The Odisha Wildlife Organization recently conducted a bird census in the Chilika lake. The organization was joined by Chilika Development Authority and Bombay Natural History Society.
Chilika is the largest brackish water lake. Birds come to the lake to spend their winter. Around 106 personnel were deployed in the survey. This included bird experts from non – governmental organizations and government organisations. The lake was divided into 21 segments to conduct the census.
The sanctuary is located inside Chilika lake. Around 3,58,889 birds were spotted in the Nalabana sanctuary. The bird count in the sanctuary has decreased by 65,000 as compared to the previous survey. The decrease in count was due to high water level in the lake and its surrounding. The water birds prefer to flock on muddy waters. The lake waters were clear due to increase in water level.
Digital Yuan is the digital currency of China. It was first launched in 2014 and has been working (test working) since then. The Digital Yuan is not a crypto currency. It is controlled by the Central Bank of China. The Government of China has plans to launch the currency internationally at Winter Olympics 2022. It is equal in value to fiat currency (Paper currency).
There are two aspects in the working of the Digital Yuan. Distribution and Expense (how people spend it?). The digital Yuan is distributed by the central bank of China to the commercial banks. The commercial banks then provide the digital currency to the public. The customers can exchange cash for digital yuan. People have to use a mobile application to receive digital Yuan. These are called the Digital Yuan Wallet Apps.
The Digital Yuan Wallet Apps are now available in Android and Apple stores. The app was first launched in 2019. The number of users using the app has increased to 10 million.
No. It does not work like other digital currencies like that of bitcoin. Bitcoin is not controlled by a central authority. It is controlled by the market. Say a company releases digital currency X. The value of X increases in the market if the business of the company grows. If its exports are higher than the imports. However, this is not the case with Digital Yuan. The value of Digital Yuan is completely controlled by the central bank.
The Chinese citizens can exchange Yuan for gold anytime. Unlike UK, India and US where gold at times exists in paper, in China it is real gold. They exchange Yuan for real gold. This system is allowed for Digital Yuan as well.
The Government of India recently announced that it has disbursed 50% of the ECRP – II funds. The announcement came as a clarification as some of the media reported that only 26.14% of the funds were disbursed. ECRP basically aims to accelerate the preparedness of health system.
The plan aims to support the major COVID centres such as AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, government hospitals in Shillong, Imphal, Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh; JIPMER. It will repurpose six thousand beds in these centres.
Genomic Sequencing machines are to be supplied to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Also, Epidemic Intelligence Services, Scientific Control Room and INSACOG support are to be extended to NCDC.
HMIS is Hospital Management Information System. The ECRP – II will provide financial assistance to establish HMIS in all district hospitals.
The National Architecture of E – Sanjeevani platform is to be expanded. The everyday tele – consultation limit is to be increased to five lakhs. Currently it is fifty thousand.
The Central War rooms located at the Department of Health and Family Welfare, COWIN platform, 1075 COVID helplines and COVID portals of the country are to be strengthened.
Paediatric units are to be established in all 736 districts.
Install Liquid Medical Oxygen Storage Tanks
Around 8,800 ambulances are to be added.
The plan also aims to engage undergraduate and post graduate interns, final MBBS students, nursing students. It will assist the districts in meeting their COVID-19 medicine requirement and management requirements. It will also support the states in achieving Test, Isolate and Treat strategy.
On January 6, 2022, Japan and Australia will sign a defence agreement to boost security and defence cooperation. The signing of the agreement is considered “historic”. This is to anger China. The agreement is to expand Quad agenda. The agreement will reduce Chinese influence in ASEAN. It will aid in achieving free and open Indo – Pacific.
The agreement includes sharing military facilities between the countries, landing rights, securing port access, logistic support, legal regimes, logistic support. This means the advanced F-35s (fighter jet) of Japan can now practice in Australian soil. The Australian submarines can now operate in Japanese waters. The countries can build special forces together. Both Japan and Australia share a common interest of keeping the US engaged in the Indo – Pacific.
The following recent issues reflect that the world countries are not ready to accept Chinese domination:
The countries are coming together under one objective. To put an end to Chinese domination.
The ASEAN countries are important for both Japan and Australia. China is trying to break ASEAN countries away from world countries. China is also trying to weaken their regional cooperation. According to Japan and Australia, the diplomatic efforts like that of the defence agreement will stop China from turning ASEAN into its business clients.
ANZUS treaty was signed between US, Australia and New Zealand in 1951. The agreement guarantees mutual security. New Zealand withdrew from the treaty in 1980s after it became anti – nuclear. The Japanese Diet and US Congress may not agree to a formal alliance agreement.
Commerce Ministry of India is planning to launch “Brand India Campaign” in order to give momentum to exports of services as well as products in new markets.
There is a need of such uniform campaign because presently, different sectors are being promoted with individual identities in different ways.
The Brand India Campaign will be run by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).
Under the campaign, an agency will be selected and a Branding Steering Committee will be set up for the purpose. Furthermore, uniform logo identity will be created and branding creatives like films, TVCs, digital banners & print ads will be developed.
The campaign approach would include:
IBEF) is an Indian Government export promotion agency, established in 1996, for the distribution and sale of Indian products in global markets. It was established by Department of Commerce under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is funded and owned by Indian Government. IBEF works as the branding and communication partner to facilitate India’s participation at global trade exhibitions. IBEF manages onsite branding, public relations, media advertisements, Digital marketing, knowledge kits and publishing reports.
The Government of India is planning to bring a new tourism policy. The policy aims to provide better facilities and services to the tourists visiting India. It will create five missions in the country.
India participated in Expo 2020 organised by Dubai actively. The Expo 2020 is the first largest in MEASA after the COVID times. MEASA is Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. It is essential for India to actively participate in such foreign expos to sustain tourism. Take UAE for instance. India receives 50,000 UAE tourists annually. And UAE receives 6 million Indian tourists annually. And India – UAE tourism sector is one of the largest tourism sectors in the world.
The Government of India is expecting that the tourism sector is to contribute 500 billion USD towards the country’s GDP by 2030. And the government is to work towards achieving this goal.
Karnataka Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based LNG Alliance Company to set up the State’s first LNG Terminal in Mangalore.
LNG is the liquefied form of natural gas. It has a much smaller volume as compared to natural gas in its gaseous form. This liquefied condition is used for facilitating carriage of natural gas from long distances.
Port terminals for LNG are purpose-built port terminals. They are designed to accommodate large LNG carrier ships which are designed to load, carry and unload LNG. LNG terminals are located adjacent to gas liquefaction & storage plant (export) or adjacent to a gas regasification & storage plant (import).
Satellite Internet Company of Elon Musk, Starlink, is facing a tough time in Indian market. Starlink’s India head Sanjay Bhargava also announced to quit the company.
Starlink has already received more than 5,000 pre-orders for its devices in India. However, it is struggling to receive commercial licences. Without getting licence, it cannot offer any services here.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation, launched and operated by SpaceX. The satellite constellation provides satellite Internet access, covering most of the Earth. The constellation has grown to more than 1,700 satellites as of 2021. It will eventually consist of many more mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Technical possibility of satellite internet service covers most part of the Earth. However, actual service can be delivered only in those countries that have provided license to SpaceX. Currently, beta service offering is available across 21 countries.
Early-stage planning for the starlink started in 2014. Product development occurred in earnest by 2017. In February 2018, the company launched two prototype test-flight satellites. Additional test satellites as well as 60 operational satellites were deployed in 2019. SpaceX, that launches up to 60 satellites at a time, further aims to deploy 1,584 of the 260 kg spacecrafts to provide services across the global by 2022.
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), scientists have detected a newborn star and the surrounding cocoon of a complex organic matter, for the first time.
ALMA is an astronomical interferometer comprising of 66 radio telescopes in Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The array observes electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths of millimeter and submillimeter. Array has been constructed at the elevation of 5,000 m in Chajnantor plateau. This location was selected for its high elevation and low humidity, which are essential factors for reducing noise and decrease signal attenuation due to atmosphere of Earth.
ALMA is an international partnership between Europe, the United States, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea and Chile.
ALMA array costs around US$1.4 billion. It is the most expensive ground-based telescope in operation.
ALMA started scientific observations in 2011. The first images were released in October 2011. ALMA has been fully operational since March 2013.
Sri Lankan Cabinet has given its approval to a new deal with India, announced by the energy minister, for jointly developing the Trincomalee oil tank farm.
This deal is historic, because it is a 35-year-old agreement. The agreement made during the exchange of letters between then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J R Jayewarndene. The agreement was part of annexure to India-Sri Lanka Accord of July 29, 1987. Under the agreement, Indian and Sri Lankan company had to develop the tank farm jointly.
Trincomalee is significant because:
This accord is popularly called as the Rajiv-Jayewardene Accord. It was signed in 1987 in the light of Civil War in Sri Lanka. The accord seeks to balance India’s strategic interests, Tamil minority rights in Sri Lanka as well as interest of people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka.
Recently, a man was thrashed by the villagers at Besrazara Bazaar Tand, Simdega in Jharkhand and later burnt alive in presence of police.
‘Khuntkatti’ system is joint ownership of land by tribal lineage. Under the system, Munda tribals usually clear the forests and make the land fit for cultivation. The cultivable land is then owned by whole clan and not a particular individual.
This system was replaced with the Zamindari system by 1874, with the advent of the British and the outsider-Zamindars. This caused indebtedness and forced labour among the tribals. As a result of indebtedness, Munda tribal started to revolt against British rule, under the leadership of Birsa Munda.
Birsa Munda movement impacted the government attitude towards their problems, on ground level. Government conducted surveys and settlement operations for them, during 1902 and 1910 to achieve this purpose. Finally, government decided to abolish the compulsory begar system and passed the Tenancy Act of 1903. The Tenancy Act of 1903 recognised the Mundari Khuntkatti system. Government also passed Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently approved ‘OMISURE’. Omisure is a RT – PCR kit. It is used to detect Omicron, a COVID-19 variant. It was manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics.
The kit was designed and developed by a US – based company Thermo Fisher. It was manufactured by Tata. The kit uses S Gene Target Failure to detect Omicron. It is currently the only kit in India to use this method to detect Omicron. The price of the kit is Rs 240. The cost of RT – PCR kits sold by government agencies is Rs 20 to Rs 30.
S gene is Spike gene of COVID -19 virus. The mutation in this gene deletes amino acids 69 and 70. This mutation helps them escape RT – PCR test. A kit or test that catches this gene deletion in COVID-19 variants are generally referred to as the S Gene Target Failure kits or S gene drop detection kit.
The S Gene target failure or S gene drop out is one of the prominent indicators to establish the presence of Omicron. In India, the COVID tests screen for Rd, Rp, E and N genes. Even if one of these genes are found, the test result is positive for COVID-19. So far S gene test was not conducted in the country as there was no requirement for it.
Recently, C.36.3.1 was detected. It carries Omicron like genetic variation. S – gene drop out has been identified in this new variant. It carries 36 mutations. Of these 9 mutations are in S gene. On the other hand, Omicron carried 52 mutations and of these 32 were identified in S gene. It is neither a variant of concern nor a variant of interest. The company is still testing if the kit will work for other Omicron like variants.
The Karnataka E – Bike Taxi scheme recently received an application. This is the first application received by the scheme after six months of its unveiling.
The scheme was launched by the State Government of Karnataka in July 2021. The scheme allows individual firms and private players to run electric bike taxis in the state’s capital city Bengaluru.
The user can avail the electric bike for ten kilometres. An odometer is fixed to measure the distance travelled. Under the scheme, the fares fall in two slabs. They are Rs 25 for the first five kilometres and Rs 50 till ten kilometres.
As the response from the private players is not welcoming, the Karnataka Government is planning to revise the fares. It is considering to the set the base price for the first two kilometres as Rs 10. And Rs 10 for every next two kilometres. And Rs 50 for ten kilometres. The license issuance for the scheme has currently been put on hold. The State Government is looking for options revise the features and working principles of the scheme.
The first reason is that the scheme is allowing only e – bikes to function as taxis. And the scheme is not providing options of mobile app platforms like that of Ola or Uber. The second main reason is that the other private companies in the business have attached the drivers with the vehicles. They did not make investment on vehicles. They are earning by providing business to the drivers. Drivers own the vehicles. Here in the scheme, the private player has to invest in buying the vehicles. This is the main reason why the scheme is not picking up pace.
The scheme was launched to connect metro stations and bus stops. If it works, it will become the most affordable transport option for the public, especially to cover short distances.
On January 4, 2022, a European Union ban on tattoo ink and permanent make-up went into effect.
Seven EU countries have already applied the ban at national level.
The directive to ban tattoo ink was agreed by all EU member states in 2019. Now it is applicable across 27 countries of the European Union. The directive also include ban on imports coming from outside the European Union.
Tattoo inks and permanent make-up comprising of chemical mixes can be hazardous, can cause skin allergies and lead to serious health impacts like genetic mutations & cancer.
Ink pigments can penetrate deep down the body from the skin. Thus, it affects organs like lymph nodes and the liver. Furthermore, laser-treatment to erase tattoos can break those substances into smaller particles. Smaller particles then circulate in the body. These chemicals could stay for life in body. Thus, there is possibility for long-term exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
The two main substances used in tattoos are-: Pigment Blue 15:3 and Pigment Green 7. For both substances, no substitutes are currently unavailable. Both of these substances are feared to cause bladder cancer.
The tattoo industry argues that, there is no confirm evidence of linking tattoos directly with cancer. They are of the view that, EU regulations could lead to black marketing of more tattoos.
The Reserve Bank of India recently provided a new special window for bond houses called “Primary Dealers”. The window allows to exchange illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are those securities that cannot be sold easily or directly. That is, the investors buying the securities can sell them only in limited instances.
The primary dealers are those dealers who buy securities directly from the government. They then resell the security to the others. Thus, their main role is to assist the government in selling bonds or securities. They earn some fees for selling these securities. The Bond house is the security firm that creates and distributes bonds. Now, these primary dealers have a separate section or window to buy securities from the government. The government securities are debt issuances.
A special window is to be opened every month for the primary dealers. Though the window, the dealers can switch the illiquid securities obtained through Request for Quotes with liquid securities obtained from RBI.
The move encourages the investors to invest in sovereign bonds. And also makes the primary dealers the key players in retail investments. Sovereign Bonds are debt obligations issued by government. It is issued seeking support in government spending. That is, if more number of people are buying a sovereign bond of a project, it means more people have confidence in the success of the project. This increases the share value of the government company executing the project.
It gives resources to the government. It is useful in implementing the fiscal policies. Also, the government security provides a collateral. It secures the capital. It provides a fixed income to the investor. The most popular government securities in India are rural development bonds, national defence bonds and gold bonds.
Andhra Pradesh recently found that ‘Mud Crab Reovirus (MCRV)’ has been the reason for mass mortality of wild crab (Scylla serrata).
Mud Crab Reovirus belongs the “Reoviridae” family. It is responsible for the mass mortality of wild crabs. The virus mainly affects the connective tissue of hepatopancreas, intestine and gills.
In China, the MCRV had paralysed the wild crab species cultivation in 2007.
In Andhra Pradesh, total area under wild crab cultivation is around 25,000 acres. Around 4,500 acres are there in Krishna district. The wild crab is cultivated in the districts of Nellore, Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna, and Godavari districts. Wild crab is exported to South-east Asia region directly from Andhra Pradesh and it has a large market in Europe. But starting from 2019, around 60% of cultivation has been affected because of mass mortality in the State.
Wild Crab are scientifically called as Scylla serrata. They are ecologically important species of crab and are found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Asia and Australasia. The shell colour varies from deep, mottled green to dark brown, In their most common form.
As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank continue to be identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs), similar to 2020 list of D-SIBs.
Some banks become domestic systemically important, because of their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, lack of substitutability & interconnectedness, and complexity. Such banks are perceived as banks which as ‘Too Big To Fail’ (TBTF). This perception creates an expectation of government’s support at the time of distress in these banks. These banks are subjected to additional policy measures in order to deal with moral hazard issue and systemic risks posed by them.
Risks associated with collapse or failure of a company, financial institutions, industry, or an entire economy are called as systemic risks.
Moral hazard is a situation, where one party gets involved in a risky event after knowing that it is protected against that risk while other party will incur the cost.
The Plan Bee was launched by Northern Frontier Railway. It aims to keep the elephants away from the train tracks. The plan recently won Best Innovation Award from the Indian Railways.
The plan installs unique devices along the railway tracks. These devices create the buzzing sounds of swarming bees. Elephants get irritated to the buzzing sounds of bees. And try to stay away from the sound. Thus, by creating the buzzing sound, the device keeps the elephants away from the track. The sound produced by the device is audible from a distance of 400 metres.
The device was first installed near Kamakhya station in Assam. And today the devices are installed in more than 56 locations. These places are under the jurisdiction of the North Frontier Railways. So far, Plan Bee has saved 950 elephants.
According to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, between 2009 and 2021, more than 186 elephants were killed in train accidents. Of these, Assam accounted for the largest number of elephant deaths due to train accidents. It was followed by West Bengal and Odisha.
The vegetation along the tracks are cleared frequently. This provides a better view to the loco pilot (the train driver). Signage boards are used to alert the loco pilot about the elephant zones. The Railways create overpass and underpass for the safe passage of elephants. The loco pilots have been instructed to reduce the train speed in vulnerable stretches between sunset and sunrise.
The eco bridges are natural corridors. They are links in habitat that connect two larger wildlife zones. They are usually constructed in elephant corridors. Sometimes, the road and railway construction through the elephant corridor obstructs the movement of elephants from one habitat to the other. In such cases, a natural link over or under the road and railway track will help them cross the corridor.
On January 4, 2022, deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia handed over the first caste certificate based on Single mother.
Earlier, SC/ST caste certificates were issued only on the basis of fathers’ caste certificate or paternal side certificates. because of this procedure, many single mothers were unable to get SC/ST caste certificates for their children.
Circular to amend the procedure for issuance of ‘SC/ST caste certificate’ based on the caste certificate of single mother was issued on July 20, 2020, after getting approval from the Revenue Minister of GNCT Delhi.
Geeta Devi, aged 30, was struggling to get the Scheduled Caste scholarship for her son in 2020. She was informed by his son’s school that she requires to submit caste certificate of her son in order to get scholarship. After visiting the sub-district magistrate (SDM) office, she was asked to bring husband’s cate certificate as proof to get one for her son. Her struggle ended and her case became the first in city where a child received caste certificate on the basis of his single mother’s documents.
Caste Certificate for SC/ST/OBC/PC can be issued by any of the following authorities:
According to Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Government will framework a policy to know the age and condition of all the bridges in India.
Union Minister further emphasised on multistorey road projects, because land acquisition is not easy in cities. For instance, in Nagpur, a project has been made to run metro over a two-storey road while in Pune, government is preparing for a four-storey road project in Pune.
The IBM System has been established for developing data in digital form, for identifying and surveying the number of bridges and other structures on the National Highways. The system was established with the aim of identifying the distressed bridges which requires immediate attention. It also seeks to sensitize the concerned implementation agency to take corrective measures like repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction or new construction.
During inventory creation, bridges are assigned a unique identification number or National Identity Number on the basis of state, RTO zone and whether it is situated on a district road, state highways or national highways. After that, precise location of the bridge is collected through GPS, in terms of latitude & longitude. Based on this, bridge is assigned a Bridge Location Number. Following this, engineering characteristics are collected and are used to assign a Bridge Classification Number to the structure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Puducherry on January 12, 2022 to inaugurate the 25th National Youth Festival.
Those who are not vaccinated will not be allowed to participate in the Youth Festival.
The Puducherry Technological University has been chosen as one of the venues to conduct this festival. Entire campus of the University has been brought under the control of Puducherry administration. Accommodation for the youth will be provided in hostels at the University.
National Youth Festival us an annual gathering of youth, in India. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of youth icon Swami Vivekananda. It is organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in association with one of the State Governments. Thus, it is organised in a different state each year during National Youth Week.
January 12 marks the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The day is always celebrated as National Youth Day. The week commencing from this day is known as National Youth Week, that is January 12 to January 16.
Government of India holds National Youth Festival, as a part of National Youth Week celebrations. It is organised with the aim of propagating the concept of national integration, brotherhood, spirit of communal harmony, courage and adventure amongst the youth. This aim is achieved by organizing gatherings of youth and encouraging them to take part in different activities.
National Youth Festival started in 1995 as a major activity under the programme held by National Integration Camp (NIC).