FIPIC SUMMIT
1.Context
A video of the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape bending down to touch Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feet last Sunday has drawn a lot of interest. This happened right after the Indian PM landed in the capital city of Port Moresby for his first visit to the country, the first by any Indian prime minister, for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit, 2023.
2. What is FIPIC?
The Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was launched during PM Modi’s visit to Fiji in November 2014
FIPIC includes 14 island countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – that are located in the Pacific Ocean, to the northeast of Australia
3.Objectives
- Provide necessary information and facilitation regarding prospects of Trade and Investment
- Facilitate meetings between the concerned businessmen from both sides
- Exchange of business delegations between India and Pacific Islands Countries
- Online & Offline Match Making Services
- Organising Events / Trade Fairs
4. Idea behind FIPIC
- According to the group’s website- despite their relatively small size and considerable distance from India, many of these islands have large exclusive economic zones (EEZs)
- EEZs is the distance up to which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over the ocean, including both living and non-living resources. It generally goes to 200 nautical miles or 230 miles (around 370 km) beyond a nation’s territorial sea
- As the website notes, India’s larger focus is on the Indian Ocean where it has sought to play a major role and protect its strategic and commercial interests
- The references to “developments in the Indo-Pacific region” and a “vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific” are believed to be related to China’s increasing assertion in the region
- Based on 2021-22 data, the total annual trade between India and Pacific Island countries is valued at $570 million, in commodities such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, sugar, mineral fuel and ores. Among them, Papua New Guinea is the biggest trade partner in terms of value
5. FIPIC Summit
- This was the third FIPIC summit to be held
- FIPIC-I, in 2014, took place at Suva, Fiji’s capital city. India announced various development assistance initiatives and other cooperation projects in areas of climate change, trade, economy, telemedicine and teleeducation, IT, grants for community development projects, etc
- At FIPIC-II in 2015 in Jaipur, India again announced similar initiatives
- India also approached the event from a large diplomatic perspective, calling for a “dedicated seat for Small Island Developing States in an expanded and reformed UN Security Council in both categories”.
- In 2019, the India-Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders’ Meeting (comprising delegations of 12 out of the 14 Pacific Islands countries) was held on September 24, 2019 in New York on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly.
- The Indian government then announced an allocation of $12 million grant ($1 million to each PSIDS) towards implementation of high-impact developmental projects in the area of their choice
- In addition, a concessional Line of Credit of $150 million, which can be availed by the PSIDS for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate related projects based on each country’s requirement, was announced
6.2023 FIPIC Summit
- The third FIPIC summit was to be held in early 2020 but was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Announced Initiatives by Indian Government are as follows:
- Establishment of a super-specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji, The Indian government will bear the full cost of this mega greenfield project
- Sea ambulances will be provided to all the 14 Pacific island countries
- Jaipur Foot Camp was conducted in Fiji where prosthetic limbs were provided free of cost to more than 600 people
- Similar camp will be set up in Papua New guinea this year and starting from 2024, two such camps will be organised every year in the Pacific island countries.
- Pledged to provide desalination units for the people of every Pacific Island country
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For Prelims: FIPIC, Fiji islands, Cook islands, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
For Mains: 1.What are the key takeaways from PM’s visit to the south pacific region where China is a powerful diplomatic presence and rival? (250 Words)
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Source: indianexpress
1.5 DEGREE CELSIUS TARGET
1. Context
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released two reports titled “Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2023-2027” and “State of Global Climate 2022.” The decadal predictions of the WMO said that the annual mean global surface temperature between 2023 and 2027 will be 1.1-1.8 degree Celsius higher than the baseline temperature of 1850-1900 or preindustrial levels. In 2022, it was 1.15 degrees above the baseline, and by 2027, the average will exceed 1.5 degrees, a critical point beyond which there may be no return.
2. What is the 1.5 Degree Celsius Target?
- The 1.5 degree Celsius target is the global climate target that aims to limit warming to said level by 2100, to prevent the planet from slipping into further climate crises.
- For decades, 2 degrees was an acceptable level of warming. The idea of 1.5 degrees was perceived as unrealistic and unachievable.
- However, the 2-degree target was unacceptable to small island countries as it implied that their survival was compromised.
- In 2010, at the Cancun COP16, countries agreed to limit global average warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
- In 2015, the parties to the Paris Agreement pledged to limit the average temperature rise to below 2 degrees, while actively aiming for 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels.
- This was endorsed as a global target by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018 and has been pursued in all climate dialogues since then.
3. Why is the 1.5-degree target critical?
- In 2018, the IPCC released a special report on the impact of global warming when the temperature reaches 1.5 degrees Celsius above baseline.
- It also drew a comparison with the effects of 2-degree Celsius warming. It was estimated that anthropogenic activities would have already caused 1 degree of warming, likely to reach 1.5 degrees between 2030 and 2052 at the current rate.
- Frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, heavy precipitation, an additional 10 centimeter rise in sea level, destruction of ecosystems, and mostly irreversible changes can be witnessed at the 2-degree level.
- However, discussions on the average temperature rise do not imply that global warming is uniform. For example, warming greater than the global average is being experienced in the Arctic, with the term ‘polar amplification’ gaining more traction.
- The regional differences and the vulnerability factors spell more urgency for climate action which must limit the average planetary warming to 1.5 degrees.
4. Reasons for missing the targets
- Historically, developed countries are responsible for a major chunk of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, they are expected to assume more responsibility and implement climate action.
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However, the Climate Performance Index over the years has shown otherwise. Countries like Australia, the U.S., Japan, Russia, and Canada have made little progress in meeting their pledges.
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Additionally, polluters like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia rank low in climate performance.
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The pandemic pushed the world into a socioeconomic crisis. On the road to recovery, countries pledged measures to buildback.
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However, in most cases, there is little to no consideration for buildingback in a sustainable manner. The Ukraine conflict has further added to woes and sparked an energy crisis threatening climate goals.
5. Impacts on India
- India has been increasingly facing the brunt of climate change.
- February 2023 was recorded as the hottest month since recordkeeping began in 1901. In 2022, India witnessed extreme weather events for 80% of the days.
- Indian monsoons were wetter than usual last year after recording extreme heat during the premonsoon period, resulting in wildfires in Uttarakhand and acute food shortages.
- According to the Climate Change Performance Index 2023, India ranked eighth with a high performance after Denmark, Sweden, Chile, and Morocco.
- Being an emerging economy with development needs, it is attempting to balance its development needs with ongoing climate action both at the domestic and international levels.
- With domestic measures like the Green Hydrogen Mission and the introduction of green bonds, India is performing fairly well despite contributing only a miniscule to cumulative GHG emissions.
- At the international level, through the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, India can prove to be a responsible climate player keeping in mind that it has a long way to go in very little time.
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For Prelims: Intercontinental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), State of Global Climate 2022, COP16, and Global warming.
For Mains: 1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), recently released a report in Seoul highlighting the impacts that developing countries like India would face if global warming touches 2°C as compared to 1.5°C. Discuss what steps can be taken to mitigate the impacts of climate change on India. (250 Words)
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Previous year Questions
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1. With reference to the 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2017)
1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
2. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
3. Consider the following statements : (UPSC 2022)
1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative "EP100".
3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the "Under2 Coalition".
Which of the statements given above is correct?
A. 1, 2, 4 and 5
B. 1, 3, and 4 only
C. 2, 3, and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: B
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Source: The Hindu
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD
1.Context
Genetically modified food remains controversial, especially in Europe, but for some experts it is the best science-based method for a sustainable global food system amidst biodiversity loss and a rising population.
Producing food is terrible for the environment. According to the online scientific publication Our World in Data, agriculture is responsible for a quarter of the carbon emissions in the atmosphere and the vast majority of world’s biodiversity losses.
2.What is GM Food?
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have altered DNA to change their properties
- Genetically modified crops can improve yield, build resistances to pests, frost or drought, or add nutrients
- Crops can also be modified to reduce carbon emissions and boost the sustainability of food production
- While widespread, GM crop production uses only about 10% of the land non-GM crop production uses.
- GM is nothing more than a breeding technique, much like crossing that we’ve been doing for thousands of years. But it’s more sophisticated, so we can make very precise changes, very rapidly
- GMOs were first introduced in the US in 1994, with modified tomato plants that ripened more slowly to prolong their shelf life
- Since then, a wide range of crops, such as soybeans, wheat and rice have been approved for agricultural use, along with GM bacteria grown to produce large amounts of protein
- Scientists in India have also developed strains of Sub-1 rice, which are much more resistant to flooding
- Flooding is a major issue in rice-growing regions of northern India and Bangladesh, set to become worse as the climate crises develops, and now 6 million farmers in the region are using Sub-1 rice to safeguard their crops against inundation
- Golden rice, on the other hand, is a GM strain modified to contain vitamin A, designed to combat the shortage of dietary vitamin A in parts of Asia and Africa
2.1. Disease resistance
Gene editing technology has also helped save crop production from blights
In the late 20th century, the papaya ringspot virus almost wiped-out papaya crops in Hawaii, but a local scientist developed a modified papaya that was resistant to the virus. Seeds were distributed to farmers, saving papaya production a decade later
Currently there’s no real solution except for massive fungicide applications
No one wants that, so we worked on adding genes or DNA changes from distantly related plants to achieve better resistances to the fungus
3. GM Controversy
- Many people find the idea of GM foods hard to swallow — a 2020 opinion poll found 50% of people in 20 surveyed countries perceived GM foods as unsafe
- When GM crops were first developed 30 years ago, uncertainty and concerns about safety were shared by scientists, but things are different now
- Scientists say that "GM food is completely safe to eat, and 30 years of information showing it’s not dangerous for the environment"
- There are concerns big corporate interests from companies like Monsanto, which promote more pesticides and monocultures and wrong forms of agriculture and seeds sold to farmers and expensive prices
4. GM Food Industry
- GM agriculture is moving on from the Monsanto big-dog corporate model
- GM products are increasingly focused on social and public enterprise and the industry is looking at more local solutions that help smallholder farmers in developing countries
- Regulation and licensing are a huge part of this. Many, including Replanet, strongly advocate for open-source seeds and GM technologies
- You can develop GMOs without patents developed by humanitarian public organizations
- It’s about creating a licensing landscape that empowers local farmers to adapt to the demands of sustainable agriculture, but quickly enough to meet rising populations and climate change
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For Prelims: Bt Cotton, Bt Cotton
For Mains: 1. Genetically modified food remains controversial, especially in Europe, but for some experts, it is the best science-based method for a sustainable global food system amidst biodiversity loss and a rising population. Discuss (250 Words)
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Source: indianexpress
CENSUS
1. Context
Recently, Amit Shah inaugurated the new Janganana Bhavan (Census building) in New Delhi and released a report, "The Treatise on Indian Censuses Since 1981" containing details about the questions to be asked in the forthcoming Census and other aspects.
The report said that self-enumeration for Census will be provided to only those households that have updated the NPR online.
2. Key Points
- India had conducted the Census every 10 years since 1881, but in 2020, the decennial exercise for Census 2021 had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
- Though the government has not announced fresh dates for the Census, the groundwork is being laid and details are emerging about some of the features.
- It will be the first digital Census allowing citizens to "self-enumerate". The NPR (National Population Register) has been made compulsory for citizens who want to exercise the right to fill out the Census form on their own rather than through government enumerators.
- For this, the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) has designed a "self-enumeration, Aadhaar or mobile number will be mandatorily collected.
3. Status of the Census exercise
- A January 2 notification extending the deadline for freezing administrative boundaries in States until June 30 has ruled out the exercise at least till September.
- As preparation and training take at least three months, the Census will have to be pushed to next year.
- Around 30 lakh government officials will be assigned as enumerators and each will have the task to collect the details of 650-800 people through both online and offline modes, covering an estimated population of 135 crore people.
- The Lok Sabha election is due in April-May 2024 and it is unlikely that the Census will be carried out before that since the same workforce will be dedicated to the elections.
- The completion of both phases of the Census will take at least 11 months, even if done at an accelerated pace from October 1.
4. Holding up the Census
- One reason which is holding up the exercise is the amendments proposed to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, of 1969.
- The government wants to have a centralised register of births and deaths that can be used to update the population register, electoral register, Aadhaar, ration card, passport and driving license databases.
- The centrally stored data will be updated in real-time without a human interface leading to addition and deletion from electoral rolls when an individual turns 18 and after an individual's death respectively.
- A Bill to link the births and deaths registered with the population register and others are expected to be tabled in the next session of Parliament.
5. NPR
- The NPR, unlike the Census, is a comprehensive identity database of every "usual resident" in the country and the data proposed to be collected at the family level can be shared with States and other government departments.
- Though Census also collects similar information, the Census Act of 1948 bars sharing any individual's data with the State or Centre and only aggregate data at the administrative level can be released.
- According to Citizenship Rules 2003 under the Citizenship Act, 1955, NPR is the first step towards a compilation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC/NRC).
- Assam is the only State where an NRC has been compiled based on the directions of the Supreme Court, with the final draft of Assam's NRC excluding 19 lakhs of the 3.29 crores applicants.
- Assam Government has rejected the NRC in its current form and demanded re-verification of 30 per cent of names included in the NRC in areas bordering Bangladesh and 10 per cent in the remaining State.
- In 2020, the NPR was opposed by several State governments such as West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan, Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab and Chhattisgarh and Civil Society Organisations due to its link with the proposed NRC as it might leave many people stateless for want of legacy documents.
- There are apprehensions that the Citizenship Amendment Act 9 (CAA), 2019 allows citizenship based on religion to six undocumented religious communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, will benefit non-Muslims excluded from the proposed citizens' register, while excluded.
- Muslims will have to prove their citizenship. The government has denied that the CAA and NRC are linked and there are currently any plans to compile a countrywide NRC.
5.1. The current status of NPR
- The NPR was first collected in 2010 when the Congres government was in power at the Centre.
- It was updated in 2015 and already has details of 119 crore residents.
- In March 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) amended the Census Rules framed in 1990 to capture and store the Census data in an electronic form and enabled self-enumeration by respondents.
- The NPR is scheduled to be updated with the first phase of Census 2021.
- For this phase (house listing and household phase), 31 questions have been notified, while for the population enumeration, the second and main phase 28 questions have been finalised but are yet to be notified.
- The NPR is expected to collect details on 21 parameters of all family members, up from 14 questions in 2010 and 2015.
- The Sub-heads include passport number, relationship to head of the family, whether divorced/ widowed or separated, mother tongue if non-worker, cultivator, labourer, government employee, daily wage earner among others.
- The form also has a column on Aadhar, mobile phone, Voter ID and driver's licence.
- Though the government has claimed that the NPR form has not been finalised yet, the sample form is part of the Census of India 2021 Handbook for Principal/District Census Officers and Charge Officers in 2021.
- The NPR has retained contentious questions such as "mother tongue, place of birth of father and mother and last place of residence", possible indicators to determine inclusion in the Citizenship register.
- The questions were opposed by the State governments of West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan and Odisha in 2020.
- The final set of questions of both the phases and NPR was asked during a pre-test exercise in 2019 in 76 districts in 36 States and Union Territories covering a population of more than 26 lakhs.
6. Expected expenditure for Census
- The initial draft was prepared by the office of the Registrar General of India and circulated to key Ministries and the Prime Minister's Office called for the conduct of Census 2021 at a cost of ₹9, 275 crores and not the NPR.
- The draft Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) not was then revised and a financial provision of ₹4, 442.15 crores for updating the NPR was added on the directions of the MHA "subsequently".
- The proposal was cleared on August 16, 2019, and it received the Union Cabinet's nod on December 24, 2019.
- It was decided that the enumerator engaged for Census would also collect details for NPR.
- The Covid-19 pandemic struck in March 2020 and since then both exercises are on hold.
- Now, the NPR has been made compulsory if citizens want to exercise the right to fill out the Census form on their own.
- The deleted Handbook said that it is "mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR".
- Census is also mandatory and giving false information is a punishable offence.
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For Prelims: NPR, CAA, Census, Covid-19, Expenditure Finance Committee, Registrar General of India, Registration of Births and Deaths Act, of 1969, The Treatise on Indian Censuses Since 1981, Assam,
For Mains:
1. How can citizens file Census details online? Explain the norms being laid down and discuss the reasons for National Population Register being made compulsory for those who want to fill out the form digitally. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
Prelims:
1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2009)
1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.
2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
2. In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
3. Sinovac given for Covid-19 is a (UPPSC Combined State Exam 2022)
A. Protein sub-unit
B. Non-replicating viral vector
C. Whole virus vaccine
D. mRNA vaccine
Answer: C
4. Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which Include "The Macro Economic Framework Statement". The aforesaid document is presented because this is mandated by (UPSC 2020)
A. Long-standing parliamentary convention
B. Article 112 and Article 110 (1) of the Constitution of India
C. Article 113 of the Constitution of India
D. Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003
Answer: D
5. Who is the Census Commissioner of India in 2021? (ICAR Technician 2022)
A. Dr Vivek Joshi
B. Dr C Chandramouli
C. Shri Sailesh
D. DK Sikri
Answer: A
6. The Registration of Birth and Death Act came into force in the year _____. (UPSSSC Junior Assistant 2020)
A. 1964 B. 1969 C. 1972 D.1981
Answer: B
7. Consider the following States: (UPSC 2022)
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Kerala
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
A. Only one State
B. Only two States
C. Only three States
D. All four States
Answer: C
8. Consider the following rivers (UPSC 2014)
1. Barak
2. Lohit
3. Subansiri
Which of the above flows/flow through Arunachal Pradesh?
A. 1 only B.2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Mains:
1. Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth. (UPSC 2014)
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Source: The Hindu
PROJECT CHEETAH
1. Context
Recently, three of the four cheetah cubs that were born at the Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, died from natural causes. In response, the government has constituted a new committee of experts that will monitor Project Cheetah.
2. Why was Project Cheetah launched?
- India's cheetah relocation program is perhaps among the most ambitious of its kind in the world.
- The attempt is to, over the next decade, bring in five to 10 animals every year until a self-sustaining population of about 35 is established.
- Unlike, cheetahs in South Africa and Namibia, which live in fenced reserves, India's plan is to have them grown in natural, unfenced, wild conditions.
- At Kuno, only six of the 17 adults are in the wild with the rest lodged in large, specially designed enclosures to help the animals acclimatize to Indian conditions.
- The plan is to release all the animals into the open by the yearend. The animals are radio-collared and tracked 24/7.
3. How do cheetahs die?
- The South African study also documented the causes of mortality, where it could be established, for 293 cheetah deaths.
- It found that holding camps caused 6.5% of cheetah deaths, immobilization/ transit caused 7.5% of deaths, and another 0.7% were caused by tracking devices. This added up to almost 15% so, one in every seven cheetah deaths was attributed to handling and management.
- Predation turned out to be the biggest killer in the study, accounting for 53.2% of cheetah mortality. Lions, leopards, hyenas, and jackals were primarily responsible. Several other wildlife including warthogs, baboons, snakes, elephants, crocodiles, vultures, zebras, and even ostriches killed cheetahs.
- It is well documented that cheetahs suffer very high cub mortality up to 90% in protected areas mainly due to predation. Consequently, nearly 80% of all cheetahs throughout their range in Africa are found living outside of protected parks and reserves.
4. Were these unfortunate cheetah deaths unexpected?
- The Cheetah Project did anticipate high mortality. The criteria for the project’s short-term success was only “50% survival of the introduced cheetah for the first year”. That would be 10 out of 20.
- As a result, the Madhya Pradesh government set a six-month deadline for readying Gandhisagar in the Chambal river valley in Mandsaur and Nimach districts for the cheetahs. There is also talk about moving a few animals from Kuno to the safety of an 80-sq-km fenced area in Rajasthan’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.
- The focus, therefore, is shifting from the project’s stated purpose that of establishing the cheetah in an open landscape as a free-roaming and self-sustaining population occupying thousands of square miles to managing the African imports as a few pocket populations in fenced-in or restricted areas.
5. How successful has Project Cheetah been so far?
- In September 2023, it will be one year since a batch of eight cheetahs from Namibia arrived in India.
- They were followed by 12 others from South Africa in February 2023. The official Cheetah Action Plan, the guiding document behind the project, observes that even half the cheetahs surviving the first year would be “an indicator of success”.
- Independent critics have, however, argued that there are some basic flaws in the project. For one, it is a mistake to have had all 20 cheetahs at Kuno as there is too little space and prey, given that the animal is a courser and needs larger fields of play.
- Some animals should have gone to the Mukundara reserve in Rajasthan. Forest officials in Madhya Pradesh have also admitted that they are stretched.
- However, the officials in the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the nodal agency of the Environment Ministry tasked with coordinating the project, say that Kuno is capable of hosting the first lot of animals and future batches will be sent to other reserves.
- The experience of raising cheetahs in fenced reserves in Africa can’t be replicated in India, say, experts, because India’s cultural values promote coexistence with beasts, and that underpinned the success of tiger, lion, and leopard conservation programs.
| For Prelims: Kuno National Park, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Project Cheetah, Chambal river valley, and South Africa. |
Previous year Question
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1. Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites? (UPSC 2017)
A. Corbett National Park
B. Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
C. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
D. Sariska National Park
Answer: B
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Source: The Hindu
CONGO BASIN
1. Introduction
The Congo Basin is a region of Central Africa that is drained by the Congo River and its tributaries. It is the second largest rainforest in the world, after the Amazon Rainforest. The Congo Basin spans across six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda are not part of the Congo Basin. Nigeria is located in West Africa, while South Sudan and Uganda are located in East Africa.<
