Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment

Context: The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has not put in its annual appearance this year also at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in  Andhra Pradesh.

Background:-

• The forest officials in Andhra Pradesh have been conducting surveys regularly and couldn’t find the bird in the last two years in the State.

About Great Indian Bustard:-  

• The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), is one of the heaviest flying birds, and is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent.
• Less than 140 of these birds are estimated to be surviving now globally, its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• It is designated as critically endangered on the red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Scientific Name: Ardeotis nigriceps.
• Physical description: Black crown on the forehead contrasting with the pale neck and head.
• They feed on grass seeds, insects like grasshoppers and beetles, and sometimes even small rodents and reptiles.
• Distribution: India, effectively the only home of the bustards, today, its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small population also occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is the State bird of Rajasthan. Along with chick-rearing centre for GIB in Jaisalmer, Sorsan in Rajasthan has been identified as the most conducive site for their rearing, due to availability of grasslands, access to roads and well suited climatic conditions
• The GIB is a flagship species of the grassland; it determines the health of the grasslands, on which many other species of birds and animals, and even the dairy industry is dependent on.

Factors affecting population of GIBs:

• Agricultural Expansion and Urbanization resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation.
• Increased human activities such as grazing and disturbance due to tourism can disrupt the natural behavior of the bustards, affecting their breeding and feeding activities.
• Poaching remains a threat to the Great Indian Bustard. Despite legal protection, they are sometimes targeted for their meat and feathers.
• The birds are at risk of colliding with overhead power lines, especially in the semi-arid landscapes where they are found. This can lead to fatalities and population decline.
• Climate change can impact the availability of suitable habitats and affect the availability of prey species, indirectly influencing the bustard population.
• Low Reproductive Success:Disturbances during the nesting season can lead to low reproductive success, as the birds may abandon nests or be unable to raise chicks successfully.GIBs are slow-reproducing, laying just a few eggs, and having almost a year-long parental care of chicks.
• Limited Genetic Diversity:The small and isolated populations of the Great Indian Bustard may lead to reduced genetic diversity, making them more vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes.

MUST READ: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/how-do-you-plan-to-save-the-great-indian-bustard-sc-asks-government/article67757330.ece

SOURCE: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims-polity

Context: The elections for 56 seats in the Rajya Sabha are set to take place on February 27.

Background:

• Major political parties have released the list of their candidates for Rajya Sabha election.It is watched closely as it comes close to the upcoming Lok Sabha Election.

About Rajya Sabha election:

• Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved.
• To ensure continuity, one-third of its members retire after every second year, under Article 83(1) of the Constitution, and “biennial elections” are held to fill these vacancies.
• The term of a member is six years.
• Out of the 245 members, 12 are nominated by the President and 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry.

Rajya Sabha polls: Who votes, and how?

• Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by MLAs through an indirect election.
• Article 80(4) provides that members shall be elected by the elected members of state Assemblies through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
• The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for allocation of Rajya Sabha seats to the states and Union Territories, on the basis of the population of each state.

Rajya Sabha polls have an open ballot

• The Rajya Sabha polls have a system of open ballots, but it is a limited form of openness.
• As a measure to check rampant cross-voting, there is a system of each party MLA showing his or her marked ballots to the party’s authorized agent (called Whip), before they are put into the ballot box.
• Showing a marked ballot to anyone other than one’s own party’s authorized agent will render the vote invalid. Not showing the ballot to the authorized agent will also mean that the vote cannot be counted.
• Independent candidates are barred from showing their ballots to anyone.

Previous Year Question:

Q.)Consider the following statements :

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

MUST READ: The Hindu Explains | How are elections to the Rajya Sabha held?

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims : Science

Context: Typically observed during cold months, its  a process similar to hibernation.

Background:

• Researchers have observed instances of brumation in various reptilian species across habitats.

About Brumation:

• It is the name to describe a period of dormancy or slowed activity in reptiles, much like hibernation in mammals.
• It typically occurs during colder months, when temperatures drop and food becomes scarce.
• Reptiles enter a state of brumation to conserve energy and survive these adverse environmental conditions.
• During brumation, reptiles may retreat to underground burrows, rock crevices or other sheltered areas where temperatures are relatively more stable.
• Metabolism slows significantly, allowing them to go weeks or even months without eating.
• This period of reduced activity allows reptiles to conserve energy and minimise their resource requirements.
• Species which exhibit brumation include box turtles and painted turtles, which burrow into the mud at the bottom of ponds or lakes. Snakes may seek refuge in underground dens or caves while lizards may hide under rocks or within vegetation.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims : Polity

Context: Home Minister Amit Shah recently said that the Citizenship Amendment Act, will be implemented before the Lok Sabha election 2024.

Background:

• The CAA was first introduced in 2016 and went through several stages in Parliament. It was passed in 2019 and amended the Citizenship Act.

About CAA:

• The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) was passed by the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019.
• The CAA intends to make it easier for persecuted people from neighbouring countries to become Indian citizens.
• This act amended the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• The CAA is for illegal migrants who entered India before December 31, 2014.
• It covers migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.Specifically, it benefits those of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian faiths.
• CAA does not grant such eligibility to Muslims from these countries
• Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, an illegal migrant is a foreigner who enters the country without valid travel documents like a passport and visa, or enters with valid documents, but stays beyond the permitted time period.
• The Amendment exempts the members of the six communities from any criminal case under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport Act, 1920. The two Acts (Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport Act, 1920) specify punishment for entering the country illegally and staying here on expired visas and permits.
• Under The Citizenship Act, 1955, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation is that the applicant must have resided in India during the last 12 months, as well as for 11 of the previous 14 years.
• The amendment relaxes the second requirement from 11 years to 5 years as a specific condition for applicants belonging to these six religions (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian) and the aforementioned three countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan).

Source: PRS

Syllabus

• Mains-GS 3

Context: 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the UNFCCC, was held in Dubai, UAE.

Background:

• The summit followed a year of extreme weather events in which many climate records were broken.

About COP:

• COPs are gatherings held within the framework of theUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a multinational treaty established in
• During these sessions, participating countries (Parties) evaluate global endeavors aligned with the primary goal of theParis Agreement, aiming to restrict global warming to approximately 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
• COP 28 marked the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 18) and the 5th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 5). It also adopted a final document called the UAE Consensus.

Major outcomes/highlights of the COP 28:

• COP28 calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly, and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, to achieve net zero by 2050.
• The Global Cooling Pledge for COP 28 includes 66 national government signatories committed to working together to reduce cooling-related emissions across all sectors by at least 68% globally relative to 2022 levels by 2050.
• Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy launched at COP28 aims to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
• Member countries reached an agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage (L&D) fund aimed at compensating countries grappling with climate change impacts.
• Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge stipulates that signatories commit to work together to triple the world’s installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030. It also calls for collectively doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from around 2% to over 4% every year until 2030.

Syllabus

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 13-14.

Background:

• This is PM Modi’s seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and the third in the last eight months.In this short duration, India’s relationship with UAE has evolved into becoming one of the most prominent bilateral relationships for New Delhi.

About India- UAE relationship:

• UAE has become India’s strategic partner and also one of the most important linchpins of India’s engagement in the Gulf region.
• Bilateral trade grew to $85 billion in 2022-23, making the UAE India’s third-largest trading partner and India’s second-largest export destination.
• USE is also the fourth-largest overall investor in India.
• The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signed on February 18, 2022 aims to increase trade in services to $115 billion in five years.
• On February 1, 2024, the Indian government also approved the signing and ratification of a bilateral investment treaty with the UAE, which would significantly boost bilateral economic engagement, especially manufacturing and foreign direct investment.
• The RuPay card, a key component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), is accepted in the UAE since August 2019.
• From July 2023, the rupee was being accepted for transactions at Dubai’s airports.
• India and the UAE also operationalised a rupee-dirham settlement system when, in August 2023, the Indian Oil Corporation made a rupee payment to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for crude oil imports.
• The UAE is also India’s trusted partner in energy security.
• The UAE was one of few nations specially invited for the G-20 summit, in September 2023, under India’s G-20 presidency.
• The IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus has been established, and the UAE opened a consulate in Hyderabad in June 2023.

Convergence of interest visible through groupings:

• Within the region, both countries are in close coordination and a part of a number of important groupings such as the I2U2 or the West Asian Quad comprising India, Israel, the United States and the UAE.
• The UAE is also part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) infrastructure project. The corridor aims to connect India to Europe across the Arabian peninsula, and is a potential rival to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: The Hindu

Q1) Consider the following statements about Rajya Sabha Election:

1. Members of state legitlative councils participate in the election.
2. NOTA option is provided in the RS election.
3. A person, to be elected to Rajya Sabha from a particular state, should be a registered voter in that state.

Which of the above statement is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2
2. 3 only
3. 2 only
4. None of the above

Q2). Consider the following statements:

1. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 amended the Citizenship Act, 1955.
2. The CAA intends to give Indian Citizenship for the persecuted people from all the neighbouring countries of India.
3. The amendment reduces the required period of residence in India for naturalization from twelve years to 8 years for all migrants.

How many statements given above is/are not correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q.3) Which one among the following terms describe a period of dormancy or slowed activity in reptiles?

1. Hibernation
2. Brumation
3. Anabolism
4. Catabolism

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  12th February  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – c