Current Affairs

World's First Melanistic Tiger Safari in Odisha 

Context: -

Odisha is set to unveil the world's first melanistic tiger safari near the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).

Odisha's Vision for the Melanistic Tiger Safari Melanism and Melanistic Tiger:

 Melanism is a genetic condition, that results in increased melanin production, leading to black or nearly black skin, feathers, or hair in animals.

 The Royal Bengal Tigers of Similipal boast a distinctive lineage with elevated melanin levels, giving rise to black and yellow interspersed stripes, making them pseudo-melanistic.

According to the All India Tiger Estimation, 2022, Similipal Tiger Reserve houses 16 tigers, with 10 of them displaying melanistic traits. Location of Safari:

 Spanning approximately 200 hectares near Dhanbad-Balasore National Highway18, the safari site lies in close proximity to STR, providing a landscape akin to Simlipal.

 In the beginning, three melanistic tigers from Nandankanan Zoo, along with rescued or orphaned tigers, will occupy the open enclosures of the safari. 

Objective:

 It aims to raise awareness about the conservation needs of melanistic tigers, providing a platform for researchers and enthusiasts to engage with these rare big cats.

Approval:

 The project necessitates approvals from the Central Zoo Authority and other regulatory bodies overseeing wildlife initiatives in the country.

 A National Tiger Conservation Authority committee will also conduct a feasibility study of the proposed site before granting final clearance. Other Colour Variations in Tigers Orange with Black or Brown Stripes:

 This is the most common and widely recognized tiger coloration, e.g, the Royal Bengal Tiger.

 Each tiger's stripe pattern is unique, serving as a form of camouflage, in their natural habitat. White Tigers:

 They are not considered a separate subspecies. The colour of the white tiger's fur is the result of a genetic mutation called leucism. Leucism is a genetic condition that results in reduced pigmentation in animals, causing them to have white or pale-colored skin, feathers, fur, or scales. Golden Tigers: They are also not considered a subspecies of tigers because their golden colour variation is caused by the presence of a recessive gene called "wideband".

 The wideband gene reduces melanin production during the cycle of hair growth.

 Recently, it was spotted in Kaziranga National Park. 

 

PV Narasimha Rao

 PV Narasimha Rao was born on 28th June 1921 in erstwhile Nizam's Hyderabad state.

 He was a freedom fighter, academician, and literary figure. He was also the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.

 He published ‘SahasraPhan’, a Hindi translation of the famous Telugu Novel ‘Veyi Padagalu’. Economic Reforms: He sought to dismantle the restrictions imposed under the license raj, reduce red tape and make Indian industries more competitive. He is known for bringing the policy of economic liberalisation in India.

 The economic liberalization in India is referred to the liberalisation of the country's economic policies.

 It was initiated in 1991 with the goal of making the economy more marketand service-oriented, and expanding the role of private and foreign investment.

Foreign Policy: In terms of foreign policy, he established diplomatic relations with Israel.

 The Look East Policy of India was also initiated during his tenure.

 He is also known for reversing decades of unfriendly relations between India and the United States by bringing them together.

 Constitutional Reforms:

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments Act empowering local bodies were enacted during his tenure.

 

MS Swaminathan: Father of the Green Revolution

 

 Monkomb Sambasivan Swaminathan, the legendary agricultural scientist widely regarded as the Father of the Green Revolution, passed away at the age of 98 on September 28.

 His contributions to agriculture in the 1960s and ’70s transformed India’s farming landscape, ushering in an era of food security.

 Born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

 Initially, I aimed for a career in the civil services and even cleared the civil services examination.

 He switched to agriculture due to his passion, inspired by the Quit India Movement and the Bengal famine of 1942–43.  He enrolled in the Agriculture College in Coimbatore to pursue his interest in agriculture. Diverse Roles in Agriculture

 Swami Nathan held various significant positions related to agriculture, both in India and abroad.

 His roles included Independent Chairman of the Food and Agricultural Organization Council (1981–85), President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (1984– 90), and President of the World Wide Fund for Nature (India) from 1989–96.

 He also served as the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), among other positions.

 The Green Revolution: A Turning Point

 Swami Nathan’s mission was to transform Indian agriculture.

 Introduced high-yielding crop varieties, improved irrigation facilities, and promoted fertilizer use.

 Wheat production in India surged from 6 million tonnes in 1947 to 17 million tonnes between 1964 and 1968.

 The Green Revolution bolstered India’s food security and reduced dependence on imports. Swaminathan’s Contributions to the Green Revolution  Swaminathan worked on enhancing crop varieties, particularly rice and wheat.

 He pioneered the development of semi-dwarf wheat varieties to reduce lodging and boost yields.

 Collaboration with Norman Borlaug resulted in the introduction of dwarfing genes into wheat varieties, leading to the “Wheat Revolution.”

 Swaminathan recognized the challenges of the Green Revolution, including the displacement of local crop varieties, soil fertility conservation issues, and indiscriminate pesticide use.

 He also noted the risks of overexploiting groundwater.

 As the head of the National Commission on Farmers from 2004 to 2006, Swaminathan advocated for the welfare of farmers.

 He recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce should be at least 50% more than the cost of production, ensuring fair compensation to farmers. Awards and recognition

 Swaminathan was awarded the first World Food Prize Laureate in 1987 for his contributions to India’s wheat and rice production.

 He received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, two of India’s highest civilian honors. He was born in 1902 at Noorpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh and was the Prime Minister of India from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980.

 Being a proponent of rural and agricultural development he made continuous efforts for keeping agriculture at the centre of planning for India.

 He took a leading part in formulation and finalisation of the Debt Redemption Bill 1939, in order to give relief to the peasantry from moneylenders.

 He was the author of several books and pamphlets, including ‘Abolition of Zamindari’, ‘Co-operative Farming Xrayed’, ‘India’s Poverty and its Solution’, ‘Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers’ and ‘Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum’.

Bharat Ratna

 Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.

 It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor.

 Bharat Ratna is not a title under Article 18. Clause 1 of article 18 covers exceptions like academic or military titles. Awards like Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri etc. can be given to the citizens for exceptional and distinguished services rendered in art, literature, science and other fields.

 In the case of Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India, AIR 1996, the court said that National awards aren’t titles under clause 1 of Article 18. The court asked for setting up guidelines while giving these awards as they are highly respected.

 It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.  The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.