What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• About National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
• About Forest Survey of India (FSI)
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau(WCCB)
• About Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
• News Summary
• What was the MoEF&CC’s Rationale Behind the Proposal?

 

Why in News?

• In June, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued a notification to reverse its decision of merging the following four bodies –
  • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),
  • Forest Survey of India (FSI), 
  • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), and
  • Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

 

About National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body, constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• It was established in 2005 following the recommendation of the Tiger Task Force.
• Objectives:
  • To provide statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives become legal.
  • To Foster accountability of Centre-State in management of Tiger Reserves.
  • To address livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.
• Functions:
  • To approve the tiger conservation plan prepared by the state government.
  • To ensure that the tiger reserves and areas linking one protected area/tiger reserve with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses.
  • To facilitate and support the tiger reserve management in the state for biodiversity conservation.
  • NTCA conducts Tiger Census across India, every four years.
• Chairman: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

 

About Forest Survey of India (FSI)

• Forest Survey of India was founded in 1981 based on the recommendation of the National Commission on Agriculture (NCA).
• FSI assesses forest cover of the country every 2 years by digital interpretation of remote sensing satellite data and publishes the results in a biennial report called 'State of Forest Report' (SFR).
• FSI provides training to the foresters cadres of various states of India.
• Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand

 

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau(WCCB)

• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a statutory body established in 2007 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Functions:
  • To collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals;
  • To establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank;
  • Co-ordinate actions by various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act;
  • Assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control;
  • Capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and
  • Assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes.
• It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
• Headquarters: New Delhi

 

About Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

• Central Zoo Authority is a statutory body established in 1992 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Objective:
  • To complement and strengthen the national effort in conservation of the rich biodiversity of the country, particularly the fauna as per the National Zoo Policy, 1998.
• Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from the Authority for its operation.
• The Authority’s role is more of a facilitator than a regulator. It, therefore, provides technical and financial assistance to such zoos which have the potential to attain the desired standard in animal management.
• It lays down guidelines and prescribes rules under which animals may be transferred among zoos nationally and internationally.
• It coordinates and implements programmes on capacity building of zoo personnel, planned breeding programmes and ex-situ research.
• Headquarters: New Delhi

 

News Summary

• During the Covid-19 pandemic period, the Union government had proposed that the four bodies i.e. NTCA, CZA, WCCB and FSI be merged into a single organization.
• This proposal received severe criticism from activists saying that it would render key environmental organisations “toothless”.
  • For example, in the existing structure, the NTCA can oppose a forest clearance for an infrastructure project for diverting Tiger Reserve areas.
  • The proposed merger would have rendered this difficult as the NTCA would have come under the Deputy Director General of Forests, who is in charge of the Integrated Regional Office and reports to the MoEF&CC.

 

What was the MoEF&CC’s Rationale Behind the Proposal?

• The MoEF&CC argued that the proposal does not amount to a merger and that the intention was to get the various authorities to function at 19 regional offices, under one roof.
• However, recently in June 2023, the MoEF&CC dropped the merger plan, likely owing to technical and administrative difficulties in merging the institutions in question.

 

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Q1) What is Project Tiger?

Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched on April 1,1973 by the Government of India. It ensures that tigers are protected from extinction through means of habitat destruction or poaching by hunters.

 

Q2)  Who serves as the chairperson of the National Board for Wildlife?

The Prime Minister of the country is the ex officio chairperson of the NBWL and the Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is the Vice-Chairperson of the Board.

 

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Source: Explaining MoEFCC’s U-turn to merge autonomous bodies | CZA | WCCB

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is PM e-Bus Sewa?
• What is PM Vishwakarma Scheme?
• Other decisions taken by Cabinet

 

Why in news?

• The Union Cabinet has approved a slew of schemes ranging from the PM e-Bus Sewa to seven multi-tracking projects of the Indian Railways worth Rs 32,500 crore.

 

What is PM e-Bus Sewa?

• 

Image Caption: PM-eBus Sewa

• Seeking to enhance green mobility, the Union Cabinet gave a nod to the PM e-Bus Sewa for augmenting city bus operations.
  • An e-bus is any bus whose propulsion and accessory systems are powered exclusively by a zero-emissions electricity source.
• The scheme will be implemented in two segments:
  • In 169 cities, 10,000 e-buses will be deployed using a public-private partnership (PPP) model; 
    • In this segment, depot infrastructure will also be developed or upgraded to support the new e-buses, including the creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure like substations.
  • In 181 other cities, infrastructure will be upgraded under the green urban mobility initiatives
    • In this second segment, initiatives will focus on bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, automated fare collection systems, and charging infrastructure.
• Cities with a population of three lakh and above will be covered under the scheme, including all the capital cities of Union Territories, and the northeastern and hill States.
• States or cities will be responsible for running the bus services and making payments to the bus operators. 
• The Central government will support these bus operations by providing subsidies to the extent specified in the scheme.

 

What is PM Vishwakarma Scheme?

• The Union Cabinet approved a ₹13,000 crore PM Vishwakarma scheme.
• It aims to provide subsidised loans of up to Rs 2 lakh to traditional artisans and craftsmen including weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and barbers.
• Key highlights:
  • Artisans and craftspeople will be provided a recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
  • The craftsmen will be provided a subsidised loan of Rs 1 lakh in the first tranche, and another Rs 2 lakh in the second tranche, at a concessional interest rate of 5%.
  • It also has a provision to provide skill upgradation, incentive for toolkit as well as digital transactions and marketing support.
  • Skilling programme will take place at both basic and advanced types. Participants will get a stipend of ₹500 per day while undergoing training.
  • Beneficiaries will also receive up to ₹15,000 to buy modern tools.
  • The scheme also aims at improving the quality, as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftsmen and to ensure that Vishwakarmas are integrated with the domestic and global value chains.

 

Other decisions taken by Cabinet

• Extension of Digital India Programme
  • The Union Cabinet approved a five-year extension and expansion of the Digital India programme, including an expansion of the Computer Emergency Response Team, India (CERT-in).
    • The expansion of the programme, established in 2015, will have an outlay of ₹14,903 crore.
  • The extended programme aims to re-skill and up-skill 6.25 lakh IT professionals and train another 2.65 lakh persons in information security.
• Bhashini
  • The AI-enabled multi-language translation tool – Bhashini – will be rolled out in 22 Schedule Vlll languages.
• National Supercomputing Mission
  • The National Supercomputing Mission, which has deployed 18 supercomputers, will add nine more such machines.
  • These supercomputers will have so many applications in weather forecasting, geology, agriculture, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) modelling.
• Document verification for MSMEs
  • DigiLocker, the online repository operated by the government for official documents, will be expanded to serve Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises, or MSMEs. 
  • This will make it easier for them to get verified documents for business loans.

 

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Q1) What is Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is a high-level decision-making body in the government of India. It is responsible for making decisions on various economic matters and policy issues that have significant financial implications for the country. The committee operates as a subset of the larger Cabinet of Ministers in India. The CCEA is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and includes other key ministers who head relevant ministries and departments, such as the Finance Minister, Commerce Minister, Agriculture Minister, and others. The committee's decisions are crucial as they shape the economic direction of the country and have a direct impact on various sectors and industries.

 

Q2) What is National Supercomputing Mission?

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) has set up to provide the country with supercomputing infrastructure to meet the increasing computational demands of academia, researchers, MSMEs, and startups. It is a first of its kind attempt to boost the country’s computing power. National Super Computing Mission is steered jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

 

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Source: Key Cabinet decisions today: 10,000 electric buses, 7 multi-tracking projects of Indian Railways; and more | The Hindu | Hindustan Times

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is the handbook?
• Why is it important for judges to use the right words?
• Have there been similar efforts in other countries?

 

Why in news?

• The Supreme Court has launched a handbook that contains a glossary of gender unjust terms and suggests alternative words and phrases which may be used.
• The 30-page Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes aims to free the judiciary and the legal community from the mechanical application of gender stereotypical language in judgments, orders, and court pleadings.

 

What is the handbook?

• The SC handbook is a 30-page booklet that aims to assist judges and the legal community in identifying, understanding and combating stereotypes about women.
• The handbook identifies common stereotypical words and phrases used about women, many of them routinely found in judgements.
  • E.g., in the 2017 SC ruling awarding the death penalty for the convicts in the Delhi gang-rape case, the verdict repeatedly uses the word “ravished” to say raped.
  • The handbook quotes other judgements where judges unwittingly use stereotypical characterisations of women.
• This handbook flags some of the stereotype promoting language and suggests alternative language (preferred).
  • E.g., instead of using words like "seductress", "whore" or "woman of loose morals", the word "woman" has to be used.
  • The handbook also prohibits use of words like "hooker" and "prostitute" and said the term "sex worker" be used instead.
  • The word "eve-teasing" will now be termed as "street sexual harassment" and "housewife" will now become "homemaker" for judicial discourses.

• 

Image caption: Terms flagged and their alternatives

• An attempt to break the false assumptions
  • The handbook deals with the so-called inherent characteristics of women.
    • One of the identified stereotypes is the idea that women are overly emotional, illogical, and cannot take decisions.
    • The reality is that a person’s gender does not determine or influence their capacity for rational thought.
  • It also refers to assumptions made about a woman’s character based on her expressive choices, such as the clothes she wears, and her sexual history.
  • Such assumptions may impact the judicial assessment of her actions and statements in a case involving sexual violence.
    • For instance, they diminish the importance of consent in sexual relationships.

 

Why is it important for judges to use the right words?

• The language a judge uses reflects not only their interpretation of the law, but their perception of society as well.
• Even when the use of stereotypes does not alter the outcome of a case, stereotypical language may reinforce ideas contrary to our constitutional ethos.
• Language is critical to the life of the law. Words are the vehicle through which the values of the law are communicated.
• Words transmit the ultimate intention of the lawmaker or the judge to the nation.

 

Have there been similar efforts in other countries?

• There have been projects in other countries, pushed by both academia and practitioners, which hold up a mirror for the court’s practices.
• For example, the Women’s Court of Canada, a collective of female lawyers, academics and activists write “shadow judgements” on equality law.

 

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Q1) What is gender stereotyping?

Gender stereotyping refers to the practice of assigning certain traits, roles, behaviors, and characteristics to individuals based on their gender. These stereotypes are often oversimplified and generalized beliefs about how people of different genders should act, think, or behave. Gender stereotyping can affect various aspects of life, including social interactions, education, employment, and even legal and political matters.

 

Q2) What is the role of Supreme Court in India?

The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial body in the country and plays a crucial role in upholding the Constitution and ensuring justice.

 

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Source: ‘Slut, seductress’ are simply ‘women’, ‘eve teasing’ is ‘street sexual harassment’: what SC handbook on gender stereotypes says | Business Standard | The Hindu

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Mizoram of 1966
• What was the Government’s Response?
• How was the IAF Involved?
• What Followed after the Quelling of Operation Jericho?

 

Why in News?

• The use of air power in Mizoram in 1966 has become a hot topic of discussion after the PM of India mentioned it in the Lok Sabha while replying to the no confidence motion.

 

Mizoram of 1966:

• A period of protests and armed insurgency followed in the 1960s.
• A separatist movement (seeking independence from India) led by Mizo National Front (MNF) was gathering steam in the area now known as Mizoram, and then referred to as the Mizo Hills.
• The Centre had decided to station another Assam Rifles battalion in the Hills, in addition to the one Assam Rifles battalion and a few BSF companies already present.
• Outraged by this, the MNF leadership decided to launch ‘Operation Jericho’ to take control of Aizawl and overran Aizawl in a few days’ time (in late February).
  • Operation Jericho had been described by a military writer as an expression of confidence and clinical planning not witnessed hitherto fore in the Indian subcontinent.
  • A large number of volunteers who joined in the armed struggle were either ex-servicemen or personnel of the Assam Regiment battalions dismissed for lack of discipline.
• The Mizo rebels had besieged the HQs of 1 Assam Rifles and released all prisoners from the local jail.
  • There was widespread looting of arms and cash from the government treasury.
  • Proclamations of “independence” were made and a demand raised for the Assam Rifles to surrender.

 

What was the Government’s Response?

• The Army operations on the ground to clear rebel-held positions was led by Brig (later Maj Gen) Rustom Zal Kabraji, who was commanding the 61 Mountain Brigade, located at Agartala.
• Attempts were made to re-supply the Assam Rifles battalion with helicopters, but these were shot at by the Mizo rebels.
• The operations on the ground faced stiff resistance from the rebels, taking several days to reach Aizawl.

 

How was the IAF Involved?

• As the Army struggled to dislodge the rebels, the Indian Air Force (IAF) was called in.
  • The IAF’s initial role was to re-supply the army installations, for which Dakotas and Caribou transport aircraft were pressed in from Guwahati and Jorhat.
  • In one such mission, the Dakota received 21 bullet holes before it landed at Kumbhigram air base near Silchar.
  • This was the event that necessitated the offensive air operations.
• The two IAF Squadrons, 29 Squadron and 14 Squadron, were primarily involved in the air ops.
  • The 29 Squadron flew the Toofani (French origin Dassault Ouragan) based at Bagdogra, while the 14 Squadron flew Hunters out of Jorhat.
• The actual missions started on March 5. The air attack helped the Army regain control of vast areas that had been declared independent.
• By the end of the month, Brig Kabraji’s Brigade had regained control of Mizoram.

 

 

What Followed after the Quelling of Operation Jericho?

• Like several other northeastern states of India, Mizoram was previously part of Assam.
• In 1971, the government agreed to convert the Mizo Hills into a Union Territory (UT), which became UT of Mizoram in 1972.
• Following the Mizoram Peace Accord (1986) between the Government and the MNF, the Indian Parliament adopted the 53rd amendment of the Indian Constitution in 1986.
• This allowed for the creation of the State of Mizoram on 20 February 1987, as India's 23rd state.

 

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Q1) How can a new state be formed in India?

Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new states on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. Article 3 of the Constitution of India authorises the Indian Parliament to form new states; alter the area, boundaries or names of existing states by legislation.

 

Q2) What is the strategic significance of the Indian state of Mizoram?

Sandwiched between Myanmar in the east and south and Bangladesh in the west, Mizoram occupies an area of great strategic importance in the north-eastern corner of India.

 

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Source: Air Force’s ops in Mizoram: How Operation Jericho was quelled