Society

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addresses 20th Foundation Day celebration of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions - PIB

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addressed 20th Foundation Day of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions recently in New Delhi.

Polity 

Manipur says ‘Protected Area Regime’ back after 13 years. What it means - Indian Express

The Manipur government announced recently that the Centre has re-imposed ‘Protected Area Regime’ or ‘Protected Area Permit’ in the state as well as in Mizoram and Nagaland, all three of them bordering Myanmar.

Economy 

New undersea cables to boost India’s digital connectivity - The Hindu 

With data use increasing year on year, India’s undersea cable network is growing. Two new cable systems are set to be launched in the coming three months: the India Asia Xpress (IAX) and the India Europe Xpress (IEX), both connecting India with additional Internet links to the two continents. This comes even as India takes a more active role in discussions around submarine cable security and resilience.

New Cable Systems

• India Asia Xpress (IAX): Connects Chennai and Mumbai with Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
• India Europe Xpress (IEX): Links India to France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Djibouti.
• Ownership: Reliance Jio, with investment from China Mobile.
• Length: Over 15,000 km combined.

Strategic Importance

• Reflects increased data traffic and geopolitical ambitions.
• Enhances resilience against physical damage and cyberattacks.
• Strengthens India’s role as a key maritime cable network player, particularly in the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea regions.

Environment 

Assam bird sanctuary records 72% decline in bird species count - The Hindu

The number of avian species at a major wetland in north-eastern Assam declined by almost 72% in 27 years, a study has revealed. The study on avian diversity at the Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary (BBBS) straddling the Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts was published recently.

Key Findings

• Decline: 72% drop in avian species since 1997.
• Species Count:
  • 1997: 167 species.
  • 2011: 133 species.
  • 2017-2018: 120 species.
  • 2022-2024: 47 species.
• Causes of Decline
  • Anthropogenic Activities:
    • Overfishing and excessive aquatic plant harvesting.
    • Poaching of birds like lesser whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, and white-breasted waterhen.
    • Collection of bird eggs.
  • Disturbances:
    • High-decibel machines near water bodies.
    • Use of the sanctuary as a pasture area.

Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary

• Location: Boundary of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts, Assam.
• Area: 11.25 sq. km.
• Establishment: Declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Assam government in 1996. 
• Climate: Moist tropical, ~2000 mm annual rainfall.
• Vegetation: Flooded valley grassland and wetland.
• Wildlife: Hosts migratory waterfowl in winter, globally threatened species like Spot-billed Pelican & Lesser Adjutant.

How global crises are connected - Indian Express

A new major scientific report has highlighted the strong interlinkages between some of the biggest challenges facing humankind such as climate change, biodiversity loss and hunger, and emphasised on the need for adopting an integrated approach in addressing these issues.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Challenges: Climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, water scarcity, and health risks.
• Produced by: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

• Findings:

• Current practices negatively affect biodiversity, climate, food, water, and health.
• Estimated unaccounted costs: $10-25 trillion annually.

• Recommendation: Adopting an integrated approach to tackle interconnected crises effectively.

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

• Role: Evaluates existing scientific knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystems, similar to the IPCC for climate change.
• Establishment: 2012.
• Purpose: Informs multilateral environmental processes like CBD, CCD, Ramsar Convention, CITES, and Cartagena Protocol.

Biodiversity Loss and Economic Impact

• Economic Dependence on Nature:
  • Over 50% of global GDP (~$58 trillion annually) relies on nature.
  • Degradation of ecosystems reduces productivity and economic output.
• Biodiversity Decline:
  • Average loss: 2-6% per decade over the last 50 years.
  • Trillions in annual incentives still promote biodiversity-harming activities.
• Call for Transformative Change
  • Equity and justice.
  • Pluralism and inclusion.
  • Respectful human-nature relationships.
  • Adaptive learning and action.
• Cost of Inaction: Delays will nearly double mitigation costs in a decade.

Science and Technology 

What is a dark comet? - The Hindu

In 2017, NASA discovered and later confirmed the first interstellar object to enter our Solar System.

Dark Comets

• Characteristics: Lack glowing tails; resemble asteroids but exhibit sudden accelerations.
• Small size: Few meters to a few hundred meters wide.
• Low visibility: Rapid spin disperses gas and dust in all directions, reducing visibility.
• Orbits: Follow elongated elliptical paths close to the Sun and then sweep back into the Solar System.
• Discovery:
  • First evidence in 2016: Asteroid 2003 RM showed unusual orbital deviations.
  • Confirmed existence: 14 dark comets identified in a recent study.
• Categories:
  • Outer Dark Comets: Larger with eccentric orbits.
  • Inner Dark Comets: Smaller with nearly circular orbits closer to the Sun.