News in Shorts: 24 December 2024

Apps for Consumer Protection

Context: Department of Consumer Affairs Launched ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ ‘Jagriti App,’ and”Jagriti Dashboard” on National Consumer Day 2024 to protect Consumers from the Dark Patterns.

About the Apps for Consumer Protection 

• Jago Grahak Jago App: Alerts consumers about unsafe URLs during online activities, providing essential e-commerce information.
• Jagriti App: Enables consumers to report suspicious URLs with dark patterns, registering complaints with the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
• Jagriti Dashboard: Provides real-time reports on dark patterns in e-commerce platforms, aiding CCPA’s monitoring and enforcement.

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National Consumer Day 2024

• National Consumer Day is celebrated in India every year on December 24. It marks the day when the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was enacted.
• 2024 Theme: “Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice”
• Significance: Celebrates consumer rights and empowers individuals to seek justice against unfair trade practices.

“Kashmir Paper Mâché”

Context: Srinagar’s papier mache artisans are crafting dodo figurines, a bird that became extinct in 1681.

• Dodo is a national emblem in Mauritius

About Kashmiri Papier-mache

• Kashmiri papier-mâché is a traditional craft that was introduced to Kashmir in the 14th century by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, a Sufi mystic from Persia.
• It involves using paper pulp to create decorative and colorful items like vases, bowls, cups, trays, and lamp bases.
• This craft is practiced in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley and is marketed both within India and internationally.
• The craft is protected under the Geographic Indication Act 1999, and was registered in 2011 as “Kashmir Paper Mâché”.
• Mughal Influence and Expansion
  • During the Mughal era, the use of papier-mâché expanded to furniture in Kashmir.
  • Notable examples include papier-mâché works in Madin Sahib Mosque, Shah Hamdan Mosque, and the Shalimar Garden in Srinagar.
  • Intricate designs like kingfishers, maple leaves, and styles such as Arabesque, Yarkand, and Hazara became common.

Typhon Missile System

Context: Recently, the Philippines announced plans to acquire the U.S.-made Typhon missile system to strengthen maritime security. 

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About Typhon missile system

• Land-based “Mid-range capability” Missile System
• Developer: U.S. Army in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.
• Range: Covers 300 miles (480 km), with a longer-range version under development.
• Technology: 
  • Advanced radar with electronic steering, frequency diversity, and coherent signal processing.
  • Capable of tracking and countering multiple threats simultaneously.
  • Resistant to electronic countermeasures (ECM).