Solution (c)

Fishing Cat 

• The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. Since 2016, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• Fishing cat populations are threatene by destruction of wetlands and declined severely over the last decade.
• Fishing cats live foremost in the vicinity of wetlands, along rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, in swamps and mangroves.
• The fishing cat is the state animal of West Bengal.

Article reference: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/fishing-cat-collaring-project-to-begin-in-aps-coringa/article32358722.ece

Solution (b)

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary situated in Andhra Pradesh.
• The sanctuary is a part of the Godavari estuary and has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forest.
• It is the second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India (after Sundarbans).
• It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long-billed vulture.
• Its main wildlife attractions are Golden Jackal, Sea turtle, Fishing cat, Estuarine Crocodile, Small Blue Kingfisher, Cattle Egret.
• Hope Island and Sacramento Island located in the mangrove region are two important nesting sites for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles.

Article reference: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/fishing-cat-collaring-project-to-begin-in-aps-coringa/article32358722.ece

Solution (d)

Recently, Punjab government ordered a ban on the sale and use of nine agro-chemicals, after the agriculture department found that these were still being used by farmers though they adversely impacted the quality of rice.

Agro-chemicals which are banned include – Acephate, Triazophos, Thiamethoxam, Carbendazim, Tricyclazole, Buprofezin, Carbofuron, Propiconazole and Thiophinate Methyl.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punjab-bans-sale-use-of-nine-agro-chemicals/article32360056.ece

Solution (a)

Article 244

Article 244 of Constitution of India deals with Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas.

• The provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State other than the States of Assam Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• The provisions of the Sixth Schedule shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram

Solution (d)

The various features of administration contained in the Sixth Schedule are as follows:

The tribal areas in the four states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram have been constituted as autonomous districts. Each autonomous district has a district council consisting of 30 members, of whom four are nominated by the governor and the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise. Hence, statement (2) is wrong.

The district and regional councils administer the areas under their jurisdiction. They can make laws on certain specified matters (not on all matters) like land, forests, canal water, shifting cultivation, village administration, inheritance of property, marriage and divorce, social customs and so on. But all such laws require the assent of the governor. Hence, statement (1) is wrong.

The district and regional councils within their territorial jurisdictions can constitute village councils or courts for trial of suits and cases between the tribes. They hear appeals from them. The jurisdiction of high court over these suits and cases is specified by the governor.

The district council can establish, construct or manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, ferries, fisheries, roads and so on in the district. It can also make regulations for the control of money lending and trading by non-tribals. But such regulations require the assent of the governor.