• Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship recently attended the National Conference on APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card.
• Around 25 crore APAAR IDs have already been created till date.

ABOUT APAAR

• The aim of APAAR is to establish a unified student identity system called ‘One Nation, One Student ID’.
• The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry initiative aims to provide a unique and permanent 12-digit ID to every student.
• The APAAR ID connects a student’s academic bank of credits (ABC), which stores all of his or her academic learnings, certificates, credentials, formal or informal credits earned from various sources, to granular levels of credits, such as skilling credits, sports, or social work, which are digitally verified by the agency awarding the credits.
• It is being introduced in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 and the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF).
• APAAR helps in tracking the vast pool of 260 million students in the country.

• According to the World Health Organisation’s official website, International Epilepsy Day has been observed on the second Monday of February every year since 2015.
• In 2024, International Epilepsy Day will be observed on February 12.
• The theme for International Epilepsy Day 2024 is “Milestones on My Epilepsy Journey”.

ABOUT EPILEPSY

• Epilepsy is a non-communicable neurological disease.
• In epilepsy, the affected individual gets recurrent seizures, sometimes in a brief episode that consists of involuntary movement.
  • It sometimes gets critical when people get unconscious and lose control of bowel and bladder functions.
• Different factors lead to or cause epilepsy. These categories include structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune, and unknown.
  • Some of the most common causes are brain damage from prenatal or perinatal reasons; congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions with associated brain malformations; a severe head injury; a stroke; certain genetic syndromes; and a brain tumour.
• Symptoms – loss of awareness or consciousness, and disturbances of movement, sensation (including vision, hearing, and taste), mood, or other cognitive functions.

• Sarojini Naidu’s birth anniversary is celebrated by the nation every year on February 13.
• This year marks the 145th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.

ABOUT SAROJINI NAIDU

• Born in Hyderabad on 13 February 1879
• She was a poet and political activist.
• Her poetry earned her the nickname ‘Nightingale of India’.
• A disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, she was instrumental in the Indian National Movement, which fought for the country’s independence.
• In 1925, she was elected as the INC President at Kanpur session.
  • She was the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress (second overall, after Annie Besant).
• When Sarojini Naidu’s collection of poems, Golden Threshold, was released in 1905, the world first recognized her for her literary abilities and dubbed her the “Bul Bule Hind.”
• In India, February 13 is recognized as the National Women’s Day in her honor.
  • International Women’s Day is celebrated globally and annually on 8 March.

• World Unani day is celebrated on February 11^th in the honour of a famous Indian Unani scholar Hakim Ajmal Khan marking his birth anniversary.
• The theme of Unani Day 2024 is “Unani Medicine for One Earth, One Health,” underscoring the shared responsibility for the planet’s welfare and the importance of collaboration in addressing global health challenges.

ABOUT UNANI SYSTEM

• The Unani System of Medicine is one of the oldest healthcare systems of the world.
• This system of medicine originated in Greece (Yünän)
• Hippocrates is known as the father of this system of medicine.
• The basic theory of Unani system is based upon the well- known four – humour theory of Hippocrates.
• This presupposes the presence, in the body, of four humours, blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile.

• The Telangana State Board for Wildlife has approved a proposal by the Forest Department to declare the corridor area between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Kawal Tiger Reserve as a conservation reserve.
• The proposals will be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• Once the process is completed, the 1,492-square kilometre area in Kagaznagar and Asifabad divisions will be a conservation reserve, with increased protection and conservation measures.

ABOUT KAWAL TIGER RESERVE

• Kawal Tiger Reserve is located in North Eastern part of Telangana (Old Adilabad district) having Godavari river at one side and Maharashtra border on other side.
• Kawal wildlife sanctuary was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2012.
• It is a part of Deccan peninsula-central highlands and is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges.
• Vegetation is dry-deciduous predominantly teak and bamboo, making it an ideal habitat for Tiger, supporting adequate prey populations.
• Fauna includes Nilgai, Chinkara, Black buck, Sambar, Spotted deer, Tiger, Leopard

ABOUT TADOBA ANDHARI TIGER RESERVE

• Notably Maharashtra’s oldest and largest National Park, the “Tadoba National Park”, also known as the “Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve” is one of India’s project tiger reserves existing in India.
• It lies in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state.
• Total area of the tiger reserve is 1,727 Sq.km
  • It includes the Tadoba National Park, created in the year 1955.
  • The Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in the year 1986 and was amalgamated with the park in 1995 to establish the present Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve.
• The word ‘Tadoba’ is derived from the name of God “Tadoba” or “Taru,” which is praised by local tribal people of this region and “Andhari” is derived from the name of Andhari river that flows in this area.
• Flora includes Teak, Ain, Bija, Dhauda, Hald, Salai, Semal, Tendu, Beheda, Hirda, Karaya gum, Mahua Madhuca, Arjun, Bamboo, Bheria etc.
• Fauna includes Tigers, Indian leopards, Sloth bears, Gaur, Nilgai, Dhole, Striped Hyena, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cats, Sambar, Spotted Deer etc.

• Prime Minister recently launched PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to provide free electricity to its beneficiaries.
• As per the scheme, the central government will provide 300 units of free electricity per month to its beneficiaries by investing worth ₹75,000 crores.
  • The free electricity scheme was earlier announced by Finance Minister in the interim budget speech.
• It aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
• This scheme aims to incentivise the adoption of solar energy among residential consumers, promoting sustainability and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.
• It is a Grid Connected Rooftop Solar PV System.
  • In the grid connected rooftop or small solar photovoltaic (SPV) system, the DC power generated from solar panel is converted to AC power using power conditioning unit/Inverter and is fed to the grid.
• Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats shall be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions, under the scheme.
• Subsidy-
  • Under this initiative, households can avail a subsidy of Rs. 30,000 per kilowatt (kW) for systems up to 2 kW in capacity.
  • For additional capacity beyond 2 kW, the subsidy reduces to Rs. 18,000 per kW, applicable up to 3 kW.
  • However, for systems larger than 3 kW, the total subsidy is capped at Rs. 78,000.
• According to the government, the solar panel scheme is expected to generate savings of up to ₹15,000-18,000 annually for households from free solar electricity.

• The 11^th edition of the World Government Summit (WGS) took place recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  • It had earlier designated India, Türkiye, and Qatar as guests of honor.
• The Indian Prime Minister participated in the World Government Summit 2024 as a guest of honour.
• In 2024, the World Governments Summit took place under the theme of ‘Shaping Future Governments’.
  • It will involve governments, international organizations, thought leaders, and private sector leaders from around the globe to international cooperation and enable governments to identify innovative solutions for future challenges.
• The World Governments Summit is a global knowledge exchange platform for governments that was established in 2013 under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.

• In a recent update by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, significant plans have been outlined for the development of Mega Ports in India by 2047.
• Six port clusters identified for development as Mega Ports by 2047.
  • Four port clusters with a capacity exceeding 300 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA):
    • Cochin –Vizhinjam Port cluster
    • Galathea South Bay Port
    • Chennai – Kamarajar– Cuddalore Port cluster
    • Paradip and Other Non-Major Ports Cluster.
  • Two port clusters with Capacity Exceeding 500 MTPA:
    • Deendayal and Tuna Tekra
    • Jawaharlal Nehru – Wadhawan.

Two individuals have died from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Karnataka since the start of 2024.

WHAT IS KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE (KFD)?

About:

• Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a zoonotic illness, is colloquially referred to as “monkey disease” due to its link with monkey fatalities.
• It is caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV), which primarily affects humans and monkeys.
• It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since then, between 400-500 human cases per year have been reported.
• Eventually, KFD emerged as a grave public health problem spreading through the entire Western Ghats.

Transmission:

• In nature, the virus is maintained mainly in hard ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera), monkeys, rodents, and birds.
• To humans, it may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently dead monkey).

Symptoms:

• Characterized by chills, frontal headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12 days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5%.

• The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has not put in its annual appearance this year too at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh and its surrounding areas.

ROLLAPADU WILDLIFE SANCTUARY:

• Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Known primarily as a habitat of the great Indian bustard, the species has suffered a drastic fall in its numbers in the sanctuary in recent years.
• Established as an ideal site for the protection of the bustard in the 1980s.

KEY POINTS ABOUT GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD (GIB) ?

About:

• The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) , the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
• It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
• Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Threat:

• The bird is under constant threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc.

PROTECTION STATUS:

• International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN): Critically Endangered.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix 1.
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix 1.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1.