ASSAM
Pygmy Hogs Released in the Manas National Park
Eight captive-bred pygmy hogs, the world’s smallest and rarest wild pigs, were released in the Manas National Park of Assam. This is the 2nd batch to have been reintroduced into the wild under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) in a year.
Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP):
The PHCP is a collaboration amongst Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust of UK, Assam Forest Department, Wild Pig Specialist Group of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
It is presently being carried out through NGOs – Aaranyak and EcoSystems India. Conservation of pygmy hog was initiated with the aid of cited naturalist Gerald Durrell and his trust in 1971.
The pygmy hog was added again from near-extinction by the partnership effort, and now transferring closer to the establishment of a population throughout the entire range.
Six hogs have been captured from the Bansbari range of the Manas National Park in 1996 for beginning the breeding programme.
The reintroduction programme started in the year 2008 with the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, all of them are in Assam.
By 2025, the PHCP plans to launch 60 pygmy hogs in Manas.
NORTH-EASTERN STATES
Except Meghalaya, cases declining in NE states’
A day after the Centre deputed multi-disciplinary teams to five states, which includes three NE states of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Manipur that are reporting increased number of Covid-19 cases, DoNER minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said there was progressive decline in the number of cases in the NE states, except Meghalaya.
The DoNER ministry, in a statement, said, “The minister expressed satisfaction that all the NE states are catching up with national average in terms of decline in positivity rate. Meghalaya is the only exception which witnessed a surge due to corona outbreak in a jail in district Ri-Bhoi.”
Singh cautioned that decline in the active cases must be followed with greater thrust on vaccination and strict observance of corona protocol. He said he was in constant touch with all the eight chief ministers of NE states and whatever help is sought from the states is being promptly provided by the Centre.
INTERNATIONAL
MoU Between India and Fiji
Fiji and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate in agriculture and allied sectors.
The MoU calls for collaboration in the areas of Dairy Industry Development, Rice Industry Development, Root Crop Diversification, Water Resources Management, Coconut Industry Development, Food Processing Industry Development, Agriculture Mechanization, Horticulture Industry Development, Agricultural Research, Animal Husbandry, Pest and Disease, Cultivation, Value Addition and Marketing, Post-Harvest Processing and Milling, Breeding and Agronomy.
MoU Signed Between India and Bhutan
India and Bhutan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand their environmental cooperation.
The MoU is expected to pave the way for new avenues of bilateral cooperation in areas such as climate change, waste management, air pollution, chemical management, and so on.
The MoU will also strengthen technological, scientific, and management capabilities, as well as expand environmental cooperation areas, to promote a mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.
NATIONAL
Winner of First ICC World Test Championship
New Zealand defeated India to win the 1st ICC World Test Championship. New Zealand chased down the goal of 139 to win the first-ever World Test Championship final with eight wickets in hand.
The first test championship started in 2019 with the finals being played in 2021.
The pinnacle three teams, as a result, are: First: New Zealand; Second- India; Third- Australia.
The subsequent Test Championship will be held between 2021-2023.
Food security Assistance to State Government Rules
The Department of Food and Public Distribution published an amendment to the Food Security (Assistance to State Government Rules) 2015.
This move is expected to improve transparency and reduce leakages at ration shops when foodgrains are weighed for beneficiaries.
The change will also encourage the integration of ePoS with electronic weighing machines.
The notified amendment aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive the correct quantity of subsidised foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, in accordance with their entitlement.
It also incentivizes states that have been using ePoS effectively and encourages states to improve ePoS operational efficiency and generate savings.
Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai Campaign Minority Affairs
The Union Minister for Minority Affairs has launched an awareness campaign called “Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai.”
This is a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of corona vaccination in rural and remote areas of the country, and “Crush and Curb” rumors and concerns about the ongoing vaccination campaign.
The campaign was launched in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.
Various religious leaders, prominent people from social, educational, cultural, medical science, and other fields are promoting vaccinations as part of the campaign. Street plays will also be staged throughout the country.
Complete Utilisation of Fly Ash
To achieve 100 percent utilisation of fly ash, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the sale of fly ash from designated plants in the Middle East and other regions. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion in thermal power generation.
Fly ash is so-called because it is carried away from the combustion chamber by exhaust gas.
It is collected from the exhaust gas through an electrostatic precipitator or a bag filter.
An electrostatic precipitator is a filtration device used to remove fine particles from flowing gas, such as smoke and fine dust.
It is the most commonly used device for controlling air pollution.
Fly ash contains significant amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), ferric oxide (Fe2O3), and calcium oxide (CaO).
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