• Large ecosystems, such as the Amazon rain forest, may collapse and disappear alarmingly quickly, once a critical point in their destruction is reached, according to a study

• the Researchers, revealed the speed at which ecosystems of different sizes will disappear, once they have reached a point beyond which they transform into an alternative habitat.
• The collapse of large vulnerable ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest and Caribbean coral reefs, may take only a few decades once triggered.
• Once the "point of no return" is reached, the iconic Amazon rainforest could shift to a savannah-type ecosystem with a mix of trees and grass within 50 years.

Know! about Amazon rainforest

• The Amazon rainforest is a moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America.
• This region includes territory belonging to nine nations.
• The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with minor amounts in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
• The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, and comprises the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world, with an estimated 390 billion individual trees divided into 16,000 species

Agreements
Integrated Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-Fed Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the objective and benefits of integrated project) + Mains (GS II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
What's the NEWS

• The Government of India, Government of Himachal Pradesh and the World Bank signed a US$80 million loan agreement to improve water management practices and increase agricultural productivity in selected Gram Panchayats (Village Councils) in Himachal Pradesh

Know! about the integrated project (objective and benefits)

• The Integrated Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-Fed Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh will benefits over 400,000 smallholder farmers, women and pastoral communities.
• The project will improve upstream water sources in forests, pastures and grasslands and ensure sufficient water is available for sustainable agriculture both in Himachal Pradesh and in downstream states.
• Enhancing the climate resilience of agriculture and its allied activities is a key component of the project for which efficient use of water is the focal point.
• The project will set up hydrological monitoring stations to monitor the water quality and quantity.
• This will not only help lay the foundation for future water budgeting through better land use and agricultural investments, but also ensure more holistic catchment area treatment (CAT) plans that are based on source sustainability, carbon sequestration, and water quality.
• Climate adaptation and mitigation measures under the project will help the state plan land-based resource management in the upper catchments of targeted micro-watersheds in Himachal Pradesh and enhance agriculture and water productivity in the downstream areas
• Ultimately, such an effort will help improve forest cover, increase water quality and quantity, reduce erosion, and enhance community participation, including that of women, youth, and disadvantaged groups.

Defence
Defence Corridors

Relevance IN - Prelims (about defence corridors)
Know! about Defence Corridors

• In last year's Central budget it has been decided to set up two Defence Industrial Corridors in the Country, one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Tamil Nadu.
• Investments of approximately Rs 3,700 crore were announced by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB/Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) & Private Industries for Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridors and investment of approx Rs 3,100 crore were announced by OFB/DPSUs & private industries for Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor.

Know! the benefits of Defence Corridors

• Setting up of Defence Industrial Corridors would catalyse indigenous production of defence and aerospace related items, thereby reducing our reliance on imports and promoting export of these items to other countries.
• This will lead to achieve India's goal of self-reliance in defence, generation of direct/indirect employment opportunities and growth of private domestic manufacturers, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Star-ups.

India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) dialogue.
Relevance IN - Prelims (about MCG and its objective) + Mains (GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• In view of the rapid spread of Coronavirus globally, the visit of the Defense Secretary Mark Esper to India has been put off as well as the India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) dialogue.
• The India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) dialogue slated for the end of the month in Washington DC has been cancelled.
• Both these meetings were a follow up to the recently concluded visit of the US President Donald Trump and the inking of $ 3 billion defence deal.

Know! about MCG

• The MCG is a forum to review the progress of defence cooperation between India's Integrated Defence Staff and the USINDOPACOM at the strategic and operational levels.
• The Integrated Defence Staff was responsible for coordination among the armed forces before the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff.
• The agenda was a request from the US side for posting liaison officers at the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
• As part of improving defence cooperation and interoperability, India is considering a U.S. request for posting liaison officers at the USINDOPACOM and the USSOCOM.
• This is an outcome of the agreement reached at the last 2+2 dialogue in December last, which also "noted their [India and the U.S.] intent to explore further military liaison relationships.
• The liaison officer at the USINDOPACOM is likely to be a Navy officer, while the one at the USSOCOM will probably be an Army officer.

Focus Article
Landmark Verdict Of The Supreme Court For Gender Equality In Army
Two Issues Addressed by the Supreme Court
1. SSC Women officers can opt for Permanent Commission
Know! the history (when women were allowed in the army?)

• In the year 1992 Centre notified that women eligible for appointment as officers for five years in services like Army Postal Service, Judge Advocate General Department, Army Education Corps etc.
• After that Short Service Commission (SSC) came with an appointment for 10 years ( expandable upto 14 years) and the first batch under this entered in 2008.
• Short Service Commission officers are for the maximum period of 14 years

What is the Practice till now

• Men who entered Short Service Commission officers could opt for Permanent Commission at the end of 10-years of service but this facility was not available to Women officers
• Now The Supreme Court said that all Women officers just like Men officers should be considered for Permanent Commission and there should not be any discrimination with men.
• The Supreme Court directed the Government to implement policy decisions to grant Permanent Commission to women in the army in the next three months.

2. Command Postings Are Allowed

• Till now Women officers are not eligible for command or criteria appointments

• Ranks in Indian Army
• General
• Lieutenant General
• Major General
• Colonel
• Lieutenant Colonel
• Captain
• Lieutenant

• Command appointments is from Colonel and above rank

For the Male officers these positions(command appointments) are filled based of four criteria
1. Leadership
2. Performance
3. Qualification
4. Medical fitness

• Now Supreme Court said that there should not be any discrimination with regard to Command Posting and they should be at par with male officers. These four criteria for the command based appointments should be applicable for Women also
• Hence in future, Women officers can be full Colonels and above in Army Service Corps, Ordnance, Education Corps etc.

No Women appointments in Combat Roles

• This Supreme Court ruling does not grant women the right to serve in combat units. At Present there is No Women appointments in the Combat Roles
• Combat roles (engaging and fighting the enemy either in person or by using specialized equipment) but they can become Colonels and above in certain services like Army Service Corps, Ordnance, Education Corps, Judge Advocate General, Engineers, Signals, Intelligence etc.

Combat roles performing by Women in Air Force and Navy

• Women already serve in combat roles in the air force, which last year qualified its first women fighter pilots.
• Women naval officers already perform combat tasks, such as firing torpedoes and missiles at enemy warships Women officers also serve on board naval warships in combat, albeit discharging non-combat roles.

Women Personnel in

• Army 3.89%
• Navy 6.7%
• Air Force 13.28%

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