Latest News
02nd Oct 2021
NEW SPECIES OF SWAMP EEL DISCOVERED IN MUMBAI
A new species of swamp eel belonging to the genus Rakthamicthys, endemic to India, was discovered in Mumbai in a well.
Highlights:
- The new species was found by Wildlife Foundation of Mumbai in a 40-feet deep well.
- It was named as Rakthamichthys mumba.
- The mumba lacks eyes, fins, and scales, has jaws equal in forward extent, different gill aperture, crescentic-shaped cephalic.
- The species has a slender, sub-cylindrically elongated body and is thread-like with striations on the muscle.
- The middle portion of the head is the deepest and widest part of its body.
- All teeth of the species are, small, stout, pointed, recurved, and closely set, the body is pinkish-red with numerous blood vessels all over.
- The present known habitat of the species is only the Mumbai well.
- The family consists of 26 valid species and are unique among teleost’s by lacking paired, median, and caudal fins.
- It will provide employment opportunities for the elderly by bringing together various stakeholders.
- Citizens above 60 years of age can register on the portal and find jobs and work opportunities.
- For the recruiters, jobs will be posted with specifics and the eligibility criteria for applicants.
- The portal will serve as an enabler for people looking for work, not as a platform guaranteeing employment.
- Voluntary Organizations will help the senior citizens in applying for these jobs with no user charges.
- Provisions have been made for applicants to upload documents online, with an upper limit of 60 days for the renunciation process to be completed.
- The online process has been initiated to check fraudulent documents and reduce the compliance burden for declaration of renunciation of citizenship.
- The form after being filled online has to be downloaded, signed and submitted at the District Magistrate’s office if the applicant is in India, or at the nearest Indian mission, if applicant is in a foreign country.
- The applicant will be interviewed by the DM before the certificate is issued.
- Other than the passport, the applicant needs to submit proof of address and proof of payment of fee.
- According to the 2009 Citizenship Rules, the fee to renounce citizenship in India is ₹5,000, and for someone applying through an Indian mission in a foreign country is ₹7,000.
- When a person ceases to be a citizen of India under Section 8(1) of Citizenship Act, 1955, every minor child of that person thereupon ceases to be a citizen of India.
- The minor child within one year of attaining full age may apply to resume Indian citizenship.
- The guidelines are not clear if minors would also lose citizenship if only one of the parents gives up her/his Indian citizenship.
- Indian citizenship can be acquired by: birth, descent, registration, and naturalization.
- The provisions are listed under sections 3, 4, 5(1) and 5(4) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
- By birth:
- Every person born in India on or after 26.01.1950 but before 01.07.1987 is an Indian citizen irrespective of the nationality of his/her parents.
- A person born between 01.07.1987 and 02.12.2004 is a citizen of India given either of his/her parents is a citizen of the country at the time of his/her birth.
- A person born on or after 3.12.2004 is a citizen of the country given both his/her parents are Indians.
- By Registration:
- A person of Indian origin who has been a resident of India for 7 years before applying for registration.
- A person of Indian origin who is a resident of any country outside undivided India.
- A person who is married to an Indian citizen and is ordinarily resident for 7 years before applying for registration.
- Minor children of persons who are citizens of India.
- By Descent:
- A person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950 is a citizen of India by descent if his/her father was a citizen of India by birth.
- A person born outside India on or after December 10, 1992, but before December 3, 2004 either his/her parent was a citizen of India by birth.
- By Naturalisation:
- A person can acquire citizenship by Naturalisation if he/she is ordinarily resident of India for 12 years and fulfils all qualifications in the third schedule of the Citizenship Act.
- Renunciation of Citizenship [Sec 8]
- An Indian Citizen of full age and capacity can renounce his Indian citizenship by making a declaration to that effect and having it registered.
- If a declaration is made during any war, the registration shall be withheld until the Central Government otherwise directs.
- When a male person renounces his citizenship, every minor child of him ceases to be an Indian citizen.
- Termination of Citizenship [Sec 9]
- If a citizen of India voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, he shall cease to be a citizen of India.
- During the war period, the provision does not apply to a citizen of India, who acquires the citizenship of another country in which India may be engaged voluntarily.
- Deprivation of Citizenship [Sec 10]
- The citizen has obtained the citizenship by means of fraud, false representation, or concealment of any material fact.
- The citizen has shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India.
- The citizen has unlawfully traded or communicated with the enemy during a war.
- The citizen has, been imprisoned in any country for two years.
- The citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for seven years continuously.
- As per the official records till February 2021, over 6.7 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship between 2015-19.
- In 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs revised the Form XXII under the Citizenship Rules for declaration of renunciation of citizenship, which for the first time included a column on “circumstances/reasons due to which applicant intends to acquire foreign citizenship and renounce Indian citizenship”.
- The two factions of the party won’t be able to use the symbol in the elections for the Kusheshwar Asthan and Tarapur seats in Bihar.
- Neither of the two groups will be permitted to use the name of the party Lok Janshakti Party unconditionally.
- They will be known by the names as they may choose, and will be allotted different symbols from the list of free symbols.
- Para 15 of the Symbols Order 1968 states that; when the Commission is satisfied that there is a dispute between the two factions regarding the party's claim, the decision of the Commission shall be considered final.
- It applies when there is a dispute between the recognized parties at the national and state level.
- In case of parties which are registered but not recognized, the Commission may explain to the factions.
- Before 1968, the commission used to issue notifications and executive orders under the Conduct of Election Rules.
- Under the new rules, the new group is required to register itself as a separate party.
- It can claim the status of National or State Party based on performance in the state and central elections.
- In June 2021, the LJP had split into two factions. One led by Chirag Paswan and another by Pashupati Kumar Paras.
- A tussle over the election symbol, have been seen about the Samajwadi Party (Cycle) and the AIADMK (Two leaves) in 2017.
- The Indian National Congress (INC) was split in 1969. It was broken into Congress (O) and Congress (J).
- Congress (O) was led by S Nijalingappa and Congress (J) by Indira Gandhi.
- The study compared survivors for over 40 years with people who did not survive up to 40 years.
- Survivors had better glycemic and blood pressure control, more favourable lipid profiles and lower prevalence of complications compared to non-survivors.
- Good control of not only blood sugar, but also blood pressure and cholesterol are essential for survival and a good quality of life among Type 1 diabetics (T1D).
- The survivors also had better height and weight parameters compared to the other group.
- Individuals with T1D have increased morbidity and excess premature mortality compared to those without diabetes. Their life expectancy is reduced by an estimated 15-20 years, even with the life-saving insulin to their assistance.
- However, long-term survival with T1D is possible and 40% of European individuals with T1D are reported to survive for more than 40 years with life expectancy now extending almost up to 70 years.
- Two patients in the study have lived over 70 years with T1D.
- India is home to more than 95,000 children with T1D, reported to be the highest in the world, according to the 9th International Diabetes Federation Atlas, but most reports on long term survival were from the U.S. and Europe and none from India.
- Given that life expectancy in India is in general lower, the subject definitely needs attention.
- A significant differentiation in blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels determining better survival and quality of life, it was interesting that many of the long term survivors in the study were not prescribed intensive insulin therapy in the first 10 years or so after diagnosis, and they still seemed to be protected from complications.
- Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
- Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
- Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.
- There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
- Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent) is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin.
- Symptoms: excessive excretion of urine, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes, and fatigue.
- Type-1 diabetes needs lifelong insulin injections.
- Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent) results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin.
- The majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
- In type 2 diabetes, pancreas will try to compensate by producing more insulin. Because body is unable to effectively use insulin, glucose will accumulate in bloodstream.
- This type of diabetes is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.
- Until recently, this type of diabetes was seen only in adults but it is now also occurring increasingly frequently in children.
- Type-2 diabetes often being managed with diet or tablet treatment.
- It is a seeding campaign to accelerate afforestation by drones for greening large swathes of denuded forest lands.
- The first ‘seedcopter’—drone with seed balls—was flagged off. The first payload of 1.5 lakh seed balls was delivered in the KBR National Park.
- Marut Drones, a city-based technology start-up has initiated the idea of aerial seeding.
- Aim: To accelerate the target of 33% green cover throughout India by dispersal of seed balls in inaccessible forest areas, using drones & plant one billion trees by 2030 through drones.
- The initial target is 12,000 hectares of forest land in 12 districts of Telangana, with an aim to fire a total of 50 lakh seed balls.
- Their growth for the coming 10 years will be monitored, and the change in greenery will be recorded annually through satellite monitoring.
- Depending on the success rate in Telangana, the initiative will be replicated throughout the country.
- The services of local people, self-help groups and NGOs are taken in preparation of seed balls, and locations for dispersal has been identified with aid from Forest department.
- The entire operation is being done on pro bono basis, with no funding from government
- Aerial seeding is a technique of plantation in which seed balls containing seeds along with the coating containing a mixture of clay, together with organic manure and fertilizer are sprayed on the ground using aerial devices like drones, helicopters or planes.
- The balls, after being dispersed in a barren area, are expected to dissolve when it rains, and result in germination of the seeds.
- Areas that are inaccessible, fragmented, have steep slopes or disconnected with no forest routes can be targeted.
- Process of seed’s germination and growth requires no attention after it is dispersed – the seed pellets are known as “fire and forget” way of plantation.
- Eliminate the need for ploughing and digging holes or be planted, since seeds are already surrounded by soil, nutrients, and microorganisms.
- Clay shell of these pellets along with the other items in the mixture also protects them from birds, ants and rats.
- Human-wildlife conflict refers to the interaction between wild animals and people and resultant negative impact on people or their resources, or wild animals or their habitat.
- The conflict can cost many lives, both human and wildlife, threaten livelihoods, loss to crops of farmers and jeopardize long-term conservation goals such as securing protected areas and conservation efforts for biodiversity conservation.
- Encroachment of human being in wildlife habitat for development purpose
- Allowing livestock for grazing purpose in the forest area
- Road kills or forest fire
- Increase in Human population and land use transformation
- Fragmentation of large habitats and shrinking sizes of forest patches.
- Appropriate legal measures should be enforced in order to protect natural habitats against illegal exploitation and to avoid human interferences in such areas.
- Avoiding deforestation and planting new trees in forest areas can help a lot in reducing conflict rate in the long run.
- Education and training activities for locals will help in creating tolerance towards wild animals.
- Training and education programs for wildlife personnel, giving proper skills for dealing with wild carnivores would promote commitment towards conservation and raise welfare level of animals.
- Department of Wildlife Protection should be equipped with necessary infrastructure for tackling conflicts and handling wild carnivores outside their habitats.
- Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is in Tamil Nadu, located at the tri-junction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- The reserve is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and an Important Bird Area.
- It shares borders Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) on the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) on the North and Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.
- River Moyar flows through the reserve.
- Fauna: Indian Elephants, Bengal Tiger, Gaur, Leopards etc.
- Avifauna: Hornbills, Oriental White-backed Vultures (critically endangered species), Indian vulture (long-billed vulture, Critically Endangered) Black and Orange Flycatchers etc.
- Threats: Deforestation, spread of invasive species (like Lantana Camara), excessive cattle grazing and among others.
- Indian Neutrino Observatory falls in the buffer zone of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
- The inscriptions at Thenneri village shed light on how farm produce was taxed.
- For areca nuts, only 50% tax would be collected for the first 10 years after cultivation.
- Farmers would pay full tax only after the trees started yielding fruits.
- 50% tax was imposed on banana crops until the yield.
- Thenneri inscriptions talks about qualifications for candidates to village administrative committees.
- The inscriptions of Uthiramerur, Kancheepuram dwells upon ‘Kudavolai’ system.
- The system was a unique feature of the village administration of the Cholas.
- It is a system to elect members to annual committee (‘variyam’), garden committee, tank committee and other committees for 30 wards.
- There were 30 wards in each village. A representative for each ward was elected through Kudavolai system.
- Names of the contestants were written on palm leaf tickets. These palm leaves were put into a pot and shuffled.
- A small boy picked up palm leaves from the pot. Persons whose name tickets were picked up by the boy were declared elected.
- Similarly, 30 members for thirty wards were elected.
- Twelve members were appointed to the Annual committee, twelve were appointed as the members of the Garden committee and six to the Tank committee.
- A person must have age from 35 to 70.
- He should possess some land and a house built in a taxable land on his own site.
- He should have knowledge about Vedas and mantras.
- Persons who killed brahmins, women cow, and children were disqualified.
- Thieves, and people who had undergone punishments were disqualified
- The programme seeks to help strengthen institutions, improve the financial health of service agencies, and drive significant improvements in the quality of four key urban services–water supply and sewerage, mobility, health, and solid waste management.
- This programme will support to transform the city and its services, while accelerating Chennai’s shift to a lower carbon and a more resilient growth trajectory.
- It will help adopt new approaches to service delivery and bring a renewed focus on results for citizens.
- It will increase household connections and improve the quality of water and sewerage services.
- It will expand green modes of urban mobility—buses, walking, and cycling—along with improvements in their quality and inter-connectivity.
- It will also enhance disease surveillance and improve coverage and quality of primary health care services.
- The International Day of Older Persons is celebrated every year on 1st October for the cause of elderly persons.
- On this occasion, the Government of India confers ‘National Award-Vayoshreshtha Samman’ on eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their service towards elderly persons.
- The Vice President also dedicated the Elderly Line 14567 to the Nation and launched the Senior Able Citizens Reemployment in Dignity (SACRED) & Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Portals.
- SAGE– To encourage entrepreneurs in the area of elderly care.
- SACRED– will connect the senior citizens with job providers in the private sector.
- Theme for United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2021 which is ‘Digital Equity for All Ages’.
- United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution to observe 1st October 1999 as the International Day of Older Persons.
POSTED ON 02-10-2021 BY ADMIN
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