Published on: February 3, 2025
Snippets : 3 FEBRUARY 2025
Snippets : 3 FEBRUARY 2025
- Over the past two decades, India’s tiger population has increased by 30%, attributed to scientific strategies, land-sharing and land-sparing approaches, and a strong legislative framework, including the Wildlife Protection Act and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Tigers now coexist with over 66 million people, demonstrating successful human-wildlife coexistence. Socio-economic improvements, reduced dependence on forest resources, protected areas, and wildlife corridors have also contributed to this success. However, challenges such as socio-political instability, habitat degradation, and human-wildlife conflict persist. Future efforts should focus on expanding protected areas, strengthening anti-poaching measures, promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and enhancing human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies.
- The Centre has announced the addition of four new Ramsar sites in India, raising the total to 89. The newly designated sites include Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), located near the Gulf of Mannar, serving as a crucial breeding ground for waterbirds and a key stopover for migratory birds. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) plays a vital role in breeding, foraging, climate regulation, and groundwater recharge. Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand), the first Ramsar site in the state, is significant for biodiversity and water resources. Khecheopalri Lake (Sikkim), a sacred lake, holds religious and cultural importance and is surrounded by lush forests. The Ramsar Convention, an international treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, aims to conserve and sustainably use wetlands, recognizing sites based on nine ecological and biodiversity-related criteria.
- BCCI has honored Sachin Tendulkar with the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given for outstanding contributions to Indian cricket. Tendulkar becomes the 31st recipient of this award, first instituted in 1994. The previous recipients in 2023 were Ravi Shastri and Farokh Engineer. Tendulkar made his international debut at 16 during India’s 1989 tour of Pakistan and holds the record for the most international runs—15,921 in Tests and 18,426 in ODIs. He also has the most Test (200) and ODI (463) appearances and played one T20I match. A key member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, Tendulkar remains one of the greatest batters ever, inspiring generations. This award recognizes his immense contribution to cricket nearly a decade after his retirement, further cementing his legendary status. The award is named after Col. C.K. Nayudu, India’s first Test captain.
- Karnataka’s school education is getting a boost with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreeing to lend ₹2,000 crore to upgrade Karnataka Public Schools (KPS). Loan will be used to improve infrastructure and teaching quality. The state government will also chip in an additional ₹500 crore for the same purpose. This development comes after the Karnataka government allocated ₹850 crore in the 2024 budget for improving school infrastructure
- Karnataka will implement the Supreme Court’s directive allowing terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity. The order applies to those with no hope of recovery and permits withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WLST) with medical and family approval. It also introduces an Advance Medical Directive (AMD), allowing patients to nominate individuals for healthcare decisions if they lose capacity. Hospitals must set up Primary and Secondary Boards, with the latter including a district-nominated medical practitioner
- The saffron reedtail damselfly (Indosticta deccanensis), a rare species endemic to the Western Ghats, has been spotted for the first time in Karnataka. Previously recorded only in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, this discovery extends its known range northward. Found near forest streams, these delicate insects indicate a healthy ecosystem and highlight the need for habitat conservation. The findings were published in Entomon, emphasizing the biodiversity of the region and the importance of protecting pristine habitats from deforestation and pollution.
- “Hattigalega” refers to cattle raids mentioned in ancient Kannada inscriptions, highlighting the significance of cows as symbols of wealth and prosperity in 11th-century Karnataka, with related terms like “Turugol” and “Gau Grahana” also signifying cattle raids, as evidenced by Jain texts cited by Prof. C.U. Manjunath, while philately in India originated in 1862 with Rowland Hill as its father, initially used by Mysore’s merchant community.
- The Karnataka government has drafted an ordinance to protect borrowers from harassment by microfinance institutions (MFIs) and money lending agencies. The ordinance, expected to be finalized soon, proposes that borrowers be exempt from repaying loans taken from unregistered MFIs, and that lenders must register within 30 days of the ordinance coming into effect. MFIs will also be required to disclose interest rates, due diligence processes, and recovery methods, and will face punishment for coercive recovery practices, including imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 5 lakh
- The state government has issued an order appointing Madhusudan R Nayak as the new chairman of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission. He is a senior advocate and former Advocate General. Madhusudan R Nayak will hold office for the next three years from the date of assuming office
- The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is drifting towards South Georgia Island, a remote and ecologically vital wildlife haven in the South Atlantic Ocean, after breaking off from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice Shelf, posing a potential threat to the island’s unique and diverse biodiversity, which includes millions of seabirds, seals, and whales.
- For the first time, the rusty-spotted cat, the world’s smallest and lightest known cat, has been spotted in West Bengal’s Purulia district, marking a significant sighting of the elusive species, which is primarily found in dry deciduous forests in India, with the country hosting 80% of its global population.
- Britain is set to become the first country to introduce laws against AI tools used to generate sexual abuse images, with the government announcing plans to make it illegal to possess, create, or distribute such tools, punishable by up to five years in prison. The new laws will also target “paedophile manuals” that teach people how to use AI for child abuse, as well as predators who run websites sharing child abuse content, with penalties of up to ten years in prison.
- India has sent a shipment of crucial medical supplies, including bronchodilators, inhalers, and ventilators, to support the residents of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, highlighting its commitment to humanitarian efforts and people-centric foreign policy . This move is part of India’s broader strategy to provide aid to the region, with whom it has been strengthening economic and cultural ties since establishing a consulate in Erban in 2016. The Kurdistan region has seen an increase in Indian workers in various sectors, with President Nechirvan Barzani praising their professionalism and commitment.
- The UNESCO-IOC has launched the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), a collaborative governance framework aimed at sustainably managing marine resources in the Wider Caribbean region, with a focus on issues like sustainable fisheries, pollution control, and marine protected areas, and will receive $15 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility through the UNDP/GEF PROCARIBE+ Project from 2024-2028.
