Why in news?

• DCI and Cochin Shipyard signed an agreement to build India’s first domestically-manufactured high-capacity dredger.
• Dredging is the process of desiking river bodies, or removal of soil, mud, and dirt at the shores or the bottom.
• It will help in bringing down the logistic costs of cargos.
• DCI is a premier dredging organization catering to the dredging and allied services to Major Ports, Minor Ports, Indian Navy etc.
• Currently, 70% of our dredging requirement is for maintenance dredging (maintaining water bodies previously dredged), while the rest accounts for capital dredging (desilting for new projects).

Why in news?

• India at the UNSC advocated for the BTWC saying that it is important to ensure its implementation in letter and spirit.

About BTWC or Biological Weapons Convention (BWC):

• It was the first multilateral treaty categorically banning a class of weapon.
• The treaty prohibits the development, stockpile, production, or transfer of biological agents and toxins of “types and quantities” that have no justification for protective or peaceful use.
• Membership: 183 (including India) .

Why in news?

• Recent deaths of more than 95 Himalayan griffon vultures (Near Threatened) and a steppe eagle in Assam have been attributed to pesticide poisoning due to carbofuran.
• Habitat of Himalayan griffon vultures: western China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, east through the Himalayan mountain range in India, Nepal and Bhutan, to central China and Mongolia.

About Carbofuran:

• It is a pesticide that is widely used to control insects and nematodes on a variety of agricultural crops
• Its extensive use for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes has been directly responsible for the environmental contamination and human health issues.

Why in news?

• National Payments Commission of India (NPCI) has launched a new UPI service called UPI Lite.
• The feature will allow to make faster near real-time small value payments without an internet connection via the money added in the wallet.
• Upper limit of a payment: Rs 200.
• According to NPCI, at least 75 per cent of the total volume of retail transactions (including cash) in India are below Rs 100 transaction value.
• Further, 50 per cent of the total UPI transactions are having a transaction value of up to Rs 200. This is why NPCI will only allow offline transactions upto Rs 200.
• Total limit of UPI Lite balance: Rs 2,000.
• With UPI lite, users will have the option to scan any QR code and make the payment without internet.

Why in news?

• Since 2013, the International Day of Forests (IDF) has been observed annually on March 21 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.
• The IDF 2022 was observed on the theme ‘Forests and sustainable production and consumption’.
• It is being organized by the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other relevant organizations in the field.
• This year’s caters to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12e. Responsible Consumption and Production.
• On this day, Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
• The theme for each IDF is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

Celebrations:

• FAO along with International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and IUFRO World Congress 2024, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) conducted a high-level panel discussion to celebrate IDF 2022.
• FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
• IUFRO is a world-wide organization devoted to forest research and related sciences
• SLU is a governmental agency and international university. It is Sweden’s host organization of the IUFRO World Congress 2024 on 23-29 June in Stockholm, in collaboration with IUFRO and the Nordic and Baltic partner countries.

Some statistics about Forests:

• It is estimated that more than half the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) depends on ecosystem services, including those provided by forests.
• More than half the total world population is estimated to use non-timber forest product support their well-being and livelihoods.
• Forests cover nearly one-third of the Earth’s land surface and provide people with goods and help combat climate change, protect biodiversity, soils, rivers and reservoirs.
• The world has lost 420 million hectares of forest, an area bigger than India, since 1990, and deforestation continues at about 10 million hectares per year, mainly due to agricultural expansion.
• According to a UN estimate, more than 1.6 billion people are directly dependent on forests for food, medicines, shelter, energy, shelter, income etc.

Why in news?

• The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Nowruz is annually observed across the globe on 21st March to create awareness about Nowruz, which promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness.
• The word Nowruz (Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz), means “new day”.
• Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, when the sun crosses the celestial equator and night and day are equal it length, which usually occurs on 21 March.

Background:

• The celebration of Nowruz in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey wa inscribed as an element in 2009, and extended in 2016, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution in February 2010 and proclaimed the 21st March of every year as the International Day of Nowruz.
• The first International Day of Nowruz was celebrated on 21st March 2010.

Significance:

• Since Nowruz contributes to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities, it fits closely with the mandates of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO).

About Nowruz:

• The festival of Nowruz is named after the Persian king, Jamshed, who created the Persian or Shahenshahi calendar.
• The Nowruz is celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people across the globe, and it has been celebrated for more than 3000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.
• It is also known as Novroz in the Ismaili Muslim tradition and Naw-Roz in the Bahai faith.

Nowruz in India

• In India, the festival is mostly celebrated around August 16-17 by the Parsi community following the Shahenshahi calendar which does not comprise of leap year.

Celebration of Nowruz: An important tradition practised during Nowruz is the gathering around ‘the Table, decorated with objects that symbolize purity, brightness, livelihood and wealth, to enjoy a special meal with loved ones.

Why in news?

• Union Minister of State (MoS) for Science & Technology recently released India’s Arctic policy titled ‘India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’ in New Delhi.
• India is one of 13 nations holding Observer status in the Arctic Council.
• Thirteen Non-arctic States have been approved as Observers to the Arctic Council. They are
• France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, China, Poland, India, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Objective:

• To promote the agenda of strengthening national capabilities and competencies in science and environmental protection, maritime and economic cooperation with the Arctic region.
• To enhance understanding of the impact of climate change in the Arctic and deepen India’s participation in climate, economic, and energy security related issues. It studies linkages between polar regions and the Himalayas.
• India’s Arctic Policy is based on six pillars:
• Strengthening India’s scientific research and cooperation,
• Climate and environmental protection,
• Economic and human development,
• Transportation and connectivity,
• Governance and international cooperation,
• National capacity building in the Arctic region.

Background

• India began its engagement with the Arctic region when it signed the Svalbard Treaty (originally the Spitsbergen Treaty) in 1920 in Paris, France.
• In 2007, India began its Arctic Research Program which focuses on climate change.
• India also set up a research station ‘Himadri'(2008) in the international Arctic research base at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway.
• India is actively participating in studies and research development related to the Arctic oceanography, atmosphere, pollution and microbiology.
• India established IndArc, which is the first multi-sensor moored observatory in Kongsfjorden in 2014 and the northernmost Gruvebadet Atmospheric Laboratory in Ny Alesund in 2016 were launched in the Arctic region.
• The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa under the MoES, is the nodal institution for India’s Polar research programme, which includes Arctic studies.

About Arctic Council:

• Founded in 1996, it is Headquartered in Tromso, Norway
• Council members (8)- eight Arctic states-Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the U.S
• Observer states (13)-France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, China, Poland, India, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Why in news?

• Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle’ has been unveiled in Madagascar to mark Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Ambassador of India to Madagascar, Abhay Kumar celebrated the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by inaugurating a Green Triangle, along with Mayor of Antananarivo Naina Andriantsitohaina.
• The word green in the plaque signifies their commitment to sustainable development and saving the environment. The naming of this park as Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle is an apt tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Why in news?

• World Sparrow Day (WSD)is celebrated every year on March 20th. This day is meant to raise awareness about the house sparrow and the dangers it confronts. The purpose of World Sparrow Day is to raise awareness and protect the bird all across the world.
• A few years ago, house sparrows were commonly seen in people’s homes. As a result of rising noise pollution, the bird is now on the edge of extinction.
• The theme of World Sparrow Day is “Love Sparrows.”
• More individuals are likely to join in a range of events and campaigns geared at sparrow conservation as a result of focusing on this issue.
• World Sparrow Day was established by Mohammed Dilawar, the founder of The Nature Forever Society. He started several projects, including the biodiversity Photo Contest, the annual Sparrow Awards, Project Save Our Sparrows, and the Common Bird Monitoring of India programme.
• The first World Sparrow Day was held in the year  In 2011,the World Sparrow Awards were established. The award recognises persons who have made significant contributions to environmental conservation and ordinary species protection.

Why in news?

• Karolina Bielawska from Poland has won the title of Miss World 2021. She was crowned by 2019 Miss World Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica.
• Indian-American Shree Saini from the United States bagged the first runner-up title, followed by Olivia Yace from Cote d’Ivoire.
• She beat the USA, Indonesia, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Cote d’Ivoire to clinch the coveted title.
• The70th edition of the Miss World international beauty pageant was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh performed ‘The Prayer’ during the 70th Miss World pageant to express solidarity with Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
• Indian Contender Femina Miss India World 2020 Manasa Varanasi represented India at the Miss World 2021. Manasa Varanasi reached the Top 13 contestants but could not make it to the Top 6 finalists.