• Crab-plover might soon be called a resident species of the Indian subcontinent as their unique breeding sites have been recorded at Great Vedaranyam Swamp near Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu.
• The presence of five burrow nests of the crab-loving shore bird recorded at an islet near Siruthalaikkadu of Great Vedaranyam Swamp in August gained significance as the species was initially believed to only breed in the islands of the African east coast, the Persian Gulf, and the southern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula from June to August.
  • Great Vedaranyam Swamp is abundant with mudskippers and crabs, the favourite prey species of crab-plovers.

ABOUT CRAB-PLOVER

• Scientific name-Dromas ardeola
• It is considered a winter visitor to Pakistan, peninsular India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, northern Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, and a vagrant to Bangladesh.
• It is the only shore bird that lays eggs in self-excavated burrows on sandbanks.
• The bird lays white eggs and chicks remain inside the burrows until the fledging stage.
• Parents take care of the young ones for five to six months.
• IUCN red list – Least concerned
• It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

• Suspected Maoists reportedly opened fire at Forest department watchers at the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur in Kerala recently.

ABOUT ARALAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• It is spread over a 55 sq. km area of forests on the Western Ghats in Kannur district.
• It is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary of Kerala.
• It was established in 1984.
• The great Katti Betta, is the tallest peak in the area, which is 1145m high.
• The river Cheenkani flows through this wildlife sanctuary.
• The entire area is covered in tropical and semi-evergreen forests.
• Fauna- elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Nilgiri Langur, Hanuman Langur and the Malabar Giant Squirrel.
• It is also famous for the vast amount of butterfly species found here.
• Most of these are endemic to the Western Ghats.
• Aralam village itself houses the famous Central State Farm, a government of India initiative built in 1971.
  • This is one of the main production centres of hybrid coconut seeds in the country.

• The Supreme Court has directed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to decide disqualification petitions filed under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution against the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde camp in the Shiv Sena dispute by December 31, 2023.
• A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud ordered the Speaker, in his capacity as a tribunal under the Tenth Schedule, to decide the disqualification petitions against the breakaway faction headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) dispute by January 31, 2024.
• The Chief Justice said the need to bind the Speaker to deadlines had come after giving him repeated opportunities to conclude the disqualification proceedings.

ABOUT ANTI DEFECTION LAW

• The 10th Schedule of the Constitution is designed to prevent defection of elected and nominated members of Parliament and state legislatures from their political parties and contains stringent provisions against it.
• The Tenth Schedule – popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act – was included in the Constitution via the 52^nd Amendment Act, 1985.
• Grounds of Disqualification-
  • If an elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party.
  • If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party or anyone authorized to do so, without obtaining prior permission.
    • As a pre-condition for his disqualification, his abstention from voting should not be condoned by his party or the authorized person within 15 days of such incident.
  • If any independently elected member joins any political party.
  • If any nominated member joins any political party after the expiry of six months.
• Alhough, if two-thirds of the members agree to a merger with another party, they will not be disqualified.
• Presently, the Law does not provide a time limit within which the Speaker/Presiding officers have to decide on the anti-defection case.

• The Army’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand successfully carried out inaugural firing of 70 mm rockets and 20 mm turret guns both by day and night.
• Both the Army and the Air Force have inducted the indigenous LCH in small numbers.
• A bigger contract for 156 indigenous LCH, 90 for Army and 66 for the Air Force, estimated to cost ₹45,000 crore is expected to be taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) soon.

ABOUT PARCHAND

• The Prachand is India’s first indigenous multi-role combat helicopter, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Prachand is the world’s only attack helicopter that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 ft).
• A 8-tonne class combat helicopter, the Prachand can fly at a maximum speed of 288 kmph and has a combat radius of 500 km, which can go up to a service ceiling of 21,000 feet.
• The helicopter is fitted with Shakti Engine, which is co-developed by HAL and France’s Safran.
• The helicopter received operational clearance in 2017.
• The LCH is armed with 20 mm nose gun and 70 mm rockets along with helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missile and a new air-to-air missile different from the ‘Mistral-2’ from MBDA on the IAF LCH.
• The helicopter can carry out activities such as Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD), operations against slow-moving aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), high-altitude bunker busting operations, counter-insurgency operations in the jungle and urban environments and provide support to ground forces.

• The report has been released by Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB).

MAJOR FINDINGS

• The world’s capacity to deal with a potential new pandemic threat remains
• Significant weaknesses or declining capacities in critical areas of preparedness, including global coordination of research and development (R&D) efforts to address misinformation, community engagement, participation of low- and middle-income countries in decision-making, domestic and international financing of preparedness, independent monitoring, and meaningful involvement of relevant actors.
• The trust deficit between countries and between communities is a significant impediment to progress in strengthening preparedness.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Evidence-based monitoring, including independent monitoring, is essential to increase effectiveness, ensure accountability, and build trust.
• Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR) financing requires fundamental reform to free it from the limitations of development assistance and place it on a sustainable footing.
• Strengthening regional capacities for R&D, manufacturing and supply will help to address the inequities in global access to medical countermeasures.
• Urgent steps are needed to build trust through operationalizing principles of equity, leadership and accountability, and coherence within all measures to strengthen

ABOUT GLOBAL PREPAREDNESS MONITORING BOARD (GPMB)

• It was created in response to recommendations by the UN Secretary General’s Global Health Crises Task Force in 2017 in the wake of 2014- 2016 Ebola epidemic.
• The GPMB was co-convened by the World Health Organization and the World Bank Group.
• It was formally launched in May 2018.
• It is an independent monitoring and accountability body to ensure preparedness for global health crises.
• Secretariat- Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members- 15 – member Board is made up of political leaders, heads of agencies, and experts.

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced a city mayor, a non-profit foundation, a social enterprise, a government initiative and a research council as its 2023 Champions of the Earth.
• The winners include-

PLASTIC POLLUTION MENACE

• Humanity produces around 430 million tonnes of plastic every year, two-thirds of which quickly becomes waste.
• Every year, up to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas.
• By 2040, carbon emissions associated with the production, use and disposal of conventional fossil fuel-based plastics could account for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions under the most ambitious targets of the Paris climate change agreement.
• Chemicals in plastic can also cause health problems in humans.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour.
• It has recognised 116 laureates: 27 world leaders, 70 individuals and 19 organisations since its inception in 2005.

• Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingent departed for Kazakhstan to participate in the 7th edition of Joint Military ‘Exercise KAZIND-2023’.
• It will be conducted in Otar, Kazakhstan.
• The exercise began as “Exercise PRABAL DOSTYK” in 2016.
  • After the second edition, it was renamed “Exercise KAZIND” and upgraded to a company-level exercise.
  • The Exercise has been further upgraded as a Bi-service Exercise this year by including the Air Force component.

• With the inauguration of a hallmarking centre in Idukki, Kerala became the first state in India to have hallmarking centres in all 14 districts.
• The inauguration of these hallmarking centres is a significant step in ensuring the quality and reliability of gold ornaments for consumers.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards made hallmarking compulsory with a view to protect customers, especially those not aware of the market, from being taken for a ride by jewellers.
  • Hallmarking ensures accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in the jewellery, artefacts or bullion, and coins.

• October 30^th marks the death anniversary of India’s first Olympic medallist, Norman Peterson Pritchard.
• He was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) on January 23, 1875 to parents George Peterson Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard.
• Norman was a British citizen who represented India in the 1900 Olympics.
  • India took part in its first-ever modern Olympic Games during the second edition of the Summer Olympic Games held in Paris in 1900.
• Pritchard is India’s first Olympic medallist where he clinched two medals – silver in 200m hurdles and in 200m dash event.
• However, he is considered a “controversial” Olympian as he is claimed by both Britain and India.

• With an aim to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, every year World Cities Day is celebrated on October 31.
• The day serves as an opportunity to encourage cooperation among nations in addressing the challenges of urbanization.
• This year the international day focuses on the theme of “Financing sustainable urban future for all”.
• The theme centres on how to unlock transformative investment in urban planning and achieve sufficient fiscal decentralization.
• In its resolution 68/239, the United Nations Organisation established World Cities Day on December 27, 2013.
  • Therefore, on October 31, 2014, World Cities Day was celebrated for the first time.