Why in news?

• The National Youth Festival is being held on National Youth Day, which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, to honour and cherish his ideals, teachings, and contributions.
• Since 1985, the Indian Government is celebrating the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day. 

 

Key facts about National Youth Festival 2023

• Theme of the festival 2023: Viksit Yuva Viksit Bharat.
• During this unique five-day event, over 7500 youth delegates from all over India, recognized leaders in their field of activity, get together to engage in different learning activities.
• Activities in the festival include 
  • Discussions on relevant themes like Student Centric governance and Digital India.            
  • Adventure sports activities like scuba diving are included. Exhibitions of traditional sports like Kalaripayatu (Kerala), Silambam (Tamil Nadu), Gatka (Punjab), and Mallakhamb (Maharashtra) are being organized. 
  • Competitive cultural events like folk dance and folk song are organized where troupes from different states participate. 
  • Interesting non-competitive events include the social development fair ‘Yuva Kriti’. ‘Adventure Festival’, ‘Suvichar’, ‘Young artists camp’ among others.
  • Many events in the festival will be live-streamed across the nation so that crores of young people can also be engaged with the entire festival.
  • This year the festival is being celebrated as Green Youth Festival where only reusable cutlery, napkins etc are being used.

 

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Source: Stage set for the grand opening of the 26th National Youth Festival.

About Indian Skimmers

• Recently around 250 Indian Skimmers were sighted in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in a day during the Asian Waterbird Census-2023.
• It is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.
• It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.
• About 20% of the total population of fewer than 2,500 birds nest along river Chambal.
• Protection status

 

IUCN: Endangered

Key facts about the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary situated in Andhra Pradesh.
• Between this sanctuary area and the sea Hope Island blocks the direct confluence of the sea and Godavari. As a result, about 40% of the sanctuary is only sea backwaters and the rest of the area is intermingled with creeks and gets inundated with tidal waters.
• Flora: It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forests. It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forests in India.
• Fauna: It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long-billed vulture.
• Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become prime habitat for Indian Skimmers, says the expert.

 

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Source: Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become prime habitat for Indian Skimmers, says the expert.

 Why in news?

• The researchers developed an integrated reactor with two separate compartments: One for plastic and one for greenhouse gases. 
• The reactor uses a light absorber based on perovskite - a promising alternative to silicon for next-generation solar cells. 
• Tests of the reactor under normal temperature and pressure conditions showed the reactor could efficiently convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and CO2 into different carbon-based fuels such as CO, syngas or formate, in addition to glycolic acid. 
• The reactor produced these products at a rate that is also much higher than conventional photocatalytic CO2 reduction processes. 

 

What is Polyethylene terephthalate?

• It is a condensation polymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.
• The by-product of the reaction is water so it is an example of condensation or step-growth polymerization. 
• PET Plastic is a thermoplastic synthetic substance which malleable under heat and can be placed into nearly any shape.

 

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Source: A new reactor powered by the sun can convert plastic, and CO2 into fuel

Why in news?

• As per the Management Information System of Digital India land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), out of 6,56,793 villages, Cadastral Maps have been Geo-referenced in 2,31,026 villages (35. 17%) and 1,17,38,272 number of maps have been digitised.

 

What is Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme (DILRMP)?

• It is a Central Sector scheme that has been extended to 2023-24, to complete its original targets as well as expand its ambit with a slew of new schemes. 
• In 2008, two schemes viz, Computerisation of Land Records (CLR) and Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records (SRA&ULR) were merged into a modified scheme named DILRMP. 
• It is being implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development.
• Aim: It attempts to build upon the commonalities that exist in the arena of land records in various States to develop an appropriate Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) across the country. 
• The ILIMS integrates all the processes and lands records databases with the banks, financial institutions, circle rates, Registration Offices and other sectors. 
• Major components: Computerization of land records, Survey/re-survey, Computerization of Registration.

 

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Source: Cadastral maps of 35% of India’s 6 lakh villages geo-referen.

Why in news?

• 8 cheetahs arrived from Namibia and were released into Kuno National Park on 17th September 2022 by the Prime Minister of India. 

 

Key Facts about Kuno Palpur National Park: 

• Location: Kuno National Park lies in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India near the Vindhyan Hills.
• With an area of 748 sq. km, the park is located within the larger Kuno Wildlife Division.
• Initially established as a wildlife sanctuary, it was only in 2018 that the government changed its status into a national park.
• Named after the Kuno River (One of the main tributaries of the Chambal River) that cuts across it, Kuno is primarily a grassland region.
• Flora and Fauna: The protected area of the forest is home to the jungle cat, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox and dhole, along with more than 120 bird species
• Kuno National Park was selected under ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’. 

 

Project Cheetah:

• World's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
• Project Cheetah was approved by the Supreme Court of India in January 2020 as a pilot programme to reintroduce the species to India.
• Close to 50 cheetahs will be introduced into the wild over the next five years.

 

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Q1) Name some of the important tribes of Madhya pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh is home to many tribal communities such as Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Kol, Korku, Saharia etc.

Source: More cheetahs to arrive in Kuno, tourist safari to be allowed from February: CM Chouhan

 About National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET):

• NMET is a Trust set up as a non-profit body by the Central Government for the purposes of regional and detailed exploration of minerals using the funds accrued to it and in such manner as prescribed by the Central Government.
• Act: The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, (MMRDA) mandated the setting up of the NMET.
• Structure: NMET has a two-tier structure.
• The apex body is the Governing Body, chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of Mines. It holds the overall control of the Trust.
• The Executive Committee, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, administers and manages its activities.
• Funding: To implement mandated activities an NMET Fund has been established. The NMET Fund receives money from holders of mining lease or a prospecting license-cum-mining lease, an amount equivalent to two percent of royalty paid in terms of the Second Schedule of the MMDR Act.

 

Functions of NMET:

• funding special studies and projects designed to identify, explore, extract, beneficiate and refine deep-seated or concealed mineral deposits;
• undertaking studies for mineral development, sustainable mining, adoption of advanced scientific and technological practices and mineral extraction metallurgy;
• detailed and regional exploration for strategic and critical minerals
• facilitating geophysical, ground and aerial survey and geochemical survey of obvious geological potential areas and rest of India;
• capacity building of personnel engaged in mineral exploration
• facilitating a national core repository for encouraging research in earth sciences and for evaluation of the mineral prospects.

 

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Q1) What is MMRDA?

The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 is an amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957  to bring transparency and accountability in the mining sector, ensuring the sustainable development of mineral resources in India.

Source: Govt approves ₹155 crore for mineral exploration, boosting capabilities

About Viscose Fibre

• Viscose is a type of rayon. Originally known as artificial silk, in the late 19th century, the term “rayon” came into effect in 1924.
• The name “viscose” is derived from the way this fibre is manufactured; a viscous organic liquid used to make both rayon and cellophane.
• Viscose is made from tree wood pulp, like beech, pine, and eucalyptus, but can also be made from bamboo.
• As a manufactured regenerated cellulose fibre, it is neither truly natural (like cotton, wool or silk) nor truly synthetic (like nylon or polyester) – it falls somewhere in between.
• Chemically, viscose resembles cotton, but it can also take on many different qualities depending on how it is manufactured.
• It is versatile, Highly absorbent and Inexpensive fibre.

 

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Q1) What is Cellulose?

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, found in trees, waste from agricultural crops and other biomass.

Source: Levy anti-dumping duty on viscose fibre.

 About White Tufted Royal Butterfly:

• White Tufted Royal Butterfly is a rare species and is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The wingspan of the butterfly is just 32-40 mm.
• Its larvae feed on Scurrula parasitica, a plant belonging to the Loranthaceae family.
• The species had been previously spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.

 

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Q1) Where is the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary located?

The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala.

Source: Rare White Tufted Royal Butterfly found in Kannur

Why in news?

• The government had abolished MDR on transactions using RuPay debit cards and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from January 1, 2020.

 

What is Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)?

• MDR also referred to as the transaction discount rate (TDR) is basically a fee that a merchant is charged by their issuing bank for accepting payments from their customers via credit and debit cards. ‌
• Before accepting debit and credit cards as payment the merchant must set up this service and agree to the rate.
• MDR compensates the bank issuing the card, the bank which installs the PoS (Point of Sale) terminal and network providers, and payment gateways for their services.
• The MDR sums up all the charges and taxes that electronic or digital payments entail.
  • For example, the MDR can consist of bank fees that are charged to customers and vendors for making payments digitally. In the same way, MDR also includes transaction processing costs that the payment aggregator will pay to virtual or mobile platforms or to banks.
• MDR charges are expressed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
• The rates are dependent on the level of business transactions being processed, the types of cards (debit or credit) used by customers, and the value of the average transaction (also known as average tickets or average sales).

 

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Q1) What is UPI?

UPI stands for Unified Payments Interface. It is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to facilitate inter-bank transactions in India. 

Source: Centre earmarks ₹2,600 crore as incentive for banks to promote digital payments

Why in News?: 

• The concept of curative petition originated from the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra Vs. Ashok Hurra and another case (2002) where the following question arose before the court of law- 'whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final judgment/order of the Supreme Court, after the dismissal of a review petition?'. 

 

What is a Curative Petition? 

• A curative petition, is the final and last option for the people to acquire justice as mentioned and promised by the Constitution of India.
• A curative petition may be filed after a review plea against the final conviction is dismissed.
• Objective: It is meant to ensure there is no miscarriage of justice, and to prevent abuse of process.
• Criteria for admission:
  • The court ruled that a curative petition can be entertained if the petitioner establishes there was a violation of the principles of natural justice, and that he was not heard by the court before passing an order.
  • It will also be admitted where a judge failed to disclose facts that raise the apprehension of bias.
  • The SC has held that curative petitions must be rare rather than regular, and be entertained with circumspection.
  • A curative petition must be accompanied by certification by a senior advocate, pointing out substantial grounds for entertaining it.
• Who hears Curative petitions?
  • A curative petition must be first circulated to a bench of the three senior-most judges, and the judges who passed the concerned judgment, if available.
  • Only when a majority of the judges conclude that the matter needs hearing should it be listed — as far as possible, before the same Bench.
  • A curative petition is usually decided by judges in chamber, unless a specific request for an open-court hearing is allowed.
  • It shall be open to the Bench at any stage of consideration of the curative petition to ask a senior counsel to assist it as amicus curiae.
  • In the event of the Bench holding at any stage that the petition is without any merit and vexatious, it may impose exemplary costs on the petitioner

 

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Q1) What is a Special Leave Petition?

A Special Leave Petition (SLP) is a type of petition filed with the Supreme Court of India seeking permission to appeal against a decision of a lower court or tribunal.

Source: Bhopal gas tragedy: ‘Dip into your own pocket’ says Supreme Court on Centre’s curative plea