American black vulture spotted in Delhi, creates a flutter among birdwatchers

• Black vultures are most abundant at low elevations. They breed in dense woodlands but usually forage in open habitats.
• It is mainly found in the northeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay South America.
• They typically avoid crossing large bodies of water and do not cover long distances.
• Conservation status
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

‘Nitrate radicals’ are likely making air pollution worse in China, India

• Nitrate radical is an oxide of nitrogen that consists of three oxygen atoms bound to a nitrogen atom.
• These radicals could increase the amount of unhealthy ozone and PM2.5 fine particulate matter in the atmosphere.
• Nitrate radicals will oxidise gas pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• These VOCs will then generate ozone and secondary organic aerosol, both deteriorates air quality.
• The Ozone is an air pollutant that affects human health and crop yield.
• The synthesis of nitrate radicals rises at night in some regions of India, particularly in northern India.
• Reducing the emissions of VOCs could reduce this night-time oxidation in India and China.

5-day SCO film festival underway in India''s Mumbai city

• It is being organized by the National Film Development Corporation, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in association with the SCO Council of Heads of States.
• Aim: To build cinematic partnerships, have an exchange of programmes, nurture young filmmaking talent and act as a bridge between the cultures of the Shanghai Cooperation.
• As part of the SCO Film Festival in India, it is endeavoured to showcase selected films from the Members, Observer States and Dialogue partners States.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

• The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation. It is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance and has been the primary security pillar of the region.
• It was established in 2001 and was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
• The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation.
• The organisation has two permanent bodies:
  • The SCO Secretariat is based in
  • The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is based in Tashkent.
• Member countries: India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Four observer states Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.

Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, and criticism of the holy book

• Tulsidas, whose real name was Ram Bola Dubey, wrote the Ramcharitmanas on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi.
• The Ramcharitmanas was written in the 16th century in the Awadhi dialect, which is primarily spoken in the districts of Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.
• He was a contemporary of Emperor Akbar and is thought to have corresponded with Abdurrahim Khan-e-Khanan, the son of Akbar''s commander Bairam Khan.
• Tulsidas popularised the story of Lord Ram because he wrote in the regional dialect that most people understood.
• This enraged ancient Sanskrit scholars, and Tulsidas documented his anguish in his Kavitawali.

Grievance Appellate Committees to handle user complaints against social media firms from March 1: IT Ministry

• The central government notified three Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) under an amendment to IT Rules 2021.
• Composition
  • Each of the three GACs will have a chairperson, two whole-time members from various government entities and retired senior executives from the industry.
  • Term: Three years from the date of assumption of office.
• The GAC will be a virtual digital platform that will operate only online and the digitally entire process, from the filing of an appeal to the decision, will be conducted digitally.
• Users will have the option to appeal against the decision of the grievance officer of the social media intermediaries and other online intermediaries before this new appellate body.
• The Committee will endeavour to address the user''s appeal within 30 days.

Central government renames Mughal Gardens as Amrit Udyan

• These are developed in Islamic architectural style by the Mughals in India and other countries.
• These gardens are frequently seen as a place for relaxation and meditation.
• Examples: The Taj Mahal Garden, Agra Fort, Humayun''s Tomb Garden, and the Red Fort Garden.
• Design:
  • This gardening design was influenced by Persian, namely the Charbagh structure.
  • Gardens are formal in style; symmetrically designed in rectangular or square
  • The garden area is divided into four plots by water channels. These four channels represent four rivers of life.
  • The running water provides coolness and freshness to the garden.
  • The four plots are planted with trees, shrubs, etc.,
  • The axis is straight and central and sometimes represented by trees line.
  • The water pool created in the centre with over flowing water serves as the central specimen.
  • Fountains, cascades are linked to the central pool to create scenic beauty.
  • Mughal gardens are surrounded by a high, robust wall. The wall''s summit is decorated with serrated battlements.
  • The entrances are often towering and beautiful. The doors are massive wooden structures studded with hefty iron nails and spikes.

Sea winds erode 11th century Sundarbans temple

Jatar Deul temple:

• It is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Location: Located at Kanakan Dighi Village in South 24 Parganas District in West Bengal.
• The Temple stands on a small hill in the landscape of the southern Sundarbans settlements.
• A copper plate found near the temple in 1875 suggests that Raja Joychandra constructed the temple in 975 AD.
• The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Structure:
  • This temple is facing towards the east and follows the Kalingan style of architecture.
  • The temple is built over a raised platform.
  • It has an arched gateway leading to the sanctum.
  • The sanctum is situated below the ground level.
  • The sanctum houses Lingas, pictures and idols of various gods & goddesses of Hindu pantheon.
  • The walls of the temple were intricately decorated with decorative bricks, but most of it is lost due to unplanned reconstruction.

Kalingan style of architecture:

• It is a style of Hindu architecture which flourished in the ancient Kalinga previously known as Utkal and part of the kingdom of Magadha or present eastern Indian state of Odisha.
• In Kalinga style – the temple is made up of two structures: a tower and hall. The Tower is called ‘Deula’, and the hall is called ‘Jagmohan’.
• The style consists of three distinct types of temples: Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula. .
  • Rekha Deula: It is a tall building with a sikhara. The Rekha Deula means a **shrine with different parts in a line.**Eg: Rekha Deula in the Lingraj Temple of Bhubneshwar.
  • Pidha Deula: Pidha Deula refers to the square building with a pyramid-shaped roof, like the vimanas.Eg: The assembly hall of the Konark Sun Temple.
  • Khakhara Deula: It is altogether a different style of architecture closely appearing **similar to the Dravidian Gopuran design.**The temples of the feminine deities as Shakti are temple of this type. Eg: Baitala temple of Bhubneshwar dedicated to Chamunda.

Goa seeks early Supreme Court hearing on river water dispute with Karnataka

• The Karnataka government recently received clearance from the Central government for two Detailed Project Reports (DPR) on the Kalasa-Banduri water diversion project on the Mahadayi River.

Mahadayi river:

• Origin: Mahadayi river rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district.
• The river travels 35 km in Karnataka; 82 km in Goa before joining the Arabian Sea at Panji (North-Goa).
• Also called Mandovi in Goa, Mahadayi is a rain-fed river that is shared between Karnataka and Goa for their water needs.
• The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao in the Mandovi river.
• Major Tributaries: Kalasa Nala, Banduri Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala, Andher Nala.

Kalasa-Banduri project

• The project involves the construction of dams and a canal system to divert water from the Mahadayi River, located in Goa, to the Malaprabha River (a tributary of Krishna river) basin in Karnataka.
• The main goal of the project is to meet the drinking water needs of the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag in Karnataka.
• The project was proposed by the Karnataka Government in the 1980s, but faced opposition from the state of Goa.

Arunachal yields India''s newest butterfly

• It is a swallowtail butterfly with a wingspan of 100–120 mm.
• It has an extra white spot in the dorsum of the forewing.
• Scientific name: Papilio noblei
• Distribution: They are found in Myanmar, Yunnan, Hubai (China), North Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.
• The species is known to be very rare in occurrence in its previously known ranges.

Namdapha National Park:

• Location:
  • It lies on the international border between India and Myanmar (Burma) within Changlang District in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Namdapha protected area is located between Dapha Bum ridge of Mishmi Hills, of North Eastern Himalayas and Patkai Ranges.
  • It lies in close proximity to the Indo-Myanmar-China trijunction.
• It is the largest protected region of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.
• It was declared a National Park in 1983.
• Climate:It falls within the geographical sub-tropical zone and enjoys the sub-tropical climate.
• Biodiversity:
  • It is only park in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa).
  • Hoolock Gibbons (Hylobates Hoolock), a highly endangered and only ‘ape’ species found in India is found in this national park.
  • The park is also famous for critically endangered species like the Namdapha flying squirrel.
  • Flora: Sapria himalayana, Amentotaxus, Cephalotaxus, Pinus merkusii (Sumatran pine) and Abies delavayi (Delavay''s Fir) etc.
  • Fauna: Snow leopards, clouded leopards, common leopards, tigers,Red Panda,Himalayan bear, dholes, wolves, Hoolock Gibbon, hog deer etc.

1st image of Melanistic Asiatic golden cat captured in Bengal

• According to the experts, these are the first photographic records of the melanistic Asian golden cat, also known as the Temminck’s cat, from West Bengal.

Asian golden cat:

• It is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs.
• Scientific name: Catopuma temminckii
• Other names: They are known as the “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma, and as the “rock cat” in parts of China.
• Distribution: The species occurs in Southeast Asia, from Nepal and Tibet to Southern China, Sumatra and India.
• Habitat: It prefers forest habitats that are interspersed with rocky areas, being found in deciduous, tropical and subtropical evergreen rainforests.
• Their fur ranges in color from cinnamon to various shades of brown, and also gray and black (melanistic).
• Conservation status:
  • **IUCN: “**Near threatened”
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule 1

Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR):

• Location: BTR lies in Alipurduar sub-division of Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.
• Its northern boundary runs along the international border with Bhutan.
• It is the easternmost extension of extreme bio-diverse North-East India & represents the highly endemic Indo-Malayan region.
• The fragile "Terai Eco-System" constitutes a part of this Reserve.
• BTR serves as an international corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan.
• The reserve encompasses as many as eight forest types.
• Flora: The main species constitutes trees like Sal, Champ, Gamar, Simul, Chikrasi.
• Fauna: The main species include Asian Elephant, Tiger, Gaur, Wild boar, Sambar,Wild dog (Dhole).