic carrier, Vikrant, weighing 40,000 tonnes, is scheduled to be launched by 2018-end.
  • It works on a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) mechanism similar to that in the present carrier INS Vikramaditya.
  Black Buck Reserve
  • A wildlife conservation reserve dedicated exclusively to the blackbuck is coming up in the Trans-Yamuna region of Allahabad near the MP and UP border.
  • Blackbuck or Antilopecervicapra, also known as Indian Antelope is found in India, Nepal and Pakistan.
  • It is the sole living member of the genus Antilope and is classified under the family Bovidae.
  • It is known for its majestic spiral horns (in males) and coat colour contrasts.
  • They are found in the open Savannahs of north and central India, but are now restricted to just a few patches and habitats.
  • It is inhabited in:
  1. Velavadar Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat
  2. Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary in Karnataka
  3. Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Maharashtra
  4. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar
  • It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act and Appendix III of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
  • The reserve in Allahabad is the first ever conservation reserve of its kind in UP.
  Autumn Leaf
  • The Autumn Leaf is a rare butterfly species normally found in Karnataka and Kerala.
  • It resembles a leaf found in the autumn with an orangish tinge.
  • It is spotted for the first time after few years, in the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS), Tamil Nadu.
  • GSWS, also known as Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the endangered grizzled squirrel, is bordered by Periyar Tiger Reserve and Palaghat gap.
  • It is considered as one of the Butterfly hotspots.