- 25% OF INDIAN TOTAL AREA UNDER GREEN COVER, SAYS SURVEY REPORT
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- India’s forest and tree cover has reached a quarter of the country’s total geographical area, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, released by the Government of India.
- The increase of 25.17%breaks down to 21.76% of forest cover and 3.41% of tree cover.
- The Forest Survey of India (FSI) defines “forest cover” as land with tree canopy density exceeding 10% and covering at least one hectare. Thus “forest” in ISFR includes plantations. The FSI counts trees outside forests towards the ‘tree cover’ if they occupy less than one hectare and if they also lie outside reserve forest areas.
- Bamboo is also included in the tree cover.
- Since 2021, Madhya Pradesh has had the largest area under forest and tree cover.
- The largest increase in forest and tree cover in this period was recorded in Chhattisgarh.
- Losses have been recorded in the Western Ghats and Eastern States Area and the Northeast—both highly biodiverse regions.
- Likewise, while “very dense” forests expanded by 3,465.12 sq. km, ‘moderately dense’ and ‘open’ forests have shrunk by 1,043.23 sq. km and 2,480.11 sq. km, respectively.
2. WHAT ARE INDIA’S PLANS FOR A QUANTUM SATELLITE
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Definition: A quantum satellite uses quantum physics for secure communication.
- Current Development: India, under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), plans to launch a quantum satellite in 2-3 years for quantum communication.
- National Quantum Mission (NQM): Purpose: Accelerate quantum technology for advanced communication and sensing systems.
- Approval:Union Cabinet approved from 2023 to 2031 with a budget of ₹6,000 crore.
- Need:Overcome limitations of classical physics in solving complex problems.
- Quantum Satellite and Secure Communication: Definition:Enables secure communication using quantum physics principles.
- Function: Prevents eavesdropping by leveraging quantum entanglement and superposition.
- Message Security: Classical Encryption: Uses mathematical algorithms for data security but is vulnerable to computational advances.
- Quantum Cryptography: Uses principles like quantum key distribution (QKD)to detect interception attempts instantly.
3. DOES 2022 H5N1 BIND, REPLICATE BETTER IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian influenza Type A viruses. Infrequently, the virus can infect mammals from birds, a phenomenon called spillover, and rarely can spread between mammals.
- H5N1, a subtype of avian influenza, has the potential to infect other mammals such as minks, ferrets, seals, domestic cats, and others through contact with infected birds, their faeces, or infected bird carcasses
- Range from mild to severe influenza-like illnesses such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting.
- People can also develop severe respiratory illness (e.g.,difficulty breathing,pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia) and altered mental status, seizures etc.
- H5N1originated from a virus outbreak in China in 1996 and rapidly evolved into a highly pathogenic strain.
- India experienced the first H5N1 outbreak in the State of Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2015
4. PHASE I OF MARITIME MUSEUM IN GUJARAT TO OPEN NEXT YEAR
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The first phase of the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, Gujarat, will be completed and opened for the public from September 2025.
- Excavations have revealed theworld’s oldest known artificial dock, which was connected to an old course of the Sabarmati river in Lothal, located 80 km from Ahmedabad.
- The site has been nominated to be enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Archaeologists believe that the city was a part of a major river system on the ancient trade route from Sindh to Saurashtra in Gujarat, according to the Gujarat Tourism website
5. MADAN LOKUR IS UN INTERNAL JUSTICE COUNCIL CHIEF
SUBJECT: PERSONALITIES
- The United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC) is a key component of the UN’s internal justice system, established to ensure independence, professionalism, and accountability in the administration of justice within the organization. The IJC plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of the UN’s internal justice mechanisms
- Judicial Appointments: Assisting in the selection of judges for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), thereby ensuring that qualified and impartial judges preside over internal disputes.
- System Oversight: Monitoring the internal justice system to uphold its independence, professionalism, and accountability.
- Recommendations: Providing guidance on potential improvements to the internal justice mechanisms to enhance their effectiveness and fairness
