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Sardar Vallabhbhai Pater

Why in News?

The President of India paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan (October 31, 2021). 

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), popularly known as Sardar Patel, was an Indian politician.
• He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Independent India.
• He played an important role in the integration of many Indian princely states to make an Indian federation.
• He took charge of the task to forge a united India from over 560 semi-autonomous princely states and British-era colonial provinces.
• Using frank diplomacy backed with the option (and the use) of military action, Patel’s leadership enabled the accession of almost every princely state.
• Hence, he is recognized as the real unifier of India.
• He is also remembered as the ‘Patron saint of India’s civil servants’ as he established the modern all-India services system. He is also hailed as the Iron Man of India.
• Patel was in charge of the Provincial Constitution Committee and the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas, in the Constituent Assembly of India.
• Since 2014, every year on 31 October ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or the National Unity Day is observed to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – an Indian politician who played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle and then during the integration of the country.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991.

Statue of Unity

• The Statue of Unity which is built in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is dedicated to the nation.
• The Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world at 182 metres.
• It is located on the Sadhu Bet island on the Narmada river, which flows between the Satpura and the Vindhya mountain ranges.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2021

Why in News?

The 17th Edition of Indo-US joint exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021”, the joint military training between Indian and the US Armies concluded at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska on 29 October 2021.

Details:

• Exercise YudhAbhyas is the largest running joint military training and defence cooperation endeavor between India and USA.
• This was the 17th Edition of the joint exercise which is hosted alternately between both countries.
• The previous version of this exercise was held at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan in February 2021.
• This exercise is another step in the growing military cooperation between the two countries.
• The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and inter-operability between two Armies.
• The joint exercise will focus on Combined Arms Manoeuvres in cold climatic conditions and is primarily aimed at sharing tactical level drills and learning best practices from each other.

Mission Samudrayan

Details:

• It is India’s First and Unique Manned Ocean Mission
• India joins the elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities
• Will help in carrying out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters
• The underwater vehicles are essential for carrying out subsea activities such as high resolution bathymetry, biodiversity assessment, geo-scientific observation, search activities, salvage operation and engineering support.