Yellow-Breasted Buntings on the verge of extinction: Study

As per recent study published in the Conservation Biology journal, Yellow-breasted buntings (Emberiza aureola), a songbird are near to extinction. 

The study has mentioned that population this bird species which is also known as he “rice bird” in China has plunged by 90 percent since 1980 and disappearing from Eastern Europe, Japan and parts of Russia. 

The main reason mentioned in the study for decline of songbirds is illegal hunting for food and sold on the black market in China. 

Earlier in 1997, China had banned China the hunting of the species following initial population declines but failed to implement to conservation measures to protect them. 

Since 2013, Yellow-breasted buntings have been classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species due to rapid population decline. 

The paper compares hunting of this species with the North American passenger pigeon, which became extinct in 1914 due to industrial-scale hunting. 

It should be noted that Yellow-breasted buntings is Eurasian passerine bird that belongs to the bunting family (Emberizidae). It is migratory bird wintering in south-east Asia, India, and southern China.

Nepal parties reach long-awaited deal

Nepal’s rival political parties have struck a historic agreement to end years of deadlock on a new constitution that will divide the country into eight provinces. This paves the way for a new federal structure.

Background:

• Nepal’s lawmakers began work on a new national constitution in 2008 following a decade-long Maoist insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the monarchy.
• But the political parties were unable to reach agreement and the resulting uncertainty left Nepal in a state of political limbo.

However, the agreement has left the crucial issue of the provincial borders unresolved — an omission which critics said would create future problems.

Details of the agreement:

• Under the deal, Nepal will continue with its current system of national governance which includes an executive Prime Minister and ceremonial President.
• A new federal commission will be tasked with drawing up internal borders and submit a proposal for approval in Parliament.
• The agreement includes a commitment to hold the country’s first local elections since 1997.

"It must be understood that IP is also located in unforgettable trademarks — in the creativity of writers, singers and others, in Geographical Indications (GI), and in traditional knowledge.” Critically examine the benefits of GI and explain why there is lack of awareness on GI compared to intellectual property rights.

Geographical indicator (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specified geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to its origin. These are covered under articles 22- 24 of TRIPS agreement.

The various benefits of GI are:

a) Preserving cultural heritage- by various legal protections to region's art and craft, its agricultural and industrial products. Ex. Banarasi saree, kanchepuram silk.

b) Social building and community participation- as there is need to strengthen its production and supply chain.

c) consumer benefits- these products must meet certain quality standards according to their norms.

d) socio-economic - competitive advantage, more added value, increased export opportunities, and strengthening of brand

e) environmental- mainly linked to agricultural products hence based on preservation of natural resources

f) nation at large because of socio-economic development, inclusive growth and preserving identity of INDIA (cultural clout)

Despite several advantages there is a widespread lack of awareness on GI compared to IPR because

i) GI are mainly the domain of socio-economical backward communities which lack knowledge of its benefits as well as its procedural mechanisms, unlike IPR or patent rights owner being from higher business houses having all sort of information and power.

ii) unaware of its value, fragmented qualities as well as prices which hampers the development of such industries.

iii) adulteration in qualities and lack of strict legal enforcement forcing these workers for diversion to earn livelihood elsewhere.

iv) ineffective support of govt institutions at grass root level- lack of proper infrastructure and financial mechanisms.
summing up there is a need to focus on awareness generation and capacity building to save these industries which are a symbol of cultural heritage and support for inclusive sustainable development.

Critically comment on various objections raised against the choice-based credit system (CBCS).

Ans1:

Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) is a step taken by the University Grants Commission (UGC) which directs all universities to offer a range of courses to their students. While such a system will offer more flexibility to the students, CBCS also has a lot of lacunae, which are leading to resentment against it. These are:

1. Common Syllabus - Along with CBCS, the UGC has also directed all Universities to have a common syllabus. While the objective behind this step is to enable inter-university transfer of students, this step will affect the quality of universities. And every university will be brought down to a common average level.

2. Bureaucratization of Education - A dynamic education sector requires that major initiatives are taken by the sectoral experts. However, in this case CBCS and its attendant conditions will lead to a bureaucratization of education and take away the autonomy of the Universities.

3. Stakeholder Resistance - There is increasing resistance from students and teachers against CBCS. It is necessary that their concerns are addressed. Otherwise the CBCS initiative could meet the fate of the aborted Four Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP) of the Delhi University.

4. Lack of Clarity - There is a lack of clarity about implementation of the system. Any initiative is only as good as its execution. Thus, there needs to be greater clarity about the implementation of CBCS.

The Indian Education sector is overdue for reforms and the UGC must be applauded for trying to invigorate the sector. However, experts and other stakeholders have raised valid concerns. These need to be suitably resolved and CBCS modified to ensure that the proposed reform take the education sector forward and not backwards.

Ans2:

And. CBCS was aimed at introducing multidisciplinary approach and facilitating migration from one university to another. However there are certain concerns against CBCS which are :

1. Unclear guidelines : Teachers have objected to unclear guidelines regarding the implementation of CBCS, leaving them in a state of confusion.

2. Top down approach : Implementation of CBCS will take away autonomy of education institutions to some extent in deciding their curriculum and give UGC more powers vis-a-via them.

3. Neglect of certain subjects : With the coming of CBCS, the popularity of already in-demand subjects will increase and the less popular subjects will further be neglected. Students will have a choice to opt out of them and switch to more popular subjects.

4. Preferring industry over academics : The design of CBCS may promote the demands of industry over that of academics and research as in student joining more vocation oriented courses, and may result into lower level of academic and research activities.

5. Difficulty in implementation : Introduction of CBCS will result in additional administrative overhead for the universities which are already facing problems such as delayed examination and result declaration due to crunch of manpower and other resources.

CBCS though a right step towards introducing multidisciplinary approach should be introduced phase-wise, taking all stockholders into consideration and strengthening the capacity of universities to introduce the system.

A recent news reported that the ministry of urban development had found that the funds set aside for schemes such as the Rajiv Rinn Yojana, the National Urban Livelihood Mission and the Rajiv Awas Yojana are not being utilized. Critically examine why.

Reports that funds set aside for government schemes are not utilised are nothing new. The reasons behind such a sorry state of affairs are as follows:

1. Improper Policy Formulation - A top down policy approach without wide consultations with the respective stakeholders sometimes leads to a policy which looks good in theory but is impractical in execution.

2. Politically driven Decisions - The 'big' schemes which can impact a lot of people also face the problem of political pressures impacting the decisions. Thus, decisions might solely be taken due to political considerations which are however, not viable or practical.

3. Incomplete Policies - Sometimes while the scheme is announced early, the structure and rules are not defined. This can create unrealistic deadlines which lead to inefficient policies.

4. Lack of incentive for Implementing agency - This is illustrated by the case of Rajiv Rinn Yojana which provides interest subsidy for housing loans. However it could cost a bank upto 25% of the interest. Thus, there is no incentive for any bank to promote the scheme.

5. General Lack of Awareness - While there is a plethora of schemes announced by the government, the intended beneficiaries hardly know about them. This particularly cause demand based schemes to suffer.

In order to really tackle any problem, wide ranging consultations are required between all the stakeholders - the target population, the implementing agencies, the political class etc. Only when there is an appreciation of the requirements and on ground conditions along with acceptability to all the stake holders could any such scheme become successful in its objectives.

Discuss the nature and effects of recent natural disasters that are said to be the consequences of climate change.

Climate Change is a major issue requiring global co-operation to mitigate its effects.In the recent past, there have been many unusual climatic events that have been attributed to climate change. Some of these are as follows

1. Unseasonal Rain and Hail - Large parts of India have been inundated by unseasonal rainfall and hail. This has aggravated farmer distress by affecting the standing crops. In extreme cases, the unseasonal rain has also caused floods causing widespread damage.

2. Extreme Heat Waves - There has been a spike in the frequency as well as intensity of heat waves. While IPCC estimates that the global average temperatures have risen by 0.8 degree centigrade in the past 100 years, in selected regions like south India, the average temperature rise has been of the order of 2-4 degrees centigrade.

3. Monsoon Variations - Climate change also affects the global wind patterns which has an effect on the monsoon winds that bring rains to India. The time and quantity of precipitation is majorly affected.

These natural disasters have the following effects:

1. They lead to agrarian distress as the crops are highly vulnerable to climate change.

2. It leads to a rise in deaths either by flooding or due to thermal stress. The poor are disproportionately affected as they cannot afford or otherwise access mitigation measures.

3. These events also have inflationary tendencies as they can cause shortages in the supply of food grains and rise in the demand of energy.

While due to their very nature, such events cannot be predicted, their effects can be mitigated by developing a proper plan in order to counter them. A study should also be conducted to ascertain the reasons behind the disproportionate effects of a heat wave in the southern state. Mitigation strategy would flow from the results of such a study.

Examine why tropical cyclones are named the way they are named around the world. Also examine the nature and causes of origin of cyclones in the Arabian Sea.

Tropical cyclones are developed in the regions lying between tropic of cancer and Capricorn.They are characterized by sudden increase in air temperature and wind velocity (wind velocity exceed 63 kph), decrease air pressure, emergence cirrus clouds in the sky, heavy rainfall, high waves in ocean, clouds are associated with thunder and lightning .

Cyclones are named-
1)to avoid confusion as they last for more than 7 days and more than one cyclone can developed in same basin.
2)easy communication between forecaster and general public.

REASONS:-
a)INITIAL DEVELOPMENT

-A warm sea water(26 degree centigrade) which provide abundant water vapor

-High relative humidity which helps condensation of water vapor into water droplets and clouds and release heat energy
-Atmospheric instability which helps in formation clouds with condensation of rising rising air over ocean
-Location 4-5 latitude degree from equator allows influence the forces due to earth rotation to take effect in reducing cyclonic wind circulation around low pressure

b)Mature tropical cyclone--spiral pattern of highly turbulent cumulus clouds which are accompanied by winds up to 250 kmph.

c)decay process--if central low pressure is weaken due to source of moist air being abruptly cut off the cyclone start decaying.