Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 13-15, 2024
( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 13-15, 2024)
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January 13-15, 2024
Buffalo Fights Revived in Assam
The Assam Government revived the traditional buffalo fight (Moh-Juj) after nine years.
About Moh Juj: A Traditional Buffalo Fight in Assam
- The riverside town of Ahatguri has hosted buffalo fight tournaments as part of Magh Bihu since 1972. But these large-scale events were stopped after the 2014 prohibition.
- In May 2022 there was a major development – a Supreme Court bench upheld amendments to animal cruelty legislation by certain states.
- This allowed the resumption of specific bull-taming sports and related rural events.
- Following this, in October 2022, the Assam Government assured the Gauhati High Court that it would formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) to regulate traditional practices like buffalo fights.
- Subsequently, in December 2023, the Assam cabinet formally approved the revival of buffalo fights under strict rules and protocols.
- This nod from the state government paved the way for restarting this cultural event in a regulated manner after years of prohibition.
Seven products from Odisha Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
Recently, seven products from Odisha, ranging from the Similipal Kai chutney made with red weaver ants to the embroidered Kapdaganda shawl, have bagged the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
About Lanjia Saura Painting
- Lanjia Saurpa Painting is one of the oldest tribal art forms.
- It is also known as Idital. The artworks are famous for their beauty, aesthetics, ritualistic association and iconography.
- It belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, a PVTG largely residing in the Rayagada district.
- These paintings are in the form of exterior murals painted on the mud walls of homes.
About Kapdaganda Shawl
- It is woven and embroidered by the women of the Dongria Kondh tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts.
- The shawl reflects the rich tribal heritage of the Dongria Kondhs.
- The shawl is worn by both men and women and the Dongrias gift it to their family members as a token of love and affection.
Koraput Kala Jeera Rice
- Famous for its aroma, taste, texture and nutritional value.
- As the rice grains resemble cumin seeds, it is also called Kala Jeera.
- Its consumption helps in increasing haemoglobin levels and improves metabolism in the body.
Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal
- It is known for its prickly thorns on the stems and the whole plant. The green and round fruits contain more seeds as compared to other genotypes.
- It is famous for its unique taste and relatively short quick cooking time.
- The plants are resistant to major insects and can be grown with minimal pesticide.
Odisha Khajuri Guda (Jaggery)
- It is a natural sweetener extracted from date palm trees and has its origin in the Gajapati district.
- Traditionally, the jaggery is prepared in a trapezoidal form called ‘Patali Gur’ and is organic by nature.
- It is dark brown and has a unique taste.
Dhenkanal Magji
- It is a type of sweet made from cheese from buffalo milk, with distinct characteristics in terms of appearance, taste, flavour, shape, and size.
- It also has unique nutritional values that distinguish it from other cheese-brd sweets.
SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) Scheme
Recently, the State Bank of India (SBI) launched the SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) to mobilize funds to support environment friendly initiatives and projects.
About SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) Scheme
- The SGRTD is a deposit scheme that aims to raise funds for environmentally-friendly initiatives and projects.
- The scheme is open to NRIs, non-individuals, and resident individuals.
- It offers investors the flexibility to choose from three distinct tenors: 1,111 days, 1,777 days, and 2,222 days.
- Pre-mature withdrawals are allowed under the scheme.
- Loan/ overdraft facility will be available against the deposit.
- Senior Citizens/ Staff/ Staff Senior Citizens are eligible for an additional interest rate over the applicable rate for the public.
- The benefit of additional interest shall not be available to NRI Senior Citizens/NRI Staff.
About Green Deposit
A Green deposit is an interest-bearing deposit, received by the regulated entities (RE) for a fixed period, the proceeds of which are earmarked for being allocated towards green finance.
The deposits raised under the framework are covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
IUCN Assessment of the Himalayan Wolf
The Himalayan Wolf has been assessed for the first time on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and categorised as ‘Vulnerable’.
About Himalayan Wolf
- The Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus chanco), a prominent lupine predator found across the Himalayas.
- The Himalayan wolf resides on the Tibetan Plateau in China, particularly in Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet, and western Sichuan provinces.
- It is a subspecies of the gray wolf found in the Himalayan region, spanning areas such as Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Plateau.
- Himalayan wolf has now been categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List
Reason for the declining population of Himalayan Wolf
- Hybridization Threats: Increasing populations of feral dogs in regions like Ladakh and Spiti pose a threat of hybridization.
- Illegal Hunting: The Himalayan Wolf is hunted illegally for its fur and body parts, contributing to its declining numbers.
- Conflict with Livestock: Livestock depredation conflicts are significant, exacerbated by habitat modification and depletion of wild prey.
- Habitat Destruction: The IUCN Red List Assessment has highlighted an ongoing reduction in the area, extent, and quality of habitat for Himalayan wolves.
Measures should be taken to enhance the protection of Himalayan wolves
- Securing and restoring healthy wild prey populations and landscapes and setting aside wildlife habitat refuges.
- Enhancing livestock guarding methods, including predator-proof corral pens, sustainable herding practices, and holistic management practices.
- Management of feral dog populations.
- Trans-boundary efforts in conservation of the species in range countries through research and monitoring.
Pench Tiger Reserve Becomes India’s first Dark Sky Park
The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India’s first Dark Sky Park and the fifth Dark Sky Park in Asia for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution. The certification was given by the International Dark-Sky Association, a global dark-sky movement to promote astronomy.
About India’s First Dark Sky Park:
- Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky.
- The reserve’s certification recognizes its commitment to protecting the night sky, reducing light pollution, and creating an ideal environment for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers.
- This designation positions PTR as a sanctuary where tourists can witness celestial spectacles, shielded from the intrusion of artificial light pollution.
About Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)
- The Reserve is named after the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve.
- It is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
- The reserve is famous for large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
- It was declared a sanctuary in 1965, raised to the status of national park in 1975.
The Rural Development Ministry and State Bank of India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help rural Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
The Ministry of Rural Development and State Bank of India signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate Enterprise Financing for rural Self-Help Group (SHG) women.
Key Points
- State Bank of India introduced Svyam Siddha, a financial product tailored for SHG women entrepreneurs, offering loans up to Rs 5 lakhs.
- This initiative is uniquely designed to alleviate the challenges associated with extensive documentation requirements for bank loan applications and reduce the Turn Around Time (TAT).
- The requirement of burdensome documents like quotations and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) has been dispensed with, allowing an easy application process where a simple loan application with KYC details can be submitted at local SBI bank branches.
- DAY-NRLM will facilitate the loan application process and oversee loan repayment through its dedicated field cadre.
- A training toolkit package was also launched to promote access to formal finance by SHG women entrepreneurs, marking a significant milestone in DAY-NRLM’s commitment to empowering communities and advancing financial inclusion at the grassroots level.
- The toolkit covers crucial topics like fundamentals of banking, concepts on financial statements, working capital calculation etc. The key modules of this toolkit have been converted into animated videos for self-capacity building of entrepreneurs. This will facilitate access to formal finance for its SHGs women entrepreneurs.
‘Sinomicrurus Gorei’ a new species of coral snake was discovered in Mizoram
Researchers from Mizoram University’s zoology department have discovered a new species of coral snake in the state. It has been named Sinomicrurus gorei after British India doctor Gore.
This newly discovered coral snake species is locally recognised as “Rul Thi Hna” due to its striking resemblance to Thi Hna, a traditional amber necklace in the Mizo culture.
It has unique patterns and different scales, hemipenis, DNA, and skull.
In Mizoram, Sinomicrurus macclellandi is primarily found in hilly or elevated areas, while Sinomicrurus gorei is found in both low-lying and hilly areas.
Green Fuels Alliance India
Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) is an alliance between Denmark and India to boost collaborative efforts in the sustainable energy solutions sector.
The initiative is part of the Green Strategic Partnership signed in 2020 between India and Denmark.
Key Points
- This strategic alliance, led by the Danish Embassy and the Consulate General of Denmark in India, aims to boost collaborative efforts in the sustainable energy solutions sector and advance the joint global goal towards carbon neutrality.
- The initiative aims to advance the green fuels sector, including green hydrogen, through innovation and partnerships.
- It promotes sustainable energy growth in India by establishing an ecosystem that encourages collaboration among businesses, government entities, research institutions, and financial stakeholders.
- The alliance is significant in its potential contribution to global decarbonization efforts.