DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

National Culture Fund (NCF) Received Rs. 3.70 Crore from Non-Government Sources during Last Five Years (2018-19 to 2022-23).

• Set up in – 1996, a trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890.

Aim – To mobilize extra resources through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) towards promoting, protecting & preserving India’s Cultural Heritage (Tangible & Intangible).It is managed by a Council and an Executive Committee.

Council – It has the power to decide on relevant polices which has a maximum strength of 24 including the Chairman.

• It is chaired by the Hon'ble Minister of Culture and has 19 members from various fields.

Executive Committee – It will actualize the policies and it is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture.

• Project Implementation committee (PIC) – Representatives from the Donor, Implementer and NCF.
• The accounts are audited by the CAG of India annually.

Fund usage

• • To train a cadre of specialists and cultural administrators
  • To document cultural expressions and forms
  • To undertake research, innovations and experiments in arts
  • To create of institutions such as galleries and museums
  • To promote international cultural cooperation

The donations to NCF will be eligible for tax benefit under the Income Tax Act.

Beneficiaries – Any State Government or voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (21 of 1860) or registered as a Public Trust at least for the last 2 years.Individuals are not entitled to financial assistance under this.

The Dhangar community’s demand for ST status has been dismissed.

Dhangars – They are large cluster of pastoral groups and they live mostly in Western Maharashtra and Marathwada.

Population – In Maharashtra, they are estimated to range from 4 to 12% of the total population (unofficially estimate).

• Reservation status – In Maharashtra, there is an exclusive quota of 3.5% under a separate category called NT (No Tribe).
• In central list, they are recognised as Other Backward Classes (OBC) community.

Demand for ST status – It started in 1955, when there was no reservation for them either in the state or at the Centre.

Reason for demand – Better constitutional safeguards to SC and ST than to OBCs.

Article 340 directs the President to constitute a commission to identify backward communities and make recommendations for their upliftment.

Discretion of executive government in implementing welfare activities for OBC

• • The 1^st BC commission’s (Kaka Kelkar) report came in 1955, whose recommendations were never implemented.
  • The 2^nd BC Commission’s (Mandal) report came in 1980 whose recommendations were implemented partially only in 1990.

The Sahitya Akademi Awards for 2023 were announced and will be presented at the award presentation function in 2024.

• Established in – 1954 by Sahitya Akademi

Awarded to – The most outstanding books of literary merit published in the languages recognised by the Sahitya Akademi.

The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters was founded in 1954, an autonomous body under the Union Culture Ministry and registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It is dedicated to the promotion of literature in Indian languages.

• The award – It is in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque, a shawl, and Rs.1,00,000 (since 2009).
• Languages recognised – 24 including 22 languages listed in 8^th schedule of Indian constitution along with English and Rajasthan.
• Procedure – The distinguished jury members recommend awards which are approved by the Executive Board of the Akademi.
• Criteria – It relate to books 1^st published during the 5 years immediately preceding the year of award.
• 2023 Awards – 9 books of poetry, 6 novels, 5 short story collections, 3 essays and 1 literary study.

Some authors who will receive the honour for their poetry collections are Vijay Verma in Dogri, Vinod Joshi in Gujarati, Manshoor Banihali in Kashmiri, Ashutosh Parida in Odia, and Arun Ranjan Mishra in Sanskrit.

Recently, a detailed report on the implementation of the Centre’s policy on child labour was tabled in Parliament.

Based on the recommendations of Gurupadaswamy Committee, the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act was enacted in 1986 and the National Policy on Child Labour was declared in August, 1987.

Prepared by – The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

Findings - The number of working children has decreased from 1.26 crore (2001 census) to 1.01 crore (2011 census) and has decreased from 57.79 lakh (2001 census) to 43.53 lakh (2011 census) in the age group of 5-14 years.

• It is practically not possible to meet the international commitment to eliminate child labour by 2025.

Recommendation – Improve coordination between various Ministries of the centre and the states.

Improve data collection – Data on children between 14 to 18 years be collected during the next census exercise.

• • Ministry of Labour & Employment to conduct periodic survey particularly in urban areas to identify child labours.
  • Centre can direct states to conduct surveys along with their suggestions to address the problem.
• Examine various child welfare acts – To reduce any ambiguity or delay in securing justice for aggrieved children by rectifying the
  • Discrepancies in criteria of determining age of the child and the nature of offence as cognisable/non-cognisable

Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 are important child welfare acts.

Award stricter punishments – Like cancellation of license, attachment of property, etc., and fix the accountability on the principal employer and traffickers.

Child in India: Discrepancies in the Various Laws

According to the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, ‘child’ means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age.

• • The 2016 Amendment completely prohibits the employment of children below 14 years.
  • It also prohibits the employment of adolescents in the age group of 14 to 18 years in hazardous occupations and processes and regulates their working conditions where they are not prohibited.
• Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, ‘Child’ means a male or female aged six to fourteen years.
• As per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 vide its amendment in 1986 a ‘child’ is defined as a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 defines ‘child’ as a person who has not completed eighteen years of age. The term ‘adolescent’ is not defined in the JJ Act, 2015.

What is Child Labour?

• ILO defines Child labour as ‘The work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity and, that is harmful to their physical and mental development’.
• Worst forms of Child Labour: Slavery, trafficking of children, debt bondage, children in armed conflict, sexual exploitation, prostitution, pornography, use in drug trafficking and organised beggary.
• Key sectors employing child labour in India: Brick kilns, carpet weaving, garment making, domestic service, unorganised sectors (e.g. tea stalls), agriculture, fisheries and mining.

According to ILO estimates, there are about 10.1 million working children between the age of 5 to 14 in India, of which 5.6 million are boys and 4.5 million are girls.Incidence of child labour in India has decreased by 2.6 million between 2001 and 2011.

Provisions:

• Article 21 A (Right to Education): The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 6 to 14 years.
• Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.
• Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children in factories, mines, etc.
• Article 39 (DPSP – Article 36-51): The State shall direct its policy towards securing that the health and strength of workers and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength.
• Article 45: Early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.

Child Labour Laws in India

1. Factories Act, 1948: It prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories.
2. The Mines Act, 1952: It prohibits the employment of children below the age of 18 years in mines.
3. Right To Education Act, 2009: It provides free, compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14.
4. Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016: It prohibits:
   • the employment of children below 14 years and
   • the employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations.

• Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986: Based on the recommendations of Gurupadaswamy Committee, this act was enacted in 1986. It prohibits children under the age of 14 years to be working in hazardous industries and processes.
  • Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act 2016: It prohibits the employment of Children below 14 years in all employment and with the provisions for prohibition on employment of adolescents (14-18 Years) in the mines, inflammable substances (explosives) and in hazardous process.
• National Policy on Child Labour in India: Formulated in 1987, it seeks to adopt a gradual & sequential approach with a focus on rehabilitation of children and Adolescent.
• Other Measures:
  • Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976.
  • SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
  • Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.
• International Conventions:
  • India has ratified the Minimum Age Convention (No.138) and Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182) of ILO.
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 32 (Child Labour): The government should protect children from dangerous work harmful to health and business which is unsafe and unsuited for their development (physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social).

National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme

• It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E).
• In 2016, it was merged with the Samagara Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Scheme (MoE).

Objectives

• To eliminate all forms of child labour.
• To identify and withdraw all adolescent workers from Hazardous Occupations.
• To create awareness amongst stakeholders, target communities, etc., on child labour issues.
• To create a monitoring, tracking and reporting system against Child Labour.

Target Groups

• All child workers below 14 years of age in the identified target area.
• Adolescent workers below 18 years of age and engaged in hazardous work.
• Families of Child workers in the recognised target area.

Mandate

• Children aged 5-8 years must be mainstreamed into the formal educational system through the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan.
• Children aged 9-14 years must be withdrawn from work and put into NCLP Special Training Centers (STCs) to prepare them for the formal education system.
• Adolescent workers below the age of 18 years in the target area engaged in hazardous occupations are withdrawn from work and provided skills through existing schemes for skill development.

Project Implementation

• District Project Societies (DPS) are set up at the district level under the Chairmanship of the District Magistrate for the implementation of the project.

Funding pattern

• GoI provides 100% of the funding.
• Funds are released directly to the registered NCLP District Project Society.

PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) Portal

• It is an electronic platform launched in 2017 for the effective implementation of the NCLP scheme and to establish a child labour-free nation.
• It connects the central government to the state government, district administration, civil society and the general public to achieve the target of a child labour-free society.
• It provides a platform for all to raise a complaint against child labour.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

• It is a statutory body established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
• It is responsible for the protection and promotion of the rights of children, including monitoring the implementation of child-specific laws, such as:
  1. Right to Education (RTE), 2009
  2. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), 2012
  3. Juvenile Justice Act, 2015

Functions

• Examine and review existing safeguards for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation.
• Investigate violations of child rights and recommend legal proceedings in appropriate cases.

Arctic region, the enormous area around the North Pole spreading over one-sixth of the earth’s landmass. Climate Changeand the rapid melting of the Arctic Ice cap is the most important phenomenon that is redefining the global perspective on the Arctic.

The impact of rapid changes in the Arctic region goes beyond the littoral states. There is a need for global cooperation to respond to the current challenges regarding conservation, governance and the exploration of Arctic.

Significance of the Arctic Region (10 Marks)

Economic Significance:Mineral Resources and Hydrocarbons: Arctic region has rich deposits of coal, gypsum and diamonds and also substantial reserves of zinc, lead, placer gold and quartz. Greenland alone possesses about a quarter of the world's rare earth reserves.

The Arctic also contains a wealth of unexplored hydrocarbon resources.amounting to 30% of the world’s undiscovered natural gas.

India is the 3^rd largest energy-consuming country in the world, the 3^rd-largest oil importer. Increasing ice-melt makes these resources more accessible and feasible for extraction.

The Arctic can therefore potentially address India’s energy security needs and deficiency of strategic and rare earth minerals.

Geographical Significance: The Arctic helps circulate the world's ocean currents, moving cold and warm water around the globe.Also, Arctic sea ice acts as a huge white reflector at the top of the planet, bouncing some of the sun's rays back into space, helping keep the Earth at an even temperature.

Geopolitical Significance:Countering China From Arctic: The melting Arctic ice is also raising the geopolitical temperatures to levels not seen since the Cold War. China referred to trans-Arctic shipping routes as the Polar Silk Road, identifying it as a third transportation corridor for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)and is the only country apart from Russia, to be constructing nuclear ice-breakers.As a result, it is crucial to counter China's soft power manoeuvres in the Arctic, in line India is also taking a keen interest in the Arctic states through its Arctic policy.

Environmental Significance:Arctic-Himalaya Link: The Arctic and the Himalayas, though geographically distant, are interconnected and share similar concerns.

The Arctic meltdown is helping the scientific community to better understand the glacial melt in the Himalayas, which has often been referred to as the ‘third pole’ and has the largest freshwater reserves after the North and South poles.

Therefore, the study of the Arctic is critical to Indian scientists. In line, India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2007 and opened the Himadri research base in the Svalbard archipelago (Norway) and has been actively engaging in research there ever since.

Challenges Related to the Arctic Region

Arctic Amplification: In recent decades, the warming in the Arctic has been much faster than in the rest of the world.The permafrost in the Arctic is thawing and in turn releasing carbon and methane which are among the major greenhouse gasesresponsible for global warmingamplifying the melting of ice, thereby driving the arctic amplification.

Rising Sea Level Concern: Melting Arctic ice adds to rising sea levels, which in turn increases coastal erosion and elevates storm surge as warming air and ocean temperatures create more frequent and intense coastal storms likeb

According to the World Meteorological Organisation’s report, ‘State of Global Climate in 2021’, sea level along the Indian coast is rising faster than the global average rate.

Emerging Race Course: The opening of the shipping routes and possibilities in the arctic is giving thrust to the race of resource extraction leading to the geopolitical poles: US, China and Russia, jockeying for position and influence in this region.

Tundra Degradation: Tundra is returning to swampy state because sudden storms are ravaging coastlines especially interior Canada and Russia, and wildfires are damaging permafrost in tundra areas.

Threat to Biodiversity: The absence of year-long ice and higher temperatures are making the survival of Arctic animal life, plants and birds difficult.Polar bears need sea ice to hunt seals as well as to move across the large home ranges. Due to shrinking ice, life of polar bears along with other Arctic species are under threat.

Also, warming seas have triggered a poleward shift in fish species reshuffling the food web.

ARCTIC COUNCIL

The Arctic Council Is a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.

The first step towards the formation of the Council occurred in 1991 when the eight Arctic countries signed the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS).

The 1996 Ottawa Declaration Established the Arctic Council as a forum for promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic states, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on issues such as sustainable development and environmental protection.

The Arctic Council has conducted studies on climate change, oil and gas, and Arctic shipping.

Arctic Council: Members, Observer & Permanent Participant

• Members: The eight countries with sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic Circle constitute the members of the council: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.
• Observer Status: Observer status in the Arctic Council is open to non-Arctic states, along with inter-governmental, inter-parliamentary, global, regional and non-governmental organizations that the Council determines can contribute to its work. Arctic Council Observers primarily contribute through their engagement in the Council at the level of Working Groups.
• Permanent Participants: In 1998, the number of Permanent Participants doubled to make up the present six, as,the Aleut International Association (AIA),and then, in 2000, the Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) and the Gwich’in Council International (GGI) were appointed Permanent Participants.

Organization structure of Arctic Council

• Arctic Council assessments and recommendations are the result of analysis and efforts undertaken by the Working Groups. Decisions of the Arctic Council are taken by consensus among the eight Arctic Council States,with full consultation and involvement of the Permanent Participants.
• The Chairmanship of the Arctic Council Rotates every two years among the Arctic States. The first country to chair the Arctic Council was Canada (1996-1998).
• The next country to assume the Chairmanship will be Iceland (2019-2021).

Arctic Council Working Groups

• Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP): strengthening and supporting mechanism to encourage national actions to reduce emissions and other releases of pollutants.
• Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP): monitors the Arctic environment, ecosystems and human populations, and provides scientific advice to support governments as they tackle pollution and adverse effects of climate change.
• Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF): addresses the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, working to ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources.
• Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR): protect the Arctic environment from the threat or impact of an accidental release of pollutants or radionuclides.
• Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME): protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment.
• Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG): works to advance sustainable development in the Arctic and to improve the conditions of Arctic communities as a whole

Arctic Council: Legally Binding Agreements

• The first, the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic,was signed in Nuuk, Greenland, at the 2011 Ministerial Meeting.
• The second, the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic, was signed in Kiruna, Sweden,at the 2013 Ministerial meeting.
• Third, the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation, was signed in Fairbanks, Alaska at the 2017 Ministerial meeting.

India’s Arctic Exploration

• India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2007 and opened a research base named “Himadri”at the International Arctic Research Base at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway in July 2008 for carrying out studies in disciplines like Glaciology, Atmospheric sciences & Biological sciences.
• India has been closely following the developments in the Arctic region in the light of the new opportunities and challenges emerging for the international community due to global warming induced melting of the Arctic’s ice cap.
• India’s interests in the Arctic region are scientific, environmental, commercial as well as strategic.
• In July 2018, the Ministry of Earth Sciences Renamed the Goa based “National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research” to the “National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.”
• It is a nodal organisation coordinating the research activities at the stations at the poles.
• India has also entered into an MOU with Norwegian Polar Research Institute of Norway, for cooperation in science, and also with Kings Bay (A Norwegian Government owned company) at Ny-Alesund for the logistic and infrastructure facilities for undertaking Arctic research and maintaining the Indian Research base ‘Himadri’ at Arctic region.
• In 2019, India has been re-elected as an Observer to the Council.
• India does not have an official Arctic policy and its Arctic research objectives have been centred on ecological and environmental aspects, with a focus on climate change, till now.

The major objectives of the Indian Research in Arctic Regions Are as follows:

1. To study the hypothesized tele-connections between the Arctic climate and the Indian monsoon by analyzing the sediment and ice core records from the Arctic glaciers and the Arctic Ocean.
2. To characterize sea ice in the Arctic using satellite data to estimate the effect of global warming in the northern polar region.
3. To conduct research on the dynamics and mass budget of Arctic glaciers focusing on the effect of glaciers on sea-level change.
4. To carry out a comprehensive assessment of the flora and fauna of the Arctic and their response to anthropogenic activities. In addition, it is proposed to undertake a comparative study of the life forms from both the Polar Regions

India’s Arctic Engagement: Balancing Commercial Interests within Arctic Council Framework

• The Arctic region is very rich in minerals, and oil and gas. With some parts of the Arctic melting due to global warming, the region also opens up the possibility of new shipping routes that can reduce existing distances.
• Countries that already have ongoing activities in the Arctic hope to have a stake in the commercial exploitation of natural resources present in the region.
• The Arctic Council does not prohibit the commercial exploitation of resources in the Arctic. It only seeks to ensure that it is done in a sustainable manner without harming the interests of local populations and in conformity with the local environment.
• Therefore, to stay relevant in the Arctic region, India should take advantage of the observer status it has earned in the Arctic Council and consider investing more in the Arctic.

Arctic Council’s Role in Shaping India’s Sustainable Commercial Engagement in the Arctic Region

• The Arctic Council does not prohibit the commercial exploitation of resources in the Arctic.
• It only seeks to ensure that it is done in a sustainable manner.
• So countries with ongoing activities in the Arctic hope to have a stake in the commercial exploitation of natural resources
• India could derive some commercial and strategic benefits, given the fact that the Arctic region is rich in some minerals, and oil and gas,
• With some parts of the Arctic melting due to global warming, the region also opens up the possibility of new shipping routes.

Recent news:

India's Maiden Winter Arctic Research

Recently, the Union Minister of Earth Sciences flagged off India’s first winter scientific expedition to Himadri, the nation's Arctic Research Station situated in Ny-Ålesund within the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the Arctic.

• The first batch of the maiden Arctic winter expedition comprises researchers from the host National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Raman Research Institute.

What is the Importance of The Winter Arctic Scientific Expedition?

• Indian scientific expeditions to the Arctic during the winter will allow researchers to conduct unique scientific observations during polar nights, where there is no sunlight for nearly 24 hours and sub-zero temperatures.
• It opens more avenues for India to expand our scientific capabilities in Earth’s poles.
• This will aid in expanding understanding of the Arctic, especially climate change, space weather, sea-ice and ocean circulation dynamics, ecosystem adaptations, etc. which affect weather and climate in the tropics, including monsoons.
• India has operated a research base in the Arctic named Himadri since 2008, which has been mostly hosting scientists during the summer (April to October).
• Priority research areas include atmospheric, biological, marine, and space sciences, environmental chemistry, and studies on cryosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, and astrophysics.
• India will join a small group of countries that operate their Arctic research bases through the winter.
• In recent years, climate change and global warming research has been attracting scientists to the Arctic region.

Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme has been approved for continuation by the Union Cabinet from 2021 to 2026.

What is PACER Scheme?

PACER encompasses the following six components.

• • Construction of polar research vessel
  • Construction of the third research base in Antarctica
  • Indian scientific endeavours in the Arctic
  • Polar expeditions-Antarctica
  • Southern Ocean Expedition

It is implemented through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).

What are the Major Works under this Scheme?

• Understanding of Biogeochemical Processes: Field-based studies were conducted in the lakes of Larsemann Hills East Antarctica for the understanding of biogeochemical processes in supraglacial environments.
• IndARC System: The IndARC mooring systemalong with the Hydrophone system was successfully retrieved and deployed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.
• Research Studies in Himalayas: Glaciological field campaigns were carried out in six benchmark glaciers in Chandra basin of Lahaul-Spiti region of Western Himalaya.

Winter snow accumulation over the glaciers was recorded using snow pits and snow corners.

• Automatic Weather Station (AWS) Systems: Two new Automatic Weather Station (AWS) systems were installed at Baralacha La, a high elevation site in the arid Spiti region to strengthen infrastructure across the Chandra basin.
• Southern Ocean Expedition :The 11^th Indian Southern Ocean Expedition was executed successfully

What is the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)?

• It is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Its responsibilities include:
  • Management and upkeep of the Indian Antarctic Research Bases “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and the Indian Arctic base “Himadri”.
  • Management of the Ministry’s research vessel Ocean Research Vehicle (ORV) Sagar Kanya as well as the other research vessels chartered by the Ministry.The ORV Sagar Kanya is a versatile ocean observing platform equipped with technologically advanced scientific equipment and related facilities.
  • Playing a facilitatory role in the scientific research activities being undertaken by several national institutions and organisations in Antarctica, the Arctic and in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean.
  • Playing a lead role in the geoscientific surveys of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its extended continental shelf beyond 200m, deep-sea drilling in the Arabian Sea basin through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), exploration for ocean non-living resources such as gas hydrates and multi-metal sulphides in mid-ocean ridges.

It is located in the state of Goa.

What are Other Major Initiatives of the Ministry of Earth Sciences?

• IndARC
• Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART)
• ACROSS Scheme

For India to advance its research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, the following steps can be undertaken:

1) Investment in Infrastructure: Allocate funds for establishing and maintaining research stations, laboratories, and specialized facilities in these polar regions.

2) Capacity Building and Training: Invest in training programs and educational initiatives to build a skilled workforce specializing in polar research. Encourage collaboration between academia, research institutions, and industry to foster expertise in relevant fields.

3) International Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships with other nations engaged in polar research. Promote open access to data and information collected from other polar researchers.

4) Long-term Commitment and Funding: Ensure sustained financial support for polar research programs, acknowledging the long-term nature of scientific exploration in these regions.

5) Remote Sensing and Satellite Technology: Leverage advancements in remote sensing and satellite technology to monitor polar environments.

6) Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaborations between government entities, research institutions, and private industries to leverage resources, expertise, and technology for polar research initiatives.

7) Policy Advocacy and Diplomacy: Actively engage in international forums to advocate for policies supporting sustainable and responsible polar research. Strengthen diplomatic ties to facilitate collaborative research agreements and resource-sharing initiatives.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has added the health challenge noma to its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

It is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face.

Origin - Greek word “nom?”, meaning ‘to devour’, as noma eats away facial tissue and bones if not treated early.

• It is also known as cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis.
• Susceptible population – Children aged 2-6 years old.
• Spread – In developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

WHO website lists the ‘latest’ estimates 140,000 cases per year and a prevalence of 770,000 cases. However, the data dates back to 1998.

Risk factors - Poor oral hygiene, malnutrition, weakened immune systems, infections, and extreme poverty.

• While it is not contagious, it prefers to attack when the body’s defences are weak.

Symptoms – It begins with gum inflammation and leads to facial disfigurement, spasm of the jaw muscles, oral incontinence and speech problems.

• Oral contamination by – Bacteroidaceae and a consortium of other microorganisms
• Higher mortality rate – Approximately 90% as many children are not given care or brought for care in time.
• Prevention and treatment – Its spread can be slowed with basic hygiene, measles vaccination, antibiotics, rehydration, correction of electrolytic imbalances and nutritional rehabilitation.
• Significance of NTD status – It will amplify global awareness, catalyse research, stimulate funding, and boost efforts to control the disease through multisectoral and multi-pronged approaches.

Noma is also called as ‘Face of poverty’ as effective drugs like sulfonamides and penicillin and adequate surgical treatment for the effects remain inaccessible for many due to extreme poverty.

• Ministry of Mines is set to launch the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) Portal in a ceremony in New Delhi.
• NGDR is a comprehensive online platform for accessing, sharing, and analyzing geospatial information across the nation.
• The initiative is spearheaded by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Bhaskarachaya Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N).

Geological Survey of India (GSI) is a scientific agency that conducts geological surveys and studies of India established in 1851 by Thomas Oldham.

• A recent report of Iceland's Meteorological Office said that volcanic eruption began in Iceland, south of the capital Reykjavik.

• The bonnet macaque is a species of Old-World monkey that is native to southern India. They are also known as Zati.
• They are highly arboreal and most abundant on the outskirts of human settlements.
• Subspecies - Dark-bellied bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata radiata) and Pale-bellied bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata diluta).
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN – Vulnerable.

CITES – Appendix II.

• Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19^th every year.
• It marks the day in 1961 when India reclaimed the coastal state from centuries of Portuguese rule.

On December 19, 1961, Goa officially became part of India and was declared as a Union Territory along with Daman and Diu after a military operation called "Operation Vijay".

• Forest fringe villages are villages that are located near forest areas.
• They often depend on the forest for their daily needs and biomass.
• As per India State of Forest Report- 2019, published by Forest Survey of India, approximately 300 million people are dependent on forests.

It roughly says that 26% of the total 650,000 villages can be classified as forest fringe villages, home to around 22% of the country’s total population.

• Wildlife officials from Madhya Pradesh has recently released 2 male cheetahs, named Agni and Vayu, into the safari area at Kuno National Park.
• Kuno National Park is a wildlife sanctuary and national park in Madhya Pradesh established in 1981 and is named after the Kuno River.
• The park is located in the Central Indian Vindhyan Hills & the only national park in India that is home to Cheetahs.