State`s Opposition to Tax devolution
Ministers and lawmakers hailing from India’s southern states voiced their grievances in New Delhi, alleging discriminatory practices in the allocation of federal funds by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
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- The demonstration, spearheaded by the chief minister of Karnataka, highlights longstanding disparities between the more prosperous southern states and their economically challenged northern
- Tax devolution and declining of grants , Karnataka has suffered loss of
1.87 lakh crore under 15th Finance Commission. Also Karnataka did not receive the special grants for irrigation projects and peripheral ring road.
- In 223 taluks of Karnataka, a drought situation has unfolded, resulting in the loss of crops across millions of
- Despite multiple appeals from the state government for compensation from the central government due to the drought-induced losses, the central government has modified rules, effectively shifting the responsibility for drought relief away from its Consequently, the state is left without the anticipated compensation for the incurred damages.
Olive Ridley turtle nesting site in Tannirbavi, Mangaluru
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre recently visited the Olive Ridley turtle nesting site in Tannirbavi, Mangaluru. And awarded a prize money to fishermen finding those sites.
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- Notably, Olive Ridley nesting sites have been reported in Dakshina Kannada’s coast for the first time since 1985, with the forest department identifying 12 nesting
- the efforts of forest staff in safeguarding turtle eggs, using fencing to protect them from dogs and birds, and maintaining beach cleanliness is
- The forest department is actively involved in onshore camps and in-situ conservation initiatives to protect Olive Ridley turtles along the coastal
Olive Ridley
- Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea; commonly known as the Pacific ridley sea
- Inhabitate in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian
- One of the smallest sea turtles
- Distinctive olive green color of their
- Can reach lengths of up to two-and-a- half feet and weigh between 30-45
- Food: Primarily feed on shrimp, crab, mollusks, and various
- Known for unique mass nesting events called Arribada, where thousands of females gather on the same beach to lay
- Eggs hatch in 45 to 60
- Sea Turtles in India: Five species found in Indian waters:
- Leatherback
- Loggerhead
- Hawksbill
- Green
- Olive Ridley
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- CITES Appendix I
- Nesting Sites in India:
'Bharat' brand of rice of Karnataka
The subsidized ‘Bharat’ brand of rice, priced at Rs 29/kg, has been introduced in Karnataka, with the launch event officiated by former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday.
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- The rice will be available at Kendriya Bhandar, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) outlets, expanding to other retail stores and online platforms
- This retail initiative aims to augment market supplies at reasonable rates, contributing to the ongoing stabilization of food prices, according to an official
Sold in 5 kg and 10 kg packs, ‘Bharat’ Rice joins other subsidized products under the Bharat brand, including Chana Dal at Rs 60/kg, Bharat Atta at Rs 27.50/kg, and Moong Dal at Rs 90/kg.
'Kusina Mane' scheme operation hindered by Village Panchayats
Village panchayats are hesitant to bear the administrative and financial responsibilities associated with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) ‘Kusina Mane’ initiative, designed to care for the young children of working mothers.
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This reluctance has led to protests from elected members of Gram Panchayats, hindering the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj’s efforts to establish the targeted 4,000 childcare centers, with only 2,209 currently operational.
Kusina Mane
Concerns of the implementation:
- Confusion regarding the management and supervision of these centers has surfaced since the project’s
- The administration has been delegated to Gram Panchayats, while oversight has been assigned to Taluk Child Development Officers, as outlined in a recent
- Opposition to the use of grants has emerged, as ₹160 crore is annually allocated for the maintenance of 4,000 childcare centers, with ₹65.72 crore designated from the NREGA grant for coaches’
Critics argue that using panchayat funds and grants for the ‘Kusina Mane’ project is against decentralization principles, claiming that the scheme has been imposed without considering the autonomy of gram panchayats.
Prelims Bytes
Namma Aquarium: Bengaluru.
The refurbished government aquarium at Cubbon Park, closed for over a year, is set to reopen in November after its first renovation since its establishment in 1983.
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- The renovated facility introduces several new features, including a tunnel aquarium, a Koi fish pond, and touch pods allowing visitors to interact with the
- The Koi fish, known for their vibrant pigmentation, will inhabit a large pond with a capacity of nearly 2 lakh
- a tunnel aquarium with a capacity of 60,000 liters is under
- Each exhibit incorporates unique aquascaping, with the first floor showcasing theme-based aquariums representing famous places in
- The second floor focuses on species-specific aquariums featuring both indigenous and global ornamental fish
Namma Bengaluru Aquarium Limited, a private firm working on the project through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with the Fisheries Department.
Safer Internet Day
- Safer Internet Day (SID) is a global observance held annually on the 2nd day (Tuesday) of the 2nd week of the 2nd month (February). Its primary aim is to advocate for a safer, more responsible use of the Internet, particularly emphasizing the well-being of children and young
- The event, which marked its 21st edition on February 6, 2024, serves as a platform to encourage awareness about online threats and the adoption of practices that promote online safety. The 20th edition, SID 2023, took place on February 7, 2023, and the upcoming 22nd edition, SID 2025, is scheduled for February 4,
The recurring theme for SID since 2019 has been “Together for a better internet,” emphasizing the collaborative efforts required to create a safer online environment.
Abhinav Bindra as a torchbearer at Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay
Renowned Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra, India’s inaugural individual Olympic gold medalist from the Beijing Olympics in 2008, has been chosen as one of the torchbearers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay.
- The Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay will feature a total of 11,000 torchbearers across France, with 10,000 participating in the Olympic Torch Relay and an additional 1,000 in the Paralympic Torch
Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay:
- The Olympic flame is scheduled to be ignited on April 16, 2024, at the Olympia sanctuary in
- In Greece, the Olympic Flame will traverse from the Peloponnese to Athens, embarking on the Belem to cross the Mediterranean
- Marseille, France, will receive the flame on May 8,
- The flame will embark on a 68-day journey across 65 French territories, ultimately arriving in Paris for the Opening Ceremony on July 26,
- It is noteworthy that Abhinav Bindra has also held the position of a member in the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since June 2023.
Burrowing Frog in Bengaluru
Researchers from national and international institutions have identified a new species of burrowing frog in Bengaluru, Karnataka, named ‘Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu.’
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- The frog’s name, Varshaa burrowing frog, is derived from its behavior of emerging from burrows during early showers, with “Varshaa” combining Sanskrit words for ‘rain’ and ‘taking ‘
- The discovery was published in the international journal Zootaxa, and the species belongs to the genus Sphaerotheca in the Amphibia class, specifically the Dicroglossidae family, which includes medium-sized burrowing
- The Varshaa burrowing frogs are considered medium-sized, reaching around 5 inches in length, with robust bodies, rounded snouts, and slightly warty skin.
- They exhibit a blotchy brown coloring with greenish patches and small orange spots, and their eyes are speckled with metallic
- DNA analysis revealed a minimum 3% genetic divergence from other burrowing frog
The researchers noted a prior discovery in 2020 of another burrowing frog species in the same area, named Sphaerotheca Bengaluru after the city.
Vinicius Junior as Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has appointed Brazilian footballer Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Junior, known as Vinícius Junior, as the Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All.
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- During a ceremony at the Real Madrid training center in Spain, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay presented the letter of appointment to Vinícius
- Vinícius Junior is the second Brazilian football player, following Pelé, to be honored with the role of UNESCO Goodwill
- Vinícius Junior has been actively advocating for equal educational opportunities in
Roles as a Goodwill Ambassador
Aligned with UNESCO’s mission of promoting education for all, Vinícius Junior will play a pivotal role by:
- Speaking at international
- Engaging with Member States and the
- Supporting UNESCO’s global educational
Notable Contributions by Vinícius Junior:
- In 2021, he founded the Instituto Vini Jr to advance education among underprivileged Brazilian children and teenagers, using sports values to inspire diverse students to pursue
He received the 2023 Socrates Award at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony for his collaboration with FIFA and Brazil in the “Racism, don’t pretend you don’t see it” campaign.
Bengaluru : 8th position Knight Frank, a real estate Consultancy firm.
In the annual Asia Pacific housing market growth report by real estate consultancy firm Knight Frank, Bangalore and Mumbai secured the 8th and 9th positions, respectively, based on growth data up to the midpoint of 2023. Both cities are recognized among the top 10 performers in the Asia Pacific region.
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- Out of the top 25 cities in the Asia-Pacific, 21 cities exhibit a robust real estate sector, showing a positive annual increase in house prices. Singapore leads the list with a remarkable year-on-year growth rate of 7 percent.
Bangalore, positioned 8th, demonstrates a 7.1 percent year-on-year growth rate, while Mumbai, securing the 9th spot, achieves a 7% growth rate. The residential sector in Delhi-NCR experiences a market growth rate of 6%, placing it at the 11th position in the rankings.
