Know India

Know India is an attempt to bring to you some amazing facts about our country. Every second day we post something that tells you more about our land. Starting from issues to history, from culture to literature and fine arts, this is a magic box of small write-ups that you will fall in love with soon.

Deepavali: The festival of lights

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Deepavali or Diwali, is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals: it is celebrated throughout India, as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora.The Diwali or Deepavali festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word “Deepavali” means “an array of lights” and signifies the victory of brightness over darkness.

National Cadet Coprs

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National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organisation,comprising Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.The origin of NCC can be traced back to the 'University Corps' , which was created under the Indian Defence Act 1917 , with the object to make up the shortages of the Army. During the Independence movement, the leaders of our nation had realised the need to create a national level youth organisation, to train and groom young boys as responsible citizens and future leaders of our great country in all walks of life.

In 1920 , when the Indian Territorial Act was passed, the 'University Corps'was replaced by the University Training Corps (UTC).

Sunderbans: The mighty forests in the East

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Sundarbans, formerly Sunderbunds, vast tract of forest  and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta, extending about 160  miles (260 km) along the Bay of Bengal from the Hooghly River Estuary  (India) to  the Meghna River Estuary in Bangladesh. The Sundarbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The whole tract reaches inland for 60-80 miles (100-130 km).A network of  estuaries, tidal rivers, and creeks intersected by numerous channels, it encloses  flat, marshy islands covered with dense forests.A network of  estuaries, tidal rivers, and creeks intersected by numerous channels, it encloses  flat, marshy islands covered with dense forests.

Chandrayaan: India's foray into the Lunar world

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http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.space.com/images/070912_kaguya_fair_02.jpgChandrayaan I is an unmanned lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).The mission includes a lunar orbiter as well as an impactor. The spacecraft will be launched by a modified version of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The remote sensing satellite will weigh 1304 kg (590 kg initial orbit mass and 504 kg dry mass) and carry high resolution remote sensing equipment for visible, near infrared, soft and hard X-ray frequencies. Over a two-year period, it is intended to survey the lunar surface to produce a complete map of its chemical characteristics and 3-dimensional topography. The polar regions are of special interest, as they might contain water ice.The ISRO has identified Mylswamy Annadurai as Project Chief.The spacecraft is scheduled for launch on October 22 with a window fixed between October 19 and October 28.They estimate the cost to be INR 3.8 billion (US$ 83 million).

National Defence College: Where Leaders are made

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http://ndc.nic.in/Images/gal_1.jpgNational Defence College, NDC, is a pioneering institute of its type in Asia. The basic role of the college has remained largely unchanged since 1959, when the President of India sanctioned “the setting up of a National Defence College for providing instruction to senior service and civil officers in the wider aspects of higher direction and strategy of warfare.” Today, NDC continues to provide future decision-makers with the necessary skills and background for filling senior positions in national security and associated fields.Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, inaugurated the National Defence College (NDC) on April 27, 1960.