- MANIPURI PONY
Recently, the Government of Manipur has joined hands with various organisations and associations to save the Manipuri Pony or Meitei Sagol, its fabled equine, from vanishing into the pages of history.
- It is also known as Meitei Sagol and is one of the seven recognised horse and pony breeds of India.
- The others include the Marwari Horse, the Kathiawari Horse, the Zanskari Pony, the Spiti Pony, the Bhutia Pony and the Kachhi-Sindhi Horse.
- It is a small breed of 11 to 13 Hands, is known for its unique stamina, agility, intelligence, speed, manoeuvrability and great adaptability to harsh geoclimatic conditions.
- The breed is regarded as the original polo pony as modern polo is derived from the traditional Sagol Kangjei sport of Manipur.
- The ponies figure prominently in the Manipuri way of life. Besides traditional events like Lai haraoba and being used in sports like polo and horseraces,.
- They were also utilised as mounts by cavalry of the Manipur Kingdom which was feared throughout upper Burma during the 17th century.
- Status: The Manipur government declared the Manipuri Pony as an Endangered Breed in 2013.
- Factors responsible for the decline
- Shrinkage of wetlands, the natural habitat of the Manipuri Pony due to rapid urbanisation and encroachment
- Lack of polo grounds/polo playing areas in rural Manipur
- Restriction of pony usage except in the game of polo
- Uncontrolled diseases; and the exodus of ponies to neighbouring states and countries
2. CRITICAL TIGER HABITAT
- It is also known as core areas of tiger reserves—are identified under the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), 1972.
- These are based on scientific evidence that “such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation, without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such other forest dwellers”.
- The notification of CTH is done by the state government in consultation with the expert committee constituted for the purpose.
3. PIG BUTCHERING SCAM
- It is also known as a “sha zhu pan” scam, is a type of online investment fraud that involves scammers creating fake online personas to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes.
- The term “pig butchering” comes from the scammers’ practice of “fattening up” their victims by building trust over time before “slaughtering” them and stealing their money.
- It all begins with the “host” contacting people online through social media, dating apps, or deceptive messages.
- Once they’ve found a target, known as the “pig,” the host establishes a false sense of friendship and encourages them to explore cryptocurrency trading.
- Using a fraudulent trading app, the host deceives the victim into believing they’re making profits from fabricated trades.
- Gradually, as the victim’s trust grows, the host persuades them to invest more money, a tactic referred to as “fattening the pig” before the scam is revealed.
- When victims attempt to withdraw their funds, the fake platform either makes excuses or imposes substantial fees, ultimately exposing the scam. Retrieving lost funds is exceedingly difficult due to the nature of blockchain transactions.
4. SMALL INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT BANK OF INDIA (SIDBI)
- It was set up on 2nd April, 1990, under an Act of the Indian Parliament.
- Purpose: To act as the principal financial institution for promotion, financing, and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, as well as for the co-ordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.
- It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, GoI.
- It was incorporated in initially as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI).
- Currently the shares of SIDBI are held by the Government of India (GoI) and 22 other institutions/PSBs/insurance companies owned or controlled by the Central Government.
- Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- SIDBI helps MSMEs in acquiring the funds they require to grow, market, develop, and commercialize their technologies and innovative products.
- The bank provides several schemes and also offers financial services and products to meet individual requirements of various businesses.
- Financial support to MSMEs is provided by way of
- Indirect/refinance to banks/Financial Institutions for onward lending to MSMEs
- Direct finance in niche are as like risk capital, sustainable finance, receivable financing, service sector financing, etc.
- SIDBI was made responsible for administering the Small Industries Development Fund and the National Equity Fund that were administered by IDBI before.
- In order to promote and develop the MSME sector, SIDBI adopts a ‘Credit Plus’ approach, under which, besides credit, SIDBI supports enterprise development, skill upgradation, marketing support, cluster development, technology modernization, etc.
5. PSYCHEDELICS
- These are drugs that induce states of altered perception, behaviour, consciousness and thought, often with increased awareness of the senses.
- The term ‘psychedelic’ comes from two Greek words denoting mind or soul and manifesting. It is a subset of psychotropic substances that can alter a person’s thoughts and perceptions, and elicit intense hallucinations.
- These are categorised into two broad categories
- Classical psychedelics: These are thought to trigger hallucinations by activating a receptor called serotonin 5-HT, which is widely present in the human body, from the gastrointestinal tract to platelets to the nervous system. Examples: LSD, psilocybin and DMT
- Nonclassical psychedelics: These psychedelics bind to varied receptors. Examples: ketamine and MDMA
- Globally, about five psychedelics are the subject of clinical research for use in treating mental health problems: psilocybin; lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA); ketamine and N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
- Most psychedelics work by increasing the availability of serotonin—a mood stabilising hormone—in the brain by binding to serotonin receptors (a molecule on the cell surface that binds to a specific chemical, causing a specific effect).
- The United Nations’ Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, lists about 200 psychotropic substances under four schedules, with schedule I substances having the most potential for abuse. The Convention does not specify which substances, or how many, are psychedelics.
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