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UPSC Current Affairs- 1ST March 2021
1. Caracal
Why in the news?
The National Board for Wildlife and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has added Caracal in the list of critically endangered species. The recovery programme for critically endangered species in India now includes 22 wildlife species.
About Caracal
It is a medium-sized wild cat endemic to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, and long canine teeth. In Indian these wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The semi-arid region of Kutch is one of only two homes of this cat species in India.
Conservation Status
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists caracals as a species of ‘least concern’, mainly due to their large numbers in Africa. But in India, they are listed as ‘endangered’. These species are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
About the recovery programme of critically endangered species
It is one of the three components of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH).
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats
It was started in 2008-09 as a centrally sponsored Scheme. It is meant for providing support to protected areas (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves except tiger reserves), protection of wildlife outside protected areas and recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats. The 22 wildlife species under the recovery programme are: o Snow Leopard, Bustard (including Floricans), Dolphin, Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest Swiftlet, Nicobar Megapode, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer, Asian Wild Buffalo, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Jerdon’s Courser, Asiatic Lion, Northern River Terrapin, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale, Clouded Leopard, Red Panda and Caracal.
Topic- GS Paper III–Environment Source- PIB
2. No postal ballots for NRIs this time: Election Commission of India
Why in the news?
The Election Commission of India has recently said that the Non- Resident Indians (NRIs) will not be able to vote by postal ballots for the upcoming elections in five states.
What is a Postal Ballot?
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It facilities a voter to cast his/her vote remotely. The user casts his vote by recording preference on the ballot paper and returns it to the election officer before counting. Section 60 of the Peoples Representation Act, 1951 provides for the person to be given a postal ballot facility. However, the Election commission needs to consult with the government.
Who can avail the Postal Ballot facility currently?
All the members of the armed forces like the Army, Navy, and Air Force. All the members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state) All Government employees who are posted outside India and their spouses Voters who are under preventive detention Special voters such as the President of India, Vice President, Governors, Cabinet ministers, Speaker of the House, and government officers on poll duty can cast their vote by post. However, they have to apply for it through a prescribed form.
Process of Voting by Postal Ballots
Any NRI interested in voting through the postal ballot will have to inform the Returning Officer not later than five days after the notification of the election. The Returning Officer of a parliamentary or assembly constituency is the nodal officer for the conduct of elections in the parliamentary or assembly constituency. The Returning Officer, on receiving such information, will dispatch the ballot paper electronically. The NRI voters will download the ballot paper, mark their preference on the printout and send it back along with a declaration attested by an officer appointed by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where the NRI is resident. However, at present, it is not clear, if the voter will return the ballot paper herself through ordinary post or drop it off at the Indian Embassy, which may then segregate the envelopes constituency- wise and send them to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state concerned for forwarding to the Returning Officer.
Related Information
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The Law Ministry, at the Election Commission’s behest, has recently introduced a new category of ‘absentee voters’, who can now also opt for postal voting.
About Absentee Voters
These are voters who are unable to cast their vote due to their service conditions or other conditions. They include voters employed in essential services Persons with disabilities Senior citizens above 80 years of age.
Note:
In 2020, the Election Commission has allowed senior citizens above the age of 65 and COVID-19 positive voters to cast their vote by post.
Topic- GS Paper II–Governance Source- The Hindu
3. Channapatna toys
Why in the news?
Recently, Prime Minister calls for e-marketing of Channapatna toys.
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About Channapatna toys
These are a particular form of wooden toys (and dolls) that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organization, administered by the state govt. Channapatna is known as Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka. Traditionally, the work involved lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, colloquially called Aale mara (ivory-wood). Their manufacture goes back at least 200 years according to most accounts and it has been traced to the era of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. The toys are laced with vegetable dyes and colours devoid of chemicals and hence they are safe for children.
Topic- GS Paper I– Indian Heritage & Culture Source: Indian Express
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4. ISRO puts Brazil’s Amazonia-1, 18 other satellites into orbit
Why in the news?
Recently, ISRO successfully launched Brazil’s optical earth observation satellite, Amazonia-1, and 18 co-passenger satellites (5 Indian and 13 from the U.S.A.) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) at Sriharikota. The satellites were carried onboard the PSLV-C51. The PSLV-C51 is the 53rd mission of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program.
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About Amazonia-1
It is the optical earth observation satellite of the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This satellite will provide remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory. The 18 co-passenger satellites included four from IN-SPACe and 14 commercial satellites from NewSpace India Limited (one from India and 13 from the US). The mission was undertaken under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc., USA.
More in the news
Pixxel India Anand satellite
The Pixxel India Anand satellite was also supposed to be on the PSLV-C51 rocket that lifted off from the Sriharikota but could not be injected due to certain software issues had arisen during testing.
About Pixxel India Anand satellite
It is a vast constellation of earth-imaging satellites that would continuously monitor every part of the globe and beam high- resolution imagery and other data that can be used for a number of applications ranging from climate change, agriculture to urban planning.
Topic- GS Paper III–Science and technology Source- Indian Express
5. Mount Etna volcano
Why in the news?
The Mount Etna volcano has erupted recently.
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About Mount Etna
Mount Etna or Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. It lies above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. It is the highest active volcano in Europe outside the Caucasus It is the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps also. Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations. In June 2013, it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Topic- GS Paper I–Geography Source- Indian Express
6. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Why in the news?
Recently, the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Pramod Chandra Mody has been extended for a further period of three months.
About the Central Board of Direct Taxes
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The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) were renamed as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in 2018 after the rollout of Goods and Services Tax (GST). The officials of the Board in their ex-officio capacity also function as a Division of the Ministry dealing with matters relating to levy and collection of direct taxes. It deals with the tasks of formulation of policy concerning levy and collection of customs, central excise duties, Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST).
Topic- GS Paper III–Economics Source- The Hindu
7. India ‘out of recession’, GDP grows 0.4%
Why in the news?
Recently, as per data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s economy resurfaced to growth territory in the third quarter of the fiscal year (FY) 2020-21, clocking a 0.4% rise in the gross domestic product (GDP).
Highlights
GDP of India had shrunk in the first two quarters by 24.4% and 7.3% as per revised data, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, marking a technical recession. The NSO has also revised its advance national income estimates for FY21 to project an 8% decline in GDP, compared with the 4% growth seen in FY20.
Earlier Estimation
The NSO had earlier estimated 7.7% shrinkage for Financial Year 2021.
The Finance Ministry termed the 0.4% real GDP growth in Q3 as a return to ‘the pre-pandemic times of positive growth rates’ and a reflection of a ‘further strengthening of V-shaped recovery that began in Q2’. India’s farm sector remained resilient, clocking a 3.9% growth in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy in the October-to-
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December quarter, after recording a 3.3% and 3% rise in the first two quarters, respectively.
Only two sectors record positive growth
For the full year FY21, the NSO expects only two sectors to record positive growth in GVA – agriculture (3%) and electricity, gas, water & other utilities (1.8%). Overall GVA is expected to contract 6.5% in the year, led by an 18% dip in trade, hotels and other services, a 10.3% decline in construction, and an about 9% fall in mining and manufacturing GVA. In Quarter3, manufacturing, construction and financial, real estate and professional services staged a return to growth for the first time in the year after two bad quarters. Construction saw the sharpest recovery - with GVA rising 6% after falling 49.4% and 7.2%. Services including trade, hotels, transport and communication remained in trouble, with GVA declining 7.7%, though it was better than the -47.6% and the -15.3% reading in Q1 and Q2. Real GVA in services has also improved from a contraction of 21.4% in Q1 to a negligible contraction of 1% in Q3.
About National Statistical Office
It has been created through the merger of the NSSO and CSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The new NSO as an agency was envisaged firstly by Rangarajan Commission to implement and maintain statistical standards and coordinate statistical activities of Central and State agencies as laid down by the National Statistical Commission (NSC). This commission had also recommended setting up the NSC, headed by a person with a Minister of State-level designation, to serve as a nodal and empowered body for all core statistical activities of the country.
NSO is mandated with the following responsibilities:-
1. acts as the nodal agency for planned development of the statistical system in the country lays down and maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics, involving concepts and definitions, a methodology of data collection, processing of data and dissemination of results;
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2. coordinates the statistical work in respect of the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and State Statistical Bureaus (SSBs), advises the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India on statistical methodology and on a statistical analysis of data; 3. prepares national accounts as well as publishes annual estimates of national product, government and private consumption expenditure, capital formation, savings, estimates of capital stock and consumption of fixed capital, as also the state-level gross capital formation of supra-regional sectors and prepares comparable estimates of State Domestic Product (SDP) at current prices; 4. maintains liaison with international statistical organizations, such as the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO), the International Labour Organizations (ILO), etc. 5. compiles and releases the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) every month in the form of ‘quick estimates’; conducts the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI); and provides statistical information to assess and evaluate the changes in the growth, composition and structure of the organized manufacturing sector;
Topic- GS Paper III–Economics Source- The Hindu
8. Swachh Tourist Destinations’under Phase-IV
Why in the news?
Recently, under the Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) initiative of Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced the selection of the following Twelve (12) iconic sites under Phase IV of SIP.
These sites are:
Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan Ramdevra, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan Golconda Fort, Hyderabad, Telangana
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Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha Rock Garden, Chandigarh Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir Banke Bihari Temple, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh Kalighat Temple, West Bengal
Related Information
About Swachh Iconic Places (SIP)
The objective of SIP is to achieve a distinctly higher level of Sanitation/Cleanliness at these places, especially on the peripheries and in approach areas. This project is being coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti in association with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and the concerned State/UT governments.
Topic- GS Paper I–Art and Culture Source- The Hindu