Habitat rights to PVTGs

Recently Baiga PVTG in Chhattisgarh become the 2nd in the State to get habitat rights after Kamar PVTG.

• Habitat – It includes the area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes.
• Habitat rights – Rights over their customary territory of habitation, socio-cultural practices, economic and livelihood means, intellectual knowledge of biodiversity and ecology, traditional knowledge of use of natural resources, as well as protection and conservation of their natural and cultural heritage.
• However, it excludes any traditional right of hunting or trapping or extracting a part of the body of any species of wild animal
• They are given to PVTGs under Section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act, 2006).
• The title may not be an ownership title in the nature of a private property owner, but consent and consultation of the gram sabha will be needed for any developmental activity.
• Coverage – As of April 2024, out of 75 PVTG in India, only 3 have habitat rights.
  • 1st one was Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh
  • The Kamar and the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh.
• PVTGs – There are 75 PVTGs out of 705 STs, spread over 18 states and 1 Union Territory (A&N Islands).
• Highest PVTGs is present in Odisha followed by Andhra Pradesh.
• The Baiga – An ethnic group found in Central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Ethics committee

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee inquired regarding a complaint of cash for query against a sitting Member of Parliament.

• An allegation of corruption against an MP – It can be sent to either Ethics or Privileges Committee, but usually more serious accusations go to the latter.
• Privileges Committee – It can take up cases of misconduct that involve both MPs and non- MPs.
• Ethics Committee – It can take up only cases of misconduct that involve MPs.
• History – Vohra committee report submitted in 1995 pointed out the nexus between criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians have come clearly out in various parts of the country.

The Mediation Act, 2023

Recently, some portions of the Mediation Act of 2023 came into force.

• Mediation – It is a voluntary, low-cost, and confidential process where disputing parties mutually find a solution with the help of an impartial third-party mediator.

• Features of the Mediation Act – It aims to foster a link between the mediation and the arbitration of commercial disputes.
• Parties must attempt to settle civil or commercial disputes by mediation before approaching any court or certain tribunals.
• Even if they fail to reach a settlement through pre-litigation mediation, the court or tribunal may at any stage refer the parties to mediation if they request for the same.
• Excluded list of disputes – Not fit for mediation
  • Related to claims against minors or persons of unsound mind,
  • Involving criminal prosecution, and
  • Affecting the rights of third parties.
• The central government may amend this list.
• Applicability – To mediations conducted in India
  • Involving only domestic parties
  • Involving at least one foreign party and relating to a commercial dispute (i.e., international mediation)
  • If the central or state government is a party, the Act will apply to commercial disputes, and other disputes as notified.
• Mediation process – It must be completed within 180 days (may be extended by 180 days by the parties).
• A party may withdraw from mediation after two sessions.
• Court annexed mediation – It must be conducted as per the rules framed by the Supreme Court or High Courts.
• Mediators – They may be appointed by
  • The parties by agreement, or
  • Mediation service provider (an institution administering mediation).
• Mediation Council of India – Established by Central government.
• Nature of the mediation – Agreements resulting from mediation (other than community mediation) will be final, binding, and enforceable in the same manner as court judgments.
• It may be challenged on grounds of fraud, corruption, impersonation, or related to disputes not fit for mediation.
• Community mediation – It will be conducted by a panel of 3 mediators to resolve disputes likely to affect the peace and harmony amongst residents of a locality.

Household Savings

Household sector’s savings in financial assets has shown a sharp decline to 5.1% of GDP in 2022-23.

• Household savings – It refer to money left after the household pays taxes and spends on the consumption of goods and services.
• 3 components
  • Financial assets – Currency, bank deposits, pension, insurance, equity and related products.
  • Physical assets – Investment in fixed assets of construction
  • Gold and silver ornaments
• Household savings rate = (Household savings/Personal disposable income) x 100%
• Factors influencing Household Savings – Income, interest rate, future income expectation, wealth and tax.
• Status of Household Savings – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed that household financial savings were at 5.1% of GDP in FY23, almost a 40-year low.
• The annual financial liabilities of households increased by 5.8% of GDP in FY23, signalling an unusually high reliance on loans for consumption and real estate purchases.
• This rate of increase in financial liabilities was the 2nd highest since India's Independence.
• Household assets saw a sharp decline from Rs 22.8 trillion in FY21, to Rs 13.76 trillion in FY23.
• Household debt, as measured by the stock of financial liabilities, remained significantly elevated at 37.6% of GDP in FY23.
• The primary reasons behind the subdued savings and increased borrowing seem to be stagnant or declining incomes for households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), occurring in the midst of high inflation.

Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022

Excessive number of species have been included in the new schedules of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, with no consultation or process.

• Enacted in – 1972.
• Objectives – To prohibit the hunting of wild animals and to protect and manage of wildlife areas and the species in these areas.
• To establish new protected areas such as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Importance – It paved the way for establishment of The National and State Board for Wildlife, Central Zoo Authority and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• Earlier Amendments – 1982, 1991, 1993, 2002 and 2006.
• 2022 Amendment – It empowers Centre to notify a conservation reserve.
• Rationalised Schedules – Reduces the number from 6 to 4
  • Schedule I — Animal species with highest level of protection including those which are critically endangered.
  • Schedule II – Animal species with a lesser degree of protection
  • Schedule III – Protected Plant species
  • Schedule IV – Specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens)
• Implementation of CITES – Introduced of new chapter for this and enables Centre to designate a management and scientific authority.
• Prohibit invasive alien species – Empowers Centre to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession or proliferation of such species.
• Definition of Vermin – It means any wild animal notified under Section 62 of Wildlife Protection Act.
• Decentralisation of power – Allow the state to form an Advisory Committee consisting of Chief Wildlife Warden, members of legislature, wildlife NGOs and Panchayat Raj to manage wildlife sanctuaries.
• Empowers the Gram Sabha and other local village institutions to collectively protect the forests, wild animals and biodiversity and take action against any activity posing threat to wildlife.
• The State may declare areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries as a conservation reserve, for protecting flora and fauna, and their habitat.
• Surrender of captive animals – Persons shall voluntarily surrender any captive animals or its products to the Chief Wild Life Warden.
  • No compensation will be paid to the person for surrendering and such items become property of the State government.
• Extended functions of Zoos – It will also serve as the areas for ex-situ conservation, rescue centers and breeding centers apart from exhibition centres.
• Dilution of conservation – It allows low intensity, small-scale fishing in rivers and other water bodies in and around protected areas.
• Relaxes the norms on grazing of cattle and use of drinking water by the local communities living inside the protected areas until they are settled elsewhere.
• Allows transfer or transport of a captive elephant for a religious or any other purpose subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
• Animal Welfare Board of India – It is a statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare Laws.
• It was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Quantum Dots

Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2023 has been awarded to Alexei I. Ekimov, Louis E. Brus, and Moungi G. Bawendi for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.

• Quantum dots – They are man-made nanoscale crystals that exhibit unique optical and electronic properties, including the ability to transport electrons and emit light of various colors when exposed to UV light.
• Effect of light– When light is shined on a quantum dot, it absorbs and then re-emits it at a different frequency.
• By manipulating their size, one can precisely control their properties and make them emit light of specific colours when they are excited by light
  • Smaller dots – Emits bluer light
  • Larger dots – Emits redder light
• This happens because light shone on the dot energises some electrons to jump from one energy level to a higher one, before jumping back and releasing the energy at a different frequency.

Phonotaxis

• Phonotaxis is the movement of an animal in response to a sound.
• It has mostly been observed among crickets, moths, frogs, and toads, among a few other creatures.
• The click of crickets in the evening or frogs croaking during the monsoons are due to Phonotaxis.
• There are 2 types of Phonotaxis:
  1. Positive
  2. Negative
• The purpose of positive phonotaxis is attraction.
• It usually happens when the females of a particular species are attracted to the sounds made by the males.
• Negative Phonotaxis indicate to repel or warn or move away.
• Crickets in particular have been found to steer themselves away from low-intensity ultrasound typically associated with bats (which use it for echolocation).

Dancing Frogs

The Wildlife Trust of India after analysing the second edition of the Global Amphibian Assessment said that the dancing frogs are the most threatened amphibian genus of India.

• Dancing frogs are members of the Micrixalus genus and there are about 24 frog species in this family.
• Their preferred habitats are shola grasslands, myristica swamps and evergreen forests within the Western Ghats, where they mainly reside near slow-moving perennial streams.
• The males stretch up their hind legs one at a time and wave their webbed toes in the air in a rapid motion akin to a dance.
• The signature dance move called ‘foot-flagging’ serves the dual purpose of attracting a female while sending out a warning signal to other male frogs in the area.
• According to the 2nd edition of the Global Amphibian Assessment, the dancing frogs are the most threatened amphibian genus of India.
• It is also the 5th most threatened genus in the world with 92% of its species in the threatened category.
• Budgett Frog - Other common names are Hippo Frog and the Freddie Kruger Frog.
• Habitat – In inland waters in Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia.
• They are highly intelligent and very aggressive.
• When frightened, they inflate themselves, stand up on their short legs and attack the potential with an open huge mouth followed up by a high-pitched scream.
• Purple Frog - Also known as pignose frog or Mahabali frog.
• It is believed to have co-existed with dinosaurs.
• It remains underground for almost a year except for 2-3 weeks during the monsoon as it comes out to mate.

Quick Response (QR) Codes

Recently the Cybersecurity experts have found hackers using Quick response (QR) codes for phishing activities.

• QR was invented by Masahiro Hara, a Japanese engineer in 1994.
• QR Code is a type of 2D barcode or printed representation of data that can be scanned for data retrieval whereas barcode has 2 types - 1 dimensional and 2 dimensional.
• QR codes can hold more data than barcodes.
• They are less likely to be damaged than barcodes.
• QR codes can be read from all directions, while barcodes can only be read from one direction.
• QRs have improved security with encryption.

Pichwai Painting

• Origin – It is a 400-year-old art whose roots are from Nathdwara town in Rajasthan.
• Theme – Various stages of Lord Krishna’s life, including his childhood, youth, and adulthood.
• It is typically done on cloth, usually khadi but now being produced on various mediums such as paper, canvas, and silk.
• Different schools of Pichwai — Nathdwara, Kishangarh and Bundi in Rajasthan and Deccan school
• Materials used – Natural colors made from minerals and plant extracts.
• Stone pigments are used for gold and silver tones.
• Usage – As a backdrop for hindu deities in temples.
• They are typically hung behind the idol of Shrinathji, a local form of Krishna and the centre of Pushtimarg worship.

Dogra architecture

• Dogra architecture is a distinct culture that formed in Jammu, where cultures mixed together.
• Dogra Dynasty – Dynasty of Hindu Rajputs who ruled Jammu & Kashmir from 1846 to 1947.
• Some examples of Dogra architecture include:
  • Mubark mandi – A hub of Dogra culture until 1947, with a jharokha style of balcony.
  • Maharaj Gunj – A market area with a variety of colonial and vernacular architecture.
  • Rani Charak Mahal – A mahal with phenomenal architecture and interiors.

Vajra Mushti Kalaga

• The ‘’vajra mushti kalaga’’ is a form of wrestling or a traditional Indian martial art that incorporates various hand-to-hand combat techniques, such as grappling, wrestling, and striking.
• It entails two jettys taking a swipe at each other’s head with a small metal weapon called a knuckleduster.
• Vajra Mushti matches are still held during the annual Mysore Dasara festival at Mysore Palace.
• The tradition dates back to the Wadiyar dynasty in 1610.

West Antarctic Ice Shelf Melt

• West Antarctic Ice Sheet – It is Antarctica’s largest contributor to sea-level rise which has enough ice to increase the global mean sea level by as much as 5 metres (m).
• Thwaites Glacier, widest glacier on Earth is located in this region.
• It is situated between Weddell Sea and Ross Sea.
• Cause of melting – Due to the warming of the Southern Ocean mainly the Amundsen Sea region.
• Amundsen Sea, off the coast of West Antarctica, will warm roughly 3 times faster than the historical rate through the rest of this century which will lead to much more rapid melting of ice shelves.
• Impacts – Sea-level rises of around 1 metre may threat hundreds of millions of people worldwide at risk of coastal flooding.

Certification and Certification Agencies

Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit, 2023

• The 1st edition of the International Energy Agency’s Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit was held at Paris, France.
• It aims to discuss the challenges and opportunities behind rising demand for critical minerals by sharing experiences.
• Critical minerals are minerals like copper, lithium, nickel and cobalt that are essential for developing clean energy technologies, economic development and national security.
• 6 Key Action Areas of the Summit
  1. Accelerating progress towards diversified minerals supplies.
  2. Unlocking the power of technology and recycling.
  3. Promoting transparency in the markets.
  4. Enhancing the availability of reliable information.
  5. Creating incentives for sustainable and responsible production.
  6. Strengthening efforts on international collaboration.
• Based on the ‘Report of the Committee on Identification of Critical Minerals’ constituted by the Ministry of Mines, India classifies 30 critical minerals as essential for its economic development and national security.

Cricket in Olympics

International Olympic Committee approves cricket among other 5 sports for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics whose final voting will be held soon.

• The 5 new sports under consideration are:
  1. Twenty20 cricket
  2. Baseball/softball
  3. Flag football (non-contact American football)
  4. Squash
  5. Lacrosse
• 1900 Paris Olympics – Cricket was last featured at this event.
• Roadmap of Cricket in Global stage
  • In 2019, International Cricket Council (ICC) took a decisive move to make cricket a global sport.
  • In 2022, it returned to the Commonwealth Games 2022, when women's T20s team played.
• Cricket is an optional sport at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games. It first appeared at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, with a men's tournament.
• BCCI agreed to come under the ambit of India's National Anti-Doping Agency, an affiliate of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
  • IOC mandates that every global sport body must be WADA compliant.
• T20 cricket is the sport’s shortest international format.

UNEP Cool Coalition

The COP28 Presidency held by the United Arab Emirates is leading the Global Cooling Pledge alongside the UNEP Cool Coalition.

• Cool Coalition is dedicated to inspiring ambition, mobilizing action, and accelerating progress toward UN 2019 Climate Change Summit.
• The Cool Coalition is a global multi-stakeholder network that connects a wide range of key actors towards a rapid global transition to efficient and climate-friendly cooling.
• It is a unified initiative that links action across the Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.
• The 3 pillars of the cool coalition includes Advocacy, Action and Knowledge Exchange.
• The Cool Coalition is led by:
  1. UN Environment,
  2. Climate and Clean Air Coalition,
  3. Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program and
  4. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
• Climate Action Network is not part of this initiative.

• Cool Champions are thought leaders from government, private sector and civil society to raise awareness about the need for efficient and climate friendly cooling and mobilize their peers to join this effort.

Yak Churpi, Khamti Rice & Tangsa Textile

Three indigenous products of Arunachal Pradesh such as Yak churpi, Khamti rice & Tangsa textile received GI tag.

• Yak churpi - It is the first ever yak milk product, Arunachal Yak Churpi, to receive the Geographical Indication.
• Churpi is prepared from the milk of Arunachali yak, a unique breed found in West Kameng and Tawang districts of the state.
• It is reared by tribal yak pastoralists known as Brokpas who migrate along with their yaks to higher reaches during summers and descend to mid-altitude mountainous regions in winters.
• Churpi is an excellent source of proteins and is frequently used as a substitute for vegetables by tribal yak herders in the vegetation-starved cold and hilly mountainous regions of the state.
• Khaw Tai – Is a chewy sticky rice variety of Namsai region being cultivated by traditional Khampti tribal farmers in Arunachal Pradesh. It is also called as Khamti rice.
• Tangsa textile – Textile products of the Tangsa tribe of Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh are famous for their exotic designs and colours.

Question Hour

• Question Hour – It is the 1st hour of every parliamentary sitting.
• Duration – 1 hour
• MPs ask questions to ministers and also to the private members (MPs who are not ministers).

Procedure for Questionnaire

• Governed by
  • Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha
  • Directions by Speaker, Lok Sabha
• Prior notice – Addressed to the lower house’s Secretary-General.
• Submission of notices – Either through Member’s Portal or through the printed forms as in the Parliamentary Notice Office.
• It should not be more than 5 notices/ day.
• Admissibility of question – Decided by Lok Sabha Speaker
• Conditions for admissibility – It shouldn’t allow questions containing
  • More than 150 words and on matters which may weaken the unity and integrity of the country
  • Arguments, defamatory statements or referring to the character of any person except in their official capacity
  • Queries raising larger issues of policy
  • Any subject pending judgment before any court/tribunal/body or under Parliamentary Committee

UMMEED

Recently, the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) released the draft guidelines for schools to prevent suicide among students.

• UMMEED – Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, and Develop (UMMEED).
• It is released by Department of School Education, Ministry of Education.
• The Objectives include:
  • To prevent suicides among school students
  • To serve as directions to schools for enhancing sensitivity, understanding, and providing support in case of reported self-harm.
  • To de-stigmatise mental health concerns through storytelling, rallies, posters, exhibitions and other activities.
• These guidelines align perfectly with the NEP’s (National Education Policy) vision of holistic education.
• The Plan of Action is setting up of School Wellness Teams (SWT), orientations, and immediate response to vulnerable students.
• Composition of SWT – School counsellors, students, teachers, supporting staff, a representative of the school management committee under the leadership of the school principal.
• Functions of SWT – It implements school activities in creating awareness about mental well-being.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Recently Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Council of Ministers meeting was held under the theme ‘Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity’.

• A dynamic inter-governmental organisation and a regional forum.
• It is a tri-partite forum that brings together representatives of government, business and academia.
• Established in – 1997.
• The vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995.
• Permanent secretariat – Ebene, Mauritius
• Objective – Strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region.
• Apex body – Council of (Foreign) Ministers (COM) which meets annually
• Membership – 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners
  • India is a member and France was the latest member.
  • Non-members – Pakistan, Myanmar
• Dialogue Partners – Italy, Japan, Germany, China, USA, UK, Russia, Turkey, Korea, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
• Troika – Established by the Council of Ministers, which consists of
• Chair - Sri Lanka for 2 years (2023-2025)
• Vice Chair – India
• Previous chair – Bangladesh
• 2 Specialised agencies of IORA
  • Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) at Tehran, Iran.
  • Fisheries Support Unit (FSU) at Oman.

• G20 – It is the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
• It has 19 members and 2 regional forums, while Pakistan and Myanmar are not its members.
• It does not have a permanent secretariat.
• The Presidency is supported by the Troika – previous, current and incoming Presidency.

Setu Bandhan Scheme

Recently the ministry of road transport and highways approved 7 bridge projects in Arunachal Pradesh under the Setu Bandhan Scheme.

• The Setu Bandhan scheme have been introduced to improve inter-state connectivity, especially on the rural areas at the borders where state roads do not get the required attention.
• The scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
• The scheme is different from “Setu Bharatam” scheme.
• 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.
• The programme aims at making all national highways Railway Level Crossing free by 2019.