Daily Prelims Notes 12 January 2024

January 12, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

12 January 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Centre set to roll out vaccine drive to fight cervical cancer

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

The government is set to roll out a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls in the 9-14 years age group.

More on news:

The immunization drive is planned in three phases over three years and is likely to start from the second quarter of this year.
India accounts for about a fifth of the global burden for cervical cancer, recording about 1.25 lakh cases and about 75,000 deaths each year.
According to the WHO, Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally.
About 83 percent of invasive cervical cancer cases are attributed to HPV 16 or 18 in India.
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conduct trials on the efficacy of a single-dose regimen of HPV vaccine in the age group of 9-15 years.

About the Cervavac vaccine:

Cervavac is India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer.
It is developed by Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune
SII has a production capacity of about 2-3 million doses of Cervavac per year.
It offers protection against four HPV strains – 16, 18, 6 and 11.

About Cervical Cancer (Human papillomavirus infection)

HPV infection is a viral infection that commonly causes skin or mucous membrane growths (warts).
Human papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is caused by a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family.
Nearly all cervical cancer is due to HPV, and two strains – HPV16 and HPV18 – account for 70% of all cases.
HPV16 is responsible for almost 90% of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers.

2. Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana

Subject: Scheme

Section: Vulnerable section

Context:

Under the Adarsh Gram Component of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyudaya Yojana, a total of 1834 villages have been Declared as Adarsh Gram during the current FY 2023-24.

About the scheme:

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a merged scheme of 03 Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely
- Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY),
- Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) and
- Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
It has been implemented since 2021-22 with an aim to reduce poverty of the SC communities.

The objectives of the Scheme are to:

Reduce poverty of the SC communities
- by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development
- income generating schemes and other initiatives.
Improve socio-economic developmental indicators
- by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.
Increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions
- by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions, especially in the aspirational districts/ SC dominated blocks and elsewhere in India.

The Scheme has following three components:

Development of SC dominated villages into an “AdarshGram”.
‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs
Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions

About Adarsh Gram Component {erstwhile Pradhan Mantri AdarshGram Yojana}

The objective of this component is to ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that, inter alia, there is:
- Adequate infrastructure
- All requisite infrastructures necessary for socio-economic development needs are to be provided under the Scheme.
- Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators.
- The identified socio-economic indicators which are known as Monitor-able indicators, are to be improved so that the disparity between SC and non-SC population is eliminated and the level of indicators is raised to at least that of the National average.
- More specifically, all BPL SC families should have food and livelihood security.

About Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of SCs {erstwhile scheme of Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan}

The scheme aims at socio-economic development of SCs through grants for following types of projects:
Comprehensive Livelihood Projects: Such projects which create an entire eco-system for producing sustainable income, or social advancement to the Scheduled Castes.
Skill Development: Skilling courses as per norms of MSDE.
- Related facilities and infrastructure for conducting Skill Development Activities conducted by the Government.
- Skill Development Institutions can also be funded.
Grants for creation/acquisition of assets for beneficiaries/households:
- There shall be one individual asset distribution under the scheme.
Infrastructure development:
- Development of infrastructure related to the project and also Hostels and residential schools.
- Other infrastructure- Various other infrastructure development projects in SC majority villages.
Special Provisions:
- Upto 15% of the total Grants exclusively on viable income generating economic development schemes/programmes for SC Women.
- Upto 30% of the total Grants utilize for infrastructure development

Hostel Component {erstwhile scheme of Babu Jagjivan RamChhatrawas Yojana}

Objectives:-
- Scheme for construction of hostels to enable and encourage Scheduled Caste students to attain quality education and reduce their dropout rate
- Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions which are top-ranked as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of Government of India and are funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments either fully or partially.
- Similarly, construction of hostels in schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education.
- Implemented through the State Governments, UT Administrations & Central and State Universities/Institutions

3. Maharashtra Speaker gives verdict on Shiv Sena split

Subject: Polity

Section: Parliament and legislature

Context:

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narvekar recognised the Shinde faction as the “real Shiv Sena”,while deciding on a set of 54 petitions calling for disqualification of Sena MLAs on both sides.

Anti Defection Law:

The Tenth Schedule which is popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act was included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985 and sets the provisions for disqualification of elected members on the grounds of defection to another political party.
The grounds for disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law are as follows:
- If an elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party.
- If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party or anyone authorized to do so, without obtaining prior permission.
- If any independently elected member joins any political party.
- If any nominated member joins any political party after the expiry of six months.
Some exceptions to 10th Schedule:
- As per the 1985 Act, a ‘defection’ by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a ‘merger’.
91st Constitutional Amendment Act:
- But the 91stConstitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now at least two-thirds of the members of a party have to be in favor of a “merger” for it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
- The members so disqualified can stand for elections from any political party for a seat in the same House.
- The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
- Provision of Tenth schedule which provides for exemption from disqualification in case of split by one third members of legislative party has been deleted by this amendment.
Role of speaker:
- In KihotoHollohan vs Zachillhu And Others’ case, the Supreme Court upheld the sweeping discretion available to the Speaker in deciding cases of disqualification of MLAs.
- The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection are referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’.
- There is no time limit as per the law within which the Presiding Officers should decide on a plea for disqualification. The courts also can intervene only after the officer has made a decision, and so the only option for the petitioner is to wait until the decision is made.

Constitutional Provisions for Disqualification of MLAs

Under the Constitution, a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as and for being a member of the legislative assembly or legislative council of a state:
If he holds any office of profit under the Union or state government (except that of a minister or any other office exempted by state legislature),
If he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a court,
If he is an undischarged insolvent,
If he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance to a foreign state, and
If he is so disqualified under any law made by Parliament.

Parliamentary Provisions for Disqualification of MLAs

The Parliament through Representation of People Act (1951 has prescribed a number of additional disqualifications for members of Parliament and to the House or Houses of the Legislature of each State
He/She must not have been found guilty of certain election offenses or corrupt practices in the elections.
He/She must not have been convicted for any offense resulting in imprisonment for two or more years.

Governors decision:

The governor’s decision is final on the question whether a member has become subject to any of the above disqualifications.
The governor should obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and act accordingly.

4. Iran seizes oil tanker at center dispute with US

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

The Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi of the US Navy was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz.

More on news:

Iran has seized a second oil tanker in a week.
Tehran’s prosecutor announced that the oil tanker was seized on a judicial order following a complaint by a plaintiff
The incident comes after Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman called the Advantage Sweet.
Advantage Sweet’s seizure by Iran was in response to a recent seizure via a court order by the United States of an oil cargo aboard the Marshall Islands tanker

About Strait of Hormuz:

The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.
On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam peninsula, shared by the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
About a fifth of the world’s crude oil and oil products passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow choke point between Iran and Oman

5. Atal Setu: All you need to know about India’s longest sea bridge

Subject: Geography

Section: Mapping

Context:

Today, Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the much-awaited Atal Setu, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL)

About Atal Setu:

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) or Atal Setu is the longest sea bridge in India is set to be inaugurated today.
The bridge has been named after former prime minister and late BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
21.8 km in length and having six lanes, the bridge has been constructed at a whopping cost of ₹18,000 crore.
The bridge originates from Sewri in Mumbai and ends at Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka in Raigad district.
It has shortened the distance between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 minutes which earlier took 2 hours.

Other Bridges in India:

Bhupen Hazarika Setu on River Brahmaputra in Assam.
Dibang river bridge on River Dibang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Mahatma Gandhi Setu on River Ganges in Bihar.
Bandra Worli sea link on Mahim Bay in Maharashtra.
Bogibeel bridge on River Brahmaputra in Assam

6. Complete organ transplant process in 6-8 weeks, says Delhi HC

Subject :Polity

Section: Legislation in news

Context:

Delhi High Court has prescribed an ideal timeline of 6-8 weeks to complete the process of transplanting organs from living donors.

More on news:

Justice Prathiba M Singh said prolonged delays can cause significant mental and physical anguish for donors, recipients, and their families.
It also directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to adhere to timelines under The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, and Rules, 2014 for all steps in the process of considering organ-donation applications.
The court suggested that after 4-6 weeks of receiving the application, the Committee can schedule interviews within 2 weeks. This will facilitate meetings of family members of the donors and recipients and conduct more than one interview.
The “entire process i.e. from submission to decision should not exceed 6 to 8 weeks”-Courts said.

The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994:

The law governs the transplantation of human organs and tissues in India, including the donation of organs after death.
It lays down regulations governing healthcare providers and hospitals, and stipulates penalties for violations.
The Act allows living donations from close relatives such as parents, siblings, children, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren.
Altruistic donations from distant relatives, in-laws, or long-time friends are allowed after additional scrutiny to ensure there is no financial exchange.
Living donations from close relatives involving Indians or foreigners must be accompanied by documents establishing their identities, family trees, and pictures that prove the donor-recipient relationship.
Offering to pay for organs or supplying them for payment; initiating, negotiating, or advertising such arrangements; looking for persons to supply organs; and abetting in preparing false documents can attract a jail term up to 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore.

Role of Authorisation Committee:

The Authorisation Committee oversees and approves organ transplant procedures involving donors and recipients who are not near relatives.
This approval is crucial in ensuring ethical compliance and preventing illegal practices.

Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules,2014.

Rule 7 of the 2014 Rules provides for the constitution of the Authorisation Committee and the nature of enquiry and evaluation conducted by it.
Rule 7(3) says the Committee must ensure there is no commercial transaction involved in cases where the donor and recipient are not near relatives.

About NOTTO:

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is a National level organization set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Delhi.
National Network division of NOTTO would function as the apex center for all India activities of coordination and networking for procurement and distribution of organs and tissues and registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country.

National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP)

It is a central sector continuing scheme implemented by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).
It aims to improve access to the life transforming transplantation for needy citizens of our country by promoting deceased organ donation.

Organs and tissues that can be transplanted

organs – heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, stomach and intestine
tissue – cornea, bone, tendon, skin, pancreas islets, heart valves, nerves and veins
cells – bone marrow and stem cells
limbs – hands, arms and feet.

7. West Bengal demands to list Bengali as ‘classical language’

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

The Chief Minister said that based on scientific research, it has been established by her State team that Bengali had its origins 2,500 years ago.
She said that her government has sent four volumes of documents to the Ministry.

About Classical language

Currently there are six languages that enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India:
- Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages.

Guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’

High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years;
A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;
The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community;
The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

Benefits of classical language

Once a language is notified as a Classical language, the Human Resource and Development Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it:
- Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages
- A Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Languages is set up
- The University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared.

8. Entrepreneurship: turning the tide against antimicrobial resistance

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

In fight against the rising challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the search for new antibiotics is critical.
Zosurabalpin stands out as a promising new candidate, offering a potential new way to tackle drug resistant Acinetobacter infections. Its early promise has been noted in Nature magazine and it’s now going through the first phase of clinical trials.

More About News

On another front, cefiderocol, already approved for use in various countries, stands out as another beacon of hope.
Developed by the Japanese firm Shionogi and now distributed by GARDP (Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership), cefiderocol is making its mark as a potent agent against resistant infections.
The Indian pharmaceutical landscape is witnessing a leap forward with Wockhardt’s cefepimezidebactam, which is currently in international Phase 3 trials.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

Definition: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.
Causes of AMR: Resistance in bacteria can arise naturally by genetic mutation or by one species acquiring resistance from another. It can also appear spontaneously because of random mutations or through the spreading of resistant genes through horizontal gene transfer.

The main causes of AMR are:

Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials
Lack of clean water and sanitation
Inadequate infection prevention and control
Lack of awareness

What are the Steps taken by the Government to address AMR?

National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR: In April 2017, India’s NAP for AMR was released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The objectives of the NAP include increasing awareness, strengthening surveillance, promoting research, and improving infection prevention and control.
Signing the Delhi Declaration on AMR: The Delhi Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is an inter-ministerial consensus that was signed by the ministers of the concerned ministries in India.
Antibiotic Stewardship Program (AMSP): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has initiated the AMSP on a pilot project basis in 20 tertiary care hospitals across India. The program aims to control the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in hospital wards and ICUs.
Ban on inappropriate fixed dose combinations (FDCs): On the recommendations of the ICMR, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has banned 40 FDCs that were found to be inappropriate.
Ban on the use of Colistin as a growth promoter in animal feed: The ICMR, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, and the DCGI, has banned the use of Colistin as a growth promoter in animal feed in poultry.
One Health approach: The government is working on a One Health approach by encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration at the human-animal-environmental interface. The key priority areas include zoonotic diseases, food safety, and antibiotic resistance.

Integrated One Health Surveillance Network for AMR: The ICMR has undertaken a project on an “Integrated One Health Surveillance Network for Antimicrobial Resistance” in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research to assess the preparedness of Indian Veterinary laboratories to participate in an integrated AMR surveillance network.

Schedule H1

In order to strengthen the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set up a National Anti-Microbial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network (AMRRSN) to enable compilation of national data of AMR at different levels of Health Care.

The Drugs and Cosmetic Rule, 1945 were amended in 2013 to incorporate a new Schedule H1 under the said rules containing 46 drugs which include III and IV generation antibiotics, anti TB drugs and certain habit forming drugs for having strict control over the sale of these drugs. The Drugs falling under Schedule H1 are required to be sold in the country with the following conditions:-

The supply of a drug specified in Schedule H1 shall be recorded in a separate register at the time of the supply giving the name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug and the quantity supplied and such records shall be maintained for three years and be open for inspection.
The drug specified in Schedule H1 shall be labeled with the symbol Rx which shall be in red and conspicuously displayed on the left top corner of the label, and shall also be labeled with the following words in a box with a red border:

Schedule H1 Drug Warning:

-It is dangerous to take this preparation except in accordance with the medical advice.

-Not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.”

Further, the Government of India has formulated a National policy for containment of antimicrobial resistance in 2011. A National Programme for Containment of AMR has also been initiated in 12th Five Year Plan with the following objectives:-

To establish a laboratory based surveillance system by strengthening laboratories for AMR in the country and to generate quality data on antimicrobial resistance for pathogens of public health importance.
To generate awareness among healthcare providers and in the community regarding rational use of antibiotics.
To strengthen infection control guidelines and practices and promote rational use of antibiotics.

This imitative was result of Chennai declaration on AMR

9. Supreme Court questions Centre on GM mustard

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Biotechnology

Context:

The Supreme Court questioned the government on whether the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had considered the reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 before approving it for environmental release.

Details:

The government responded the GEAC was a statutory body and the committee had examined relevant scientific data before giving the go-ahead for the environmental release.
‘Transgenic’ refers to an organism or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species by artificial means.

About Hybrid Mustard DMH-11:

Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11(DMH-11), is a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard species Brassica juncea.
It was developed by Professor Deepak Pental from the University of Delhi, to reduce India’s demand for edible oil imports.
DMH-11 contains two alien genes isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillusamyloliquefaciens that enable the breeding of high-yielding commercial mustard hybrids.
DMH-11 was created through transgenic technology, primarily involving the Bar, Barnase and Barstar gene systems.
The Barnase gene confers male sterility, while the Barstar gene restores DMH–11’s ability to produce fertile seeds. The insertion of the third gene Bar, enables DMH – 11 to produce phosphinothricin-N- acetyl-transferase, the enzyme responsible for Glufosinate resistance.
About Mustard:
- Mustard is a largely self-pollinating crop, which makes the development of hybrids (which typically yield more than normal varieties) difficult in the natural course.

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
The committee is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

Source: The Hindu

10. Israeli logistics start-up plans to connect Dubai and Haifa ports via land to bypass Red Sea

Subject : IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

Amidst the Houthi Red Sea Crisis, Israeli logistics start-up Trucknet has found a new way- to move cargo by road between Dubai and the Adani-run Haifa port in Israel. Cargo will move through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to reach Haifa port and proceed to Europe by sea.

Details:

The cargo from Mumbai or Mundra can be sent to Jebel Ali, from where it could be sent by road to Haifa, and then via ships to reach ports in Europe or the US.

Red Sea crisis:

Global trade is suffering due to the fallout of the recent attacks by Yemen-backed Houthi militants on ships passing through the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden.
The container ships are now being diverted via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, resulting in a sharp rise in both transit time and freight cost.
This adds approx. 6000 nautical miles between Asia and Europe and double the travel time.

Places in the news:

Red Sea (or Erythraean Sea):
- It is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia.
- The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
- To the north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (leading to the Suez Canal).
- The sea is underlain by the Red Sea Rift which is part of the Great Rift Valley.
- The six countries bordering the Red Sea are: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti.
Haifa port:
- It is the largest of Israel’s three major international seaports, the others being the Port of Ashdod and the Port of Eilat.
- It has a natural deep-water harbor, which operates all year long, and serves both passenger and merchant ships.
- It is one of the largest ports in the eastern Mediterranean in terms of freight volume.
- It is a part of the recently proposed India-Middle East Corridor (IMEC).
Jebel Ali port:
- Also known as Mina Jebel Ali, is a deep port located in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- It is located 35 km southwest of Dubai, in the Persian Gulf.
- It is the world’s ninth busiest port, the largest man-made harbour, and the biggest and by far the busiest port in the Middle East.
- It was constructed in the late 1970s to supplement the facilities at Port Rashid.
Bab el Mandeb strait:
- Also called ‘Gate of Lamentation’, the Gate of Grief or the Gate of Tears.
- It is a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa.
- It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and by extension the Indian Ocean.

Source: The Hindu

11. To protect endangered sharks and rays, scientists are mapping these species’ most important locations

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Important Shark and Ray Areas Project:

The Earth’s saltwater bodies collectively form a vast ocean with diverse ecosystems. Specific locations, like the Fuvahmulah Atoll in the Maldives, are highlighted for their rich marine life, including tiger sharks, thresher sharks, scalloped hammerheads, and oceanic manta rays.
The Important Shark and Ray Areas project, led by marine conservation scientists, aims to identify key areas crucial for the conservation of sharks and rays.
The project involves collaboration among hundreds of scientists and experts to identify and prioritize areas crucial for the survival ofsharks and their relatives.
By recognizing and protecting these zones, the project seeks to implement measures for fisheries management and ensure the well-being of these marine species.
They’ve developed technical criteria modelled after successful approaches for other marine animals and are conducting regional workshops worldwide.
After expert reviews, designated areas will be added to an online e-atlas which can be seen online, with a formal compendium published for each region.
This process, repeated every 10 years, allows for adjustments based on new research and changing environmental factors.

Significance of the project:

The Important Shark and Ray Areas project has published compendiums for the Mediterranean and Black Seas region, featuring 65 identified crucial areas, and the western Indian Ocean with over 125 areas.
These zones vary in size and habitat and play a vital role for species like the blackchin guitarfish and the common smoothhound shark.
- Examples include Benidorm Island in the Mediterranean and the Cocos-Galapagos Swimway in Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Ranging from the smallest area, Israel’s Palmahim brine pools, to the largest, the Strait of Sicily and Tunisian Plateau, these zones support diverse shark, ray, and chimaera species.
While designation as an Important Shark and Ray Area doesn’t ensure automatic protection, the project aims to influence existing spatial planning, fisheries management, and conservation efforts, with the potential for incorporation into marine protected areas or other preserves.

Source: Down To Earth

12. Small herbivores are true victims

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

India’s natural areas are facing extensive threats, with land-use changes leading to fragmented, depleted, and invaded ecosystems.
Two-thirds of these spaces are now grappling with the invasion of alien plants, posing a significant risk to biodiversity.
Herbivores, both wild and domestic, are particularly vulnerable as they rely on these landscapes for survival.
While invasive plants are not a primary food source for herbivores, some large grazers, such as rhinoceroses and Indian bison, have been observed consuming them, especially during dry seasons.
Megaherbivores, with their large size and varied diets, play a crucial role in controlling invasive plants in certain regions, but in drier areas, the invasion creates challenges for native plants.
Smaller and medium-sized herbivores, heavily reliant on vegetation decimated by invasive plants, face the dilemma of starvation or consuming invaders, with potential health issues documented.
Protected areas in India are implementing measures such as managed grasslands and periodic removal of invasive plants to provide temporary havens for herbivores. However, a long-term solution requires large-scale, science-driven restoration of native ecosystems.

Megaherbivores:

Megaherbivores are large herbivores that can exceed 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) in weight. They first appeared 300 million years ago in the early Permian, in the form of synapsids.
They were then replaced by megaherbivorous dinosaurs that went extinct in the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.
After this period, small mammalian species evolved into large herbivores in the Paleogene.
During the Quaternary Extinction Event,megaherbivores disappeared on most continents on Earth.
Recent megaherbivores include elephants, rhinos, hippos, and giraffes.
There are nine extant species of megaherbivores living in Africa and Asia. The African bush elephant is the largest extant species.
Extant megaherbivores are keystone species in their environment. They defoliate the landscape and spread a greater number of seeds than other frugivores.
Extant megaherbivores, like most large mammals, are K-selected species. They are characterized by their large size, relative immunity to predation, their effect on plant species, and their dietary tolerance.

Source: DTE

13. USIDFC and NIIF to set up $1 -billion fund to finance renewable energy projects

Subject: Economy

Section: National Economy

Context: The United States International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC) and India’s National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) are “working on the possibility of creating a fund” that would invest in renewable energy and green projects in India.

Details:

The idea is broadly to create a fund with the USIDFC and NIIF bringing in $500 million each and getting more from other investors.
NIIF is a “collaborative investment platform” for international and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India, which manages funds with investments in different asset classes and diversified sectors that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. NIIF manages over $44.9 billion of equity capital commitments across its four funds – Master Fund, Private Markets Fund, Strategic Opportunities Fund, and India-Japan Fund.
USIDFC has an exposure of $4 billion in India, which is 10 per cent of its global exposure.

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):

NIIF is India’s first sovereign wealth fund set up by the Government of India in 2015.
It is an investor-owned fund manager, anchored by the Government of India (GoI) in collaboration with leading global and domestic institutional investors.
NIIF’s mandate includes investing in areas such as energy, transportation, housing, water, waste management and other infrastructure-related sectors in India.

Functioning:

It is being operationalized by establishing three Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under the SEBI Regulations.
The proposed corpus of NIIF is Rs. 40,000 Crores funded of 49% from Government of India.
Rest from strategic anchor partners (Overseas sovereign/quasi-sovereign/multilateral/bilateral investors).

NIIF and Three Funds:

NIIF currently manages three funds each with its distinctive investment mandate.
Master Fund: A fund focused on creating scalable sectoral platforms in core infrastructure and in collaboration with strong and reputed operating and financial partners.
Fund of Funds: A fund focused on anchoring and investing incredible and reputed third-party managers with a strong track record across diversified sectors within infrastructure services and allied sectors.
Strategic Investment Fund: A fund focused on investing in strategic assets and projects with longer-term horizon across various stages of development.