Current concern about biodiversity in the North-East Region
The current concern is with regard to the large number of endangered species in the region. The pressure of deforestation, jhum cultivation, mining, forest fires, soil erosion, encroachment, urbanization, degradation of water bodies are some reasons which have led to the loss of habitat, and hence dwindling of the population of many species, bringing them under the endangered category,
Disappearance of endemic species is a matter of serious concern. Since such species of plants and animals are unique to the region, their disappearance could eventually lead to their total extinction. A region qualifies as a global hotspot if it has at least 0.5 percent endemism. In case of the Indo Burma hotspot of which the North East is a part, the endemism is 25 percent. Hence the serious concern about preserving the biodiversity of the region.
Conservation:-The immense biodiversity of the Northeasten Region has made it a priority area for investment by the leading conservation agencies of the world. World wildlife foundation has identified the entire eastern Himalaya as a priority Global 200 Ecoregion; India was categorized earlier on as one of the twelve mega diversity countries in the world. Subsequently the eastern Himalayan region covering Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling and parts of Nepal was identified as a biodiversity hotspot. These are regions that have high biological diversity, high endemism but are under severe anthropogenic threat. In 2000, this region was brought under the larger Indo-Burma hotspot which is the world’s second largest biodiversity hotspot after the Mediterranean Basin.
Recognizing the region as a global biodiversity hotspot means concerted efforts in the region by conservation agencies. There global and five national priority setting exercised have been carried out to identify key sites and species that are unique or important socially, culturally and environmentally. Priority areas, corridors etc have been identified for conservation purposes. The Assam plains and eastern Himalayas have been identified as Endemic Bird Areas; in addition 59 Important Bird Areas have been identified for conservation of endangered species of birds. WWF has identified the following Priority Ecoregions-Brahmaputra Valley Semievergreen Forests, Eastern Himalaya broadleaved forests, Eastern Himalaya subalpine coniferous forest and India-Myanmar pine forests. A priority ecoregion is a relatively large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct set of natural communities that share a majority of their species, ecological dynamics and environment conditions and function together as a conservation unit at global and regional scales. Since ecoregions as usually large areas, smaller critical landscapes are identified within ecoregions for focused conservation purposes. The WWF has identified the following critical landscapes-the western Arunachal landscape in Arunachal Pradesh, the Khangchendzonga landscape in Sikkim and Darjeeling the north bank landscape and the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscapes in Assam.
On the national level there have been projects like Planning a Protected Area Network for designing scientifically robust and viable network of protected areas; Biodiversity Conservation Prioritization Project that attempted to identify priority sites and species on the basis of their biological and socioeconomic values and to develop strategies for their conservation at a national scale; the state biodiversity conservation strategy and action plants etc.
The Botanical Survey of India published the Indian Red Data Books on plants to highlight the rare, endangered, and threatened species. The Tropical Botanical Garden Research Institute’s publication on the endemic plants hotspots of India, Bhutan, and Nepal provides an account of endemic plants in the Sikkimand Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas the Naga and Manipur Hills, the Lushai-Mizo Hills, and the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The Foundation for Revitalization of local Health Traditions, Bangalore used a conservation assessment and management prioritization study to develop tax on data sheets for the medicinal plants of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim. Fifty-one plant species were assessed, of which 47 were found to be threatened in one or more states. Of these, six were globally threatened. Assam and one, Meghalaya had two, Sikkim had two, and one was common to all the states. WWF-India, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute of the United States, made an assessment of the floral richness of the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and Nameri National Park, Biodiversity richness was found to be comparable with many other regions of the globe.
Hit topis G.S. for P.T. and MAINS
Nuclear Plant -safety
There are four important aspects of safety in a nuclear power plant. To counter any risk from Tsunami and cyclones, the plant is elevated, to a minimum height of 6 metre (pump house) and the auxiliary diesel sets are at a height of 9.3 metre with a redundancy of four times in the diesel generators. Kudankulum plant has installed 154 Hydrogen recombiners across the plant which can absorb any leaked hydrogen and prevent any structural damage.
2. Thermal Hydraulic Safety:-The most advanced safety feature in the Kudankulum plant is the installation of the Passive Heat Removal System (PHRS) which is latest in technology to ensure rapid cooling of the reactor in the event of a reactor problem. The PHRS is a unique steam recirculation system which can continue to cool the plant in the event of the failure of AC power and even when the worst possible scenario of coolant malfunction has occurred, without leaking any radiation in the atmosphere.
Neutronic Safety:-In any nuclear plant the most important cause of failure can be the loss of ability to control the neutrons being generated which is done by a system called control rods. Besides the control rods, the Kudankulum Plant has uniquely implemented the latest technology-The Core Catcher.This is basically an underlying structure with Gadolium oxide which would “catch the neutrons” in the event of a highly unlikely meltdown.
Waste Management:-A popular myth is that nuclear waste is domped into the oceans which kills marine life and contaminates water. This is completely false. Yes, many decades ago, some of the nations used to dump nuclear waste in deep oceans away from habitat but that practice is over now. With the closed loop cycle the waste generated per year from 1000 MW plant is less than 3 percent and that after vitrification would not occupy a space of about 6 cubic metres.
Environmental and Safety issues:- The pollution caused by power generation activities, and the climate change associated with them, are directly or indirectly responsible for about 481,000 deaths every year. Comparatively, in the case of the worst civilian nuclear disaster ever at Chernobyl, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic radiation (UNSCEAR) predicted up to 4,000 cancer cases (often curable) due to the accident, besides 57 direct causalities.
Throughout the history of nuclear power generation there have been four major incidents of plant failure-the Kyshtym accident in fuel reprocessing in 1957, the relatively smaller. Three Mile Island meltdown (United States), the much bigger Chernobyl accident (USSR, 1986) and the recent Japanese incident at Fukushima. The first accident was purely due to underdeveloped technology. Even in the case of the Fukushima disaster of 2011, there were extraordinary natural forces in action-The occurrence of four failures in six decades cannot be made out as a case for completely disbanding the technology.
Nuclear fuel of the future:- Thorium is far more abundant, by about four times, than the traditional nuclear fuel, Uranium, and occurs in a far purer form, too. It is believed that the amount of energy contained in the Thorium reserves on earth is more than the combined total energy that is left in petroleum, coal other fossil fuels and Uranium, all put together. India might have the largest reserves of Thorium in the world, with over 650,000 tonnes. In comparison, we have barely 1 percent of the world’s Uranium deposits. Thorium may be able to generate (through Uranium-233 that could be produced form it) eight times the amount of energy per unit mass compared to (natural) Uranium. It produces waste that it relatively less toxic. Being the largest owner of Thorium, the opportunity is for India to vigorously pursue its existing nuclear programmes with a special focus on research and development on the Thorium route as the long term sustainable option.
There are four important aspects of safety in a nuclear power plant. To counter any risk from Tsunami and cyclones, the plant is elevated, to a minimum height of 6 metre (pump house) and the auxiliary diesel sets are at a height of 9.3 metre with a redundancy of four times in the diesel generators. Kudankulum plant has installed 154 Hydrogen recombiners across the plant which can absorb any leaked hydrogen and prevent any structural damage.
2. Thermal Hydraulic Safety:-The most advanced safety feature in the Kudankulum plant is the installation of the Passive Heat Removal System (PHRS) which is latest in technology to ensure rapid cooling of the reactor in the event of a reactor problem. The PHRS is a unique steam recirculation system which can continue to cool the plant in the event of the failure of AC power and even when the worst possible scenario of coolant malfunction has occurred, without leaking any radiation in the atmosphere.
Neutronic Safety:-In any nuclear plant the most important cause of failure can be the loss of ability to control the neutrons being generated which is done by a system called control rods. Besides the control rods, the Kudankulum Plant has uniquely implemented the latest technology-The Core Catcher.This is basically an underlying structure with Gadolium oxide which would “catch the neutrons” in the event of a highly unlikely meltdown.
Waste Management:-A popular myth is that nuclear waste is domped into the oceans which kills marine life and contaminates water. This is completely false. Yes, many decades ago, some of the nations used to dump nuclear waste in deep oceans away from habitat but that practice is over now. With the closed loop cycle the waste generated per year from 1000 MW plant is less than 3 percent and that after vitrification would not occupy a space of about 6 cubic metres.
Environmental and Safety issues:- The pollution caused by power generation activities, and the climate change associated with them, are directly or indirectly responsible for about 481,000 deaths every year. Comparatively, in the case of the worst civilian nuclear disaster ever at Chernobyl, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic radiation (UNSCEAR) predicted up to 4,000 cancer cases (often curable) due to the accident, besides 57 direct causalities.
Throughout the history of nuclear power generation there have been four major incidents of plant failure-the Kyshtym accident in fuel reprocessing in 1957, the relatively smaller. Three Mile Island meltdown (United States), the much bigger Chernobyl accident (USSR, 1986) and the recent Japanese incident at Fukushima. The first accident was purely due to underdeveloped technology. Even in the case of the Fukushima disaster of 2011, there were extraordinary natural forces in action-The occurrence of four failures in six decades cannot be made out as a case for completely disbanding the technology.
Nuclear fuel of the future:- Thorium is far more abundant, by about four times, than the traditional nuclear fuel, Uranium, and occurs in a far purer form, too. It is believed that the amount of energy contained in the Thorium reserves on earth is more than the combined total energy that is left in petroleum, coal other fossil fuels and Uranium, all put together. India might have the largest reserves of Thorium in the world, with over 650,000 tonnes. In comparison, we have barely 1 percent of the world’s Uranium deposits. Thorium may be able to generate (through Uranium-233 that could be produced form it) eight times the amount of energy per unit mass compared to (natural) Uranium. It produces waste that it relatively less toxic. Being the largest owner of Thorium, the opportunity is for India to vigorously pursue its existing nuclear programmes with a special focus on research and development on the Thorium route as the long term sustainable option.
UPSC Notification for 2012 civil services
UPSC Notification published on Feb. 4,2012for Civil Services (P) Exam 2012.
There is no change in the Mains Exam pattern.
Prelims Examination of the civil services will be conducted on 20th may 2012 in accordance with the rules published on 4th Feb 2012. Candidates are required to apply online by using the website http:// www.upsceonline.nic.in.
Last date for the receipt of the applications upto 5th March 2012 till 11.59 PM after which the link will be disabled.
Numbers of Vacancies to be filled on the result of the examination is expected to be approximately 1037For Details Employment News:-www.employgmentnew.gov.in
Regards O.P.Singh
There is no change in the Mains Exam pattern.
Prelims Examination of the civil services will be conducted on 20th may 2012 in accordance with the rules published on 4th Feb 2012. Candidates are required to apply online by using the website http:// www.upsceonline.nic.in.
Last date for the receipt of the applications upto 5th March 2012 till 11.59 PM after which the link will be disabled.
Numbers of Vacancies to be filled on the result of the examination is expected to be approximately 1037For Details Employment News:-www.employgmentnew.gov.in
Regards O.P.Singh
Important Current Topics for PT & Mains
What is the Convention on Global Tax Co-operation ?
India on Nov.4 2011 signed the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters,developed jointly by the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD. All members of the G20 have now become signatories to the Convention which will have to be ratified by the Indian Parliament to become law.
Speaking at the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh called on world leaders to address the problem of tax havens and illicit money outflows. “Tax evasion and illicit flows have seen the migration of tax bases in developing countries abroad and are serious problems,” the Prime Minister told the 6th G20 Summit here.
Basic Objectives:
1-The Convention facilitates international co-operation for a better operation of the fundamental rights of taxpayers.
2-The Convention provides for all possible forms of administrative co-operation between states in the assessment and collection of taxes, in particular with a view to combating tax avoidance and evasion.
3- This co-operation ranges from exchange of information, including automatic exchanges to the recovery of foreign tax claims.
4-The Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters offers a wide range of tools for cross-border tax co-operation.
5-It includes automatic exchange of information, multilateral simultaneous tax examinations and international assistance in the collection of tax due.
At the same time, the Convention imposes safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information exchanged. The relevance of the convention lies in the context of growing economic offences especially in India .
New global Internet Governance Mechanism
India recently presented to the United Nations a proposal for the establishment of a Committee for Internet-Related Policies (CIRP) for giving push to a new global internet mechanism. This committee will help to frame international public policies on issues relating to Internet governance.
The proposal , formally submitted to the 66th session of the U. N. General Assembly contains the following format-
1-The United Nations Committee for Internet-Related Policies should consist of 50 member-states, “chosen elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation” and four advisor groups, one each for civil society, the private sector, the inter-governmental and international organizations and the technical and academic community.
2-The advisory groups will provide “inputs and recommendations to the CIRP”. “The CIRP will report directly to the General Asembly and present recommendations consideration, adoption and dissemination among all relevant inter-governmental bodies and international organizations” .
Encephalitis-problem and strategy:
Problem
Japanese encephalitis (JE) and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) poses a serious challenge before the government. The disease is now being reported from 135 districts of 17 States, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal in addition to the northern belt. Already 861 lives have been lost to the disease, over 470 of them in eastern Uttar Pradesh alone. The disease has become an annual affair in Purvanchal since 2005.
The disease affects mostly children below the age of 15 years, of which 25 per cent die,and among the survivors about 30-40 per cent suffer from physical and mental impairment. Between 70 and 75 per cent of the cases are reported from Uttar Pradesh.
1. The central Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted in Nov.2011 held its meeting to discuss short , medium, and long-term measures needed to deal with the disease.
2. The Centre wants the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to conduct a systematic survey to estimate disability burden establish rehabilitation units at district level, set up special schools for mentally challenged children in JE/AES-affected areas and fix monthly compensation for below poverty line families having children with disabilities due to JE/AES.
3. The Ministers, agreed that schools could be used as platforms for the vaccination drives while HUPA would be involved in checking the spread of the disease in urban slums.
4. The GoM was in agreement on the issue that a “multipronged strategy encompassing prevention, case management and rehbilitation measures are needed to deal with it”. This could be implemented only through the active engagement of various Ministries.
India on Nov.4 2011 signed the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters,developed jointly by the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD. All members of the G20 have now become signatories to the Convention which will have to be ratified by the Indian Parliament to become law.
Speaking at the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh called on world leaders to address the problem of tax havens and illicit money outflows. “Tax evasion and illicit flows have seen the migration of tax bases in developing countries abroad and are serious problems,” the Prime Minister told the 6th G20 Summit here.
Basic Objectives:
1-The Convention facilitates international co-operation for a better operation of the fundamental rights of taxpayers.
2-The Convention provides for all possible forms of administrative co-operation between states in the assessment and collection of taxes, in particular with a view to combating tax avoidance and evasion.
3- This co-operation ranges from exchange of information, including automatic exchanges to the recovery of foreign tax claims.
4-The Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters offers a wide range of tools for cross-border tax co-operation.
5-It includes automatic exchange of information, multilateral simultaneous tax examinations and international assistance in the collection of tax due.
At the same time, the Convention imposes safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information exchanged. The relevance of the convention lies in the context of growing economic offences especially in India .
New global Internet Governance Mechanism
India recently presented to the United Nations a proposal for the establishment of a Committee for Internet-Related Policies (CIRP) for giving push to a new global internet mechanism. This committee will help to frame international public policies on issues relating to Internet governance.
The proposal , formally submitted to the 66th session of the U. N. General Assembly contains the following format-
1-The United Nations Committee for Internet-Related Policies should consist of 50 member-states, “chosen elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation” and four advisor groups, one each for civil society, the private sector, the inter-governmental and international organizations and the technical and academic community.
2-The advisory groups will provide “inputs and recommendations to the CIRP”. “The CIRP will report directly to the General Asembly and present recommendations consideration, adoption and dissemination among all relevant inter-governmental bodies and international organizations” .
Encephalitis-problem and strategy:
Problem
Japanese encephalitis (JE) and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) poses a serious challenge before the government. The disease is now being reported from 135 districts of 17 States, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal in addition to the northern belt. Already 861 lives have been lost to the disease, over 470 of them in eastern Uttar Pradesh alone. The disease has become an annual affair in Purvanchal since 2005.
The disease affects mostly children below the age of 15 years, of which 25 per cent die,and among the survivors about 30-40 per cent suffer from physical and mental impairment. Between 70 and 75 per cent of the cases are reported from Uttar Pradesh.
1. The central Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted in Nov.2011 held its meeting to discuss short , medium, and long-term measures needed to deal with the disease.
2. The Centre wants the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to conduct a systematic survey to estimate disability burden establish rehabilitation units at district level, set up special schools for mentally challenged children in JE/AES-affected areas and fix monthly compensation for below poverty line families having children with disabilities due to JE/AES.
3. The Ministers, agreed that schools could be used as platforms for the vaccination drives while HUPA would be involved in checking the spread of the disease in urban slums.
4. The GoM was in agreement on the issue that a “multipronged strategy encompassing prevention, case management and rehbilitation measures are needed to deal with it”. This could be implemented only through the active engagement of various Ministries.
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