About Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary

• It is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It lies adjacent to the Bay of Bengal along the east coast.
• It is one of the major wetlands on the Coromandel Coast after Pulicat Lake.
• The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli Creek and the Yedayanthittu estuary and is visited for nesting by migratory birds on the Central Asian flyway.
• The southern part of the wetland has been reserved land since 2001.
• It is listed as one of Tamil Nadu’s 141 prioritised wetlands, Kazhuveli is also a wetland of international significance and a potential Ramsar site
• Kazhuveli has varied habitats including sloping wetlands preferred by shore birds, darters and waders, birds on floating vegetation and open grasslands preferred by different species of birds and fauna. 
• The lake has a feeding ground for long-distance migrants from the cold subarctic regions of Central Asia and Siberia including Black-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Curlew, White Stork, Ruff and Dunlin.

Q1) Where is Pulicat Lake?

It lies at the border of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. (Majorly lies in Andhra Pradesh). It is the second-largest brackish water lake in the country.The long and narrow Sriharikota Island, which separates Pulicat Lake from the Bay of Bengal, It is popular as a flamingo-watching site and for water activities.

Source: Migratory birds flock to Kazhuveli wetlands for winter sojourn

About ENACT Partnership

• Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation (ENACT) was launched by Germany and Egypt along with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• It was launched at the Conference of Parties (COP27), which took place at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in 2022.
• Other member countries: Canada, European Union, France, Japan, Malawi, Norway, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Belgium, Pakistan, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States.
• It is an ambitious global initiative that seeks to coordinate global efforts to address climate change, land and ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss through Nature-based Solutions.
• It aims to :
  • Enhance the protection from and resilience to climate impacts of at least 1 billion vulnerable people.
  • Secure up to 2.4 billion hectares of healthy natural and sustainable ecosystems, and significantly increase global mitigation efforts through protecting and restoring carbon-rich ecosystems.
• Secretariat: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hosts its secretariat.

Q1) What is Biodiversity?

It is all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life.

Source: Six countries and UN agency join vital global partnership to advance Nature-based Solutions

About Amrit Technology

• It is developed for the removal of Arsenic and Metal ions from water.
• The technology uses nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, which selectively removes arsenic when water is passed through it.
• This water purifier has been developed for both domestic as well as community levels.
• Also, the technology has been recommended by the erstwhile ‘Standing Committee’ of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation for the examination of the best technologies concerning water and sanitation.

Key points about Arsenic

• It is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land.
• It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.
• Properties
  • In its most stable elemental state, arsenic is a steel-gray, brittle solid with low thermal and electrical conductivity.
  • Although some forms of elemental arsenic are metal-like, the element is best classified as a nonmetal.
• It has been recognized as a toxic element and is considered a human health hazard.
• Long-term intake of arsenic contaminated water leads to arsenic poisoning or arsenicosis, with cancer of skin, bladder, kidney or lung or diseases of skin. 
• World Health Organisation’s provisional guideline value for arsenic in drinking water - 0.01 mg/l (10 μg/l).
• Permissible limit of arsenic in India in absence of an alternative source - 0.05 mg/l (50 μg/l).

Q1) What is Electrical conductivity?

Electrical conductivity is the measure of the amount of electrical current a material can carry or it's ability to carry a current. Electrical conductivity is also known as specific conductance. Conductivity is an intrinsic property of a material.

Source: Amrit Technology For Removal Of Arsenic And Metal Ions From Water

About Dragon snakehead fish

• It is considered ‘living fossils’ and named after the character in Lord of the Rings.
• It is mainly found in Kerala.
• It evolved around 120 million years ago, probably with dinosaurs in the Jurassic period.
• Since it was isolated in underground habitats, scientists say the extinction events on land may not have affected it.
• Habitat: It is mostly seen in wetlands and nearby paddy fields.
• After the species was identified, it became one of the most wanted items in international aquarium pet trade.
• Due to its dragon-like appearance, it is used as a good luck fish in far east countries.
• “It is a subterranean fish whose distribution is embedded within human dominated landscapes, making conservation measures difficult.
• Threats: The assessment also observes the use of pesticides and insecticides in the paddy fields and the deterioration or quality of groundwater as other factors impacting the survival of the species.
• Conservation measures: Protecting wetlands and regulating the use of pesticides and insecticides are among the recommendations as there has been a decline in the area and quality of habitats.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN red list: Vulnerable
  • The Wildlife Protection Act ,1972: Schedule II
• Other fish species from the Kerala state: Kryptoglanis shajii, Horaglanis abdulkalami and Pangio bhujia are the other fish species listed as endangered under IUCN list.

Q1) What does IUCN stand for?

International Union for Conservation of Nature is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Its experts are organised into six Commissions dedicated to species survival, environmental law, protected areas, social and economic policy, ecosystem management, and education and communication. 

Source: Dragon snakehead facing unique conservation challenge

About Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

• It is the second-largest intergovernmental organization in the world after the United Nations, with a collective population reaching over 1.8 billion.
• It was established in September 1969 upon a decision of the historical summit that took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on September 25, 1969, as a result of the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
• The OIC is the collective voice of the Muslim world to ensure and safeguard their interests in economic, social, and political areas. 
• Objective: It aims to preserve Islamic values, safeguard and defend the national sovereignty and independence of member states, and contribute to international peace and security. 
• It has a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. 
• Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Official languages: Arabic, English, and French.
• Among the OIC’s key bodies are:
  • The Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the General Secretariat, in addition to the Al-Quds Committee and three permanent committees concerned with science and technology, economy and trade, and information and culture.
  • There are also specialized organs under the banner of the OIC, including the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, as well as subsidiary and affiliate organs that play a vital role in boosting cooperation in various fields among the OIC member states.
• The OIC partners with international mechanisms (including every specialized UN agency), governments, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to address issues of concern to its member states and Muslims worldwide.

Q1) What is the Arab League?

Arab League, also called League of Arab States (LAS) is a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa, formed in Cairo on March 22, 1945. The founding member states were Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Transjordan (now Jordan), Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Source: ‘Ill-informed, ill-intended': India rejects statement by Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 

About European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

• It is an intergovernmental organization established in 1960 by the Stockholm Convention.
• Objective: Promotes free trade and economic integration between its members within Europe and globally.
• Member Countries:
  • EFTA currently has four member countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
  • The EFTA members are all open, competitive economies committed to the progressive liberalization of trade in the multinational arena as well as in free trade agreements. 
• In contrast to the European Union (EU), EFTA is not a customs union. This means that the individual EFTA States are free to set their own customs tariffs and arrange other foreign trade measures vis-à-vis the non-EFTA States.
• The association is responsible for the management of:
  • the free trade between the EFTA countries;
  • EFTA’s participation in the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the European Union and three EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtentstein, and Norway, but not Switzerland);
  • EFTA’s worldwide network of free trade agreements.
• The EFTA countries have developed one of the largest networks of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). These FTAs span over 60 countries and territories, including the EU.
• Governance Structure:
  • EFTA’s highest governing body is the EFTA Council. It generally meets eight times a year at the ambassadorial level and twice a year at the ministerial level.
  • The headquarters of the EFTA Secretariat is located in Geneva. It assists the EFTA Council in the management of relations between the 4 EFTA States and deals with the negotiation and operation of EFTA’s FTAs.
  • EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA): It monitors compliance with European Economic Area (EEA) rules in Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. 
  • EFTA Court: It is based in Luxembourg and has the competence and authority to settle internal and external disputes regarding the implementation, application, or interpretation of the EEA agreement.

Q1) What is a Customs Union?

Customs unions are groups of countries that apply one common system of procedures, rules and tariffs for all or almost all their imports, exports and transiting goods. Usually, countries participating in customs unions share common trade and competition policies.

Source: Optimistic about wrapping up EFTA deal with India before 2024 polls: Swiss envoy

About Terai

• Terai, or Tarai, is a lowland belt of flat, alluvial land stretching along the Nepal-India border and running parallel to the lower ranges of the Himalayas. 
• A strip of undulating former marshland, it stretches from the Yamuna River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east.
• It is the northern extension of the Gangetic Plain in India, commencing at about 300 meters above sea level and rising to about 1,000 meters at the foot of the Siwalik Range.
• In India, the Terai extends over the states of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. 
• It extends nearly 800 km from east to west and about 30-40 km from north to south.
• The average elevation is below 750 m.
• The flatland of Terai was formed by Gangetic alluvium consisting of beds of silt, clay, sand, pebbles, and gravel. 
• At its northern edge are numerous springs forming several streams, including the important Ghaghara River (left-bank tributary of the Ganges River), that intersect the Tarai and are responsible for its marshy character.
• The landscape boasts some of India’s best-known tiger reserves and protected areas such as Corbett Tiger Reserve, Rajaji National Park, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, and Valmiki Tiger Reserve. In total, the landscape has 13 protected Areas, nine in India and four in Nepal.
• Interspersed with the Tarai is the Bhabar, which is a region of coarse gravel and shingle deposits supporting sal (Shorea robusta) forests.
• The eastern part of the Tarai is known in West Bengal state and in Bangladesh as the Duars.

Q1) What is silt?

Silt is a solid, dust-like sediment that water, ice, and wind transport and deposit. Silt is made up of rock and mineral particles that are larger than clay but smaller than sand.

Source: Tiger spotted at 6,000 ft in Almora

About Vyommitra

• Vyommitra is a combination of two Sanskrit words Vyoma (Space) and Mitra (Friend).
• It is a female robot designed and developed by the ISRO to fly aboard unmanned test missions ahead of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
• It is referred to as a half-humanoid robot as she doesn't have legs. However, she can bend forward and sideways.
• Besides going on uncrewed Gaganyaan missions, she will accompany astronauts on manned missions too.
• Features:
  • The AI-enabled robot, which can withstand vibrations and shock during the flight, has been designed to resemble a human with facial expressions, speech, and sight capabilities.
  • It is equipped with the capability to monitor module parameters, issue alerts, and execute life support operations.
  • It can perform tasks such as operating switch panels, and serving as a companion to astronauts, engaging in conversations, recognising them, and responding to their inquiries. 

What is the Gaganyaan mission?

• Under the Gaganyaan Mission, ISRO will be sending three humans to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth.
• Launch Vehicle: The Mark-3 (LVM3/GSLV Mk3) rocket, the well-proven and reliable heavy lift launcher of ISRO, is identified as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.
• The Astronaut Training Facility established in Bengaluru provides a comprehensive training program for astronauts preparing for the Gaganyaan mission. 

Q1) What is GSLV Mk3?

It is the new heavy lift launch vehicle of ISRO for achieving a 4000 kg spacecraft launching capability to GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) in a cost effective manner. GSLV MKIII (43.5 m height and a gross lift-off weight of 640 tonnes) is configured as a three-stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors (S200), one liquid core stage (L110) and a high thrust CUS (configured with the fully indigenous cryogenic engine - CE20).

Source: India to launch female robot astronaut 'Vyommitra' ahead of manned mission