Prelim Bits 12-04-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Amolops siju

Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have named the new species, Amolops siju after the Siju cave system of Meghalaya.

• Frog genus - Amolops
• Ecosystem - It is a new species of the marmoratus group from a cave ecosystem.
• This is an uncommon habitat for this group of frogs, which is commonly found around cascades.
• It is the second time that a frog was discovered from inside a cave in the country after the discovery of the Micrixalus spelunca in 2014 from a cave in Tamil Nadu.
• The team had also discovered three other new species of cascade frog (Amolops) in Arunachal Pradesh and those include the
  • Amolops chanakya,
  • Amolops terraorchis and
  • Amolops tawang

Reference

1. The Hindu | Cave dweller frog named after Siju cave

Corrugation Ridges

A team of scientists mapped more than 7,600 small-scale landforms called ‘corrugation ridges’ across the seafloor near Norway.

• The corrugation ridges found are less than 2.5 m high and are spaced between about 25 and 300 metres apart.
• These landforms are understood to have formed when the ice sheet’s retreat.
• Formation - The retreating margin of the ice sheet moved up and down with the tides, pushing seafloor sediments into a ridge every low tide.
• Two ridges would have been produced each day (under 2 tidal cycles per day),
• Retreating Rate - The researchers were able to calculate how quickly the ice sheet retreated from the number of ridges formed.
• Their results show the former ice sheet underwent pulses of rapid retreat at a speed of 50 to 600 metres per day.
• This is the fastest ice sheet retreat that has been ever observed from satellites or inferred from similar landforms in Antarctica.

References

1. The Hindu - How fast can ice sheets retreat?

Kuttamperoor River

Rejuvenation of Kuttamperoor river in Alappuzha is completed recently

• Kuttamperoor is a west-flowing river originating in the western ghats.
• It is a tributary of both the Pamba and the Achankovil rivers in Kerala.
• It forms a link between the two rivers.
• The river has its northern end in the Pamba and the southern end in the Achenkovil river.
• When the water level at the Pamba is higher it flows from Pamba to Achankovil and when the Achenkovil river has a higher water level it flows from Achankovil to Pamba.
• Country boats, which were called ‘palliyodams’, were raced on it during the popular Aranmula boat race.
• Main threats - Sand mining and Waste dumping

Reference

1. The Hindu | Kuttamperoor River

Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project

External Affairs Minister launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi, during his visit to Uganda's Kampala.

• Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project is the restoration and conservation of Varanasi.
• It is the initiative of Overseas Friends of BJP-Uganda (BFBJP-Uganda).
• The project contributes to further beautifying Varanasi, the oldest living city in the world.
• Tulsi Ghat - Tulsi ghat is one of the famous ghats in Varanasi and is part of Lolark Ghat (earlier).
• It is named after poet Tulsidas who wrote Ramacharitamanas.
• Poet Tulsidas spent his last days in Tulsi ghat.

References

1. The Hindu - EAM launches 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' in Uganda
2. Times of India - Tulsi Ghat

National Party Status Criteria

The Election Commission recognised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party, while revoking that status of the TMC, NCP and CPI.

• National Party - The Election Commission of India (ECI) has laid down the technical criterion for a party to be recognised as a national party.
• A party may gain or lose national party status from time to time, depending on the fulfilment of these laid-down conditions.
• Criteria - The ECI’s Political Parties and Election Symbols, 2019 handbook lays down the criteria for a party to be recognised as National Party.
• First a political Party has to be registered with ECI to be recognised as National or State party.

• State Party - The Commission also revoked the state party status granted to 6 parties from different state.
• They are: RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram.

References

1. IE -  AAP now national party; NCP, Trinamool lose tag
2. Live Mint - TMC, NCP, CPI lose national party status