November 2024

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Daily Current Capsules
18th August 2022
Health
One Year of Announcement of Rice Fortification.

 

What's the NEWS

  • A total of 151 Districts (in 24 States) have already lifted fortified rice under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in Phase II of Rice Fortification Programme.
  • The PM in his address on the 75th Independence Day (15th August, 2021), announced the supply of Fortified Rice in every scheme of Government of India throughout the country by 2024 in a phased manner.
Know! about rice fortification
  • Deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefit with minimal risk to health".
  • Various technologies are available to add micronutrients to regular rice, such as coating, dusting, and ‘extrusion'.
  • Extrusion method involves the production of fortified rice kernels (FRKs) from a mixture using an ‘extruder' machine.
How does the extrusion technology to produce FRK work?
  • Dry rice flour is mixed with a premix of micronutrients, and water is added to this mixture.
  • The mixture is passed through a twin-screw extruder with heating zones, which produces kernels similar in shape and size to rice.
  • These kernels are dried, cooled, and packaged for use.
  • FRK has a shelf life of at least 12 months.
Why rice fortification
  • Fortification of food is considered to be one of the most suitable methods to combat malnutrition.
  • Rice is one of India's staple foods, consumed by about two-thirds of the population.
  • Per capita rice consumption in India is 6.8 kg per month.
  • Therefore, fortifying rice with micronutrients is an option to supplement the diet of the poor.
Fortified rice contains
  • 1 kg of fortified rice will contain the following: iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram), and vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).
  • Rice may also be fortified with zinc (10 mg-15 mg), vitamin A (500-750 microgram RE), vitamin B-1 (1 mg-1.5 mg), vitamin B-2 (1.25 mg-1.75 mg), vitamin B-3 (12.5 mg-20 mg) and vitamin B-6 (1.5 mg-2.5 mg) per kg.
  • Fortified rice will be packed in jute bags with the logo (‘+F') and the line "Fortified with Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12".
Defence
TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

 

 

What's the NEWS

 

  • In the month of July 2022, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a one-month long engagement with the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) at the Egyptian Fighter Weapon School, located in Cairo West Air Force Base.
  • This was a first of its kind interaction for both the air forces as it was conducted between their respective Fighter Weapon Schools.
  • On behalf of the IAF, Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) participated in the programme with three Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft and six Combat Instructor Pilots.
  • This programme, involving synergistic air operations, has illustrated a high degree of professional trust that has developed between the two Air Forces.
Environment
75 Ramsar Sites in 75th Year of Independence .
India adds 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar Sites

 


What's the NEWS

  • India adds 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make total 75 Ramsar sites covering an area of 13,26,677 ha in the country in the 75th year of Independence.
  • The 11 new sites include: Four (4) sites in Tamil Nadu, Three (3) in Odisha, Two (2) in Jammu & Kashmir and One (1) each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Designation of these sites would help in conservation and management of wetlands and wise use of their resources.
  • India is one of the Contracting Parties to Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. India signed it on 1st Feb 1982.
  • During 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites, however, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites.
  • During this year itself (2022) a total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites.
  • Based on the date of designation mentioned on Ramsar Certificate, the number is 19 for this year (2022) and 14 for previous year (2021).
  • Tamil Nadu has maximum no. of Ramsar sites (14 nos), followed by UP which has 10 nos. of Ramsar sites.
Brief of 11 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites

 

S. No  Name of Wetland  Area in Ha  State 
 1  Tampara lake  300  Odisha

 2 

 Hirakud Reservior  65400  Odisha
 3 Ansupa Lake   231  Odisha
 4  Yashwamt Sagar  822.90  Madhya Pradesh
 5  Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary  260,47  Tamil Nadu
 6  Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex  94.23  Tamil Nadu
 7  Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary  112.64  Tamil Nadu
 8  Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary  96.89  Tamil Nadu
 9  Thane Creek  6521.08  Maharashtra
 10  Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve  801.82  Jammu and Kashmir
 11  Shallbugh Wetland Conservative Reserve  1675  Jammu and Kashmir
   Total area of 11 sites  76316   


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Year-Wise designation of 75 Ramsar sites

 

S. No.   Year of Designation  No of site designated (As per date of designation) Sites designated uupto 2013 and after 2014 to till date   Area covered in Ha 
 1  1981  2  26 (1981 to 2013)  633871
 2  1990  4    
 3  2002  13    
 4  2005 6     
 5  2012  1    
 6  2019  11  49 (2014 to 2022)  692807
 7  2020  5    
 8  2021  14    
 9  2022  19    
   Total  75  75 1326678 

Know! about the New Ramsar Sites
1. Tampara Lake

  • Freshwater lakes
  • Location - Odisha (Ganjam district)
  • The wetland supports at least 60 species of birds, 46 species of fishes, at least 48 species of phytoplanktons
  • The wetland is an important habitat for vulnerable species such as Cyprinus carpio, common pochard (Aythya ferina), and river tern (Sterna aurantia).
2. Hirakud Reservoir
  • largest earthen dam in Odisha
  • support a range of floral and faunal species
  • The reservoir is a source of water for producing around 300 MW of hydropower and irrigating 436,000 ha of cultural command area.
  • The wetland also provides important hydrological services by moderating floods in the Mahanadi delta
3. Ansupa Lake
  • largest freshwater lake of Odisha (Cuttack district)
  • The wetland is an oxbow lake formed by River Mahanadi and is spread over an area of 231 ha.
  • The wetland provides a safe habitat to at least three threatened bird species- Rynchops albicollis (EN), Sterna acuticauda (EN) and Sterna aurantia (VU) and three threatened fish species- Clarias magur (Clariidae) (EN), Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae) (VU) and Wallago attu (VU).
4. Yashwant Sagar
  • Yashwant Sagar is one of the two Important Bird Areas (IBA) in the Indore region as well as one of the most important birding sites in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Presently it is mainly used for water supply to the city of Indore
  • Yashwant Sagar is considered to be a stronghold of the vulnerable Sarus Crane in central India. The lake backwaters have plenty of shallow areas, conducive for waders and other waterfowl.
5. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary
  • Located in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu.
  • The wetland is a protected area since 1989 and declared as Bird Sanctuary
  • Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary is an ideal habitat for winter migratory birds.
6. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex
  • It is part of the Suchindrum-Theroor Manakudi Conservation Reserve.
  • It is declared an Important Bird Area and lies at the southern tip of the Central Asian flyway of migratory birds.
  • It was formed for birds' nesting purposes and it attracts thousands of birds every year.
  • Copper plate inscriptions from the 9th century mention Pasumkulam, Venchikulam, Nedumarthukulam, Perumkulam, Elemchikulam and Konadunkulam.


7. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary
  • It is a large human-made irrigation tank and shelter for migratory birds as it provides a suitable environment for food, shelter, and breeding ground.
  • Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii occurred in most of the surveyed tanks.


8. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
  • It is a Protected area near Mudukulathur Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu
  • It is notable as a nesting site for several migratory heron species that roost in the prominent growth of babul trees there.
  • The site qualifies as an IBA as the threatened Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis breeds here.
  • The wetland supports IUCN RedList vulnerable avian species like Sterna aurantia (River Tern).

9. Thane Creek
  • Thane Creek is located in Maharashtra, India.
  • There are several sources of fresh water to the creek, of which Ulhas River is the largest
  • It has been declared as Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
  • Thane creek is fringed by mangroves on both banks & comprises around 20% of the total Indian mangrove species.
  • The mangrove forest acts as a natural shelter belt & protects the land from cyclones, tidal surges, seawater seepage & intrusions.
  • The mangrove serves as a nursery for several fishes & sustains the local fishery.
  • The area is an important part of the wetland complex of the Central Asian Flyway of the birds and has been categorized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

10. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve
  • Hygam Wetland falls within the River Jhelum basin
  • The wetland is located in the Baramulla district.
  • It serves as an abode to many residents and migratory bird species.
  • It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

11. Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve

  • Shallabug Wetland Conservation Reserve is located in the District Srinagar, UT of J&K.
  • The area has extensive reedbeds of Phragmites communis and Typha angustata, and rich growth of Nymphaea candida and N. stellata on open water.
  • It serves as an abode to more than four lakh resident and migratory birds of at least 21 species.
Know! also about
Important Bird Area (IBA)
  • The IBA programme of Birdlife International aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for conservation of the world's birds and associated biodiversity.
  • The IBAs serve as conservation areas for protection of birds at the global, regional or sub-regional level.
Designation of IBAs is based on standardized criteria, namely
 (i) hold significant numbers of one or more globally threatened bird species,
 (ii) be one of a set of sites that together hold a suite of restricted-range species or biome-restricted  species and
 (iii) have exceptionally large numbers of migratory or congregatory birds.
  • The IBAs contain a range of habitats, such as wetlands, mudflats, microhabitats in biodiversity hotspots, grasslands and scrublands, making them excellent indicators of biodiversity richness
  • The Bombay Natural History Society and Birdlife International have identified 467 IBAs in India
BirdLife International
  • It is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats.
  • BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding important sites for birds, maintaining and restoring key bird habitats, and empowering conservationists worldwide.
  • BirdLife International has identified 13,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and is the official International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List authority for birds.
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