Content:
- Assam Bird Sanctuary Records 72% Decline in Bird Species Count
- PM’s Visit to Kuwait Aims to Boost Partnership, Says MEA
- Siliguri Corridor a Crucial Link, SSB Presence Boosts Security, Says Shah
- Human Error Led to 19 of 34 IAF Crashes in 2017-2022: Panel
- When Roads Turn
- We Find Ourselves in a Slow Growth, High Inflation Scenario
Assam Bird Sanctuary Records 72% Decline in Bird Species Count
- Decline in Species Count: Bird species count dropped by 72% over 27 years in Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary (BBBS) .
Relevance : GS 3 (Environment )
- Study Details: Conducted over 154 days between October 2022 and March 2024.
- Current Count: 47 species recorded, compared to 167 species in 1997.
Major Causes:
- Overfishing
- Excessive harvesting of aquatic plants
- Poaching of wild birds
- Collection of bird eggs
- High-decibel machine use near water edges
- Use of sanctuary as a pasture area
- Recorded Species: Lesser whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, white-breasted waterhen, Indian pond heron, eastern spotted dove, and yellow-footed green pigeon among others.
- Consequences: Degradation of wetland habitat, disruption of the food chain, decline in migratory bird populations, and slowed nutrient cycle.
- Conservation Efforts Needed: Urgent and intense conservation efforts recommended.
- Assam’s Biodiversity: Assam is home to about 950 bird species and has 55 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.
PM’s Visit To Kuwait Aims To Boost Partnership
- Historic Visit: First visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations )
- Key Focus Areas: Defence and trade.
Engagements:
- Talks with top Kuwaiti leadership.
- Visit to an Indian labour camp.
- Address to the Indian community.
- Attendance at the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup football tournament.
- Bilateral Agreements: Discussions on a bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation pact.
- Strengthening Ties: Expected to boost ties between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
- Trade Volume: Total volume of India’s trade with GCC countries was $184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23.
- Importance of Indian Workers: Emphasis on the welfare of Indian workers abroad.
- Invitation: Visit at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Siliguri Corridor A Crucial Link, SSB Presence Boosts Security
- Significance of Siliguri Corridor: Crucial link between Northeast India and the rest of the country.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance ) , GS 3(Internal Security )
- SSB Presence: Provides assurance and confidence to the nation.
- Border Security: SSB secures the 2,450-km border with Nepal and Bhutan.
- Efforts Against Extremism: SSB played a key role in ending Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand.
- Cultural Integration: SSB initiatives strengthen bonds between the nation and border communities.
- Foundation Stones: Laid for eight construction projects related to the SSB.
Human Error Led to 19 of 34 IAF Crashes in 2017-2022
Relevance : GS 3( Disaster Management )
- Total Crashes: 34 air accidents involving the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Human Error: 19 crashes due to human error (aircrew).
- Technical Defects: 9 crashes due to technical defects.
Notable Incident: Mi-17V5 helicopter crash that killed General Bipin Rawat.
- Date of Crash: December 8, 2021.
- Cause: Unexpected change in weather leading to pilot disorientation and Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT).
- Tri-Services Inquiry: Headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh to investigate General Rawat’s crash.
- Preliminary Findings: Crash due to spatial disorientation caused by sudden weather change.
Additional Incidents:
- MIG-21 fighter jet and Mi-17 helicopter lost on February 27, 2019, during an aerial dogfight with Pakistan Air Force post-Balakot air strike.
- Outcome: Emphasis on improving training, safety protocols, and addressing technical issues to prevent future accidents.
When Roads Turn
- High Fatality Rate: Over 4,000 deaths annually, with 50,000 injuries from road accidents in Kerala.
Relevance: GS 2( Health ) , GS 3 (Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Recent Tragedy: In September 2023, a tragic accident in Wayanad killed Jenson, adding to the loss of Shruthi’s family in a landslide.
- Accident Stats: By October 2023, 3,168 fatalities in 40,821 accidents; 2023’s death toll at 4,080.
- Contributing Factors:
- Rising Vehicles: Increased vehicle numbers, poor road design, and reckless driving.
- Night-time Accidents: 60% of fatalities occur at night, despite only 15% of accidents happening then.
- Substance Abuse: Alcohol consumption by drivers, especially among KSRTC staff, exacerbates the issue.
- Poor Road Design: Substandard road geometry and weather conditions worsen accident risk.
- Vulnerable Groups: Two-wheelers (50% of accidents), pedestrians (12%), and other non-motorized users (69% of victims).
- Golden Hour: Delayed medical aid contributes to fatalities; urgent intervention is crucial.
- Inexperienced Drivers: Poor driving skills, inadequate training, and outdated tests are key risk factors.
- Weather Impact: Heavy rains lead to slippery roads and hydroplaning, increasing accident rates.
- Proposed Solutions:
- Improved Driving Tests: Revamp driving tests to focus on defensive driving.
- Road Design Overhaul: Address subpar road conditions, especially on key stretches.
- Comprehensive Strategy: Collaborative approach involving health, traffic, and enforcement agencies to reduce fatalities.
We Find Ourselves In A Slow Growth, High Inflation Scenario
- Slow Growth, High Inflation: MPC members Nagesh Kumar and Ram Singh highlight the current economic scenario as one of slow growth and high inflation.
Relevance: GS 3 (Economic Development)
- Food Price Impact: Food prices, particularly vegetables and edible oils, are driving inflation due to their high weight in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- Inflation Trajectory: Although inflation remains elevated, it is expected to soften in Q4 FY25, especially with easing food prices in November.
- Core Inflation Decline: Core inflation has shown signs of improvement, suggesting better anchoring of inflation expectations.
- Monetary Policy Limitations: Monetary policy can address demand-side factors but has limited power against supply-side shocks like high vegetable prices.
- Expectations for Q4 2024-25: Inflation is likely to ease further, with stable energy prices expected and food inflation softening.
- International Context: A growth-supportive monetary policy aligns with international trends, but sustainable growth depends on managing inflation.
- Private Investment & Demand: Private investment depends on a revival of domestic demand, with an emphasis on boosting consumption and investment.
- Policy Focus: Former RBI Governor Das stresses the need for policy focus on balancing inflation and growth at this critical juncture.
- Growth and Inflation Balance: The policy stance remains open to supporting growth but must await durable inflation reduction to avoid undermining progress.
