CPI in terror group list: IEP corrects report, uploads revised list

Global Terrorism Index:

• It is published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a global think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia
• The index provides a comprehensive summary of the key global trends and patterns in terrorism over the past 15 years.
• The report ranks 163 countries (99.7% of the world''s population) on the impact of terrorism.
• Indicators: Include the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries, and hostages.
• The index is produced using data from TerrorismTracker of Dragonfly- which provides event records on terrorist attacks since January 1, 2007 -- and other sources.
• Highlights of Global Terrorism Index 2023:
  • Afghanistan retains the top spot on the list of the country impacted by terrorism. Afghanistan has topped for the fourth consecutive year.
  • India ranked 13th on the index, marking only a marginal decrease from the previous year.
  • Pakistan saw the second-largest increase in terror-related fatalities globally last year, with a total of 643 dead.
  • Military people made up at least 55% of all casualties of terrorism.

Banks expect a spike in overnight call money rates

• Credit demand and reversal of the Covid era’s targeted long-term repo operations (TLTRO) are also expected to suck cash out from the banking system.
• Data show the weighted average rate in the tri-party repo system (TREPS) that also draws mutual funds participation has increased to 6. 70% on March 17, up from 6. 27% at the start of the month.

Long term repo operations

• LTRO is a tool that allows banks to borrow one to three years of funds from the Central Bank at the Repo rate.
• It is called ‘Targeted’ LTRO if the Central Bank wants banks opting for funds under this option to be specifically invested in investment-grade corporate debt.
• LTRO was first introduced by the European Central Bank (ECB) during its sovereign debt crisis that began in 2008.

Tri-party repo or TREPS

• Tri-party repo is a type of repo contract where a third entity (apart from the borrower or lender), called a Tri-Party Agent, acts as an intermediary between the two parties to the repo to facilitate services like collateral selection, payment and settlement, custody and management during the life of the transaction.”
• The triparty repo is a financial market instrument like the market repo and not like the Central Bank repo (RBI’s repo).

Eligible Tri-Party Agents

• All tri-party agents need authorization from RBI to act in that capacity before they commence operations.
• Scheduled commercial banks are eligible to be tri-party agents.
• Eligible collateral: Government Securities and Corporate securities.

Raccoon dogs linked to coronavirus pandemic

• Raccoon dogs belong to the canid family and are closely related to foxes.
• They are the only canids that hibernate during the winter.
• As per Slate, there are two species of raccoon dogs: “Nyctereutes procyonoides, the common raccoon dog (the species that was in the Wuhan market) and Nyctereutes p. viverrinus, the Japanese raccoon dog.”
• They are omnivores and relish food sources such as rodents and berries.
• Raccoon dogs are originally from East Asia and are commonly found in parts of China, Korea and Japan, where they are known as tanuki.

Tripura''s lone butterfly park a major tourist attraction

• It is nestled in a village near the India-Bangladesh international border in Tripura’s South district.
• According to wildlife and environment experts, butterflies are deemed to be indicators of a good ecological balance and healthy nature
• The park is near the endangered bison park at Trishna wildlife sanctuary and Indo-Bangla Maitri Park to commemorate the Bangladesh liberation war.

Trishna wildlife sanctuary

• Trishna wildlife sanctuary is located in the state of Tripura.
• Flora: The vegetation of the sanctuary consists of four types of forest – the tropical semi-evergreen forest, the east Himalayan lower Bhanar Sal, the Moist mixed deciduous forest and the Savanah woodland.
• Fauna: The Indian Gaur (Bison), Deer, Hooklock Gibbon, Golden langur, Pheasants, Lalmukh Bandar, Wild Boar, Wild Cat, Leopard etc.

Music Academy to confer Sangita Kalanidhi award on Bombay Jayashri

Sangita Kalanidhi award:

• It is considered the highest award in the field of Carnatic music.
• The award is conferred by the Madras Music Academy.
• The award comprises a gold medal and a birudu patra (citation).
• It is a landmark institution in the history of the fine arts. It emerged as an offshoot of the All India Congress Session held in Madras in December 1927.

Carnatic music

• Carnatic music is commonly associated with southern India including the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, but also practised in Sri Lanka.
• It is one of two major genres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu traditions, the other being Hindustani music, which emerged as a distinct form in northern India as a result of Persian and Islamic influences.

What is the IPCC AR6 synthesis report and why does it matter?

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

• The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
• It was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988.
• Membership: It has 195 Member countries.
• Objective: To assess scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant to the understanding of human-induced climate change, potential impacts of climate change, and options for mitigation and adaptation.
• The main activity of the IPCC is the preparation of reports assessing the state of knowledge of climate change. These include assessment reports, special reports and methodology reports.
• The assessment reports are a key input into the international negotiations to tackle climate change.
• The IPCC does not itself engage in scientific research. Instead**, it asks scientists from around the world** to go through all the relevant scientific literature related to climate change and draw up logical conclusions.
• What are the IPCC working groups? It comprises three working groups, which focus on different aspects of climate science and climate change response.
  • Working Group I: looks at the physics of climate change;
  • Working Group II: examines climate change impacts and adaptation;
  • Working Group III: focuses on climate change mitigation;
  • The three working groups release separate reports, which are then compiled into a synthesis report.

ENVIS Hub Manipur Status of Environment and Related Issues

Keibul Lamjao National Park:

• It is the world’s only floating national park.
• Location:
  • It is located in the Bishnupur district in Manipur.
  • The park is located in the southwestern part of the famous Loktak Lake, which is well known for the floating biomass called phumdis.
• This is the last natural habitat of the endangered brow-antlered deer(Sangai deer), the dancing deer of Manipur.
• Vegetation: The park is a combination of wetland, terrestrial and aquatic
• Flora:
  • It comprises of Saccharum munja (Khoimom), Zizania latifolia (Wild Rice) (Ishing kambong), Eiranthus procerus (Singnang), S. bengalensis, Cynodon dactylon (Tinthou), Discorea bulbifera (Phumha) etc.
  • Another kind of aquatic flora, phumdis, can be found in two types phumdi aruppa (sinking) and phumdi ataoba (floating).
• Fauna: Includes Wild boar, Hog deer, common otter, Large Indian jungle cat, fox, Bay bamboo rat, golden cat, etc.

Sangai deer:

• Scientific Name: Rucervus eldii
• Common Name:Sangai, Brow antlered deer, Dancing Deer.
• Habitat and Distribution: It is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park.
• Features:
  • It is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, with extremely long brow tine, which forms the main beam.
  • It has a dark reddish-brown winter coat, which turns paler in summer.
• Conservation Status:
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-1
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered

Loktak Lake:

• It is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.
• It is famous for the phumdis floating over it.
• It was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.
• It is also listed under the Montreux Record in 1993, "a record of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur".

Physical activity can help patients with Parkinson’s disease improve their quality of life: Research

• It is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.
• It is a condition in which a patient holds limited or no control over his movements and body balance.
• It occurs and progresses with ageing, but in rare cases, it is also witnessed among children and teenagers as well.
• It has no cure.
• Many studies have suggested that men are more likely to be affected by Parkinson’s than women.
• Cause:
  • It is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement.
  • These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine.
  • Dopamine operates with other neurotransmitters to help coordinate the millions of nerve and muscle cells involved in the movement.
• Symptoms:
  • Tremors (trembling in the hands, arms, legs, and jaw); rigidity (stiffness of the limbs); slowness of movement; and impaired balance and coordination.
  • Parkinson’s patients may also experience other symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking, urinary problems, constipation, skin problems, depression, emotional changes, and sleep disruption.
• Currently, no blood laboratory or radiological tests are available to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.

Why Finland’s installation of the world’s 1st sand battery may be a game-changer

• The battery, made of sand collected from construction sites, can solve the problem of round-the-year energy supply, a known limitation of renewable energy sources that can be harnessed intermittently.
• Sand can be heated up to 600 degrees Celsius (°C), whereas water starts to boil at 100°C. It also has low heat conductivity, which reduces energy loss.
• The storage system has three main components: the sand silo, an electrical air heater and an air-to-water heat exchanger.
• For charging the sand silo, the air is heated to 600°C in the electric air heater.
• The hot air is then circulated inside the silo using a heat-exchange pipe and blowers to raise the temperature of the sand at the silo’s core to 600°C.
• When the storage enters the discharging stage, the blowers are used to pump air into the pipe inside the sand silo.
• Once the air reaches 200°C, it is transferred to the air-to-water heat exchanger, where it is used to boil water. It is then sent to the heating network.
• The storage system requires electricity at all times.
• It is needed to charge the battery, monitor the temperature during standby and run the blowers when the battery is used.
• 1,000 times more power is discharged as heat than is used as electricity.

RBI proposes to expand scope of TReDS to improve cash flows for MSMEs

Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform:

• It is an electronic platform for facilitating the financing/discounting of trade receivables of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through multiple financiers.
• These receivables can be due from corporates and other buyers, including Government Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• Purpose: To allow MSME sellers to discount invoices raised against major corporations, which helps them manage their working capital demands. The platform enables MSMEs to receive payments more quickly.
• Participants:
  • Sellers, buyers, and financiers are the participants on a TReDS platform.
  • Only MSMEs can participate as sellers in TReDS.
  • Corporates, Government Departments, PSUs, and any other entity can participate as buyers in TReDS.
  • Banks, NBFC - Factors, and other financial institutions, as permitted by the RBI, can participate as financiers in TReDS.
• RBI has not made it compulsory for any buyer, seller, or financier to participate in TReDS.
• The Government has made it compulsory for certain segments of companies to mandatorily register as buyers on the TReDS platform(s). The government directive, however, does not make it compulsory for these entities to perform transactions in TReDS.
• How does TReDS work?
  • Creation of a Factoring Unit (FU) - standard nomenclature used in TReDS for invoice(s) or bill(s) of exchange - containing details of invoices/bills of exchange.
  • Acceptance of the FU by the counterparty - buyer or the seller, as the case may be;
  • Bidding by financiers;
  • Selection of best bid by the seller or the buyer, as the case may be;
  • Payment made by the financier (of the selected bid) to the MSME seller at the agreed rate of financing/discounting;
  • Payment by the buyer to the financier on the due date.

Trade receivables

• Trade receivables are defined as the amount owed to a business by its customers following the sale of goods or services on credit.