1. FOREST AMENDMENT ACT 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The states and Union territories (UT) must act according to the definition of ‘forest’ as laid down in the landmark TN Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India judgement issued in 1996, the Supreme Court said in an interim order.

Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023

• Exempted Categories of Land: The Act exempts some types of land from the Act, including forest land along a railway line or a public road maintained by the government.
• Assignment/Leasing of Foreign Land: The Act extends the prior approval requirement for assigning forest land to all entities, including government-owned ones. The approval must be subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the central government.
• Land Under the Purview of the Act: It defines forest land as either land that is notified as a forest under the IFA, 1927 or any other law, or land that is notified as a forest on or after Oct 25, 1980, in a government record.
• Permitted Activities in Forest Land: The Act restricts de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes, but the central government may approve such use with conditions.

Interpretation of "Deemed Forest" in TN Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India judgement (1996)

• Expansive Definition: The court in its 1996 judgment expanded the definition of a "deemed forest" beyond the traditional notion of a forest as a large area with significant tree cover.
• Inclusion Criteria: It encompassed areas recorded as forests in government records, regardless of the presence of significant tree cover or ownership status.
• Protection under Forest Conservation Act, 1980: The judgment extended protection to vast tracts of eco-sensitive and Adivasi lands, irrespective of their formal classification as "forests" in revenue records.

THE FOREST (CONSERVATION) ACT, 1980

• The Act empowers: The central government to demand proper compensation (compensatory afforestation) for any forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes. 

oIt also extends its jurisdiction to land that is not officially designated as "forest" in government records at the state or central level.

• Penalties: This Act provides penalties for the infringement of the provisions of this Act.
• Advisory committee: It may be formed for advising the Central government in matters related to forest conservation. 

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2. ODYSSEUS SPACECRAFT Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: A robotic lunar lander recently launched into space; if all goes well, on February 22, it will mark the first time an American spacecraft has gently landed on the Moon's surface since the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972.

o It would also become the first private effort to reach the surface of the Moon in one piece. Three earlier attempts, by an American company, a Japanese company and an Israeli nonprofit, failed.

Odysseus Spacecraft

• About: The spacecraft launched by SpaceX was named Odysseus after a contest among employees of Intuitive Machines of Houston.
• Inspiration Source: The engineer who proposed the name, drew inspiration from the travels of the hero of Odyssey, the ancient Greek epic poem.
• Apt Analogy: Engineer highlighted that the journey of Odysseus in the epic poem parallels the challenges, setbacks, and delays of the lunar mission.
• Journey Comparison: It emphasized that like Odysseus, the spacecraft faces numerous challenges akin to traversing the daunting, wine-dark sea.
• Endurance and Success: Despite the trials, Odysseus in the epic poem proves worthy and successfully completes his journey, which parallels the mission's goal of "sticking the landing" after 10 years of development and challenges.

Significance

• Cost-Effective: Private companies achieve lunar exploration at a fraction of NASA's costs.
• Odysseus Lander: Odysseus lander arrives in Houston on February 1, 2023.

oRisk of financial loss for NASA in case of mission failure due to a crash.

• Challenges in Commercial Lunar Missions: Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine mission faced technical malfunction. CLPS program includes missions by private companies Odysseus and Peregrine.
• Expectations and Cost Savings in CLPS Program: Thomas Zurbuchen initiates the CLPS program at NASA in 2018.

oAnticipates a 50% failure rate in CLPS missions.

oDespite failures, CLPS missions offer significant cost savings compared to traditional NASA missions.

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3. RUBBER SECTOR IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The financial assistance for the Rubber sector under the ‘Sustainable & Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector’ has been increased by 23% from Rs 576.41 crore to Rs 708.69 crore for the next 2 financial years (2024-25 and 2025-26).

Rubber Producing Regions in India

• Cultivation Statistics: In India, 8.5 lakh hectares are under rubber cultivation.
• Regional Breakdown: Kerala and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu contribute almost 5 lakh hectares, with 1 lakh hectares in Tripura.

oNortheastern states, especially Tripura and Assam, account for over 16% of total production.

• Global Distribution: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Brazil.
• Three Zones of Rubber Cultivation

oTraditional region: Kerala state and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.

oNon-traditional region: All states other than Kerala and Kanyakumari District and North East region.

oNortheastern region: Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Climate requirements

• Soil and climate: It requires deep and lateritic fertile soil with an acidic pH of 4.5 to 6.0 and highly deficient in available phosphorous. 

oTropical climate with annual rainfall of 2000 – 4500 mm is suited for cultivation.

oMinimum and maximum temperature should be ranged from 25 to 34°C with 80 % relative humidity is ideal for cultivation. 

oRegions prone to heavy winds should be avoided.

• Season: June – July is optimum for cultivation.
• Method of propagation: Propagated by green budding, brown budding and crown budding.

Rubber

• About: Rubber, also called latex, as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds.
• India is the third largest producer, fourth largest consumer of natural rubber and fifth largest consumer of natural rubber and synthetic rubber together in the world. 
• The share of synthetic rubber in total rubber consumption in India is around 30% while the world average is 65%. 

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4. GREEN ANACONDA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The green anaconda has long been considered one of the Amazon’s most formidable and mysterious animals. New research upends scientific understanding of this magnificent creature, revealing it is actually two genetically different species.

Green Anaconda

• Historical Recognition of Anaconda Species: Historically, four anaconda species have been recognized, including green anacondas, also known as giant anacondas.
• Behemoths of the Reptile World: Green anacondas are true behemoths, with the largest females growing to over seven meters long and weighing more than 250 kilograms.

oAdapted to aquatic life, their nostrils and eyes are located on top of their head, allowing them to see and breathe while submerged. Their olive-colored bodies with large black spots help them blend into their surroundings.

• Inhabiting South America’s Waterways: It inhabit the lush waterways of South America’s Amazon and Orinoco basins, known for their stealth, patience, and surprising agility.
• Non-venomous Predators: Green anacondas are not venomous; they rely on their large, flexible jaws and strong bodies to take down prey before swallowing them whole.

Conservation Strategies and Importance

• Maintaining Ecosystem Balance: As apex predators, green anacondas play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance by influencing the behavior of other species in their habitats.
• Their presence alters the foraging, breeding, and migration patterns of various species, highlighting their ecological importance.
• Sensitivity to Environmental Change: Green anacondas are highly sensitive to environmental changes; healthy anaconda populations indicate vibrant ecosystems with ample food resources and clean water.

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5. NATINAL COUNCIL FOR TRANSGENDER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: A significant third meeting of the National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) is recently scheduled to take place in New Delhi.

National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP)

• About: It is a statutory body constituted under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 to safeguard the rights of transgender persons in India.
• Aim: To focus on livelihood issues and raise awareness about the trans community to achieve the goal of social justice, ensuring acceptance within families and in the larger society.
• Responsibilities of the NCTP: Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and making recommendations to the government on measures to promote and protect the rights of transgender persons.
• Composition: Chairperson: Union Minister of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

oOne representative each from five states or union territories, from east, west, north, south, and northeast zones. They will be appointed on a rotational basis.

Functions of the National Council for Transgender Persons

• Advisory Role: The committee's primary function is to offer the Central Government guidance on formulating policies, programs, laws, and initiatives affecting transgender individuals.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: It monitors and evaluates the outcomes of laws and programs designed to achieve full equality and inclusion for transgender individuals.
• Coordination and Assessment: It coordinates and assesses the endeavors of various government agencies, alongside non-government organizations, in tackling transgender issues.
• Issue Resolution: The committee focuses on resolving problems specifically concerning transgender individuals.

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6. PUBLIC EXAMINATION ACT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues-Education)

Context: The government has brought in the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to curb increasing instances of question paper leaks and other malpractices in recruitment examinations.

Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

• About: The Bill seeks to prevent use of unfair means in public examinations. Public examinations refer to examinations conducted by authorities specified under the Schedule to the Bill, or notified by the central government.

Punishments under the new law

• Persons committing an organised crime will be punished with imprisonment between five years and 10 years, and a fine of at least one crore rupees.  
• If an institution is held guilty of committing an organised crime, its property will be attached and forfeited, and a proportionate cost of the examination will also be recovered from it.
• Nature of Offences: All offences under the Act are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.

Objective of Act 

• Prevention of Unfair Means: The newly enacted Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, targets the prevention of the use of "unfair means" in public examinations.

oIt aims to eliminate cheating practices and ensure fairness, transparency, and credibility in government recruitment exams.

• Coverage of Examinations: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (BPS), and ministries or departments of the central government are covered under this act.
• Measures Against Unfair Practices: The Act targets specific unfair practices such as the leakage of question papers or answer keys.

oIt also addresses issues like direct or indirect assistance to candidates and tampering with computer networks during examinations.

• Responsibilities of service providers:  In the event of violation of provisions of the Bill, service providers must report to the police and the concerned examination authority.  A service provider is an organisation that provides computer resources or any other support to a public examination authority.

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7. MILAN EXERCISE 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, India commenced a nine-day mega naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, featuring the participation of approximately 50 navies, amidst the fractious geopolitical landscape, which includes mounting global apprehensions regarding the deteriorating security situation in the Red Sea.

Exercise MILAN

• About: The Flagship event, MILAN, is a biennial multilateral naval exercise.
• Initiated by: The Indian Navy in 1995.

oOriginally aligned with India's 'Look East Policy,' MILAN has expanded over the years to include participation from Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) due to the 'Act East policy' and PM of India Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.

• Participants: Navies from the US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, among others.
• Aim: To strengthen regional cooperation and maritime security, foster interoperability and understanding between participating navies and provide a platform for sharing best practices and expertise.

Other Naval Exercise

• CORPAT -India and Thailand
• JIMEX - India and Japan
• Konkan Shakti - India and UK
• Samudra Shakti - India and Indonesia
• SIMBEX - India and Singapore

Vishakahpatnam

• About: The city is situated between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. 
• Situated: In Coastal Andhra Region.
• Boundaries by:

oSimhachalam Hill Range to the west

oYarada Hills to the southeast

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8. MELGHAT TIGER RESERVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The ongoing Kula Mama Volleyball Tournament-2024 in Melghat Tiger Reserve's (MTR) Semadoh sends a strong message to save tigers and the pristine forest with involvement of local youths.

Melghat Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is located on the southern offshoot of the Satpura Hill Range in Central India, called Gavilgarh Hill.
• Established as a wildlife sanctuary in:  1967 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1974.

oIt was the first tiger reserve in Maharashtra.

oIt was among the first nine tiger reserves notified in 1973-74 under Project Tiger.

oThe name 'Melghat' means the confluence of various 'ghats' or valleys, as is typical from the landscape of this tiger Reserve.

• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous in nature, dominated by teak.
• Rivers: The Khandu, Khapra, Sipna, Gadga, and Dolar, all of which are tributaries of the river Tapti.

oThe Tapti River and the Gawilgadh ridge of the Satpura Range form the boundaries of the reserve.

• Tribes: The Korkus are the largest tribal community in Melghat. Other communities include the Gawli community, the Gond tribe, and several other smaller tribal communities.
• Flora: Teak, Lagerstroemia Parviflora, Terminalia Tomentosa, Ougeinia Oojeinensis, Emblica Officinalis, Bamboo, etc.
• Fauna: Apart from Tigers, the other prominent animals are Sloth Bear, Indian Gaur, Sambar deer, Leopard, Nilgais, dhole, hyena, jungle cat, langur, etc.

oIt is considered a stronghold of the critically endangered forest owlet.

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9. NEW SUDY ON EL-NINO & LA-NINA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geogrpahy)

Context: Monsoon rainfall over India is known to be strongly influenced by El Nino and La Nina events, the alternating warming and cooling of the eastern Pacific Ocean that impacts weather across the world. 

oA new study by Indian researchers has now suggested that even air quality in the country could be influenced by the two weather events.

Key Points of Study

• The study conducted by: National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune
• It suggests: A correlation between the unusual air quality in select Indian cities during the winter of 2022 and the record-breaking La Nina event that occurred during that time.
• First-Time Association with La Nina: This marks the first instance where the air quality in Indian cities has been linked to a La Nina event, thereby indirectly implicating climate change, which exacerbates the severity of both El Nino and La Nina phenomena.
• PM2.5 Concentration Variations: According to the study, PM2.5 concentrations in Ghaziabad during that winter exhibited a reduction of approximately 33% from the norm, while Noida experienced a decrease of 28% below average.
• Anomalous Behavior Prompting Study: The anomalous behavior of air quality in various Indian cities during the specified period prompted the researchers to investigate further, eventually leading them to explore the potential impacts of the La Nina phenomenon.

Wind Direction

• Change in Wind Direction: The most crucial factor in explaining the anomaly of winter 2022 was a change in the normal wind direction.

oDuring typical winters, wind predominantly blows in the northwesterly direction, such as from Punjab towards Delhi and onward into the Gangetic plains.

• North-South Wind Circulation in Winter 2022: In the winter of 2022, the wind circulation deviated from its usual north-westerly pattern.
• Altered Pollution Route: Due to the north-south wind circulation pattern in winter 2022, pollutants from Punjab and Haryana took a different route.

oThey travelled over Rajasthan and Gujarat and extended into southern regions, altering the usual dispersion patterns of pollutants during the winter months.

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10. TIGERS IN COMBODIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Cambodia hopes to import four tigers from India this year under an agreement signed with New Delhi aimed at reviving the population of big cats in the kingdom.

oThe last sighting of a tiger in the Southeast Asian kingdom was from a camera trap in 2007 and the cats were declared "functionally extinct" in Cambodia in 2016.

Cambodia

• About: It is a country on the Indochinese mainland of Southeast Asia.
• Capital: Phnom Penh
• Location: Cambodia lies entirely within the tropics, between latitudes 10° and 15°N, and longitudes 102° and 108°E.
• Border: It borders Thailand to the north and west, Laos to the northeast, and Vietnam to the east and southeast.
• Coastline: It has a 443-kilometer coastline along the Gulf of Thailand.
• Geology: Cambodia's landscape is characterized by a low-lying central plain that is surrounded by uplands and low mountains and includes the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the upper reaches of the Mekong River delta.
• Geographical Features

oCambodia's main geographical features are the low-lying Central Plain that includes the Tonlé Sap basin, the lower Mekong River flood-plains and the Bassac River plain surrounded by mountain ranges to the north, east, in south-west and south.

oThe landmass is bisected by the Mekong River, which is the longest river in Cambodia.

How did tigers go extinct in Cambodia?

• Habitat Destruction and Poaching: As forests were cut down for development activities and as human habitats extended into forests, the tiger’s habitat came under stress.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade: According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), “Every part of the tiger—from whisker to tail—has been found in illegal wildlife markets.
• Thirteen countries make up the tiger range of the world:  Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

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