News In Shorts: 03 October 2024

Cruise Bharat Mission 

About Cruise Bharat Mission

• It is  a five-year initiative to enhance cruise tourism in India. 
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways
• This mission will be implemented in three phases
  • Three-Phase Implementation:
    • Phase 1 (Until October 2025)
    • Phase 2 (2025-2027)
    • Phase 3  (2027 – 2029)
• Key Objectives:
• • Increase cruise passengers to 1 million by 2029.
  • Create 400,000 jobs in the cruise tourism sector.
  • Develop world-class cruise infrastructure.

Key Measures:

• Infrastructure Development: Building new cruise terminals, marinas, and destinations.
• Financial Incentives: Establishing a special purpose vehicle (SPV), levying a cruise development cess, and providing financial support for infrastructure development.
• Regulatory Reforms: Easing cabotage regulations and developing technical standards for cruise infrastructure.
• International Cooperation: Establishing Cruise Alliances with neighboring countries.
• Skill Development: Formulating cruise-specific National Occupational Standards (NOS) to promote youth employment.

Tsangyang Gyatso Peak

More on the news

• The peak, located at 20,942 feet in the Gorichen range, is in the Tawang-West Kameng region.
• The team named the peak “Tsangyang Gyatso Peak” to honor the 6th Dalai Lama, Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso.
• Significance
• • The naming aims to tribute the Dalai Lama’s legacy and contributions to the Monpa community and beyond.
  • Highlights Arunachal Pradesh as a key destination for adventure sports.

Oxygen Bird Park

Overview of the Park: 

• The park is an eco-initiative by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
  • It is also known as Amrit Mahotsav Park. 
  • NHAI operates under the Ministry of road transport and highways. 
• Purpose: Serves as a natural habitat for birds and a recreational space for locals and tourists.
• Vision 
  • To create a space for observing bird varieties and recreational activities for citizens.
  • To provide a safe habitat for local and migratory birds, mimicking natural ecosystems.
• Features
  • Amenities: Ticket counter, food court, restrooms, walking paths, jogging/cycling tracks, amphitheater, watchtowers, and children’s play area.
  • Landscaping: Thoughtfully designed green spaces with an irrigation system and utilities
  • Solar Energy: Utilizes solar panels for lighting and water features, promoting environmental sustainability.
  • Oxygen Park Feature: Focus on planting fast-growing trees to combat air pollution and create a healthier environment.

Ecological Features

• Rare and Endangered Trees Area: Showcases native endangered species like the Indian Bael and Yellow Flame of the Forest.
• Lotus/Lily Pad Pond: Home to lotus and water lilies, providing habitats for waterbirds and recharging aquifers.
• Reed Bed: Ideal habitat for migrating birds such as waterhens and reed warblers.
• Bambusetum: Features native bamboo species to reduce pollution and improve soil quality.
• Plantation Area: Includes native trees and shrubs to attract wildlife and enhance air quality.
• Palm Plantation: Planting native palms to provide nesting sites for birds and small mammals.

SARTHIE 1.0

Key aspects of SARTHIE 1.0:

• Awareness Generation: Under this partnership, State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), will organise awareness camps across the country through the para-legal volunteers and panel lawyers.
• Focus Acts: The Awareness camps will focus on ensuring awareness of the five important Acts being implemented by the Department:
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 
  • Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 
  • The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 
  • The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 
  • Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 
• Legal Support: Offering legal assistance to ensure effective implementation of social welfare programs.
• Target Groups: Empowering Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, transgender persons, victims of substance abuse, beggars, and denotified and nomadic tribes.
• Aligns with UN 2030 Agenda: The SARTHIE 1.0 initiative also aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the goals focused on eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and promoting social protection policies that ensure greater equality for all. 

About NALSA: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

More on the news

• It is the first time record of these species in the region.
• Current Species Count:
  • Total reptiles: 55 species (including previously recorded species)
  • Total amphibians: 39 species (including previously recorded species)
• Threatened Species:
  • 16 species classified as “threatened”
  • 3 species classified as “near threatened” according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notable Discoveries

• Critically Endangered Amphibians:
  • Cave Dancing Frog (Micrixalus spelunca)
  • Indraneil’s Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus indraneili)

About Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR)

• Located in Tamil Nadu at the trijunction of three states – Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Part of Nilgiri Biosphere reserve.
• Flora 
  • Tall grasses commonly known as ‘Elephant Grass’.
  • Timber Species – Teak, rosewood. 
    • Giant bamboo is also found there.
• Fauna
  • Home to Tiger and Asian elephant (flagship species).
  • Live diverse species such as spotted deer, common langur, wild dog, Indian Gaur, and  Malabar Giant Squirrel. 
  • Birds- Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing thrush, and other rare birds are found here.