Civilsdaily

Author: CD Staff

  • [Burning Issue] Draft National Education Policy

    CONTEXT

    • Following the submission of the draft National Education Policy 2019, there were protests against the three language formula.
    • The controversial provision was thus revised by Dr Kasturirangan-led committee that submitted it.
    • From the perspective of higher education, its main strength is that it has got its basics right — it appears to have a reasonable understanding of existing problems, and offers a plausible picture of possible solutions that may take us towards a better future. Indeed, the DNEP comes as a refreshing shock to academics long accustomed to policy documents that are rooted in a stubborn denial of basic ground realities.

    Why a new education policy?

    • The extant National Policy on Education, 1986 modified in 1992 required changes to meet the contemporary and futuristic needs of India’s large youth population.
    • A New Education Policy is designed to meet the changing dynamics of the requirements in terms of quality education, innovation and research.
    • The policy aims at making India a knowledge superpower by equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge.
    • It also focusses on eliminating the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry.
    • The Draft Policy is built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability.

    Key features

    • Ministry – The committee has proposed to rename the Ministry of Human Resource Development as Ministry of Education (MoE).
    • Curriculum – In school education, a major reconfiguration of the curricular and pedagogical structure was proposed.
    • The policy calls for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as an integral part of school education.
    • A 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure based on cognitive and socio-emotional developmental stages of children was proposed.

    It consists of –

      1. Foundational Stage (age 3-8 yrs): 3 years of pre-primary plus Grades 1-2
      2. Preparatory Stage (8-11 years): Grades 3-5
      3. Middle Stage (11-14 years): Grades 6-8
      4. Secondary Stage (14-18 years): Grades 9-12
    • The policy also seeks to reduce the content load in the school education curriculum.
    • There will be no hard separation of learning areas in terms of curricular, co-curricular or extracurricular areas.
    • All subjects, including arts, music, crafts, sports, yoga, community service, etc will be part of the curricula.
    • The policy promotes active pedagogy to focus on the development of core capacities and life skills, including 21st-century skills.
    • RTE Act – The committee recommends Extension of Right to Education Act 2009 to cover children of ages 3 to 18 (currently, 6-14).
    • Teacher education – The committee proposes for massive transformation in teacher education.
    • It calls for shutting down sub-standard teacher education institutions.
    • It proposes moving all teacher preparation/education programmes into large multidisciplinary universities/colleges.
    • The 4-year integrated stage-specific B.Ed. the programme will eventually be the minimum degree qualification for teachers.
    • Higher education – A restructuring of higher education institutions with three types of higher education institutions was proposed –
    1. Type 1: Focused on world-class research and high-quality teaching
    2. Type 2: Focused on high-quality teaching across disciplines with significant contribution to research
    3. Type 3: High-quality teaching focused on undergraduate education
    • This will be driven by two Missions -Mission Nalanda & Mission Takshashila.
    • There will be re-structuring of Undergraduate programs such as BSc, BA, BCom, BVoc of 3 or 4 years duration and having multiple exits and entry options.
    • Institution – A new apex body Rashtriya Shiksha Ayog is proposed.
    • This is to enable a holistic and integrated implementation of all educational initiatives and programmatic interventions.
    • The body will also coordinate efforts between the Centre and states.
    • The National Research Foundation, an apex body, is proposed for creating a strong research culture.
    • It will help build research capacity across higher education.
    • The four functions of Standard Setting, Funding, Accreditation and Regulation will be separated and conducted by independent bodies.
    • National Higher Education Regulatory Authority will be the only regulator for all higher education including professional education.
    • The policy proposes to create an accreditation eco-system led by a revamped NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
    • Professional Standard Setting Bodies for each area of professional education was proposed.
    • UGC is to be transformed into Higher Education Grants Commission (HEGC).
    • The private and public institutions will be treated on par, and education will remain a ‘not for profit’ activity.
    • Besides the above, the committee also recommended several new policy initiatives for –
      1. promoting the internationalization of higher education
      2. strengthening quality open and distance learning
      3. technology integration at all levels of education
      4. facilitating adult and lifelong learning
      5. enhancing the participation of under-represented groups
      6. eliminating gender, social category and regional gaps in education outcomes
    • Language – Promotion of Indian and classical languages and setting up three new National Institutes for Pali, Persian and Prakrit were proposed.
    • Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) has been recommended.
    • The policy called for the proper implementation of the three-language formula (dating back to 1968) in schools across the country.
    • Accordingly, students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English.
    • In non-Hindi-speaking states, students will have to learn Hindi along with the regional language and English.
    • The controversial three language provision was, however, dropped after protests against it in many states.

    Significance of DEP

    • The draft has diagnosed the problems plaguing the sector, besides providing solutions to problems right from the pre-school level to doctoral studies.
    • It recognizes there is a severe learning crisis and emphasizes the need to focus on building a foundation for reading and arithmetics from Class I onwards. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), which says that 50% of Class V students were unable to even read the text meant for students three levels below, proves that Indian children have been lagging in basic learning and numeracy skills.
    • The draft suggests that there should be dedicated arithmetic and reading hours every day in primary schools and advises introduction of specialized sessions to hone logical thinking and language skills.
    • “The draft, for the first time, has rightly suggested solutions for early childhood and primary education. The focus on basic understanding of language and mathematics will help in improving the quality.
    • Restructuring of the higher education system into Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.: Tier 1 includes research universities focusing equally on research and teaching, Tier 2 includes teaching universities focusing primarily on teaching; and Tier 3 includes colleges focusing only on teaching at undergraduate levels. All such institutions will gradually move towards full autonomy – academic, administrative, and financial. The idea is to spread ‘research culture’ at the undergraduate level.
    • The policy also talks about National Scholarship Fund to financially support students for higher education.
    • Promotion of classical and regional languages have been emphasised upon.
    • The policy also proposes to increase the class of compulsory education up to grade 12 (age-18).
    • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act or Right to Education Act – RTE, 2009 (represents Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution) made education, a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14.

    Positives of proposals

    1.Liberal and holistic – The most overarching is the acknowledgement that all education is, and ought to be envisioned as, “liberal” and holistic.

    2. Public education – There is a strong re-affirmation of the state’s commitment to public education, much needed at a time when privatisation has seemed to be the overriding objective of governments.

    3. Autonomy – Also welcome is the explicit assurance that institutional autonomy is not just a polite term for financial abandonment.

    4. Ad- hoc and contractual appointments – Finally, the recognition that rampant resort to ad hoc and contractual appointments has crippled higher education and must be stopped immediately will surely bring relief to teachers’ organisations agitating tirelessly on this very issue.

    5.Core Vision – The core vision based on a tripartite division of higher education into teaching universities, research universities, and optimally-sized multidisciplinary undergraduate colleges is sound.

    6. National Research Foundation – The diagnoses and prescriptions for the key areas of governance and regulation are workable as initial starting points, as is the plan to create a National Research Foundation separate from regulatory bodies.

    Issues in the Draft Policy

    • There is less consensus on the integration of foundational learning with schooling. In Europe, compulsory education only begins at the age of 6. In certain countries like Denmark, Germany and Finland, compulsory education begins at the age of 7.
    • There needs to be a discussion on whether literacy and numeracy skills should be developed during the time of foundational learning.
    • In the draft policy, there is no mention of how the State regulatory body will regulate the government institutions.
    • A constitutional amendment is required to change the limits for compulsory schooling in the country. Also, increasing the limit on higher side i.e. up to the age of 18 is not consistent with the limits across the world. Also, it is a very expensive proposition.
    • There is not enough capacity in the country to provide for teachers’ education. Also, M.Ed has been given less importance under the policy. The focus has been more on B.Ed.
    • The draft lacks operational details and does not offer insights into how the policy will be funded. The centre must also ensure that the policy does not face litigation, state resistance, and operational challenges on the ground.
    • Discrimination and Exclusion –
    • It is deeply disappointing that the DNEP has evaded this issue, with the question of Under-Represented Groups (URGs) making no appearance outside school education.
    • Caste discrimination has long been an important issue in higher education and has received intense public attention in recent times, from Rohith Vemula to Payal Tadavi.
    • Moreover, national statistics unambiguously establish that Persons with Disability and Muslims are by far the leading URGs in higher education.
    • Protecting public higher educational institutions from undue governmental interference
    • The proposed institutional framework for higher education — with the National Education Commission chaired by the prime minister at its apex — clearly implies even more governmental control with significantly higher levels of centralisation than what is already the case.
    • The DNEP should have included — but does not — a forthright proposal for dealing with this unavoidable problem.

    Way Forward

    • Education is a concurrent list subject. Apart from a consensus between the centre and the states, all the other stakeholders including institutions, public and academicians should also be consulted.
    • Natal and prenatal studies should also be included in the country’s education system to ensure awareness about the issues related to mother and infants, considering the high MMR and IMR in the country.
    • There should be a course of Masters of Teacher Education. Also, there is a need to build good teacher training institutions.
    • The education policy should maintain a symbiotic relationship between the different regions of the country through the study of different languages.
    • The quality of education provided in the country shall be such that it not only delivers basic literacy and numeracy but also creates an analytical environment in the country.
    • It does look forward-looking, but what the final draft needs to do is differentiate between deregulation and liberalisation. The incentive for the private sector to invest, grow and stand on quality parameters needs to be clearly articulated.

     

  • Gear up for This week’s Samachar Manthan lecture on 23rd June Sunday

    Dear students,

    We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

    Benefits of Samachar Manthan

    • Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
    • This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
    • This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
    • Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
    • Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
    • Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
    • Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
    • 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
    • The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

    For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

    Economics 
    [op-ed snap] A new India for farmers
    Project Sashakt
    National Data Warehouse
    VG Kannan committee to review ATM pricing
    Middle-Income Trap
    Jalan panel defers report on RBI surplus funds
    Cabinet approves ratification of OECD’s multilateral convention to check tax evasion
    [op-ed snap] Faint glimmer: On revival in industrial activity
    [pib] Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

    Enviro & Biodiversity 

    Arabian Sea Cyclones
    ICAT Releases India’s 1st BS – VI Certificate in 2W Segment
    Arctic Kelps: Underwater forests in the Arctic

    Governance
    [op-ed snap] Squandering the gender dividend
    [op-ed snap] Saving childhoods
    Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Bihar
    [op-ed snap] Starting at three: On RTE progress
    [pib] Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019
    [op-ed snap] Bureaucracy reboot
    Abujh Maria PVTGs
    [op-ed snap] Too good to be true’
    E-Foreigner Tribunal (e-FT)
    [Op-ed snap] Welcome measure

    International Relations 
    [op-ed snap] Foreign policy challenges five years later
    Windrush Scheme
    What SCO summit means for India’s global and regional interests

    Polity 
    Explained: Appointment of the Pro-tem Speaker
    [pib] President’s (not Governor’s) Rule in J&K
    [pib] New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019

    Science Tech 
    [op-ed snap] Artificial Intelligence, the law and the future
    New paper-based test kit for Malaria Detection
    Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA)
    Chandrayaan-2 Mission
    Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma telescope to create a 3D X-ray map of Universe
    ISRO plans to launch a space station
    Chaukhandi Stupa declared to be “of national importance”
    [op-ed snap] A home in space

    Security Issues 
    Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

    And these issues will be covered in detail

    • Chandrayaan-2 Mission
    • New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019
    • Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Bihar
    • Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
    • Project Sashakt
    • A new India for farmers

    So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

  • Gear up for This week’s Samachar Manthan lecture on 16th June Sunday

    Dear students,

    We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

    Benefits of Samachar Manthan

    • Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
    • This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
    • This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
    • Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
    • Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
    • Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
    • Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
    • 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
    • The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

    For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

    Economics 
    WTO moratorium on e-commerce customs duties
    Fiscal Performance Index by CII
    India is now the lowest-cost producer of solar power
    [op-ed snap] Going digital
    RBI has cut lending rates for the third consecutive time
    [op-ed snap] Eye on growth
    RBI revises stressed asset resolution norms
    [op-ed snap] The only mantra
    [op-ed snap] Slippery slope
    Gujarat launches India’s first Emission Trading Scheme

    Governance 
    Pension scheme for small shopkeepers, retail traders
    ICMR calls for a complete ban on e-cigarettes
    National Defence Fund
    Government launches new ‘Jal Shakti’ Ministry
    Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for 2017-18
    SDG Gender Index
    [op-ed snap] The sum and substance of the jobs data
    [op-ed snap] Crisis defused: on Hindi imposition
    Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    [pib] Jan Shikshan Sansthans
    [pib] Swachh Bharat Mission impact on Groundwater
    ‘Nal Se Jal’ Yojana
    [op-ed snap] Caught napping
    Free transport for women in Delhi
    EBPG quota
    SEBI, MCA sign pact for more data scrutiny
    [op-ed snap] Welfare policy and Modi 2.0

    International Relations
    Explained: OIC’s reference to J&K, and India’s response to it
    OIC on Kashmir
    India’s response
    [op-ed snap] The immediate neighbourhood
    [op-ed snap] Ocean of neighbours
    US asks for social media details of most visa applicants
    New START Policy

    Polity 
    Explained: Dual Mandate in India
    Election panel wants to revisit rule on punishment to voters for false mismatch claims
    Explained: Cabinet Committees

    Science Tech Art Culture 
    Parthenogenesis
    [op-ed snap] Breaking the algorithm

    Security Issues
    UdChalo Initiative
    [pib] Retired Officers Digital Records Archive (RODRA)
    [op-ed snap] Bolster the first line of defence”

     

    And these issues will be covered in detail

    • Cabinet Committees
    • RODRA
    • Nal se Jal
    •  3 language Formula
    • India’s first emission trading scheme
    • Welfare Policy of new Government

    So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

  • Gear up for This week’s Samachar Manthan lecture on 2nd June Sunday

    Dear students,

    We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

    Benefits of Samachar Manthan

    • Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
    • This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
    • This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
    • Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
    • Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
    • Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
    • Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
    • 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
    • The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

    For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

    Economics
    [op-ed snap] Eye on the monsoon
    Reserve Bank set to create a specialised supervisory cadre
    [op-ed snap] Power under pressure
    Ongole Cattle Breed

    Enviro & Biodiversity
    [pib] ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’ campaign
    ‘Room for the River’ Project
    Species in news: White-throated Rail (or Aldabra Rail)
    Anthropocene as Earth’s new epoch

    Governance
    Taj Mahal: First Indian Heritage Site to Get a Breastfeeding Room
    WHO strategy to tackle global snakebite ’emergency’
    Elephant Bonds
    [pib] Sahara Hostel

    International Relations
    [op-ed snap] The case for informal regional diplomacy’
    [op-ed snap] Moral ambiguity on the Rohingya
    [op-ed snap] The IBSA task list
    Doctrine of Hot Pursuit
    UAE launches ‘Golden Card’ scheme
    UNGA resolution demanding UK withdraw from Chagos Archipelago

    Polity
    United Nations not a State under Article 12: Delhi HC
    Decision of Foreigners Tribunal Will Prevail Over NRC Order
    [op-ed snap] Being responsive

    Science Tech
    [pib] Redefined units of measurement of kilogram, Kelvin, mole and ampere
    Evidence of water found on Ultima Thule
    New plants species with healing properties found in Manipur
    [op-ed snap] Eye in the sky: on RISAT-2B
    [op-ed snap] Full circle: on the change in kilogram’s definition
    ISRO’s new commercial arm NewSpace India officially inaugurated

    Security Issues
    [op-ed snap] A blueprint for a national security strategy

     

    And these issues will be covered in detail

    • Elephant Bonds
    • Strait of hormuz
    • Anthropocene
    •  Informal regional diplomacy
    • RISAT-2B
    • National security strategy

    So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

  • Prelims Motivation: Conquering the first Bastion

    It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

    These lines from the tale of two cities resonate with the feelings aspirants are having now. These days are filled with fear, apprehensions, anxiety, the excitement of all kinds. There is this hope of qualifying with good margin and also fear of losing at the first stage.

    One thing to know is that each and every aspirant is going through the same ups and downs. This solidarity should give you the assurance that you are not alone and this phase shall pass too.

     

    Now coming to the D-day. It’s not over until it’s over. To make most of these remaining days following are some tips which may help you in maximising your output.

    1. Last mile is the hardest mile. Set aside your temptations to read anything new. Have faith in whatever you have read. Revise all your basics, test papers, current affairs, UPSC previous years papers.
    2. Focus on factual lists, facts, reports, festivals, dance, heritage sites, national parks, location on maps. Revision of these is a must 2-3 days before exam. It will help you in gaining 6-8 marks extra.
    3. Don’t pay attention to rumours of question paper pattern, cut-off. No-one knows anything. Stay away from last minute tricks to score or any suggestions which you have not applied before. Be confident in your preparation and strategy.
    4. Take care of your physical and mental health. Avoid eating Junk,outside food, overthinking about your performance. Schedule your timetable so that you are at your mental peak from 9.30 to 11.30 by focused study session during this interval.
    5. Plan your commute in advance. Also, travel with one hour margin to the examination centre. It’s better to wait at the centre than hurrying at the last minute to reach the centre and losing your calm.

    On Examination Day

    1. Be well rested.
    2. Keep your stationery. Admit card, ID proof, chocolates, water bottle ready one day before to avoid last minute panic.
    3. Enter the examination hall with immense confidence and mindset that you are well prepared. You will score above your expectations.
    4. At first glance, you may feel like you haven’t heard of the question. Read options carefully then. The answer is in front of you. You need to identify it.
    5. Start filling the bubbles after one hour has passed. Leaving it for the last minute may cost you dearly.
    6. Don’t follow pre-set notions that only these number of questions should be attempted. An easy paper like 2016 will require more attempts and one like 2018 will require lesse number. Paper is same for everyone. You have to be above the cut-off. Take measured risks.
    7. If you feel exhausted during exams, consume chocolate or candy. This boosts your energy levels.
    8. Do not discuss Paper 1 before CSAT. Also, do not be overconfident or overly relaxed in CSAT. Attempt whole paper diligently.

    On a parting note, have unflinching faith in your abilities and what you deserve. You will be amazed at the results you get.

     

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Pollution

    National Environmental Legislation

    • Our constitution, originally, did not contain any direct provision regarding the protection of natural environment.
    • However, after the United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972, Indian constitution was amended to include protection of the environment as a constitutional mandate.
    • Environment related legislation came very late in 1972 with Wild Life Protection Act 1971.
    • The forty second amendment Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian constitution made it a fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment.

    Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian constitution states “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and have compassion for living creatures.”

    • There is a directive, given to the State as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy regarding the protection and improvement of the environment.

    Article 48A states “The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”.

    • The Department of Environment was established in India in 1980 to ensure a healthy environment for the country. This later became the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985.
    • The Environment Protection Act of 1986 (EPA) came into force soon after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and is considered umbrella legislation as it fills many lacunae in the existing legislations.

    Pollution Related Acts

    • Among all the components of the environment air and water are necessary to fulfill the basic survival needs of all organisms. So, to protect them from degradation the following acts have been passed.
    1. Water Acts
    2. Air Acts
    3. Environment Act
    • A few important legislations of each category with brief description are given below:

    The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and Amendment, 1988

    • The main objective of this act is to provide prevention and control of water pollution.

    Some important provisions of this Act are given below:

    • The Act vests regulatory authority in State Pollution Control Boards to establish and enforce effluent standards for factories.
    • A Central Pollution Control Board performs the same functions for Union Territories and formulate policies and coordinates activities of different State Boards.
    • The Act grants power to SPCB and CPCB to test equipment and to take the sample for the purpose of analysis.
    • Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement under the Act was achieved through criminal prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
    • The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.

    The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act of 1977

    • The Water Cess Act was passed to generate financial resources to meet expenses of the Central and State Pollution Boards.
    • The Act creates economic incentives for pollution control and requires local authorities and certain designated industries to pay a cess (tax) for water effluent discharge.
    • The Central Government, after deducting the expenses of collection, pays the central board and the states such sums, as it seems necessary.
    • To encourage capital investment in pollution control, the Act gives a polluter a 70% rebate of the applicable cess upon installing effluent treatment equipment.

    The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 and amendment, 1987

    • To implement the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June 1972, Parliament enacted the nationwide Air Act.
    • The main objectives of this Act are to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control and abate air pollution in the country.

    Important provisions of this Act are given below:

    • The Air Act’s framework is similar to that of the Water Act of 1974.
    • The Air Act expanded the authority of the central and state boards established under the Water Act, to include air pollution control.
    • States not having water pollution boards were required to set up air pollution boards.
    • Under the Air Act, all industries operating within designated air pollution control areas must obtain a “consent” (permit) from the State Boards.
    • The states are required to prescribe emission standards for industry and automobiles after consulting the central board and noting its ambient air quality standards.
    • The Act grants power to SPCB and to test equipment and to take the sample for the purpose of analysis from any chimney, fly ash or dust or any other.
    • Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement under the Act was achieved through criminal prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
    • The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.
    • Notably, the 1987 amendment introduced a citizen’s suit provision into the Air Act and extended the Act to include noise pollution.

    Environment (Protection) Act of 1986

    • In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the government of India enacted the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
    • The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
    • The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
    • In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.
    • “Environmental pollution” is the presence of pollutant, defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such a concentration as may be or may tend to be injurious to the environment.
    • “Hazardous substances” include any substance or preparation, which may cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms, property or the environment.

     

    Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)

    1. Biosafety concerns have led to the development of regulatory regime in India.
    2. The MoEFCC has notified the Rules for Manufacture, Use/Import/ Export & Storage Of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 [‘Rules 1989’]
    3. Aim of ‘Rules 1989’ is to protect environment, nature and health in connection with application of gene technology and micro-organisms.
    4. These rules cover areas of research as well as large scale applications of GMOs and their products including experimental field trials and seed production.
    5. The Rules 1989 also define the competent authorities and composition of such authorities for handling of various aspects of the Rules.

     

    The Ozone Depleting Substances Rules

    • The rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment (Protection) Act.
    • These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out of various ODSs, besides regulating production, trade import and export of ODSs and the product containing ODS.
    • These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in manufacturing various products beyond 1st January 2003 except in metered dose inhaler and for other medical purposes.
    • Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1st January 2001 except for essential use.
    • Other ODSs such as carbon tetrachloride and methylchoroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used upto 1st January 2010.
    • Further, the use of methyl bromide has been allowed upto 1st January 2015.
    • Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to replace CFC, these are allowed up to 1st January 2040.

    National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)

    • National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Ministry of Water Resources.
    • The mission of the organization is to safeguard the drainage basin which feeds water into the Ganges by protecting it from pollution or overuse.
    • In 2014, the NGRBA has been transferred from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
    • It was established by the Central Government of India, in 2009 under Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which also declared Ganges as the ‘National River’ of India.

    Composition of NGRBA

    • The Prime Minister the chair of the Authority.

    Members belonging to the government sector are as follows:

    • Prime Minister of India
    • Minister of Environment and Forests (Union Minister)
    • Minister of Finance
    • Minister of Urban Development
    • Minister of Water Resources
    • Minister of Power
    • Minister of Sciences and Technology
    • Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal
    • Ministry Of Environment and Forests (state minister)
    • Ministry Of Environment and Forests, secretary

    Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 and Amendment, 1982

    • In 1972, Parliament enacted the Wild Life Act (Protection) Act.
    • The Wild Life Act provides for
    1. state wildlife advisory boards,
    2. regulations for hunting wild animals and birds,
    3. establishment of sanctuaries and national parks,
    4. regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and trophies, and
    5. judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.

    Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980

    • First Forest Act was enacted in 1927.
    • Alarmed at India’s rapid deforestation and resulting environmental degradation, Centre Government enacted the Forest (Conservation) Act in1980.
    • It was enacted to consolidate the law related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty livable on timber and other forest produce.
    • Forest officers and their staff administer the Forest Act.
    • Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
    • An Advisory Committee constituted under the Act advises the Centre on these approvals.
    • The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests.

    Biodiversity Act 2000

    • India’s richness in biological resources and indigenous knowledge relating to them is well recognized.
    • The legislation aims at regulating access to biological resources so as to ensure equitable sharing of benefitsarising from their use.
    • The Biological Diversity Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2000 and was passed in 2002.

    Salient features of the biodiversity legislation

    • The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals and organizations without sharing the benefits arising out of such use, and to check biopiracy.
    • This bill seeks to check biopiracy, protect biological diversity and local growers through a three-tier structure of central and state boards and local committees.
    • The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies. The NBA will enjoy the power of a civil court.

    National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

    • Act of the Parliament of India which enables creation of NGT to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.
    • It was enacted under India’s constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.
    • The specialized architecture of the NGT will facilitate fast track resolution of environmental cases and provide a boost to the implementation of many sustainable development measures.
    • NGT is mandated to dispose the cases within six months of their respective appeals.

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Location in News

    1.Kuril islands – In the news, for dispute between Japan and Russia

    2.Falkland island – Argentina seeks support of Saudis for this british territory

    3.Rohingya island – Refugees of a distinct Muslim ethnic group who are effectively stateless have been fleeing Myanmar.

    4.Houthis – Shia rebels from north Yemen (Shia(Iran support) vs Sunni(Saudi support) conflict in Yemen – so, India’s Rahat operation) so, was in news.

    5.Spartly islands –Territorial dispute between Brunei, China,Malaysia,the Philippines,Taiwan, and Vietnam.(Mostly Chinese dominant claim)

    6.Taro Island (in Solomon sea) – located nearby to the northeast part Australia
    (Planning to migration bcoz of rising seas/Global warming).

    7. Lake Victoria – It is the largest lake in Africa and chief reservoir of the Nile, lying mainly in Tanzania and Uganda but bordering on Kenya.

    8. Fuego Volcano –

    • On 3 June 2018,the volcano suddenly produced its most powerful eruption since 1974.
    • Guatemala (Central America)

    9.Sabratha

    • UNESCO declared ‘Sabratha’ heritage site to be at high risk, mainly due to damage caused by armed groups.
    • It lies on the Mediterranean coast, west of modern Tripoli, Libya.

    10.Andaman and Nicobar

    • The Government recently announced the renaming of
    three islands of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as a
    tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
    • It lies to the south of Myanmar, west of Thailand, and north
    of Indonesia.
    • Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
    Dweep
    • Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep
    • Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.

     

  • Gear up for This week’s Samachar Manthan lecture on 26th May Sunday

    Dear students,

    We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

    Benefits of Samachar Manthan

    • Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
    • This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
    • This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
    • Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
    • Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
    • Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
    • Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
    • 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
    • The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

    For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

    Economics 
    [op-ed snap] If food prices rise
    Services Trade Restrictiveness Index by OECD
    [pib] 7th Economic Census 2019
    [op-ed snap] Missing demand: on economic slowdown
    [op-ed snap] IBC hits and misses
    Graphite mining in Arunachal Pradesh
    Reserve Bank proposes 24×7 NEFT money transfer
    [op-ed snap] Trade troubles
    [op-ed snap] External woes
    Masala Bonds
    RBI asks NBFCs to appoint Chief Risk Officer
    Explained: Why an industrial policy is crucial

    Enviro & Biodiversity 
    DNA database for Indian Rhino
    Herbivore census in Gujarat’s Gir forest
    Coastal Regulation Zone: How rules for building along coast have evolved
    [pib] Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)
    [op-ed snap] Facing the climate emergency
    [op-ed snap] Green is cool
    [pib] Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction

    Governance 
    Global Drug Survey Report 2018
    National Institute of Nutrition
    International Relations
    Explained: Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most important oil artery
    [op-ed snap] All out at sea
    India signs ‘Christchurch Call to Action’
    [op-ed snap] Slippery slope
    [op-ed snap]Charting a clear course in the Indo-Pacific

    Polity
    [op-ed snap] Redactive pricing audit and the CAG’s duties
    [op-ed snap] No apology, please
    Explained: Article 324 and the special role of Election Commission

    Science Tech
    NASA’s Artemis to put first woman on Moon
    Person in news: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
    Chang’e-4 Mission
    Poly-Di-Ketoenamine (PDK): New plastic that could be fully recycled

    Security Issues 
    [pib] High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)

    And these issues will be covered in detail

    • Redactive Pricing Audit
    • Strait of hormuz
    • Indo Pacific Vision of India
    • External Trade Troubles
    • Economic Census
    • Climate Challenges

    So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

     

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Indian Paintings and Handicrafts

    Indian Paintings

    Prehistoric Cave Paintings 

    • Painted rock shelters by prehistoric cave dwellers
    • Notable example →  Bhimbetka caves in the Kaimur Range, MP (biggest prehistoric art depositoryin India)

     

    Genres of Indian Painting 

    • Indian paintings can be broadly classified as murals and miniatures.
    • Murals are large works executed on the walls of solid structures directly, as in the Ajanta Caves & Kailash temple (Ellora)
    • Miniature paintings are executed on a very small scale for books or albums on perishable material such as paper and cloth.

     

    Mural Paintings

    • Mural is the only form of painting that is truly three-dimensional, since it modifies and partakes of a given space.
    • Mural paintings are applied on dry wall with the major use of egg, yolk, oil, etc.

    Mural Paintings

    • Notable examples → Ajanta Caves, Bagh Caves, Sittanavasal Caves, Armamalai Cave (Tamil Nadu), Kailasa temple (Ellora Caves)
    • Murals from this period depict mainly religious themes of Buddhist, Jain and Hindu

    Ajanta Murals Paintings 

    • Depict a large number of incidents from the life of the Buddha (Jataka Tales)
    • Exclusively Buddhist, excepting decorative patterns on the ceilings and the pillars.

     

    Ellora Murals Paintings 

    • Painted in rectangular panels with thick borders with following
    • Prominent features →  Sharp twist of the head + painted angular bents of the arms + sharp projected nose + long drawn open eyes + concave curve of the close limbs

     

    Badami Mural Paintings 

    • A cave site in Karnataka, patronized by chalukya king, Manglesha
    • Depictions in the caves show Vaishnava affiliation, Therefore, the cave is popularly known as Vishnu cave.

    Badami Mural Paintings

    Murals under the Pallava, Pandava and Cholas 

    • Paintings at the Kanchipuram temple were patronised by Pallava king, Rajsimha
    • Paintings at Tirumalaipuram caves & Jaina caves at Sittanvasal were patronised by Padayas
    • Paintings at Nartamalai & Brihadeswara temple were patronized by Cholas

    Murals under the Pallava, Pandava and Cholas

    Vijayanagara murals (13th century) 

    • Paintings at Virupaksha temple (Hamphi) & Lepakshi temple (Andhra Pradesh) were patronised by Vijayanagara Kings

    Vijayanagara murals

    Miniature Paintings

    • The Palas of Bengal were the pioneers of miniature painting in India.
    • The art of miniature painting reached its glory during the Mughal period.

    The Pala School (11th – 12th century)

    • Exist in the form of illustrations to the religious texts on Buddhism executed under the Palas of the eastern India & the Jain texts executed in western India
    • The Buddhist monasteries of Nalanda, Odantapuri, Vikramsila & Somarupa were great centers of Buddhist learning and art.
    • A large number of manuscripts on palm-leaf relating to the Buddhist themes were written, illustrated with the images of Buddhist deities at these centers

    Pala School

    • The Pala painting is characterized by sinuous line and subdued tones of colour

     

    Western Indian School of Painting 

    • Also called Jaina Painting, largely devoted to the illustration of Jaina religious texts of the 12th–16th century
    • Notable sites → Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Central India & Orissa
    • Characterized by simple, bright colours, highly conventionalized figures, and wiry, angular drawing

    Western Indian School of Painting

     

    Mughal Paintings (16th – 19th century) 

    • Mainly confined to miniature illustrations on the books or as single works to be kept in an album
    • Mughal paintings were a unique blend of Indian, Persian (Safavi) and Islamic styles
    • Marked by supple naturalism →  Primarily aristocratic and secular
    • Tried to paint the classical ragas and Seasons or baramasa
    • Tuti-nama – first art work of the Mughal School.
    • Akbar’s reign (1556–1605) ushered a new era in Indian miniature painting.
    • At Zenith under Jahangir who himself was a famous painter
    • Jahangir encouraged artists to paint portraits and durbar scenes.
    • Shah Jahan (1627–1658) continued the patronage of painting.
    • Aurangzeb had no taste for fine arts.

     

    Mughal Paintings

    • Most significant are Hamza Nama, Razm-Nama or “The Book of War”, Akbar Nama
    • Finest example of this school includes Hamzanama series, started in 1567 & completed in 1582
    • Hamzanama →  Stories of Amir Hamza, illustrated by Mir Sayyid Ali
    • 1200 paintings on themes of Changeznama, Zafarnama & Ramayana
    • The paintings of the Hamzanama are of large size, 20” x 27″ and were painted on cloth.
    • They are in the Persian safavi style with dominating colours being red, blue and green
    • Indian tones appear in later work, when Indian artists were employed 

     

    Rajput Painting (16th – 19th century)

    • the art of the independent Hindu feudal states in India
    • Unlike Mughal paintings which were contemporary in style, Rajput paintings were traditional & romantic
    • Rajput painting is further divided into Rajasthani painting and Pahari painting (art of the Himalayan kingdoms)

     

    Central Indian and Rajasthani Schools (17th – 19th Century) 
    • Deeply rooted in the Indian traditions, taking inspiration from Indian epics, Puranas, love poems & Indian folk-lore
    • Mughal artists of inferior merit who were no longer required by the Mughal Emperors, migrated to Rajasthan

     

    Malwa paintings (17th century) 
    • Centred largely in Malwa and Bundelkhand (MP); sometimes referred as Central Indian painting due to its geographical distribution.

    Malwa paintings

    • This school’s most appealing features is its primitive charm & a simple childlike vision

     

    Kishangarh paintings (18th century) 
    • Distinguished by its individualistic facial type and its religious intensity
    • Developed under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh (1748-1757 AD) by master artist Nihal Chand

    Kishangarh paintings

     

    Mewar (Udaipur) Paintings (17th – 18th century) 
    • Characterized by bold bright contrasting colours and direct emotional appeal
    • The earliest-dated examples come from Ragmala (musical modes) series painted in 1605

    Mewar Paintings

    • Reflects portraiture & life of the ruler, along with religious themes
    Marwar (Jodhpur) Paintings 
    • Executed in a primitive and vigorous folk style
    • Completely uninfluenced by the Mughal style.
    • Portrays court scenes, series of Ragamala & Baramasa

     

    Bundi paintings (Late 17th century) 
    • Very close to the Mewar style, but the former excels the latter in quality
    • Prominent features → Rich and glowing colours, the rising sun in golden colour, crimson-red horizon, border in brilliant red colour (in Rasikpriya series)
    • Notable examples → Bhairavi Ragini (Allahabad Museum), illustrated manuscript of the Bhagawata Purana (Kota Museum) & a series of the Rasikapriya (National Museum, Delhi)

     

    Kota paintings (18th – 19th century) 
    • Very similar to Bundi style of paintings
    • Themes of tiger and bear hunt were popular
    • Most of the space in painting is occupied by the hilly jungle

     

    The Pahari Schools (17th – 19th Century) 

    Comprises the present State of Himachal Pradesh, some adjoining areas of the Punjab, the area of Jammu, & Garhwal in Uttarakhand

    Basohli Paintings (17th – 18th century) 
    • known for its bold vitality of colour, lines & red borders
    • Emotional scenes from a text called “Rasamanjari” →  Krishna legend
    • Favoured oblong format, with the picture space usually delineated by architectural detail, which often breaks into the characteristic red borders
    • Stylized facial type, shown in profile, is dominated by the large, intense eyes

    Basohli Paintings

     

     

    Guler painting (Jammu) 
    • Mainly consisting of portraits of Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota (Jammu) designed by Nainsukh
    • Colours used are soft and cool unlike Basohli school

    Guler painting

    • Style appears to have been inspired by the naturalistic style of the Mughal painting

     

    Kangra painting (Late 18th century) 
    • The Kangra style is developed out of the Guler style & possesses its main characteristics, like the delicacy of drawing & naturalism
    • The Kangra style continued to flourish at various places namely Kangra, GuIer, Basohli, Chamba, Jammu, Nurpur and Garhwal etc.
    • However, Named as Kangra style as they are identical in style to the portraits of Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra
    • In these paintings, the faces of women in profile have the nose almost in line with the forehead, the eyes are long & narrow, & chin is sharp.

    Kangra painting

    • There is, however, no modelling of figures and hair is treated as a flat mass.
    • Paintings of the Kangra style are attributed mainly to the Nainsukh family.

     

    Kullu – Mandi painting 
    • A folk style of painting in the Kulu-Mandi area, mainly inspired by the local tradition
    • The style is marked by bold drawing and the use of dark and dull colours

     

    Independent Paintings

    Kalighat Paintings (Kolkata – 19th century)

    • Patua painters from rural Bengal came and settled in Kalighat to make images of gods and goddesses in the early 19th century
    • They evolved a quick method of painting on mill-made paper
    • Used brush and ink from the lampblack

    Kalighat Paintings

     

    Madhubani Paintings (Mithila – Bihar) 

    • Colorful auspicious images on the interior walls of homes on the occasion of rituals & festivity → painted by women
    • This ancient tradition, especially elaborated for marriages, continues today.
    • Used to paint the walls of room, known as KOHBAR GHAR in which the newly wedded couple meets for the first time
    • Very conceptual, first, the painter thinks & then “draws her thought”

    Madhubani Paintings

     

    Phad paintings (Bhilwada, Rajasthan) 

    • Phad is a painted scroll, which depicts stories of epic dimensions about local deities and legendary heroes.
    • Bhopas (local priests) carry these scrolls on their shoulders from village to village for a performance

    Phad paintings

    • Represents the moving shrine of the deity and is an object of worship
    • Most popular & largest Phad – local deities Devnarayanji and Pabuji

     

    Kalamkari Paintings (Andhra Pradesh) 

    • Literal meaning is painting done by kalam (pen) , Mainly in Andhra Pradesh (developed under Vijaynagar rulers)
    • Stories from the epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas are painted as continuous narratives
    • Mainly to decorate temple interiors with painted cloth panels scene after scene; Every scene is surrounded by floral decorative patterns
      Kalamkari Paintings

     

     

    Warli painting

    • Practiced in tribal regions of Maharashtra with subjects, predominantly religious
    • decorative paintings on floors & walls of ‘gond’ and ‘kol’ tribes homes and places of worship
    • made in a geometric patterns like squares, triangles, and circles
    • Unlike other tribal art forms, Warli paintings do not employ religious iconography and is a more secular art form.

    Handicrafts

    Kashmir Embroidered shawls, carpets, namdar silk and walnut wood furniture
    Rajasthan precious stone and jems + tie & dye (Bandhani) fabric + minakari work
    Andhra Pradesh Bidri work and Pochampad saris
    Tamil Nadu bronze sculpture and Kajeevaram silk saris
    Mysore silk, sandalwood items
    Kerala ivory carvings and rosewood furniture
    Assam cane furniture
    Bengal Bankura terracotta modelling and handloom items
    Benaras Brocade & silk saris
    Madhya Pradesh Chanderi and kosa silk
    Lucknow chikan work  (Zardozi Embroidery – Muslims in Lucknow)
    Punjab Phulkari embroidery
    Bengal Kantha embroidery
    Orissa Patola embroidery
    Budhhists Thangka painting

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Isro Missions

    1.RISAT-2B: An all-seeing radar imaging satellite

    • he PSLV-C46 is set to launch RISAT-2B from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

    RISAT Constellation

    • RISAT-2B, short for “Radar Imaging Satellite-2B”, is the second in a series of satellites used to observe weather conditions on Earth using radar imagery.
    • RISAT-2 was the first satellite in the series, launched for the purpose of surveillance. RISAT-1 was launched later, to become India’s first all-weather radar imaging satellite.
    • RISAT-2B is to be followed by RISAT-2BR1, 2BR2, RISAT-1A, 1B, 2A and so on.
    • ISRO orbited its first two radar satellites in 2009 & 2012 and it plans to deploy four or five of them in 2019 alone.
    • A constellation of such space-based radars means a comprehensive vigil over the country.
    • Once operational, the satellite will be capable of monitoring weather day and night, in all weather conditions.

    2.Phase 4 of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

    • The Union Cabinet has approved ongoing GSLV continuation programme Phase-4 consisting of five GSLV flights during the period 2021-2024.
    • The will enable the launch of 2 tonne class of satellites for Geo-imaging, Navigation, Data Relay Communication and Space Sciences.
    • It will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to two launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry.

    About GSLV

    • GSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2003, and two phases have been completed and the third phase is in progress and expected to be completed by Q4 of 2020-21.
    • GSLV has enabled independent access to space for 2 tonne class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
    • One of the significant outcomes of the GSLV Continuation Programme is the mastering of the highly complex cryogenic propulsion technology, which is an essential technological capability to launch communication satellites to GTO.
    • This has also paved the way for the development of a high thrust Cryogenic engine & stage for the next generation launch vehicle i.e. GSLV Mk-lll.
    • With the recent successful launch of GSLV-F11 on 19th December 2018, GSLV has successfully orbited 10 national satellites.
    • GSLV with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage has established itself as a reliable launch vehicle for communication, navigation and meteorological satellites and also to undertake future interplanetary missions.

    3.Mission Shakti (Anti-Satellite Missile Test)

    • In an incremental advance, India has successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test, named Mission Shakti.
    • India becomes the fourth country in the world to demonstrate the capability to shoot down satellites in orbit.
    • So far, only the United States, Russia and China have this prowess.

    Mission Shakti

    • While Mission Shakti may have targeted an object in outer space, India has long developed the ability to intercept incoming missiles.
    • In 2011, a modified Prithvi missile mimicked the trajectory of a ballistic missile with a 600-km range.
    • The DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode.
    • The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters.

    4.Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA)

    Young Scientist Programme

    • ISRO has launched a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram from this year.
    • The Program is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.
    • The residential training programme will be of around two weeks duration during summer holidays and it is proposed to select 3 students each from each State/ UTs to participate in this programme covering state, CBSE, and ICSE syllabus.
    • Those who have just finished 9th standard (in the academic year 2018-19) and waiting to join 10th standard (or those who have started 10th Std just now) will be eligible for the programme.
    • The selection will be based on the 8th Std marks.
    • Students belonging to the rural area have been given special weightage in the selection criteria.

    5.PSLV-C45/ Emisat Mission

    • For the sheer number of ‘firsts’ to its credit, the scheduled PSLV-C45/Emisat mission scheduled will be a memorable one for the ISRO.

    PSLV-C45/Emisat

    • C-45, which is set for lift-off from the second launchpad at Sriharikota, will mark the 47th flight of the PSLV.
    • It is meant for electromagnetic spectrum measurements, according to the ISRO.
    • It will be released into an orbit at 749 km.
    • EMISAT is primarily based on on the famous Israeli spy satellite called SARAL or (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika), and inherits its SSB-2 bus protocol for conducting sharp electronic surveillance across the length and breadth of India.
    • The satellite would serve as the country’s roving device for detecting and gathering electronic intelligence from enemy radars across the borders as it circles the globe roughly pole to pole every 90 minutes or so.
    • For the third successive PSLV mission, the ISRO plans to reuse the rocket’s spent fourth stage or PS4 to host short experiments.

    6.ISRO, French agency to set up maritime surveillance system

    • ISRO and its French counterpart CNES has sealed an agreement to set up a joint maritime surveillance system in the country.
    • The two nations will explore putting up a constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites.

    Oceansat-3-Argos Mission

    • The system will be augmented with the launch of Oceansat-3-Argos mission in 2020 along with a joint infrared Earth-observation satellite.
    • These will identify and track movement of ships globally – and in particular those moving in the Indian Ocean region where France has its Reunion Islands.
    • Before that, they will initially share data from their present space systems and develop new algorithms to analyse them, according to the Paris based National Centre for Space Studies.
    • They work together for the design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System (AIS), to monitor and protect the assets in land and sea.

    7. Use of Space Technology in Agriculture Sector

    • The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has been pro-active in using the space technology in agricultural sector. Take a look of various initiative in the aid of farmers:

    Various institutional measures

    1. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare established a Centre, called Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre, in 2012.
    2. It works for operationalization of the space technology developed in the Indian Space Research Organization, for crop production forecasting.
    3. The Soil and Land Use Survey of India uses satellite data for soil resources mapping.

    8.India’s communication satellite GSAT-31 launched successfully

    GSAT-31

    1. It was launched in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,850 km, inclined at an angle of 3.0 degree to the equator.
    2. With a lift-off mass of 2536 kg, GSAT-31 will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.
    3. The satellite will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.
    4. GSAT-31 will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, Stock-exchange, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications.
    5. The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications.
    6. It is the India’s 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO’s enhanced ‘I-2K Bus’, utilising the maximum “bus capabilities” of this type.

    9.ISRO launches Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru

    Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC)

    1. The HSFC, the hub of ISRO’s future manned missions, was inaugurated at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru.
    2. Announced on August 15 2018, the country’s first crewed mission is set to happen by 2022, the 75th year of Independence.
    3. HSFC shall be responsible for the implementation of Gaganyaan project — which involves mission planning, development of engineering systems for crew survival in space, crew selection and training and also pursue activities for sustained human space flight missions.
    4. HSFC will take the support of ISRO centres to implement the first developmental [crewed] flight.

    10.ISRO’s first mission of 2019 to put military satellite Microsat-R in space

    • ISRO’s first mission of 2019 will put into space a 130-kg military imaging satellite, Microsat-R.
    • C-44 will be launched from the older First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

     Details of Launch

    1. The satellite would be placed within 15 minutes after take-off in a polar orbit 274 km away from Earth.
    2. This is much lower than any of its civil Earth observation spacecraft, which fly pole to pole over the globe at between 400 km and 700 km.

    Payload Details

    Microsat-R

    1. Microsat-R and its payload come assembled from a handful of laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
    2. It is meant for military use.
    3. The satellite was assembled outside and ISRO only interfaced it” with its own systems and the launch vehicle, just as it treats any customer satellite.

    11.Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training Programme of ISRO

    NNATI Programme

    1. It is a capacity building programme on Nanosatellite development.
    2. It is an initiative by ISRO to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE-50).
    3. The programme provides opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in assembling, integrating and testing of Nanosatellite.
    4. UNNATI programme is planned to be conducted for 3 years by U.R. Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO in 3 batches and will target to benefit officials of 45 countries.

    About UNISPACE+50

    1. It is an event marking the 50th year of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
    2. It is an initiative of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
    3. Three such conferences held earlier recognized the potential of space and laid the guidelines for human activities and international cooperation related to outer space.

    11.ISRO successfully launches hyperspectral imaging satellite HysIS

    HysIS

    1. HysIS stands for Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite.
    2. The objective of the probe is to provide observations within the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    3. The imaging tools will help the HysIS satellite monitor atmospheric activity and climate change, while also assisting studies of Earth’s magnetic field.
    4. These observations will have a host of applications, prime among which relate to agriculture, forestry, water management, and coastal patterns.
    5. The satellite’s payload also consists of a 730W power backup, and a 64Ah Li-ion battery.
    6. It will continue to make observations till 2023, when the mission ends.
    7. After this launch, the next big event for the Indian space organisation will be its awaited mission to the moon – Chandrayaan-2 – in early 2019.

    12.GROWTH-India telescope’s first science observation

    GROWTH-India Telescope

    1. The GROWTH-India telescope was commissioned six months ago soon after which it saw first light, on the night of June 12.
    2. It is part of a multi-country collaborative initiative – known as the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) – to observe transient events in the universe.
    3. The fully robotic telescope is designed to capture cosmic events occurring over relatively shorter periods of the cosmological timescale: years, days and even hours.
    4. Universities and research institutes from the US, the UK, Japan, India, Germany, Taiwan and Israel are part of the initiative.
    5. Their primary research objective is time-domain astronomy, which entails the study of explosive transients and variable sources (of light and other radiation) in the universe.

    13.ISRO telemedicine nodes for soldiers in high-altitude areas

    Telemedicine Nodes by ISRO

    1. In a major effort to improve emergency medical support to soldiers posted in high-altitude areas, especially Siachen, the Integrated Defence Staff of the Defence Ministry and the ISRO signed a MoU to set up telemedicine nodes in critical places across the country.
    2. ISRO will establish 53 more nodes in the first phase over and above the existing 20, in various establishments of the Army, Navy and Air Force across the country.

    14.Chandrayaan-1 data confirms presence of ice on Moon: NASA

    NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) is testimony

    1. M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was uniquely equipped to confirm the presence of solid ice on the Moon.
    2. Scientists used data from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument to identify three specific signatures that definitively prove there is water ice at the surface of the Moon.
    3. It collected data that not only picked up the reflective properties we would expect from ice, but was also able to directly measure the distinctive way its molecules absorb infrared light, so it can differentiate between liquid water or vapour and solid ice.
    4. Most of the new-found water ice lies in the shadows of craters near the poles, where the warmest temperatures never reach above minus 156 degrees Celsius.
    5. Due to the very small tilt of the Moon’s rotation axis, sunlight never reaches these regions.

    15.ISRO set to launch its TV channel

    1. The ISRO is all set for a year-long Vikram Sarabhai centenary celebration starting in August 2019 to honour the visionary scientist and its legendary founding father.
    2. In a few months’ time, it plans to roll out a dedicated ISRO TV channel showcasing space applications, developments and science issues, targeting young viewers and people in remote areas in their language.

    Satellite launches now open to public

    1. As it strengthens its public outreach, ISRO will shortly start allowing the public to watch satellite launches from its Sriharikota launch centre.
    2. Selected students of classes 8 to 10 will be the trained at ISRO for a month and taken to various laboratories and centres across the country.

    Vikram Sarabhai- the legend

    1. Sarabhai, the architect of the Indian space programme, the first ISRO chief and renowned cosmic ray scientist, was born on August 12, 1919.
    2. ISRO’s tributes to Sarabhai start with naming the first Indian moon landing spacecraft of the Chandrayaan-2 mission ‘Vikram’.
    3. Sarabhai was only 28 when he sowed the seeds of a space agency around the late 1940s and 1950s.

    16.Upgraded Vikas engine will soon boost ISRO’s rockets

    Adding more thrust

    1. The Vikas engine will improve the payload capability of PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles.
    2. The space agency has improved the thrust of the Vikas engine that powers all of them.

    Main beneficiary: GSLV Mk III

    1. The main beneficiary of the high-thrust Vikas engine is said to be the heavy-lifting GSLV-Mark III launcher, which ISRO expects will now put 4,000-kg satellites to space.
    2. This would be the third Mk-III and the first working one to be designated Mk III Mission-1 or M1.
    3. The first MkIII of June 2017 started with a 3,200-kg satellite and the second one is being readied for lifting a 3,500-kg spacecraft.
    4. The Vikas engine is used in the second stage of the light lifting PSLV; the second stage and the four add-on stages of the medium-lift GSLV; and the twin-engine core liquid stage of Mk-III.

    17.ISRO’s PRL scientists discover an ‘EPIC’ planet

    India in elite planet-spotting club

    1. A team from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, has spotted for the first time a distant planet six times bigger than Earth and revolving around a Sun-like star about 600 light years away.
    2. EPIC 211945201b (or K2-236b) is the name given to the planet by the discovery team. The host star is named EPIC 211945201 or K2-236.
    3. With this discovery India has joined a handful of countries which have discovered planets around stars,” PRL’s parent ISRO has announced.
    4. The discovery was made using a PRL-designed spectrograph, PARAS, to measure and confirm the mass of the new planet.

    About EPIC

    1. EPIC was found circling very close to the Sun-like star, going around it once in about 19.5 days and unlikely to be inhabitable because of its high surface temperature of around 600°C.
    2. The team found the planet to be smaller in size than Saturn and bigger than Neptune.
    3. Its mass is about 27 times Earth’s and six times that of Earth at radius.
    4. The scientists estimate that over 60% of its mass could be made up of heavy elements like ice, silicates and iron.

     

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Environment/ Science & Tech Schemes

    1.Phyto-Pharma Plant Mission

    Objectives

    • Rs 50 crore Mission aimed at conservation and cultivation of endangered and threatened endemic medicinal plants, and discovery of new botanical drugs for unmet medical needs using the rich traditional ethno-botanical knowledge and biodiversity of these states and at the same time also improve availability of authentic and quality botanical raw material on sustainable basis for a boom in the phyto-pharmaceutical industry
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Science & Technology

     

    2.Brahmaputra Biodiversity and Biology Boat

    Objectives

    • B4 will establish a large barge on the river with a well-equipped laboratory for analysis of all components of the entire ecosystem of the river and surroundings. The B4 will link to all the local research institutions along the river, as well as national and international laboratories
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Science & Technology

     

    3.Secure Himalaya

    Objectives

    • To Conserve Snow Leopard, Uplift Mountain Community Launched

     

    4.Namami Gange

    Objectives

    • Aims at Ganga Rejuvenation by combining the existing ongoing efforts and planning under it to create a concrete action plan for future. It is an ambitious Union Government Project which integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Water resources

     

    5.INSPIRE (INNOVATION IN SCIENCE PURSUIT FOR INSPIRED RESEARCH)

    Objectives

    • To attract talent to Science.
    • To communicate to the youth of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early age and thus build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and R&D base.
    • It does not believe in conducting competitive exams for identification of talent at any level.
    • It believes in and relies on the efficacy of the existing educational structure for identification of talent.
    • INSPIRE has three components:
    • i. Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS)
    • ii. Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
    • iii. Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC)
    • The Inspire Awards have been renamed as MANAK

     

    6.JIGYASA –

    Objectives

    • Student-Scientist Connect Programme
    • connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning.
    • CSIR + Kendriya Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)

     

    7.VAJRA

    Objectives –

    • The Government of India recently launched VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty scheme by the Department of Science and Technology which enables NRIs and overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department will implement the Scheme.
    • International Faculty / scientists/technologists including Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) are offered adjunct / visiting faculty positions in Indian Institutions / Universities for a period of 1-3 months under this scheme. The faculty can also undertake the role of teaching /mentoring apart from R&D.
    • Public funded institutions and national laboratories are allowed to host the VAJRA faculty.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Science & Technology

    7. National Initiative for Developing & Harnessing Innovation (NIDHI)

    Objectives

    A programme to address the complete chain of innovation ecosystem right from scouting to mentoring to scaling up innovations. launched by DST. Establishment of a research park at IIT Gandhinagar has been supported at a cost of Rs.90 cr.

     

    8.Surya Jyoti

    Objectives

    • In order to capture day light and concentrate the same inside a dark room, particularly in urban slum or rural areas which lack electricity supply, a low cost and energy efficient Micro Solar Dome (Surya Jyoti) has been tested and developed. -Potential users of this device are10 million households.
    • According to preliminary estimates, if this technology is adopted in 10 million households only, it has the potential of saving 1750 million units of energy.
    • It would also lead to an emission reduction of about 12.5 million ton of CO2 equivalent, hence giving a fillip to the mission of ‘Clean India, Green India’.
    • The manufacturing process, being labour-intensive, would also generate huge job opportunities in the economy.
    • Nodal Ministry – Department of Science & Technology.

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Wildlife/ forest Conservation Efforts

    1.Purple frog set to be crowned Kerala’s state amphibian

    Purple Frog

    • Quite similar to the lore of King Maveli, researchers have found that the Purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), which lives almost its entire life in underground tunnels, comes out to the surface for a single day in a year to breed.
    • Once it lays it’s eggs, the bloated frogs characterized by a protruding snout and powerful hind legs return to the earth’s deepest layers.
    • This intriguing frog species is listed as Endangered on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
    • It feeds mostly on soil-mites, ants and termites using its fluted tongue.
    • The male and female frogs mate underground and once in a year, they come out on the surface to lay thousands of eggs near seasonal streams in the months of May-June.
    • How they time their emergence onto the surface along with the onset of early rains is a mystery that continues to baffle naturalists.

    Why is it so special?

    • It’s endemic to this part of the southern Western Ghats and cannot be found anywhere else.
    • Described for the first time in 2003 by two scientists in the jungles of Kerala, the species sparks feverish imagination among herpetologists worldwide for a number of reasons.
    • It’s evolutionary roots suggest it could have shared space with dinosaurs going back almost 70 million years ago.
    • This could help scientists understand how it’s population may have evolved and learned to overcome the challenges of shifting land masses.
    • A year after it was documented, the frog’s closest relatives were found in Seychelles, an island in the Indian Ocean off East Africa.
    • This discovery led many to ask whether the species could indeed be living proof of the theory of Gondwanaland.

    2.Despite objections, Bannerghatta National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone curtailed

    • Bannerghatta National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), which provides a regulated buffer zone around protected areas, will remain at 168.84 sqkm despite thousands of citizens formally objecting to the reduction of nearly 100 sq. km. as compared to the original proposal.
    • The new ESZ will range from 100 metres (towards Bengaluru) to 1 kilometre from the periphery of the protected area.

    3.Grizzled Giant Squirrel

    Grizzled Giant Squirrel

    • For the first time, researchers have sighted nests of the grizzled giant squirrel at Pakkamalai Reserve Forests near Gingee in the Eastern Ghats.
    • The grizzled giant squirrel is usually known to nest in the Western Ghats in Southern India ranging from Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary in Kerala to Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Palani hills in Tamil Nadu.
    • Owing to habitat loss and poaching, the species has been categorised as near threatened by the Red List and listed under Schedule II of CITES.
    • It is an endangered species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
    • The grizzled giant squirrel is usually known to nest in the Western Ghats in Southern India ranging from Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary in Kerala to Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Palani hills in Tamil Nadu.

    4. Global Assessment Report by IPBES

    Global Assessment Report

    • It is compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries and is a cornerstone of an emerging body of research the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
    • Known as the Global Assessment, the report found that up to one million of Earth’s estimated eight million plants, insect and animal species is at risk of extinction, many within decades.
    • It suggests the world may need to embrace a new “post-growth” form of economics if it is to avert the existential risks posed by the mutually-reinforcing consequences of pollution, habitat destruction and carbon emissions.

    About IPBES

    • The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body, established by member States in 2012 under the auspices of UNEP.
    • The objective of IPBES is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
    • The IPBES secretariat is based in Bonn, Germany.

    5.Kashmir Stag (Hangul)

    • A massive decline in the population of Kashmir’s iconic wildlife species, the Hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu), also known as the Kashmir stag, continues to be a big concern.

    Kashmir Stag (Hangul)

    • Hangul, the state animal of Jammu & Kashmir, is restricted to the Dachigam National Park some 15 km north-west of Jammu & Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar.
    • The Hangul is placed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the J&K Wildlife Protection Act, 1978.
    • The Hangul was once widely distributed in the mountains of Kashmir and parts of Chamba district in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
    • The IUCN’s Red List has classified it as Critically Endangered and is similarly listed under the Species Recovery Programme of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) of the MoEFCC.

    5. Asiatic Wild Dogs (Dhole)

    • A recent study has discovered a reduction in Dhole occupancy in Karnataka’s Western Ghats, from 62 percent in 2007 to 54 percent in 2015.

    Asiatic Wild Dogs (Dhole)

    • The dhole is on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species and is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India.
    • Globally, dholes have disappeared from approximately 82 percent of their former range.
    • The Western Ghats perhaps supports the largest dhole population in the world and is therefore a critical conservation landscape for the species.

    6. Hump-backed Mahseer

    • The hump-backed Mahseer, found in the waters of the Cauvery, has been added to the IUCN Red List with Critically Endangered Status.

    Hump-backed Mahseer

    • The hump-backed mahseer is a large freshwater fish also called the tiger of the water and found only in the Cauvery river basin including Kerala’s Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani rivers.
    • It is now “Critically Endangered”: more threatened than the tiger is, as per the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
    • The fish is one of the 229 species added to the Red List last November; this update also reveals that the threat status of 12 other Indian species, including great hornbills, has increased.
    • The inclusion was possible only once the fish got its scientific name last June—Tor remadevii.

    7. Parrotfish in Andaman

    • Coral cover protection along the existing protected marine areas in Andaman and Nicobar islands is necessary for conservation of the endangered Bumphead Parrotfish, a new study has suggested.

    Bumphead Parrotfish

    • Bumphead parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum, is an important component of coral reef ecosystem, but is highly endangered globally.
    • It is categorized as ‘vulnerable’ in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
    • This fish is a highly prized resource, but is threatened due to limited knowledge about its distribution and abundance in Indian waters.
    • A research recently studied the distribution, abundance and dangers to this species in the waters of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

    8. Herbivore census in Gujarat’s Gir forest

    • Every summer, the Forest Department of Gujarat conducts an Herbivore Census in Gir forest.

    Herbivore Census

    • The Herbivore Census covers ungulates such as spotted deer, blue bulls (nilgais), sambars, Indian gazelles (chinkaras), four-horned antelopes (choshinga) and wild boars, as well as Indian langurs and peafowl.
    • This year’s exercise is of particular significance because it is the last Herbivore Census ahead of next year’s Lion Census, which is a once-in-five-years exercise.

    9.DNA database for Indian Rhino

    • The Environment Ministry has embarked on a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country.

    DNA Database of Indian Rhino

    • By 2021, the Indian rhino could be the first wild animal species in India to have all its members DNA-sequenced.
    • The project’s proponents include the World Wildlife Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) and the Centre-funded Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
    • The exercise would be useful in curbing poaching and gathering evidence in wildlife crimes involving rhinos.
    • There are about 2,600 rhinos in India, with over 90% of the population concentrated in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.
    • Around 60 samples of tissue have been collected so far from some rhinos living outside Kaziranga.

    10.India’s biodiversity-rich zones also ‘hotspots’ of human impacts

    • Human impacts on species occur across 84% of the earth’s surface, finds a study published in PLOS Biology, an international journal dedicated to biological science.

    Human Footprint Data

    • Southeast Asian tropical forests — including India’s biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, Himalaya and the north-east also fall in this category.
    • Malaysia ranks first among the countries with the highest number of impacted species (125).
    • India ranks 16th in such human impacts, with 35 species impacted on average.
    • The study mapped the distribution of eight human activities — including hunting and conversion of natural habitats for agriculture — in areas occupied by 5,457 threatened birds, mammals and amphibians worldwide.

    11.Sundarbans Wetlands

    Sundarbans Wetlands

    • This January 30th, the Indian Sundarban was accorded the status of ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention.
    • It comprises hundreds of islands and a network of rivers, tributaries and creeks in the delta of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal in India and Bangladesh.
    • Located on the southwestern part of the delta, the Indian Sundarban constitutes over 60% of the country’s total mangrove forest area.
    • It is the 27th Ramsar Site in India, and with an area of 4,23,000 hectares is now the largest protected wetland in the country.

    12. Greens in the red: Why Aravallis matter to National Capital Region

    • It was in 1900 that the then Government of Punjab enacted the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), aimed at “conservation of sub-soil water” and “prevention of erosion” by giving the state power to “regulate, restrict or prohibit” certain activities, including “clearing or breaking up” of land.
    • As a result, for the last 118 years, the Act provided notified tracts of land in the Aravallis protection against real estate construction, urbanisation and mining.

    13. Rhinos without borders is conservation credo

    • International boundaries will not come in the way of conservation of rhinos, said representatives of Asian countries where the one-horned herbivore thrives.

    New Delhi Declaration

    • The Declaration was recently adopted at the second meeting of the Asian rhino range countries.
    • It underscored trans-boundary collaboration among India, Nepal, and Bhutan for the conservation and protection of the greater one-horned rhino.

    Rhinos without Borders

    • There are no rhinos in Bhutan, but some from the Manas National Park in adjoining Assam or Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal are known to cross over occasionally.
    • In Feb, the National Rhino Conservation Strategy for India called for active engagement between India and Nepal to protect the species.
    • The plan said the single population of rhinos in Sukla-Phanta (Nepal), Valmiki Tiger Reserve (India) and Chitwan National Park (Nepal) and Dudhwa (India) is separated by the political boundary between the two countries.

    14. 106 coastal sites picked for conservation

    • The Centre has identified over 100 coastal and marine sites as conservation reserves under its National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017-2031, says a biennial report released by the government.

    Highlights of the Report

    1. Under the National Wildlife Action Plan for the period 2017 to 2031, the government is working towards the conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems from the impacts of climate change.
    2. In the last four and a half years, India has not only been able to sustain but also increase its mangrove cover at a time when these ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate across the world.

    15. Centre announces mascot for COP-13 on conservation of migratory species

    • The Centre has announced that the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) will be its mascot for the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) to be held in Gujarat in 2020.

    About CMS COP-13

    1. Representatives from 129 countries and eminent conservationists and international NGOs working in the field of wildlife conservation are expected to attend the COP-13, to be held in Gandhinagar.
    2. It will provide a global platform for deliberations on the conservation and sustainable use of migratory wild animals and their habitat.
    3. The CMS COP-13 would also bring together the states through which migratory animals pass.

    16. First Captive Elephant Survey

    • The details of the first survey of captive elephants in the country were submitted in an affidavit by the MoEFCC to the Supreme Court.
    • The affidavit comes in the wake of rising elephant deaths and human-elephant conflicts, particularly in Kerala and Assam.

    In Total

    1. According to the affidavit, there are 2,454 elephants in captivity, of which 560 are in possession with forest departments and 1,687 with private individuals.
    2. However, 664 of the total captive elephants in the country are without ownership certificate while there are 85 in zoos, 26 in circuses and 96 in temples.

    17. Sustainable Catchment Forest Management (SCATFORM) Project in Tripura

    • Tripura has launched a project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management at Hatipara in West Tripura.

    Sustainable Catchment Forest Management (SCATFORM) Project

    1. The project is jointly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Government of India.
    2. It aims to improve quality of forest in the catchment area by sustainable forest management, soil and moisture conservation and livelihood development.
    3. The Tripura Forest Department (TFD) is the Executing Agency of the Project.
    4. Eighty per cent of the project would be funded by JICA while Government of India would fund 20 per cent of the project value.

    18. Asian Waterbird Census (AWC)

    1. AWC, the largest such census in Asia, is organised by Wetlands International, is an international programme that focuses on monitoring the status of waterbirds and wetlands.
    2. The data collected each year is shared by Wetlands International with global conservation organisations such as IUCN and Ramsar Convention, while state coordinators share data with local wildlife departments to ensure conservation and sustainable management of wetlands in the region.
    3. It also aims to increase public awareness on issues related to wetland and waterbird conservation.
    4. The census is carried out each January as a voluntary activity at national and local level.
    5. The AWC is co-ordinated by Wetlands International as part of global programme, the “International Waterbird Census”.
    6. The AWC was started in 1987, and many birders were initiated into bird counting and monitoring through this project.
    7. To take part one simply has to visit a wetland and count the birds he/she see there.

    19.India submits sixth national report to Convention of Biological Diversity

    • India submitted its sixth national report (NR6) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) highlighting the progress it has made in achieving the 12 National Biodiversity Targets (NBT) set under the convention process.

    Highlights of the Report

    1. The report was submitted online to the CBD Secretariat during the inaugural session of the 13th National Meeting of the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs).
    2. The report says that India had already exceeded two targets, it was on track to achieve another eight soon.
    3. The remaining two would be met by the stipulated time of 2020.

    20. Asiatic Lion Conservation Project

    Asiatic Lion Conservation Project

    1. The MoEFCC has launched the “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” with an aim to protect and conserve the world’s last ranging free population of Asiatic Lion and its associated ecosystem.
    2. The project will be funded from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH) with the contributing ratio being 60:40 of Central and State share.
    3. The conservation of Asiatic Lions has always been a priority of Government of India.
    4. The Ministry in the past has supported Asiatic Lion in Gujarat by including it in list of 21 critically endangered species under the species recovery component of CSS-DWH.

    21.India, Nepal, Bhutan plan joint task force to protect wildlife

    • The governments of India, Nepal and Bhutan are actively considering having a joint task force for allowing free movement of wildlife across political boundaries and checking smuggling of wildlife across the Kanchenjunga Landscape.

    About Kanchenjunga Landscape

    1. The Kanchenjunga Landscape is a trans-boundary region spread across Nepal, India and Bhutan.
    2. The landscape stretches along the southern side of Mount Kanchenjunga covers an area of 25,080 sq km spread across parts of eastern Nepal (21%), Sikkim and West Bengal (56%) and western and south-western parts of Bhutan (23%).
    3. Other than seven million people, the Kanchenjunga Landscape is also home to 169 species of mammals and 713 species of birds.
    4. The trio is setting up a joint task force in the road map on achieving the objectives of free movement of wildlife and checking smuggling of wildlife.

    22. SC directs Centre to declare area around national parks as Eco-sensitive

    Expand ESZ

    1. The Supreme Court has directed the Union Environment Ministry to declare 10 km area around 21 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country as ‘eco-sensitive zones’.
    2. A Bench led by Justice Madan B. Lokur took the initiative after its amicus curiae informed the court that the State governments have taken no effort to protect the area around these sanctuaries and parks.
    3. The court recorded that the issue has been pending for the past 12 years.

    23. Country’s first owl festival organized in Pune

    Indian Owl Festival

    1. The Indian Owl Festival, the country’s first owl fest, will be held at Pingori village in Purandar taluka of Pune, Maharashtra.
    2. The two-day festival is organised by Ela Foundation, an NGO working towards nature education and conservation.
    3. It will give information on owl conservation and feature art forms like pictures, paintings, lanterns, lamp shades, posters, origami, stitched articles, poems and stories on owls.
    4. It is a first-of-its-kind festival in the country that is being organised with the intention of creating awareness about owl as a bird and debunking numerous superstitions associated with it.

    24. India gets UN Environment award for combating transboundary environmental crime

    • UN Environment has awarded Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Environment with Asia Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018 for excellent work done in combating transboundary environmental crime.

    About the Award

    1. The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions/teams combating transboundary environmental crime in Asia.
    2. The awards are given to outstanding individuals and/or government organizations/teams that demonstrate excellence and leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary environmental crime.
    3. The award was decided upon by a selection panel set up by the UN Environment and this is the second time in a row the awards are being given by UN Environment to India.

    25. Nature pushed to the brink by ‘runaway consumption’, says WWF

     

    Triggering another Mass Extinction

    1. Uncontrolled consumption has decimated global wildlife and has triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth’s capacity to accommodate humanity’s expanding appetites, warned WWF.
    2. From 1970 to 2014, 60% of all animals with a backbone — fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals — were wiped out by human activity.
    3. WWF said all this in its “Living Planet” report, based on an ongoing survey of more than 4,000 species spread over 16,700 populations scattered across the globe.

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Mountain Ranges in the World

    Mountain Ranges

    Sr. No. Mountain Range Important/Highest Peaks Location Description
    1 Rocky Mountains Mt. Elbert (highest peak in the Rockies) North America It is one of the longest fold mountains in the world and extends from Canada to Western US (New Mexico State)
    2 Appalachian Mountains Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina, US (highest peak of Appalachian Mountains) North America It is a fold mountain with rich in mineral resources
    3 Alps Mont Blanc (French –Italian border) Europe It is a folded mountain and source for rivers like Danube, Rhine, etc.
    4 Sierra Nevada Mt. Whitney California, USA Habitat for many Red Indian tribes
    5 Alaska Range Mt. McKinley North America Mt. McKinley highest peak in North America
    6 Altai Mountains Belukha mountain Central Asia Young folded mountain which extends from Kazakhstan to northern China.
    7 Andes Mountains Mt. Aconcagua South America Longest mountain chain in the world
    8 Atlas Mountains Mt. Toubkal Northwestern Africa Young fold mountain spreading over Morocco and Tunisia.
    9 Drakensberg Mountains Mt. Lesotho South Africa Young folded mountain
    10. Caucasus Mountain Mt. Elbrus Europe Located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea
    11. Ural Mountains Mt. Narodnaya Russia This mountain range act as a boundary between Europe and Asia.
    12. Hindukush Mountains Mt. Trich Mir Pakistan and Afghanistan Folded mountain with rugged topography which makes it difficult for transportation.
    13. Himalayas Mt. Everest Asia Young fold mountains in Asia which separates Indian sub-continent from Asian plains
    14. Arakan Yoma Mt. Kennedy peak Myanmar It extends from north to south direction. Shifting cultivation is practised.
    15. Kunlun Mountains Mt. Muztag North of Tibetan plateau and western China It is one of the young folded mountains.
    16. Vosges Mt. Grand Ballon Eastern France, Europe Famous for the cultivation of grapes and manufacture of wines.
    17. Great Dividing Range Mt. Kosciuszko Australia This range is the source for the rivers Darling and Murray.

     

    Mountains-in-the-world

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Important International Relations terms

     

    APC Network: Association for Progressive Communications comprises more than 20,000 subscribers to electronic listservers in 95 countries, and have recently been very much involved in agitating for global development and democratization of the United Nations

    Balance of payments: net flow of goods, services and financial transactions that takes into account outflows and inflows of money from a state

    Balance of payments deficit: a state spends more than it receives from other countries

    Balance of payments surplus: a state receives more than it spends in other countries

    Balance of power: a condition in which the distribution of military and political forces among nations means no one state is sufficiently strong to dominate all the others. It may be global, regional or local in scope

    Bargaining power: the general capacity of a state to control the behaviour of others, power to cause another actor to do an action (also see structural power)

    Biodiversity: two kinds: species and genetic diversity, species diversity refers to the differences between species, while genetic diversity refers to differences within species

    Brezhnev Doctrine: reinforced the right of the Soviets to ntervene where Moscow deemed socialism was threatened by ‘counter-revolutionary forces’

    Brundtland Commission Report: published 1987, commissioned 1983 with Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, as commissioner, mandate was to look into the alarming rate at which environmental resources were being consumed, a the levels of their waste, particularly in the case of development, at the ways in which developing countries were falling further and further behind the industrialized world in their standards of living, coined term ‘sustainable development’

    Cold War: The period in world affairs from c.1947-1990, marked by ideological, economic and political hostility and competition between the US and the Soviet Union, and drawing in other powers at various levels of involvement

    Common unit of exchange: a currency in which international economic exchanges are valued

    Comparative advantage: Doctrine says that states should 1) produce and export whatever they can produce most efficiently relative to other states i.e., whatever they have a comparative advantage in; and they should 2) import those things they can’t produce as efficiently from states that can

    Concert of Europe: the informal system of consultation set up by the Great Powers (Austria, Britain, France, Prussia and Russia) to manage the balance of power at the end of the Congress system

    Conflict: perceived rival and incompatible claims over some desired “good”

    Congress of Vienna: meeting of the four main victors over Napoleon and France: Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia.

    Containment: policy pursued by the US toward the Soviet Union c. 1947-1989, the aim of which was to deny Moscow opportunities to expand its political influence abroad, to draw a line and contain the Soviets within their borders, (also see Truman Doctrine )

    CSCE: Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, from 1973-75 all European states (except Albania) plus the US and Canada met to discuss regional security (now the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and one of the central security organizations in Europe

    D5: denuclearization, demilitarization, dealignment, democratization, and development, five main goals of peace and social movements

    Defence strategy: involves the assumption that war will be fought with three aims in mind: 1. to punish the aggressor 2. to deny territorial gains 3. to limit the damage to oneself (also see deterrence)

    Deterrence: efforts of an actor to dissuade the opponent from doing something considered against the actor’s interests by making the costs of action outweigh the benefits with threat of punishment, the implicit or explicit purpose of this strategy was to avoid actually fighting war (also see defence)

    Doctrine of Flexible Response: a nuclear utilization strategy which legitimized the notion of limited nuclear war, involved two dimensions: limited targetting (‘counterforce strategy’) and the use of battlefield nuclear weapons (also see MAD)

    Dollar overhang: the amount of US dollars overseas exceeded US reserves of gold, undermining dollar convertibility to gold

    Ethnic group: a group of people who define themselves as distinct from other groups because of cultural differences

    Eurodollar markets: free market where buyers and sellers exchange currencies outside of their country of origin

    Exchange rate: value at which one currency is traded for another

    Fixed exchange rate: the rate of exchange of a currency or currency is set by agreement between governments or by government policy (see also gold standard)

    Floating exchange rate: the rate of exchange of currencies is permitted to rise and fall with supply and demand on the international private market

     

    Free trade: means the buying or selling of goods and services across international borders with few or no restrictions (see also protectionism)

    Fungibility: the extent to which one form of power can be converted into another

    GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, drawn up in 1947 to codify the rules of conduct in trade for its members, in the GATT, states agreed to negotiate “reciprocal and mutually advantageous arrangements directed to the substantial reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade” and to increase free and fair trade

    Glasnost: ‘openness’, a term introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev about his post-1985 opening of Soviet society to dissidents, public criticism and limited admission of past Soviet mistakes (also see perestroika)

    Gold standard: the value of a currency is fixed relative to an amount of gold, can be converted to gold at a fixed rate (see also fixed exchange rates)

    GSP: Generalized System of Preferences: early 1970’s nineteen advanced industrial states agreed to eliminate tariffs on manufactured and semimanufactured goods exported by 140 LDCs unilaterally for ten years, renewed during 1980s for another decade (see UNCTAD, IPC)

    Holy Roman Emperor: the supreme secular authority in Medieval Europe

    Hugo Grotius (1583-1645): the ‘father’ of international law, a Dutch jurist, humanist and diplomat His great work ‘On the Law of War and Peace’ is widely regarded as a landmark in the development of international law

    HYV’s: high-yielding varieties of agricultural plants, genetically designed to produce higher quantities of product with the aid of fertilizer, pesticides, and mechanized agricultural methods

    ICBM’s: inter-continental ballistic missiles

    IPC: Integrated Programme for Commodities, concerted attempt to control price fluctuations in commodities on which LDC’s depended for foreign exchange income (see UNCTAD, GSP)

    LDC: Less Developed Country

    MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction, strategic doctrine which guarantees that each side in a nuclear exchange would survive a first strike by its opponent with enough arms intact to launch a second-strike sufficient to destroy the aggressor (also see Doctrine of Flexible Response)

    massive retaliation: a a nuclear strategy which calls for a nuclear response to any aggressive action

    MFN: Most Favoured Nation: every member is treated as well as the “most favoured one”: ie: if U.S. offers low tariff to Canada on ice cubes: every other GATT member is entitled to the same treatment (see also free trade, GATT)

    MIRV’S: multiple independently targetted re-entry vehicles (see also ICBM’S)

    monetarism: a policy of manipulating the money supply (inflating or deflating a currency) to influence economic growth

    monoculture: refers to the use of one genetic strain of plant or animal to replace a diversity of strains

    Multiple-sum game: both actors can mutually gain (also see zero-sum game)

    Natural law: the idea there existed rights and duties attached to human beings as such that existed in all times and all places, that could be discovered by reason, and that should be applied in the relations between groups

    Negative peace: the absence of war and physical (direct) violence (also see positive peace)

    Netwar: the primary objective of “netwar” is to use computer networks and databases to inflict cultural and political damage to the international image of the opponent.

    News values: the criteria for determining what kinds of stories are reported; used to identify, define and present a story

    NIEO: United Nations Resolution of May 1974 for a New International Economic Order to address concerns of LDC’s

    Non-Aligned Movement: loose organization of Third World countries which dealt with statements on a wide variety of issues from nuclear proliferation to trade and development, first meeting: Bandung, Indonesia, 1955, led by a few relatively strong, independent personalities: Tito, Nehru, and Nasser (Yugoslavia, India, Egypt) (see also UNCTAD, NIEO)

    Non-governmental organization (NGO): any private organization involved in activities that have transnational implications
    GO TO TOP

    Nuclear fusion: relies on forcing two hydrogen atoms together, and in the process destroying some extra matter that is converted into energy (called H-bomb)

    NWIO: New World Information and Communication Order, begun in the 1970s around the same time as the Group of 77 launched its drive for a NIEO, called for a more balanced flow of communications globally, development of communication infrastructure in LDC’s, control or elimination of information monopolies, and respect for each people’s cultural identity

    OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, organization of 29 industrialized countries

    OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Companies: cartel of oil producers formed to control the price and supply of oil on world markets

    Perestroika: ‘restructuring’, a term used by Mikhail Gorbachev to describe his plans to reform, modernize and partly decentralize the Soviet economy (also see glasnost)

    Positive peace: the absence of structural violence as well as direct violence (see also negative peace)

    Protectionism: protecting your economy from the international economy by imposing various restrictions on flow of imports or exports of goods or services into or out of your country (see also free trade)

    Reserve currency: a currency that countries hold in reserve because of its strength and stability

    Security dilemma: a situation in which states’ actions taken to assure their own security, tend to threaten the security of other states

    Self-help: necessity to rely on a states’ own resources and capabilities

    SLBM’s: submarine-launched ballistic missiles

    specie money: solid money (gold or silver, traditionally)

    spheres of influence: an area declared by a Great Power to be its exclusive area of interest, where it acts to defend its dominance and to exclude other Great Powers.

    SOP’s: standard operating procedures

    Sovereignty: means a government has the right, at least in principle, to do whatever it liks in its own territory (also see state)

    Structural power: the power to change the rules of the game for others, the power to structure the choices of other actors

    Structural violence: latent or hidden forms of social conflict

    Stockholm Conference: UN Conference on the Human Environment, held 1972, was first worldwide environmental conference in history

    Sustainable development: term coined by Brundtland Commission Report 1987, defined as development which can “ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

    Terms of trade: the ratio in prices between a country’s exports and its imports

    Truman Doctrine: a promise of US aid to all ‘free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside powers” (also see Brezhnev Doctrine)

    UNCED: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio 1992. Effort by the int. Community to reach consensus on principles and a long-term workplan for global sustainable development, major output was Agenda 21 (referring to the Twenty-First Century), a global plan of action containing 294 pages encompassing every sectoral environmental issues as well as international policies affecting both environment and development and the full range of domestic social and economic policies.

    UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: formed 1964: first Secretary General Raul Prebisch: called for reform of system of international trade based on liberalism and comparative advantage, in order to assist development of poor countries, included calls for a GSP and IPC (see also NIEO)

    War: legitimate use of organized violence or force to achieve “goods” (also see conflict)

    zero-sum game: one actors’ gain is another’s loss

  • Gear up for This week’s Samachar Manthan lecture on 19th May Sunday

    Dear students,

    We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

    Benefits of Samachar Manthan

    • Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
    • This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
    • This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
    • Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
    • Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
    • Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
    • Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
    • 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
    • The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

    For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

    This Week’s Hottest Stories
    Climate Change Impact on India and World- International Reports, Key Observations, etc. (5 Newscards)
    Wildlife Conservation Efforts (3 Newscards)
    Electoral Reforms In India (3 Newscards)
    Indian Navy Updates (2 Newscards)
    Judiciary Institutional Issues (2 Newscards)
    Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States (2 Newscards)
    Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc. (2 Newscards)

    Economics
    [op-ed snap] Resolving India’s banking crisis
    Lakshadweep recruits Barn Owls to fight rodent menace

    Enviro & Biodiversity
    UK has become the first country to declare a ‘climate emergency’
    Global Assessment Report by IPBES
    Grizzled Giant Squirrel
    Purple frog set to be crowned Kerala’s state amphibian
    [op-ed snap] One million species face extinction: Why biodiversity report matters
    How China, followed by India, has led greening efforts across world
    [op-ed snap] From Idai to Fani

    Governance
    [op-ed snap] No courts for women
    Home Ministry terminates ‘Black List’ of Indian-origin people
    WHO for eliminating industrially produced trans fats by 2023
    India facing critical shortage of healthcare providers: WHO

    International Relations
    [op-ed snap] The quest for a military footprint
    India re-elected as observer to Arctic Council
    [op-ed snap] Taking tensions seriously
    [op-ed snap] Loud and clear
    [op-ed snap] Endless war
    [op-ed snap] A fraught moment: U.S.-China trade war
    [op-ed snap] Gulf warning
    Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitrary Tribunal

    Polity
    Zero Pendency Courts Project
    Sub-categorization of OBCs
    Supreme Court pushes for ‘full’ strength of 31

    Science Tech
    Sand, a global sustainability challenge: UN report
    [op-ed snap] Surveillance wars in space
    Indian scientists discover how serotonin helps brain cells cope with stress
    NASA spacecraft to hit an asteroid in 2022

    Security Issues
    Fourth Scorpene-class submarine INS Vela launched
    IAF gets first Apache Guardian attack helicopter
    Exercise Group Sail

    Arts and culture
    Thailand’s cultural roots with India
    Genetic Study on people of Lakshadweep Islands

     

    And these issues will be covered in detail

    • Surveilance war in space
    • Global report on extinction of species
    • Zero pendency court project
    • US china Trade War
    • Instability in Gulf
    • Gender disparity in Courts

    So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

     

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Monuments and architecture

    State Monument Place Built by
     

     

    Bihar

     

    		 Golghar Patna British Govt.
    Pathar Ki Masjid Patna Pervez Shah
    Sher Shah’s Tomb Sasaram Sher Shah’s son
    Vishnupad Temple Gaya Rani Ahilyabai
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Delhi

     

    		 Feroz Shah Kotla Delhi Ferozshan Tughlaq
    Hauz Khas Delhi Alauddin Khilji
    Humayun Tomb Delhi Empress Bega Begum
    Jama Masjid Delhi Shahjahan
    Jantar-Mantar Delhi Sawai Jai Singh
    Khirki Masjid Delhi Ghyasuddin Tughlaq
    Lakshmi Narayan Temple Delhi Birla Family
    Moti Masjid Delhi Aurangzeb
    President House Delhi British Govt.
    Purana Qila Delhi Sher Shah Suri
    Qutub Minar Delhi Qutubuddin Aibak
    Red Fort Delhi Shahjahan
    Safdarjung Tomb Delhi Shuja-ud-daula
    Gujarat Sabarmati Ashram Ahmadabad Mahatma Gandhi
     

     

    Jammu and Kashmir

     

    		 Charar-E- Sharif Budgam Zainul Abedin
    Nishat Garden Srinagar Asaf Ali
    Shalimar Garden Srinagar Jahangir
    Karnataka Lal Bagh Bangaluru Hyder Ali
     

     

     

     

    Maharashtra

     

    		 Ajanta- Ellora Caves Aurangabad Gupta rulers
    Bibi Ka Maqbara Aurangabad Aurangzeb
    Elephanta Cave Mumbai Rashtrakuta rulers
    Gateway Of India Mumbai British Govt.
    Kanheri Fort Mumbai Buddhists
     

    Odisha

    		 Jagannath Temple Puri Anantavarman Ganga
    Sun Temple Konark Narasimhadeva I
    Punjab Golden Temple Amritsar Guru Ramdas
     

     

     

     

     

     

    Rajasthan

     

    		 Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra Ajmer Qutubuddin Aibak
    Bharatpur Fort Bharatpur Raja Surajmal Singh
    Ajmer Sharif Dargah Ajmer Sultan Shyasuddin
    Dilwara Jain Temple Mount Abu Siddharaja
    Hawa Mahal Jaipur Maharaja Pratap Singh
    Jaigarh Fort Jaipur Sawai Jai Singh
    Jodhpur Fort Jodhpur Rao Jodha
    Nahargarh Fort Jaipur Sawai Jai Singh
    Vijaya Stambha Chittorgarh Maharana Kumbha
    Tamil Nadu Saint George Fort Chennai East India Company
     

    Telegana

     

    		 Char- Minar Hyderabad Quli Qutub Shah
    Makka Masjid Hyderabad Quli Qutub Shah
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Uttar Pradesh

     

    		 Agra Fort Agra Akbar
    Akbar Rsquo Tomb Sikandra Akbar
    Anand Bhawan Allahabad Motilal Nehru
    Aram Bagh Agra Babur
    Bada Imambara Lucknow Asaf-ud-daula
    Chhota Imambara Lucknow Muhammad Ali Shah
    Deewan-E- Khas Agra Fort Shahjahan
    Fatehpur Sikri Agra Akbar
    Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula Agra Nurjahan
    Jama Masjid Agra Shahjahan
    Moti Masjid Agra Shahjahan
    Sati Burj Mathura Raja Bhagwan Das
    Shish Mahal Agra Shahjahan
    Taj Mahal Agra Shahjahan
    Uttarakhand Jim Corbett Park Nainital Sir Malcolm Hailey
     

     

    West Bengal

     

    		 Shantiniketan West Bengal Rabindranath Tagore
    Belur Math Kolkata Swami Vivekananda
    Victoria Memorial Kolkata British Govt.

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Defence Exercises

    Name of the Exercise

    PartnerCountry/Countries

    Details
    Surya Kiran XIII Nepal  

    • This exercise was aimed at training on jungle warfare, anti-terrorism combat and disaster response activities.
    Lamitye VIII Seychelles  

    • The focus of the exercise was to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations.
    Shakti IV France  

    • The focus was on high degree of physical fitness, tactical drills, techniques and procedure.
    Vinbax 1 Vietnam  

    • The focus was on cooperation in the maritime domain.
    Hamesha Vijayee Southern Command  

    • It aimed at fine tuning surveillance and destruction mechanisms to support precision strikes and manoeuvres by network enabled forces.
    Ajeya Warrior UK  

    • The aim of the exercise was to build and promote bilateral relations and enhance interoperability.
    Malabar The USA and Japan
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    AUSINDEX Australia
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    SIMBEX Singapore
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    IND–INDO CORPAT Indonesia
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    Varuna France
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    Nomadic Elephant Mongolia
    • It’s a joint exercise between two armies.
    Surya Kiran Nepal
    • It’s a joint exercise between two armies.
    Al-Nagah Oman
    • It’s a joint army exercise.
    EKUVERIN Maldives
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    INDRA Russia
    • It refers to joint exercises conducted between army, navy and airforce.
    KONKAN United Kingdom
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    Hand in Hand China
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    SAMPRITI Bangladesh
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    Mitra Shakti Sri Lanka
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    Yudh Abhyas The USA
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
     PRABAL DOSTYK Kazakhstan
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    Maitree Thailand
    • It’s a joint military exercise..
    RIPMAC Around 25 nations, including the USA, the UK, China and France.
    • It’s the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
    Desert Eagle United Arab Emirates
    • It’s a joint air combat exercise.
    Garuda Shakti Indonesia
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    Lamitye Seychelles
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    IBSAMAR South Africa and Brazil
    • It’s a joint naval exercise.
    Sahyog-Kaijin Japan
    • It’s a joint exercise between the coast guards of two countries.
    SHAKTI France
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    SLINEX Sri Lanka
    • It’s a joint military exercise.
    Indradhanush The United Kingdom
    • It’s a bilateral air exercise.

  • Civilsdaily’s Faculty’s article published in Hindu Business Line. A must-read for Civil Services Aspirants.

    Economics is one of the primary Pillars of UPSC preparation. It has substantial weightage in Prelims and also in  GS 3rd paper of mains. To ensure that students build  a strong foundation and  a strong hold over the subject, we at Civilsdaily, have the best and most trusted faculty, Himanshu Arora Sir.

    Credentials of Himanshu Sir-

    • MPhil Economics (JNU)
    • Works at Prime Minister Economic Advisory Council
    • Writes regularly in various famous Indian and international weeklies like Millenium post and Huffington Post.
    • Worked as Assistant Professor in Delhi University.

    Here is the article by Himanshu Sir  that was published today in  Business Line;

    US sanctions have rarely worked

    Instead of punishing ‘errant’ countries, sanctions inflict serious economic damage on other nations

    The US has refused to extend the oil sanction waivers previously extended to seven countries — China, India, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Greece and Turkey — after Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal.

    The oil waivers were granted as a short-term measure to substitute oil with alternative energy sources and to avoid a global oil shock.

    The nuclear deal aka Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015, mandated Iran to reduce its uranium stockpile by 97 per cent, to limit enrichment of uranium only up to 3.67 per cent.

    In return, Iran was supposed to receive relief from the economic sanctions imposed on it. The failure of JCPOA and the subsequent imposition of sanctions on Iran and other countries raise an important question — do sanctions work?

    History of sanctions

    Sanctions were first used in ancient Greece with Pericles Megarian decree of 432 BC in response to the kidnapping of three Aspasian women. Ancient Greece also imposed them during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). However, they failed to have an impact and the Spartans won the Peloponnesian War.

    The US first imposed sanctions on Iran in 1979 in response to the Iranian hostage crisis. The second round of sanctions were imposed in 1983, when an Iranian terrorist group bombed US Marine Corps in Lebanon. The US imposed restrictions on trade particularly oil to weaken Iran’s oil industry and hence its ability to fund terrorists.

    The third round of sanctions was in response to Iran’s nuclear proliferation activities. Iran’s nuclear power programmes to weaponise its army have resulted in the passage of Iran and Libya Sanction Act (ILSA) 1996. Along with other trade and financial restrictions, the ILSA prohibits foreign companies to undertake oilfields investment in Iran.

    But do sanctions fulfil their purpose of dissuading the target countries from taking a particular action?

    To answer that question, we must first understand what sanctions are and how they work. Sanctions are economic instruments that cut off the target country’s economy from rest of the world.

    The US regards sanctions as an important weapon in the geopolitical game and President Woodrow Wilson was the first to impose them.

    The opponents

    But opponents question the efficacy of sanctions especially when imposed unilaterally by a single country. They argue that target countries often shield themselves from the harsh impact and that the costs inflicted on other countries indirectly affected by such sanctions are greater than the benefits derived.

    For example, by unilaterally imposing sanctions on Iran, the US is hurting the economies of India, China, Turkey, South Korea and Japan. These sanctions are likely to increase the global crude oil prices affecting the oil importing countries negatively.

    Evidence supporting the success of sanctions are few as they have mostly failed to alter the behaviour of the targeted country. The US imposed sanctions on Turkey when it invaded Cyprus in 1974. But Turkish troops remained in Cyprus for more than 30 years despite sanctions. When USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the Carter administration imposed sanctions and a food embargo on it. But the sanctions failed as the Soviet troops remained in Afghanistan till 1989. The sanctions imposed on Saddam Hussein tell a similar story.

    Also the US along with Canada, France and Russia had frequently used sanctions in 1970s and 1980s to deter non-nuclear countries from developing nuclear capabilities and force them to comply with nuclear non-proliferation.

    In 1974, Canada imposed sanctions on India and Pakistan to deter them from further nuclear explosions, to apply striker nuclear safeguards and forgo reprocessing capability of nuclear fuel that can be used in developing weapons. The US did the same with South Korea and applied financial sanctions to forestall the purchase of a nuclear reprocessing plant.

    In the subsequent years, the US imposed sanctions on shipments of nuclear fuel and technology to South Africa, imposed sanctions on Brazil, Argentina, India and Pakistan to make them adhere to nuclear safeguards, multilateral surveillance for nuclear facilities and to prevent the acquisition of nuclear technologies. But these sanctions failed to dissuade South Africa, Brazil, India and Pakistan from becoming nuclear powers.

    Multiple episodes of imposition of US sanctions across the world clearly reflect that unilateral sanctions do not really work. Therefore, in the light of historical evidence, the US should rethink its policy of imposing sanctions on Iran given the economic damage it can inflict on nations like India, China, Turkey, South Korea and Japan.

     

    Here is the link of the original Article

    https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/us-sanctions-have-rarely-worked/article27119264.ece

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Acts and schemes related to Marginalised Sector

    1Nai Manzil Scheme

    OBJECTIVES –

    • To address educational and livelihood needs of minority communities lagging behind in terms of educational attainments.
    • It aims to provide educational intervention by giving the bridge courses to the trainees and getting them Certificates for Class XII and X from distance medium educational system.
    • It seeks to provide trade basis skill training in four courses at the same time of formal education, in field of (i) Manufacturing (ii) Engineering (iii) Services (iv) Soft skills. It intends to cover people in between 17 to 35 age group from all minority communities as well as Madrasa students.
    • Nodal Ministry –The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs

    2. Nai Roshni

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Empower and install confidence in women of minority communities by equipping them with knowledge, tools and techniques to interact with government systems, banks and intermediaries
    • Nodal Ministry –The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs

    3. USTAAD Scheme

    OBJECTIVES –

    • The scheme aims at preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the traditional arts & crafts of the Minority communities. 2.In the light of globalisation & competitive market, these crafts have gradually lost their employability. 3.It also envisages at boosting the skill of craftsmen, weavers and artisans who are already engaged in the traditional ancestral work.
    • Nodal Ministry –The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs

    4. Hunar Haat

    OBJECTIVES –

    • It is aimed at promoting and supporting artisans from Minority communities and providing them domestic as well as international market for display and sell their products.
    • The Hunar Haat exhibition has been organised by the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) under “USTTAD” scheme In it about 184 master artisans from across the country are showcasing their traditional art and skills at about 100 stalls at the international platform.
    • It seeks to provide an excellent platform to artisans belonging to Minority communities from across nation to display their art and skills before domestic and international visitors.
    • Nodal Ministry –The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs

    5.Stanapan Suraksha Scheme

    OBJECTIVES –

    • To promote breastfeeding and keep a tab on “inappropriate” promotion of baby food items. Stanpan Suraksha is first-of-its-kind app deveopled for promoting breastfeeding and baby food promotion reporting mechanism.
    • Using it any person can click a photograph of inappropriate baby food promotion around them and related equipment and send it to BPNI.
    • The app also has a city-wise database of trained breastfeeding counsellor to educate and provide assistance to mothers during antenatal and postnatal period. It has sign up option for mothers who wish to become a breastfeeding counsellor, pledging for petition and donation.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Tribal Affairs

    6.Eklavya Model Residential Schools

    • Eklavya Model Residential School Scheme was started in 1998
    • First school was started in the year 2000 in Maharashtra.
    • EMRSs have been functioning as institutions of excellence for tribal students.
    • In order to further educational opportunities for more ST children, Government has sought to extend the facility of EMRSs in all the 672 Blocks where ST population is more than 50% of the total population in a span of next five years.
    • Funds for establishing the school are arranged by both Centre and State government together.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Tribal Affairs

    7. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme

    OBJECTIVES –

    • To decrease the dropout rate in the transition from elementary to secondary stage.Given for Class 9th and 10th.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    8. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Educational empowerment of Scheduled castes.
    • Central assistance is provided to the implementing agencies viz. State Governments/UT Administrations/ Central and State Universities/ Non-Governmental Organisations/Deemed Universities in private sector, for construction of fresh hostels/expansion of existing hostel facilities for Scheduled Castes students.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    9.National Overseas Scholarship Scheme.

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Financial support to SC and ST students pursuing Master’s level courses and PhD/Post-Doctoral courses abroad.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    10.Scheme for upgradation of merit of SC students.

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Upgrade the merit of SC students by providing them remedial and special coaching in classes IX to XII.
    • Income Ceiling: Rs. 3.00 Lakh per annum .
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    11.Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)

    OBJECTIVES –

    • To rehabilitate all the remaining manual scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations.The main features of the Scheme include one-time cash assistance, training with stipend and concessional loans with subsidy for taking up alternative occupations.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    12. Sugmay Bharat abhiyaan.

    OBJECTIVES –

    • The target of this scheme is to make at least fifty government buildings disabled friendly under the campaign in each of the state till end of 2016 and make 25 per cent of the public transport vehicles under government as disabled friendly till mid 2017.
    • A remarkable feature of the scheme is that a website will also be made where the people can put their views on the accessibility of any building.
    • The international airports in the country and railway stations which come under A1, A and B categories will be made fully disabled-friendly.
    • Special set-top boxes will be made available to make watching TV more convenient for the visually impaired. In the next 5 years, almost 200 persons will be trained to speak in sign languages on government TV channels. Government websites will also be made friendlier by using text to speech option.
    • Under the scheme, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will give free motorized tricycles to persons with 70-90% disability.
    • A Sugamya Bharat mobile app which can provide information on disabled-friendly public facilities in a city, will be launched under the scheme.
    • For awareness, a team of experts will conduct workshops for sensitizing the main parties including builders and activists.
    • Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    13.Disha

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Early Intervention and School Readiness Scheme.
    • This is an early intervention and school readiness scheme for children upto 10 years with the disabilities covered under the National Trust Act.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    14. VIKAASDay Care

    OBJECTIVES –

    • A day care scheme for persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities, above 10 years for enhancing interpersonal and vocational skills.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    15. SAMARTH Respite Care

    OBJECTIVES –

    • A scheme to provide respite home for orphans, families in crisis, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from BPL, LIG families with at least one of the four disabilities covered under the National Trust Act.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    16.GHARAUNDA

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Group Home for Adults.
    • This scheme provides housing and care services throughout the life of the person with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    17.NIRMAYA Health Insurance Scheme.

    OBJECTIVES –

    • This scheme is to provide affordable Health Insurance to persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    18. SAHYOGI Caregiver training scheme

    OBJECTIVES –

    • A scheme to set up Caregiver Cells (CGCs) for training and creating skilled workforce of caregivers to care for Person with Disabilities (PwD) and their families.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    19.GYAN PRABHA Educational support

    OBJECTIVES –

    • Scheme to encourage people with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities for pursuing educational/ vocational courses.
    • Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

    20.PRERNA Marketing Assistance.

    OBJECTIVES –

    • A marketing scheme to create viable & wide spread channels for sale of products and services produced by persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities
    • Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Flora and Fauna in News

    Flora and Fauna in News

      1. NBWL adds 4 species in Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species

    • Northern River Terrapin: It is species of riverine turtle found in rivers that flow in Eastern India. It is hunted for its meat and It is hunted for its meat and carapace. It is native of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

    F:\nrt.jpg

    • Clouded Leopard: It is found in Himalayan foothills. It is threatened due to habitat loss, poaching for its skin and is also as a live pet trade. The IUCN in its Red List assessment of 2016 has categorized Clouded Leopard as ‘Vulnerable’ and indicating declining trend in its population.
    • F:\cl.jpg
    • Arabian Sea Humpback Whale: It is a species found in all of major oceans. This species migrates from the Oman coast through the Arabian sea, along the Indian coasts till the Sri Lankan coast. Ship strikes, unforgiving fishing gear and siesmic exploarations pose grave threat to it.
    • F:\whale.jpg
    • Red Panda: It is closely associated with montane forests with dense bamboo-thicket. It is found Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh. It is It is poached for its meat, and for use in medicines, and as a pet. The IUCN has categorized Red Panda as ‘Endangered’. As per its Red List assessment of 2015, population of this species is decreasing.
    • F:\red.jpg

    2 Odisha police launch drive to bust Pangolin smuggling racket-

    Why in news- Odisha Special Task Force (STF) has launched drive to bust an international syndicate that peddles ‘endangered’ pangolin, one of the world’s most illegal traded mammals. Pangolin                   F:\download.jpg

    • Pangolin is only scaly mammal on the planet.
    • According to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), it is also the most illegally traded vertebrate within its class (Mammalia).
    • Of the eight species of pangolin worldwide, two are found in India. They are Chinese pangolin (manis pentadactyla), mostly found in northeast India and Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).
    • Pangolins has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour.
    • It can also curl itself into ball as self-defence against predators.
    • China is main illicit hub (market) for smuggled scales of Pangolins, where they have huge demand for medicinal and magical purposes.

    Protection Status:

      • Chinese pangolin has been listed as “critically endangered” by UN affiliated International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
      • Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) has been listed as “endangered” in IUCN Red List.
      • It is also a Schedule I category protected animal, under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

    3 Nilgiri tahr: Climate change threatening 60% of its habitat

    Why in News –

    • According to recent study published international journal Ecological Engineering, climate change is threatening the Nilgiri tahr,. It is estimated that endangered wild goat could lose approximately 60% of its habitat, starting from 2030s.

    Nilgiri tahr                   F:\images.jpg

    • It is state animal of Tamil Nadu.
    • It is endemic to Western Ghats from the Nilgiris to Kanyakumari.
    • It is confined to a narrow belt of higher elevation (altitudes) of Shola Forests in Western Ghats.
    • Protection Status: IUCN in its red data book has classified it as Endangered (number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals). Besides it is protected species under Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
    • Largest population of Nilgiri Tahr is found within the Eravikulam National Park.

    4 Snow leopard spotted in Lippa-Asra wildlife sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh.

    WHY IN NEWS– A snow leopard was spotted at a height of about 4,000 metres in Lippa-Asra wildlife sanctuary in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

     Lippa-Asra wildlife sanctuary

    • The sanctuary is part of district Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh and also is part of Moorang town.
    • It houses wild species of animal like Yak, Ibex, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Musk Deer, Goral, Brown Bear and Himalayan Black Bear.
    • The dry alpine scrub and dry coniferous type of forest are main type of flora found in this sanctuary.

     

    5.Project Snow Leopard:

    • Snow Leopard is globally endangered species as well as the most important flagship species of the mountain region
    • Project aims to conserve biodiversity with community participation
    • The project will be operational in five Himalayan States viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh with active support from wildlife institute of India and the Mysore based Nature Conservation Foundation.
    • Species such as Snow Leopard, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Argali, Ladakh Urial, Chiru, Takin, Serow and Musk Deer will particularly benefit from this project.

    Snow Leopard:               F:\download (1).jpg

    • Snow leopard (Panthera uncial) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia- including Himalayas, and Russia’s remote Altai mountains.
    • Snow Leopard is found in 11 countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
    • These countries formed the Global Snow Leopard Forum (GSLF) and signed the Bishkek Declaration to acknowledge its importance as the indicator of the health and sustainability of mountain ecosystems.
    • It is the State animal of Himachal Pradesh.

    Threats: It is threatened by poaching for their fur, habitat destruction by infrastructure developments and climate change.

    Protection Status:

    • It has been listed in Schedule I under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Appendix I of Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and Appendix I Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

    6. India’s first dolphin research centre to come up soon in Patna

    Context: India’s and Asia’s first Dolphin Research Centre will be set up on the banks of the Ganga river in Patna University campus in Patna, Bihar. It will be named- National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC).

    Role: NDRC will play important role in strengthening conservation efforts and research to save endangered mammal whose population is decreasing. Bihar is home to around half of the country’s estimated 3,000 dolphin population.

     

    About Gangetic Dolphins:    F:\download (2).jpg

    • The Ganges River dolphin, or susu, inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
    • This dolphin is among the four “obligate” freshwater dolphins – the other three are the baiji now likely extinct from the Yangtze river in China, the bhulan of the Indus in Pakistan and the boto of the Amazon River in Latin America.
    • Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the animal is popularly referred to as the ‘Susu’.

    Conservation Status

    • It is the national aquatic animal and had been granted non-human personhood status by government in 2017.
    • It is also protected under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
    • Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in Bihar is India’s only sanctuary for the Gangetic dolphin.
    • It has been categorised as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species by the IUCN

    Threats:

    The survival of the Ganges River dolphin is threatened by unintentional killing through entanglement in fishing gear; directed harvest for dolphin oil, which is used as a fish attractant and for medicinal purposes; water development projects (e.g. water extraction and the construction of barrages, high dams, and embankments); industrial waste and pesticides; municipal sewage discharge and noise from vessel traffic; and overexploitation of prey, mainly due to the widespread use of non-selective fishing gear.

    Conservation Efforts

    • A Conservation Action Plan for the Gangetic Dolphin 2010-2020 has been formulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

     

    7. ASIATIC LION CONSERVATION PROJECT

    Why in News? The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” with an aim to protect and conserve the world’s last ranging free population of Asiatic Lion and its associated ecosystem.

     

    https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZzN_Hp0-cPcq_S4lCyIXxhHexHGSUJ5XVWcj5jJBkKUnhUdlqZp-CLgHAm8phlLKRKpHRfTU-XI1N1x38DfWH3847H3cv5Ma6AqijaJp-mLF70EA0wjgEtWSib6iCG5U02uHsAzA_CZZ1Yn0Q

    About the Project

    • It will be funded from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH) with the contributing ratio being 60:40 of Central and State share.
    • The project activities is envisaged in a manner to cause habitat improvement, scientific interventions, disease control and veterinary care supplemented with adequate eco development works for the fringe population in order to ensure a stable and viable Lion population in the Country.

    8. RARE SPIDER REDISCOVERED

    Why in news?

    Recently, a rare spider (both a male and a female spider) was rediscovered from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Ghats, Kerala.

     

    About Chrysilla Vollupe  F:\download (3).jpg

    • The Spider belongs to the family of jumping spider (Salticidae).
    • Female spider has blue iridescent bluish scales present in the top of head region of female and orange bands on both sides of the head.
    • The spider has eight black eyes are arranged in the front and sides of head region.
    • The spider makes a retreat between green leaves of small plants.

     

    9. EURASIAN OTTER

    Why in news? Recently scientist confirmed the presence of Eurasian otter in Western Ghats.

    About Otter           F:\download (4).jpg

    • They are carnivorous mammals and adapt to a variety of habitats ranging from marine to freshwater environments.
    • India is home to 3 of the 13 species of otters found worldwide. These are
    • Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra): IUCN: Near Threatened; CITES Appendix I; Wildlife (Protection) Act Schedule II.
    • Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspicillata): IUCN: Vulnerable; CITES Appendix II; Wildlife (Protection) Act Schedule II.
    • Small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus): IUCN: Vulnerable; CITES Appendix II; Wildlife (Protection) Act Schedule II.
    • Though the Eurasian otter has been recorded historically from the Western Ghats (Coorg in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri and Palani hill ranges), this is the first photographic and genetic confirmation of its presence here.

    10. ALDABRA GAINT TORTOISE

    Why in News? In a goodwill gesture, Seychelles has gifted a pair of giant Aldabra tortoise to India. The pair will be kept at Hyderabad Zoo.

    Key facts:                       F:\download (5).jpg

    • The Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) from the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles is said to be one of the largest species of tortoises on the planet.
    • It is also one of the world’s longest living animals, with one Aldabra Giant Tortoise reaching the age of 255 years.
    • The Aldabra giant tortoise’s current IUCN conservation status is ‘vulnerable’.
    • The atoll has been protected from human influence and is home to around 100,000 giant tortoises, the world’s largest population of the animal.

    11. EIGHT AVIAN SPECIES DECLARED “EXTINCT” IN NEW STUDY

    • Scientists have declared eight species of birds to be extinct in what are being seen as the first avian extinctions of the 21st century.
    • The study was conducted by non-profit “BirdLife International”. It assessed 51 species judged “critically endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) “Red List” by using a new statistical method.

    Key facts:

    • The species gone extinct include Spix’s macaw, the Alagoas foliage-gleaner, the cryptic tree hunter, the Pernambuco pygmy-owl, the poo-uli, or black-faced honeycreeper and the glaucous macaw.

    12. BONNETHEAD SHARK

    What is it? It is the first known omnivorous shark species identified by scientists recently.

    Key facts:                        F:\download (6).jpg

    • 60% of its diet consists of seagrass. The species graze upon seagrass, in addition to eating bony fish, crabs, snails and shrimp.
    • The bonnethead shark is abundant in the shallow waters of the Western Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico.
    • Though small by shark standards, adult females — the larger of the sexes —can still reach an impressive five feet long.
    • Lacking the kind of teeth bestsuited for mastication,the shark may rely on strong stomach acids to weaken the plants’ cells so the enzymes can have their digestive effects.

     

    13. PONDICHERRY SHARK

    Context: Researchers recently spotted ‘Pondicherry shark’, an endangered species protected under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem region.

    Key facts:           F:\download (7).jpg

    • Scientifically known as Carcharhinus hemiodon, it belongs to the Carcharhinidae family with a growth of 3.3 feet.
    • Known as ‘Pala Sora’ in the local parlance, the Pondicherry Shark is on the verge of extinction even according to the conventional fishermen.
    • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Pondicherry shark as Critically Endangered.

    14. Census of Estuarine Crocodiles

    What Is The Issue:

    • The number of crocodiles rose to 1742 from last year’s census of 1698 in the Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district.

    15. Great Indian Bustard may be extinct soon

    What Is The Issue:

    • The GIB’s last remnant wild population of about 50 in Jaisalmer district accounts for 95% of its total world population.
    • No progress has been made on the proposal for establishing a captive breeding centre at Sorsan in Kota district and a hatchery in Jaisalmer for conservation of the State bird of Rajasthan.

    16. Crocodylus Palustris

    What Is The Issue:

    • The Gujarat Forest Department has started evacuating muggers from two ponds on the Sardar Sarovar Dam premises on the Narmada, to facilitate a seaplane service at the Statue of Unity.

    MUGGER

    SALTWATER CROCODILE

    GHARIAL

    17. HARRIER BIRDS

     

    Why in News? Concerns have been raised that harrier birds, a migratory raptor species are declining from Indian Subcontinent.

    About the Harrier Birds          F:\download (8).jpg

    • Harrier Birds are the only diurnal ‘Raptor group or Birds of Prey’ nesting and roosting on the ground.
    • These birds regularly visit vast swathes of Indian Subcontinent grasslands during winter to escape frigid Central Asia.
    • Birds of Prey: being top predators, these are a vital indicator of ecosystem health especially of grassland and wetland ecosystem.
    • Natural Controlling agents: of rodents, grasshoppers and birds which form their major prey base and hence their decline impacts farm productivity.