GOA

1. National Recognition: The Ministry of Home Affairs has bestowed the prestigious ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ upon two Goa police officers, Superintendent of Police (SP) (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta and PI Vinayak Patil.

2. Outstanding Investigative Skills: Both officers have been recognized for their exceptional investigative skills, demonstrating a commitment to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement.

3. SP Gupta’s Leadership: While serving as SP Tirap in Arunachal Pradesh, SP Gupta’s proactive leadership and dedication led to the successful arrest of a top insurgent and his associates involved in a major extortion network. His commitment to duty inspired the entire police force.

4. PI Patil’s Determination: PI Patil, then Officer in Charge at Curchorem police station, was honored for his meticulous investigation of a murder case. He meticulously pieced together vital evidence, leading to the successful resolution of a complex case.

5. The Guddemol Murder Case: In May 2022, the body of an unidentified elderly woman was found in Guddemol, Sanvordem. Initially registered as an unnatural death, PI Patil’s thorough investigation revealed foul play, leading to the case being registered as a murder.

6. A Testament to Dedication: The recognition of these two officers highlights the dedication and skill within the Goa Police force. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to their colleagues and a testament to their commitment to upholding justice and protecting the community.

Here are the key points of the article:

1. Resolution Reached: After a month-long impasse, Dudhsagar tour operators and the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) have reached a settlement, allowing tours to resume.
2. Chief Minister’s Mediation: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant played a crucial role in mediating the truce, bringing both parties to the table.
3. Strike Called Off: The Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association (DTOA) called off its strike, allowing 431 vehicles to ferry tourists to the waterfalls.
4. Hybrid System: A hybrid system will be implemented for the next month, with both online and offline registration options available.
5. DTOA Takes Control: After the initial month, the DTOA will be responsible for managing the online registration process.
6. Financial Agreement: The service provider appointed by the GTDC will collect money from tourists and hand it over to the DTOA.
7. Season Begins: The season for Dudhsagar tours, which usually begins on October 2nd, has officially begun, bringing relief to both tourists and tour operators.

This article highlights the importance of collaboration and compromise in resolving disputes. The agreement reached between the DTOA and GTDC, facilitated by the Chief Minister, ensures a smooth and successful tourism season for Dudhsagar, benefiting both tourists and the local economy.

The study’s findings paint a stark picture of the pervasive nature of microplastic pollution, even in the most remote corners of our planet.

1. Microplastics Found in Adelie Penguins: A recent study conducted by researchers from CSIR-NIO Goa and the University of Calcutta discovered microplastics in the organs and gastrointestinal tissues of an Adelie penguin in Antarctica.

2. The Source of the Threat: The majority of the microplastics found were fibers, likely originating from clothing and fishing gear, highlighting the global reach of plastic pollution.

3. A Cycle of Contamination: The study revealed that Adelie penguins ingest microplastics directly and indirectly through their diet, as these particles have been found in their primary food sources like krill and fish.

4. The Risk of Bioaccumulation: The presence of undigested microplastics in the penguins’ bodies suggests that these particles are accumulating, potentially leading to toxic buildup and health issues.

5. A Threat to the Entire Food Web: The contamination of Adelie penguins with microplastics poses a significant threat to the Antarctic ecosystem, as these birds are a vital part of the food web.

6. A Call for Action: The study underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations on plastic production and disposal to protect the environment and safeguard the health of wildlife.

7. The Human Connection: The presence of microplastics in the most pristine environments highlights the interconnectedness of our planet and the need for responsible actions to mitigate the impact of human activities on the natural world.

Here are the main points of the article:

• Shipwrecks Reveal Rich Underwater Heritage: The discovery of shipwrecks by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa highlights the region’s rich underwater archaeological heritage.
• Artefacts Tell Tales of Maritime Trade: Recovered artefacts, including pottery, glass bottles, Chinese ceramics, elephants’ tusks, and hippopotamus teeth, date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, showcasing Goa’s historical maritime connections with distant lands.
• St. George’s Reef: A Window to the Past: The artefacts found at St. George’s Reef near Grande Island offer valuable insights into Goa’s maritime history and its connections with other civilizations.
• Unexplored Potential: Goa’s Ancient Capitals: Despite their historical significance, Gopakapattana, Old Goa, and Chandor remain largely unexplored, holding immense potential for underwater archaeological discoveries.
• Connecting the Dots: Underwater Archaeology Across India: The workshop highlighted the importance of underwater archaeology in understanding India’s maritime past, citing examples from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and the Lakshadweep Islands.
• A Multifaceted Approach: Marine Conservation and Research: The workshop emphasized the importance of marine conservation, diving for research, and underwater archaeology in preserving and understanding our oceans.
• Collaboration for Discovery: The workshop, organized by the Asiatic Society for Social Science Research and Goa University’s D D Kosambi School, underscores the importance of collaboration in promoting research and understanding our underwater heritage.

In a step towards facilitating transition to a carbon-neutral future, increasing circularity and inclusivity, theGoa State Pollution Control Board(GSPCB) will hold the first International Environment and Sustainability Summit Goa (IESSG).
The summit is scheduled from February 2-4 at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim, Goa. Minister for environment Bhupender Yadav is likely to inaugurate the summit.

GSPCB in PARTNERSHIP with Confederation of Indian (CII) is organising the summit, and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is a knowledge partner while Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the Network partner for the event.

Driven by a strong resurgence in tourism andrevivalin manufacturing activity, the gross goods and Services tax (GST) revenue collection in Goa continues to remain positive, with December registering a73%jump inyear-on-yearcollections. The Growth, which is a 14% increase over November, is also significantly higher than the 13% growth seen at the national level.

According to the Union finance ministry, Rs 592 crore was collected as central GST, state GST, integrated GST and cess in December as against Rs 518 crore in November. In December 2020, the total GST mop-up in Goa stood at Rs 342 crore.

Nationally, the gross GST revenue stood at Rs 1,29,780 crore, of which CGST is Rs 22,578 crore, SGST is Rs 28,658 crore, IGST is Rs 69,155 crore and cess is Rs 9,389 crore.
The state governments annual GST collections has shown a steady increase every financial year, growing from Rs 3,651.8 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 4,689 crore in 2020-21. Till July, Goas GST revenue stood at Rs 1,346.6 crore.

A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel for https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change (IPCC) has raised alarm over extreme weather, and the possibility of Urbanisation amplifying some aspects of climatechange.

At Old Goa, in a heritage landscape already devastated by haphazard development, the climate crisis has already started unfolding. The historic monuments are caught on lowlevel ground between massive runoffs and a swelling river.
Perhaps Goas most famous church, the Basilica of Bom Jesus, is at the lowest level in the core zone, and has been the worst hit after recent floods.

Conservationists and others suggest various measures as part of preparedness for the climate crisis. The conservation of water bodies and paddy fields, which are sinks for runoffs from the hills, is considered vital in extreme weather.

Sawant, in a recorded statement released on Tuesday night, said the bill would be reintroduced in the winter session of the Goa legislative assembly within the next two months.

Sawant said that a lot of people have said that the word bhumiputra should not be used in the bill, and that they have told him to remove it.

Defending the bill against an onslaught of criticism and mockery, Sawant said that more than 1.5 lakh houses would be benefited through this bill. He added that the bill has been brought in the interest of Goans, and dismissed apprehensions that it would only help migrants.

The chief minister said that there are around 6.5 lakh houses in 191 village panchayats and 14 municipalities, that have electricity connections. These houses belong to Goans and they have house numbers, water connections and electricity connections, but only 20% of houses are constructed by obtaining licences.

Emphasizing the need to promote heritage tourism in Goa, Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that theCorjuem Fortwill be promoted and various events, including an annual Corjuem festival, will be held at the fort.

The Corjuem fort was built in 1550 and was originally the property of the Bhonsle rulers of Sawantwadi. However, in the time of Viceroy Caetano de Mello e Castro the fort was annexed part of administration of Goa. The fort was declared as a protected monument under the Goa, Daman and Diu Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1978, 1 of 1979 and its rules 1980.