Gujrat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site: Inland mangrove of Guneri

Context: The Guneri village in Lakhtar tehsil, Kutch district, covering 32.78 hectares, has been declared as Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS). 

About Inland mangrove

• Inland mangroves are unique ecosystems found further away from the coastal areas compared to typical mangroves. 
• They occur in saltwater-influenced environments such as lagoons, river deltas, and estuaries.
• Inland mangroves are very rare and found in only a few countries:
  • Australia, Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan.
• In India, inland mangroves exist only in Kutch, Gujarat.
  • Shravan Kavadiya and Guneri were the only two inland mangrove sites in India.
  • Shravan Kavadiya mangrove is now extinct due to the loss of saline water.

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About Inland mangrove of Guneri

• This inland mangrove site is rare and holds great ecological significance.
• Legal Framework
  • The declaration was made under The Biodiversity Act, 2002.
    • The site has been declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
• Unlike typical mangroves, it does not depend on direct seawater connection.
• Grows on flat land rather than coastal regions.
• Location and Geography
  • Situated in Kutch district, Gujarat.
  • Located 45 km from the Arabian Sea and 4 km from Kori Creek.
  • Unlike coastal mangroves, this site is never exposed to seawater.
  • Spread over a flat, forest-like land with no sludge deposits.
• Role of Limestone in Survival
  • Inland mangroves are known to survive in areas with limestone deposits.
  • Limestone connects to the seabed, allowing a continuous groundwater flow.
  • The Western Kutch region, including Guneri, has rich limestone deposits, supporting this unique mangrove ecosystem.

‘SwaRail’ SuperApp

Context: The ‘SwaRail’ SuperApp has been released by the Railway Ministry for testing on Google Play Store. 

• The app is a one-stop solution offering multiple public-facing services.
• Testing Purpose: The App is available for download for only 1,000 users at first to assess the response and feedback. 
  • Currently available for both Android and iOS platforms in beta version.

About the App

• Developed By: The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), on behalf of the Ministry of Railways
• Services Offered: The app provides easy access to services like,
  • Reserved and unreserved ticket bookings, platform and parcel bookings, train inquiries, PNR inquiries, order food on trains, help through RailMadad
• It integrates several services to provide users with a complete package of Indian Railway services
• Objective: To enhance user experience through a seamless and clean user interface.
• Features:
  • Single Sign-On Functionality:  It offers single sign-on functionality, enabling users to access all services with a single set of credentials.
    • Example: PNR enquiries will also display the associated information about the train.
  • Multiple Login Options: Users can also use their existing RailConnect or UTS App credentials to onboard the app. It provides multiple login options, including m-PIN and biometric authentication.

Suzetrigne

Context: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new non-opioid painkiller called Suzetrigine.

About Suzetrigine

• It is a non-opioid pain relief medication used to manage moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
• It is sold under the brand name Journavx. 
  • The drug is produced by US-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
• Common side effects include: Itching, Rash, Muscle spasms, and Increased levels of creatine kinase. 

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What Are Opioids?

• Opioids are drugs that come from or imitate natural substances found in the opium poppy plant.
• Common opioids include:
  • Oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl.
• They are mainly used as painkillers.
• How opioids work:
  • Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain.
  • This blocks pain signals and creates a feeling of pleasure or euphoria.
• Why are opioids addictive?
  • The pleasure they produce can make users want to continue taking them, leading to psychological dependence and addiction.

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