Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports ShriKirenRijiju chaired the 1st General Council meeting of the Khelo India Scheme today and addressed officials of state sports departments and other central ministries. Speaking at the meeting, he urged the states to organise State-level Khelo India Games annually with an effort to identify a larger number of grassroot-level talents. The meeting was attended by Sports Secretary Shri Ravi MittalMittal; Director General, Sports Authority of India, Shri Sandip Pradhan and other senior officials of the sports ministry.

Shri Rijiju said,“The annual competitions being organized at the national level under the Khelo India Scheme, like the Khelo India Youth Games and University Games, have helped to identify sporting talent from all states. However, that is not enough. Every state can organize annual Khelo India Games to identify grassroot-level talent and to give a larger platform to sporting talent from the state. States that already conduct annual sporting competitions can align with the Khelo India Scheme and the Centre will support them in conducting these events.”

Speaking about the importance of identifying grassroot-level talent, the Sports Minister said, “To make India a sporting superpower, we need to identify talent as young as 5-10 years old and groom them to be future champions. It takes at least 8 years to groom an athlete for the Olympics, and if we identify talent at a later stage, then their chances of making it to the Olympic podium is limited. Therefore, the states must concentrate on identifying young talent and to do that organizing competitions at the state, district, block and panchayat-level is crucial.”

The Sports Minister spoke of the 5 zonal talent scouting committees that are being planned for east, west, north, south and north east India and asked for active participation of the states in assisting these committees in identifying grassroot-level talent in 24 sporting disciplines. “Identified talent can then be trained at state government or SAI centers. We need inputs from the state governments in identifying talent,” he said.

The Minister also stressed on the need for states to identify their best sporting infrastructure for the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE), on priority. “We have already identified 8 states where KISCE will be set up. The Sports Ministry has also received proposals from 13 states, which are being finalized.

The KISCE is a great opportunity for states to have a state-of-the-art infrastructure in training senior athletes from all over the country in select sports and excelling in them. The Centre is ready to fund and support the states in this, and therefore, I urge every state to urgently identify the infrastructure that they would like to earmark for KISCE.”

Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent charge) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel virtually inaugurated the “Thenzawl Golf Resort” Project implemented under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in the presence of Tourism Minister of MizoramShri Robert RomawiaRoyte and Commissioner and Secretary for Tourism Department of Government of MizoramSmt. Esther LalRuatkimi in New Delhi today.

The Project was sanctioned under the Integrated Development of New Eco Tourism under Swadesh Darshan- North East Circuit at Thenzawl& South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek, Mizoram with a sanctioned amount of Rs.92.25 Crore out of which an amount of Rs.64.48 Crore was sanctioned for various components at Thenzawl including the Golf Course.

Golf tourism in India particularly, has a strong potential since the climatic condition is more favourable here as compared to most countries. The picturesque landscapes of the country and exceptional hospitality services too, add to the enhanced experience of golf tourism in India. Today India boasts of more than 230 golf courses in all. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India endeavours to work as a catalyst and active supporter for the development of Golf Tourism in the country.

India has several golf courses of international standards and golf events held in India also attract domestic and international tourists. In order to tap the growing interest in golf tourism, the Ministry of Tourism is creating a comprehensive and coordinated framework for promoting golf tourism in India as a niche tourism product for attracting both International and domestic tourists.

The Golf Course at Thenzawl is designed by Graham Cooke and Associates, one of the top-ranked Canada based Golf Course architectural firm. The total site area is 105 acres and the play area is 75 acres - 18 Hole Golf Course with Sharing Fairway and automated sprinkler irrigation system by Rain Bird, USA. It is designed to have facilities of international standards. There are 30 Eco-Log Huts, Cafeteria, Open Air Food Court, Reception area and Waiting Lounge etc, all constructed with Siberian Pinewood and fully furnished with world class furniture and fixtures.

The Ministry of petroleum and Natural Gasvide Resolution dated 08.11.2019 has simplified the guidelines for grant of authorization for bulk and retail marketing of Motor Spirit (Petrol) and High Speed Diesel (Diesel). The simplified guidelines aim at increasing private sector participation in the marketing of MS and HSD.

An entity desirous of seeking authorization for either retail or bulk must have a minimum net worth of Rs.250crore at the time of making application (Rs.500crore in case of authorization for both retail and bulk). Applications may be submitted in prescribed Application Form directly to the Ministry.

For retail authorization, the entity is required to set up at least 100 retail outlets. The policy has opened up the marketing sector of Petroleum products by removing the strict conditions applicable earlier. The policy has the potential to revolutionise marketing of Transport fuels in the country.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar launched Doordarshan Assam, a 24-hour dedicated channel for the State, via video conferencing from New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said “the channel is a gift to people of Assam and this channel will cater to all sections of the population of Assam and will be immensely popular.”

The Minister said that it is important that all States have their own Doordarshan channel. The channels of other States are available on DD Free Dish. The Minister applauded the programmes on six national channels of Doordarshan. Re-iterating Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of turning North East into India’s growth engine, Shri Javadekar said that the region has immense natural and human resource potential, and the connectivity has been improving steadily. The Doordarshan channel in Assam is part of a never-before focus on North East under the current Government.

The Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, joined the occasion from Assam. Calling it a significant day for the people of Assam, the Minister said “this channel will boost the growth of Assam in all spheres of human activities, while at the same time help percolate the initiatives and programmes of the Government to grassroots.” Shri Sonowal acknowledged the commitment of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, saying “PM Modi, from day one, has been sincerely trying to focus on the true potential and possibilities of north-east.”

Professor Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam, while addressing the occasion over video conference, said “it is a happy moment for all of us in Assam because the public broadcaster is adding a feather to its kitty with the launch of DD Assam.” Heaping praise on Doordarshan Kendra Guwahati, Prof. Mukhi said that because of its relentless roles, the unique, rich and colourful culture of Assam received patronage from all over the country.

Secretary, Min. Of I&B, Shri Amit Khare, present at the Doordarshan Kendra in New Delhi, said that since the launch of DD ArunPrabha by the Prime Minister last year, the Ministry was discussing the conversion of DD North East to a new channel exclusively for Assam. Shri Khare stressed that Assam is the gateway to north-east and north-east is the gateway to ASEAN countries added that the State can be a great link between India and ASEAN. The Secretary said “I am sure DD Assam will provide a new platform for the emerging talent of the region and bring the rest of India closer to north-east and also make the talent of north-east to all of India.”

Shri Khare further added “DD Assam would also be contributing in a major way to the educational development of the State like other regional channels. DD Assam will be another milestone in our effort to provide online education in regional languages across States.”

Shri Shashi ShekharVempati, CEO, Prasar Bharti, said that with the launch of DD Assam, all States in North-East now have State specific channel and for the first time the rich diversity of North-East has a satellite footprint which can be viewed anywhere in India through DD Free Dish platform.

Background: DD North East channel was conceived as 24x7 composite channels by PrasarBharati for all 8 States of North East Region, and commissioned on 01.11.1990; launched on 15.08.1994 and was made 24 Hrs channel from 27.12.2000.

DD ArunPrabha channel was later introduced for Arunachal Pradesh which is being beamed from Itanagar. DD Arunprabha channel was launched by the Prime Minister on 09.02.2019.

Subsequently PrasarBharati decided to put all the other limited hours channels originating from capital of different North-Eastern States on ‘DD Free Dish” to have national connect. Five channels for states of North-Eastern region namely, DD Meghalaya, DD Mizoram, DD Tripura, DD Manipur and DD Nagaland beamed from Doordarshan Kendra Shillong, Aizawl, Agartala, Imphal, Kohima respectively have been placed on DD FreeDish(DTH) Platform w.e.f. 9th March 2019.

It was subsequently felt appropriate to repurpose DD North East channel into exclusive channel for Assam. This 24X7 channel which is being beamed from Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati is dedicated to the people and culture of state of Assam and will have around 6 hours fresh Assamese programming with specific slots for languages such as Bodo. Test transmission of DD Assam commenced from 1st December 2019.

During the current Covid-19 crisis, as an interim measures, the uplinking is being done on the channels originated from North Eastern states round-the-clock. From the month of April 2020, DD Nagaland, DD Tripura, DD Manipur, DD Meghalaya, DD Mizoram have been converted provisionally into 27x7 channels from limited hours channels by utilizing the DD News/DD India streams given the limited resources available at the respective originating Kendras. This is ensuring that no channel remains blank and all DD channels carry content 24x7 through a combination of local news/content during specified hours and national news at all other times.

Efforts are being made to telecast attractive content on DD Assam which will include mega-serials, music programmes, travelogues, reality shows, feature films etc. The content thus will have ethnic touch highlighting cuisine, textiles, folk culture and tribal life of the region.

Guidance videos produced by NCDC on ‘Formation and Registration of A Cooperative’ for eighteen different states also launched Posted On: 04 AUG 2020 7:20PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar today launched the Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel, a new initiative by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). Speaking on the occasion, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is in the forefront of operationalizing different aspects of Atma Nirbhar Bharat call given by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Cooperatives have a major role in the country in realizing the Prime Minister’s dreams. Shri Tomar also launched guidance videos produced by NCDC on ‘Formation and Registration of A Cooperative’ for eighteen different states in Hindi and regional languages.

Shri Tomar said that the Union Government under Atma Nirbhar Bharat has recently announced a series of transformative measures and sector specific financial packages to help agriculture. The initiatives are steps towards One Nation One Market with the objective for India to become food factory of the world. The gamut of exhaustive reforms and measures are intended to strengthen all activities and services in agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors through creation and development of agriculture infrastructure, micro food enterprises, value chains and logistics for fishery and animal husbandry, medicinal and herbal plants, bee keeping and Operation Green. Significant legislative amendments have been made to create conducive environment for agriculture.

Appreciating the efforts of NCDC, the Minister said that a key strategy in the ecosystem is to facilitate involvement of youth in cooperatives. Formation of new cooperatives is a prerequisite for bringing new life and dedication in the realm of cooperative movement. The guidance videos in different languages covering 18 States would also strengthen and deepen the major initiatives of our Government to promote and form 10,000 FPOs. NCDC has a major role in formation of FPOs in cooperative mode. More states would be added to the collection of guidance videos on NCDC Sahakar Cooptube Channel in due course of time.

NCDC as an apex level statutory institution under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has achieved tremendous success with cumulative financial assistance to cooperatives to the tune of Rs.1,54,000 crore. Beginning with meager disbursement of Rs.2.36 crores in 1963, NCDC disbursed around Rs.28,000 crore during 2019-20. NCDC has made aunprecedented progress in the last six years. It has achieved 83% of the cumulative financial assistance calculated since 1963, during these last six years alone.

Cooperatives in India have come a long way and have proven their success in improving the condition of farmers and economic development. Largely as association of small and marginal farmers and rural poor, the cooperatives have acquired a huge network of over 8.50 lakh organizations and 290 million members. They have substantially contributed in raising the income of their members and achieving rural prosperity. Cooperatives lend strength to farmers to minimize risks in agriculture and allied sector and act as a shield against exploitation.

In a fast changing world, where modernity, technology and development have taken root and primitive indigenous ways of living are but a thing of the past, found in text books, India still has more than 200 tribal communities spread across the country. Tribal artisans, set in their lives, are still trying to preserve the arts and crafts and traditions of their communities. TRIFED of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been striving in its mission to empower these disadvantaged people by promoting the economic welfare of these communities and bringing them towards mainstream development. Amongst its various initiatives, implementations and programmes, one that requires highlighting is TRIBES India’s design initiative.

To bring more exposure to the empanelled tribal artisans and to bring their skill sets and products to international standards, TRIFED has partnered with ace renowned designers for promotion and design development over the past few months. Some of the names include Ms. Ritu Beri, Ms. Rina Dhaka, Ms. Ruma Devi, Ms. Winky Singh, Ms, Neera Nath and Ms. Rosie Ahluwalia.

As Trifed’s Chief Design Consultant, Ms. Rina Dhaka is bringing in her immense experience in the field to help tribal products and handicrafts get more exposure and a larger audience. In the Fashion week held at the annual Surajkund Mela in February 2020, she showcased her ethnic collection, which had on display designer pieces inspired by native tribal traditions. To ensure that talented artisans get a wider audience, she has been developing attractive gift packaging range for these tribal products and produce. Along with tribal artisans from Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, she is developing new designs in Bagh print. The intent is to attract national and world-wide audiences as these beautifully packaged quality products are marketed not only in Tribes India outlets but also on e-commerce websites.

Additionally, espousing the cause of the tribal artisans, Ms. Rina Dhaka is promoting tribal handicrafts and products through a series of interviews with renowned personalities in her ongoing show, The Designer and The Muse, currently airing on News X.Interviews have been conducted with Ms. Gauhar Khan, Ms. Delnaaz Irani, Ms. Pooja Batra and Ms. Rakshanda Khan. Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED was also featured on this show and he spoke about TRIFED’s role in empowering the tribal people.

Ms. Neera Nath, the renowned designer offered her aesthetic and design inputs when Tribes India’s flagship store in Mahadeo Road, New Delhi (which had been set up in 1997) was being revamped. A separate gallery has also been set up to showcase the products developed in collaboration with these designers. The resultant revamped store and gallery helps display these exquisite goods in a more prominent and eye-catching manner. Ms. Neera Nath’s expertise contributed to beautifying the Dilli Haat store.

In a skill-upgradation programme launched by TRIFED, these consultant designers along with selected master craftsmen work closely with identified tribal clusters across the country. Each cluster has a minimum of 20 tribal artisans each. These clusters of artisans are encouraged to hone their skills by learning from the master craftsmen and imbibe the design inputs into their designs such that the handicrafts and products crafted will have an internationally accepted standing.15-20 designs will be displayed as capsule designs post the programme at Tribes India outlets.

Besides these initiatives, it was clearly a matter of pride when the evening gowns with a touch of tribal motifs, a collection titled Dikha Khadi created by Ms. Rosie Ahluwalia, were spotted at the Oscars this year. A proud moment indeed when the beautiful works of the talented tribals finally got a deserving outlet.

Context: Noted civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan has responded to suo motu contempt action initiated against him on his tweets.

What’s the issue? Mr Bhushan had made two tweets- one concerning a photograph of Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde on a motorcycle and the other about the functioning of the Supreme Court in the past six years under four Chief Justices. Following this, the Court issued the contempt notice on July 22, saying the tweets undermined the dignity and authority of the court and the office of the CJI.

What has Pradhan Bhushan said? How he defends himself? Expressing opinion or bona fide anguish, however outspoken, disagreeable or unpalatable, cannot constitute contempt amounting to scandalising the court.

Chief Justice is not the court, and raising issues of concern regarding the manner in which a CJI conducts himself during ‘court vacations’ does not amount to ‘scandalising or lowering the authority of the court. Also, raising issues of grave concern regarding the manner in which four CJIs have used, or failed to use, their powers as ‘Master of the Roster’ to allow the spread of authoritarianism, majoritarianism, stifling of dissent, widespread political incarceration, and so on, cannot and does not amount to ‘scandalising or lowering the authority of the court.

Previously, What has the Supreme Court said in such matters? Supreme Court in the contempt case against former Madras High Court judge C.S. Karnan had held that the “law of contempt is not made for the protection of judges who may be sensitive to the winds of public opinion. Judges are supposed to be men of fortitude, able to thrive in a hardy climate”.

How the Court should exercise its contempt powers? Freedom of speech and expression is the “ultimate guardian” of values upheld in the Constitution. Therefore, the exercise of contempt powers by the Supreme Court must necessarily not be of a nature that went beyond ‘reasonable restrictions’.

The power of contempt under Article 129 is to be utilised to aid in administration of justice. Contempt could not be pressed into service to stifle bona fide criticism from citizens who were well-informed about the omissions and commissions of the Supreme Court.

Conclusion: The citizens in a democracy has every right to freely and fairly discuss the state of affairs of an institution and build public opinion in order to reform the institution.

However, every criticism must be carefully weighed and made with the highest sense of responsibility.

Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, in its report on Code on Social Security, 2019, has submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The parliamentary committee, headed by senior BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, had examined the code referred to it by the Lok Sabha last December.

Key recommendations: The time limit for payment of gratuity to an employee after termination of employment should be reduced from the current five years of continuous service to just one year.

The provision of gratuity should be extended to all kinds of employees, including contract labourers, seasonal workers, piece rate workers, fixed term employees and daily/monthly wage workers. “Inter-state migrant workers” should be mentioned as a separate category in the Code.

A welfare fund should be created exclusively for them. The fund should be financed proportionately by the sending states, the receiving states, the contractors, the principal employers and the registered migrant workers. The funds so created should exclusively be used for workers/employees not covered under other welfare funds.

Create a central online portal and database of registered establishments as well as migrant workers, including building and other construction staff.

Registration: It should be made mandatory for all establishments, including agricultural, non-agricultural, contract as well as self-employed workers to register under one body, instead of multiple organisations. This body “should remain responsible for provision of social security for all types of workers in the country”.

An enabling mechanism should be included in the code itself for portability of Building and Construction Workers Welfare Fund among states so money due to beneficiaries can be paid in any state irrespective of where the cess has been collected.

Background: The Code on Social Security, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December last year but several concerns were raised over some of its key provisions which led to the Bill being sent to the Standing Committee.

The Code replaces nine laws related to social security and is focused to amend and consolidate the laws relating to social security of the employees’ and related issues.

Insta Facts: The Building and Construction Workers Welfare Fund is raised by levying a cess of 1 per cent of the construction cost. It is part of the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996, which regulates employment and working conditions of construction workers and also provides for their safety and welfare measures.

Context: Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formulated and released a draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 (DPEPP 2020). It is envisaged as overarching guiding document of MoD to provide a focused, structured and significant thrust to defence production capabilities of the country for self-reliance and exports.

The policy has laid out following goals and objectives: To achieve a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 Crores (US$ 25Bn) including export of Rs 35,000 Crore (US$ 5 Billion) in Aerospace and Defence goods and services by 2025.

To develop a dynamic, robust and competitive Defence industry, including Aerospace and Naval Shipbuilding industry to cater to the needs of Armed forces with quality products. To reduce dependence on imports and take forward “Make in India” initiatives through domestic design and development. To promote export of defence products and become part of the global defence value chains.

To create an environment that encourages R&D, rewards innovation, creates Indian IP ownership and promotes a robust and self-reliant defence industry. The share of domestic procurement in overall defence procurement is about 60%. In order to enhance procurement from domestic industry, it is incumbent that procurement is doubled from the current ₹70,000 crore to ₹1,40,000 crore by 2025.

The Policy brings out multiple strategies under the following focus areas: Procurement Reforms Indigenization & Support to MSMEs/Startups Optimize Resource Allocation Investment Promotion, FDI & Ease of Doing Business Innovation and R&D DPSUs and OFB Quality Assurance & Testing Infrastructure Export Promotion

Other highlights of the policy: The policy states that a negative list of weapons and platforms will be notified with year-wise time lines for placing an embargo on import of such items from those dates.

A Technology Assessment Cell (TAC) would be created. It would assess the industrial capability for design, development and production, including re-engineering for production of major systems such as armoured vehicles, submarines, fighter aircraft, helicopters and radars with the major industries in the country, the policy states.

A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be set up with representation from the Services for estimation of development and production lead times specifications and technologies involved, life cycle costs and maintenance requirements of platforms, equipment and weapon systems.

Context: All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) has announced a “Corporates Leave Farming” campaign across the country on August 9 against the Centre’s recent ordinances on agriculture and farmer issues.

What’s the issue? In June 2020, the Central government introduced three ordinances to bring in far-reaching agricultural ‘reforms’ in the country. They are:

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020.

But, activists have expressed disappointment saying that the reforms package will not solve the problems of farmers, instead will exacerbate them. General concerns: These are anti-farmer and will only result in reduced crop prices for farmers and undermine seed security even further.

Food security will be eroded as government intervention is eliminated. These ordinances promote corporate control of the Indian food and farming systems. They will also encourage hoarding and black marketing, in addition to exploitation of farmers.

Let us now take up one by one; The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020: Key provision: It allows for regulating the supply and stock limit of certain specified agricultural produce under extraordinary circumstances such as an extraordinary price rise and natural calamity of grave nature, etc.

Issues: The price range fluctuation allowed in this ordinance is narrow (100% increase in the retail price of horticultural produce and 50% increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural foodstuffs). This stock limit regulation will not be applicable for value chain participants of any agricultural produce if their stock limit remains within their installed capacity. It will also not apply to exporters if they can show demand for export.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020: Key provision: It seeks to effectively bypass the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets by providing for the freedom to trade in any area outside of private and APMC designated market yards.

Issues: This leads to a situation where local farmers do not find adequate demand for their produce at MSP in the local market. Since most farmers are small or marginal landowners, they do not have wherewithal to transport their produce to large distances. Hence, they are forced to sell them at a lower price than the MSP in the local market itself.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020: Key provision: It seeks to create a legal framework for contract farming in India.

There are two broader concerns here: First, one principle concern with contract farming has been regarding the negotiating power of the two parties involved. It seems likely that individual farmers might not find themselves equipped or powerful enough to negotiate with corporates or big-pocket sponsors to ensure a fair price for their produce.

Second, the ordinance says that the quality parameters can be mutually decided by the two parties in the agreement. But the quality aspect will become crucial when a few corporates will try to usher in uniformity which might end up adversely impacting the already skewed agro-ecological diversity in the country.

Conclusion: The three ordinances will have far-reaching and varying impacts depending on the social, political, economic and cultural contexts of the respective states.

But such bold and unilateral moves by the Centre fail to incorporate and give due consideration to the immense diversity in the country, not just between the states in terms of land ownership, cropping patterns, historical functioning of agricultural markets etc. but also within them.

Therefore, it is feared that the three ordinances rather than helping farmers, might end up being a source of distress for millions of small and marginal farmers in the country as have been observed in the past in cases of demonetization and COVID-19 related lock-downs.

Context: The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley onboard splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020.

What is it? In May 2020, the Crew Dragon became the first space vehicle to launch humans from American soil in nine years.

Built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, it’s part of Nasa’s plan to hand over space station flights to private companies. In particular, SpaceX was given funding through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which started in 2010 to foster public-private partnerships for space exploration.

Background: Crew Dragon evolved from an earlier design, called Dragon 1, which launched 20 times on missions to deliver cargo to the ISS between May 2012 and March 2020.

Importance of the mission: It was the first time that astronauts used a spaceship built and launched by a private company, and the event is being widely seen as the beginning of a new era in space exploration.

The rocket, named Falcon 9, which carried the spaceship into the orbit, was also built by SpaceX. The mission was called Demo-2, in keeping with the fact that it was only a ‘test flight’, which if successful, would lead to more missions in the coming months.

Why in News? As part of its global tiger census, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is set to release a dedicated report on leopard sightings by the month-end.

Insta Fact: No separate census for leopard is conducted. The quadrennial tiger survey also estimates the population of other animals including leopards by relying on camera trap images.

Estimated Leopards in India: The last formal census on India’s leopards was conducted in 2014 which estimated the cat’s population at between 12,000 and 14,000. They also estimated 8,000 leopards in the vicinity of tiger habitat.

Issues with the present methodology: Conducting a leopard survey, along with the tiger survey, is problematic as the former is adapted to living on the edge of forests and human habitats, unlike the tiger which is an elusive creature. This had led to gross errors in estimating the true numbers of leopards.

But, Why it is difficult to hold leopard census directly? Leopards share habitat with both, tigers and humans. They reside in protected areas as well outside them in agricultural fields, scrublands and riverine tracts. Therefore , it is highly difficult to count such a widely distributed population.

Besides, there are substantial numbers of leopards and they are well distributed. Hence, a separate wouldn’t be necessary.

What needs to be done then? India’s leopard population may be only a tenth of what it was a little over a century ago, experiencing catastrophic declines due to human pressures. Instead of conducting a new leopard census, the cause of the leopard would be served better if conservation strategies were made a priority of policy decisions.

A stringent policy action should be to bring down retailiatory killings as well poaching for trade. Given the threats the animal faces today–ranging from conflicts with humans, poaching, habitat loss to availability of prey– an initiative similar to ‘Project Tiger’ is required for the cat.

Insta Facts- Leopard: Scientific Name- Panthera pardus. Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Included in Appendix I of CITES. Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Nine subspecies of the leopard have been recognized, and they are distributed across Africa and Asia.

Context: On the eve Raksha Bandhan, using leaf vines, women and children tied symbolic rakhi to the trees and took an oath to protect the Aravali forests that are the lifeline for clean air and water in Gurugram and National Capital Region.

Background: The degradation of the Aravalis threatens Gurugram and National Capital Region’s water security. High levels of natural cracks and fissures in the Aravali hills make this mountain range a superior zone for recharging groundwater, which is in the red zone at this point in time as extraction is several folds more than what is put back into the ground.

Aravali Range: They are aligned in north-east to south-west direction. They run between Delhi and Palanpur in Gujarat. The highest peak is Guru Shikharat 1,722 metres (5,650 ft). They are one of the oldest fold mountains of the world and the oldest in India.

According to some geographers, one Branch of the Aravalis extends to the Lakshadweep Archipelago through the Gulf of Khambhat and the other into Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

At the south-west extremity the range rises to over 1,000 m. Here Mt. Abu (1,158 m), a small hilly block, is separated from the main range by the valley of the Banas.

Pipli Ghat, Dewair and Desuri passes allow movement by roads and railways. The Aravalli Range joins two of the ancient earth’s crust segments that make up the greater Indian craton– Aravalli Craton and Bundelkand Craton.

Rivers: Three major rivers and their tributaries flow from the Aravalli, namely Banas and Sahibi rivers which are tributaries of Yamuna, as well as Luni River which flows into the Rann of Kutch.

The Great Green Wall of Aravalli: It is a 1,600 km long and 5 km wide green ecological corridor along Aravalli range from Gujarat to Delhi.

It will be connected to Shivalikhill range. To be implemented on a concept similar to the Great Green Wallof Sahara in Africa, it will act as a buffer against pollution.

The Galapagos Islands, spread over almost 60,000 sq km, are a part of Ecuador, and are located in the Pacific Ocean around 1,000 km away from the South American continent.

The giant tortoises found here – ‘Galápagos’ in old Spanish– give the islands its name.

Ecuador made a part of the Galapagos a wildlife sanctuary in 1935, and the sanctuary became the Galapagos National Park in 1959. In 1978, the islands became UNESCO’s first World Heritage Site. Charles Darwin described the islands as a “world in itself”.

Why in News? Ecuador was on alert earlier this week as a fleet of Chinese fishing vessels– what some called a “floating city”– was sighted near the Galapagos archipelago.

Chinese ships frequent Ecuador’s waters this time of the year when the cold Humboldt Current brings in nutrients that lead to a high congregation of marine species.