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Posted 08 Apr 2024

8 min read

Sittwe Port (Myanmar)

India has secured the right to operate its second overseas port (after Chabahar in Iran), Sittwe, after approval by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

About Sittwe Port
- Deep water port located at the estuary of Kaladan River in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
- Developed as a part of Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant in aid assistance from GoI.
- Significance: Will open new opportunities for India’s Northeast for trade and transit,enhance trade and commerce between India and Myanmar, etc.

Enrolment under PMFBY in FY 2023-24 saw an increase of 27% as compared to the previous FY.

About PMFBY
- Launched in 2016.
- Type: Central Sector Scheme conceptualized and administered by the Central Government and implemented by concerned State/ UT Governments.
- Objective: To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
- Features
  - Covers all the stages of the crop production cycle.
  - Uniform premium of 2% (Kharif), 1.5% (Rabi), and 5% (Horticultural crops).

Scientists have discovered the sudden reversal in the direction of the Arctic Polar Vortex spin
- Sudden Stratospheric Warming events which caused more ozone from lower latitudes to move around the Arctic could have led to the change in the direction.

About Polar Vortex
- It refers to the low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles.
- It is held by strong wind currents that flow anti-clockwise around the polar region.
- It is weaker in the summer and stronger during the winter.

The Centre has recently issued a draft notification demarcating an ESZ around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.

About ESZ
- They are ecologically important and fragile areas around protected areas.
- Notified by central government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- ESZ Guidelines classify activities under three categories:
  - Prohibited: Commercial Mining, Setting of industries causing pollution, etc.
  - Regulated: Felling of Trees, Establishment of hotels and resorts, etc.
  - Permitted: Ongoing agriculture and horticulture practices by local communities, dairy farming, etc

The state of Jharkhand is taking many steps for the restoration and conservation of River Damodar.

Damodar River:
- Origin: Khamarpat Hill on Chotanagpur Plateau in Palamau district of Jharkhand.
- It is a sub-basin and part of the Ganges River System.
- Tributaries: Barakar, Konar, Bokaro, Haharo, Jamnia, Ghari, etc.
- It was earlier known as the “River of Sorrows”.
- As it flows through the mineral-rich areas, it is severely affected by the pollution due to industries.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (formerly Ross Island) is facing an invasion of chital deer.

About Chital
- Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka up to the geographical barrier of the Himalayas.
  - Native to the Indian subcontinent
- Habitats: Riverine forest during the hot dry season while Sal forest during the monsoon season.
- Features:
  - Gestation period: Around 231 - 235 days.
  - Food and Feeding: Grasses, but also forbs, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
  - Antlers are present only in males.
- Status: Least Concern( IUCN)
- Threats: Illegal hunting, habitat loss and degradation due to human encroachment and spread of invasive alien plant species.

A study by IIT Madras reveals the pervasive presence of PFAS (also known as ‘Forever Chemicals’) in Buckingham Canal, Adyar River, and Chembarambakkam Lake.

About PFAS
- PFAS are a vast family of synthetic chemicals found in everyday products such as non-stick cookware, upholstery, food packaging, water or stain resistant coatings, and industrial materials.
- They do not degrade easily in the environment.
- Concerns: Could lead to adverse health effects such as liver damage, low infant birth weights, hormonal imbalance, fertility issues, immune system effects, and even cancer.

The events of climate change have disrupted the normal life of the Changpa tribe.

About Changpa Tribe
- They are Semi-nomadic tribes of Tibetan origin living in the plains of eastern Ladakh.
- The majority of them are pastoralists and rear Changra goats that yield the Pashmina (Cashmere) fibre and also yaks.
- They profess Tibetan Buddhism and live in conical yak-skin tents called reboo.