1. Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has not been spotted at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh and its surrounding areas for the last couple of years, which is an indication that the bird is at risk of local extinction.
About Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary:
- It is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
- It lies between the Nallamala and Yerramalla hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats.
- It was declared a sanctuary in 1988 to protect the dwindling populations of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
- Uniqueness: It is the only GIB Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh.
- It owes its genesis to the discovery of the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
- Flora: About 32 species of grassed like Aristida funiculata, Chrysopogon fulvus, Heteropogon contortus, like Cassia fistula (Golden shower tree), Butea monosperma (Flame of the forest), Acacia spp, Ziziphus mauritiana, etc.
- Fauna:
- The grassland Sanctuary is rich in invertebrate fauna particularly the insects that form a major part of the diet of most of the birds.
- Land monitor lizards, Geckos, Skinks, Saw-scaled vipers; etc. So far about 6 species of amphibians have been recorded here.
- There are about 124 bird species like the Lesser florican, Demoiselle crane, Black stork, White stork, Harriers, etc;
- These plains are also home to endangered mammals like the Golden jackal, Indian wolf, Blackbuck, Chinkara, etc.
2. Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme
Recently, C-DOT, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-K) signed an agreement for ‘Developing Prototypes for 10-Gigabit-capable symmetric Passive Optical Network (i.e., XGS-PON) Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Optical Network Unit (ONU) under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme.
About the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme:
- It has been notified for domestic companies and institutions involved in the technology design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions to enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.
- It was launched by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the Department of Telecommunications.
- Aims
- To fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications and form synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
- To promote technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, create a culture of technology co-innovation, reduce imports, boost export opportunities and creation of Intellectual Property.
- Under the scheme, USOF is also targeting to develop standards to meet countrywide requirements and create the ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, use cases, pilots, and proof of concept testing, among others.
- The scheme entails grants to Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor-made to meet domestic needs.
- Project Period:
- Project timelines are generally up to two years.
- However, it may be decided project-wise in consultation with the applicant as per the terms and conditions of the agreement.
- Extension of six months each at a time may be granted at the sole discretion of USOF/DoT.
What is OLT?
- The Optical Line Terminal (OLT) is a key component in passive optical network (PON) architecture, serving as the central point that connects the optical network to the wider service provider network.
- In the context of XGS-PON, the OLT would be capable of handling symmetrical 10-gigabit speeds for both upstream and downstream data transmission.
What is ONU?
- The Optical Network Unit (ONU) is located at the customer premises, connecting the customer's network equipment (such as routers or computers) to the wider optical network.
3. Sangeet Natak Akademi
Former Vice-president of India and Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of the Northeast Region will be inaugurating the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’ in Hyderabad.
About Sangeet Natak Akademi:
- It is India’s national academy of music, dance and drama.
- It was created by a resolution of the Ministry of Education, with P.V. Rajamannar as its first Chairman.
- It was set up in 1953 for the preservation and promotion of the vast intangible heritage of India’s diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance and drama.
- Presently, it is an Autonomous Body of the Ministry of Culture.
- The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years.
- It is fully funded by the Government for the implementation of its schemes and programmes.
- Aims and objectives:
- To coordinate the activities of regional or State Academies of dance, drama and music;
- To promote research in the fields of Indian dance, drama and music and for this purpose, to establish a library and museum, etc.;
- To co-operate with such similar academies as there may be and other institutions and associations for the furtherance of its objectives and for the enrichment of Indian culture as a whole;
- To encourage the exchange of ideas and enrichment of techniques between the different regions in regard to the arts of dance, drama and music;
- To encourage, where necessary, the establishment of theatre centres, on the basis of regional languages, and cooperation among different theatre centres;
- The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practising artists.
- The Akademi also confers Fellowships on eminent artists and scholars of music, dance and drama; and has in 2006 instituted annual awards to young artists – the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.
4. SWATI Portal
Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India launched “Science for Women-A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)” Portal.
About SWATI Portal:
- It is aimed at creating a single online portal representing Indian Women and Girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine).
- The database of the SWATI Portal will serve in policy-making to address the challenges of Gender-gap.
- The Portal is a complete interactive database; and the first of its kind in India which is developed, hosted and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi.
- Objectives:
- To scale up the effort exponentially to include each and every Indian woman in science (WiS), across all career stages and subjects, spanning both Academia and the Industry enabling reliable and statistically significant long-term research on the issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity in India;
- Inclusion of each and every Indian WiS, career stages, and subjects, spanning both Academia and the Industry; Enabling reliable and statistically significant long-term research on the issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity in India, developing active search engine and searchable database (Name, Affiliation, Area of Interest).
- The various Sections in the portal include Icons - Awardees (Padma / Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar / Stree Shakti Science Samman) & Directors, Secretaries Academy Presidents; Faculty- Indian Universities, Autonomous organisations including S&T Ministry/ CSIR/ DBT/ DST/ CSIR/ MHRD/ UGC/ GATI/ KIRAN;
5. National Creators Award
Recently, the Prime Minister Of India hailed the initiative of the National Creators Award, saying it was a great opportunity for the creator community, putting the spotlight on the extraordinary talent across India.
About the National Creators Award:
- It is the first-of-its-kind award that will be targeted at "Gen Z", a reference to the young generation hooked to the internet and social media.
- The award aims to achieve:
- Spotlight on Changemakers: Putting change-makers on centre stage – recognizing and boosting digital creators that are making an impact
- Amplify Diverse Voices: It wants to elevate the influence of digital media on social impact, creating a buzz that can't be ignored
- Connect and Collaborate: It brings a community of creators, leaders & government on one platform to spur a social revolution, a national movement during ‘Amrit Kaal’
- Empower the Next Wave: It's a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change.
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Age Requirement: Participants must be 18 years of age or above at the time of nomination.
- Nationality and Residency:19 categories are open exclusively to individuals of Indian nationality. One category is dedicated to international digital creators.
- Platforms: Content must be published on one or more of the following digital platforms: Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
- Language: Content submission can be in English or any other Indian language.
- Nomination Limits: Creators can self-nominate in a maximum of three categories. Those nominating others can nominate in all 20 categories.
6. Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services will be rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius at a virtual ceremony.
About Unified Payments Interface (UPI):
- The UPI is a digital and real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- It was launched on April 11, 2016.
- It is designed to enable peer-to-peer inter-bank transfers through a single two-click factor authentication process.
- Features:
- Unlike traditional methods, UPI simplifies transfers using the recipient's UPI ID, be it a mobile number, QR code, or Virtual Payment Address, eliminating account numbers.
- It eliminates the need to enter bank details or other sensitive information each time a customer initiates a transaction.
- A consistent UPI transaction PIN across apps enhances cross-operability, enabling 24/7 transactions.
- UPI operates as a digital public infrastructure, allowing seamless interactions for all players, including merchants and customers, without transaction costs.
- UPI uses technologies like the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and the Aadhaar-Enabled Payment System (AEPS) to ensure that payments between accounts go smoothly.
- It facilitates push (pay) and pull (receive) transactions and even works for over-the-counter or barcode payments, as well as for multiple recurring payments such as utility bills, school fees, and other subscriptions.
- It also works with "Peer-to-Peer" requests, which can be scheduled and paid for based on need and convenience.
7. Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS)
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
About Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS):
- BAPS is a socio-spiritual Hindu faith with its roots in the Vedas.
- It is based on the Vedic teachings propagated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830 CE).
- It was formally established in 1907 CE by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj.
- Founded on the pillars of practical spirituality, the BAPS reaches out far and wide to address spiritual, moral and social challenges and issues.
- No Alcohol, No Addictions, No Adultery, No Meat, No Impurity of body and mind are the five-lifetime vows of BAPS followers.
- Its global network of mandirs and centres hosts many moral, social, cultural, and spiritual activities.
- Education and women development are other focus areas, with many schools, hostels, and community development activities targeted at women being managed by BAPS.
- It is also engaged in a variety of humanitarian activities that include services in times of natural calamities, primary schools, students’ hostels, hospitals, diagnostic camps, anti-addiction drives, environment-awareness programs, tribal uplift, and literacy campaigns.
- BAPS is an NGO with a Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
8. What is Alaskapox?
An elderly man from Alaska recently became the first person to die after contracting Alaskapox.
About Alaskapox:
- It is an orthopox virus that was first discovered in Alaska, USA, in 2015.
- It is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox.
- Orthopoxviruses are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including humans.
- Current evidence indicates that the Alaskapox virus primarily occurs in small mammals. The virus has been most commonly identified in red-backed voles and shrews.
- Signs and Symptoms:
- Symptoms of Alaskapox include one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain.
- Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks.
- Immunocompromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness.
- Can people with Alaskapox infect other people?
- While human-to-human transmission of Alaskapox has not yet been observed, some orthopoxviruses can spread by direct contact with lesions (particularly broken skin contact with lesion secretions).
9. Kawal Tiger Reserve
Forest authorities have recently suspended six of their staff for being negligent in controlling teak smuggling in Kawal Tiger Reserve.
About Kawal Tiger Reserve:
- Location:
- It is located in the northeastern part of Telangana(Old Adilabad district), with the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other.
- It forms part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
- The government of India declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve in 2012.
- Rivers: The reserve is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.
- Geographically, the reserve is situated at the southernmost tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) tiger reserves.
- Habitat: It has diverse habitats comprising dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams and water bodies.
- Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
- Flora:
- Teak is found extensively, along with Bamboo.
- As many as 673 plant species have been recorded, and the important ones are Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, Boswellia serrata, etc.
- Fauna:
- It has a faunal diversity which is typical of the Deccan Plateau.
- The major wild animals include nilgai, chousingha, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, tiger, leopard, and jungle cat.
10. What is Nazool Land?
Violence erupted in Uttarakhand recently after a mosque and a madrasa standing on Nazool land were demolished.
About Nazool Land:
- Nazool land is owned by the government but is most often not directly administered as state property.
- The state generally allots such land to any entity on lease for a fixed period, generally between 15 and 99 years.
- In case the lease term is expiring, one can approach the authority to renew the lease by submitting a written application to the Revenue Department of the local development authority.
- The government is free to either renew the lease or cancel it, taking back Nazool land.
- In almost all major cities in India, Nazool land has been allotted to different entities for a variety of different purposes.
- How did Nazool Land emerge?
- During British rule, kings and kingdoms which opposed the British frequently revolted against them, leading to several battles between them and the British Army.
- Upon defeating these kings in battle, the British would often take their land away from them.
- After India gained Independence, the British vacated these lands.
- But with kings and royals often lacking proper documentation to prove prior ownership, these lands were marked as Nazool land—to be owned by the respective state governments.
- How does the government use Nazool land?
- The government generally uses Nazool land for public purposes like building schools, hospitals, Gram Panchayat buildings, etc.
- Several cities in India have also seen large tracts of land denoted as Nazool land used for housing societies, generally on lease.
- How is Nazool land governed?
- While several states have brought in government orders for the purpose of framing rules for Nazool land, The Nazool Lands (Transfer) Rules, 1956, is the law mostly used for Nazool land adjudication.