The distinctive northern bald ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades.
These birds are known for their distinctive black-and-iridescent green plumage, bald red head and long curved beak.
As these birds don’t instinctively know which direction to fly to migrate without the guidance of wild-born elders, so a team of scientists and conservationists stepped in as foster parents and flight instructors.
About Northern Bald Ibis:
It was historically native to Central Europe until the 17th century, when it became extinct due to excessive hunting.
It was also found in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
It is known for its black plumage with an iridescent green sheen, a bald red head adorned with black markings, and a long, downward-curved beak.
Its red beak and legs stand out against their dark feathers. There is no sexual dimorphism in this species.
It primarily feeds on insect larvae, earthworms, and other invertebrates, using their long, slender beak to probe the ground, guided by their sense of touch.
It prefers open areas with short grass, such as meadows, pastures, or even sports fields like golf courses.
Despite its bald head resembling that of a vulture, it is not a scavenger.
It is a social bird, historically forming large colonies with thousands of individuals.
It engages in a ritual greeting involving crest-spreading and bowing, which often triggers a similar response throughout the colony.
It is seasonally monogamous. Its breeding partnerships often change yearly, though some pairs may stay together for multiple years.
It chooses steep rock faces with protective nooks for nesting, laying up to four greenish eggs. Incubation begins with the first egg, leading to staggered hatching times.
Young birds fledge within 42-50 days, initially following their parents before joining juvenile groups. They learn migration routes by following experienced birds during the fall migration.
Conservation status:
Its IUCN Red List status is changed to endangered from critically endangered.
2.Heavy Metals
Why in the news?
Two or more metals have been detected in water samples from 22 Indian rivers and tributaries at 37 monitoring stations, according to a new report. The heavy metals detected beyond safe limits included arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury and nickel, according to the report published in August 2024.
As many as 81 rivers and tributaries of the country have extremely high concentrations of one or more trace and toxic heavy metals, the study by the Central Water Commission (CWC) indicated.
The report based on monitoring of samples from 10 river basins of India for the nine toxic heavy metals showed the presence of arsenic, mercury and chromium in 30, 18 and 16 stations across 14, 11 and 16 rivers, respectively.
About Heavy Metals:
These typically refer to dense metals that are toxic, even at low concentrations.
Features of Heavy Metals:
These metals usually have a high atomic number and atomic weight.
These metals often have a specific gravity greater than 5.0, meaning they are very dense.
These metals include different categories like metalloids, transition metals, basic metals, lanthanides, and actinides.
Key findings of the report:
Key Metals: Arsenic, mercury, and chromium were detected across many rivers. :
Arsenic exceeded limits at 30 stations.
Mercury found above safe levels in 18 stations.
Chromium exceeded limits at 16 stations.
Specific Areas:
In Uttarkashi (Bhagirathi river), arsenic, lead, and iron were detected.
In Karnataka’s Honnali (Tungabhadra river), chromium, mercury, and lead exceeded safe limits.
Kerala’s Madamon station had iron, mercury, lead, and nickel above the permissible limits.
Sources of Contamination: Heavy metals are introduced into rivers due to:
Metal mining and smelting industries.
Agricultural runoff, including fertilizers and animal waste.
Urban runoff, industrial waste, and landfill leachates.
Natural Sources: Natural deposits and erosion also contribute to metal levels.
Impact on Flora and Fauna:
Heavy metals are generally non-biodegradable. These metals, once present in water, do not break down easily. This poses significant threats to plants and animals.
These metals can be absorbed by crops such as grains and vegetables, grown in contaminated soil and water. This may lead to harmful effects on human health.
Health Risks to Humans:
MetalMajor Health Risks
ArsenicCancer, cardiovascular disease, dermatitis, lung and brain issues
CadmiumKidney damage, cardiovascular disease
ChromiumLung cancer, respiratory issues
CopperLiver and kidney damage (in excessive quantities)
Iron Iron overload disorders (in excessive quantities)
Lead Nervous system damage, brain damage, other organ damage
MercuryNervous system damage, kidney damage, brain damage
Nickel Skin allergies, respiratory problems
3.Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
Why in the news?
The Union Cabinet expanded the scope of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
The scheme, worth ₹1 lakh crore, would be redesigned to include financial support for Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs) to enhance their financial security and creditworthiness.
This is done so that the AIF would be more attractive and strengthen the farm-related infrastructure facilities in the country.
About Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF):
It is a financing facility launched in July 2020.
It aims to provide all-around financial support to the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, farmer groups like Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) etc. and many others to create post-harvest management infrastructure and build community farming assets throughout the country.
Features:
It provides support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loan of up to Rs. 2 crore and facility of convergence with other Central and State Government schemes.
It is helping in reducing post-harvest losses by creating and modernizing agriculture infrastructure, which includes primary processing centers for vegetables, hi-tech hubs for rental of agricultural machinery.
Management:
It is managed and monitored through an online Management Information System (MIS) platform. It will enable all the qualified entities to apply for loans under the Fund.
The National, State and District level monitoring committees have been set up to ensure real-time monitoring and effective feed-back.
Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs):
These are voluntary organizations controlled by their farmer-members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
They are open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Their operatives provide education and training for their farmer-members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so that they can contribute effectively to the development of their FPOs.
FPOs in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and some other states have shown encouraging results and have been able to realize higher returns for their produce.
For example, tribal women in the Pali district of Rajasthan formed a producer company and they are getting higher prices for custard apples.
4.Competition Commission of India (CCI)
Why in the news?
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) provisionally approved the ₹70,350 crore combination involving Reliance Industries Ltd. and its units Viacom18 Media Pvt. Limited, Digital18 Media Ltd. with The Walt Disney Co. 's Star India Pvt. Ltd. and Star Television Productions Ltd., “subject to the compliance of voluntary modifications,”.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
It is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002.
It was duly constituted in March 2009.
It consists of one Chairperson and six Members who shall be appointed by the Central Government. The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members.
It is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases.
Eligibility criteria of members:
The Chairperson and every other Member shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing and who, has been, or is qualified to be a judge of a High Court, or, has special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than fifteen years in international trade, economics, business, commerce, law, finance, accountancy, management, industry, public affairs, administration or in any other matter which, in the opinion of the Central Government, may be useful to the Commission.
Functions:
To eliminate practices having adverse effects on competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.
To give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority
To undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.
To make the markets work for the benefit and welfare of consumers.
To ensure fair and healthy competition in economic activities in the country for faster and inclusive growth and development of the economy.
To implement competition policies with an aim to effectuate the most efficient utilization of economic resources.
To effectively carry out competition advocacy and spread the information on benefits of competition among all stakeholders to establish and nurture competition culture in the Indian economy.
Competition Act, 2002:
The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) was repealed and replaced by the Competition Act, 2002, on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.
The Competition Act, 2002 has been amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007. It follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.
It prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations, which causes an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal have been established.
The government replaced the Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.
5.National Industrial Corridor Development Programme
Why in the news?
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved setting up of 12 industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of Rs. 28,602 crore.
The project spans across 10 states and is strategically planned along six major corridors. These industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in, Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and Prayagraj in UP, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in AP and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.
About National Industrial Corridor Development Programme:
It is India's most ambitious infrastructure programme aiming to develop new industrial cities as "Smart Cities" and converge next-generation technologies across infrastructure sectors.
The Government of India is developing various industrial corridor projects as part of the National Industrial Corridor Programme which is aimed at the development of futuristic industrial cities in India which can compete with the best manufacturing and investment destinations in the world.
It has created employment opportunities and economic growth leading to overall socio-economic development.
It is aimed at providing impetus to planned urbanization in India with manufacturing as the key driver.
It is implemented by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT), which works under the administrative control of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Industrial Corridors are envisaged to be implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in the form of a company set up under the Companies Act, 2013 as a joint venture between the central and the state governments.
Smart Cities;
These refer to cities designed with advanced ICT integration, often likened to new Silicon Valleys.
But, in the Indian context, a Smart City would be the one which plans judiciously to meet its aspirations and challenges in a sustainable manner while fostering principles of good governance.
A Smart City is one which has basic infrastructure, uses ‘smart’ solutions to make infrastructure and services better, and relies on area-based development.
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