Indian Festivals

Kumbha Mela	Held at all 4 places every 3 years by rotation (Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik, Ujjain) Associated rivers : Ganga at Haridwar, the Sangam of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad,  Godawari at Nashik, and Shipra at Ujjain Ardha Kumbh Mela  : Haridwar and Prayag every 6 years Purna Kumbh Mela  : Prayag every 12 years Maha Kumbh Mela  : Prayag every 144 years
Holi	last full moon day of  Phalguna
Maha Shivaratri	13th night in Krishna Paksha of Phalguna
Navaratri	9 forms of Shakti are worshipped on 9 nights
Vinayaga Chaturthi	On occasion of birth of Ganesha
Vasant Panchami	Worshiping Saraswati –  the goddess of knowledge, music and art Children are taught to write their first words; Brahmins are fed ; ancestral worship is performed; the god of love- Kamadeva is worshipped People usually wear yellow garments
Ramzan	Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn until sunset Intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility & spirituality
Guru Purnima	Buddhists in the honor of lord Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day at Sarnath Hindus on this day offer Puja or pay respect to their Guru
Buddha Poornima	Birth anniversary of Lord Buddha
Christmas	Commemorate the birth of Jesus
Easter	Oldest and holiest Christian festival – the day when Jesus Christ was crucified On this day Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven
Thai Pongal	Harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Sri Lanka To thank the Sun God and farmstead livestock Boiling of milk in clay pot symbolize material abundance for household
Muharram	Celebrated on the 1st  month of the Islamic calendar unlawful to fight during this month
Dree Festival	an agricultural rite, which is observed by Apatanis in Arunachal Pradesh involves sacrifice of fowls, eggs and animals to the sun & moon god to appease these Gods to avoid feminine

Indian Dances

Indian Folk Music

 

• • Baul : It is a type of Bengali music and a religious sect. The lyrics carry influence from Bhakti movement as well as sufi movement.

• • Wanawan : Folk music from kashmir which is sung during wedding ceremonies.

• • Padwani : This music is based on Mahabharata and uses both singing and playing instruments.

• • Alha : Song is from Madhya Pradesh and is a heroic ballad song.

• • Paani hari : Song is from the state of Rajasthan and is thematically related to water. Songs are generally about women fetching water from nearby well.

• • Ovi : Maharashtra and Goan women sing such songs during leisure time.

• • Pai song : Songs are mostly from Madhya Pradesh sung during festivals.

• • Lavani : Popular folk song from Maharashtra. Music has powerful rhythm and beats and is suitable for dancing.

• • Maand : Developed in the royal circles

• • Dandiya raas : Performed in Gujarat and is associated with holi and lila of Krishna and Radha at Vrindavan

• • Powada : Folk type emerging from Maharashtra

• • Khongjom Parva : Important folk music from state of Manipur.

• Bhagwati : Popular amongst masses of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Musically they are close to ghazals and are sung on a slower pitch.

Classical Dances

The classical dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture are

• Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu
• Kathak, from Uttar Pradesh and western India
• Kathakali, from Kerala
• Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh
• Odissi, from Odisha
• Sattriya, from Assam
• Manipuri, from Manipur
• Mohiniyattam, from Kerala

Indian Music

MUSIC OF INDIA

The two main traditions of classical music in India are Carnatic music and Hindustani Music. Carnatic Music are found predominantaly in the peninsular regions and Hindustani music are found in the northern and central regions.

Hindustani Music

Hindustani music was not only influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions but also enriched by the Persian performance practices of the Mughals.

Dhrupad is an old style of Hindustani singing, traditionally performed by male singers. The great Indian musician Tansen sang in the Dhrupad style. Dhrupad was the main form of northern Indian classical music but has now given way to Khyal.

Khyal is a form of vocal music in Hindustani music. It was adopted from medieval Persian music It is special as it is based on improvising and expressing emotion.

Another vocal form Tarana are medium to fast pa ced songs that ar e usual ly per formed towards the end of the concert. They consist of  a few lines of poetry with rhythmic syllables.

Tappa is a from of Indian semi- classical vocal music. It originated from the folk songs of the camel riders of Punjab and was developed as a form of classical music by Mian Ghulam Nabi Shori.

Thumri is a semi classical vocal form said to have begun in Uttar Pradesh. The lyrics are typically in Brij Bhasha and are usually romantic.

Ghazal is an originally Persian form of Poetry. In India, Ghazal became the most common form of poetry in the  Urdu language.

Although Hindustani music clearly is focused on the vocal   performance, recently instrumental Hindustani music is very popular than vocal music especially outside South Asia.

Carnatic Music

Carnatic  music is a system  of music commonly associated with the southern part of  India especially. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Carnatic music is completely melodic with improvised variations. Purandara Dasa is credited with having founded today’s Carnatic music.He is credited with having elevated Carnatic music from religious and devotional music into the realm of a performing art. Carnatic music is usually performed by a small ens embl e  of mus i cia ns consi s t ing of a principa l per former (vocalist ) a viol in, mridanga ,and a tamburu. Today carnatic music is presented by musicians in concerts or recordings either vocally or through instruments.

Indian Folk Music

 

• • Baul : It is a type of Bengali music and a religious sect. The lyrics carry influence from Bhakti movement as well as sufi movement.

 

• • Wanawan : Folk music from kashmir which is sung during wedding ceremonies.

 

• • Padwani : This music is based on Mahabharata and uses both singing and playing instruments.

 

• • Alha : Song is from Madhya Pradesh and is a heroic ballad song.

 

• • Paani hari : Song is from the state of Rajasthan and is thematically related to water. Songs are generally about women fetching water from nearby well.

 

• • Ovi : Maharashtra and Goan women sing such songs during leisure time.

 

• • Pai song : Songs are mostly from Madhya Pradesh sung during festivals.

 

• • Lavani : Popular folk song from Maharashtra. Music has powerful rhythm and beats and is suitable for dancing.

 

• • Maand : Developed in the royal circles

 

• • Dandiya raas : Performed in Gujarat and is associated with holi and lila of Krishna and Radha at Vrindavan

 

• • Powada : Folk type emerging from Maharashtra

 

• • Khongjom Parva : Important folk music from state of Manipur.

 

•  Bhagwati : Popular amongst masses of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Musically they are close to ghazals and are sung on a slower pitch.

 

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
Global Geological And Climatic Events(2 Newscards)
Foreign Policy Watch: Cross-Border Terrorism(2 Newscards)
History- Important places, persons in news(2 Newscards)
Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.(2 Newscards)
Delhi Full Statehood Issue(2 Newscards)
RBI Notifications(2 Newscards)
Air Pollution(2 Newscards)
Citizenship and Related Issues(2 Newscards)

Economics
Ishad Mango is under the threat of becoming rare
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001
Technical Textiles
[op-ed snap] An employment-oriented economic policy
[op-ed snap] Saving BSNL
[op-ed snap] GST buoyancy
[op-ed snap] Boardroom rot

Enviro & Biodiversity
Committee constituted to oversee clean air programme
Indian subcontinent’s collision with Asia boosted oxygen in world’s oceans
Kashmir Stag (Hangul)
Explained: Cyclone Fani- an unusual storm
Explained: Naming of cyclones
Ross Ice Shelf

Governance
[op-ed snap] The cost of antimicrobial resistance
SC view on foreigner’s detention defies constitutional obligations

International relations
[op-ed snap] No good options in Afghanistan
[op-ed snap] Wrong step
UNSC designates Masood Azhar as global terrorist
[op-ed snap] A global label

Polity
Contempt of Court
Supreme Court seeks ECs reply on voter prosecution
LG’s role in Puducherry
Explained: Age of consent & age gap under POCSO Act
[op-ed snap] Power shift
U.S. Commission says religious freedom in India deteriorated in 2018

Science Tech Art Culture
99942 Apophis
750th birth anniversary of Vedanta Desikan
Rare life-size stucco figurine unearthed in Telangana
ISRO plans to launch radar imaging satellite in May

Security Issues

Army invokes emergency powers for missiles deal
[pib] Exercise Varuna 19.1
Gadchiroli attacks

Trivia
M.N. Roy and his contribution for anti-colonial struggle in India

 

And these issues will be covered in detail

• Gadchiroli attacks
• LG’s role in Puducherry
• Cyclone Fani- an unusual storm
• An employment-oriented economic policy
• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights
• Climate Change Impact on India and World

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

 

1.ASEAN ( Association of South East Asian Nations)
· It is a political and economic organisation of 10 South-East Asian nations
· Formed in 1967
· Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand
· HQ : Jakarta, Indonesia

 

Current members are:
1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Singapore
5. Thailand
6. Brunei
7. Cambodia
8. Laos
9. Myanmar (Burma)
10. Vietnam
Aim
o   Accelerating economic growth, social progress, and socio-cultural evolution among its members,
o Protection of regional stability
o Providing a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully
‘The ASEAN Way’ means : Doctrine that the member countries will largely mind their own business when it comes to internal matters of member countries
· ASEAN Plus Three: Was created to improve existing ties with the China, Japan and South Korea.
· If the ASEAN nations were a single country, their combined economy would rank the 7th largest in the world

India:

Has and FTA with ASEAN (operational since 2010)
Shares border both land/marine
Large number of Indian origin people living in these countries

 

2.APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)
· It is a regional economic forum of 21 Pacific Rim countries
· Established in 1989
• HQ: Singapore
· APEC’s 21 members aim to promote free trade throughout the Asia- Pacific region
· APEC account for about half the world’s trade and almost 60% of global trade

· It established in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional trade blocs in other parts of the world
· To fears that highly industrialized Japan (a member of G8 ) would come to dominate economic activity in the Asia-Pacific region
· To establish new markets for agricultural products and raw materials beyond Europe
· India has requested membership in APEC, and received initial support from the United States, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Officials have decided not to allow India to join for various reasons, considering that India does not border the Pacific Ocean, which all current members do. However, India was invited to be an observer for the first time in November 2011.

3. BBIN ( Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal)
·It is a sub-regional architecture of these four countries
·Aims to formulate, implement and review quadrilateral agreements across areas such as water resources
management, connectivity of power, transport, and infrastructure

4. BCIM Bangladesh-China-Inida-Myanmar

Aim:  greater integration of trade and investment between the four countries
· BCIM economic corridor is an initiative conceptualised for significant gains through sub-regional economic co-operation with BCIM
· The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar and Bangladesh
· BCIM evolved from ‘Kunming Initiative

5.BIMSTEC ( Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
· It is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia. Established in 1997 in Bangkok. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand were founding members. Now it has seven members.
Headquarters is in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Present members :
1.  Bangladesh
2.  India
3.  Myanmar
4.  Sri Lanka
5.  Thailand
6.  Bhutan
7.  Nepal

· The main objective of BIMSTEC is technological and economic cooperation among south Asian and south east Asian countries along the coast of the bay of Bengal . Commerce, investment, technology, tourism, human resource development, agriculture, fisheries, transport and communication, textiles, leather etc. have been included in it
· BIMSTEC uses the alphabetical order for chairmanship

 

6.BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa )

• Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC” (or “the BRICs”), before the induction of South Africa in 2010.
• The BRICS members are all leading developing or newly industrialized countries, but they are distinguished by their large, sometimes fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional affairs; all five are G-20 members.
  The five BRICS countries represent half of the world population; all five members are in the top 25 of the world by population.
• The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states.
• The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The first regional office of the NDB will be opened in Johannesburg, South Africa.

7. G4

• Members : India, Brazil, Germany and Japan
  All members support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council
• Each of these four countries have figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the UN’s establishment.
  Their economic and political influence has grown significantly in the last decades, reaching a scope comparable to the permanent members (P5)
  ·G4 campaigns for U.N. Reforms, including more representation for developing countries, both in the permanent and non-permanent categories, in the UNSC

8.IBSA (for India-Brazil-South Africa )

• All are Developing Democracies.
• The forum provides the three countries with a platform to engage in discussions for cooperation in the field of agriculture, trade, culture, and defence among others.
• IBSA was formalised and launched through the adopti on of the “Brasilia Declaration.
• Brasilia Declaration (2003) : Approved urgent need for reforms in the United Nations, especially the Security Council.

9. G7

• The Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• The European Union is also represented within the G7.
• These countries are the seven major advanced economies as reported by the International Monetary Fund.
• G7 countries represent more than 64% of the net global wealth
  Common denominator among members is the economy and long-term political motives

10.The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), is an international organisation consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean. The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them. It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region. The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene, Mauritius.
• 21 member states : South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius,
  Seychelles, Iran, Oman, UAE, Yemen, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Somalia.
• Maldives, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar are not members
• The organisation was first established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched in 1997 by the conclusion of a multilateral treaty known as the Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation.

 

11.The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation

The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries – India and five ASEAN countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications. It was launched in 2000 at Vientiane, Lao PDR.

 

12.Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is an ambitious, comprehensive, and high-standard trade and investment agreement being negotiated between the United States and the European Union (EU). TTIP will help unlock opportunity for American families, workers, businesses, farmers and ranchers through increased access to European markets for Made-in-America goods and services. This will help to promote U.S. international competitiveness, jobs and growth.

Its main three broad areas are:
o market access;
o specific regulation; and
o broader rules and principle s and modes of co-operation

13.Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), or Shanghai Pact, is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries, except for Uzbekistan had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation. On July 10, 2015, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan as full members.

 

14.SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional international organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia. Its member states include.

Afghanistan,

Bhutan

Pakistan,

Bangladesh,

India,

Nepal,

Maldives,

Pakistan

Sri Lanka.

SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% of the global economy. SAARC was founded in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 8th December, 1985. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration. It launched the South Asian free trade area in 2006. SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.

15.OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organization with 35 member countries, founded in 1960 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. The mission of the OECD is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seeking answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members. Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries.

The OECD headquartere at Paris, France. The OECD is funded by contributions from member states.

LIST OF MEMEBERS COUNTRIES

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Canada

Chile

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Korea

Latvia

Luxembourg

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

16.G20

The G20 or Group of Twenty is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies. It was founded in 1999 with the aim of studying, reviewing, and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability. It seeks to address issues that go beyond the responsibilities of any one organization. The G20 heads of government or heads of state have periodically conferred at summits since their initial meeting in 2008, and the group also hosts separate meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors. The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85 per cent of global gross domestic product and over 75 per cent of global trade.

The work of G20 members is supported by several international organisations that provide policy advice. The G20 also regularly engages with non-government sectors. Engagement groups from business (B20), civil society (C20), labour (L20), think tanks (T20) and youth (Y20) are holding major events during the year, the outcomes of which will contribute to the deliberations of G20 leaders.

The heads of the G20 nations met semi-annually at G20 summits between 2009 and 2010.

Since the November 2011 Cannes summit, all G20 summits have been held annually.

17.OPEC

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an intergovernmental organization of 13 nations, founded in 1960 in Baghdad by the first five members (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela), and headquartered since 1965 in Vienna. countries accounted for an estimated 42 % of global oil production and 73 % of the world’s oil reserves, giving OPEC a major influence on global oil prices that were previously determined by American-dominated multinational oil companies.

 

Two-thirds of OPEC’s oil production and reserves are in its six Middle Eastern countries that surround the oil-rich Persian Gulf. The formation of OPEC marked a turning point toward national sovereignty over natural resources, and OPEC decisions have come to play a prominent role in the global oil market and international relations.

18.TPP

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), or the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), is a trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States (until January 23, 2017) and Vietnam. The finalized proposal was signed on 4 February 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand, concluding seven years of negotiations. It currently cannot be ratified due to U.S. withdrawal from the agreement on 23 January 2017. The former Obama administration claimed that the agreement aimed to "promote economic growth; support the creation and retention of jobs; enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty in the signatories; countries; and promote transparency, good governance, and enhanced labour and environmental protections. The TPP contains measures to lower both non-tariff and tariff barriers to trade, and establish an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS)  mechanism.

19.RCEP

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

 Brunei

 Cambodia

 Indonesia

 Laos

 Malaysia

 Myanmar

 Philippines

 Singapore

 Thailand

 Vietnam and the six states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements

(Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand).

RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia. The agreement is scheduled to be finalized by the end of 2017. RCEP is viewed as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade agreement which includes several Asian and American nations but excludes China and India.

1.Asteroid ‘99942 Apophis’

• On April 13, 2029, a near-Earth asteroid will cruise by Earth, about 31,000 km above the surface.
• The asteroid, called 99942 Apophis, is 340 m wide.
• At one point, it will travel more than the width of the full Moon within a minute and it will get as bright as the stars in the Little Dipper, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• It is rare for an asteroid this size to pass by Earth so close.
• Although scientists have spotted small asteroids, on the order of 5-10 metres, flying by Earth at a similar distance, asteroids the size of Apophis are far fewer in number and so do not pass this close to Earth as often.
• Among potential lessons from Apophis, scientists are hoping they can use its flyby to learn about an asteroid’s interior.
• Apophis is one of about 2,000 currently known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids, and scientists also hope their observations might help gain important scientific knowledge that could one day be used for planetary defence.

2. Saturn’s moon Titan has 100-m deep methane lakes

• Saturn’s largest moon Titan has small liquid lakes that run more than 100 metres deep, perched atop hills and filled with methane, scientists have found using data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.

Methane Rains on Saturn

• Scientists have known that Titan’s hydrologic cycle works similarly to Earth’s — with one major difference. Instead of water evaporating from seas, forming clouds and rain, Titan does it all with methane and ethane.
• We tend to think of these hydrocarbons as a gas on Earth, unless they’re pressurized in a tank.
• However, Titan is so cold that they behave as liquids, like gasoline at room temperature on our planet.

3. Stephen Hawking’s hypothesis on black holes discarded

• An international research team including researchers from IUCAA, Pune has ruled out the possibility of primordial black holes being a major constituent of dark matter.
• This finding disproves a theoretical claim of Prof Stephen Hawking.

What is Dark matter?

• In the solar system, Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun, takes just 88 days to make one revolution around the sun, while Neptune, the farthest one, takes 165 years to make one round.
• In like manner, laws of gravity expect us to see stars closer to the centre of galaxies rotating faster than the stars on the edge.
• However, in most galaxies, the stars closer to the centre and the stars at the edge of the galaxies take almost same time to make one revolution.
• This implied that something invisible and enveloping the galaxies was giving an extra push to the outer stars, speeding them up.
• This entity has remained as one of the central unresolved puzzles in cosmology since 1930s. It is, no wonder, named `Dark Matter’.

4. GRAPES-3 Experiment

• For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014.

GRAPES-3 Experiment

• GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3) is designed to study cosmic rays with an array of air shower detectors and a large area muon detector.
• It aims to probe acceleration of cosmic rays in the following four astrophysical settings.
• It is located at Ooty in India and started as a collaboration of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India and the Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.

5. Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)

• NASA has selected a $42 million mission that will help scientists understand and, ultimately, forecast the vast space weather system around our planet.

Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) mission

• AWE is a Mission of Opportunity under NASA’s Heliophysics Explorers Program, which conducts focused scientific research and develops instrumentation to fill the scientific gaps between the agency’s larger missions.
• The AWE mission will cost $42 million and is planned to launch in August 2022, attached to the exterior of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station (ISS).
• The new experiment will obtain global observations of an important driver of space weather in a dynamic region of Earth’s upper atmosphere that can cause interference with radio and GPS communications.
• The AWE will focus on colourful bands of light in Earth’s atmosphere, called airglow, to determine what combination of forces drive space weather in the upper atmosphere.

6. How the Moon got ‘sunburns’: A result of sheer magnetism

• The Moon has visible ‘sunburns’, or distinctive patterns of swirls on its surface.
• NASA has now analysed data to show that these are a result of interactions between the Sun’s damaging radiation with pockets of lunar magnetic field.

Sunburns on Moon

• Every object, planet or person travelling through space has to contend with the Sun’s damaging radiation.
• Research using data from NASA’s ARTEMIS mission suggests how the solar wind and the Moon’s crustal magnetic fields work together to give the Moon a distinctive pattern of darker and lighter swirls.
• The Sun releases a continuous outflow of particles and radiation called the solar wind.
• Because the solar wind is magnetised, Earth’s natural magnetic field deflects the solar wind particles so that only a small fraction of them reach the planet’s atmosphere.
• But the Moon has no global magnetic field; magnetised rocks near the lunar surface do create small, localised spots of magnetic field.

7. NASA’s Opportunity Rover

• NASA has announced the end of the Opportunity rover’s mission.
• Opportunity rolled out on to the Martian surface in 2004, 20 days after its twin, Spirit, had landed on the other side of the Red Planet.
• Over the next 14 years, it got successes that made it one of the most overachieving explorer robots ever built.

Spirit and Opportunity Rovers

1. Spirit and Opportunity were identical, golf-cart-sized, solar-powered rovers.
2. Spirit landed at Gusev Crater; Opportunity followed, landing on the opposite side of Mars at Meridiani Planum.
3. Contact with Spirit was lost in March 2010, and the mission was declared over in May, 2011.
4. Opportunity worked on Mars for over 14 years, longer than any other robot. Both rovers were originally supposed to have only 90-day missions.
5. Opportunity travelled 45.16 km on the surface of Mars, more than any other rover.
6. Its equipment have been compromised by the storm, which struck while the rover was at a site called Perseverance Valley.

8. Ultima Thule: Farthest object ever visited, what secrets does it hold?

• Recently NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft carried out a historic flyby of a distant object called Ultima Thule followed by beaming back of the first images.
• It is the most distant object ever visited, which is one of the reasons that make the mission special.

Ultima Thule

1. Officially named (486958) 2014 MU69, it earned the nickname Ultima Thule following a public contest in 2018.
2. It is located in the Kuiper Belt, a disc in the outer Solar System (beyond Neptune) that consists of small bodies including Pluto.
3. 2014 MU69 was discovered in June 2014 by astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope but is so distant that many of its characteristics remain to be understood.

9. China’s Chang’e-4 lunar rover lands on moon’s far side

• China’s Chang’e-4 lunar rover scripted history when it made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon.

Chang’e-4 Mission

1. Chang’e-4 named after a Chinese moon goddess and comprising a lander and a rover, touched down at the preselected landing area at 177.6 degrees east longitude and 45.5 degrees south latitude on the far side of the moon.
2. The lunar explorer landed on the far side of the moon and has already sent back its first pictures from the surface.
3. The pioneering achievement is another demonstration of China’s ambitions to be a space power.
4. The robotic spacecraft is carrying instruments to analyse the unexplored region’s geology and will conduct biological experiments.
5. The probe was launched by a Long March-3B carrier rocket on December 8 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province.
6. It landed on the Von Karman crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin and then sent back a picture of the landing site shot by one of the monitor cameras on the probe’s lander, marking the world’s first image taken on the moon’s far side.
7. The scientific tasks of the Chang’e-4 mission include low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, detecting the mineral composition and shallow lunar surface structure, and measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment on the far side of the moon.

10. China’s BeiDou navigation satellite, rival to US GPS, starts global services

• China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), touted as a rival to the widely-used American GPS, has started providing global services.

BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)

1. Named after the Chinese term for the ‘Big Dipper’, the BeiDou system started serving China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region in 2012.
2. It will be the fourth global satellite navigation system after the US GPS, Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo.
3. The positioning accuracy of the system has reached 10 metres globally and five metres in the Asia-Pacific region.
4. Its velocity accuracy is 0.2 metres per second, while its timing accuracy stands at 20 nanoseconds, he said.
5. Pakistan has become the first country to use the BeiDou system ending its reliance on the Global Positioning System (GPS).

11. China launches first satellite for the space-based broadband project

• China on December 22 launched its first communication satellite to provide broadband internet services worldwide in an apparent bid to rival Google and other international firms.

Hongyun Project

1. The Hongyun project, started in September 2016, aims to build a space-based communications network to provide broadband internet connectivity to users around the world, especially those in the underserved regions.
2. The satellite was launched from a Long March 11 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western China.
3. It is the first in the Hongyun project planned by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC).
4. The spacecraft is tasked with verifying basic designs of Hongyun satellite and demonstrating low-orbit broadband communications technologies.

12. NASA’s HiRISE photographs Mars InSight lander from space

• NASA has pinpointed the exact landing location of its newly launched InSight lander, using a powerful camera onboard another of the agency’s spacecraft, hovering around the Red Planet.

After InSight’s landing

1. On November 26, InSight landed within a 130 km ellipse at Elysium Planitia on Mars.
2. However, there was no way to determine exactly where it touched down within this region.
3. InSight was set to study the interior of Mars, and will explore valuable science as NASA prepares to send astronauts to the Moon and later to Mars.
4. The spacecraft will operate on the surface for one Martian year, plus 40 Martian days, or sols, until November 24, 2020.

HiRISE

1. The HiRISE (which stands for High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) aboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spotted Martian landscape and ground around the lander.
2. It released three new features on the Martian landscape, which appear to be teal.
3. However, it is not their actual colour, but light reflected off their surfaces caused the colour to be saturated.
4. The ground around the lander appears dark, having been blasted by its retro-rockets during descent.

13. NASA’s ICESat-2 maps Antarctic ice sheet melting

• NASA’s ICESat-2 launched less than three months ago has mapped melting ice sheets in Antarctica and the resulting sea level rise across the globe, which could help improve climate forecasts.

ICESat-2 

1. The ICESat-2 stands for Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 .
2. It is measuring the height of sea ice to within an inch, tracing the terrain of previously unmapped Antarctic valleys, surveying remote ice sheets, and peering through forest canopies and shallow coastal waters.
3. With each pass of the ICESat-2 satellite, the mission is adding to datasets tracking Earth’s rapidly changing ice.
4. As ICESat-2 orbits over the Antarctic Ice Sheet, the photon returns reflect from the surface and show high ice plateaus, crevasses in the ice 20 metres deep, and the sharp edges of ice shelves dropping into the ocean.

14. Soyuz: first manned mission to ISS since October failure

Mission to ISS

1. A Soyuz rocket carrying Russian, American and Canadian astronauts took off from Kazakhstan and reached orbit in the first manned mission since a failed launch in October.
2. It was the first manned launch for the Soviet-era Soyuz when a rocket carrying astronauts failed just minutes after blast-off, forcing the pair to make an emergency landing.
3. They escaped unharmed but the failed launch as first such incident in Russia’s post-Soviet history raised concerns about the state of the programme.
4. The Soyuz is the only means of reaching the ISS since the U.S. retired the space shuttle in 2011.

15. NASA’s InSight spacecraft lands on red planet after six-month journey

Landing on the Red Planet

1. InSight, a NASA spacecraft designed to burrow beneath the surface of Mars landed on the red after a six-month, 482 million-km journey and a perilous, six-minute descent through the rose-hued atmosphere.
2. It was NASA’s ninth attempt to land at Mars since the 1976 Viking probes. All but one of the previous U.S. touchdowns was successful.
3. NASA last landed on Mars in 2012 with the Curiosity rover.
4. The plan called for the spacecraft to go from 12,300 mph (19,800 kph) to zero in six minutes flat as it pierced the Martian atmosphere and settled on the surface.

16. NASA’s Ralph and Lucy set to visit Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids in 2021

• NASA’s Ralph — a space instrument that has travelled as far as Pluto — is set to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, which are remnants from the early days of the solar system.

Ralph

1. Ralph was first launched aboard the New Horizons spacecraft in 2006 and obtained stunning flyby images of Jupiter and its moons.
2. This was followed by a visit to Pluto where Ralph took the first high-definition pictures of the iconic minor planet.
3. In 2021, Ralph is set to journey with the Lucy mission to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
4. The instrument will fly by another Kuiper Belt object called 2014 MU69 nicknamed Ultima Thule in January 2019.
5. Ralph’s observations of 2014 MU69 will provide unique insights into this small, icy world.

Lucy and L’Ralph

1. The Lucy spacecraft carries a near-twin of Ralph, called L’Ralph, which will investigate Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
2. The L’Ralph instrument suite will study this diverse group of bodies.
3. Lucy will fly by six Trojans and one Main Belt asteroid more than any other previous asteroid mission.
4. L’Ralph will detect the Trojan asteroids’ chemical fingerprints.
5. L’Ralph allows scientists to interpret data provided by the Sun’s reflected light that are the fingerprints of different elements and compounds.
6. These data could provide clues about how organic molecules form in primitive bodies, a process that might also have led to the emergence of life on Earth.

17. Earth has two extra, hidden ‘moons’

Three Moons for Earth

1. The existence of the two extra ‘moons’ was hotly debated for over 50 years but as per a recent National Geographic report, Hungarian astronomers and physicists have finally provided enough data to confirm.
2. The moon has at least two other companions made entirely of dust.
3. The team of researchers confirmed their presence through photographs of the natural bodies at a distance of approximately 250,000 miles more or less the same distance as our moon.

Facts about the newly discovered dust moons

1. The presence of the dust ‘moons’ or Kordylewski Clouds had been inferred by researchers since long before
2. The first glimpse of the clouds was seen only in 1961 by Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski, after whom the dust clouds were named
3. The new findings note that each Kordylewski cloud is about 15 by 10 degrees wide, or equal to 30 by 20 lunar disks in the night sky
4. They are spread over a space area that is almost nine times the width of Earth — about 65,000 by 45,000 miles in actual size
5. The dust ‘moons’ are huge but they are made of tiny dust particles that barely measure one micrometre across.

18. Mission Mercury: How will twin probes reach there, and why?

Context

• The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully sent two probes on a joint mission to Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.

Launch

1. An Ariane 5 rocket, launched from French Guyana, lifted an unmanned spacecraft, BepiColombo, which is carrying the two probes.
2. The spacecraft separated and went into orbit for the 7-year trip to Mercury.

Details of the Mission

1. It is the first European mission to Mercury, and the first to send two spacecraft to make complementary measurements of the planet and its environment at the same time.
2. The orbiters are ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO, or ‘Mio’).
3. The ESA-built Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) will carry the orbiters to Mercury using a combination of solar electric propulsion and gravity assist flybys.

19. Largest galaxy cluster in early universe found

1. Astronomers have discovered the largest and most massive galaxy super cluster yet found in the early universe.
2. It was formed just over two billion years after the Big Bang.

Hyperion

1. The galaxy proto-supercluster, nicknamed Hyperion, was identified using the VIMOS instrument on European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope in Chile.
2. Located in the constellation of Sextans, Hyperion was identified by a novel technique to analyse the vast amount of data obtained from the VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey.
3. Hyperion has a calculated mass more than one million billion times that of the Sun, making it the largest and most massive structure to be found so early in the formation of the universe.
4. Surprisingly the galaxy was evolved in very less time when the universe was relatively young.

20. NASA probe to fly by most distant object ever visited by a spacecraft

Setting a New Record

1. NASA’s New Horizons probe is on course to fly by the Kuiper Belt object nicknamed Ultima Thule, which is at a distance of 6.6 billion kilometers from Earth.
2. This event will set the record for the most distant object ever visited by a spacecraft.
3. The spacecraft has successfully performed the three and half-minute manoeuvre on October 3 to home in on its location.
4. The manoeuvre slightly tweaked the spacecraft’s trajectory and bumped its speed by 2.1 metres per second keeping it on track to fly past Ultima officially named 2014 MU69 on January 1, 2019.
5. This manoeuvre has led the farthest exploration in world more than a billion miles beyond Pluto.

Trajectory Correction Maneuver

1. New Horizons itself was about 6.35 billion km from earth when it carried out trajectory correction maneuver (TCM), the farthest course-correction ever performed.
2. This was the first Ultima targeting maneuver that used pictures taken by New Horizons itself to determine the spacecraft’s position relative to the Kuiper Belt object.
3. The TCM is done by determining the current trajectories and its target, and then calculating the manoeuvering required to put the spacecraft at the desired aim point for the flyby 3,500 km from Ultima at closest approach.

21. Japan drops new robot on asteroid

MASCOT Robot

1. The Hayabusa2 probe launched the French-German Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout, or MASCOT towards the Ryugu asteroid’s surface.
2. The 10-kg box-shaped MASCOT is loaded with sensors.
3. It can take images at multiple wavelengths, investigate minerals with a microscope, gauge surface temperatures and measure magnetic fields.
4. The MASCOT got separated from the spacecraft as planned and got safely landed

Hayabusa2 Probe

1. A Japanese probe launched a new observation robot towards an asteroid as it pursues a mission to shed light on the origins of the solar system.
2. The Hayabusa2 is scheduled later this month to deploy an “impactor” that will explode above the asteroid, shooting a two-kilo copper object into it to blast a small crater on the surface.
3. The probe will then hovers over the artificial crater and collect samples using an extended arm.

22. Parker, the world’s first mission to Sun lifts off

Parker Solar Probe

1. NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe – the space agency’s first mission to the sun – that will explore the sun’s atmosphere and its outermost atmosphere, the corona.
2. The spacecraft is named after 91-year old solar physicist Eugene Parker, 91, who was the first scientist to describe solar wind in 1958.
3. The probe, about the size of a car, will fly through the Sun’s atmosphere and will come as close as 3.8 million miles to the star’s surface, well within the orbit of Mercury.
4. It will be more than seven times closer than any spacecraft has come before. The Parker probe is expected to make 24 loops of the Sun over seven years.

23. NASA’s newest planet hunter starts operations

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)

1. After a successful launch in April this year, NASA’s newest planet hunter, the TESS has now started its search for planets around nearby stars.
2. TESS is NASA’s latest satellite to search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.
3. The mission will spend the next two years monitoring the nearest and brightest stars for periodic dips in their light.
4. TESS is expected to transmit its first series of science data back to Earth in August, and thereafter periodically every 13.5 days, once per orbit, as the spacecraft makes it closest approach to Earth.
5. These events, called transits, suggest that a planet may be passing in front of its star.
6. TESS is expected to find thousands of planets using this method, some of which could potentially support life.

24. Nasa unveils program to defend Earth from asteroid attack

Countering NEOs

1. The US and other nations have long sought to track “near-earth objects,” or NEOs, coordinating efforts through the International Asteroid Warning Network and the United Nations
2. The Trump Administration now wants to enhance those efforts to detect and track potential planet killers and to develop more capable means to deflect any that appear to be on a collision course
3. The government unveiled new goals this week for Nasa’s work on countering NEOs over the next decade

NEO threat

1. Nasa has documented roughly 96% of the objects large enough to cause a global catastrophe since work began in 1998
2. More than 300,000 objects larger than 40 meters (131 feet) wide orbit the sun as NEOs, according to Nasa estimates
3. Many of these were difficult to detect more than a few days in advance
4. Forty meters is about the average size an object must be to make it through the atmosphere without burning up

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission

1. The goal of this mission is to impact the smaller “moonlet” of a binary asteroid called Didymos, to learn how well we may be able to alter the course of a future killer rock
2. It is expected to be complete by 2021-2022

International NGOs

Global Footprint Network

Established When: In 2003, Mathis Wackernagel, PhD, and Susan Burns founded Global Footprint Network.

Headquarter: California, USA

Objective of the body: Global Footprint Network’s goal is to create a future where all humans can live well, within the means of one planet Earth.

Key Functions:  

• It develops and promotes tools for advancing sustainability, including the ecological footprint and biocapacity, which measure the amount of resources we use and how much we have.
• These tools aim at bringing ecological limits to the center of decision-making.

 

Green Cross International

Established When and by Whom: It was founded by former Soviet Union President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993.

Headquarter: GCI is headquartered in Geneva.

Objective of the body:  It is working to address the inter-connected global challenges of security, poverty eradication and environmental degradation through a combination of advocacy and local projects.

Key Functions:

To achieve its objective GCI:

• Promote legal, ethical and behavioural norms that ensure basic changes in the values, actions and attitudes of government, the private sector and civil society, necessary to develop a sustainable global community
• Contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising from environmental degradation.
• Provide assistance to people affected by the environmental consequences of wars, conflicts and man made calamities.

 

Greenpeace

Established When and by Whom: Greenpeace was founded by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, Canadian and US ex-pat environmental activists in 1971.

Headquarter: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Objective of the body: Greenpeace states its goal is to “ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity”.

Key Functions:

• Greenpeace focuses its campaigning on worldwide issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering, and anti-nuclear issues.
• It uses , lobbying, research, and ecotage to achieve its goals
• Greenpeace is known for its direct actions and has been described as the most visible environmental organization in the world.

India specific trivia: Greenpeace India was founded in 2001, and is a legally registered society with offices in Chennai, Delhi,  Bengaluru and Patna.

 

International Network for Sustainable Energy(INFORSE)

Established When and by Whom: INFORSE was established in 1992 at the Global Forum, which was a parallel forum to the UNCED Conference so called Earth Summit.

Headquarter: Denmark

Objective: It is a  network of environmental organizations promoting sustainable energy to protect the environment and to decrease poverty.

Key Functions:

Develops scenarios for a transition to a 100% renewables energy supply with factor four energy efficiency by 2050. A global, EU-27 and European national scenarios are developed. The name of the sustainable energy model is INFORSE Vision 2050.

Participation on UN Conferences as NGO observer as INFORSE has Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC and UNFCCC.

 

Project GreenWorld International

Established When and by Whom: It is founded by a student at Indian School, Salalah, Hridith Sudev (then aged 12), and his younger brother Samved Shaji (then aged 7), in 2012.

Headquarter: Salalah, Dhofar, Oman

Objective: Turn degraded lands green again. Raise the living standards of the rural poor. Combat climate change. Create holistic ways to work for the health of our shared biosphere and the harmony of our global village.

Key Functions:

• The GWC connects those who want to help create a more sustainable world with on-the-ground projects that benefit people and planet.
• It focusses on providing ecological and social benefits where they’re most needed.
• It seek out effective grassroots partners, then finding the simplest, most direct ways we can all contribute to their success.
• Its work centers around tree-planting.
• It allies with local experts who best know the problems and opportunities in their country. Their trusted, ground-level partners work with villagers who are motivated to work for the benefits our programs bring.
• Contributions from the GWC get planted right in the ground. We always learn from our partners, and collaborate with them on creative solutions.

India specific trivia: PGWI’s Indian wing, the Project GreenIndia was founded On 17 July 2016 in Vatakara Municipality of Kerala, India. Various tree plantation drives, summer camps and cleanup campaigns mark their activity.

 

Rainforest Alliance

Established When and by Whom: It was founded in 1987 by Daniel Katz.

Headquarter: USA

Objective: It is working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

Key Functions:

• The Rainforest Alliance launched the world’s first sustainable forestry certification program in 1989 to encourage market-driven and environmentally and socially responsible management of forests, tree farms, and forest resources.
• The organization verifies carbon offset projects to standards that address greenhouse gas sequestration, biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
• The Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable agriculture program includes training programs for farmers and the certification of small, medium and large farms that produce more than 100 different crops, including avocado, cattle, cinnamon, coffee, palm oil, and potatoes, as well as tea, cocoa, and bananas.
• The organization launched a sustainable tourism program in 2000 and provides small- and medium-sized tourism businesses in Latin America with training and tools to minimize their impacts on the environment and local communities.

 

Society for the Environment (SocEnv)

Established When and by Whom:  SocEnv attained Royal Chartered status on 6 May 2004 and issued the first licenses to enable the award of Chartered Environmentalist in September 2004.

Headquarter: England

Objective: The Society aspires to be the leading and coordinating body for professionals working in sustainability and environmental matters and a pre-eminent champion of a sustainable environment.

Key Functions:  It is an umbrella body that can license its member institutions to confer chartered status on sustainability and environmental professionals worldwide.

 

The Climate Reality Project

Established When and by Whom: The Alliance for Climate Protection was founded in 2006 by Al Gore to encourage civic action against climate change.

Headquarter: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Objective: The Climate Reality Project is a non-profit organization focused on climate change education and countering climate change denial campaigns worldwide.

Key Functions:

• In 2013, The Climate Reality Project released the Reality Drop tool, a news aggregator that collects online news stories about climate change.
• The Climate Reality Project also addresses climate change through a network of approximately 10,000 grassroots Climate Reality Leaders, which the organization calls the Climate Reality Leadership Corps.

India specific trivia: Approximately 50 principals from government schools falling under the Department of Education, Government of Uttarakhand participated in the conclave. The event was organized in partnership with The Climate Reality Project India, UNESCO, New Delhi and HaritaDhara Research Development and Education Foundation (HRDEF).

 

Traffic (conservation programme)

Established When and by Whom: It was founded in 1976 as a strategic alliance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Headquarter: Cambridge, UK

Objective: The organization’s aim is to ‘ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature’.

Key Functions:

• It is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on the trade of wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity and sustainable development.
• It promotes sustainable wildlife trade (the green stream work) and combats wildlife crime and trafficking (the red stream work).
• TRAFFIC’s work involves research, publication of influential reports, projects, education, outreach and advocacy on the issue of wildlife trade.

 

Wetlands International

Established When and by Whom: Founded in 1937 as the International Wildfowl Inquiry the organisation was focused on the protection of waterbirds as part of the British section.

Later, the name became International Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB).

Headquarter: Netherlands

Objective: Its mission is to sustain and restore wetlands, their resources, and biodiversity.

Key Functions:

• Wetlands International’s work ranges from research and community-based field projects to advocacy and engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora and conventions.
• Wetlands International works through partnerships and is supported by contributions from an extensive specialist expert network and tens of thousands of volunteers.

India specific trivia: In the Himalaya Mountains the organization works to restore wetlands to reduce the impacts of glacier melt and precipitation extremes on densely populated regions downstream India, China and Bangladesh.

 

Wildlife Conservation Society

Established When and by Whom: WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS).

Headquarter: USA

Objective: To save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

Key Functions:

• Currently works to conserve more than two million square miles of wild places around the world.
• Today WCS is at work on some 500 projects in more than 60 nations around the world that are intended to help protect both wildlife and the wild places in which they live.
• The organization endeavors to protect 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity—from the gorillas of Africa and the tigers of Asia to macaws in South America and the sharks, whales and turtles traveling through the planet’s seas.

India specific trivia: Wildlife Conservation Society – India Program describes the work of several partner institutions engaged in saving wildlife and wild lands in full compliance with all Indian laws.

WCS – India Program mission has combined cutting-edge research on tigers and other wildlife, with national capacity building and effective site-based conservation through constructive collaborations with governmental and non-governmental partners.

Uncompromisingly committed to wildlife conservation, WCS – India Program inspires and nurtures positive attitude towards nature in people through its scientific and conservation endeavors.

 

World Resources Institute

Established When and by Whom:  It was established in 1982 with funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation under the leadership of James Gustave Speth

Headquarter: USA

Objective: To move human society to live in ways that protect earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Key Functions: WRI’s activities are focused on six areas: climate; energy; food; forests; water; and sustainable cities.

India specific trivia: WRI established its India office in 2011. It  works with leaders in business, government, and civil society to expand clean energy development, combat climate change, and develop sustainable transport solutions.

 

World Wide Fund for Nature

Established When: It was founded in 1969.

Headquarter: Switzerland

Objective: Its mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

Key Functions:

• It is the world’s largest conservation organization with over five million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300.
• The living planet report is published every two years by WWF since 1998, it is based on living planet index and ecological footprint calculation.
• Currently, much of its work concentrates on the conservation of three biomes that contain most of the world’s biodiversity: oceans and coasts, forests, and freshwater ecosystems.
• Among other issues, it is also concerned with endangered species, sustainable production of commodities and climate change.

Funding:  WWF is a foundation, with 55% of funding from individuals and bequests, 19% from government sources (such as the World Bank, DFID, USAID) and 8% from corporations in 2014.

India specific trivia: Established as a Charitable Trust on 27 November, 1969, WWF-India set out with the aim of reducing the degradation of Earth’s natural environment and building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

In 1987, the organization changed it’s name from the World Wildlife Fund to World Wide Fund for Nature-India. With close to five decades of extensive work in the sector, WWF-India today is one of the leading conservation organizations in the country.

 

Bioversity International

Established When and by Whom: Bioversity International was originally established by the CGIAR( Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) in 1974.

Headquarter: Maccarese, Rome

Objective of the body: Bioversity International is a global research-for-development organization with a vision – that agricultural biodiversity nourishes people and sustains the planet.

Key Functions:

• It delivers scientific evidence, management practices and policy options to use and safeguard agricultural and tree biodiversity to attain sustainable global food and nutrition security.
• It works with partners in low-income countries in different regions where agricultural and tree biodiversity can contribute to improved nutrition, resilience, productivity and climate change adaptation.

India specific trivia: The international status of Bioversity International is conferred under an Establishment Agreement and it is also signed by India.

 

BirdLife International

Established When and by Whom:  BirdLife International was founded as in 1922 the International Council for Bird Preservation by American ornithologists T. Gilbert Pearson and Jean Theodore Delacour under the name International Committee for Bird Protection.

The group was renamed International Committee for Bird Preservation in 1928, International Council for Bird Preservation in 1960, and BirdLife International in 1994.

Headquarter: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Objective of the body: It promotes the conservation of birds and their habitats.

Key Functions:

• It is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources
• BirdLife International’s priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding important sites for birds, maintaining and restoring key bird habitats, and empowering conservationists worldwide

India specific trivia: Last year, the BirdLife International has recorded that 11 water bird species of Kerala come under the IUCN Red list threatened categories with the black bellied tern being one of the ‘Endangered’ waterbird species in Kerala.

 

Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL)

Established When and by Whom: It is operating since 2007. And founded by Marshall Saunders.

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: The goal of CCL is to build political support across party lines to put a price on carbon, specifically a revenue neutral carbon fee and dividend (CF&D) at the national level.

Key Functions: It trains and supports volunteers to build relationships with their elected representatives in order to influence climate policy. 

India specific trivia: CCL also have an active group in India.

 

Climate Action Network

Headquarter: Beirut, Lebanon

Objective:  Working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.

Key Functions:

• CAN members work to achieve their objective through information exchange and the coordinated development of NGO strategy on international, regional, and national climate issues.
• CAN has regional network hubs that coordinate these efforts around the world.
• It is most active at meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where it publishes a daily newsletter “ECO”, (presenting the views of the Environmental NGO community)

India specific trivia:

Under the CAN

• The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) is a network of young people in 18 states who are concerned about climate change & environment issues.
• Started in 2008, IYCN was registered as a society in 2009 with representation from 8 states of India and today IYCN has 19 chapters in different states and offices in 7 locations with outreach to thousands of youth in colleges, schools, corporations and institutions in India.
• The purpose of IYCN is to bring the voice of Indian youth on the global platform as South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions affected by potentially catastrophic climate change & environment issues.
• IYCN provides technical, financial and administrative support to increase youth participation in protection of the environment of India as well as establish consensus on what role India should play in the global debate of climate change.

 

Conservation International

Established When and by Whom: Founded by Spencer Beebe and Peter Seligmann in 1987

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: Its goal is to protect nature as a source of food, fresh water, livelihoods and a stable climate.

Key Functions:

• CI’s work focuses on science, policy, and partnership with businesses and communities
• The foundation of CI’s work is “science, partnership and field demonstration.”
• The organization has scientists, policy workers and other conservationists on the ground in more than 30 countries. It also relies heavily on thousands of local partners.
• CI aims to make the protection of nature a key consideration in economic development decisions around the world
• The organization has been active in United Nations discussions on issues such as climate change and biodiversity, and its scientists present at international conferences and workshops.

 

Earth Charter Initiative

Established When: In 2000

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: The stated mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace.

Key Functions:

• To promote development of a global network of Earth Charter supporters and activists with the collaboration of advisors, affiliates, partner organizations, and task forces.
• To create and disseminate high quality communications and educational materials to different target groups that will reach millions of people.
• To translate key Earth Charter materials in all major languages of the world.
• To set up Earth Charter websites in all countries in partnership with key individuals and organizations.
• To promote the Earth Charter vision in key local, national and international events and engage individuals and organizations in applying it in their areas of activity.
• To position the Earth Charter in relation to important international initiatives and processes so that its ethical framework can be used as a guide in efforts to address urgent challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, the Millennium Development Goals, food security, and conflict resolution.
• To undertake training programmes to facilitate the uptake and application of the Earth Charter in different sectors.
• To develop the guidance and instruments to help organizations, businesses, and local communities use the Earth Charter to assess progress toward sustainable development.

 

Earth Day Network  

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.

Key Functions:

• Earth Day events in more than 193 countries are now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network
• EDN works to broaden the definition of “environment” to include issues that affect our health and our communities, such as greening deteriorated schools, creating green jobs and investment, and promoting activism to stop air and water pollution.

India specific trivia: Earth Day Network has made significant inroads across India and now has a permanent Indian Program – EDN India – located in Kolkata.

 

Environmental Defense Fund

Established When and by Whom:  The organization’s founders, includes Art Cooley, George Woodwell, Charles Wurster, Dennis Puleston, Victor Yannacone and Robert Smolker. It was founded in 1967.

Headquarter: USA

Objective:  EDF aims to reduce the pollution and slow global warming, with strategies including overhauling U.S. energy systems, protecting the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on pollution, training new climate/energy leaders, and slowing deforestation in Brazil and the Amazon rainforest.

Key Functions:

• It is basically nonprofit environmental advocacy group.
• The group is known for its work on issues including global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health, and advocates using sound science, economics and law to find environmental solutions that work.
• It is nonpartisan, and its work often advocates market-based solutions to environmental problems.

 

Fauna and Flora International

Established When and by Whom: FFI was founded in 1903 as the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire by a group of British naturalists and American statesmen in Africa.

It later became the Fauna Preservation Society, before being renamed Fauna and Flora Preservation Society in 1981.

Headquarter: Cambridge, UK

Objective of the body: Conservation charity

Key Functions:

FFI has a seven-step approach to conserving biodiversity:

• Building local capacity for conservation
• Integrating biodiversity and human needs
• Direct protection of species and habitats
• Securing land for conservation
• Emergency response to conservation needs
• Influencing policy and the practice of conservation
• Bridging the gap between business and biodiversity

In line with its seven-step approach to conservation, Fauna & Flora International has endorsed the Forests Now Declaration, which calls for new market based mechanisms to protect tropical forests.

India specific trivia: Last year, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), has contributed to the discovery of a previously undescribed species of evergreen tree in one of India’s most iconic natural landscapes.

 

Regional Organizations

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Established When and by Whom:  The EEA was established by the European Economic Community (EEC) became operational in 1994

Headquarter: It is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objective of the body: The EEA’s mandate is:

• To help the Community and member and cooperating countries make informed decisions about improving the environment, integrating environmental considerations into economic policies and moving towards sustainability
• To coordinate the European environment information and observation network

Key Functions:

• The European environment information and observation network (Eionet) is a partnership network of the EEA and the countries.
• The EEA is responsible for developing the network and coordinating its activities.
• To do so, the EEA works closely together with national focal points, typically national environment agencies or environment ministries.
• They are responsible for coordinating national networks involving many institutions (about 350 in all).

India specific trivia: No official relationship

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)

Established When and by Whom:  It is a regional partnership programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The project, started in 1994, was originally known as Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas (SDS-SEA).

Headquarter: Quezon City, Philippines

Objective of the body: Marine and Coastal Areas Environmental Management

Key Functions:

• It aims to proactively build effective intergovernmental and intersectoral partnerships and expand the capacities of countries and other stakeholders with innovative, cross-cutting policies, tools and services for integrated coastal and ocean management.
• PEMSEA applies integrated coastal management (ICM) as our primary approach for generating and sustaining healthy oceans, people and economies.

Funding:  UN

 

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA

        NATIONAL PARKS                                                           STATES

Papikonda National Park	—	Andhra Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi National Park	—	Andhra Pradesh
Lanjamadugu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Andhra Pradesh
Namdapha National Park	—	Arunachal Pradesh
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Arunachal Pradesh
Manas National Park (UNESCO)	—	Assam
Nameri National Park	—	Assam
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park	—	Assam
Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO)	—	Assam
Dibru Sai Khowa National Park	—	Assam
Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Bihar
Valmild National Park	—	Bihar
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Bihar
Indravati National Park	—	Chhattisgarh
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Chhattisgarh
Kanger Valley National Park	—	Chhattisgarh
Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Chhattisgarh
Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park	—	Chhattisgarh
Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Chhattisgarh
Bhagwan Mahavir National Park	—	Goa
Vansda National Park	—	Gujarat
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Gujarat
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary	—	Gujarat
Marine National Park (First Marine National Park)	—	Gujarat
Black Buck National Park	—	Gujarat
Gir Forest National Park	—	Gujarat
Kalesar National Park	—	Haryana
Sultanpur National Park	—	Haryana
Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Himachal Pradesh
Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Himachal Pradesh
Inderkilla National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Pin Valley National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Khirganga National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Simbalbara National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Himachal Pradesh
Salim All National Park	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Kishtwar National Park	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Hemis National Park (Largest in Area)	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Dachigam National Park	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Kara Koram Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Betla National Park	—	Jharkhand
Hazaribagh National Park	—	Jharkhand
Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jharkhand
Nagarhole National Park	—	Karnataka
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Kudremukh National Park	—	Karnataka
Bannerghatta National Park	—	Karnataka
Bandipur National Park	—	Karnataka
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Periyar National Park	—	Kerala
Silent Valley National Park	—	Kerala
Eravikulam National Park	—	Kerala
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Anamudi Shola National Park	—	Kerala
Pampadum Shola National Park	—	Kerala
Pench National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park (Highest Numbers of Tigers)	—	Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Madhav National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Van Vihar National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
National Chambal Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Pachmari Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
Phen Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
Ratapani Tiger Reserve	—	Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Chandoli National Park	—	Maharashtra
Gugamal National Park	—	Maharashtra
Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park	—	Maharashtra
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Navegaon National Park	—	Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park	—	Maharashtra
Dhakna Kolkaz Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Wain Ganga Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Keibul Lamjao National Park	—	Manipur
Yagoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Manipur
Nokrek National Park	—	Meghalaya
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Meghalaya
Balphakram National Park	—	Meghalaya
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Mizoram
Murlen National Park	—	Mizoram
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Mizoram
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park	—	Mizoram
Pulebarze Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Nagaland
Intanki National Park	—	Nagaland
Simplipal National Park	—	Orissa
Chilka Wild Life Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Bhitarkanika National Park	—	Orissa
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Ranthambore National Park	—	Rajasthan
Sariska National Park	—	Rajasthan
First National Park in the world, which was successfully adapted by Royal Bengal Tiger]
Darrah National Park	—	Rajasthan
Desert National Park	—	Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park (UNESCO)	—	Rajasthan
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Jawaharsagar Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Khangchendzonga National Park	—	Sikkim
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Mukurthi National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Shenbagathoppu Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tamilnadu
Satyamanglam wild Life Sanctuary	—	Tamilnadu
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Guindy National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Mudumalai National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Vettangundi Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tamilnadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Mrugavani National Park	—	Telangana
Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tripura
Bisan (Rajbari) National Park	—	Tripura
Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tripura
Clouded Leopard National Park	—	Tripura
Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Uttar Pradesh
Dudhwa National Park	—	Uttar Pradesh
Ranipur Sanctuary	—	Uttar Pradesh
Rajaji National Park	—	Uttarakhand
Gangotri National ParkGangotri National PaA	—	Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi National Park (UNESCO)	—	Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park (Oldest Park)	—	Uttarakhand
Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO)	—	Uttarakhand
Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary	—	Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar	—	Uttarakhand
Kedamath Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Uttarakhand
Sundarbans National Park	—	West Bengal
Gorumara National Park	—	West Bengal
Buxa National Park	—	West Bengal
Jaldapara National Park	—	West Bengal
Neora Valley National Park	— .	West Bengal
Singalila National Park	—	West Bengal
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Saddle Peak National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
South Button Island National Park	—	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
Mount Harriet National Park	—	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
North Button Island National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Campbell Bay National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Galathea National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Background

• Founded by Alexander Cunningham, who is also revered as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”
  • He was the protege of James Prinsep <who was he, post in comments>
  • It was Lord Canning who helped pass a statute for ASI’s establishment in 1861
• Post Independence, it’s a Statutory body that now works under Ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains act (AMASR Act), 1958
• It works as an attached Office of the Ministry of Culture
• ASI has 3678 protected monuments and Archaeology sites of National Importance + 29 cultural under the World Heritage List by UNESCO

Initiatives by ASI

1. Museums

ASI’s museums are customarily located right next to the sites that their inventories are associated with “so that they may be studied amid their natural surroundings and not lose focus by being transported”.

A dedicated Museums Branch maintains a total of 44 museums spread across the country.

2. Publications by ASI

• Epigraphia Indica
• Ancient India
• Indian Archaeology: A Review (Annually)

3. Library

• Central Archaeological Library in the National Archives building in Janpath, New Delhi

2.

Background

• INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) was founded in 1984, is an autonomous NGO for preservation of Indian Art and Cultural Heritage
• Its motto is “Dedicated to Conservation“

Tasks undertaken by INTACH

• Restoration of monuments that fall outside the coverage of Archaeological Survey of India and other government agencies <Remember that ASI hasn’t shown much interest towards working with INTACH>
• Advocacy for heritage property conservation
• Public awareness through heritage walks and buses <Just like Bombay Natural History Society does, its a common feature of these type of NGOs>
• Establishment of heritage clubs in schools
• Holding of awareness workshop for teachers of schools and colleges

Some notable works done by INTACH

1. It had developed Raghurajpur, Orissa, a place famous for its ‘Pattachitra’ artists and ‘Gotipua’ dance troupes as a heritage village, which has now become a major rural tourist destination
   • Pattachitra is a cloth-based scroll painting of Odisha. Patta = Cloth and Chitra = Picture. Most of these paintings depict stories of Hindu deities of Jagannath and Vaishnava Sect. It has also been given a GI tag. To know more about GI tags, click here to read.
   • Gotipua is a traditional dance form of Odisha, and the precursor of Odissi. Its name comes from Gopi (Single boys), who dress as women to praise Jagannath and Krishna. The dance is executed by a group of boys who perform acrobatic figures inspired by the life of Radha and Krishna.
2. It later used the same pattern to develop Padmanabhpur village, Ganjam district, Orissa, famous for its weavers and folk dancers, into another heritage destination.

3.Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi

• Its an Autonomous organization fully financed by the Government
• Also referred to as India’s National Academy of Letters
• Entrusted with promotion of Literature (“Sahitya” means Literature in Hindi) through following mechanisms:

1. Literary dialogue, publication and promotion
2. Undertakes literary activities in Twenty-four Indian languages
   • Trap Info: Note that it goes beyond 22 languages of the 8th Schedule to include English + Rajasthani
3. Development of Indian literature

Awards and Fellowships

• Sahitya akademi award (Plaque and Cash of 1 lac)
  • Poetry, Novel, Essay, Autobiography, Literary Criticism in 24 languages
• Bhasha samman
  • Awards to writers for significant contribution to Indian languages other than the above 24 major ones
  • Contribution to classical & medieval literature
  • Given to writers, scholars, editors, collectors, performers or translators
• Premchand fellowships (started in 2005)
  • Given to persons of eminence in the Field of Culture from SAARC countries <thus its scope extends to beyond (i) India and (ii) Literature>
• Coomarswamy fellowships
  • Given to scholars from Asian countries <not just SAARC> to spend 3 to 12 months in India to pursue a literary project
• Sahitya Akademi fellowship
  • Given to the “immortals of literature“
  • Limited to 21 people at a time
  • First recipient was 2nd president of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
  • Other notable ones: Khushwant Singh, VS Naipaul

4.Sangeet Natak Akademi  (1953)

Mandate/Objectives:

• Another Autonomous Institution under Ministry of Culture
• Promotion of performing arts– Indian music, dance and drama
• Maintains a Gallery of Musical Instruments
• Maintenance of standards of training in the performing arts
• Teaching institutions
  • Kathak Kendra, Delhi (Classical Dance from Uttar Pradesh)
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Akademi in Imphal
  • Sattriya Centre (Classical Dance from Assam)
  • Centre for Kutiyattam (Age-old Sanskrit theatre of Kerala; Also an Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage as per UNESCO)
  • Chhau Centre (Tribal martial dance in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal)

Awards:

1. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award:
   • Highest national recognition conferred on eminent artistes.
2. Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya
   • To distinguished individuals for their contribution to the field of arts, music, dance and theatre.
3. Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puruskar:
   • Given to young artists for their talent in the fields of music, dance and drama
   • Notable info about Ustad Bismillah Khan:
     • Known for popularizing the shehnai, a subcontinental wind instrument of the oboe class
     • Awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the Third classical musician after M. S. Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be accorded this distinction.

5.INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS (ICCR)

• ICCR is analogous to the British Council, France’s Alliance Francaise, Germany’s Goethe-Institut and China’s Confucius Institute
• Founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first Education Minister
  • Maulana also helped establish other institutions that we’ve covered previously in this series such as Sahitya Akademi, and Sangeet Natak Akademi. He also founded Lalit Kala Akademi <promotes Visual Arts- Folk and Contemporary>
• Soft power vision, ‘to promote a communion of cultures and a creative dialogue among nations.’
• Its broad mandate is to develop relations with:
  • Other countries and peoples (Cultural agreements with 72 countries)
  • National and inter-national organisations in the field of culture

General assembly

• Consists of representatives each of the Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi
• Eminent artistes from the fields of performing, fine and plastic arts
• Representatives of universities or of institutions
• President shall be appointed by the President of India and shall hold office for three years

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
[pib] Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)
[op-ed snap] Beyond the free trade idealism
RBI divests entire stake in NHB, NABARD
Supreme Court directs RBI to alter disclosure policy

Enviro & Biodiversity
Green issues in J&K
Global Deal for Nature (GDN)
Emperor Penguin colony in Antarctica vanishes
Wild Food Plants

Governance
Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits
Kumbh brought Allahabad to verge of an epidemic, says NGT
World’s first Malaria Vaccine: RTS,S (Mosquirix)
WHO guidelines on physical activity for children under 5 years of age
Dentists can practise as General Physicians after bridge course
Khasi ‘kingdoms’ to revisit 1947 agreements
Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2019

International Relations
U.S. ends waiver for India on Iran oil
One belt one road initiative
Terror attack in Srilanka
[op-ed snap] A natural next step
[op-ed snap] India’s perilous obsession with Pakistan

Polity
Right to travel abroad is a basic human right: SC
Explained: What happens when judges face allegations?
[op-ed snap] In defence of hung House
[op-ed snap] Just recompense
[op-ed snap] CJI Sexual Harassment Case: How Fragile Is Judicial Independence?

Science Tech
Bacteriophages in Ganga Water
Soon, heritage by-laws for Purana Qila, Khair-ul-Manazil
Scientists create speech from brain signals

And these issues will be covered in detail

• Iran oil Crisis
• Judiciary Transparency and independence issues
• India Pakistan Trade across LoC
• Terror Attack on Sri Lanka
• Ganga Water
• India’s issues with Belt road Initiative
• Indsutrial Policy changes to boost growth

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

 

WORLD BANK  GROUP

• The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and most famous development bank in the world and is an observer at the United Nations Development Group. Its five organizations are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
  

  The World Bank

• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), better known as the World Bank, was established at the same time as the International Monetary Fund to tackle the problem of international investment.
• The World Bank (IBRD) is an inter-governmental institution, corporate in form, whose capital stock is entirely owned by its member-governments. Initially, only nations that were members of the IMF could be members of the World Bank; this restriction on membership was subsequently relaxed.

International Development Association

• The International Development Association (IDA) is the part of the World Bank group that helps the world’s poorest countries. Overseen by 173 shareholder nations, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing loans (called “credits”) and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions.
• IDA complements the World Bank’s original lending arm—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). IBRD was established to function as a self-sustaining business and provides loans and advice to middle-income and credit-worthy poor countries. IBRD and IDA share the same staff and headquarters and evaluate projects with the same rigorous standards.
• IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 771 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa, and is the single largest source of donor funds for basic social services in these countries.
• IDA lends money on concessional terms. This means that IDA credits have a zero or very low interest charge and repayments are stretched over 25 to 40 years, including a 5- to 10-year grace period. IDA also provides grants to countries at risk of debt distress.
• In addition to concessional loans and grants, IDA provides significant levels of debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief initiative (MDRI).

 

IFC

• The IFC was established in 1956 to support the growth of the private sector in the developing world.
• While the World Bank (IBRD and IDA) provides credit and non-lending assistance to governments, the IFC provides loans and equity financing, advice, and technical services to the private sector.

 

 The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

• It is an international financial institution which offers political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees. Such guarantees help investors protect foreign direct investments against political and non-commercial risks in developing countries. MIGA is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States.
• MIGA is owned and governed by its member states, but has its own executive leadership and staff which carry out its daily operations. Its shareholders are member governments which provide paid-in capital and have the right to vote on its matters.

 

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

You must remember that the name World Bank does not refers to a bank in conventional sense (this is because it performs development function). And International Monetary Fund or IMF performs the lending function(which we associate with banks).

Structure and Size of IMF:

The International Monetary Fund:

• 188 countries member.
• Headquarters:  Washington, D.C.
• It has 2,300 staff members.

Functions of IMF

The International Monetary Fund functions :

• The IMF is basically a lending institution which gives advances to members in need.
• It is the mentor of its members’ monetary and exchange rate policies.
• To maintain the stability in Exchange rate system around the World.

 Operations of IMF and World Bank :

source

 

 

ADB

Asian Development Bank (ADB) was set up to fight poverty in Asia and the Pacific. ADB is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific.  Established in 1966, ADB is now owned by 63 members, mostly from the region.  The headquarters is in Manila with 24 other offices around the world.

AIIB & NDB

• The New Development Bank (NDB) is established by The BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). According to the Agreement on the NDB, “the Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments.” Moreover, the NDB “shall cooperate with international organizations and other financial entities, and provide technical assistance for projects to be supported by the Bank
• The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The first regional office of the NDB will be opened in Johannesburg, South Africa

 

AIIB

Why Has India joined the AIIB?

There are many reasons for it:

1. India is preparing start a large number of infrastructure projects, but they’re short of money, so they need help from China. Of course they can get money from ADB or WB, but they also need to find a balance between China and USA.
2. It’s a great chance to develop economy links between India and China. These two countries both has huge market, and they also keep a rapid growth of economy.
3. Though AIIB is a Chinese-lead financial institution, India is welcomed to play a important role in it. It’s the reason why the UK, Germany and France all want to be a member of AIIB.

WTO

Introduction

World Trade Organization, as an institution was established in 1995. It replaced General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) which was in place since 1946.

 

UNO

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

The United Nations was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Its predecessor, the League of Nations, was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and disbanded in 1946.

 

UN TIMELINE:

Organisation Structure of UN : 

 

General Assembly: 

• The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.
• It is Comprise of all 193 Members of the United Nations.
• It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.

 Security Council: 

• IT has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• It has 15 Members, consisting of 5 permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and 10 non-permanent members.
• Non Permanent seats are held for two-year terms, with member states voted in by the General Assembly on a regional basis
• Five permanent members hold veto power over UN resolutions, allowing a permanent member to block adoption of a resolution, though not debate.
• The presidency of the Security Council rotates alphabetically each month

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) :

• It is the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and institutions.
• Voting in the Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote.
• The president is elected for a one-year term and chosen amongst the small or middle powers represented on ECOSOC.
• ECOSOC has 54 members, which are elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term.
• Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographical representation with fourteen allocated to African States, eleven to Asian States, six to Eastern European States, ten to Latin American and Caribbean States, and thirteen to Western European and other States.
• The work of specialised agencies and programmes of UN like WHO, FAO, UNESCO etc. is coordinated by ECOSOC.

Trusteeship Council :

• It was established in 1945 by the UN Charter to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories placed under the administration of 7 Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.
• By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-government or independence. Its work completed, the Council has amended its rules of procedure to meet as and where occasion may require.

The International Court of Justice:

• It is the UN’s main judicial organ.
• It is located at the Hague in the Netherlands
• It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions to the UN and its specialized agencies.  Its Statute is an integral part of the United Nations Charter.
• ICJ has 15 judges, who serve 9-year terms; each from a different nation, elected by the General Assembly and Security Council.
• The Court settles legal disputes between nations only and not between individuals, in accordance with international law. If a country does not wish to take part in a proceeding it does not have to do so, unless required by special treaty provisions. Once a country accepts the Court’s jurisdiction, it must comply with its decision.
• The Court can only hear a dispute when requested to do so by one or more States.  It cannot deal with a dispute of its own motion.
• Difference between  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and  the International Criminal Court (ICC)

1.  The International Court of Justice has no jurisdiction to try individuals accused of war crimes or crimes against humanity.  As it is not a criminal court, it does not have a prosecutor able to initiate proceedings.
2.  International Criminal Court set up under the Rome Statute. It  was established as an independent international organization in 2002 and is not governed by the UN.
3.  All UN member states are automatically members of the ICJ; Nations must individually become members of the ICC.
4. The ICJ settles disputes between member states, with their consent, on issues of sovereignty, trade, natural resources, treaty violations, treaty interpretation, and etc.
5.  The ICC tries individual people for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression, according to the Rome Statute.
6. The ICJ issues both binding judgments and advisory opinions. Its judgments may then be enforced by the Security Council if the state fails to comply. The ICC, on the other hand, hands down criminal prosecutions or acquittals.

 Secretariat:

• It carries out the day-to-day work of the Organization.
• It services the other principal organs and carries out tasks as varied as the issues dealt with by the UN: administering peacekeeping operations, surveying economic and social trends, preparing studies on human rights, among others.

 

1.Indian Naval ship Sahyadri reaches Darwin, Australia for exercise KAKADU 2018

Exercise KAKADU

1. After having been deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean for over four months, which included representing Indian Navy in multinational exercises MALABAR 18 at Guam and RIMPAC 18 at Hawaii, INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise KAKADU 2018
2. Indian Navy’s participation in KAKADU 18 provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and undertake multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment
3. It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and development of common understanding of procedures for maritime operations

About the exercise

1. Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
2. The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA)
3. Exercise KAKADU derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin
4. KAKADU 2018 is the 14th edition of the exercise
5. During the exercise, professional exchanges in harbour and diverse range of activities at sea, including complex surface, sub-surface and air operations would enable sharing of best practices and honing of operational skills.

2.Operation NISTAR Successfully Culminates with Safe Disembarkations of 38 Indian Nationals at Porbandar

Operation NISTAR

• INS Sunayana successfully evacuated 38 Indian Nationals at/ off Socotra Islands during a swift Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operation (HADR), code named Operation NISTAR.
• The Indian Nationals were stranded after severe Cyclonic Storm – Mekunu devastated the area around Socotra Island.
• INS Sunayana was diverted from Gulf of Aden deployment to Socotra Island for search and rescue operations.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in India’s National Strategy

• HADR operations have attracted the attention of the global community in recent years.
• The Indian armed forces have a wide experience of disaster relief operations both at home and abroad, where they have been the core of relief operations.
• Due to its sub-continental size, geographical location and its vulnerability to disasters, India has kept its forces ready to render assistance at short notice.
• In the six decades since independence, India has experienced a number of natural and man-made disasters such as floods, earthquakes, famines, industrial accidents etc.
• At the same time, India has partnered the global community in providing relief in affected regions.

3.INS Karanj boosts Navy’s firepower

Third Scorpene class submarine joins Naval fleet

1. The Navy’s third state-of-the-art Scorpene class submarine, INS Karanj, has been launched
2. The new submarine is named after the earlier Kalvari class INS Karanj, which was decommissioned in 2003
3. This launch follows the launch of the first two Scorpene submarines — INS Kalavari and INS Khanderi.

4.Indian Navy inducts its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle

• The Indian Navy has inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

About DSRV

1. DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled. The Indian Navy joins a select group of naval forces in the world that boasts of this niche capability.
2. The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and can hold around 15 people.
3. The Indian Navy in March 2016 had commissioned two DSRVs, the second will deployed at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
4. The induction of the DSRV marks the culmination of years of effort of the Indian Navy in acquiring this niche submarine rescue capability.

Why need DSRV System?

1. The Indian Navy currently operates submarines of the Sindhughosh, Shishumar, Kalvari Classes as well as nuclear powered submarines.
2. The operating medium and the nature of operations undertaken by submarines expose them to high degree of inherent risk.
3. In such an eventuality, traditional methods of search and rescue at sea are ineffective for a disabled submarine.
4. To overcome this capability gap the Navy has acquired a third generation, advanced Submarine Rescue System considering of a Non-tethered Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and its associated equipment.

What makes Indian DSRV special?

1. The Indian Navy’s DSRV System is considered to be the most advanced system currently in operation globally for its capability of undertaking rescue from a disabled Submarine upto 650 m depth.
2. It is operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled Submarine at one time and can operate in extreme sea conditions.

5.Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) Capability

Context

• The Indian Navy has inducted a Submarine Rescue System with a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) along with associated equipment.

Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV)

1. The Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from a distressed submarine (DISSUB) up to a depth of 650 m and it is the latest in terms of technology and capabilities.
2. It has been designed and supplied to meet unique requirements of our submarines by M/s James Fishes Defence, UK.
3. This System has a Side Scan Sonar for locating the position of the submarine in distress at sea.
4. It will be providing immediate relief by way of posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for the rescue.
5. To ensure early mobilization, the System permits rapid transportation of the Rescue System from the base to the exact location of the distressed submarine by transportation using air/land/sea vessels.

1.Saubhagya

Objectives –

• To provide electricity connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018. -scheme deals the cost of last-mile connectivity to willing households to help achieve the goal of lighting every household by 31 December 2018.
• The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
• Un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.
• Free connections will be provided to below poverty line (BPL) households.
• For households outside the reach of national electricity grid, solar power packs along with battery banks shall be provided.
• The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp (Watt peak capacity) with battery bank, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug.
• The scheme also includes the Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.
• States have also been provided with an incentive of 50% of their loan being converted to grants, if the electrification targets are met by 31 December 2018.
• Nodal Ministry –State-run Rural Electrification Corporation

2.UDAY

Objectives –

• It has ambitious target of making all discoms profitable by 2018-19.
• -Improving operational efficiencies of discoms,
• -Reduction of cost of power,
• -Reduction in interest cost of discoms and
• -Enforcing financial discipline on discoms through alignment with state finances.
• It has all the 3 elements — 1.Clear up the legacy issues of past losses and debt. 2.Provide a financial road map to bring tariffs in line with costs by FY19. 3.Provide enough deterrents for the state govt to not allow the state discoms to become loss ridden post FY18, as losses start to impact their FRBM limits.
• The State govt. will takeover the discom liabilities over 2-5 year period. 2.This will allow discoms to convert their debt into State bond. These bonds will have a maturity period of 10-15 years. 3.It will allow transfer of 75% outstanding debts incurred by stressed discoms to States’ debt, 50% in 2015-16 and 25% in 2016-17
• The central government will not include the loans of the discoms in calculation of the state’s deficit till 2016-17.
• DISCOM debt not taken over by the State shall be converted by the Banks / FIs into loans or bonds.
• Till November 2017, only states that have not joined it are Odisha and West Bengal
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of power

3.Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DUGJY)

Objectives –

• To provide 24×7 uninterrupted electricity supply to each rural household across the country by 2022.1. It focuses on feeder separation for rural households and agricultural purpose. 2. Seeks to strengthen the distribution and sub-transmission infrastructure, including metering at all levels in rural areas. 3. It also seeks to strengthen Micro grid and off grid distribution network of rural electrification.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

4.24×7 – Power for All

Objectives –

• • To provide 24×7 power available to all households, industry, commercial businesses, public needs, any other electricity consuming entity and adequate power to agriculture farm holdings by FY 19.‘Power for All scheme’ is a joint initiative of the central and state governments, with the objective of providing 24X7 electricity to all households, industry, commercial businesses and other electricity-consuming entities within the time span of four years.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

5.Integrated Power Development Scheme” (IPDS)

Objectives –

• Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban areas;
• Metering of distribution transformers /feeders / consumers in the urban areas.
• IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution networkThe scheme will help in reduction in AT&C losses, establishment of IT enabled energy accounting / auditing system, improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and improvement in collection efficiency

Nodal Ministry –.Ministry of Power

6.National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM)

Objectives –

• The mission entails implementation of a smart electrical grid based on state-of-the art technology in the fields of automation, communication and IT systems that can monitor and control power flows from points of generation to points of consumption.-The major activities envisaged under NSGM are development of smart grid, development of micro grids, consumer engagements and training & capacity building etc.
• NSGM entails implementation of a smart electrical grid based on state-of-the art technology in the fields of automation, communication and IT systems that can monitor and control power flows from points of generation to points of consumption
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

7.UJALA

Objectives –

• To save energy consumption by distributing LED bulbs which are energy efficientThe scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Union Ministry of Power.
• It is LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP).
• Under it, LED Bulbs are distributed.
• It wants every home in India to use LED bulbs so that the net power or energy consumption rate comes down and the carbon emission rates can also be checked
• The scheme will not only help reduce consumers their electricity bills but also contribute to the energy security of India.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

8.TARANG, UJALA, VIDYUT PRAVAH, GARV, URJA and MERIT

Objectives –

• The initiatives were launched keeping in line with the Digital India initiative. The primarily seek to enhance transparency in power sector.All apps released by Power Sector,
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

9.Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India (SRISTI)

Objectives –

• It will provide incentives for the installation of rooftop solar power plant projects in India.
• The important features and highlights of this scheme are as follows:-
• This Solar Power Plant Subsidy Scheme will provide incentives for the sustainable implementation of Rooftop.
• Subsequently, this scheme will form the advanced version of the previous MNRE scheme in Phase II.
• Accordingly, govt. will integrate Discoms to implement this solar subsidy scheme.
• 4.Central govt. will provide financial assistance to implement rooftop solar power plants for the residential users.
• 5.Henceforth, users of the residential sectors can install the particular in-line capacity as per their necessity and their SERC (State Electricity Regulation Commission) Regulation.
• Central govt. will provide subsidy up to 5 KWP capacity of power plant.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

10.Green Energy Corridors Project

Objectives –

• The green energy corridor is grid connected network for the transmission of renewable energy produced from various renewable energy projects.
• The project was envisaged by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) in its innovative report titled ‘Green Energy Corridors’.
• It was proposed as a dedicated transmission network for renewable energy across different renewable energy potential states.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

11.India’s Street Lighting National programme (SLNP)

Objectives –

• The programme aims to install LED bulbs street-lighting across different cities in the country.
• The LED lights will replace inefficient lamps.
• The initiative is part of the Government’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country.
• It will result in energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power, Energy Efficiency Services Limited

12.SuryaMitra programme

Objectives –

• To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations
• It is Union Government skill development program
• Aims to create skilled manpower in commissioning, installation, O&M of solar power plants and equipment.
• It primary objective is to provide entrepreneurship and employability opportunities to rural and urban youth & women.
• The scheme is aimed at creating 50,000 trained solar photovoltaic technicians by March 2020.
• Special emphasis is given to skill youth from SC/ST/OBC categories.
• The qualification required to participate in the program is ITI (Electrical & Wireman) / Diploma in Engineering (Electrical, Electronics & Mechanical).
• Higher qualified participants such as B.Tech etc are not eligible for this programme.
• The programme is 100% funded by GOI and implemented by National Institute for Solar Energy (NISE) across the country.
• In addition, short term training programmes for small hydro, entrepreneurship development, operation & maintenance of solar energy devices and boiler operations in co-generation plants have been organized.
• National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is an autonomous institution of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)).National institute of solar energy

13.National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)

Objectives –

• PAT (perform, achieve & trade) scheme: Improving efficiency in energy intensive sector.
• Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEFP): provides a platform to interact with financial institutions and project developers for implementation of energy efficiency projects
• Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development (FEEED): focuses on developing appropriate fiscal instruments to promote energy efficiency financing
• Market transformation for Energy Efficiency (MTEE): Accelerating shift toward energy efficient appliances

14. Setu Bharatam

Objectives –

• To free all national highways from railway level crossings and renovate the old bridges on national highways by 2019.
• .Setu Bharatam is an ambitious programme with an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore to build bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways.
• 2.208 new “road over bridges / road under bridges” are envisaged for construction, while 1500 bridges will be widened, rehabilitated or replaced.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

15.Bharatmala

Objectives –

• It is an umbrella program that will subsume unfinished parts of NHDP
• It will also focus on the new initiatives like development of Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal & port connectivity roads, National Corridors Efficiency improvements, Economic corridors development and others.
• Around 80 per cent of Bharatmala will be based on a government funded, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) model while the rest will be a hybrid-annuity public private partnership.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

16.National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project

Objectives –

• This is a project to ensure safe, fast and all weather movement of traffic on National Highways mostly located in backward regions
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

17.Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP)

Objectives –

• Aimed at enhancing the freight transportation in India through improving cost, time, tracking and transferability of consignments through infrastructure, procedural and Information Technology (IT) interventions.Under this programme
• road ministry has shortlisted 15 locations with the highest freight movement for the development of multimodal logistics parks worth Rs.32,853 crore.
• The parks would be spread over a total area of around 4,800 acres and will be built under the first phase of the ministry’s Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP).
• Through the programme, the government is trying to improve efficiency and reduce logistics costs by as much as 10%.
• The parks are expected to serve four key functions:
• 1. Freight aggregation and distribution,
• 2. Multimodal freight movement,
• 3. Storage and warehousing,
• 4. Value-added services such as custom clearances.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

18.Vehicle Fleet Modernization Programme

Objectives –

• To enable the replacement of old, heavy and medium commercial vehicles as they contribute the maximum of vehicular pollution
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

19.Highway Advisory System (HAS)

Objectives –

• HAS was launched as a pilot project on Delhi-Jaipur highway.
• It is a free-to-air information distribution system that uses radio to make the travelling experience on National Highways safer, faster and hassle-free.
• HAS control centre collects data, processes and analyzes it, generates alerts and sends it to be broadcast by All India Radio.
• Nodal Ministry –“The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

20. Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS)

Objectives –

• It is aimed at ensuring safety of bridges in India-IBMS is being developed to create an inventory of all bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure.
• How Will it Work?
• -A unique identification number or National Identity Number (NIN) will be given to each bridge, and the number will be based on the state, RTO zone or based on location (National Highway, State Highway etc.).
• -Along with NIN, Bridge Location Number (BLN) will also be allotted to every bridge based on specific GPS given latitude-longitude. Another number- Bridge Classification Number (BCN) will be assigned to the bridge structure based on its engineering characteristics.
• -A Structural Rating Number (SRN) will be assigned to bridge structures on a scale of 0 to 9
• -Another number – Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number will specify the contribution of bridge in daily socio-economic activity of that area. IBMS will analyse this data and recognize bridges which need renovation.
• Nodal Ministry – The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

21.National Green Highways Project

Objectives

• Under the Green Highways Project the government has made it mandatory to set aside 1% of the total project cost of any NH contract to a Green Fund corpus that will be used for plantation purposes.
• The afforestation is expected to help in sequestering approximately 12 lakh mt carbon annually
• The funds to be transferred to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be used exclusively for plantation and maintenance on all NH stretches being developed on the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) and Build Operate Transfer (BOT) mode.
• The NHAI will act as Fund Manager for maintaining the account and for release of the payments made by the Regional Officer or Project Director based on the recommendation of the monitoring agency-Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL).
• There will be a strong monitoring mechanism in place by using ISRO’s Bhuvan and GAGAN satellite systems. Every planted tree will be counted and auditing will be done. The agencies performing well will receive annual awards.
• Nodal Ministry – The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

22.Kisan Harit Rajmarg Yojana

Objectives

• A pilot scheme to extend green belt beyond the existing ‘Right of Way’ of highways by engaging farmers and providing alternative livelihood option to the nearby communities.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

23.Chaar Dham Highway Development Project

Objectives

• To improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas.To improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas.
• The project’s main objective is to develop around 900 km of national highways. These highways will be built at an approximate cost of Rs 12,000 crore. 2.It will allow uninterrupted access for pilgrims to the four Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand.
• The all-weather roads will have tunnels, bridges and fly-overs to enhance road safety and uninterrupted access. It will have proper slope stabilisation to ensure protection against landslides. 3.It will benefit people visiting holy shrines in Uttarakhand. It will generate additional employment for the local population and will change the economy of the State as it will give strong boost to connectivity and tourism.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

24.SagarMala

Objectives

• To promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effective
• Three pillars:
  • Supporting and enabling Port-led Development
  • Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports, and
  • Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland. 
• The programme aims to promote port-led development in the country by harnessing India’s 7,500-km long coastline, 14,500-km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
• It envisages transforming existing ports into modern world class ports as well as developing new ones.
• It also aims to develop efficient evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Shipping

25.Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban)

Objectives –

• To provide housing for all by the year 2022.
• The Mission will be implemented during 2015-2022 and will provide central assistance to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other implementing agencies through States/UTs for:
• 1.In-situ Rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation 2.Credit Linked Subsidy 3. Affordable Housing in Partnership 4. Subsidy for Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.

Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Urban Ministry

26.National Urban Housing Fund

• To finance Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) which aims to build 1.2 crore affordable houses in urban areas by 2022.-NUHF will be placed under aegis of Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC).
• It will be raised from non-budgetary sources and will tap into existing government entities such as Housing and Urban Development Corp. (Hudco).
• NUHF will facilitate raising requisite funds in next four years and plug any budgetary shortfalls.
• It will smoothly sustain construction of houses to address gap in Urban Sector progresses by maintaining flow of Central Assistance under different verticals i.e. Affordable Housing in Parternership (AHP), Beneficiary Linked Construction (BLC), In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).

Earth System Governance Project (ESGP)

Established When and by Whom:  Developed under the auspices of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. It started in January 2009.

Headquarter: The Earth System Governance Project Office is hosted at Lund University, Sweden.

Key Functions:

The Earth System Governance Project aims to contribute to science on the large, complex challenges of governance in an era of rapid and large-scale environmental change.

The project seeks to create a better understanding of the role of institutions, organizations and governance mechanisms by which humans regulate their relationship with the natural environment

The Earth System Governance Project aims to integrate governance research at all levels. The project aims to examine problems of the ‘global commons’, but also local problems from air pollution to the preservation of waters, waste treatment or desertification and soil degradation

However, due to natural interdependencies local environmental pollution can be transformed into changes of the global system that affect other localities. Therefore, the Earth System Governance Project looks at institutions and governance processes both local and globally

The Earth System Governance Project is a scientific effort, but also aims to assist policy responses to the pressing problems of earth system transformation

 

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Established When and by Whom: The Global Environment Facility was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot program in the World Bank to assist in the protection of the global environment and to promote environmental sustainable development.

Headquarter: Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America

Key Functions:

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.

Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment.

An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

Funding: The GEF also serves as the financial mechanism for the following conventions:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
• Minamata Convention on Mercury

India specific trivia:

*India has formed a permanent Constituency in the Executive Council of the GEF together with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives.

The Council Meetings are held semi-annually or as frequently necessary. At each meeting, the Council elects a Chairperson from among its members for the duration of that meeting. India’s Executive Director in the World Bank represents the GEF Council from our Constituency.

India is both a donor and a recipient of GEF. It has been a leading developing country participant in the GEF since its inception in 1991 and has played a major role in shaping the restructuring of the GEF. It had contributed US $ 6.0 million to the core fund in the GEF Pilot Phase.

India has pledged an amount of US $ 9.0 million towards the resources of each of the Five GEF replenishments. The total funds pledged so far amounts to US$ 51 million and an amount of US$ 48.75 million has been paid by December 2012 towards GEF replenishments.

Ministry of Finance is the political focal point while Ministry of Environment & Forests is the Operational Focal Point for the GEF Projects.

 

Global Green Growth Institute

Established When and by Whom: GGGI was first launched as a think tank in 2010 by Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and was later converted into an international treaty-based organization in 2012 at the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil.

Headquarter: It is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea

Key Functions: GGGI works to produce three major outcomes: adoption and implementation of green growth plans; provision of research for policymakers; and private sector engagement in the implementation of the national green growth plans. The organization uses three approaches to achieve these outcomes: Green Growth Planning & Implementation (GGP&I), Knowledge Development & Management (KDM), and Public-Private Cooperation (PPC).

Funding: Funds are given by Contributing members. Contributing members are defined as Member countries that make a multi-year financial contribution of core funding of no less than USD 15 million over three years. Participating members are defined as Member countries that are not contributing members.

India specific trivia:

GGGI has been working in India to promote green growth and sustainable development since 2013.

GGGI has worked at national, state, and city levels to develop and implement green growth strategies that reconcile short-term priorities with long-term vision of higher economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion

At the state level, GGGI worked closely with the governments of Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh (HP), and Punjab to develop comprehensive green growth strategies together with each.

GGGI also supported each of the three state governments in adopting integrated analytical approaches to assess green growth challenges and prioritize opportunities across key sectors, including energy, water, agriculture, and forestry

Building on these strategies, in 2015, GGGI supported the state governments in implementing specific green growth opportunities by formulating detailed project proposals, policy implementation roadmaps, and capacity building initiatives.

 

KIMO (Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation)

Established When and by Whom: KIMO was founded in August 1990 by four municipalities and from this modest start has grown in size to represent over 70 members in Belgium, Denmark, The Faroe Islands, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Headquarter: Esbjerg, Denmark

Key Functions:

• KIMO is committed to the development of sustainable coastal communities by:
• Preventing pollution of the seas and coastal waters of North Western Europe and preserving, improving and enhancing them for future generations
• Protecting coastal communities from the impacts of marine pollution and climate change.
• Representing its member local authorities and associated members at an international and national level.

 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Established When and by Whom:   It was first established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly.

Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland

Key Functions:

• The IPCC produces reports that support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• IPCC reports cover all relevant information to understand the risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• The IPCC does not carry out its own original research.
• Thousands of scientists and other experts contribute on a voluntary basis.
• The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was shared, in two equal parts, between the IPCC and an American Environmentalist.

The aims of the IPCC are to assess scientific information relevant to:

1. Human-induced climate change,
2. The impacts of human-induced climate change,
3. Options for adaptation and mitigation.

Funding: The IPCC receives funding through the IPCC Trust Fund, established in 1989 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

India specific trivia: India will have its own climate change models to project the impact of global warming over the decades and these will form part of the forthcoming Sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reports that is expected to be available in 2020.

 

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Established When and by Whom: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation.

Founded in 1948, today IUCN the largest professional global conservation network. IUCN has more than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-government organizations.

Headquarter: The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.

Key Functions: Conserving biodiversity is central to the mission of IUCN. The main areas of function are:

1. Science  – the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
2. Action – hundreds of conservation projects all over the world.
3. Influence – through the collective strength of more than 1,200 government and non-governmental Member organizations.

Funding:  Funded by governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, member organisations and corporations.

More about the IUCN

Governance by a Council elected by member organizations every four years at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly.

India specific trivia:

• India became a State Member of IUCN in 1969, through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The IUCN India Country Office was established in 2007 in New Delhi.
• IUCN India works with Members and Commissions to reduce ecosystem and species loss by providing the necessary tools and knowledge to value, conserve and use biodiversity sustainability; enhance governance and policy for better management of ecosystems and habitats, including protected areas; and address challenges related to poverty alleviation, food security and climate change.

 

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Established When and by Whom: It was founded as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in 1972

Headquarter: Nairobi, Kenya

Key Functions:

• It coordinates UN’s environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
• Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, environmental governance and green economy.
• UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environment related development projects
• UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways
• UNEP is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
• The International Cyanide Management Code, a program of best practice for the chemical’s use at gold mining operations, was developed under UNEP’s aegis.

Funding:  The three main sources of funding of UN Environment are the UN Regular Budget, the Environment Fund, the core funding that enables UN Environment to implement its global and regional work, and Earmarked Contributions.

India specific trivia: UN Environment has sponsored the development of solar loan programs, with attractive return rates, to buffer the initial deployment costs and entice consumers to consider and purchase solar PV systems.

The most famous example is the solar loan program sponsored by UN Environment helped 100,000 people finance solar power systems in India.

Success in India’s solar program has led to similar projects in other parts of the developing world like Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia and Mexico.

 

World Nature Organization (WNO)

Established When and by Whom:  WNO initiative was born in 2010 by states which are threatened by rising sea levels. The WNO Treaty officially entered into force on 1st May 2014.

Location : Geneva

Key Functions:

• It is an intergovernmental organisation which promotes global environmental protection.
• WNO acts as a centre of competence for environmental protection, green technologies and sustainability, and as a mediator and initiator, making available experience of practical applications and strategies, offering support on all issues related to responsible conduct as regards the natural environment and its resources and assisting States to benefit from efficient development and from scientific and technology transfer.
• The World Nature Organization  promotes sustainable conduct as regards the natural environment, together with new, environments-friendly technologies, green economies and renewable energies.

India specific trivia: India is not a member

World Food Programme

Established When and by Whom:  The WFP was formally established in 1963 by the FAO and the United Nations General Assembly.

Headquarter: Rome

Key Functions:

• The WFP strives to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, with the ultimate goal in mind of eliminating the need for food aid itself.
• WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations.
• WFP food aid is also directed to fight micronutrient deficiencies, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat disease, including HIV and AIDS.
• WFP has coordinated the five-year Purchase for Progress (P4P) pilot project which assists smallholder farmers by offering them opportunities to access agricultural markets and to become competitive players in the marketplace.

Funding:  The WFP operations are funded by voluntary donations from world governments, corporations and private donors

India specific trivia: The World Food Programme has been working in India for over 50 years. In line with the developments in India, WFP has realigned its focus from a food aid provider to a catalytic partner to the Government of India, strengthening food-based social safety nets.

 

International Whaling Organization

Established When and by Whom:  The IWC was set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling which was signed in Washington DC on 2nd December 1946.

Headquarter:

Key Functions:

• The preamble to the Convention states that its purpose is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.
• An integral part of the Convention is its legally binding ‘Schedule.’  The Schedule sets out specific measures that the IWC has collectively decided are necessary in order to regulate whaling and conserve whale stocks.
• These measures include catch limits (which may be zero as it the case for commercial whaling) by species and area, designating specified areas as whale sanctuaries, protection of calves and females accompanied by calves, and restrictions on hunting methods. Unlike the Convention, the Schedule can be amended and updated when the Commission meets (a change requires at least three quarters majority agreement).
• There are a number of reasons why changes to the Schedule may be necessary.  These include new information from the Scientific Committee, and variations in the requirements of aboriginal subsistence whalers.
• The Commission also co-ordinates and, in several cases, funds conservation work on many species of cetacean. In addition to research, this includes building an international entanglement response capacity, working to prevent ship strikes, and establishment of Conservation Management Plans for key species and populations.
• The Commission has also adopted a Strategic Plan for Whalewatching to facilitate the further development of this activity in a way which is responsible and consistent with international best practice.

Funding:  Financial contributions from member governments form the IWC’s core income, but additional voluntary donations to support particular work programmes are generously made by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), industry bodies, and also by member governments.

India specific trivia: India is a Member

Bio-carbon Fund initiative

Established When and by Whom:  The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is a multilateral fund, supported by donor governments and managed by the World Bank. It is has been operational from 2013.

Headquarter: USA

Key Functions:

• It seeks to promote reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector, from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+), and from sustainable agriculture, as well as smarter land-use planning, policies and practices.
• The initiative will be managed by the BioCarbon Fund, a public-private program housed within the World Bank that mobilizes finance for activities that sequester or conserve carbon emissions in forest and agricultural systems.
• The new Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes seeks to scale up land-management practices across large landscapes, including improved livestock management, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable forest management, with a focus on protecting forests and greening and securing supply chains.
• It will engage a broader range of actors, including the private sector, initially through a portfolio of four to six programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Funding: Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States together committed $280 million – up to $135 million from Norway, $120 million from the U.K, and $25 million from the U.S. – as part of their efforts to slow climate change.

 

Arctic Council

Established When and by Whom: The Arctic Council was founded on the initiative of the Government of Finland in September 1989 where officials from the 8 Arctic Countries met in Rovaniemi, Finland, to discuss cooperative measures to protect the Arctic environment.

Headquarter: The location of the Secretariat was rotated biennially with the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

Key Functions:

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

The main focus areas of the Arctic Council are:

1. The Environment and climate change
2. Bio-diversity
3. Oceans
4. The indigenous Arctic peoples

Funding: By member states

India specific trivia: India is an Observer State.

Indus River System

Indus	Ancient name → Sindhu Origin → Bokharchu Glacier, Near Mansarovar In Tibet, Called Singi Khamban / Lion’s mouth Enters In India through Ladakh, flows only in J &K Enters Pak through hair pin bend of Nanga Parbat Finally Discharges in Arabian Sea Flows approx. ( 709 / 2880 ) Km in India India uses 20 % of its water by Indo  Pak water treaty of 1960
Shyok	Originates from Rimo Glacier Known as river of death flows through Ladakh in India A tributary of the Indus River
Jhelum	Ancient name → Vitasta Origin → Verinag Spring (Kashmir) Tributary of Indus, flows only in J &K Flows Northward to Wular Lake Cut through gorge in Pir- Panjal range to reach Muzzafarabad (POK)

Chenab	Ancient name → Akshani / Iskmati Origin → Bara Lacha Pass (Himachal) Known as chandra-bhaga in Himachal Chandra River → Water flowing south from the pass Bhaga River     → Water Flowing north from the pass Flows Northward & parallel to Pir –Panjal Range for some distance Cut through gorge in Pir – Panjal & Turns southward Largest tributary of Indus, Flows through Himachal & J & K Famous Projects → Duhasti, Baglihar & Salal hydroelectric project
Ravi	Ancient name → Purushni Origin → Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass (Himachal) Tributary of Chenab Smallest of 5 rivers Flows through Indo – Pak boundary Flows northward b/w Pir – Panjal & Dhauladhar Ranges Cut a gorge through Dhauladhar range & flows southward
Beas	Ancient name → Vipasha Origin → Beas kund near Rohtang Pass, Himachal Tributary of Satluj Only river flowing entirely in India Runs southward, Cut a deep gorge in Dhauladhar & turns west to meet Satluj near Harike (Punjab) Famous Project → Pong Dam
Sutluj	Ancient name → Shatadru Origin → Rakas lake, Tibet, near Mansarovar Enter Himachal at Shipki La Pass Collects water from Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum & Beas to join Indus near Mithalkot (Pak) Famous Projects → Naptha Jhakri Project & Bhakra Nagal Dam with Govind Sagar Reservoir

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Ganga River System

• Origin → As Bhagirathi from Gangotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand)
• Alakananda unites with Bhagirathi at Devprayag, Uttarakhand → Henceforth known as Ganga
• Passing through Rishikesh, it debounches in plains of Haridwar
• From Haridwar, it flows Southward to reach Allahabad where it joins Yamuna
• Near Rajmahal Hills, it turns southeast & bifurcate at Farraka into Hoogly (Kolkata) & Padma (BD)
• At Bangladesh, Ganga merges with Brahmputra (Known as Jamuna in Bangladesh) at Goalundo Ghats
• Mixture is known as Padma River

• Then it merges with Meghna & finally falls in Bay of Bengal
• Meghna → Known as Barack river in India 

• Major tributaries → Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son & Punpun

Ghaghara	Origin → Bharchachungar Glacier (Rakas lake) near Mansarovar Joins Ganga at Chhapr. Known as Manchu or Karnali in Nepal. Known as Saryu or Ghaghra in UP Perennial river Major tributaries → Sarda & Rakti
Gandak	Origin → Sino – Nepal Boundary (Dhaulagiri range) Known as Kalyani in Nepal Major River of Nepal Joins Ganga at Sonpur, Bihar
Kosi	Origin → Gosainath peak (Tibet) Merges with river Ganga at Bhagalpur (Bihar) Consists of 7 streams & known as Saptakoshi in Nepal Main stream → Arun, Tamur & Sun Koshi Formerly Known as Sorrow of Bihar Major Projects → Kusha Dam
Son	Origin → Amarkantak Plateau (Near north of origin of Narmada) Flows through Kaimur Range to meet Ganga at Patna
Gomti	Originates from Gomat Taal / Fulhaar jheel – Pilibhit A tributary of Ganga
Yamuna	Origin → Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand) Largest Tributary of Ganga After cutting deep gorge across Shivalik, it enters into plains near Tajewala Flows southward up to Agra & then turns southeast to meet Ganga at Allahabad Famous tributaries → Chambal, Sind, Betwa & Ken
Betwa	Major Tributaries → Tributary of Yamuna, rises from Vindhya range, MP Major Projects       → Matatila dam & Rajghat dam
Ken	Rises from Kaimur hills in Satna (Madhya Pradesh), a tributary of Yamuna Famous for its Shajar stone &  Raneh waterfalls
Chambal	Origin → Vindhya Range (Mhow, MP) Passes through Kota & Dhaulpur (Rajasthan) Merge with Yamuna at Etawah (UP) forms boundary between Rajasthan & MP Major tributaries       → Kali Sindh, Parvati & Banas Main Power Projects → Gandhisagar, Rana Pratap Sagar & Jawahar Sagar
Banas	Originate from eastern slopes of Aravali Tributary of Chambal
Damodar	Origin → Eastern part of Chhota Nagpur Plateu Meets Hoogli at Falta Power Projects → Talaiya, Maithan, Barakar & Panchet

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Brahmaputra River System

• Origin → Chemayungdung Glacier (Kailash Range, Tibet)
• In Tibet, known as TSANG – PO
• In China, known as YARLUNG ZANBO

• Forms grand canyon in Tibet
• Turns southward near Namcha – Barwa
• Enters Arunachal Pradesh as Dihang River at Sadiya, emerging from the mountains
• Joined by Dibang river from the north & Lohit river from the south → Known as Brahamputra
• Turns at Dhubri to enter into Bangladesh
• After joining Teesta, known as Jamuna in BD
• Joins Ganga & Megna → Merges to BOB.
• Forms many river island of which Majuli is world 2^nd largest one

• Major tributaries → Dihang, Lohit, Subansiri, Teesta, Meghna (Barack in Assam), Manas 

Teesta	Major tributary of Brahmaputra Rises from Sikkim Known as lifeline of Sikkim
Lohit	Tributary of Brahmaputra Flows through Arunachal Pradesh Along with river Dihang merges into Brahmaputra, at Sadia town (Arunachal Pradesh)

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Peninsular Rivers India – Flowing East to West

Luni	Desertic river, also known as the Sagarmati Rises from the western slopes of the Aravalli Range near Ajmer Ends in the marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat Inspite of high salinity, it is a major river in region Serves as a primary source of irrigation
Sabarmati	Rises from Dhebar lake in Aravalli Range of the Udaipur (Rajasthan) Flow Route: Udaipur → Gulf of Khambat → Arabian Sea via Estuary
Mahi	Rises from Vindhya range (MP) flows through MP, Rajasthan & Gujrat & drains in Gulf of Cambay Famous Projects → Banswara Dam & Kadana dam

Narmada	Origin → Amarkantak, Shahdol, MP Also known as Rewa River Flows through rift valley of Vindhya & Satpura Flow Route: MP → Bharuch (Gujrat) → Gulf of Khambat (Gujrat) → Arabian Sea via Estuary Longest among all east to west flowing rivers Known as Life line of MP Forms Duandhar falls at Jabalpur Only tributary → Hiran River Aliabet → Largest Island in Estuary Famous projects →Sardar Sarovar Dam, Maheshwar Dam, Indira Gandhi Sagar Dam
Tawa	Rises in the Satpura Range of Betul (MP) Narmada’s longest tributary
Tapi	Origin → Mahadev hills, Satpura range, Betul district, MP Flow Route: MP   → Maharashtra → Gulf of Khambat or Cambay → Arabian Sea via Estuary Famous projects → Kakrapar Dam & Ukai Dam
Periyar	Rises from Western Ghats in Kerala Flows towards west & drains in Arabian Sea via an estuary

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Peninsular Rivers India – Flowing West to East

Mahanadi	Origin → Dandakaranya Hills, Raipur Flow Route: Chhattisgarh → Orissa → EGs → BOB Famous Project : Hirakund Dam
Godavari	Origin → Triambakeshwar Plateau, Nashik, WGs Largest Peninsular River Known as Dakshina / Vriddha Ganga Flow Route: Nashik  → Andhra Pradesh → BOB Famous Tributaries → Penganga, Sabri, Wardha & Indravati Famous Projects     →  Poochampad,  Jayakwadi, Polavaram
Penganga	Rises from Ajanta hills (Maharashtra) a tributary of River Wardha which finally merges into Godavari

Krishna	Origin → Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, WGs Flow Route: Maharashtra → Andhra Pradesh → BOB Famous Projects → Koyna, Tugrabhdra, Srisailam & Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Tungabhadra	a major tributary of Krishna Rises from Western Ghats
Bhima	Rises from Balaghat range (Maharashtra) Tributary of Krishna
Kaveri	Origin → Brahamgiri hills, Karnataka, WGs Flow Route: Karnataka → Kaveripatnam (TN) →BOB Perrenial River Forms Shivasundaram Waterfalls Famous projects → Krishnaraja sagar & Mettur
Penner	Rises from Karnataka Flows b/w Krishna & Kaveri Drains into BOB
Vaigai	Rises from Palni hills (TN) A seasonal river flows through TN Drains in Gulf of Mannar

Different forms of traditional theatre

Bhavai

• It is a traditional theatre form of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Kutch and Kathiawar are the main centres of this theatre form.
• It is a synthesis of devotional and romantic sentiments.
• It consists of dance to narrate series of small plays known as Vesha or Swanga.
• It is accompanied by semi-classical music.
• Bhungal, tabla, pakhaawaj, rabaah, sarangi, manjeera etc.

Nautanki

• Nautanki is popular in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an offshoot of Swang.
• It is mentioned in Abu Fazl’s Ain-e-Akbari.
• The theme is based on historical, social and folk tales, delivered through dance and music.
• Kanpur, Lucknow, and Hathras are the most popular centres of this theatre form.
• Dialogues are delivered in a lyrical fashion accompanied by drum beats called Nagara.

 

Rasleela

• It is a theatre form popular in Uttar Pradesh.
• It depicts the legends of Lord Krishna.
• In this theatre form, dialogues are in pros combined with songs and scenes from the pranks of Krishna.

Bhand Pather

• It is a traditional theatre form of Kashmir.
• It consists of unique combinations of dance, drama, and acting.
• Surnai, Nagara, and dhol are the instruments used in this theatre form.
• It is mainly performed by the farming community, reflecting their ideas and way of living.

Swang

• It is a popular theatre form of Punjab and Haryana.
• It is mainly a musical drama sung through verses.
• Ektara, Harmonium, Sarangi, Dholak, and Kharta are the instruments used in it.
• Rohtak and Haathras are the two important style in this theatre form.

Maach

• Maach is a theatre form of the region of Malwa in Madhya Pradesh.
• The term Maach is used for the stage as well as the play.
• It is based on mythological themes and later romantic folks tales were also included.
• Songs are given importance between the dialogues in this theatre form.
• Dialogues in this form are called Bol and Ryhm in narration is termed as Vanag.
• Tune of the theatre is known as Rangat.

Ankia Naat

• It is a theatre form present in the state of Assam.
• It was started by Shankaradeva and his disciple Mahadeva in the 16th century A.D.
• Cultural glimpses of Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Mathura, and Brindavan can be seen this theatre form.
• The narration begins with a story in Sanskrit and later switch to Brajboli or Assamese.
• the narrator called as Suthradhar is accompanied by a group of musicians known as Gayan-Bayan Mandali who play the ‘Khol’ and cymbals.
• Use of Masks to depict special expression is one of the unique features of this theatre form.

Dashavatar

• It is the most developed theatre form of Konkan and Goa.
• The ten incarnation of Lord Vishnu– the god of preservation and creativity are personified by the performers.
• Apart from makeup, performers wear a mask of wood and papier mache.

Krishnanattam

• It is a folk theatre form of Kerala.
• It came into existence in the 17th century under the patronage of Calicut king Manavada.
• It narrates the birth, childhood pranks and various deeds depicting victory of good over evil by Sri Krishna.
• It is performed for eight consecutive days.
• Different plays are Avataram, Kaliamandana, Rasa Krida, Kamasavadha, Swayamvaram, Bhanayudham, Vivida Vadham, and Swargarohana.

Yakshagana

• It is the oldest theatre form popular in Karnataka.
• It emerged in the Vijayanagara empire and was performed by Jakkula Varu community.
• It is a descriptive dance drama.
• It is presented from dusk to dawn.
• The stories are drawn from Ramayana, Mahabharata and other epics from both Hindu and Jain tradition.

Therukooth

• Therukooth is a popular folk drama of Tamil Nadu.
• Therukooth means “street play”.
• It is performed during the annual temple festival of Mariamman(Rain God) for a rich harvest.
• It plays various themes and one the theme is based on Draupathi in Hindu epic Mahabharata.
• It is a combination of song, music, dance, and drama.
• Harmonium, drums, and cymbals are the instrument used in it.

Koodiyattam

• It is Sanskritic theatre tradition of Kerala.
• Chakyaar(actor), Nambiar(instrumentalist) and Nangyaar( those taking woman’s role) are the main characters of Koodiyattam.
• The main protagonists are Suthradhar(narrator) and the Vidushak(jesters). Dialogues are delivered by Vidushak alone.
• Hand gestures and eye movements are the features of this theatre form.

Villu Paatu

• It is a musical theatre popular in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Villu Paatu means bow-song.
• In this, using a bow-shaped instrument, the stories of Ramayana are narrated.

Mudiyettu

• Mudiyettu is a traditional folk theatre of Kerala.
• It is performed in the month of Vrichigam. ie November-December.
• It is performed only in Kali Temple as a presentation to Goddess.
• It is a part of Bhadrakali cult. It depicts the triumph of Goddess Bhadrakali over the asura Darika.
• Mudiyettu is performed by Marar and Karuppu community.
• Shiva, Narada, Darika, Danavendra, Bhadrakali, Kooli, and Koimbidar are the seven charaters of Mudiyettu.
• In 2010, Mudiyettu was inscribed in the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity after Koodiyattam

Some of the other important theatre forms are Kala of Vaishnaite tradition, Bhuta in Karnataka, Daskathia in Odisha, Garodas in Gujarat, Jatras in Eastern India, Kariyila in Himachal Pradesh, Powda in Maharashtra, Burra Katha in Andhra Pradesh, Bayalata in Karnataka and Kuruvanji in Tamil Nadu.

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] Slowing down fast: Industrial growth
Renewable Energy Certificates
[op-ed snap] Hard landing: Jet Airways’ temporary halt
[op-ed snap] Capital gains

Enviro & Biodiversity
[pib] Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific (RCAP) Congress
Long Period Average: The IMD yardstick for determining rainfall
Western Disturbances
The Face of Disasters 2019 Report
[op-ed snap] Humanise the law

Governance
India short of 6 lakh doctors, 2 million nurses: U.S. study
Explained: What Supreme Court said on petition to disqualify tainted candidates
[op-ed snap] The ethical act of voting
[op-ed snap] The Lack of a Legal Status for the Model Code of Conduct Leaves Room for Ambiguity
CSIR plans genome sequencing to map population diversity
[op-ed snap] A manifesto for health

International Relations
Bhutan govt to place bill for ratification of BBIN initiative at its upper senate
[op-ed snap] Indian elections, South Asian concerns
External Affairs Ministry sets up Indo-Pacific Wing
China backs “Wuhan spirit” despite differences on BRI
[op-ed snap] A bad deal

Polity
[op-ed snap] Level-playing field matters
How Justice Chandrachud’s dissent on Aadhaar influenced Jamaica ruling
[op-ed snap] Indelicate imbalance
[op-ed snap] Sealed disclosure
[op-ed snap] The legacy of Ambedkar
Voting rights of undertrials and convicts

Science Tech
CSIR plans genome sequencing to map population diversity
Saturn’s moon Titan has 100-m deep methane lakes
Universe’s first molecule detected in space

Security Issues
India successfully test-fires Sub-sonic cruise Missile Nirbhay

Trivia
Explained: History behind Notre Dame- Soul of the French nation

 

And these issues will be covered in detail

• Genome Sequencing
• Wuhan Spirit
• Loc Trade Suspension
• Industrial Growth
• Aviation Sector Concerns

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

 

Technology and Energy Security

Report name – Technical Cooperation Report

Issuing agency – IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

 

Report name – Nuclear Technology Review

Issuing agency – IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

 

Report name – Safety Reports

Issuing agency – ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)

 

 

Report name – Global Innovation Index

Issuing agency – Cornell University INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

 

Report name – World Energy Outlook (WEO)

Issuing agency – International Energy Agency

 

Report name – Southeast Asia Energy Outlook

Issuing agency – International Energy Agency

 

Report name – OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report

Issuing agency – OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries )

 

Report name – World Oil Outlook

Issuing agency – OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

 

Report name – World Intellectual Property Report (WIPR)

Issuing agency – WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)

 

 

Report name – Global Information Technology Report

Issuing agency – WEF (World Economic Forum)

 

Report name – The Energy Report

Issuing agency – WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

 

Social development

Report name – Global Wage Report

Issuing agency – ILO (International Labour Organization)

 

Report name – World Employment and Social Outlook

Issuing agency – ILO (International Labour Organization)

 

Report name – World Social Protection Report

Issuing agency – ILO (International Labour Organization)

 

Report name – Global Hunger Index

Issuing agency – Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide

 

Report name – World Happiness Report

Issuing agency – Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

 

 

Report name – Global Corruption Report (GCR)

Issuing agency – Transparency International

 

 

Report name – Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report

Issuing agency – UN Inter-agency Group

 

 

Report name – The State of the World’s Children reports

Issuing agency – UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund )

 

 

Report name – Report on Regular Resources

Issuing agency – UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund )

 

Report name – The Global Report

Issuing agency – UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). To read more about UNHCR, click here and here.

 

Report name – State of world population

Issuing agency – UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)

 

Report name – Global education monitoring Report

Issuing agency – UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

 

Report name – Global Gender Gap Report

Issuing Agency – World Economic Forum (WEF)

 

 

Report name – Human Capital Report 2016

Issuing agency – World Economic Forum

 

Security Issues

Report name – World Wildlife Crime Report

Issuing agency – UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

 

 

Report name – World Drug Report

Issuing agency – UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

 

Report name – Global Report on Trafficking in Persons

Issuing agency – UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

 

Report name – Reports on Counterfeiting and Organized Crime

Issuing agency – UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute)

 

Report name – Global Money Laundering Report

Issuing agency – FATF (Financial Action Task Force)

1.Why India wants to study human microbiome

Background

1. From November 19 to 22, Pune hosted an international conference on microbiome research- a field of study that is still in its infancy in India.
2. That could be set to change, with a proposed project that would study and map the human microbiome across the country.

What is human microbiome?

1. The human body carries diverse communities of microorganisms, which are mainly bacterial. These are referred to as “human microbiome”.
2. These organisms play a key role in many aspects of host physiology, ranging from metabolism of otherwise complex indigestible carbohydrates and fats to producing essential vitamins.
3. Not all microbiomes are harmful. They help maintaining immune systems and acts as a first line of defense against pathogens.

Scope for Research

1. Research on the human microbiome has thrown light on various aspects how different parts of the human body are occupied by characteristic microbial communities.
2. It throws light on how various factors contribute in shaping the composition of the microbiome, including the genetics, dietary habits, age, geographic location and ethnicity.
3. These studies laid a strong foundation to decipher the microbiome’s implications on health and a wide range of diseases.

Indian Microbiomes are Unique

1. Scientists at NCSS have conducted a meta-analysis on intestinal microbiota (community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms) of healthy Indian individuals and compared it with that of individuals from other parts of the world.
2. It shows that the Indian population harbours a distinct gut microbial community, which, scientists calls for an in-depth investigation of the Indian microbiome.

2.A universal flu vaccine identified

Potential vaccine for flu

1. Scientists have identified a potential universal influenza vaccine that could protect people against most strains of the virus
2. The candidate vaccine elicited a strong antibody response to a structure on the surface of flu viruses, called the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk
3. It has the potential to be developed into a universal flu vaccine, which — unlike the current seasonal flu vaccines — could be given a few times over a lifetime to provide protection potentially similar to a tetanus vaccine.

3.Hybrid pixel detector technology (Medipix3)

The next wave in medical imaging

1. The hybrid pixel detector technology which the Large Hadron Collider used to track accelerated particles has been used to produce the first three-dimensional colour images of the human body
2. A chip of the Medipix family developed by CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, has been used to take colour see-through images of body parts which are a generation ahead of the currently available technology

Current technologies and their shortcomings

1. The traditional radiological practices are complementary
2. Techniques based on X-rays suffer from the deficit that they can sharply visualise only hard tissues
3. The shadows of soft tissues are less precise
4. Blood vessels and other conduits are imaged with invasive dyes
5. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a slightly different picture, based on the difference in water and fat content in tissues
6. Positron emission tomography (PET) finds widest use in oncology

New Technology and its advantages

1. The Medipix3 promises a single solution superior to its predecessors
2. Using algorithms to model very accurate spectroscopic data in three dimensions, it shows all tissues with equal clarity, in colour
3. In the case of a fracture, for instance, not only would it show physical damage to a bone — which is what an X-ray depicts — but it would also reveal trauma to surrounding tissue and reveal if blood and nerve supply is compromised
4. Also, it would depict structures exactly as they are, and not all of us are built exactly the same
5. In the near future, when medical care will be customised to the individual, this exactitude would make a difference to the efficacy of care
6. If a complete image of a human were taken by a future iteration of this technology, it might even be possible to 3D print a lost limb or a malfunctioning organ
7. Researchers have already used Medipix to image cancerous tissue, bones and joints and the blood supply to the heart.

 

4.Rajasthan institute comes up with new sheep insemination technique

New insemination technique for sheep

1. Scientists at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Avikanagar, have come up with a new laparascope-assisted insemination technique for sheep

Why important?

1. The new technique has resolved the difficulties involved in freezing of semen and inability to transit the tortuous reproductive tract of the ruminant mammals kept as livestock
2. The success with frozen semen in the sheep was earlier very low because of its poor freezability

How can the new technique help?

1. The new technique would help achieve up to 60% survival in the birth of lambs and would have an immense potential for rapid multiplication of elite germplasm
2. As many as 40 females can be inseminated from a single ejaculate using the technique
3. The new technique’s invention would be of great help in the breed improvement programmes.

5.IIT-Roorkee scientists develop app to monitor patients at risk of heart failure

Mobile app for monitoring Heart Failure

1. IIT Roorkee have developed a mobile app that can remotely monitor patients at risk of heart failure and provide them with medical assistance
2. Name of the app: ‘Dhadkan’ 

Particulars of the app

1. It can automatically send notifications to both the doctor and the patient, in case of any drastic changes in patient’s data indicating possibility of imminent heart failure
2. The mobile app has been designed to be ‘easy-to-use’ so that people in rural areas can also benefit
3. The app also provides for two-way communication between doctors and patient
4. In addition, patients have the freedom to send ECG reports to the doctor if needed

Working

1. It collects patient’s data (at any desired interval) on blood pressure, heart rate, and weight, and transmits it to the authorized caregiver (a doctor, nurse or paramedic) who is linked to the patient during the initial registration

6.Scientists report previously-unrecognised anatomical structure in the human body

 

Connective tissue proteins discovered

1. Researchers have reported a previously unrecognised structure in the human body which may have implications in the mechanisms of major diseases
2. The study reveals that layers below the skin’s surface, which were long thought to be dense, connective tissues are instead interconnected, fluid-filled compartments
3. This series of spaces, supported by a meshwork of strong (collagen) and flexible (elastin) connective tissue proteins, may act like shock absorbers that keep tissues from tearing as organs, muscles, and vessels squeeze, pump, and pulse as part of daily function

How is this new find helpful?

1. These anatomic structures may be important in cancer metastasis, oedema, fibrosis, and mechanical functioning of many or all tissues and organs
2. This finding has potential to drive dramatic advances in medicine, including the possibility that the direct sampling of interstitial fluid may become a powerful diagnostic tool.

7.In Haryana, the making of an Indian brain template

Database of brain images

1. A group of scientists is preparing a one-of-its-kind database of brain images that, when compiled together, could result in a so-called Indian Brain Template (IBT)
2. The research is being carried out at National Brain Research Centre (NBRC)

Usefulness of IBT

1. It will serve as a guide to neuroscientists and surgeons, who have so far based their knowledge of intricate brain anatomy on Caucasian models
2. Scientists will be looking out for the quantity of a molecule called glutathione, an antioxidant known to help repair cell damage
3. Reduced glutathione concentrations in the parietal cortical region — near the back of the brain near where the skull bulges — may help predict Alzheimer’s disease.

8.Electricity from soil bacteria and reading lights from plants

Generating electricity from plants and microbes

1. A group of researchers at the Wageningen University in the Netherlands has hit upon a method that generates electricity from living plants and the microbes
2. These microbes live beneath plants in the soil, where the plants drop their roots

Plant microbial fuel cells

1. The plant does photosynthesis, using sunlight, water, and atmospheric carbon dioxide, generating food in the form of carbohydrates and oxygen for our breathing
2. The microbes in the soil use some of this organic material coming out of the plants into the ground, metabolize them and, in the process, generate carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions and electrons
3. While the plant above the ground does photochemistry, the bacteria beneath do electrochemistry, generating positive and negative ions
4. Scientists have placed positive and negative electrodes in appropriate positions and obtained an electric current, just as we do with batteries
5. This method of producing electricity is through what is termed as plant microbial fuel cells (PMFC)

Advantages

1. The method is completely natural and environment-friendly
2. It needs no externally added material and is part of a cyclic process in nature

Making plants glow

1. A firefly glows because it has an enzyme that converts a molecule called luciferin into oxyluciferin, and the energy released in this reaction comes out in the form of visible light
2. The enzyme is called luciferase
3. Plants do not have luciferin or luciferase
4. If we can somehow inject into a plant luciferin and luciferase, perhaps the plant too will emit light
5. The technology of nanoparticles is being experimented to do this