Odisha imposes 7-month ban on fishing to protect Olive Ridley turtles

The Odisha government has imposed a seven-month ban on sea fishing activity as breeding season of Olive Ridley is approaching.The ban activity was clamped within 20 km off the coastline of Dhamra-Devi-Rushikulya river mouth.Nearly 26,000 marine fishermen in coastal districts of Puri, Kendrapara, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur are likely to be affected due to the ban.The restriction is imposed in accordance with provisions of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.The trawl operators have been cautioned not to venture into prohibited water zone.The breeding turtles get killed by the trawlers, which use mono-filament nets that lead to entangling of the turtles.

Olive Ridley turtles

The Olive Ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.These species are recognized as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red list.International trade in these turtles and their products is banned under CITES Appendix I.To reduce accidental killing in India, the Orissa government has made it mandatory for trawls to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), a net specially designed with an exit cover which allows the turtles to escape while retaining the catch.

CITES

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).The convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975.Each protected species or population is included in one ofthree lists, called appendices.

Topic- GS-3- Environment Conservation

Source- Indian Express + AIR

Crypto currencies and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) under SEBI lens

The rising popularity of crypto currencies and the increasing number of entities looking at raising funds through Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) has caught the attention of the capital market regulator.SEBI is evaluating whether such instruments and offerings can be brought under its regulatory purview.Incidentally, crypto currencies like bitcoin, ethereum and such offerings have been under government radar for long.Discussions have been held between various bodies, including SEBI and RBI, on the possible ways in which this segment can be regulated.RBI is of the view that these instruments are securities and so SEBI should be the regulating body.SEBI is evaluating whether these instruments can be regulated under the current SEBI Act or if there is a need for the government to give additional powers or amend the existing law.

Initial Coin Offerings (ICO)

An ICO is an issuance of digital tokens that can be converted into crypto currencies and are mostly used to raise funds by start-up firms.There is no regulatory body for ICOs in India.China recently banned such offerings and stated that they are “illegal public finance” mechanism used for issue of securities and money laundering.

Cryptocurrency

A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange.It uses cryptography to secure the transactions and to control the creation of additional units of the currency.Cryptocurrencies are classified as a subset of digital currencies and are also classified as a subset of alternative currencies and virtual currencies.Bitcoin became the first decentralized cryptocurrency in 2009.

Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy.

Source- The Hindu

India has largest number of malnourished kids in world: Report

India is home to the largest number of malnourished children in the world.Over the decade (2005-15), there has been an overall reduction in the infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate in India, yet the country is housing about 50 per cent of undernourished children of the world.At the end of 2015, 40 per cent of the Indian children were undernourished.Whereas urban India is faced with the challenge of over nutrition.India is ranked as the third most obese nation in the world after the US and China and also the diabetes capital of the world, with about 69.2 million diabetic.India continues to consume non-nutritious, non-balanced food either in the form of under nutrition, over nutrition or micronutrient deficiencies, according to the report.

Topic-GS-2- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Source- Indian Express

Goa ranks top, Bihar at bottom of Gender Vulnerability Index

Goa ranked top and Bihar featured at the lowest in Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI) released by Child development NGO Plan India.The index, which provides a state wise ranking, has been calculated by analysing four issues pertinent to the situation of girls — child safety/protection, poverty, health and education.In the ranking, Goa is followed by Kerala, Mizoram and Sikkim.Bihar ranked the lowest at 30, with Delhi faring only slightly better at 29 and Uttar Pradesh at 28.The highest ranking north Indian state is Himachal Pradesh at the sixth position.

Topic- GS 1-Indian Society and GS-2- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector.
GS-2- Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs

Source- Indian Express

Cabinet approves extension of renamed Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Cabinet approved extension of renamed Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation or RKVY-RAFTAAR for three years from 2017-20.RKVY-RAFTAAR funds would be provided to the States as 60:40 grants between Centre and States.The ratio will be 90:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States.The scheme will incentivize States in enhancing more allocation to Agriculture and Allied Sectors.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

Launched in 2007 to achieve 4 percent annual growth in the agricultural sector during the 11th five-year plan.Incentivize the states to increase their investment in Agriculture

Topic- GS-2- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population.

GS-3- Agriculture

Source- DD News

Kerala: Endemic dragonfly species reported after 80 years at Periyar reserve

Dragonfly census at Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) has identified 77 species.After 80 years, the rare 'Indian emerald' species were spotted for the first time in the state.The dragonflies normally settle at a place considering the size of the water bodies, temperature, depth, and the plants in the water bodies.They require unpolluted, clean water bodies to survive and also to spend their adult stage, hovering over water bodies.Absence of dragonflies is an indication that something is wrong with the water quality.

Topic- GS-3- Biodiversity

Source- Times of India

100 years of Balfour Declaration

The Balfour Declaration ("Balfour's promise" in Arabic) was a public pledge by Britain in 1917 declaring its aim to establish "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.It was made during World War I (1914-1918) and was included in the terms of the British Mandate for Palestine after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.This laid foundation for establishment of Israel nation and future Israel-Arab conflict.

Topic- GS-1-World History; GS 3-International relations

Source- Wiki