Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 28 March 2024 | Download PDF

• The Supreme Court has recently appointed a seven-member committee to address the challenge of balancing conservation efforts for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) with the promotion of renewable energy in the same regions.

About:

• The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), also known as the Indian bustard, is a large bird found in the Indian subcontinent. 
• It has a horizontal body and long bare legs, resembling an ostrich. 
• These birds are often found in the same habitat as blackbuck and are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 in India.
• Formerly widespread in India and Pakistan, the Great Indian Bustard is now critically endangered, listed as such on the IUCN Red List since 2011.
• The population has drastically declined, with possibly fewer than 250 individuals remaining as of 2008. 
• The main threats to the species are hunting and habitat loss. 
• Historically, they were hunted for meat and sport, and poaching remains a concern. 
• Increased agriculture due to irrigation projects like the Indira Gandhi Canal has also led to habitat loss.

Efforts of Conservation:

• To address these challenges, the state of Rajasthan launched “Project Great Indian Bustard” on World Environment Day in 2013.
• The project aims to protect and manage bustard breeding grounds within protected areas and outside by fencing them off and providing secure breeding enclosures.

• Swami Smaranananda Maharaj, the president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, passed away in Kolkata.

About:

• The Ramakrishna Mission, established in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda, is a philanthropic organization rooted in the principles of karma yoga, emphasizing selfless service to God. 
• Its multifaceted work includes healthcare, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, education, and cultural activities. 
• Additionally, the mission provides religious and spiritual teachings and publishes numerous important Hindu texts. 
• The organization primarily promotes Advaita Vedanta and advocates four yogic ideals: Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, and Raja yoga.
• The Ramakrishna Movement, also known as the Vedanta Movement, was initiated by Swami Vivekananda to disseminate the message of Vedanta and uplift the underprivileged. Its motto is “for one’s own liberation and for the good of the world.”

Researchers have recently identified a new species of deep-sea isopod off the Kollam coast in Kerala, naming it Brucethoa ISRO in honor of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 

Key points:

• • This tiny crustacean, part of the Brucethoa genus, was found living as a parasite on the Spinyjaw greeneye fish. 
• It is the second species from this genus to be discovered in India.

Isopods:

• Isopods, which belong to the order “Isopoda,” are invertebrates within the larger group of crustaceans, which includes crabs and shrimp.
• They are incredibly diverse, with approximately 10,000 known species found in various habitats worldwide, ranging from mountains and deserts to the deep sea.
• Despite their diversity, isopods share common features. 
• They all possess two pairs of antennae, compound eyes, and four sets of jaws. 
• Their bodies consist of seven segments, each with its own pair of walking legs. 
• Additionally, isopods have a short abdominal section composed of six segments, known as “pleons,” with one or more segments fused into a tail section.
• About half of all isopod species live in the ocean, while others inhabit coastal and shelf waters, either moving along the seafloor or residing in plants. 
• While most isopods are free-living, some marine species are parasitic, living on other animals.

• India has voiced support for the sovereignty of the Philippines, a move that has drawn a reaction from China.

About:

• The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic nation in Southeast Asia, comprising 7,641 islands with a total land area of 300,000 square kilometers. 
• The country is divided into three main geographical regions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 
• With a diverse population, it is the world’s twelfth-most-populous country. 
• Manila serves as the capital, while Quezon City is its most populous city.

Border Countries:

• Geographically, the Philippines is bordered by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. 
• It shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest. 
• Due to its location as an island nation on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its proximity to the equator, the Philippines is prone to earthquakes and typhoons.

Key points:

• Economically, the Philippines has a mixed economic system that combines private freedom with centralized economic planning and government regulation. 
• The country is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• The Philippines has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 6% since 2010. 
• In 2023, the Philippine economy was estimated to be $435.67 billion, with a per capita income of $12,127 in 2024.
• The dispute between China and the Philippines centers on China’s claim to the Spratly Islands, which it asserts dates back centuries. 
• China contends that almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratlys and other island groups, falls within its sphere of influence, a claim strongly disputed by the Philippines and Vietnam, among others.

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Adda247.