NUMBER OF ELEPHANTS IN KARNATAKA GOES UP BY 364 FROM LAST COUNT, TOUCHES 6,395
Why in news?
- The number of elephants in Karnataka has increased by 346, from an estimated 6,049 in 2017 to 6,395 now, which is the highest in the country, according to an interim report on Asian Elephant Population and Demography Estimates, 2023. Their population range is estimated to be between 5,914 and 6,877.
About the report
- The report was released ahead of the World Elephant Day being observed on August 12 to create awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting these animals that are classified as endangered species.
- The report has been prepared after a synchronised elephant census was conducted by the Forest Department in collaboration with neighbouring states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Goa.
- The number of elephants in Karnataka that had risen from 5,740 in 2010 to 6,072 in 2012 had decreased to 6,049 in 2017. However, this time the number of pachyderms has increased by 346. With this, the elephant numbers have increased by 655 in the State since 2010.
- The census, which was taken up in 23 forest divisions, shows that the State has an average elephant density of 0.34 per sq. km.
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve with 1,116 elephants accounted for the highest density of 0.96 per sq. km followed by Nagarahole Tiger Reserve that has 831 elephants with a density of 0.93.
Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme
It is an international collaboration that measures the levels, trends and causes of elephant mortality, thereby providing an information base to support international decision-making related to conservation of elephants in Asia and Africa.- The MIKE Programme was established by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by Resolution 10.10 adopted at the tenth Conference of the Parties in 1997.
- There are currently 28 sites participating in the MIKE programme in Asia, distributed across 13 countries: India has 10 sites, followed by two sites each in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, and one site each in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.
- Project Elephanthas been formally implementing MIKE (Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants) programme of CITES in 10 ERs since January 2004. It is mandated by COP resolution of CITES.
CHANDRAYAAN-3 PERFORMS ORBIT REDUCTION MANOEUVRE
Why in news?
- The Indian Space Research Organisation carried out another orbit reduction manoeuvre of India’s third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3.
Orbit reduction manoeuvre
- The manoeuvre was performed from ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) centre in Bengaluru. The spacecraft is now just 1,437 km from the moon.
- As the mission progresses, a series of manoeuvres are planned to gradually reduce Chandrayaan-3’s orbit and position it over the lunar poles.
After some manoeuvres, the propulsion module will separate from the lander while in orbit. Following that, a series of complex braking manoeuvres will be executed to facilitate a soft landing on the south polar region of the moon on August 23, 2023.”
The Indo-Japanese Lunar Polar Exploration mission
- The Indo-Japanese Lunar Polar Exploration mission was envisaged to explore the ‘dark side of the moon’, or in scientific terms, the side that is perpetually facing away from Earth.
- The main objective of the mission is to confirm the presence of water in the polar regions of the moon. The mission may be launched in the next couple of years.
GS PAPER – III
CENTRE TO RELEASE MORE FOODGRAIN STOCK BY OPEN MARKET SALE
Why in news?
- Concerned over the increase in prices of foodgrains, the Centre decided to additionally sell 50 lakh tonnes of wheat and 25 lakh tonnes of rice through the Open Market Sales Scheme for Food Corporation of India stocks.
- The new limit is over and above the 15 lakh tonnes of wheat and 5 lakh tonnes of rice being sold through the OMSS. About 7-8 lakh tonne of wheat has been auctioned under the OMSS so far, while rice sale is negligible.
Centre’s move
- The Centre had also decided to bring down the reserve price of rice by ₹200 a quintal — the effective price now would be ₹2,900 a quintal.
- The cost of this reduction would be adjusted from the price stabilisation fund of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Reason behind the move
- The government hoped that the sale would ensure adequate domestic availability of rice, wheat and atta and check their prices.
- The price of wheat has gone up by 6.77% in retail market and 7.37% in wholesale market in the past one year and in the case of rice, the increase is 10.63% and 11.12%, respectively. The Centre said that the step will help 140 crore people.
- These measures would not only improve the availability in the market but also help cool down the prices and control food inflation. The ultimate objective is to keep the food inflation under check.
About Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS)
- FCI sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice at predetermined prices through e-auction in the open market from time to time to enhance the supply of food grains.
- The purpose of OMSS is to dispose of surplus stocks of wheat and rice held by FCI, and to regulate the prices of wheat in the open market.
- FCI conducts weekly auctions for the OMSS for wheat on the platform of the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX).
GS PAPER – III
HOUSE PANEL REPORT ON FERTILISER AVAILABILITY
Why in news?
- The Standing Committee of Parliament on Chemicals and Fertilizers, headed by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, presented two reports tabled which posed questions on the availability of fertilizers and a subsidy policy.
Panel’s demand
- The reports have also called for ending the import dependence on fertilizers such as urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), muriate of potash (MOP), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).
- The production of these fertilizers up to November 2022 was 281.83 lakh tonnes but the consumption was 401.46 lt. There was a deficit of 119.63 lakh tonnes for all types of fertilizers in the country, which is worrisome.
The panel asked the Department of Fertilizers to ascertain the reasons for a shortage of fertilizers being reported in some of the States and ensure availability of fertilizers in every State by taking corrective steps.- The panel sought the review of a nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) that covers fertilizers such as P&K fertilizers. Urea is left out of the scheme and hence it remains under price control whereas technically there is no price control in other fertilisers.
- Centre needs to review the present NBS policy to remove the disincentives for farmers to use other fertilizers.
- There is an anomaly as GST for fertilizers is at 5% and GST on raw materials such as sulphuric acid and ammonia are at 18%.
Nutrient-based subsidy scheme
- Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme for Fertilizers was initiated in the year 2010.
- Under the scheme, a fixed amount of subsidy decided on an annual basis is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, except for Urea, based on the nutrient content present in them.
- The scheme is administered by the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
- The continuation of the Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme will ensure that an adequate quantity of P&K is made available to the farmers at a statutory controlled price.