Dec 24th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) –The Extinct Bird

The Dodo Overview

Extinction Status: Extinct since the late 1600s.
Scientific Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Columbiformes
- Family: Columbidae
Native Habitat: Endemic to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.

Physical Characteristics

Size: Approximately 3 feet tall, weighing around 10-20 kg.
Flightlessness: Result of a lack of natural predators on Mauritius, leading to evolutionary loss of flight.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Primarily frugivorous, feeding on fallen fruits, seeds, roots, and small plants.
Reproductive Behavior:
- Believed to lay a single egg on the ground.
- Vulnerable to predators due to ground nesting.

Causes of Extinction

Human Hunting: Arrival of Dutch settlers in the 1600s led to overhunting.
Introduction of Invasive Species: Rats, pigs, and monkeys introduced by humans ate dodo eggs.
Habitat Destruction: Deforestation for settlements and agriculture reduced the bird’s habitat.

Interesting Facts

Keystone Species: Played a role in seed dispersal of certain plant species in Mauritius, such as the Tambalacoque tree (commonly called the “dodo tree”).
The phrase “as dead as a dodo” originated to describe something irreversibly extinct.

Despite its extinction, the dodo remains a cultural icon, featuring in books like “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

2. Scrapping the No-Detention Policy

CONTEXT: The decision of the Government of India to scrap the “no-detention” policy for Classes 5 and 8 under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

Policy Change:
- The no-detention policy, introduced under the Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009, allowed automatic promotion of students up to Class 8.
- The amended rules now permit schools to detain students in Classes 5 and 8 if they fail to meet the required promotion criteria.

Provisions in the New Rules:
- Students failing to meet the promotion criteria will be given additional instruction and remedial measures to close learning gaps.
- A re-examination will be conducted within two months of the result declaration.
- If a student fails the re-exam, they can be detained.

Safeguards for Students:
- The rules emphasize that no student will be expelled from school until Class 8.
- Teachers must provide guidance to retained students and their parents, identifying learning gaps and ensuring specialized inputs for improvement.

Alignment with NEP 2020:
- The new rules are in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on improving learning outcomes and addressing learning deficiencies.

Implementation Timeline:
- Although the RTE Act was amended in 2019 to remove the no-detention policy, the implementation of these rules was delayed until the publication of the National Curriculum Framework in 2023.

Objective:

The primary goal is to ensure better learning outcomes and support students struggling with foundational learning concepts, rather than automatic promotion.

3. Reimposition of Protected Area Regime (PAR)

CONTEXT: On December 17, the MHA reimposed the Protected Area Regime under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, for Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram.

This move restricts the movement of foreigners in these states.

What is Protected Area Regime (PAR)?
- Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, certain areas in India are designated as Protected Areas for security reasons.
- Foreigners entering these areas require a Protected Area Permit (PAP), issued by the Central Government or an authorized body.
- Details required for PAP include the place of entry, residence, and period of stay.

Historical Background:
- Protected Areas include regions along India’s international borders in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and parts of Sikkim.
- Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram were also designated as Protected Areas in 1958.
- In 2010, PAR restrictions were relaxed for Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram to promote tourism and improve security.

Reason for Reimposition:
- The decision was taken against the backdrop of ethnic violence in Manipur between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, and rising security concerns along the 1,643-km border with Myanmar.
- A recent surge in refugee influx from Myanmar, following the 2021 military coup, has added to the security challenges.
- Approximately 40,000 refugees from Myanmar have entered India, including 4,000 into Manipur and Mizoram.

PAP Requirements:
- Foreigners, including those from neighboring countries such as Myanmar, must secure a PAP before entering Protected Areas.
- Registration is mandatory within 24 hours of entry.

Exemptions: Certain groups, such as Myanmar nationals visiting the region temporarily, can register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) instead of obtaining a PAP.

4. Canary in the Canopy - India State of Forest Report 2023

Key Points

Forest Cover and Governance in India:
- According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, 25% of India’s land is covered by forests or trees—a seemingly healthy statistic.
- However, the report’s numbers mask significant issues, including loss of biodiversity-rich forests and inclusion of plantations and orchards in forest cover calculations.

Historical Context:
- Post-independence, India’s forest policies shifted from the colonial focus on timber extraction to sustainable forest conservation.
- Two landmark legislations reflect this effort:
  - Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: Aimed to restrict the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
  - Forest Rights Act, 2006: Recognized the rights of forest-dwelling communities over forest resources.

Challenges in Implementation:
- Industrial Development vs. Climate Change: Developmental activities and climate pressures have hindered the effective implementation of forest laws.
- Ambiguous Definitions: The government has redefined “forests” to exclude community forests and include commercial plantations, distorting the country’s progress on increasing carbon sinks.

Critical Issues:
- Loss of Natural Forests: Biodiverse regions like the Western Ghats, Nilgiris, Northeast, and mangroves in the Kutch and Andamans are shrinking.
- Compensatory Afforestation: Plantations used to offset forest loss have lower ecological and carbon sequestration value compared to natural forests.
- Forest Fires: Northern districts have seen significant increases in fire-affected areas due to insufficient resources and manpower for fire control.

Weakening Environmental Safeguards: The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 has diluted the protections offered by the 1980 Act, easing forest land diversion for developmental purposes.