Kautaliya Economic Conclave, 2024

The 3rd edition of the Kautilya Economic Conclave, 2024 held between October 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi was successfully concluded recently.

• Kautilya Economic Conclave, 2024 features 11 plenary sessions, 12 interactive sessions and bilateral discussions on contemporary economic and social challenges facing both India and the world.
• It is organised by the Institute of Economic Growth in partnership with the Department of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Finance.
• It will focus on themes such as financing the green transition, geo-economic fragmentation and the implications for growth and principles for policy action to preserve resilience among others.
• The conclave focused on "the Indian Era", highlighting India's growing economic influence and leadership.
• Key topics discussed included:
  • Skills development and employment.
  • Climate change and green transition strategies.
  • Industrial policy best practices.
  • Geo-economic fragmentation.
  • Reforming international financial architecture.
  • Artificial intelligence's impact on jobs and the economy.
• The event featured high-profile participants from India and abroad, including economists, policymakers, and representatives from international organizations.
• The conclave highlighted India's evolving role as a leader of the Global South and its ambition to become a developed economy by 2047.

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoo's Red Panda Program was recently selected as Finalist for 2024 WAZA Conservation Award.

• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) aids to guide, encourage and support the zoos, aquariums and like?minded organisations of the world in animal care and welfare.
• WAZA is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
• It promotes cooperation between leading zoos, aquariums, national and regional associations, as well as with leading wildlife experts, academies, and universities.
• Membership – The membership consists of nearly 400 leading institutions and organisations around the world.
• WAZA accepts membership applications in 4 categories:
  1. Associations
  2. Institutions
  3. Affiliates
  4. Corporations
• It provides support for species?conservation management and husbandry of animals in human care, while encouraging the highest standards in member institutions.
• Partnership – WAZA has formed partnerships with leading international conservation organisations, committing its members to tackle global issues such as:
  • The illegal wildlife trade, coral?reef restoration, marine litter, sustainable palm oil and climate change.
• Awards:
• Heini Hediger Award – In 1996, WAZA established its highest award for professional excellence, named the Heini Hediger Award in honour of the Swiss biologist known as the “father of zoo biology”.
• Only one individual can be honoured in any given year, and since the award criteria are lofty, it is anticipated that the award might not be given out every year.
• Last recipient of this award is Lee Ehmke, awarded to him in 2023.
• WAZA Conservation Award Winners – In 2016, WAZA established its highest award for institutional commitment towards conservation, named the WAZA Conservation Award.
• This award is granted to an institution for an outstanding, comprehensive specific conservation programme that has clear objectives and excellent conservation outcomes.
• WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award – In 2018, WAZA established its highest award for institutional commitment towards environmental sustainability, named the WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award.
•  This award is granted to an institution for outstanding, comprehensive environmental sustainability initiatives that advances its commitment and efforts towards environmental sustainability.
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park – It is dedicated to conservation of Wildlife.
• It is situated at Darjeeling, West Bengal. (Statement 3 is incorrect)
• It started work on captive breeding project of this rare species in the year 1983.
• It was selected as an ideal site for this captive breeding project.
• The captive breeding projects for the species include:
  • Snow leopard
  • Red panda
  • Himalayan salamander
  • Himalayan wolf
  • Pheasants
  • Blue sheep
  • Himalayan Tahr
  • Himalayan Goral
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoo's Red Panda Program was selected as Finalist for 2024 WAZA Conservation Award.
• Salient features of the zoo – The zoo is a part of World Association of Zoos and Aquarium (WAZA) and Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) since 2009.
• The zoo was awarded the “Royal Bank of Scotland Earth Hero Award” as recognition for its efforts towards in-situ and ex-situ conservation, in 2014.
• The park is divided into 3 sections such as:
  1. The lesser carnivore section
  2. The herbivore section
  3. The carnivore section
• In the year 2022, the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) ranked PNHZ Park First in all categories among all zoos in the country.

Statutory Bodies of the Ministry of Textiles

An event to celebrate the world cotton day recently jointly hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI), and Cotton Corporation of India.

• The world cotton day event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI), and Cotton Corporation of India.
• United Nations officially recognised ‘7 October’ as World Cotton Day (WCD).
• The theme of World Cotton Day (WCD), 2024 is ‘Cotton for Good’.
• Statutory Bodies – Under the  Ministry of Textiles includes:
  1. National Jute Board (NJB)
  2. Central Silk Board (CSB)
  3. Textiles Committee
  4. Commissioner of Payments (COP)
  5. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
• Central Wool Development Board is an autonomous body.
• All India Handicrafts Board is an advisory body under the ministry.
• Autonomous Bodies – Under the ministry of textiles include:
  1. Central Wool Development Board
  2. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles and Management
• Advisory Bodies – Under the Ministry of Textiles include:
  1. All India Power-loom Board
  2. All India Handloom Board
  3. All India Handicrafts Board
  4. Cotton Advisory Board
  5. Jute Advisory Board
• Textile Research Associations – Under the Ministry of Textiles include:
  1. Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (Atira)
  2. Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA)
  3. South India Textile Research Association (SITRA)
  4. Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA)
  5. Synthetic & Art Silk Mills' Research Association (SASMIRA)
  6. Man-Made Textile Research Association (MANTRA)
  7. Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association (IJIRA)
  8. Wool Research Association

Charon

James Webb telescope for the first time has detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide, both frozen as solids on the surface of Charon, satellite of Pluto.

• Charon is the largest of Pluto's five moons.
• At half the size of Pluto, Charon is the largest known satellite relative to its parent body.
• The same surfaces of Charon and Pluto always face each other, a phenomenon called mutual tidal locking.
• Charon orbits Pluto every 6.4 Earth days.
• Charon neither rises nor sets, but hovers over the same spot on Pluto's surface and the same side of Charon always faces Pluto.
• Charon’s surface is mostly grey with reddish-brown regions around its poles composed of organic materials.
• Recent findings – James Webb telescope has recently discovered carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the frozen surface of Charon
• This marks the first time when carbon dioxide is observed on Charon, a spherical body approximately 750 miles in diameter.

Gold

• Gold is a precious metal famed for its use in jewellery and as a form of investment.
• Its atomic number is 79 and its Latin name is ‘aurum’, thus its symbol on the periodic table, Au.
• Features – Gold doesn’t dissolve in strong nitric acid whereas most metals do.
• Among the noble metals, only platinum is less reactive. (Statement 2 is incorrect)

Each of the Nobel Prizes include a medal of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, plated with 24 carat gold.

• Gold also dissolves in some alkaline solutions and in mercury, and is malleable, ductile, corrosion-resistant, and a good conductor of electricity.
• It is commonly used in industry to form connectors in computers.
• South Africa has produced most of the world’s gold since the late 19th century, but today the largest producer is China. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• The cost of extracting and refining gold depends on where it is found, although gold nuggets are typically found in mountainous areas that also have quartz veins.
• World Gold Council Standards – It is a membership organisation that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset, shaping the future of a responsible and accessible gold supply chain.
• It drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the principles for a perpetual and sustainable gold market.
• The World Gold Council was formed in 1987 by some of the world’s most forward-thinking mining companies.
• There are 3 core pillars to our mission in serving the gold market and its participants. Which includes:
  • Improving understanding
  • Improving access
  • Improving trust
• The World Gold Council’s 32 Members are some of the world’s most forward-thinking gold mining companies.
• Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs) was launched by the World Gold Council Standards in 2019. (Statement 3 is incorrect)
• RGMPs is a framework that sets out clear expectations for consumers, investors, and the gold supply chain as to what constitutes responsible gold mining.