ANSWER: D

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: D

• A new research has found that if necessary conservation efforts are not taken, the populations of up to 97 percent of land-based Antarctic species could decline by the end of this century.

About Antarctica’s biodiversity

• Antarctica has a unique species of plants and animals that can survive the coldest, windiest, highest and driest continent on Earth. These species include 2 flowering plants, hardy moss and lichens, numerous microbes, invertebrates and breeding seabirds like emperor and Adélie penguins. These animals and plants are threatened because of global warming and climate crisis.

What are the key findings of the study?

• Greater conservation efforts are required for the protection of Antarctic ecosystems, which are threatened because of climate crisis.
• Climate change is the biggest threat to the plant and animal species living in Antarctica. Addressing global warming is an effective step to secure their future.
• With the worsening global warming, Antarctica’s ice-free areas are predicted to expand further, causing rapid changes in the natural habitat of animals and plants living there.
• Humanity’s presence in the region, besides causing environmental pollution, supports the thriving of invasive species.
• According to the study, under the worst-case scenario, if the current conservation efforts remain the same, the population of 97 percent of Antarctic terrestrial species and breeding seabirds could decline between now and 2100.
• At the best-case scenario, 37 percent of the species would decline.
• The most likely scenario would mean a 65 percent decline in the population of the terrestrial species by 2100.
• Emperor penguins are at the risk of going extinct by 2100 in the worst-case scenario. It is the only species in the study that is facing this fate.
• Climate change is also threatening the nematode worm Scottnema lindsayae, which lives in extremely dry soils. It is threatened as melting ice is increasing soil moisture.
• Not all species in Antarctica are facing population decline. Some are expected to benefit initially. These include 2 Antarctic plants, some mosses and the gentoo penguin. Their populations are expected to increase and become more widespread in the event of more liquid water, more ice-free and warmer temperatures.

How can these threats be addressed?

• An estimated 23 million USD per annum could be enough to implement 10 key strategies to minimise threats faced by Antarctica’s biodiversity. This is relatively small sum that can benefit 84 percent of the terrestrial bird, mammal and plant groups. It is lesser than the cost of reviving the threatened species, which is estimated to be more than 1.2 billion USD per annum.
• Reducing global warming to not more than 2°C could benefit up to 68 percent of terrestrial species and breeding seabirds. Managing non-native species and diseases and effectively managing and protecting native species can also benefit Antarctica’s biodiversity. They can be achieved by providing special protection for species, and increasing biosecurity to prevent the introduction of non-native species.

ANSWER: A

• Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of centrally protected monuments that have been illegally encroached.

Which states have the highest number of centrally protected monuments that have been encroached on?

• According to the Central Government, a total of 356 centrally protected monuments have been illegally encroached into across India. This is an increase from the 2019 figure of 321 protected monuments that have been infringed.
• Uttar Pradesh, at 743, has the largest number of centrally protected monuments that have been illegally encroached.
• Tamil Nadu has the second-highest number of illegally encroached centrally protected monuments at 412.
• It is followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra with 48 and 46 such monuments respectively.
• Gujarat has the fifth highest number of illegally encroached centrally protected monuments.

What are centrally protected monuments?

• Centrally Protected Monuments are those that are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• Under this Act, construction activities are prohibited within 100 meters of a centrally protected monument and construction within 100 to 200 meters of these structures is strictly regulated.
• The regulations under this Act are implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

How are the centrally protected monuments protected?

• The officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regularly inspect the monuments to assess their present conditions.
• Besides conducting various conservation and preservation works based on the requirement, the ASI officials also file police complaints, issue show cause notices to defaulters for the removal of the illegal encroachments, and also issue orders to the Collector requesting for the demolition or removal of these encroachments.

About Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958

• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) regulates the preservation of ancient and historical monuments as well as archaeological sites and remains of national importance. The ASI, which comes under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture, functions under the provisions of this Act.
• This Act protects monuments and sites that are more than 100 years old. An area within 100 meters of the monuments that are protected under this Act is considered a “prohibited area”. Here, all construction activities are banned. The area within 200 meters of the monument is a regulated area. Any repair or modifications of structures within this area can be done only with prior permission from the ASI.

ANSWER: C

• The central government has unveiled a plan for the conservation of Asiatic lions in Gir, a region in Gujarat. Titled “Lion@47: Vision for Amrutkal,” the plan is part of Project Lion and aims to secure and restore habitats to manage the growing lion population.
• It also aims to generate livelihoods for local communities, establish a global hub of knowledge on big cat disease diagnostics and treatment, and promote inclusive biodiversity conservation.

Objectives of Project Lion:

• The main objectives of Project Lion are to secure and restore habitats for the management of the growing lion population, scale up livelihood generation and participation of local communities, establish a global hub of knowledge on big cat disease diagnostics and treatment, and create inclusive biodiversity conservation through the project initiative.
• The project aims to conserve Asiatic lions in Gujarat through a landscape ecology-based approach that integrates conservation and eco-development.

Comparison to Project Tiger

• Project Lion is being implemented in the Gir landscape in Gujarat, which is the last remaining habitat of Asiatic lions.
• In contrast, Project Tiger is being implemented in 53 tiger reserves across the country. Both projects aim to ensure the overall conservation of the ecosystems inhabited by these flagship species.

Implementation and Funding

• Project Lion is being implemented by the Gujarat government and other stakeholders, including the Central Zoo Authority and is funded by the central government.
• The new plan for the conservation of Asiatic lions in Gir aims to secure and restore habitats, generate livelihoods for local communities, establish a global hub of knowledge on big cat disease diagnostics and treatment, and promote inclusive biodiversity conservation.

ANSWER: B

• Karnataka’s government has introduced a new startup policy (2022-27) aiming to add around 10,000 startups to the state’s business ecosystem in the next five years, with a focus on high-growth startups.
• The policy, which was introduced on 22nd December 2022, aims to stimulate the growth of around 25,000 startups in the coming five years, particularly focusing on increasing the number of high-growth startups.

Positioning Karnataka as the “Champion State” for Startups

• The new policy, which has been framed by the Department of Electronics and IT/BT, aims to position Karnataka as the “Champion State” for startups and further increase the number of high-growth startups by 2027.
• The policy will create an enabling environment for growing startups and make the state an innovation hub. It will also provide a conducive environment and ideal business environment for growth for tech-enabled startups operating outside of Bengaluru.

Supporting Startups through Funding and Incubation

• As part of the policy, the state government will launch an INR 100 Cr venture capital fund to back deeptech startups working in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, electric vehicles, medtech, robotics, and drones.
• The policy also provides funding to startups at various stages of their business life cycle, including seed funding, venture capital funding, angel investor funding, and sector-specific funding.
• It also offers incubation support, mentorship, co-working spaces, and a dedicated Start-up Cell to help startups grow and succeed.

Expanding the Startup Ecosystem in Karnataka

• Karnataka currently houses around 15,000 startups, and the new policy aims to add around 10,000 more in the next five years.
• The policy also establishes 50 new-age innovation network (NAIN) centres – 35 in IT/electronics and 15 in bio-technology institutions of higher learning located outside Bengaluru Urban district – to support the growth of startups in these sectors.

Aim of Karnataka’s new startup policy

• Karnataka’s new startup policy aims to position the state as a leading destination for startups and drive the growth of the startup ecosystem in the region.
• It provides a range of support measures, including funding, incubation, mentorship, co-working spaces, and a dedicated Start-up Cell, to help startups grow and succeed.
• The policy also establishes 50 new-age innovation network (NAIN) centres to support the growth of startups in the IT/electronics and bio-technology sectors.

ANSWER: C

• Some Internet-based firms have been tricking users into agreeing to certain conditions or clicking a few links.

About Dark Patterns

• These patterns are unethical user interface designsthat deliberately make users’ Internet experience harder or even exploit them.
• In turn, they benefit the company or platform employing the designs.
• By using dark patterns, digital platforms take away a user’s right to full information about the services they are using and their control over their browsing experience.
• The term is credited to UI/UX (user interface/user experience) researcher and designer Harry Brignull, who has been working to catalogue such patterns and the companies using them since around 2010.

Use of Dark patterns

• Social media companies and Big Tech firms such as Apple, Amazon, Skype, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Google use dark or deceptive patterns to downgrade the user experience to their advantage.
• In social media, LinkedIn users often receive unsolicited, sponsored messages from influencers.

Concerns

• Dark patterns endanger the experience of Internet users and make them more vulnerable to financial and data exploitation by Big Tech firms.
• Disablingthis option is a difficult process with multiple steps that require users to be familiar with the platform controls.
• Dark patterns confuse users, introduce online obstacles, make simple tasks time-consuming, and have users sign up for unwanted services/products

ANSWER: C

• The Himachal Pradesh Minorities Finance and Development Corporation (HPMFDC) has distributed total loans of Rs 130.07 crore to 4,980 beneficiaries till October,2022.
• Social Justice and Empowerment Department Secretary M Sudha Devi said the corporation had disbursed loans of Rs 78.90 crore to 3,155 beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities.
• Besides, Rs 1.04 crore has been disbursed as education loans to 31 beneficiaries, and loans worth Rs 50.76 crore have been given to 1,794 disabled beneficiaries.

Targets achieved:

• The target of Rs 781 lakh fixed by the National Minorities Finance and Development Corporation for 2022-23, the corporation had achieved a target of Rs 958.95 lakh by October 31, 2022.

About The Himachal Pradesh Minorities Finance and Development Corporation (HPMFDC)

• The H.P. Minorities Finance & Development Corporation (HPMFDC) was registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (not for profit) on 23-09-1996 and was declared State Channeling Agency (SCA) for National Minorities Finance & Development Corporation, New Delhi (NMFDC) with the objective to give social, economic and educational up-liftment to the people of Minorities below double the poverty line in H.P. by providing financial assistance/loans to them for setting up of self employment ventures of income generating activities  and education loan for acquiring professional/technical education and job oriented degrees in India and abroad as well, as per NMDFC guidelines and schemes.
• Similarly, the Corporation was also declared State Channeling Agency (SCA)  for National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation, Faridabad (NHFDC) on 20-01-1999 for  providing them financial assistance/ loan for setting up  of self employment ventures of income generating activities and education loan for acquiring professional/technical education and job oriented degrees in India and abroad as well.

ANSWER: C

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting Kangra art at international level. He has gifted pieces of Kangra art to foreign dignitaries during his visits abroad.
• However, within Himachal there is no government institution that is making endeavours to promote and preserve the Kangra art. People associated with protecting Kangra art rue that little effort has been made by the government to protect the miniature painting styles that were made famous internationally by artists of the area.
• Raghav Guleria, who has been making efforts to protect Kangra art, says Haripur-Guler was the birthplace of Kangra miniature painting style. The art touched its zenith in the 18th century when Nainsukh and Manaku, sons of illustrious Pandit Sau, a painter of former Guler state, created masterpieces of art which are now exhibited in Reitberg museum in Zurich, Switzerland, in London museum and Boston museum in the USA, he adds.
• Guleria says the government of Himachal through the Government of India should try to bring back art pieces created by Pandit Nainsukh as they were part of the culture of Kangra. The government can also deploy artists to create replicas of paintings of Pandit Nainsukh and display them in a museum dedicated to Kangra art. This will attract international tourists to the place, he adds.
• Professor Akshay Runchal, who founded the Kangra Art Promotion Society in Dharamsala, says the society has trained about 40 artists in Kangra miniature art. He adds, “We have also created a private museum for Kangra art in McLeodganj.”
• “However, it will be good if the government patronizes the Kangra miniature art. One way of doing it can be to include it in the curriculum at the school and university level. The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) can also start a course on Kangra art. It would help protect the art and provide a platform for research on Kangra miniature paintings,” Runchal said.
• Kangra miniature paintings, though influenced by the Rajasthan miniature paintings, evolved as a unique form of art under the aegis of rulers of the former Kangra state. However, without any government patronage the unique art form is dying a slow death.
• The uniqueness of Kangra miniature paintings is that 19 natural colours generated from locally available sources are used to create the painting. The colours are typically associated with the Kangra form of art. They are created from stones and plants found in Kangra valley. It takes about a year to create the required colours as they can be generated only from natural sources existing at particular times of the year.
• Besides the natural colours, gold is also used in the paintings, giving them the required shine.
• Another unique feature of Kangra form of art painting is the use of natural poison that protects it from decay and natural paper that is created from the bio-waste of pine trees.
• The natural poison used in the painting is generated from waste of slow fire (known as Dhuna in local language).
• Fallen wings of Turtle Dove, a local migratory bird, were also used for creating the brushes used in the paintings.

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C