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Civil Services Reforms

Citizen-Centric Governance: Important Aspects of Development In Any Democracy

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Mission Karmayogi

Mains level: Citizen-Centric Governance, initiatives and Citizen participation

Central idea

  • Citizen-centric governance is an evolving concept, and to put it into action requires clarity in the actions that civil servants perform and how citizens engage with the state. Citizen engagement is about collaborative partnerships and dialogue and must involve all stakeholders to ensure the overall development of a community or a nation.

Citizen-Centric Governance

  • Paradigm shift in traditional governance: Citizen-centric governance refers to a paradigm shift in the traditional governance structures where the focus is shifted from the power holders to the citizens.
  • Access to information and services to citizens: Traditionally, governance structures hold the power to make decisions that affect the lives of citizens. But citizen-centric governance focuses on providing citizens with access to information, services, and resources and on engaging them in the policy-making process.
  • Increased citizen participation: The objective of citizen-centric governance is to increase citizen participation in decision-making processes

Mission Karmayogi

  • Capacity building of civil servants: Mission Karmayogi, the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building has been strategically working to build the capacities of civil servants through various innovative interventions to sensitise and reframe the fabric of citizen participation.
  • karmachari to karmayogi: Today, thousands of railway employees, Gramin Dak Sevaks, police personnel in the UTs and employees of BSNL are all going through an outcome-based capacity-building programme that is shifting them from thinking like a karmachari to acting like a karmayogi.

Citizen Engagement

  • Citizen engagement refers to how citizens participate in the political, social and economic aspects of their community or society.
  • Citizen engagement is highly embedded in the nature of the political and governance context and existing power relations.
  • It needs to be understood as a core component of any governance system, and in democracies, citizen engagement is a basic principle because it is understood that governments derive their authority and power from the people.

What the multi-stakeholder engagement requires?

  • Constructive dialogue: Development by the people and for the people is indeed possible. Citizen engagement towards democratising the process of development necessarily involves a constructive dialogue between and amongst all stakeholders.
  • Mutual trust and respect: Meaningful dialogue among the stakeholders the state, citizenry, private sector, media, civil society and academia can sustain only when there is mutual trust. The relationship between these multiple stakeholders needs to be driven by mutual respect and an appreciation of interdependence and reciprocity.
  • Redrawing boundaries of engagement: However, this may involve redrawing boundaries of engagement and roles that stakeholders have traditionally assumed for themselves.
  • Partnership approach: The multi-stakeholder engagement would require the adoption of the partnership approach by all parties involved.

Conclusion

  • Citizen-centric governance and citizen engagement are important aspects of development in any democracy. By adopting a partnership approach and mutual respect for each other’s roles, stakeholders can work together to ensure the overall development of a community and nation at large. The Indian government’s program, Mission Karmayogi, is a right step towards building the capacities of civil servants and sensitizing them to citizen participation.

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence in India and Way Ahead

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Autism

Mains level: Autism spectrum disorders, Prevalence in India and way ahead

Central Idea

  • In India, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a widely debated issue due to a lack of systematic estimates. Most estimates have been derived from studies based on school children, revealing that over one crore Indians may be on the autism spectrum. However, there are notable cultural differences in diagnosing autism between countries, which highlights the need to assess the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders specifically in the Indian context.

What is Autism?

  • Spectrum disorder: Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour. It is called a spectrum disorder because the symptoms and severity can vary widely between individuals.
  • Common symptoms: Some common symptoms of autism include difficulty with social interactions, such as maintaining eye contact or understanding nonverbal cues, delayed speech and language development, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities.
  • Cause: Autism is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause is not yet fully understood.
  • Cure: There is currently no cure for autism, but early interventions and therapies can help individuals with autism lead fulfilling and independent lives.

Prevalence of Autism in India

  • Lack of systematic estimates: Autism is a global issue and affects individuals of all cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, there is a lack of systematic estimates of autism prevalence in India.
  • Methos failed: Researchers have attempted to estimate prevalence through government hospitals, but this method failed due to the absence of central medical registries.
  • Conservative estimates: As a result, prevalence was estimated through school-based assessments. According to conservative estimates, well over one crore Indians are on the autism spectrum. This highlights the need for further research and attention to address the prevalence of ASD in India.
  • Cultural Differences and Diagnosis of Autism:
  • Notable cultural differences exist in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. In the US and UK, the majority of children with autism spectrum diagnosis are verbal, with average or higher IQ, and attending mainstream schools.
  • However, in India, a significant majority of children with a clinical diagnosis of autism also have intellectual disability and limited verbal ability. This difference is driven by sociological factors, such as access to appropriate clinical expertise, provisions for inclusion in mainstream schools, and availability of medical insurance coverage.

Challenges in Assessing Autism

  • Assessment tools: Assessment of autism spectrum disorder is primarily behavioral, and most widely used autism assessment tools are not available in Indian languages.
  • Indigenous autism assessment tools challenges: There has been a rise in the development of indigenous autism assessment tools. Despite the development of these tools, it can be challenging to compare across different assessment measures.

Demand and Supply in India

  • Shortage of mental health professionals: Most autism assessment tools need to be administered by specialist mental health professionals. However, there is a significant shortage of mental health professionals in India, with less than 10,000 psychiatrists, a majority of whom are concentrated in big cities.
  • Delay is costly: Delay in interventions can be costly for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
  • Demand and supply gap need to be met: This gap between demand and supply cannot be met directly by specialists alone, and parallel efforts to widen the reach of diagnostic and intervention services through involving non-specialists is required. Emerging evidence suggests the feasibility of involving non-specialists in autism identification and intervention through digital technology and training programs.

Way ahead: Need for an All-India Program

  • National program on autism: The need of the hour is to develop a national program on autism in India that links researchers, clinicians, service providers to the end-users in the autism community.
  • Essential components: This program needs to have three essential components that are joined up: assessment, intervention, and awareness.
  • Assessment: Research is needed to develop appropriate assessments and design efficient implementation pathways.
  • Intervention: Clinical and support service workforce needs to be expanded by training non-specialists such that a stepped-care model can be rolled out effectively across the nation.
  • Awareness: Large-scale initiatives need to be launched to build public awareness that can reduce the stigma associated with autism and related conditions.

Conclusion

  • There are challenges in diagnosing and assessing autism in India which highlights the need for a comprehensive and coordinated effort to address them. By expanding the clinical and support service workforce, training non-specialists, and developing appropriate assessments and interventions, India can improve outcomes for those on the autism spectrum and reduce the stigma associated with the condition. This national program needs to be informed by consultation with different stakeholders, with a primary focus on end-users within the Indian autism community.

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Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

ICJ and Climate Justice

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: ICJ

Mains level: Climate justice and reparations

Central idea: On March 29, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the obligations countries have towards climate change reduction.

Facts for prelims: International Court of Justice (ICJ)

  • The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
  • It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
  • The court is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ), which was brought into being through, and by, the League of Nations.
  • It held its inaugural sitting at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, in February 1922.
  • After World War II, the League of Nations and PCIJ were replaced by the United Nations and ICJ respectively.
  • The PCIJ was formally dissolved in April 1946, and its last president, Judge José Gustavo Guerrero of El Salvador, became the first president of the ICJ.
  • Four Indians have been members of the ICJ so far.
  • Justice Dalveer Bhandari, former judge of the Supreme Court, has been serving at the ICJ since 2012.

 

Vanuatu seeks climate reparations

  • The resolution, which was passed by consensus, was pushed through by the Pacific Island of Vanuatu, which was devastated by Cyclone Pam in 2015.
  • This resolution is significant because it invokes article 96 of the U.N. Charter and seeks to clarify the legal obligations of states to protect the climate system.

Resolution A/77/L.58: What does it seek?

The draft resolution (A/77/L.58) asks the ICJ to deliberate on two questions:

  1. Obligations of states: Under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system for present and future generations
  2. Legal consequences: For states that have caused significant harm to the climate system, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and for people who are harmed?

Frameworks invoked by Vanuatu

The resolution refers to several international protocols, including the-

  1. Paris Agreement
  2. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and
  3. Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What do sponsors of the resolution want?

  • The sponsors of the resolution expect an advisory opinion from the ICJ to bolster the efforts under the global climate pledge.
  • The opinion is also expected to clarify more contentious issues, such as-
  1. Climate reparations by the developed world,
  2. Legal culpability for countries that don’t achieve their NDC promises
  3. Climate support to the most vulnerable parts of the world

Where does India stand over this?

  • India has been silent about the resolution, although it is generally supportive of climate justice and holding the developed world accountable for global warming.
  • India did not co-sponsor the draft resolution, unlike its neighbors Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

If ICJ intervenes, what would change?

  • Only advisory opinion: The ICJ is being asked for an advisory opinion, which would not be legally binding as an ICJ judgment.
  • Puts moral obligation: The ICJ carries “legal weight and moral authority”.
  • Symbolic significance: ICJ’s clarification of international environmental laws would make the process more streamlined, particularly as the COP process looks at various issues like climate finance, climate justice, and the most recently agreed to “loss and damages” etc.

Conclusion

  • The resolution passed by the UNGA requesting an advisory opinion from the ICJ is a step in the right direction towards clarifying the legal obligations of states to mitigate climate change and protect the environment for future generations.
  • To ensure the success of this effort, countries need to continue to engage in diplomatic efforts and work towards shared goals.
  • Countries should also actively participate in the ICJ process and respect the advisory opinion it delivers.

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Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

India and Malaysia to settle trade in INR

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Vostro and Nostro Accounts, SWIFT

Mains level: Trade settlement in Rupees

india

India and Malaysia have agreed to settle their trade in Indian rupees instead of the US dollar.

What is the move?

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had allowed the settlement of international trade in the Indian rupee in July 2022.
  • Malaysia was one of the eighteen countries that were permitted to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) to settle payments in Indian rupees.

Volume of bilateral trade

  • India-Malaysia bilateral trade reached $19.4 billion during 2021-22.
  • Malaysia is the third-largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region, after Singapore and Indonesia, with $30.1 billion and $26.1 billion in bilateral trade with India.

Facts for prelims: Nostro and Vostro Accounts

Nostro and vostro accounts are two types of accounts used in international trade and banking to facilitate foreign currency transactions.

A Nostro account is a foreign currency account held by a domestic bank in a foreign bank. It is used to facilitate international transactions, such as foreign currency payments, and to hold foreign currency deposits. The word “nostro” means “ours” in Italian, and the term reflects the fact that the foreign bank holds the domestic bank’s funds on its behalf.

A Vostro account, on the other hand, is a domestic currency account held by a foreign bank in a domestic bank. It is used by the foreign bank to hold domestic currency deposits, and to facilitate domestic currency transactions such as payments to local vendors. The word “vostro” means “yours” in Italian, and the term reflects the fact that the domestic bank holds the foreign bank’s funds on its behalf.

 

What are Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs)?

  • SRVAs are a mechanism introduced by the RBI to allow banks from certain countries to open accounts in Indian rupees with Indian banks.
  • These accounts can be used to settle trade transactions between the two countries in Indian rupees, instead of using other currencies.
  • The aim of this initiative is to facilitate the growth of global trade and to support the interests of the global trading community in Indian rupees.
  • The Union Bank of India has become the first bank in India to operationalize this option by opening a SRVA through its corresponding bank in Malaysia – India International Bank of Malaysia.
  • Banks from 18 countries so far are allowed by the RBI to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) to settle payments in Indian rupees.

Significance of the move

  • The move aims to provide better pricing for goods and services traded between the two countries and overcome currency-related obstacles that have affected bilateral trade.
  • This shift away from the US dollar signals India’s de-dollarization efforts.
  • The decision also comes against the backdrop of ongoing official efforts to safeguard Indian trade from the impact of the Ukraine crisis.

Broader implications

  • The sanction on the Russian economy and the ongoing war in Ukraine have made it increasingly difficult to make payments to Russia in US dollars.
  • Many countries are exploring alternatives to the US dollar as the dominant reserve currency for international trade.

 

Try this MCQ

Q. Which of the following is a key difference between Nostro and Vostro accounts?

A) A Nostro account is held by a bank in a foreign country, while a Vostro account is held by a bank in the home country.

B) A Vostro account is used for incoming transactions, while a Nostro account is used for outgoing transactions.

C) A Nostro account is denominated in the local currency of the home country, while a Vostro account is denominated in a foreign currency.

D) A Vostro account is used for trade financing, while a Nostro account is used for personal banking transactions.

 

Post your answers here.

 

 

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Telecom and Postal Sector – Spectrum Allocation, Call Drops, Predatory Pricing, etc

Bharat 6G project: India plans to roll out high-speed internet by 2030

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: 6G Technology

Mains level: Read the attached story

6g

Central idea: Despite over 45,000 Indian villages lacking 4G connectivity and ongoing efforts to build out 5G networks, the Indian government has set its sights on 6G.

Why in news?

  • On March 22, PM Modi unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document, aimed at gearing up policymakers and the industry for the next generation of telecommunications.

What is 6G?

  • 6G is the next generation of wireless telecommunications technology, which is expected to offer significantly faster data speeds, higher bandwidth, and lower latency than 5G.
  • It is still in the development stage, and its commercial rollout is not expected for several years.
  • However, many countries, including India, are already working on developing 6G technology and setting standards for its implementation.

Differences between 6G and 5G

  • While 6G will offer faster loading times, improved video quality, and faster downloads, like every new generation of technology, it is unclear how much better it will be.
  • With latency already at the speed of light on existing networks, the benefits of 6G will depend on how different groups plan to use the spectrum.
  • Satellite constellations will join telecom towers and base stations, integrating networks and extending them to rural areas.

Motivations for pursuing 6G

  • Encourage local industry: The Indian government hopes to encourage local manufacturing of telecom gear and support Indian companies and engineers in international discussions around standardization.
  • Avoid delay unlike 5G: India aims to avoid the delay in previous generations of telecommunications technology, which started rolling out in India years after countries like South Korea and the United States.
  • Increased connectivity: Additionally, the lower frequency in 4G networks may not be able to keep up with the demand for traffic with increasing data usage, making 6G a necessity.

Government Plans for 6G

  • The Indian government plans to financially support “research pathways” to advance connectivity goals and establish an “apex body”.
  • India’s 6G goals include-
  1. Guaranteeing every citizen a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps
  2. Ensuring every gram panchayat has half TB (terabyte) per second of connectivity, and
  3. Providing over 50 million internet hotspots with thirteen per square kilometre.

Roadmap for 6G in India

  • The government plans to implement 6G in two phases.
  1. Phase 1 will support explorative ideas, risky pathways, and proof-of-concept tests.
  2. Phase 2 will support ideas and concepts that show promise for global acceptance, leading to commercialisation.
  • It would appoint an apex council to oversee the project and deal with standardisation, identification of spectrum, finances for research and development, and more
  • The council will finance research and development of 6G technologies by Indian start-ups, companies, research bodies, and universities.
  • Key focus of the council will be on new technologies such as Terahertz communication, radio interfaces, tactile internet, and artificial intelligence.
  • Bharat 6G Mission aligns with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and aims to make India a leading supplier of advanced telecom technologies that are affordable and contribute to the global good.

Approaches to 6G in Other Countries

  • South Korea plans significant investments in 6G technology development, with a focus on laying the ground for key original technologies and domestic production of core equipment and components.
  • Countries are also starting to work together, with Japan and Germany planning a workshop to work on everything from “fundamental technologies to demonstrations.”
  • Europe’s equivalent of the Indian 6G Vision Document emphasizes leadership in strategic areas and establishing secure and trusted access to key technologies.

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Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

UN allows Deep Sea Mining operations from July

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Deep Sea Mining

Mains level: Not Much

mining

Central idea: The International Seabed Authority has announced that it will start accepting applications from companies for deep sea mining from July.

Why in news?

  • This decision was made in the absence of a mining code that has not been put in place yet.

What is Deep Sea Mining?

  • Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting minerals from the deep ocean floor.
  • The minerals that are extracted can include valuable metals such as copper, gold, nickel, and manganese, as well as rare earth metals that are used in high-tech devices such as smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles.
  • The minerals are found in the form of polymetallic nodules that are located on the ocean floor at depths of around 4 to 6 kilometers.
  • Deep-sea mining involves the use of specially designed equipment that can withstand the extreme pressure and temperature conditions found at these depths.

About International Seabed Authority

  • The International Seabed Authority is a Jamaica-based organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
  • The authority holds jurisdiction over the ocean floors outside of the Exclusive Economic Zones of its 167 member states.

Reasons behind undersea mining

  • The mining is aimed at extracting cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese from the ocean’s floor.
  • The undersea mining will extract key battery materials from polymetallic nodules found at depths of 4 kilometers to 6 kilometers.
  • These nodules are potato-sized rocks containing cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese.

Key concern: Mining code missing

  • Despite 10 years of discussion, there is no mining code in place.
  • The governing council of ISA is uncertain about the process it should adopt for reviewing applications for mining contracts.

Issues with deep-sea mining

  • Deep-sea mining is a controversial issue that has raised concerns among non-governmental organizations, experts, and some countries.
  • One major concern is the potential damage to the seabed and the essential function of deep-sea ecosystems in regulating the climate.
  • Mining activities can also have wider impacts on fish populations, marine mammals, and other ocean life.

Tap to read more about

India’s Deep Ocean Mission


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Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

IIT Mandi’s novel catalyst to make Hydrogen more viable fuel

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Green Hydrogen, Carbon Laser

Mains level: Not Much

hydrogen

Scientists at IIT Mandi have created an innovative carbon-based catalyst that can enhance the efficiency of water electrolysis to generate green hydrogen.

Water electrolysis and its Challenges

  • Water electrolysis is the process of splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity inside an electrolyser.
  • However, this process consumes a lot of electrical energy.
  • A well-known solution is to use a catalyst to induce the water molecules to split at a much lower energy.
  • The better catalysts are often based on the metals iridium and ruthenium, which are expensive, in great demand in other sectors, and not consistently stable as the reaction progresses.

IIT’s breakthrough: Development of Laser Carbon

  • Researchers have developed a porous carbon material containing nitrogen that functions both as a catalyst and as the anode in electrolyser units.
  • This material, called “laser carbon,” was produced by exposing a sheet of a polymer called polyimide to a laser beam, which carbonised the exposed bits, leaving the remainder rich in nitrogen.

How does laser carbon work?

  • The nitrogen atoms in laser carbon draw electron clouds towards themselves, rendering the nearby carbon atoms to bond with atoms or molecules containing electron pairs.
  • This makes the location of these atoms active sites for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
  • OER is a bottleneck in this ideal reaction process because it proceeds slowly, with many intermediate steps, lowering the total reaction efficiency.
  • Laser carbon offers to fix this problem by reducing the OER overpotential, which means the reaction kicks off sooner and proceeds with more vigor.

Advantages of laser carbon

Laser carbon has several advantages over other carbon-based catalysts.

  • It is “highly power efficient,” cheaper to produce, has a simpler synthesis technique, and “can be batch-manufactured with a laser.”
  • The manufacturing process is also environment-friendly, as no waste is generated, and there are no wet chemicals that would require disposal.
  • Additionally, it does not require a substrate as it is self-supported in the form of a film, acting as both electrode and electrocatalyst.

Challenges

  • The catalytic activity of laser carbon may not be as high as that of some metals but is comparable.
  • Further improvements in the fabrication process and use of other polymers may address this challenge.

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Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

Novel compound to treat Kala-Azar Infection

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Kala Azar

Mains level: Not Much

kala-azar

Central idea: The Kolkata-based Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) have established the potential of quinoline derivatives to treat drug-resistant leishmaniasis, which is also called kala-azar or black fever.

What is Kala Azar?

  • Kala-Azar is a vector-borne (sandfly) neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasites of the genus leishmania.
  • It afflicts the world’s poorest populations in over 90 countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South America.
  • Current annual estimates of kala-azar are about 1,00,000.
  • More than 95% of cases reported to the WHO are from India and other tropical countries, most importantly co-infection with HIV, which leads to an immunocompromised state.

How does Quinoline work over this?

  • The quinoline derivative is a potent inhibitor of an enzyme called topoisomerase 1 (LdTop1).
  • This enzyme is essential for the maintenance of DNA architecture in parasites and is distinct from the one found in humans.
  • Poisoning LdTop1 imparts significant cytotoxicity to both Leishmania parasites found in the gut of sandfly vectors (promastigotes) and those found in infected humans (amastigotes) of both the wild type and the antimony-resistant isolates.
  • This is done without inducing lethality to human and mice host cells.

Significance of quinoline treatment

  • Overcoming drug resistance in clinical leishmaniasis is a severe challenge in rural India.
  • The current treatment regimens against kala-azar use formulations that are toxic and induce high levels of drug-resistance.

What is the breakthrough?

  • The novel inhibitor targeting the leishmania parasites was identified by screening them against recombinant Leishmania topoisomerase 1 enzyme.
  • In all, 21 derivatives were prepared and evaluated for their antileishmanial activity, and one of them was found to be effective.

 

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Tiger Conservation Efforts – Project Tiger, etc.

Bandipur completes 50 years as Project Tiger Reserve

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Mains level: Read the attached story

tiger

Central idea: Bandipur completed 50 years as a Project Tiger Reserve on April 1, 2023.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

  • The reserve is located in the Indian state of Karnataka and is spread over an area of 912.04 sq. km.
  • It is recognized as one of the prime tiger habitats in the world and is an important component of the country’s first biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Tiger Population in Bandipur

  • When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, there were 12 tigers in Bandipur, according to Ramesh Kumar, director, of Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
  • Today, the number of tigers utilizing the park is 173 while the number of tigers within the reserve has been pegged at 126 as per the Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India, 2018.

History of conservation efforts in Bandipur

  • Much before the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972, was passed, the erstwhile rulers of Mysuru had realized the importance of conserving flora and fauna.
  • The Mysore Game and Fish Preservation Act was passed in 1901, and several forest areas were preserved as Game Reserves, and Tiger Blocks were identified with shooting restrictions imposed.
  • Initially, an area spread over 35 sq miles was declared as a Game Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar State Forest of Mysore district in 1931 and was protected for 10 years.

Bandipur’s inclusion in Project Tiger

  • When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, Bandipur was among the first nine reserves to be brought under the flagship program, and it included most areas that were already protected under the Venugopal Wildlife Park.
  • The park was upgraded to a national park and renamed Bandipur, and the adjacent reserve forests were included under it to extend its area to 874.20 sq km.

Significance of the area

  • The landscape spanning Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai, and Wayanad complex is home not only to the highest number of tigers in the country – about 724 – but also to the largest Asian Elephant population.
  • The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is an important component of the country’s first biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Tap to read more about:

[Sansad TV] Perspective – Project Tiger: Reclaiming Territories

 


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