Bird Survey: Around 200 Bird Species In Kanger Valley Park

• It is located in the state of Chhattisgarh. The name of Kanger Ghati National Park is derived from the Kangar river, which flows in its length.
• Kanger Valley got the status of a national park in the year 1982.
• Kanger Valley National Park is a typical mixed humid deciduous type of forest, in which the Sal, Saugaun, teak and bamboo trees are available in abundance.
• The most popular species in this area is Bastar Maina (The state bird of Chattisgarh). Bastar Maina, is a type of Hill maina (gruncula Dhariosoa), which is capable of emulating the human voices.
• This National Park is home to three exceptional caves – famous for their amazing geological structures of Kutumbasar, Kailash and DandakStellagmites and Stalactites. National Park is known for the presence of underground limestone caves with dripstone and flowstone.
• Tirathgarh Waterfall is located in Kanger Valley National Park.

Intellectual property protection: Govt increases professional charges of IP facilitators for startups

• For patents, the fee for application and filing has been increased to INR 15K from INR 10K. For trademarks and designs, the fee has been increased to INR 3K from INR 2K.
• SIPP scheme launched by Government of India, facilitates the start-ups to file applications for patents, designs and trademarks through registered facilitators in appropriate IP offices by paying only the statutory fees.

• Who can apply? Any Start-Up certified by the Start-up Certification Board as having an innovative business.
  • For this purpose, Start-up means an entity, incorporated or registered in India not prior to seven years (in the case of Startups in the Biotechnology sector, the period shall be up to ten years), with annual turnover not exceeding INR 25 crores in any preceding financial year, working towards innovation, development, deployment or commercialization of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property.
  • provided that such entity is not formed by splitting up, or reconstruction, of a business already in existence.
  • provided also that an entity shall cease to be a Start-up if its turnover for the previous financial years has exceeded INR 25 crore or it has completed 7 years from the date of incorporation/registration.
  • provided further that a Start-up shall be eligible for availing the benefits of this scheme only after it has obtained certification from the Start-up Certification Board.
• Appointment of Facilitators: For effective implementation of the scheme, facilitators shall be empanelled by the Controller General of Patent, Trademark and Design (CGPDTM). The CGPDTM shall regulate conduct and functions of empanelled facilitators from time to time.

India tops list of Covid-related religious hostilities in 2020

• US think-tank Pew Research Center released the Social Hostilities Index (SHI).
• AT 9.4 out of a maximum possible score of 10, India’s SHI in 2020 was worse than neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan, and a further increase in its own index value for 2019. A higher score is worse. The report covered 198 countries.
• The SHI measures acts of religious hostility by private individuals, organizations or groups. The index comprises 13 metrics, including religion-related armed conflict or terrorism and mob or sectarian violence.
• Questions used to compute the SHI included whether the country saw violence motivated by religious hatred or bias, whether individuals faced harassment or intimidation motivated by religious hatred or bias and whether there was mob violence against those of particular religious groups.
• Among the most populous countries, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt and Bangladesh had “very high" social hostilities involving religion.

What is St Edward’s Crown, to be worn by King Charles III on his coronation?

• St Edward’s Crown is the crown historically used at the moment of Coronation, and was worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation in 1953.
• It was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. The original was thought to date back to the eleventh-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor – the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
• Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042-66), who deposited his Royal ornaments for safe-keeping in Westminster Abbey, may have been the first monarch to assemble the regalia, or the distinct objects worn exclusively by royals.
• Britain is the only European monarchy still using its regalia for the consecration ceremony of crowning the Sovereign.
• Other items included in the regalia are the Coronation Chair (used at every coronation since 1300), the two Royal maces, three swords and St Edward’s Staff (dating from 1661).

Imperial State Crown

• It is worn by the monarch at the end of the coronation ceremony and at formal occasions like the State Opening of Parliament, reminding us the Crown Jewels is a working collection.
• It has the Cullinan diamond (also known as the Star of Africa) embedded in it, considered among the biggest diamonds ever discovered.
• Another stone featured in it is the Black Prince’s Ruby, believed to have origins in or around Afghanistan.

Why the US Inflation Reduction Act has Europe up in arms

• The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is a landmark United States federal law which aims to curb inflation by reducing the deficit, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing into domestic energy production while promoting clean energy.
• It is a reduced version of the Biden administration''s proposed Build Back Better Act.
• At the end of a decade, according to Democrats, the U.S. will realize a deficit reduction of more than $300 billion while lowering inflation, investing in energy production, and reducing healthcare costs. Of the $737 billion in revenue raised, the legislation calls for $222 billion from a 15% corporate minimum tax.
• The legislation stands to be the single largest investment in climate and energy in the U.S. to date.

Europe is concerned

• The 27 EU countries are worried their companies will be cut off from U.S. tax credits for components used in renewable energy technologies like electric cars, offered under the new law on condition they are made in North America.
• EU countries consider that some 200 billion euros ($207 billion) of the U.S. subsidies are tied to locally produced content provisions that potentially violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
• Not only do the tax breaks put European companies at a disadvantage to U.S. rivals, but EU state aid rules in their current form prevent member countries from offering similarly generous tax breaks to companies looking to set up factories.

Technotex 2023 to be held in Mumbai from 22nd to 24th February, 2023

• The event is being organized by the Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industry, under National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
• Technotex 2023 offers a good opportunity for Startup Entrepreneurs who represent the fastest-growing category worldwide.
• The Government is making all efforts to promote Technical Textiles and has undertaken various initiatives in this direction, such as creation of PLI scheme, HSN Codes, National Technical Textiles Mission.

Technical Textiles

• Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.
• As a component or part of another product, they are used to enhance the strength, performance or other functional properties of that product.
• These products are broadly classified into 12 different categories- Agrotech, Oekotech, Buildtech, Meditech, Geotech, Clothtech, Mobiltech, Hometech, Sportstech,Indutech, Protech, Packtech.
• Technical textile accounts for approximately 13% of India’s total textile and apparel market and contributes to India’s GDP at 0.7%.

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)

• The Ministry of Textiles has launched NTTM to increase the penetration level of technical textiles in India while leveraging the extraordinary growth rate of the sector.
• The aim of the mission is to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles.
• The mission will comprise four components: Research, Innovation and Development; Promotion and Market Development; Export Promotion; Education, Training, Skill Development.
• Implementation period: Four years starting from FY 2020-21 till FY 2023-24. The total outlay of the mission is INR 1480 Cr.
• Target: Take domestic market size of technical textile sector to $ 40-50 Bn by the year 2024 with an average growth rate of 15-20% per annum.

What is HSN Code?

• HSN code stands for “Harmonized System of Nomenclature”. This system has been introduced for the systematic classification of goods all over the world.
• HSN code is a 6-digit uniform code that classifies 5000+ products and is accepted worldwide.

International Cheetah Day and Wildlife Conservation Day celebrated at National Zoological Park

• December 4 is marked as International Cheetah Day every year. The day is dedicated to encouraging people worldwide to help this animal win the race against extinction.
• American zoologist Dr Laurie Marker is credited with creating International Cheetah Day. Dr Marker founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund in 1991 and she designated December 4 as International Cheetah Day in 2010.

Cheetah

• It is one of the oldest of the big cat species, with ancestors that can be traced back more than five million years to the Miocene era.
• Namibia has the world’s largest population of cheetahs.
• The fastest land animal in the world, a cheetah can reach 112km/hin just three seconds.
• In 1952, the Indian government officially declared the Cheetah extinct in the country. The cheetah is the only large carnivore to have gone extinct in India, primarily due to hunting and habitat loss.
• All cheetah subspecies are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, except the Northwest African and Asiatic cheetah which are critically endangered at present.

Cheetah and Leopard

• Cheetahs are commonly misidentified as leopards, and vice versa, since both big cats have prominent yet similar dark spots on their bodies.
• Cheetahs boast a pair of dark-coloured curved lines running between their nose and cheeks, while leopards don’t have any unique face markings.
• The spots on their bodies also differ: the cheetah’s fur is covered with round or oval-shaped spots, whereas the leopard has distinctive spots on its fur called ‘rosettes’, resembling the shape of a rose.
• A cheetah is slender, lighter and taller than a leopard, and it also has semi-retractable claws, allowing for swift movements when chasing prey at high speeds. Leopards, on the other hand, are shorter but bulky and powerful big cats with retractable claws, making them excellent tree climbers.
• Vocally, cheetahs chirp almost like a bird, while leopards roar like other big cats.

Centre approves formation of Advisory Group for streamlining development of Bamboo sector

• Restructured National Bamboo Mission approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 25-04-2018. It mainly focuses on the development of a complete value chain of the Bamboo sector to link growers with consumers
• The Restructured National Bamboo Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS).
• Aim:
  • The Mission envisages promoting holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting an area-based, regionally differentiated strategy and to increase the area under bamboo cultivation and marketing.
  • Under the Mission, steps have been taken to increase the availability of quality planting material by supporting the setting up of new nurseries and strengthening of existing ones.
• Objectives:
  • To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income.
  • To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of production.
  • To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship etc.
• Implementation: It is being implemented through the state nodal department which is nominated by the State/UT governments concerned.
• The selection of beneficiaries: The selection of beneficiaries and delivery of assistance are being carried out by the State Bamboo Mission/State Bamboo Development agency stationed at the State/UT nodal department for implimenting the National Bamboo Mission

SHE STEM 2022 encourages students to ‘Unleash their imagination’ as part of the Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week

• SHE STEM is a flagship event of the Nobel Memorial Week and aims to amplify the contribution of women innovators, technologists, scientists, and founders in the fields of STEM and sustainability
• The annual event is organised by the Embassy of Sweden in India in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and the German Centre of Innovation and Research (DWIH New Delhi).
• Its objective is to encourage young female leaders to join and pursue careers in the fields of STEM , as well as to nudge others to interact with women in leadership positions in STEM fields.