Grasslands
Syllabus: GS1/Geography
Context
- A new study has found that grasslands that evolved over millennia rarely return to their original state, even when they recover, the regenerated grasslands are different species.
Grasslands
- Grasslands exist on every continent except for Antarctica, One-fourth of the planet is covered by grasslands.
- In Africa, they’re called savannas and veldts; pampas in South America; steppes in Europe and Asia; prairies or grasslands in North America; and rangelands in Australia.
- The two most fundamental characteristics of grasslands are the presence of grass species as the dominant type of plant in the area and the general lack of taller vegetation.
- They receive more rain than deserts but less precipitation than forests.
- They are usually found in the dry interior of continents, between the mountains and deserts.
- Two subgroups: tropical and temperate.
- Tropical grasslands: The climate is generally hot and wet, and though the primary vegetation is grass, some scattered trees may still grow here.
- Temperate grasslands: They are located between the equator and the poles. These grasslands endure greater temperature variation and include both prairies with longer grasses and steppes with shorter grasses.
Ecological Significance
- Carbon storage: A significant proportion of carbon is stored below ground in grassland root systems and soils.
- Biodiversity: Provide habitat for species such as blackbuck, Indian wolf, Great Indian Bustard and floricans.
- Livelihoods: Support pastoralism and livestock grazing.
- Soil conservation: Dense root networks help reduce soil erosion.
Grasslands of India
- Himalayan and Terai grasslands, the Thar desert and Banni grasslands of Gujarat, Deccan savannas, Aravalli scrublands, the Yamuna-Chambal ravines, rocky plateaus of the Western Ghats, grasslands of the central Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu’s Theri Kaadu scrub landscapes.
Source: TH
International Whaling Commission (IWC)
Syllabus: GS2/ International Organisations
Context
- India underlined the need for conservation of whales and other cetaceans at the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC-70), being held in Hobart, Australia.
About
- The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in 1946, as the global body responsible for the management of whaling and conservation of whales.
- A commercial whaling moratorium was adopted in 1982 and came into full force in 1986.
- The Commission continues to regulate Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling, which is conducted by indigenous communities, often in remote parts of the world.
- The Convention recognises three different types of whaling: commercial, aboriginal subsistence and special permit (also known as scientific) whaling.
- Its membership includes 89 governments from all over the world.
- India has been a member of the International Whaling Commission since 1981.
Source: PIB
India’s First PRAMAAN Certificates
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister handed over India’s first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS).
About
- PRAMAAN: Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry And Natural forestry resources.
- The certificates were presented to:
- the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) for its plantations spread over 33,000 hectares,
- and to Govind Mohapatra, a bamboo farmer associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).
About India’s First PRAMAAN Certificates
- PRAMAAN is a nationally accepted framework for certification of forests, wood and non-timber forest products.
- The initiative seeks to strengthen linkages between certified forests and agroforestry products and domestic and international markets.
- Under the framework, Forest Management certification is assessed against Indian Forest Management Standards derived from the National Working Plan Code 2023.
- Independent audits by accredited certification bodies form the basis of certification.
Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme in 2023.
- It is the national forest certification scheme which offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.
- The scheme includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification.
- The scheme is overseen by the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council, which acts as a multistakeholder advisory body.
- Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal acts as the scheme operating agency.
- The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies accredit the certification bodies which carry out independent audits and assess adherence of various entities on the standards prescribed under the scheme.
Source: DD
India and Japan UNICORN Naval Radar Agreement
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- Japan called on India to fast-track internal official processing of the agreement on the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) naval radar system.
About
- The UNICORN agreement between India and Japan is the first-ever joint defence co-development project formalised during the 16th India– Japan Annual Summit.
- It is classified militarily as a cutting-edge, weapon-grade naval stealth antenna system.
- It is developed originally for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and is the primary stealth feature of Japan’s advanced Mogami-class stealth frigates.
- It is enclosed inside a smooth, unified horn-shaped dome, therefore, a warship appears much smaller or even completely invisible on hostile radar screens.
- On the other hand, traditional warships have exposed and “cluttered” antenna arrays that produce large radar returns.
- Under the UNICORN agreement, state-run Bharat Electronics Limited of India will collaborate with Japanese defence majors to co-produce the advanced stealth mast for future warships.
- The UNICORN mast is slated to replace the Indian Navy’s legacy Advanced Composite Communication System (ACCS)
- It is planned for integration onto future surface combatants, nextgeneration frigates and guided-missile destroyers.
- This Indo-Japan pact makes India only the second Asian nation after the Philippines to receive sensitive Japanese defence technology following its relaxation of strict post-WWII defence export restrictions.
Source: TH
Pashudhan Bima Portal
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
- The Government launched the Pashudhan Bima Portal in New Delhi.
Pashudhan Bima Portal
- It is a comprehensive digital platform aimed at transforming livestock insurance delivery across the country under the Livestock Insurance activity of the National Livestock Mission (NLM).
- It is developed and administered by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
- It will enable streamlined policy issuance, claim processing, monitoring, and reporting in case of animals insured under the Livestock Insurance Scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- It will be available in 13 languages, including 11 regional languages plus Hindi and English, making livestock insurance more accessible to pastoralists and rural livestock owners.
- Farmers will now be able to submit their insurance applications online, while the entire process will be monitored digitally.
Source: AIR
Geographical Indication Tag to Mandar
Syllabus: GS1/ Culture
Context
- Jharkhand’s traditional folk musical instrument, the Mandar, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
About Mandar
- Mandar is a traditional double-headed percussion instrument widely used in the folk music and dance traditions of Jharkhand.
- It is particularly associated with the Oraon and other tribal communities of the Chotanagpur region.
- The instrument plays an important role in community celebrations, religious festivals and traditional dances, including Sarhul and Karma.
Geographical Indication (GI)
- A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
- In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
- Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
- Darjeeling Tea from West Bengal was the first product in India to receive a GI tag.
Regulation of Geographical Indication (GI)
- As a form of intellectual property, GIs are recognised internationally under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
- In India, their registration and protection are overseen by the Geographical Indications Registry under the 1999 Act.
- India established a legal framework for protecting products linked to specific regions through the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 and the accompanying Rules notified in 2002.
- The framework became operational in 2003, and GI registrations commenced in 2004–05.
- The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years.
Source: AIR
Centre Reduces Import Duty on Edible Oils
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
- The Union government reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on major imported crude edible oils, including palm oil.
- Oils are a high frequency household purchase, so lower prices help contain food inflation and protect real incomes of the poor.
Basic Customs Duty
- It is an indirect tax that is levied on imported goods, and it is usually calculated based on the assessed value of the product.
- It can vary from zero to one hundred percent depending on factors such as the HSN code of the product as well as the country from where it is imported.
- Goods that are imported under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are usually exempted from BCD, which is revised from time to time by the Union Ministry of Finance.
Why Crude Oils Matter?
- Landed cost: Duty is part of the landed cost, so cutting it on crude oils lowers input cost for the entire supply chain.
- Value addition at home: Crude oil is refined in India, which keeps processing jobs and margins domestic. For ex: coastal refineries at Kandla, Mangalore and Kakinada depend on crude imports.
- Palm oil’s role: Palm is the cheapest and most imported oil, so any duty change on it moves overall edible oil prices. It is sourced mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia.
- Substitution effect: Edible oils compete with one another, so lower palm duty also restrains soybean and sunflower prices.
India’s Response
- National Mission on Edible Oils, Oil Palm (2021): Promotes domestic palm cultivation, with focus on the North East and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- National Mission on Edible Oils, Oilseeds (2024): Aims to raise oilseed production through quality seeds and value chain support.
- MSP and procurement: PM AASHA and price support protect oilseed farmers.
- Stock monitoring: Stock limits and price tracking under the Essential Commodities Act deter hoarding.
- Technology: High yield varieties and the pending GM mustard debate are central to reducing dependence.
Source: TH
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
In News
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has approved the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) schedule for the National Capital Region.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
- The GRAP framework was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, and its implementation has since been overseen by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) (statutory body)
- It is a mechanism to decide the actions that governments in Delhi-NCR must take as the levels of air pollution rise through various stages.
- It aims to put certain steps or restrictions in place as soon as air pollution reaches a specific level, instead of waiting for the air to become worse.
Stages
- The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented in four stages, depending on the level of the Air Quality Index (AQI).
Source: TH
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