Relevance IN - Prelims (about World Pangolin Day + about Pangolin) + Mains (GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Madhya Pradesh forest department has radio-tagged an Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) for the first time in order to know its ecology and develop an effective conservation plan for it
• The radio-tagging is part of a joint project by the department and non-profit, the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) that also involves the species' monitoring apart from other activities.
• The team has successfully rehabilitated two Indian pangolins in the wild. This is the first-ever case of successful rehabilitation effort of the species where the released individuals are monitored in the wild using telemetry in the state's Satpura Tiger Reserve, where the tagging was done

• The measure comes on the backdrop of the ninth ‘World Pangolin Day' on February 15, 2020.
• It is an international attempt to raise awareness about pangolins and bring together various stakeholders to help protect them from extinction.
• Pangolins are currently the most trafficked wildlife species in the world.
• Commonly known as ‘scaly anteaters', the toothless animals are unique, a result of millions of years of evolution.
• Pangolins evolved scales as a means of protection. When threatened by big carnivores like lions or tigers they usually curl into a ball. The scales defend them against dental attacks from the predators.
• This unique protection mechanism has now become the main cause of the pangolin's disappearance.
• The scales are in high demand in China, where they are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Pangolin meat is also in high demand in China and southeast Asia.
• Pangolins have seen a rapid reduction in population globally. The projected population declines range from 50 per cent to 80 per cent across the genus.
• India is home to two species of pangolin. While the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is found in northeastern India, the Indian Pangolin is distributed in other parts of the countrys as well as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
• Both these species are protected and are listed under the Schedule I Part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Cha-Chai installation and its significance) + Mains (GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Culture & Tourism Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and President of the Portuguese Republic Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa jointly inaugurated the Cha-Chai, an installation of art work of Joana Vasconcelos at National Museum in New Delhi

Know! more about it

• The installation represents the five o'clock tradition of serving tea in Portugal that originated in the 17^th century.
• India and Portugal are collaborating to develop various cultural projects in India.
• The ‘tea pot' art work is symbolic depicting cultural bridges between people and people to people relation.
• The century old 5 pm tea is a family tradition in Portugal that strengthens family bonding.
• This exhibition brings Cha-Chai, a wrought-iron sculpture shaped as a teapot, by the renowned artist, Joana Vasconcelos.
• The ‘Tea Pot' and its iron railings represent the bridge between urban and rural landscape.
• Century old, long lasting connection between Portugal and India shines through tea or chai. The Portuguese adopted chá (Sha) as their word for it, incredibly close to the Indian chai.

India, Portugal ink seven pacts
Know! some key highlights and important takeaways

• The pacts provide for cooperation in areas of investment, transport, ports, culture and industrial and intellectual property rights.
• Portugal is an important country for India in Southern Europe, and bilateral ties have witnessed a steady progress in the last 15 years.
• Prime Minister Modi visited Portugal in June 2017 during which 11 agreements were signed covering a large number of areas including space, avoidance of double taxation, nano-technology, biotechnology and higher education.

Some important signed MoUs

• MoU for Cooperation for setting up a National Maritime Museum Heritage Complex in Lothal (Gujarat) between Portuguese Ministry of Defence and Indian Ministry of Shipping.
• MOU between Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE) and DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce for co-operation in the field of industrial and intellectual property rights.
• MOU between The National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram and Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Portugal, for collaboration in higher sciences
• MOU between TERI-DEAKIN Centre, Gurugram and International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) Braga for co-operation in Nano-biotechnology
• MOU between VYASA, Bangalore and Portuguese Yoga Confederation for collaboration in a Scientific Validation project on the benefits of Yoga for Portuguese schoolchildren

Prelims Factoids
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating a Company Electronically plus)

Relevance IN - Prelims (about SPICe+ and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• The Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA) has come out with the format of the new web form - SPICe+ - for incorporation of companies.
• The web form - issued as part of the Centre's Ease of Doing Business initiative - has replaced the existing SPICe form.

• Central Government has amended Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 by issue of Companies (Incorporation) Amendment Rules, 2020.
• The rule shall be made applicable for all new company incorporation with effect from 15th Feb, 2020.
• To implement these rules MCA is going to release new incorporation Form ‘SPICe+'.
• The integrated web form will, among other things, offer 10 services by three Central Government Ministries and Departments (Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Department of Revenue in the Finance Ministry) and one State Government (Maharashtra).
• SPICe+ will be an integrated Web Form that will have two Parts, ‘Part A' for reservation of Name of Company and ‘Part B' for registration related services.

Part B for registration related services.

• It has been now made mandatory for the new companies to apply for "EPFO Registration", "ESIC Registration", "Professional Tax Registration (For Maharashtra)" and "Opening of Bank Account".

Way Forward

• It's a good move by government to afford a single window for the new companies to get all registrations on a single go, but at the same time making PF and ESI registrations mandatory for new companies will add further to the compliance burden on the new companies.

Defence
President's Colour to INS Shivaji

RELEVANCE IN - Prelims (about INS Shivaji + about President's colour)
What's the NEWS

• President Ram Nath Kovind presented President's Colour to INS Shivaji, a premier Indian Navy training establishment located between Mumbai and Pune.
• The President's colour is the highest honour bestowed upon any Indian military unit.
• The conferral of the President's Colour marks an extremely significant milestone in the history of INS Shivaji.
• INS Shivaji is one of the leading training establishments of the Indian Navy established in 1945.

Know! more about INS Shivaji

• INS Shivaji is an Indian Naval station located in Lonavala, Maharashtra, India.
• It houses the Naval College of Engineering which trains officers of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.
• It was commissioned on 15 February 1945 as HMIS Shivaji. It is located close to the Bhushi Dam.
• INS Shivaji is commemorating its 75 years of its service to the Indian Navy this month
• Indian Navy already operates a first damage control simulator Akshat at INS Shivaji to train its officers and sailors on damage control on a warship at sea.
• Indian Navy's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence (NBCD) School and Center for Marine Engineering Technology are also based here
• The unit has largely contributed in training modern-day Marine Engineers.
• INS Shivaji also imparts training to personnel from 20 countries across the world
• The President's Colour will now be proudly displayed and carried at all ceremonial parades at INS Shivaji to inspire all future Marine Engineers of the Indian Navy.

Judiciary
All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal 2020
Relevance IN - Prelims (about CAT)
What's the NEWS

• The annual All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was held in New Delhi
• The one day conference was attended by Judicial and Administrative Members from all 17 Benches of CAT from across the country, members of the CAT Bar Association and eminent Jurists

Know! all about Central Administrative Tribunal

• Central Administrative Tribunal has been established for adjudication of disputes with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other local authorities within the territory of India or under the control of Government of India and for matters connected therewith.
• CAT was set up in pursuance of the amendment of Constitution of India by Articles 323A (1976) which empowers the Parliament to set up Tribunals for dealing with disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to service and posts connected with the Union of India.
• Accordingly the Administrative Tribunals Act was passed by the Parliament in 1985.
• Administrative Tribunals were established under the Act in 1985 at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Allahabad. Today, there are 17 Benches of the Tribunal located throughout the country wherever the seat of a High Court is located, with 33 Division Benches.
• In addition to Central Government employees, the Government of India has notified 45 other organizations to bring them within the jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal.
• The provisions of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 do not apply to members of paramilitary forces, armed forces of the Union, officers or employees of the Supreme Court, or to persons appointed to the Secretariat Staff of either House of Parliament or the Secretariat staff of State/Union Territory Legislatures.
• A Chairman who has been a sitting or retired Judge of a High Court heads the Central Administrative Tribunal. Besides the Chairman, the authorized strength consists of 16 Vice-Chairmen and 49 Members.
• The Tribunal is not bound to follow the procedures laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 or Evidence Act, but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice in deciding cases and the procedure.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS