01.07.21

Kanchenjunga Biosphere – Botanical Survey of India

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According to a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), , India’s smallest state with less than 1% of the country’s landmass, is Home to 27% of all flowering Plants. Sikkim is a part of the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve.

About Kanchenjunga Biosphere:

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim is one of the highest Ecosystems in the world, with an altitude of 1,220 meters.
The biosphere contains various altitudinal ecosystems ranging from subtropic to Arctic, as well as natural forests in various biomes that support an enormously rich diversity of forest types and habitats.
The Park contains the world’s third highest peak, Mt. Khangchendzonga.
The Biosphere reserve includes a number of lakes and Glaciers, including the 26-kilometer-long Zemu Glacier.
In 2016, Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) was designated a World Heritage Site in the mixed’ category (Mixed heritage sites contain Elements of both natural and cultural significance).
The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim surrounds the Khangchendzonga , the third highest peak in the world, and has been included in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Network, making it India’s 11th biosphere reserve to be included in the network.
Its geographical location bordering Nepal, Tibet (China), and close to Bhutan provides unique opportunities for joint collaboration and Biodiversity conservation with neighbouring countries.
Increasing unregulated tourism, a lack of awareness about the landscape, and a staff shortage are some of the major challenges in preserving the reserve’s sanctity.

Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary – Assam

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The World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF) discovered a few tigers in Assam’s Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of Assam’s smallest WS (Wildlife Sanctuary).

About the Sanctuary:

It is located in the northern Assam districts of Baksa and Udalguri, bordering Bhutan,
It is bounded to the west and east by the Barnadi and Nalapara rivers, respectively.
Barnadi was created specifically to protect the Pygmy Hog (Sus salvanius) and Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus).
Approximately 60% of the BWS is reported to be Grassland, with the majority of it now being grassy woodland.
The main forest types are tropical moist deciduous (northern edge of the Sanctuary) and mixed scrub and grassland (southern part).
Commercial plantations of Bombax ceiba, Tectona grandis, and Eucalyptus, as well as thatch , have replaced the majority of the natural vegetation.

Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar Bagged by Odia Poet Rajendra Kishore Panda

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The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, the award instituted in reminiscence of late poet laureate Kuvempu, has been awarded to famed Odia poet Dr Rajendra Kishore Panda for the year 2020. The prestigious award consists of a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation.

He was Born on June 24, 1944, Dr Panda writes in the Odia language. He has published sixteen poetry collections and a novel. He is a primary Indian poet who suggested the course of contemporary Odia poetry to brilliant heights. He was awarded the Gangadhar National Award in 2010 and the Award in 1985. He was awarded a DLitt by Sambalpur University.

About the Award:
Founded in 1992, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust instituted this countrywide annual literary award in 2013 in the name of Kuvempu to apprehend litterateurs who had contributed in any language diagnosed via the Constitution of India.

SAMVEDAN 2021 – IIT Madras and Sony India to Host

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IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and Sony India Software Centre Pvt Ltd have joined hands to organise a national-level hackathon named SAMVEDAN 2021 Sensing solutions for Bharat. With this hackathon, the basis ambitions to encourage citizens to use IoT Sensor Board in order to remedy India-specific issues of societal interest.

It is primarily based on the Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporations SPRESENSE Board, which participants can use for this challenge. A group with a maximum of three participants can register for the grand challenge, held in three stages.

Zika Virus Disease in Kerala

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For the first time, the Zika Virus Disease (ZVD) was detected in Kerala.

About Zika Virus:

The Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitos that was discovered in monkeys in Uganda in 1947.
Zika virus was later discovered in humans in Uganda & the United Republic of Tanzania in 1952.
ZVD is caused by a virus that is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes (AM), specifically Aedes aegypti.
This is the mosquito that spreads dengue, Yellow fever & chikungunya.
Transmission:During pregnancy, from mother to fetus, through sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products, and organ transplantation.

Tenancy Act: Karnataka govt may face teething troubles, say experts

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The new Model Tenancy Act (MTA), soon to be adopted by the , is expected to boost the real estate sector particularly in the rental space but its implementation may not be a cakewalk, say experts. Karnataka will be the first state in the country to adopt the new Act recently cleared by the Centre.

The model Act looks favourable for both tenants and landlords; however, there are certain areas of concern, said Suresh Hari, chairman, Credai Bengaluru. He said, the cap on the security deposit might turn out to be problematic for landlords, if the tenant defaults on rent payment or damages the property. In these cases, a two-month security deposit may not cover the landlords expenses of repair/losses due to non-payment of the rent, he added.

Despite the Karnataka Rent Control Act – 1999 being in place, both tenants and house owners in the city violated rules often. Landlords and tenants were not having written agreements and preferred cash payment to avoid taxes. There are many who are not ready to give PAN card details. The new law will make it compulsory for both parties to enter into a written agreement; they now need to inform the rent authority within two months of signing it. This might unsettle several landlords.

Concentrated Solar Thermal Technology in Hyderabad

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A new test rig facility based on Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology was established in Hyderabad.

Highlights:

It can help test the capabilities and performance of solar thermal components such as solar receiver tubes, condensers, and heat transfer fluids.
The facility was established by the Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Technology used to harness are:

Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Cells:SPV cells convert solar radiation (sunlight) into electricity. A solar cell is a semi-conducting device composed of silicon and/or other materials that generates electricity when exposed to sunlight.
Solar thermal:Solar thermal power systems, also known as Concentrating Solar Power systems, use concentrated solar radiation as a high-temperature energy source to generate electricity via the thermal route (water converted into steam to turn turbines).

YSR Bima Scheme in Andhra Pradesh

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Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the YSR Bima scheme with new guidelines, where the authorities itself will directly pay the Insurance amount to the household of the deceased to make the insurance claims easier.

In order to help 1.32 lakh households via the YSR Bima scheme, the State authorities allotted Rs 750 crores for the year 2021-22. In the last two years, the State authorities had spent Rs 1307 crore for YSR Bima.

GCCI: Restart loan settlement scheme for mining affected

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Goa Chamber of Commerce & (GCCI) has asked the State Government to consider extending the One Time Settlement scheme (OTS) for mining affected borrowers, which expired in March.

The GCCI, which met cooperation minister Govind Gaude on Friday said that Cooperative banks and societies should be included in the scheme.

Though the initial response was poor, the scheme helped 4,574 mining affected to settle their loans with Rs 98.6 crore disbursed through the Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

As per the debt relief scheme, a subsidy up to 35% on the total loan settlement amount was provided. Banks and financial institutions granted a waiver of 100% loan interest from September 2012, 40% waiver on principle loan amount for trucks owners and 30% to barge owners.

Mumbai Samachar Newspaper Turns 200 on 1st July

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On July 1, Indias oldest newspaper, Mumbai Samachar, will enter its two hundredth year. With its workplace placed in an iconic red building at Horniman Circle in Mumbais Fort area, the Gujarati newspaper was first posted in 1822. It was founded with the aid of a Parsi pupil Fardoonji Murazban, who had experimented with a number of different publishing preferences earlier than landing on this profitable print run.

Formerly referred to as Bombay Samachar, in Gujarati, the paper has usually run as Mumbai na Samachar. It began as a weekly edition, primarily masking the motion of items throughout the sea and other enterprise news, such as the sale of property, and exceeded through a number of hands till bankruptcy turned it over to the Cama family in 1933.