Govt renames Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram, says reflects freedom struggle

On Friday, the Indian government renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. This decision, announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to eliminate symbols of colonial legacy in India.

Key Points:

• Historical and Ideological Significance:The renaming highlights the islands’ importance in India’s freedom struggle. Shah emphasized that Andaman and Nicobar played a significant role in the country’s history, citing the Cellular Jail where freedom fighter V D Savarkar was imprisoned, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s hoisting of the Indian tricolor on the island.
• The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, draws inspiration from the ancient Sri Vijaya Empire based in Sumatra, which played a key role in Southeast Asia's history, especially in the expansion of Buddhism. The Chola Empire's naval raids contributed to the decline of the Sri Vijaya Empire in the 11th century.
• Government’s Broader Initiative:The renaming is part of the Modi government's broader effort to erase symbols of colonialism and slavery, aligning with other initiatives such as the renaming of Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi to A P J Abdul Kalam Road and Allahabad to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/centre-renames-port-blair-sri-vijaya-puram-9566035/

Question: Comment on the role of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in Indian Freedom Movement?

Question: Who was the person Port Blair was named after?

1. Lieutenant Archibald Blair
2. Viceroy Archibald Blair
3. Lieutenant Matthew Blair
4. Viceroy Matthew Blair

Voyaging into eternity: Nasa switches thrusters of probe 24 billion km away

NASA successfully addressed issues with the thrusters of its Voyager 1 probe, currently located in interstellar space, about 24 billion kilometers from Earth. After 47 years in space, the thrusters, crucial for keeping the spacecraft's antennas aligned with Earth, faced malfunctions due to clogged fuel tubes.

Background:

• Launched in 1977 to study Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 entered interstellar space in August 2012. Its twin, Voyager 2, followed in 2018.
• The Voyagers are the only spacecraft to have traveled through the heliosphere—the Sun’s protective magnetic bubble.

Challenges and Fixes:

• The thrusters malfunctioned due to clogging by chemicals from the spacecraft’s rubber diaphragm in the fuel tank.
• Engineers switched Voyager 1 to a backup set of thrusters, ensuring the antennas remain aligned with Earth for data transmission.
• The spacecraft is conserving power, running only essential functions as its nuclear power source depletes.

Voyager Mission Status:

• Voyager 1 continues to send scientific data, studying plasma waves, magnetic fields, and particles.
• Communication with the probe is delayed by over 22 hours due to its vast distance.
• Voyager 1 is traveling at 38,000 mph and is expected to pass near a star, AC+79 3888, in about 40,000 years.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/voyaging-into-eternity-nasa-adjusts-thrusters-of-probe-24-billion-kms-away-124091200698_1.html

Question: What is the protective magnetic bubble formed by Sun around solar system called?

1. Heliosphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Biosphere
4. Thermosphere