23th Sept 2021

 

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NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA

NATIONAL PARKS	STATES
Papikonda National Park	Andhra Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi National Park	Andhra Pradesh
Lanjamadugu Wildlife Sanctuary	Andhra Pradesh
Namdapha National Park	Arunachal Pradesh
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary	Arunachal Pradesh
Manas National Park (UNESCO)	Assam
Nameri National Park	Assam
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park	Assam
Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO)	Assam
Dibru Sai Khowa National Park	Assam
Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary	Bihar
Valmild National Park	Bihar
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary	Bihar
Indravati National Park	Chhattisgarh
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhattisgarh
Kanger Valley National Park	Chhattisgarh
Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhattisgarh
Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park	Chhattisgarh
Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhattisgarh
Bhagwan Mahavir National Park	Goa
Vansda National Park	Gujarat
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary	Gujarat
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary	Gujarat
Marine National Park (First Marine National Park)	Gujarat
Black Buck National Park	Gujarat
Gir Forest National Park	Gujarat
Kalesar National Park	Haryana
Sultanpur National Park	Haryana
Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh
Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh
Inderkilla National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Pin Valley National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Khirganga National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Simbalbara National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh
Salim All National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
Kishtwar National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
Hemis National Park (Largest in Area)	Jammu & Kashmir
Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Dachigam National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
Kara Koram Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Betla National Park	Jharkhand
Hazaribagh National Park	Jharkhand
Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary	Jharkhand
Nagarhole National Park	Karnataka
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Kudremukh National Park	Karnataka
Bannerghatta National Park	Karnataka
Bandipur National Park	Karnataka
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary	Kerala
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala
Periyar National Park	Kerala
Silent Valley National Park	Kerala
Eravikulam National Park	Kerala
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala
Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala
Anamudi Shola National Park	Kerala
Pampadum Shola National Park	Kerala
Pench National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park (Highest Numbers of Tigers)	Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Madhav National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Van Vihar National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
National Chambal Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Pachmari Wildlife Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
Phen Wildlife Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
Ratapani Tiger Reserve	Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Chandoli National Park	Maharashtra
Gugamal National Park	Maharashtra
Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park	Maharashtra
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Navegaon National Park	Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park	Maharashtra
Dhakna Kolkaz Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Wain Ganga Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Keibul Lamjao National Park	Manipur
Yagoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary	Manipur
Nokrek National Park	Meghalaya
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary	Meghalaya
Balphakram National Park	Meghalaya
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary	Mizoram
Murlen National Park	Mizoram
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary	Mizoram
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park	Mizoram
Pulebarze Wildlife Sanctuary	Nagaland
Intanki National Park	Nagaland
Simplipal National Park	Orissa
Chilka Wild Life Sanctuary	Orissa
Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary	Orissa
Bhitarkanika National Park	Orissa
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary	Orissa
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary	Orissa
Ranthambore National Park	Rajasthan
Sariska National Park	Rajasthan
First National Park in the world, which was successfully adapted by Royal Bengal Tiger]
Darrah National Park	Rajasthan
Desert National Park	Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park (UNESCO)	Rajasthan
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Jawaharsagar Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary	Sikkim
Khangchendzonga National Park	Sikkim
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary	Sikkim
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary	Sikkim
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary	Sikkim
Mukurthi National Park	Tamilnadu
Shenbagathoppu Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
Satyamanglam wild Life Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park	Tamilnadu
Guindy National Park	Tamilnadu
Mudumalai National Park	Tamilnadu
Vettangundi Wildlife Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park	Tamilnadu
Mrugavani National Park	Telangana
Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary	Tripura
Bisan (Rajbari) National Park	Tripura
Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary	Tripura
Clouded Leopard National Park	Tripura
Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Dudhwa National Park	Uttar Pradesh
Ranipur Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Rajaji National Park	Uttarakhand
Gangotri National Park	Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi National Park (UNESCO)	Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park (Oldest Park)	Uttarakhand
Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO)	Uttarakhand
Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary	Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar	Uttarakhand
Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary	Uttarakhand
Sundarbans National Park	West Bengal
Gorumara National Park	West Bengal
Buxa National Park	West Bengal
Jaldapara National Park	West Bengal
Neora Valley National Park	West Bengal
Singalila National Park	West Bengal
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Saddle Peak National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
South Button Island National Park	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
Mount Harriet National Park	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
North Button Island National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Campbell Bay National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Galathea National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands

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Context

• Civil Service is vital for the government to function.
• It’s regarded as the ‘steel frame’ of administration in India from colonial days.
• The colonial legacy of civil service continues amidst the fast-changing era of globalization.
• It is therefore, indispensible that civil service reforms are carried out as a part of good governance.
• A reboot and re-orientation of it is needed to ensure effective service delivery.

Civil Services in India: A backgrounder

• Civil Services refer to the career civil servants who are the permanent executive branch of the Republic of India. It is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country.
• As India is a parliamentary democracy, the ultimate responsibility for running the administration rests with the people’s elected representatives.
• The elected executive decides the policy and it is civil servants, who serve at the pleasure of the President of India, implement it.
• However, Article 311 of the constitution protects Civil Servants from politically motivated vindictive action.

Evolution of Civil Services

Ancient India: Kautilya’s Arthasastra gives seven basic elements of the administrative apparatus- Swamin (the ruler), Amatya (the bureaucracy), Janapada (territory), Durga (the fortified capital), Kosa (the treasury), Danda (the army), and Mitra (the ally). The higher bureaucracy consisted of the mantrins and the amatyas. While the mantrins were the highest advisors to the King, the Amatyas were the civil servants.

Medieval India: During the Mughal era, the bureaucracy was based on the mansabdari system. The mansabdari system was essentially a pool of civil servants available for civil or military deployment.

Colonial India: The big changes in the civil services in British-India came with the implementation of Macaulay’s Report 1835. The report recommended that only the best and brightest would do for the Indian Civil Service to serve the interest of the British Empire.

Post-Independence: Indian civil services system retained the elements of the British structure like a unified administrative system such as an open-entry system based on academic achievements, permanency of tenure.

Post partition: When India was partitioned following the departure of the British in 1941, the Indian Civil Service was divided between the new dominions of India and Pakistan. The Indian remnant of the ICS was named the Indian Administrative Service, while the Pakistani remnant was named the Pakistan Administrative Service.

Classification of Services

• The modern Indian Administrative Service was created under Article 312(2) in part XIV of the Constitution of India, and the All-India Services Act, 1951.
• Constitution has not elaborated the types and categories of services. As per the Constitution, the services are categorized into the followings categories:

1. All India Services (AlS)
2. State Services
3. Local and Municipal Services.
4. There are four groups of central, services Central Services Group A(Indian Foreign Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Statistical Service etc.), B (Central Secretariat Service, Geographical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India etc.), C & D.
5. The highest personnel strength among the entire civil services system in India is with Central Secretariat Service and Indian Revenue Service (IT and C&CE).

Latest Developments

• The Govt. of India approved the formation of the Indian Skill Development Service in 2015, Indian Enterprise Development Service in 2016.
• Further, the Cabinet of India approved merging all civil services under Indian Railways into a single Indian Railways Management Service as part of structural reform in the sector in 2019.
• Also the lateral entry of professionals in Civil Services has begun.

Our discussion: Civil Service Reform

• Civil Service Reform is a deliberate change effort by the government to improve its capacity to effectively and efficiently execute policies.
• The purpose of ‘reform’ is to reorient the Civil Services into a dynamic, efficient, and accountable apparatus for public service delivery built on the ethos and values of integrity, impartiality, and neutrality.
• The reform is to raise the quality of public services delivered to the citizens and enhance the capacity to carry out core government functions, thereby, leading to sustainable development.

Why need CS reforms?

• Accelerated change globally
• Globalization
• Technological advances
• greater decentralization
• social activism
• Economic Reforms

What are the various bottlenecks of Indian Civil Services?

• Poor capacity building
• Inefficient incentive systems that do not appreciate upright and outstanding civil servants but reward the corrupt and the incompetent
• Outdated rules and procedures that restrict the civil servant from performing effectively
• Systemic inconsistencies empanelment in promotion
• Lack of adequate transparency and accountability procedures
• no safety for whistleblowers
• Arbitrary and whimsical transfers: insecurity in tenures impedes institutionalization
• Political interference and administrative acquiescence
• Dominance of few elite services in promotions, work allocations, and assignments

Structural Issues

Generalist Vs Specialist: Civil Services was designed to deliver certain core functions: Law and Order; Government programs and realizing Governments’ orders. However, changes/Causes/Reasons mentioned above led to change in the role of the state. 

New Challenges: Cyber security, complex business, trade, legal aspects are some of the major emerging threats.

Recent Reforms

(1) Mission Karmayogi

• It is aimed at better services delivery to the public.- “governance, performance, and accountability”. lt promises a shift from rules to roles, silos to coordination, interdisciplinary movements, and a continuous capacity building exercise.
• The focus of the reform is the creation of a ‘citizen-centric civil service’ capable of creating and delivering services conducive to economic growth and public welfare.
• Accordingly, Mission Karmayogi shifts the focus from “Rule-based training to Role-based training”. Greater thrust has been laid on behavioral change.

(2) National Programme for Civil Service Capacity Building:  

• It aims for learning resources from the best institutions and practices from across the world while retaining Indian sensibilities and culture.
• The mid-career training will now be available to all government staff instead of the top officers alone, and their profile and assessment will be continuous.
• If there is a need for some special appointment, then authorities can do so by looking at the profile of the officers with the help of technology instead of depending on perceptions.

Key features of the new Reforms

• ‘Rules based’ to ‘Roles based’ HR Management
•  Aligning work allocation of civil servants by matching their competencies to the requirements of the post.
• To emphasize on ‘on-site learning’ to complement the ‘off-site’ learning.
• To create an ecosystem of shared training infrastructure including that of learning materials, institutions and personnel.
• To calibrate all Civil Service positions to a Framework of Roles, Activities and Competencies (FRACs) approach and to create and deliver learning content relevant to the identified FRACs in every Government entity.
• To make available to all civil servants, an opportunity to continuously build and strengthen their Behavioural, Functional, and Domain Competencies in their self-driven and mandated learning paths.
• To enable all the Central Ministries and Departments and their Organizations to directly invest their resources towards co-creation and sharing the collaborative and common ecosystem of learning through an annual financial subscription for every employee.
• To encourage and partner with the best-in-class learning content creators including public training institutions, universities, start-ups, and individual experts.

Way forward

• Civil Service Reforms should realign the outdated structure and culture of the services and forgo its colonial hangover aiming to raise the quality and sensitivity of services to the citizens that are essential for sustainable economic and social development.
• Rationalization and harmonization of service is the need of the hour.

Conclusion

• Capacity augmentation of Civil Servants plays a vital role in rendering a wide variety of services, implementing welfare programs, and performing core governance functions.
• A transformational change in Civil Service Capacity is proposed to be affected by organically linking the transformation of work culture, strengthening public institutions, and adopting modern technology to build civil service capacity with the overall aim of ensuring efficient delivery of services to citizens.
• The future of the country cannot be progressive without a reformed bureaucracy.

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UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) With respect to India’s Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, consider the following statements:

1. Exclusive Economic Zone is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial waters, and the limit of such zone is two hundred nautical miles from the baseline.
2. Under the law, all foreign ships including warships shall enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial waters of India.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2) Strait of Kerch connects black sea with which of the following sea?
a. Mediterranean Sea
b. Sea of Azov
c. Aegean Sea
d. Sea of Crete

Q3) Consider the following statements 

1. India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world. 

2. Some of the important winter crops are wheat, barley, mustard and peas. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Which of the following statement(s) is/ are correct with respect to Unicorn Blackhole?

1. It is roughly three times the mass of Sun found in milky way galaxy.
2. It is type of stellar mass black hole, which is formed by the gravitational collapse of a single star.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

08th Sept 2021

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1. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 an Act of the Parliament of India to control and prevent air pollution in India
• It was amended in 1987
• The Government passed this Act in 1981 to clean up our air by controlling pollution.
• It states that sources of air pollution such as industry, vehicles, power plants, etc., are not permitted to release particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other toxic substances beyond a prescribed level

Key Features

The Act specifically empowers State Government to designate air pollution areas and to prescribe the type of fuel to be used in these designated areas.

According to this Act, no person can operate certain types of industries including the asbestos, cement, fertilizer and petroleum industries without consent of the State Board.

The main objectives of the Act are as follows:

(a) To provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution

(b) To provide for the establishment of central and State Boards with a view to implement the Act(Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board)

(c) To confer on the Boards the powers to implement the provisions of the Act and assign to the Boards functions relating to pollution

2.Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986

• Environment Protection Act, 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of India
• In the wake of the Bhopal Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment Protection Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution
• Passed in March 1986, it came into force on 19 November 1986
• The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
• In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other

Objective of the Act

The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.

3.The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 17 July 2000

The rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment (Protection) Act.

Objectives and Key Features

• These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out of various ODSs, besides regulating production, trade import and export of ODSs and the product containing ODS.
• These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in manufacturing various products beyond 1st January 2003 except in metered dose inhaler and for other medical purposes.
• Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1st January 2001 except for essential use.
• Other ODSs such as carbon tetrachloride and methylchoroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used upto 1st January 2010.
• Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to replace CFC, these are allowed up to 1st January 2040.

4.The Energy Conservation Act of 2001

As a step towards improving energy efficiency, the Government of India has enacted the Energy Conservation Act in 2001.

Objective

The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 is the most important multi-sectoral legislation in India and is intended to promote efficient use of energy in India.

Key Features

The Act specifies energy consumption standards for equipment and appliances, prescribes energy consumption norms and standards for consumers, prescribes energy conservation building codes for commercial buildings and establishes a compliance mechanism for energy consumption norms and standards.

5.Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• In order to implement the various provisions of the EC Act, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was operationalised with effect from 1st March, 2002. The EC Act provides a legal framework for energy efficiency initiatives in the country. The Act has mandatory as well as promotional initiatives.
• The Bureau is spearheading the task of improving the energy efficiency in various sectors of the economy through the regulatory and promotional mechanism. The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.
• This is to be demonstrated by providing policy framework as well as through public-private partnership.

6.Forest Conservation Act of 1980

Background

First Forest Act was enacted in 1927.

Alarmed at India’s rapid deforestation and resulting environmental degradation, Centre Government enacted the Forest (Conservation) Act in1980.

Objective

It was enacted to consolidate the law related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty livable on timber and other forest produce.

Key Features

• Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
• Forest officers and their staff administer the Forest Act.
• An Advisory Committee constituted under the Act advises the Centre on these approvals.
• The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests.

7.The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Background

During the Rio de Janeiro summit of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992, India vowed the participating states to provide judicial and administrative remedies for the victims of the pollutants and other environmental damage.

Key Features

It was enacted under India’s constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.

The specialized architecture of the NGT will facilitate fast track resolution of environmental cases and provide a boost to the implementation of many sustainable development measures.

NGT is mandated to dispose the cases within six months of their respective appeals.

Enabling Provision

It is an Act of the Parliament of India which enable the creation of NGT to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.

Members

The sanctioned strength of the tribunal is currently 10 expert members and 10 judicial members although the act allows for up to 20 of each.

The Chairman of the tribunal who is the administrative head of the tribunal also serves as a judicial member.

Every bench of the tribunal must consist of at least one expert member and one judicial member.

The Chairman of the tribunal is required to be a serving or retired Chief Justice of a High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Jurisdiction

The Tribunal has Original Jurisdiction on matters of “substantial question relating to environment” (i.e. a community at large is affected, damage to public health at broader level) & “damage to environment due to specific activity” (such as pollution).

The term “substantial” is not clearly defined in the act.

8.The Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications

Background

The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters which are influenced by tidal action are declared “Coastal Regulation Zone” (CRZ) in 1991.

CRZ notifications

India has created institutional mechanisms such as National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) and State Coastal Zone Management Authority (SCZMA) for enforcement and monitoring of the CRZ Notification.

These authorities have been delegated powers under Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 to take various measures for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in coastal areas.

Key Features

Under this coastal areas have been classified as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3, CRZ-4. And the same they retained for CRZ in 2003 notifications as well.

CRZ-1: these are ecologically sensitive areas these are essential in maintaining the ecosystem of the coast. They lie between low and high tide line. Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt are permitted

CRZ-2: these areas form up to the shoreline of the coast. Unauthorised structures are not allowed to construct in this zone.

CRZ-3: rural and urban localities which fall outside the 1 and 2. Only certain activities related to agriculture even some public facilities are allowed in this zone

CRZ-4: this lies in the aquatic area up to territorial limits. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone. Solid waste should be let off in this zone.

9.Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Background

In 1972, Parliament enacted the Wild Life Act (Protection) Act.

Objective

The Wild Life Act provides for

1. state wildlife advisory boards,
2. regulations for hunting wild animals and birds,
3. establishment of sanctuaries and national parks, tiger reserves
4. regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and trophies, and
5. judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.

Key Features

• Harming endangered species listed in Schedule 1 of the Act is prohibited throughout India.
• Hunting species, like those requiring special protection (Schedule II), big game (Schedule III), and small game (Schedule IV), is regulated through licensing.
• A few species classified as vermin (Schedule V), may be hunted without restrictions.
• Wildlife wardens and their staff administer the act.
• An amendment to the Act in 1982, introduced a provision permitting the capture and transportation of wild animals for the scientific management of animal population.

10.Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Background

The Biological Diversity Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2000 and was passed in 2002.

Objective:

India’s richness in biological resources and indigenous knowledge relating to them is well recognized

The legislation aims at regulating access to biological resources so as to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use

Key Features

• The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals and organizations without sharing the benefits arising out of such use, and to check biopiracy.
• This bill seeks to check biopiracy, protect biological diversity and local growers through a three-tier structure of central and state boards and local committees.
• The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies. The NBA will enjoy the power of a civil court.
• BMCs promote conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biodiversity.
• NBA and SBB are required to consult BMCs in decisions relating to use of biological resources.
• All foreign nationals or organizations require prior approval of NBA for obtaining biological resources and associated knowledge for any use.
• Indian individuals/entities require approval of NBA for transferring results of research with respect to any biological resources to foreign nationals/organizations.

11.Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999

Objective

A rule notified in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (viii) of Sub Section (2) of Section 3 read with Section 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) with the objective to regulate the manufacture and use of recycled plastics, carry bags and containers;

Key Features

1. Thickness of the carry bags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics shall not be less than 20 microns.
2. Carry bags and containers made of virgin plastic shall be in natural shade or white.
3. Carry bags and containers made of recycled plastic and used for purposes other than storing and packaging food stuffs shall be manufactured using pigments and colorants as per IS:9833:1981 entitled “List of Pigments and Colorants” for use in Plastics in contact with food stuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water.
4. Recycling of plastics shall be under taken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications IS:14534:1988 entitled “The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics”.

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The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has recently decided to keep petroleum products out of the GST regimes.

As the retail prices of petroleum products are soaring, demand for price reduction has gained momentum.

Fuel prices in India

• India meets its domestic oil demand mainly through imports.
• While international crude prices have risen sharply in the last six months, a major reason for the high selling price of petrol is the high levy of local taxes.

Factors affecting fuel prices?

1. Crude oil production and pricing
2. Rupee vs. Dollar Rates
3. Demand-Supply scenario
4. Internal transportation
5. Pricing mechanism

Present taxation of Fuels

• Currently, taxes on petroleum products are levied by both the Centre and the states.
• While the Centre levies excise duty, states levy value added tax (VAT).
• For instance, VAT on petroleum products is as high as 40% in Maharashtra, contributing over ₹25,000 crore annually.
• By being able to levy VAT on these products, the state governments have control over their revenues.
• When a national GST subsumed central taxes such as excise duty and state levies like VAT on July 1, 2017, five petroleum goods – petrol, diesel, ATF, natural gas and crude oil – were kept out of its purview.

Why bring Petro/Diesel under GST?

• GST is being thought to be a solution for the problem of near-record high petrol and diesel rates in the country, as it would end the cascading effect of tax on tax.
• The state VAT is being levied not just on the cost of production but also on the excise duty charged by the Centre on such output.

Why were they left out of GST?

• This is because both central and state government finances relied heavily on taxes on these products.
• Since GST is a consumption-based tax, bringing petroleum under the regime would have mean states where these products are sold get the revenue and not the producer ones.
• Simply put, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with their huge population and a resultant high consumption would get more revenues at the cost of states like Gujarat.
• Under the present Covid situation, bringing petroleum products under GST will be a very tough call for both the Centre and states “as both will stand to lose”.

Typically, for every Re 1 of excise hike on petrol and diesel, the gain to the exchequer is around Rs 13,000-14,000 crore. However, with the Covid-related consumption slump, the gains may be a bit lower than this.

How does this impact consumers?

High oil prices add to inflationary pressures. Inflation poses a challenge to growth.

• Record high prices for diesel means that the cost of transporting goods goes up across the country which in turn could result in increasing the prices of essential commodities like fruit and vegetables as well.
• Household incomes see a perceptible drop and gradually even the demand for discretionary goods starts declining.
• Petrol and diesel have a combined weight of 4.69% in the wholesale price index and 2.34% in the retail price index.
• Any increase in the prices of the transport fuels affect the WPI more than the CPI but what is more worrisome is the pass-through effect the increase in fuel prices can cause.

Impact of inclusion of fuel under GST

• If petroleum products are included under the GST, there will be a uniform price of fuel across the country.
• However, petroleum products coming under GST not necessarily means that taxes or prices will come down.
• If the GST council decides to opt for a lower slab, taxes may come down.
• At present, India has four primary GST rates – 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent and 28 percent.
• Levying a standard rate of GST on petrol would mean that the prices increase dramatically in Andaman and Nicobar, but on the flip side, they would fall in Maharashtra if the cumulative rate is lower than the current rate.

Way forward

• The government can offset the prices by lowering excise duty slightly, which saw an exorbitant hike during March last year.
• This window, the experts say, is available to the government only this year.
• Next year, when the demand for transport fuels comes back to pre-pandemic levels and there is sharper upward revision, the risk to inflation will be much higher and may leave no ammunition with the government.

Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

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You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

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Daily Study Plan with Answer Writing Challenge || STREAK FREE INITIATIVE FOR UPSC IAS – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) With respect to Javadhu Hills, consider the following statements: 

1. It is an extension of the Eastern Ghats spread across parts of the state of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India. 
2. Malayali tribal people constitutes the majority of the inhabitants of the Javadhu hills. 
3. Vainu Bappu Observatory, India‟s astronomical observatory owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, is located in the Javadhu Hills. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 1 and 3 only 

c. 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

Q2) Which of the following is/are the effects of temperature inversion?

1. Visibility may be greatly reduced below the inversion.

2. It results in less rainfall.

3. Diurnal variations tend to be very large due to inversions.

Select the correct option:

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 2 and 3 only

c. 1 and 3 only

d. All the above

Q3) Consider the following statements with respect to Red Rice 

1. The red rice, locally known as Baodhaan, is rich in Iron content. 

2. It is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to Simlipal Biosphere Reserve 

1. Simlipal, which derive its name from „Simul‟ (silk cotton) tree, is a national park and a tiger reserve situated in Odisha. 
2. Sal is a dominant tree species in the reserve. 
3. The reserve that lies in the eastern end of the eastern ghat was declared a biosphere reserve in 1994. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

a. 1 and 2 only 

b. 1 and 3 only 

c. 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3