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The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative.
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Consider the following statements
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution (a)
A whopping 1,160 elephants were killed in the country due to reasons other than natural causes in the past 10 years up to December 31, 2020, according to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The major causes of deaths are due to electrocution, train hits, poaching and poisoning
Centre and the States together had a greater responsibility in protecting elephants, a keystone species, and their habitats.
A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.
Keystone species have low functional redundancy. This means that if the species were to disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche. The ecosystem would be forced to radically change, allowing new and possibly invasive species to populate the habitat.
Any organism, from plants to fungi, may be a keystone species; they are not always the largest or most abundant species in an ecosystem. However, almost all examples of keystone species are animals that have a huge influence on food webs. The way these animals influence food webs varies from habitat to habitat.
India had a total of 29,964 wild elephants as per an estimation done in 2017. The southern region comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra accounted for the highest population — 14,612 elephants.
Financial and technical assistance were provided to elephant range States under the centrally sponsored ‘Project Elephant’ scheme to protect elephants, their habitat and corridors
Critical elephant habitats are notified as ‘elephant reserve’ for focus and synergy in elephant conservation and to reduce conflict.
A Permanent Coordination Committee has been constituted between the Ministry of Railways and the MoEFCC for preventing elephant deaths due to train hits.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/1160-elephants-killed-due-to-reasons-other-than-natural-causes-moefcc/article37796114.ece
Solution (a)
A whopping 1,160 elephants were killed in the country due to reasons other than natural causes in the past 10 years up to December 31, 2020, according to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The major causes of deaths are due to electrocution, train hits, poaching and poisoning
Centre and the States together had a greater responsibility in protecting elephants, a keystone species, and their habitats.
A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.
Keystone species have low functional redundancy. This means that if the species were to disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche. The ecosystem would be forced to radically change, allowing new and possibly invasive species to populate the habitat.
Any organism, from plants to fungi, may be a keystone species; they are not always the largest or most abundant species in an ecosystem. However, almost all examples of keystone species are animals that have a huge influence on food webs. The way these animals influence food webs varies from habitat to habitat.
India had a total of 29,964 wild elephants as per an estimation done in 2017. The southern region comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra accounted for the highest population — 14,612 elephants.
Financial and technical assistance were provided to elephant range States under the centrally sponsored ‘Project Elephant’ scheme to protect elephants, their habitat and corridors
Critical elephant habitats are notified as ‘elephant reserve’ for focus and synergy in elephant conservation and to reduce conflict.
A Permanent Coordination Committee has been constituted between the Ministry of Railways and the MoEFCC for preventing elephant deaths due to train hits.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/1160-elephants-killed-due-to-reasons-other-than-natural-causes-moefcc/article37796114.ece
The terms Peechi-Vazhany, Chimmony, and Chulannur which is sometimes seen in news is related to:
Solution (b)
The four-day butterfly survey was conducted by the Kerala Forest Department and Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) Thiruvananthapuram.
The Peechi-Vazhany, Chimmony, and Chulannur Wildlife Sanctuaries were surveyed using 14 base camps.
Peechi-Vazhany Wildlife sanctuary had 132 species of butterflies, Chimmony had 116 species, while Chulannur recorded 41 species. The survey added 80 species, almost double, to the older record of Peechi-Vazhany, 33 to Chimmony, and 41 species to Chulannur.
Other notable species are Nilgiri Grass Yellow, Travancore Evening Brown, Malabar Flash, Orange Tailed Awl, Southern Spotted Ace and Common Onyx. The report of Common Tinsel at Chulannur was another highlight. Altitudinal migration of Common Albatross was recorded in Chimmony.
Great Indian Hornbill, the State bird of Kerala, was reported from Peechi-Vazhany and Chimmony. The highest number of birds was reported from Vellani (104) in Vazhany, followed by Vallikayam in Peechi.
The sanctuary has a good population of Bengal tiger, gaur, elephants, dhole, and flying squirrels.
The teams also noted the presence of invasive plants and ants in the region.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/survey-records-a-rise-in-butterfly-species/article37791200.ece
Solution (b)
The four-day butterfly survey was conducted by the Kerala Forest Department and Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) Thiruvananthapuram.
The Peechi-Vazhany, Chimmony, and Chulannur Wildlife Sanctuaries were surveyed using 14 base camps.
Peechi-Vazhany Wildlife sanctuary had 132 species of butterflies, Chimmony had 116 species, while Chulannur recorded 41 species. The survey added 80 species, almost double, to the older record of Peechi-Vazhany, 33 to Chimmony, and 41 species to Chulannur.
Other notable species are Nilgiri Grass Yellow, Travancore Evening Brown, Malabar Flash, Orange Tailed Awl, Southern Spotted Ace and Common Onyx. The report of Common Tinsel at Chulannur was another highlight. Altitudinal migration of Common Albatross was recorded in Chimmony.
Great Indian Hornbill, the State bird of Kerala, was reported from Peechi-Vazhany and Chimmony. The highest number of birds was reported from Vellani (104) in Vazhany, followed by Vallikayam in Peechi.
The sanctuary has a good population of Bengal tiger, gaur, elephants, dhole, and flying squirrels.
The teams also noted the presence of invasive plants and ants in the region.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/survey-records-a-rise-in-butterfly-species/article37791200.ece
Consider the following statements with respect to The Paika Rebellion of 1817:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution (b)
The 1817 Paika rebellion of Odisha could not be called the first war of Independence, but considering it as a beginning of a popular uprising against the British, it would be included as a case study in the Class 8 National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) history textbook, the Union Culture Minister said
At present, the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of Independence against British Rule.
The Paika Bidroha (Paika Rebellion) of 1817 took place nearly 40 years before the first sepoy mutiny.
The Centre had considered the proposal and examined the matter in consultation with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, now renamed Ministry of Education. And as per recommendations from ICHR, the Paika Rebellion cannot be called the first War of Independence; Union Culture Minister had informed the Rajya Sabha.
However, considering that the rebellion which started in 1817 continued till 1825 and “is one of the beginnings of popular uprisings against the British in India”, the minister declared that it would now be included in the curriculum of Class VIII history textbook of NCERT.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/paika-rebellion-to-be-included-as-case-study-in-history-textbook-minister/article37805249.ece
Solution (b)
The 1817 Paika rebellion of Odisha could not be called the first war of Independence, but considering it as a beginning of a popular uprising against the British, it would be included as a case study in the Class 8 National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) history textbook, the Union Culture Minister said
At present, the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of Independence against British Rule.
The Paika Bidroha (Paika Rebellion) of 1817 took place nearly 40 years before the first sepoy mutiny.
The Centre had considered the proposal and examined the matter in consultation with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, now renamed Ministry of Education. And as per recommendations from ICHR, the Paika Rebellion cannot be called the first War of Independence; Union Culture Minister had informed the Rajya Sabha.
However, considering that the rebellion which started in 1817 continued till 1825 and “is one of the beginnings of popular uprisings against the British in India”, the minister declared that it would now be included in the curriculum of Class VIII history textbook of NCERT.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/paika-rebellion-to-be-included-as-case-study-in-history-textbook-minister/article37805249.ece
The Lok Sabha recently passed The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020. In this regard consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
Solution (c)
The Lok Sabha recently passed The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 that proposes the establishment of a national registry and registration authority for all clinics and medical professionals serving in the field.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 (Bill) aims to regulate ART banks and clinics, allow safe and ethical practice of ARTs and protect women and children from exploitation.
The first concern is who can access ART. The Bill allows for a married heterosexual couples and a woman above the age of marriage to use ARTs. It excludes single men, cohabiting heterosexual couples and LGBTQI individuals and couples from accessing ARTs. This violates Article 14 of the Constitution
Unlike the SRB, there is no prohibition on foreign citizens accessing ARTs. Foreigners can access ART but not Indian citizens in living relationships.
The Bill also has a provision that those involved in trafficking and sale of embryos will be fined ₹10 lakh at first instance and in second instance, the person can be imprisoned for up to 12 years
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-passes-bill-to-regulate-ivf-clinics/article37790488.ece
Solution (c)
The Lok Sabha recently passed The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 that proposes the establishment of a national registry and registration authority for all clinics and medical professionals serving in the field.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 (Bill) aims to regulate ART banks and clinics, allow safe and ethical practice of ARTs and protect women and children from exploitation.
The first concern is who can access ART. The Bill allows for a married heterosexual couples and a woman above the age of marriage to use ARTs. It excludes single men, cohabiting heterosexual couples and LGBTQI individuals and couples from accessing ARTs. This violates Article 14 of the Constitution
Unlike the SRB, there is no prohibition on foreign citizens accessing ARTs. Foreigners can access ART but not Indian citizens in living relationships.
The Bill also has a provision that those involved in trafficking and sale of embryos will be fined ₹10 lakh at first instance and in second instance, the person can be imprisoned for up to 12 years
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-passes-bill-to-regulate-ivf-clinics/article37790488.ece
Southern Birdwing, Grass Jewel, Buddha Peacock which is sometimes seen in news is related to:
Solution (b)
A butterfly survey at the Peechi-Vazhani wildlife division has recorded a remarkable increase in the species’ numbers. Southern Birdwing, the largest butterfly in India, and Grass Jewel, the smallest, were found during the survey. Buddha Peacock, the State butterfly of Kerala, was also recorded.
A total of 156 butterfly species, out of the 326 found in Kerala, were recorded in the 242 sq km division.
The four-day butterfly survey was conducted by the Kerala Forest Department and Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) Thiruvananthapuram.
The survey teams also recorded birds, odonates, reptiles, amphibians, and spiders. A total of 152 bird species were recorded in Peechi-Vazhany, in Chimmony and 77 in Chulannur.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/survey-records-a-rise-in-butterfly-species/article37791200.ece
Solution (b)
A butterfly survey at the Peechi-Vazhani wildlife division has recorded a remarkable increase in the species’ numbers. Southern Birdwing, the largest butterfly in India, and Grass Jewel, the smallest, were found during the survey. Buddha Peacock, the State butterfly of Kerala, was also recorded.
A total of 156 butterfly species, out of the 326 found in Kerala, were recorded in the 242 sq km division.
The four-day butterfly survey was conducted by the Kerala Forest Department and Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) Thiruvananthapuram.
The survey teams also recorded birds, odonates, reptiles, amphibians, and spiders. A total of 152 bird species were recorded in Peechi-Vazhany, in Chimmony and 77 in Chulannur.
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/survey-records-a-rise-in-butterfly-species/article37791200.ece
