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Also Available: Prelims Crash Course || Prelims Test Series T.me/SleepyClasses Table of Contents 1. Geography ...... 1 1.1.Minor Forest Produce ...... 1 1.2.Standards And Labelling Programme (Star Labelling ) ...... 2 1.3.Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 ...... 3 2. History ...... 4 2.1.The Pagal Panthis ...... 4 2.2.Narkelberia Peasant Movement ...... 5 2.3.Sohrai Khovar & Telia Rumal ...... 6 3. Polity & Governance ...... 7 3.1.Solar Charkha Cluster Mission ...... 7 3.2.Personal Data Of Indian Job Seekers Leaked On Dark Net ...... 7 3.3.Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana ...... 8 4. International Relations ...... 9 4.1.G7 or G12 ...... 9 5. Economy ...... 10 5.1.USTR Section 301 ...... 10 5.2.One Nation One Ration Card ...... 11 5.3.TDS & TCS ...... 12 6. Environment ...... 14 6.1.Namdapha Flying Squirrel ...... 14 6.2.Red Panda ...... 15 6.3.Chilika Lake ...... 16 7. Science & Technology ...... 18 7.1.All about Serotonin ...... 18 7.2.BS6 Norms ...... 19

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1. Geography 1.1.Minor Forest Produce Context • Recently, Centre revised the minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce. Minor Forest Produce (MFP)? • MFP is defined under The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, popularly known as the Forests Rights Act (FRA). • Minor Forest Produce (MFP) includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, Honey, Lac, Tusser etc. • Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 conferred ownership of MFP to forest dwellers. • Forest Rights Act also recognizes and vests individual forest-dwellers with forest rights to own and dispose minor forest products from forests where they had traditional access.

Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Through Minimum Support Price (MSP) • This is done under a Centrally Sponsored scheme known as “Mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain for MFP” as a measure of social safety for MFP gatherers. • The MSP for MFP scheme was started by the Centre in 2013 to ensure fair and remunerative prices to MFP gatherers. • The procurement of these MFPs will commence in haat bazars, where tribals bring their produce with the facilitation provided by state government agencies and district collectors. • The Scheme was been implemented in eight States having Schedule areas as listed in the Fifth Schedule of the constitution of . • From November 2016, the scheme is applicable in all States. • Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of the scheme which will announce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the selected MFPs with the technical support from TRIFED. Note • Ministry of Tribal Affairs has announced Inclusion of 23 additional Minor Forest Produce (MFP) items and stipulation of their Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme titled "Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain of MFP".

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 1 T.me/SleepyClasses • This decision enhancing the coverage from 50 to 73 items comes in view of the exceptional and very difficult circumstances currently prevailing in the country on account of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the potential of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs scheme to offer the much needed support to the tribal MFP gatherers.

Additional Info Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) • It is a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs. • It came into existence in 1987. • Its objective is socio-economic development of tribal people by marketing of their products. 1.2.Standards And Labelling Programme (Star Labelling ) • Ministry of Power, Government of India • Formulated : Bureau of Energy Efficiency • Act: Energy Conservation Act, 2001. • It provides informed choice to consumers through display of energy performance labels on high energy use equipment & appliances and lays down minimum energy performance standards. • A star rating, ranging from 1 to 5 in the ascending order of energy efficiency is provided to products registered with the Bureau. • It seeks to improve energy efficiency and also lower energy cost of appliances/equipment for the consumers. • Through launch of these two new appliances under voluntary regime, 26 appliances would now be covered under this programme. • 10 mandatory appliances: Room Air Conditioners, Frost Free Refrigerators, Tubular Florescent Lamp, Distribution Transformer, Room Air Conditioner (Cassettes, Floor Standing), Direct Cool Refrigerator, Colour TV, Electric Geysers, Variable Capacity Inverter Air conditioners, LED Lamps. • Voluntary appliances: Induction Motor, Pump Sets, Ceiling Fans, LPG -Stoves, Washing Machine, Computer (Notebooks/Laptops), Ballast (Electronic/ Magnetic), Office equipment's (Printer, Copier, Scanner, MFD's), Diesel Engine Driven Mono-set Pumps, Solid State Inverter, DG Sets, Chillers, Microwave Oven, Solar Water Heater. Why in News? • Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) launched star rating programme for Deep Freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC)

Bureau Of Energy Efficiency (Bee) • The BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, Government of India. Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 2 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • The mission of Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to "institutionalise" energy efficiency services, enable delivery mechanisms in the country and provide leadership to energy efficiency in all sectors of the country. • BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organizations to identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.

1.3.Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 The Tropical Forest Alliance is a global public-private partnership dedicated to collaborative action to realize sustainable rural development and better growth opportunities based on reduced deforestation and sustainable land use management in tropical forest countries. • The Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 was founded in 2012 at Rio+20. • The aim of the alliance is to halve deforestation by 2020 and end it by 2030. TFA 2020 and its partner countries, companies and civil society organisations work together to: • Improve planning and management related to tropical forest conservation, agricultural land use and land tenure. • Share best practices for tropical forest and ecosystem conservation and commodity production, including working with smallholder farmers and other producers on sustainable agricultural intensification, promoting the use of degraded lands and reforestation • Provide expertise and knowledge to assist with the development of commodity and processed- commodity markets that promote the conservation of tropical forests • Improve monitoring of tropical deforestation and forest degradation to measure progress • TFA is funded by the governments of Norway, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and its secretariat is hosted at the World Economic Forum.

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2. History 2.1.The Pagal Panthis • The Pagal Panthis Was a Religious Movement That Emerged In The Northern Mymensingh And Sherpur District Area Of The Province Of . • This Region Was Inhabited Mainly By Tribal Peoples Such As The Garos, Hajangs, Dalus, Hudis And Rajvangshies, Who Were Mainly Adherents Of Animism And Tribal Faiths. • The Region Served As A Base For A Religious Movement Called The Pagal Panthis, An Order Founded By Karim Shah. • This Order Preached Monotheism, Human Equality, Non-Violence And Encouraged The People To Overcome Social And Religious Differences And Avoid Conflicts And Dogma. • It Brought Together A Diverse Collection Of Tribes, , Hindus And Animists. • The Movement Was Shunned And Criticised By Bengali Muslim Society And Its Leaders, Who Condemned Religious Syncretism And Referred To The Order As Pagal Panthis – Literally The Followers Of A "Mad Faith“. • Under Tipu Shah, the son of Karim Shah, the order extended the philosophy to demand equal socio- economic rights for the peasants of the region. • Tipu Shah proclaimed that no unilateral ownership of land could be allowed, as God had created humans as equals, thus granting every human an equal right to the lands. • Those who forced peasants to pay taxes and oppressed them lost the moral right to rule over others. • Ruling in the name of Allah, Tipu Shah enforced religious laws and encouraged . • The order had been famous for encouraging revolts against the British • Under Tipu Shah, the order focused on organising peasants in rebellions against oppressive taxes and laws imposed by the zamindars (landlords) and the British. • The region had been devastated by war between British forces and Burma. • To meet the costs of war, severe taxation was imposed on the region's peasants by the Company and the landlords. • Forcible collections and usurpation of property increased peasant discontent and disorder. • The Pagal Panthis sought to protect and defend peasants from the militias of the landlords and the Company's armed forces. • Basing his forces in a mud-fort near Sherpur, Tipu Shah proclaimed his rule in the name of Allah and assumed the religious and political leadership of the community. • The people of the region stopped paying taxes to the British and followed Tipu Shah's rulings. • Tipu Shah and his aides were arrested in 1833 and tried.

Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 4 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • The government subsequently met many of the peasant demands, including lowering the rent rate and other taxes. Compromises and agreements between the landlords, the Company and the peasants helped restore peace and order in the region.

2.2.Narkelberia Peasant Movement • Narkelberia Uprising is often considered the first armed peasant uprising against the British • It was led by Mir Nithar Ali (1782-1831) or Titu Mir who inspired the Muslim tenants in West Bengal to rise against landlords, mainly Hindu, who imposed a beard-tax on the Faraizis, and British indigo planters. • He was a leader of the tariqah-i-muhammadiya in Bengal, and his movement initially aimed at socio- religious reforms, elimination of the practice of shirk (pantheism) and bidat (innovation) in the Muslim society and at inspiring the Muslims to follow Islamic principles in their day to day life. • Titumir opposed a number of discriminatory measures in force at that time which included taxes on mosques and the wearing of beards. • Titumir filed a complaint to the East India Company against the oppression by the zamindars, but to no result. This brought him into conflict with the zamindars. • Titumir formed a "Mujahid" consisting of lathials. The increasing strength of Titumir alarmed the zamindars who attempted to involve the British in their fight against him. • The followers of Titumir, believed to have grown to 15,000 by that time, readied themselves for armed conflict, and built a fort of bamboo at Narikelbaria • The private armies of the zamindars and the forces of the British met with a series of defeats at the hands of his men as a result of his strike-and-retreat guerrilla tactics. • Finally, the British forces mounted concerted attacks on 19 November 1831, on Titumir and his followers. • Titumir and his forces could not withstand the might of modern weapons and were overwhelmed. • Titumir was killed along with several of his followers. • Mir’s revolt must be seen in the larger context of uprisings of peasants in Bengal, who were the first to suffer the impact of colonial systems of taxation and agricultural extraction. • Mir refused to pay the enhanced tax imposed on poor peasants in North 24 Paraganas district and then organised and led protests, which irked the land holders, both Hindu and Muslim. Eventually the zamindars and British administrators jointly mobilised forces against Titu. • These revolt soon took on a religious hue. The revolt later merged into the Wahabi movement. • Titu destroyed one Hindu temple and killed one priest who worked in the temple of a talukdar (tax collector holding land) Deb Roy. But that is not because of any communal reason but because of the nature of his movement, which was directed against an irrational tax regime implemented by the land holders.

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 5 T.me/SleepyClasses 2.3.Sohrai Khovar & Telia Rumal Sohrai Khovar • The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, naturally available soils of different colours in the area of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. • Sohrai is a harvest festival of the Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal. It also called cattle festival. • Ritualistic art is done on mud walls to welcome the harvest and to celebrate the cattle. The women clean their houses and decorate their walls with murals of Sohrai arts. • The Sohrai Khovar painting is primarily being practised only in the district of Hazaribagh. However, in recent years, for promotional purposes, it has been seen in other parts of Jharkhand. • The people coat the wall with a layer of white mud, and while the layer is still wet, they draw with their fingertips on it. Their designs range from flowers and fruits to various other nature-inspired designs. The cow dung that was earlier used to cake the walls of the house is used to add colour. The dark outline is visible due to the previously applied contrasting white mud coat. • The style features a profusion of lines, dots, animal figures and plants, often representing religious iconography. • Traditionally painted on the walls of mud houses, they are now seen on other surfaces, too. • In recent years, the walls of important public places in Jharkhand, such as the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi, and the Hazaribagh and Tatanagar Railway Stations, among others, have been decorated with Sohrai-Khovar paintings.

Telia Rumal • Telia Rumal literally means ‘Oily handkerchief’. It is a method for the oil treatment of yarn. • It is an art of Ikat tradition using natural vegetable dyes. • Telia Rumal cloth involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three particular colours — red, black and white • The products used for the treatment of the yarn are sheep dung castor pod ashes and oil. • Telia Rumal can only be created using the traditional handloom process and not by o other mechanical means as otherwise, the very quality of the Rumal would be lost. • During the Nizam’s dynasty, Puttapaka, a small, backward village of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh had about 20 families engaged in handloom weaving, who were patronised by rich Muslim families and the Nizam rulers. • The officers working in the court of the Nizam would wear the Chituki Telia Rumal as a symbolic representation of status. • Telia Rumals are also offered at the dargah of Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan • Telia Rumals were worn as a veil by princesses at the erstwhile court of the Nizam of Hyderabad; and as a turban cloth by Arabs in the Middle East. Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 6 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses

3. Polity & Governance 3.1.Solar Charkha Cluster Mission • The scheme Mission Solar Charkha by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is enterprise driven scheme and envisages setting up of ‘Solar Charkha Clusters’ which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries (Spinners, Weavers, Stitchers and other skilled artisans). Each spinner will be given two charkhas of 10 spindles each. • Based on the success of a pilot project on Solar Charkha, set up at Khanwa village, Nawada District, Bihar in 2016 which benefitted about 1180 artisans, Government of India accorded approval to set up 50 such clusters.

3.2.Personal Data Of Indian Job Seekers Leaked On Dark Net • What is this incident of data leak? • Past incidents of data breaches? • What are Indian laws on data protection? What is the data leak that happened?

Recent Data Breaches and Privacy issues • In May 2020 ShinyHunters leaked details hacked from Tokopedia, Indonesia’s largest online store, for www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 7 T.me/SleepyClasses free and later sold them for millions of U.S. dollars. • Spurred by their success, ShinyHunters went on to target at least 10 more servers, including Unacademy, an Indian learning platform. Cyble said it had acquired a database containing nearly 22 million Unacademy user accounts that was up for sale on the dark web for $2,000. The leaked data included user IDs, names and usernames, encrypted passwords, email addresses, dates joined, and times of last login. • As per the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) report India has seen a 37 per cent increase in cyberattacks in the first quarter (Q1) of 2020, as compared to the fourth quarter (Q4) of last year. The data also shows that India now ranks 27th globally in the number of web-threats. • Recently the Supreme Court accepted a petition wanting to ban zoom and sought the Centre’s response on the same. The petition seeks a ban on video-conferencing app Zoom for violating user privacy and security. • While Facebook and other social media platforms have had to bear the brunt of strict privacy laws in Europe—GDPR rules—and, increasingly, in their home country, India does not have any data laws to protect users. The data protection Bill has been pending before a joint parliamentary committee. • The Justice BN Srikrishna committee was formulated to provide recommendations for ensuring data protection and made a number of suggestions including “data principals” (persons whose personal data is being processed) the ‘right to be forgotten’. • It further suggested that Personal data will need to be stored on servers located within India, and transfers outside the country will need to be subject to safeguards. Critical personal data, however, will only be processed in India • Right now, Sections 42, 66, and 72 of the IT Act guarantee some basic protection from data theft, but the Act does not fix liability on companies for ensuring security.

3.3.Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana • Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from any of the age-related disability/ infirmity Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor disability shall be covered under the scheme. • Assistance provided: Assisted-living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/infirmity manifested. They are free-of cost. • Funding: This is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government. The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund” established under the Finance Act 2015 under the Ministry of Social Justice. • Other key facts: ✓In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.

✓Beneficiaries in each district will be identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.

✓As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.

Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 8 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses 4. International Relations 4.1.G7 or G12 G7 • The heads of the six leading industrial countries met in the backdrop of the first oil shock and subsequent financial crisis in 1975 to discuss the global economy • There were joined in 1976 by Canada and in 1998 by Russia • Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, the G7 nations decided in March 2014 to meet without Russia • India is officially invited by President Trump for the next G7 summit which will take place in September in America Expansion of G7 • France first floated the idea of expanding G7 in 2003 and invited heads of government of several “emerging economies”. Later the host countries started organising meetings on sidelines of their summits.

✓India and China were invited to all those summits • President Trump has suggested expanding G-7 to a G-10 or G-11 ✓He has come up with a list of countries such as Australia, India, South Korea and Russia • The group could become G-12 with the inclusion of Indonesia • Trump is motivated by exclusion of China and inclusion of India and Russia at the same time • For the expansion to take place, other members such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada have to be on-board

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 9 T.me/SleepyClasses 5. Economy 5.1.USTR Section 301 News • The US Trade Representative's office has announced that it will start Section 301 investigations against India and nine others for imposing or considering digital services taxes that may affect American companies.

What’s the Tax • India levies 6% tax in the form of equalisation levy on digital companies advertising revenue. • Equalisation levy has been brought in 2016 on cross border digital transactions in to tax internet giants' digital advertising revenues from India. • Recently, the government expanded the scope of the equalisation levy to include any purchase by an Indian or India-based entity through overseas ecommerce platform with effect from April 1. • The government imposed a new tax of 2% in April, 2020 on: ✓Digital services rendered

✓In India

✓Against payments collected abroad. • The levy is restricted to non-resident companies and is expected to chiefly affect American digital services giants Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon. Other countries that have already levied this tax or are considering them are • Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. What’s the USTR announcement • The US Trade Representative's office has announced that it will start Section 301 investigations against India and nine others for imposing or considering digital services taxes that may affect American companies.

What is USTR • It is a US government agency responsible for developing and recommending United States trade policy to the president of the United States. • It also conducts trade negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels. What is this Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 • It authorizes the President to take all appropriate action, including tariff-based and non-tariff-based retaliation, to obtain the removal of any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that violates an international trade agreement or is unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory, and that burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.

Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 10 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • Section 301 cases can be self-initiated by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) or as the result of a petition filed by a firm or industry group.

What happens when a Section 301 investigation begins • The Section 301 investigation will include, typically, a public hearing based on written objections and comments, which, according to a simultaneous announcement in the Federal Register, the US government’s gazette, can be submitted till July 15.

India’s Response • India’s commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services allow such taxes. • India’s taxes do not specifically target American companies. • India have not taken any commitment under GATS, in services sector, and India is not required to give national treatment in that sector. • This gives us flexibility to impose discriminatory tax on services imports in sectors where we have not taken a commitment.

5.2.One Nation One Ration Card News • 'One Nation One Ration Card' system will enable migrant workers and their family members to access PDS benefits from any Fair Price Shop in the country.

Objective of the Ration Cards • Ration cards are an official document issued by state governments in India. • They are issued to households that are eligible to purchase subsidized food grain from the Public Distribution System (under the National Food Security Act).

There are two types of ration cards under NFSA • Priority ration card: Priority ration cards are issued to households that meet the eligibility criteria set by their state government.

✓Each priority household is entitled to 5 kilograms of food grain per member per month. • Antyodaya (AAY) ration card: It is issued to "poorest of poor" households. ✓Each AAY household is entitled to 35 kilograms of food grain per month.

What will 'One Nation One Ration Card’ do • It will allow inter-state ration card portability. Why is ON-ORC required • In the present system, a ration cardholder can buy foodgrains only from an FPS that has been assigned to her in the locality in which she lives. • Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, about 81 crore persons are entitled to buy subsidized foodgrain — rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg, and coarse grains at Re 1/kg — from their designated Fair Price Shops (FPS) of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 11 T.me/SleepyClasses What will be the new system • The new system, based on a technological solution, will identify a beneficiary through biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the FPSs, and enable that person to purchase the quantity of foodgrains to which she is entitled under the NFSA. • Ration card portability is aimed at providing intra-state as well as inter-state portability of ration cards. Some important portals to remember • The Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) portal provides the technological platform for the inter-state portability of ration cards, enabling a migrant worker to buy foodgrains from any FPS across the country. • The Annavitran portal hosts the data of distribution of foodgrains through E-PoS devices within a state. • The Annavitran portal enables a migrant worker or his family to avail the benefits of PDS outside their district but within their state. While a person can buy her share of foodgrains as per her entitlement under the NFSA, wherever she is based, the rest of her family members can purchase subsidised foodgrains from their ration dealer back home. Annavitran portal • The Annavitran portal enables a migrant worker or his family to avail the benefits of PDS outside their district but within their state. • While a person can buy her share of foodgrains as per her entitlement under the NFSA, wherever she is based, the rest of her family members can purchase subsidised foodgrains from their ration dealer back home.

5.3.TDS & TCS News • Reduction in rate of Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) & Tax Collection at Source (TCS). Objective • In order to provide more funds at the disposal of the taxpayers. • That is, to increase the liquidity with the tax payer. What is TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) • It is the tax deducted on certain payments before they are made to the earner. • TDS is deducted on certain payments above a specified limit. What all attracts TDS • TDS deductions are made on payments including ✓Salary

✓Interest

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✓Dividend

✓Rent

✓Brokerage

✓Acquisition of immovable property

✓Professional fees

✓Insurance Commission

✓TDS on e-commerce participants

✓Prize money on lotteries, reality show, etc

Is TDS a Direct Tax or an Indirect Tax • Direct. • TDS is deducted according to the Income Tax Act 1961. What is TCS (Tax Collected at Source) • It is the tax amount that a seller withholds (and later deposits to the government) when selling goods to a buyer. • It is applicable on the sale of certain goods (barring those used for manufacturing or production). What all attracts TCS • TCS deductions are made on the sale of goods such as: ✓Timber

✓Minerals, being coal or lignite or iron ore

✓Tendu leaves

✓Scrap

✓Grant of license, lease, etc. of

✤Parking lot

✤Toll Plaza

✤Mining and quarrying

✓Sale of motor vehicle above 10 lakhs.

Is TCS a Direct Tax or an Indirect Tax • Direct. • TDS is deducted according to the Income Tax Act 1961. Possible Impact • Increased demand because of increased cash in hand. www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 13 T.me/SleepyClasses 6. Environment 6.1.Namdapha Flying Squirrel Introduction • The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, where it is known from a single specimen collected in Namdapha National Park in 1981. • In 1981, a team of scientists led by zoologist Shyamrup Biswas discovered the Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) in the ironwood jungles of Arunachal Pradesh state, India. • The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is only known with certainty from a single individual collected in Namdapha National Park, the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, at altitudes of between 100 and 350 meters above sea level.

Habitat • No population estimate is available for B. biswasi, but the known habitat is tall Mesua ferrea jungles, often on hill slopes in the catchment area of Na Dihing river (particularly on the western slope of Patkai range) in northeastern India. • It is found in dry deciduous montane forests occupying moist forest tracts along streams. • It may be restricted to the area of a single valley within the Namdapha National Park. Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 14 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • This is an arboreal species that is likely most active at dusk. Status • The Namdapha flying squirrel is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. • Its range of the Namdapha flying squirrel may be restricted to a single valley and it is threatened by poaching of animals for food from within the park, and possibly by habitat destruction. • It is among the 25 “most wanted lost” species that are the focus of Global Wildlife Conservation’s “Search for Lost Species” initiative.

Important Points • Scientists have discovered a new species of giant flying squirrel in China belonging to one of the world’s rarest and most mysterious genera. • The first species in the genus, the Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi), was described in 1981 and hasn’t been seen since. • A second species, the Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis), was described in 2013, but also from just a single specimen. • Researchers believe the conservation outlook for the new species, the Mount Gaoligong flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis), is better than for its relatives, given its greater abundance in the wild and prospects for community and government involvement to protect it.

6.2.Red Panda Introduction • The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a mammal species native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. • Despite its name, it is not closely related to the giant panda. • It is arboreal and feeds mainly on bamboo, but also eats eggs, birds, and insects. • It thrives best at 2,200-4,800m, in mixed deciduous and conifer forests with dense understories of bamboo. • It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day (both nocturnal and crepuscular) • It is also called the lesser panda, the red bear-cat, and the red cat-bear. Important Points • About 5,000-6,000 red pandas are estimated to be present in four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal. • This is the second-largest population after China (6,000-7,000). • Nepal accounts for 580 animals, while Bhutan and have no estimate of the animal’s population.

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App store Call 6280133177 and Play Store 15 T.me/SleepyClasses • Red pandas have been reported from 11 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, which is presumed to hold the largest red panda population in the country. • It is the state animal of Sikkim. • It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. • International trade is strictly regulated through its listing in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), while in India, the species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. • The population continues to decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching (for meat and fur), and inbreeding depression. • India has 20 protected areas with known or possible red panda populations in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal such as Khangchendzonga, Namdapha and Singalila National Parks, and a coordinated conservation policy for the red panda.S • The trade monitoring network TRAFFIC has released a report titled “Assessment of illegal trade- related threats to Red Panda in India and selected neighbouring range countries” recently. • The report has analysed poaching and illegal trade of the species for the ten-year period from July 2010 to June 2019. • The researchers found that neither India nor Bhutan had reported any incidences of poaching or illegal trade in Red Pandas in the study period. • The report also recommended trans-boundary law enforcement co-operation through the use of multi-government platforms like SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network).

6.3.Chilika Lake Introduction • Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km. • It is the largest coastal lagoon in India (and Asia) and the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world after The New Caledonian barrier reef.

Important Points • It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. • Chilika lies in the Central Asian Flyway for birds and is a major stopover site for migratory birds from the Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions during their onward and return migration along the east coast.

Available on App store www.sleepyclasses.com 16 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. • Nalbana Bird Sanctuary or Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake. • It was declared a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. • It was notified in 1987 and declared a bird sanctuary in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act. • National Chilika Bird Festival is the only time when Nalabana is opened for nature lovers of all around the globe. • M a n g a l a j o d i f r e s h w a t e r wetland and Nalabana Island which form part of the Chilika Lake have been identified as Important Bird Areas (IBA). • The rare and threatened animal species identified are green sea turtle (EN), dugong (VU), Irrawaddy dolphin (EN), blackbuck (LC), Spoon billed sandpiper (CR), Chilika limbless skink (CR) and fishing cat (VU). • Odisha Forest Department officials, wildlife experts and researchers recently sighted 146 endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika Lake(India’s largest brackish water lake), which boasts of the highest single lagoon population of the aquatic mammal in the world.

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7. Science & Technology 7.1.All about Serotonin What is Serotonin? • It is a monoamine neurotransmitter (also called 5-hydroxytyphtamine or 5-HT), derived from essential amino acid L-tryptophan

✓Essential means the body can’t create it itself, we need to obtain 5-HT from our food • Serotonin and serotonin-like molecules have also been found throughout the animal, plant and fungal communities

✓It helps give a wasp sting its zing, and as a powerful hormone serotonin specifies the body plan of a sea urchin developing in its egg • It is commonly believed to be a neurotransmitter, although some consider it to be a hormone • Serotonin is produced in the intestines and the brain. It is also present in the blood platelets and the central nervous system (CNS) • It cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, so any serotonin used inside the brain must be produced inside the brain • Serotonin is also known as one of the “happy hormones”. But, it also has strange and mysterious side- effects. In some cases they initially made people feel more anxious or even suicidal Functions • Relays signals between nerve cells, or neurons, regulating their intensity • Plays a key role in the CNS and in the general functioning of the body and especially the gastrointestinal (GI) tract • Regulates bowel function and movements • Impacts levels of mood, anxiety and happiness. Illicit mood-altering drugs such as LSD cause a significant rise in serotonin levels • Appears to inhibit sexual activity in humans Current Relevance • When Grasshoppers, which are solitary creatures, are driven by hunger caused by drought or food scarcity start to gather together, their population increases in the area and they start becoming gregarious (tendency of animals to form social groups to hunt or eat together)

✓It tends to induce hoppers to start coordinating their movements and form swarms. Gregarious hoppers are referred to as locusts • Locusts are believed to become gregarious when they constantly touch each other on their hind legs. The touching and tickling of hind legs release a large amount of serotonin.

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7.2.BS6 Norms Introduction • Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards are laid down by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine and spark-ignition engine equipment, including motor vehicles

✓They set the maximum permissible levels for pollutants that an automotive or a two-wheeler exhaust can emit • Central government has mandated that vehicle makers must manufacture, sell and register only BS-VI (BS6) vehicles from April 1, 2020

✓First emission norms were introduced in India in 1991 for petrol and in 1992 for diesel vehicles • BS3 was introduced in 2005 and BS 4 in 2017 ✓This delay between BS3 and BS4 resulted in fast-tracking the BS6 emission norms rather than BS5

✓ In 2016, the government announced that the country would skip the BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020 • The standards and timeline are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Areas of Improvement • These standards are targeted in improvements in 3 areas ✓Emission Control

✓Fuel Efficiency

✓Engine Design

What changes in BS6? • The presence of OBD (Onboard Diagnostics) and RDE (Real Driving Emission) on all vehicles will also enable real-time tracking of emissions. • Diesel motors will include DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technologies

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