Daily Prelims Notes 31 January 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

31 January 2024

Table Of Contents

1. India nominates 12 forts of Marathas for UNESCO World Heritage List
2. Centre starts survey on participation of women in workforce
3. Astronomers spot unusual object that falls within the black hole ‘mass gap’
4. Philippines and Vietnam sign deal on South China Sea
5. Zee-Sony Merger Legal Proceedings
6. National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls (NCSTC) Highlights:
7. Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) – 2023
8. First penguin deaths in sub-Antarctic region attributed to bird flu strain
9. India has 718 snow leopards; most of them live in unprotected areas: Centre

1. India nominates 12 forts of Marathas for UNESCO World Heritage List

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

• India has proposed the “Maratha Military Landscapes,” a collection of forts highlighting the strategic military prowess of Maratha governance, for UNESCO World Heritage List consideration in 2024-25.

About the Forts:

• Included Forts: The nomination comprises 12 forts: Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee in Tamil Nadu.
• Developed between the 17th and 19th centuries, these forts epitomize an exceptional fortification and military system envisioned by Maratha rulers.
• The forts, spanning diverse landscapes like the Sahyadri mountain ranges, Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau, and Eastern Ghats, reflect Maratha military ideology and strategic dominance.

2. Centre starts survey on participation of women in workforce

Subject: Economy

Section: Sensational Economy

Context:

• Union Ministries of Labour & Employment and Ministry of Women & Child Development launched a joint survey.

About the Survey:

• The Survey focuses on evaluating women friendly practices.
• It includes measures like running creches, ensuring equal pay for equal work.
• Based on the latest PLFS data indicating a rise in women’s participation from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23.
• It questions cover company policies on internal complaints committees, sexual harassment prevention, childcare facilities, equal pay, and flexible working hours.
• The survey ensures confidentiality, collecting only gender-related information without individual identification. Company details are also requested.

3. Astronomers spot unusual object that falls within the black hole ‘mass gap’

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space tech

Context:

• Astronomers identify a perplexing object in the NGC 1851E system, filling the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes.
• Positioned between the heaviest neutron stars and the lightest black holes, this discovery challenges established astrophysical knowledge.

Key Terms

• Globular clusters :
  • Globular clusters are densely packed groups of stars bound together by gravity, typically containing thousands to millions of stars. They are spherical or nearly spherical in shape and are among the oldest objects in the universe, found in the halos of galaxies.
• Neutron Star:
  • A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive star after a supernova explosion.
  • Composed mostly of neutrons, it is incredibly dense, packing the mass of a few Suns into a sphere the size of a city.
• Pulsar:
  • A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation. As it spins rapidly, these beams are observed as pulses of radiation, resembling a cosmic lighthouse.
• Black Hole:
  • A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape its grasp. It forms when massive stars collapse under their own gravity.

What is NGC 1851 ?

• NGC 1851, also called Caldwell 73, is a sizable globular cluster situated in the Columba constellation.
• Positioned approximately 39.5 kilolight-years from the Sun and 54.1 kilolight-years from the Galactic Center.

Observations and Findings:

• In the NGC 1851 star cluster, a millisecond pulsar and an unseen, massive object coexist.
• The pulsar’s stable spin aids observations, allowing precise measurements.
• Astronomers, using the MeerKAT radio telescope, determine the system’s mass, revealing a dark companion within the “black hole mass gap.”

4. Philippines and Vietnam sign deal on South China Sea

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

• The Philippines and Vietnam signed agreements on to prevent incidents in the South China Sea and broaden cooperation between their coast guards in a growing alliance that will likely be frowned upon by China, which claims virtually the entire waters.

More About News:

• The agreement focuses on enhancing information­ sharing and training exchanges between the Vietnamese and Philippine militaries forged .
• Both sides agreed to boost trade and investment and signed a key deal on rice.

About South China Sea:

• It is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland.
• Boundaries: It is bordered by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Vietnam.
• It is connected by the Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by the Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea (both marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean).
• The South China Sea and the East China Sea together form the China Sea.
• The two major archipelagos are known as the Paracel Islands, controlled by China, and the Spratly Islands.
• Climate: Weather in the sea is tropical and largely controlled by monsoons.
• It is the second most used sea lane in the world. It is a significant trade route for crude oil from the Persian Gulf and Africa through the Strait of Malacca to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
• Major Ports: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.

What is the South China Sea dispute?

• Several countries claim various parts of the sea, and these claims often overlap.
• In particular, China’s sweeping claims – which include sovereignty claims over land parcels and their adjacent waters – have angered competing claimants like Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.
• Other countries have staked claims on islands and various zones in the sea, such as the Paracels and the Spratlys.
• Nine-dash line:
  • China claims by far the largest portion of territory in an area demarcated by its so-called “nine-dash line”.
  • The line comprises nine dashes, which extend hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.

5. Zee-Sony Merger Legal Proceedings

Subject: Economy

Section: Capital Market

 Two legal proceedings initiated regarding the failed Zee-Sony merger deal.

Zee Shareholder’s Case:

• Mad Men Ventures, a Zee shareholder, filed a case at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• Seeks a merger between Zee and Sony.
• NCLT has asked for a response from Sony within three weeks.

Singapore Arbitration International Centre (SAIC):

• Dispute over the failed merger to be heard at SAIC in an emergency proceeding.
• Separate legal proceedings ongoing in SAIC.

Multiple Legal Fronts:

• Three separate legal proceedings underway.
• Zee plans to file cases at NCLT and SAIC, claiming default by Culver Max and Bangla Entertainment (Sony) in implementing the merger scheme sanctioned by NCLT.
• Zee alleges that Culver Max and Bangla Entertainment (Sony) failed in their obligation to give effect to the NCLT-sanctioned merger scheme.

Mad Men Ventures’ Intervention:

• Mad Men Ventures opens a third legal front, filing a case at NCLT.
• NCLT hearing set for March 12.
• Emergency proceeding at SAIC scheduled for Wednesday.
• The failed $10 billion merger has led to legal complexities and disputes.

Key Points on Sony-Zee Merger Deal Approval:

NCLT Approval:

• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approves the merger of Zee Entertainment Enterprises with Culver Max Entertainment (formerly Sony Pictures Networks India).
• Clearing the way for the creation of the country’s largest media company.

Background of Sony-Zee Merger:

• Merger initiated in 2021 between Sony Pictures Networks India and ZEEL.
• Scheme involves the combination of linear networks, digital assets, and production operations.
• Sony to indirectly hold 50.86% of the combined company.

NCLT Order Challenge:

• NCLT directed stock exchanges (NSE and BSE) to reconsider their prior approvals for the merger.
• ZEEL challenged the order, claiming insufficient opportunity to present its side and questioning NCLT’s jurisdiction over non-compete issues.
• NCLAT set aside the NCLT order in May 2023.

NCLT Decision Summary:

• NCLT clears Zee-Sony deal and dismisses objections.
• Marks a significant step toward the creation of a $10-billion entertainment giant.

Market Scenario Post-Merger:

• The merger creates the country’s largest media and entertainment company with standalone revenues of $2 billion.
• Combined entity owns over 70 TV channels, two video streaming services (Zee5 and SonyLiv), and two film studios (Zee Studios and Sony Pictures Films India).
• Emerges as the largest TV network company with a 26% market share.
• Analysts predict the merger to result in a $10-billion media gian

Arbitration:

• Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution where parties submit their disputes to an impartial third party, the arbitrator, for a binding decision.
• Voluntary Process: Unlike court litigation, arbitration is usually voluntary and arises from an agreement between the parties.
• Arbitration Agreement: The parties include an arbitration clause in their contract, specifying the rules, seat, and other details of the arbitration process.
• Advantages: Arbitration offers a quicker, more private, and potentially less costly resolution compared to traditional court proceedings.
• Enforceability: Arbitral awards are generally enforceable internationally through conventions like the New York Convention.

Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 (India):

• Overview: The Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 is India’s primary legislation governing arbitration and conciliation proceedings.
• Purpose: It provides a legal framework for the fair and efficient resolution of disputes through arbitration and conciliation.
• Key Features:
  • Recognizes and enforces arbitral awards.
  • Provides guidelines for the conduct of arbitral proceedings.
  • Governs the appointment and powers of arbitrators.
  • Enables parties to seek interim measures from courts.

SIAC (Singapore International Arbitration Centre):

• Establishment: SIAC is a not-for-profit international arbitration organization based in Singapore.
• Administration: It administers arbitrations under its own rules and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules.
• Reputation: SIAC is known for its efficiency, neutrality, and adherence to international standards in dispute resolution.
• Popular Seat: Singapore, where SIAC is based, is a preferred seat for international arbitration due to its reputation for rule of law.

Singapore as an Arbitration Hub:

• Foreign investors prefer Singapore for arbitration to avoid Indian court complexities.
• Singapore is viewed as a neutral ground for dispute resolution with a reputation for fairness and efficiency.
• The 2019 SIAC report notes India as the top user of its arbitration seat, reflecting confidence in Singapore’s arbitration process.

International Arbitration in India:

• India established its international arbitration center in Mumbai.

UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law):

• Establishment: UNCITRAL is a core legal body of the United Nations system, established in 1966.
• Objective: It aims to promote international trade by harmonizing and modernizing international trade law.
• UNCITRAL Model Law: UNCITRAL developed the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, a guide for countries in developing their national arbitration legislation.
• Global Impact: UNCITRAL’s work has had a significant impact on the facilitation of international trade and commerce by promoting uniformity in legal frameworks.

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT):

• Establishment: NCLAT is a quasi-judicial body established under the Companies Act, 2013.
• Year: Established in 2016 with headquarters in New Delhi.
• Appellate Authority: Serves as an appellate authority hearing appeals against orders passed by the NCLT.
• Hierarchy: It is the second-highest forum for company law cases in India, following the Supreme Court.
• Final Decisions: Decisions of the NCLAT are final and binding on involved parties, with the option to challenge orders only in the Supreme Court.
• Functions: Empowered to hear appeals related to insolvency, bankruptcy, merger and acquisition, and company law matters. Also serves as the Appellate Tribunal for orders by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the National Financial Reporting Authority.

National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT):

• Nature: Quasi-judicial authority incorporated for handling corporate disputes of civil nature under the Companies Act.
• Composition: Led by a Judicial member (retired or serving HC Judge) and a Technical member from the Indian Corporate Law Service.
• Primary Functions:
  • Disposal of proceedings under the Companies Act, including arbitration, arrangements, compromise, reconstruction, and winding up of companies.
  • Adjudicating Authority for insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
  • Authority to dispose of cases pending before the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) and those under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985.
  • Can take up cases pending before the Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction.

Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR):

• Establishment: BIFR was a quasi-judicial body in India established under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985.
• Objective: Its primary purpose was to address and rehabilitate sick industrial companies in the country. A “sick industrial company” is one that incurs losses for an extended period and is unable to repay debts, jeopardizing its viability.
• Repeal: In 2016, the Government of India repealed the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985, and dissolved BIFR.
• Transition: The responsibility for handling issues of sick companies was shifted to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC):

• Enactment: IBC is a comprehensive legislation enacted by the Government of India to address and streamline the insolvency and bankruptcy process.
• Objective: Aims to provide a time-bound and efficient framework for the resolution of distressed companies and individuals unable to repay debts.
• Responsibility Shift: With the repeal of the Sick Industrial Companies Act, the IBC took over the role of addressing and resolving insolvency-related matters.

6. National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls (NCSTC) Highlights:

Subject: Economy

Section: External sector

Organizers:

DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and other government agencies, conducted the NCSTC.

Format and Participation:

• NCSTC was organized in a new format with larger international participation and the involvement of various Indian government organizations, industry stakeholders, academia, and research institutions.
• The conference took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

India’s Strategic Trade Control:

• India regulates the exports of dual-use (industrial and military) goods, software, and technologies under the SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) list.
• SCOMET list is notified by DGFT under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Objectives:

• The conference aimed to emphasize the importance of effective strategic trade controls and showcase India’s legal and regulatory system.
• Focus on exchanging best practices, sharing information, and preventing the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems.

Handbook Release:

• DGFT released a Handbook on India’s Strategic Trade Controls, providing clarity to the industry on SCOMET policy, application process, documentation requirements, FAQs, and authorization processes.

Foreign Trade Policy 2023:

• Recognized the critical role of India’s Strategic Trade Control system and streamlined policies for ease of understanding and compliance by the industry.
• Emphasizes India’s commitment to multilateral non-proliferation export control regimes and international conventions.

Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 Overview:

Introduction:

• Launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Effective from April 1, 2023.

Export Target:

• Sets a target of $2 trillion for exports of goods and services by 2030.

Aim of FTP 2023:

• Enhance competitiveness in global markets.
• Promote sustainable development.
• Make India a leader in key sectors.
• Leverage technology for export competitiveness.

Key Approach – 4 Pillars:

• Incentive to Remission.
• Export promotion through collaboration.
• Ease of doing business and reduction in transaction cost.
• Focus on Emerging Areas – E-Commerce, SCOMET policy.

Major Features:

• Process Re-Engineering and Automation:
  • Focus on export promotion through automated IT systems.
  • Simplifies access to export benefits, especially for MSMEs.
• Towns of Export Excellence:
  • Designation of new towns for priority access to export promotion funds.
  • Boosts handlooms, handicrafts, and carpets exports.
• Recognition of Exporters:
  • Exporter firms recognized with ‘status’ based on performance.
  • Promotes skilling and training for a skilled manpower pool.
• Promoting Export from Districts:
  • Partnerships with State governments for Districts as Export Hubs (DEH).
  • Accelerates grassroots trade ecosystem development.
• Streamlining SCOMET Policy:
  • Emphasis on export control compliance for dual-use items.
  • Enhances access to high-end goods and technologies.
• Facilitating E-Commerce Exports:
  • Intent and roadmap for e-commerce hubs.
  • Addresses payment reconciliation, bookkeeping, returns policy.
• EPCG Scheme Facilitation:
  • Rationalization of the Export Promotion of Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme.
  • Addition of Green Technology products to reduce export obligations.
• Advance Authorization Scheme (AAS):
  • Extended to the export of the Apparel and Clothing sector.
  • Promotes domestic manufacturing in the textile sector.
• Merchanting Trade:
  • Allows merchanting trade of restricted and prohibited items.
  • Promotes financial centers as major merchanting hubs.
• Amnesty Scheme:
  • One-time Amnesty Scheme for exporters unable to meet obligations.
  • Caps interest payable at 100% of exempted duties.

Previous Trade Policy (FTP 2015-20):

• Merged schemes into Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS).
• Incentives for Special Economic Zones and Status Holders.
• Introduced Quality Complaints and Trade Disputes resolution chapter.
• Mid-term review expanded MEIS and SEIS scope and extended validity of Duty Credit Scrips.

Export Control of Dual-Use Items –

Definition of Dual-Use Items:

• Products, technologies, materials, or equipment with both civilian and military applications.
• Primarily designed for civilian purposes but can be used for military or prohibited purposes.

Examples:

• Precursor chemicals like sarin gas.
• Components such as centrifuges.

Regulation in India:

• DGFT prepares a specialized SCOMET (speciality chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment, and technologies) list.
• Regulation under India’s Foreign Trade Policy.

Foreign Trade Policy Emphasis:

• Focus on expediting the SCOMET licensing process.
• Ensures trade of sensitive and dual-use goods in compliance with international regimes.

UNSCR 1540 (United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540):

Purpose:

• Adopted in 2004 by the United Nations Security Council.
• Aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery.

Focus Areas:

• Requires all UN member states to implement and enforce measures to prevent the proliferation of WMDs.
• Emphasizes non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

Key Features:

• Calls on states to establish and enforce effective measures to control the proliferation of WMDs.
• Encourages cooperation in areas of science, technology, and capacity-building.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Establishes a committee to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the resolution.
• States are required to submit reports on their efforts to implement the resolution.

7. Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) – 2023

Subject: IR

Section: Int org

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is an annual index published by Transparency International, which ranks countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption.

The index is based on assessments and surveys from experts and business people, and countries are scored on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 indicates high corruption, and 100 indicates very clean.

Key Points under Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023:

1. Ranking: India slipped from 85 in 2022 to 93 in 2023 on the CPI.
2. Score Fluctuations: India’s overall CPI score was 39 in 2023, a slight decrease from 40 in 2022. The report notes small score fluctuations, preventing firm conclusions.
3. Civic Space: The report highlights a further narrowing of civic space in India, especially due to the passage of a telecommunication bill that could pose a “grave threat” to fundamental rights.
4. Global and Regional Observations:
   • The global average CPI score is 43 out of 100.
   • Seventy-one percent of countries in Asia and the Pacific have a CPI score below the regional average of 45.
   • India’s ranking is better than its neighbors in South Asia, with Pakistan at 133 and Sri Lanka at 115.
5. Top Countries: Countries with high scores indicating lower corruption levels include New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Bhutan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
6. Bottom Countries: Fragile states with authoritarian regimes, such as North Korea and Myanmar, are at the bottom of the index. Afghanistan faces one of the worst humanitarian crises.

Transparency International:

1. Foundation, Location, Mission and Purpose:
   • Founded in 1993.
   • International non-governmental organization.
   • Headquarters: Berlin, Germany.
   • Non-profit organization.
   • Aims to combat global corruption through civil societal anti-corruption measures.
   • Focus on preventing criminal activities stemming from corruption.
2. Global Initiatives:
   • Engages in international efforts to fight corruption at various levels.
   • Collaborates with governments, organizations, and civil society to promote transparency and integrity.
3. Key Publications:
   • Global Corruption Barometer: Highlights public perceptions of corruption and provides insights into people’s experiences and attitudes.
   • Corruption Perception Index (CPI): Ranks countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption.
4. Corruption Perception Index (CPI):
   • Measures corruption on a scale of 0 to 100 (0 highly corrupt, 100 very clean).
   • Published annually, providing a comparative analysis of corruption levels globally.
5. Global Advocacy:
   • Transparency International serves as a global advocate for anti-corruption measures.
   • Works towards building alliances and partnerships to address corruption challenges.
   • Involves civil society in the fight against corruption.
   • Encourages public awareness and participation to create a collective impact.
   • Emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
   • Promotes ethical practices in both public and private sectors.

8. First penguin deaths in sub-Antarctic region attributed to bird flu strain

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

• Weeks after scientists suspected and confirmed deaths of elephant and fur seals due to bird flu (H5N1) in the British Overseas Territory (BOT) of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands near Antarctica, there are now reports of at least three penguin deaths from the region.

Details:

• Penguin species: King penguin, and Gentoo penguin.
• Places: South Sandwich Island, Falklands, and South Georgia.
• About 98 per cent of the global population of fur seals was found in South Georgia. The region hosted “globally important populations of elephant and fur seals”.
• A risk assessment conducted by researchers warned about the virus ripping across densely populated colonies of penguins by the austral (southern) spring that may lead to “one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times”.
• So far, no suspected or confirmed case of infection has been reported from mainland Antarctica.

Avian Influenza:

• It is a highly contagious viral disease which has swept populations of birds and mammals across the world.
• Since 2021, its variant known as HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has been dominated and caused outbreaks, leading to the deaths of millions of birds in the United Kingdom, South America, Europe and South Africa.
• In October 2023,bird flu arrived in the sub-Antarctic region after travelling from South America through sea birds.
  • It infected elephants and fur seals, brown skua, penguins, pelicans, sea lions and kelp gulls among others, resulting in mass infection and mortality.
• In December 2023, the first death of a polar bear due to avian flu was reported from the Arctic.

Source: DTE

9. India has 718 snow leopards; most of them live in unprotected areas: Centre

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

• Status Report of Snow Leopards in India released on January 30, 2024, indicates that there are 718 snow leopards in the country.

Details:

• The report highlights a significant concern: only 34% of their 120,000 square kilometre habitat in India is under legal protection.
• This leaves about 70% of their crucial habitat unprotected.
• To address this, the report recommends the establishment of a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
  • The cell’s goal would be to monitor snow leopard populations over the long term, conduct organized studies, and carry out consistent field surveys.
• The report suggests that states and Union territories consider adopting a periodic population estimation approach every four years within the snow leopard range to help identify challenges, address threats, and formulate effective conservation strategies.
  • Additionally, it calls for a revised assessment of the number of snow leopards in India, updating the earlier estimate of 400-700, in light of the global estimate of 4,000-7,500 snow leopards.

Counting snow leopards:

• The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI), conducted over four years (2019-2023) by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) along with the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru and World Wildlife Fund for Nature-India, focused on assessing snow leopard populations in India.
• Researchers installed camera traps at 1,971 locations across the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. These traps captured images of 241 unique snow leopards.
• The report reveals that the highest number of snow leopards is found in Ladakh (477), followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).
• Snow leopard occupancy was recorded over 93,392 square kilometres, with an estimated presence of 100,841 square kilometres.
• It’s noted that systematic surveys of snow leopards began in the 1980s, initially focusing on the western Himalayas, especially in Ladakh, and later expanding to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• Until recently, the snow leopard’s range in India was undefined due to a lack of comprehensive nationwide analysis.
• Before 2016, only about five per cent of the region in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh was covered. The latest assessment now covers 80 per cent of the area, compared to 56 per cent in 2016.

About Snow Leopard:

• Also known as Ghost of the mountains, acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live, due to their position as the top predator in the food web.
• They live at high altitudes in the steep mountains of Central and Southern Asia and an extremely cold climate.
• They inhabit the higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the states/union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• India is a unique country to have a good presence of 5 big cats, including Snow Leopard. The other 4 are Lion, Tiger, Common Leopard, and Clouded Leopard.
• Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh.
• Threat: Factors that have contributed to the decline in the snow leopard populations include, reduction in prey populations, illegal poaching and increased human population infiltration into the species habitat and illegal trade of wildlife parts and products among others.

Protection:

• IUCN Red List- Vulnerable
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)- Appendix I
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)- Appendix I
  • Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction.
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972- Schedule I
  • Schedule I provides absolute protection and offences under this have the highest penalties.

Conservation Efforts Launched by India:

• Himal Sanrakshak: It is a community volunteer programme, to protect snow leopards, launched on 23rd October 2020.
• In 2019, the First National Protocol was also launched on Snow Leopard Population Assessment which has been very useful for monitoring populations.
• SECURE Himalaya: Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded the project on the conservation of high-altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency of local communities on the natural ecosystem.
• This project is now operational in four snow leopard range states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
• Project Snow Leopard (PSL): It was launched in 2009 to promote an inclusive and participatory approach to conserving snow leopards and their habitat.
• Snow Leopard is on the list of 21 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
• Snow Leopard conservation breeding programme is undertaken at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Source: DTE