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Will there be a ‘Project Great Indian Bustard’?

Proposed on the lines of Project Tiger, the country’s highest court seeks the government’s view on the idea. What prompted this? Here’s the story and background in five simplified points.

  1. THE PROPOSAL: Coming to the rescue of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the Supreme Court has mooted the idea of launching ‘Project GIB’ on the lines of ‘Project Tiger. A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, and comprising justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, also sought reports from the chief secretaries of Rajasthan and Gujarat in six weeks on the installation of bird diverters in priority areas and assess the total length of transmission lines in the two States where undergrounding of electric wires have to be done to ensure the birds do not die of electrocution.
  2. COMMITTEE FORMED: The Supreme Court had earlier set up a three-member committee to assess the feasibility of laying high-voltage underground power cables. It had also directed the Gujarat and Rajasthan governments to convert overhead electric cables into underground power cables, wherever feasible, and install bird diverters in priority areas where the birds live. It has now directed the committee to submit an updated status report on the steps to safeguard the birds.
  3. ENDANGERED SPECIES: The great Indian bustard, considered India’s most critically endangered bird species, is especially found in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and as per the 2021 report of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are on the verge of extinction with less than 249 of them alive. Endemic to India, these birds were once seen across several States in the country. Due to hunting, habitat loss, and accidents caused by windmills and overhead power lines, their numbers dwindled over the last few decades.
  4. RECENT DEATHS: Being hit by overhead power lines is one of the major reasons for the death of these birds today, which is why the focus is on undergrounding such lines. While the work for undergrounding power lines has started in Gujarat, that does not seem to be the situation in Rajasthan, according to reports. Bird diverters too have not been installed in priority areas despite the Supreme Court’s direction. This would explain the deaths of seven birds so far this year, which is a matter of continuing concern.
  5. PROJECT TIGER: The Central government had launched ‘Project Tiger on April 1, 1973 to promote the conservation of the big cat whose population had dipped alarmingly. The number of tigers in 1973 was less than 300, and according to the All India Tiger Estimation Report, that number rose to 2,967 in 2018. Project Tiger has been viewed by the government as one of the most successful conservation programmes for a single species in the world. And so, it is hoped that a similar project for this critically endangered bird species would save it from extinction.

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What does a lightning rod do?

The lightning rod was invented by America’s founding father Benjamin Franklin.

It protects buildings from lightning. It was invented by American scientist Benjamin Franklin who first proved that lightning and electricity were related, by conducting his fabled kite and key experiment.

The lightning rod is a pointed metal rod mounted on the roof of a building. It is electrically connected to the ground through a thick wire. When lightning strikes the building, the rod attracts the electric current and conducts it harmlessly to the ground through the wire. Thus, the lightning charge does not pass through the building where it could potentially start a fire or cause electrocution.

THE KITE EXPERIMENT

In the mid-18th Century, Benjamin Franklin flew a kite during a storm to see if a key attached to the string would draw an electrical charge. It did and this led to his invention of the lightning rod which protects tall buildings from lightning strikes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Some monuments in the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura bear some of the earliest examples of metal lightning conductors.

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What is a lie-detector?

A lie-detector test does not conclusively prove that the person is being untruthful and as such the results of this test are not treated as evidence in Indian courts.

It is a device often used during criminal investigations for questioning suspects. But how does it work?

A lie-detector or polygraph is a device that monitors a person’s involuntary physiological reactions when he or she is questioned about a certain event. The instrument tries to find out if the person is trying to conceal something. It is often used during criminal investigations for questioning suspects. A lie-detector is essentially a combination of a variety of medical devices that monitor changes occurring in the body during questioning. The examiner looks for important reflex actions of the body when the person is subjected to stress, by monitoring fluctuations in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, etc.

Based on these indications, the examiner can at best interpret if the person is being deceptive. But a lie-detector test does not conclusively prove that the person is being untruthful and as such the results of this test are not admissible in Indian courts.

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What does a headhunter do?

A headhunter identifies qualified candidates to fill job vacancies in companies. A good headhunter understands the business and the needs of a company, and finds candidates best suited for the available job.

A headhunter is a professional who looks for prospective candidates for companies that want to hire new employees. When there is a job vacancy, the company approaches a headhunter to identify qualified candidates to fill the post.

A good headhunter understands the business and the needs of the company. He/she then accordingly searches through a database and comes up with a list of potential candidates who are best suited for the job. A headhunter must have good negotiating and networking skills to be successful.

Picture Credit : Google 

How does Google Maps work?

You might have used or seen your parents use Google Maps while travelling around the city. Have you ever wondered how it works? Find out…

Google Maps has revolutionised travel like never before. Travellers can chalk out their itineraries and find addresses at the dick of a button with the help of this free map service. You can virtually view the street your cousin lives on in the U.S. without even moving an inch from your seat!

Google bases its maps on information taken from a selection of databases. But the most crucial data is provided by the satellite images of cities, which is captured and converted into small image files. The data is then verified with a vast database of map references like longitude and latitude co-ordinates, addresses and postal codes.

When you type an address in the search field, Google sends the query to its global servers and searches for the closest location match. The search results in the corresponding map of the location being displayed on screen, When you ask for directions from Location A to B. Google sorts out the information in its map servers, which store millions of potential route combinations to find the fastest route between the two locations. This kind of system which deals with information related to location is called Geographical Geographical Information System (GIS).

Google Maps first started as a software application developed by the Danish-born Rasmussen brothers Lars and Jens for a company that was later acquired by Google.

Picture Credit : Google 

What moons did Galileo discover in 1610?

Many years ago, in 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei discovered the first moons beyond Earth. Those were the moons of the planet Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.

Planet Jupiter has 80 moons. There are many interesting moons orbiting the planet, but the ones of great interest to us on a scientific level are the first four moons discovered called the Galilean satellites. They are lo, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Here we look at the four largest moons of Jupiter.

What is a Moon?

Moons are those celestial bodies that orbit planets and asteroids in the solar system. They are also called natural satellites. The Earth has one moon, whilst the solar system has more than 200 moons. Most of the major planets except Mercury and Venus have moons.

Jupiter and Saturn have the most moons. Four of Jupiter’s moons are named after Galileo Galilei who first discovered them.

And how were the Galilean moons formed? According to scientists, the moons were formed out of the dusty disc left after Jupiter was formed.

lo

The most volcanically active body in the solar system, lo has its surface enveloped by sulfur. Jupiter’s gravity causes “tides” that rise some 100 metres high on lo and lead to the generation of heat for volcanic activity.

Europa

Europa’s surface is covered mostly by water ice. This moon is considered to have twice as much water as Earth.

Ganymede

The largest moon in the solar system, Ganymede is the only moon that has its own internally generated magnetic field. Did you know that this moon is even larger than the planet Mercury?

Callisto

The second largest moon of Jupiter, Callisto’s surface is highly cratered and ancient. This moon is about half rock and half ice.

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Shakespeare’s lone known portrait

Seventeenth-Century English playwright Ben Jonson once said William Shakespeare, was “Not for an age but for all time”. This statement has often been repeated since, as even today, more than 400 years after his death. Shakespeare is considered to be one of the most influential poets and playwrights of all of human history.

Shakespeare published 38 plays, 154 sonnets and several poems during his lifetime. His works have been translated into every single language of the world, making him one of the few writers who are universally loved and acknowledged. But do we really know what he looked like?

The only signed and dated portrait of William Shakespeare created during the bard’s lifetime had recently gone on sale for more than 10 million pounds sterling and has been displayed in West London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

This portrait is attributed to the outstanding English portrait artist Robert Peake who was the official court painter to King James I. It is also signed and dated 1608.

Sold in a private treaty without an auction, the owner, of this work of art, wishes to stay anonymous. However, it was disclosed that before 1975, the picture hung in the library of a stately home (that once belonged to the Danby family) in the north of England. Since then it has been in private ownership.

Duncan Phillips, an art expert who examined the work ahead of the sale said “There is more evidence for this portrait of Shakespeare than any other known painting of the playwright.” Over the years, the legitimacy of the available paintings of the playwright has been subjected to numerous claims and counterclaims. However, only two posthumous artistic renditions of the legendary author, are generally recognised as accurately portraying him. The first of the two is the engraving that was published in 1623 on the title page of his First Folio, and the second one is the sculpture at his funeral monument erected in Stratford-upon-Avon following his death in 1616 at the age of 52.

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Why are anteaters going extinct?

As their name suggests, giant anteaters are large. Like so many large mammals the world over, these creatures too are facing rising extinction risk, especially in Brazil. What are the reasons for this? Come, let’s find out.

Giant anteaters are native to Central and South America. In 2020, the Pantanal region of South America witnessed fires that destroyed about a third of the area. It proved to be injurious or fatal for wildlife such as jaguars inhabiting the region. According to a report, the fires killed “an estimated 17 million animals”. The numbers are not available for those injured or displaced. But among those that suffered are giant anteaters. Apparently, “more than 50 giant anteaters injured or displaced by the Pantanal fires were taken in by state rescue projects – a leap from 13 the previous year”. In 2021, Pantanal witnessed fires again, though on a scale smaller than the previous year. However, reports suggest that a few areas from 2020 suffered in 2021 too – this could spell disaster for the species there since they’d be denied time for recovery. Several animals are also indirectly affected by such fires. For instance, young animals could be orphaned and ones trying to escape such fires could get involved in accidents or end up in the hands of poachers. As for giant anteaters, some tried to escape the fire in 2021 and got hit by cars; they were rescued.

But, fires are not the only reason for falling giant anteater populations. A report says “Brazil’s anteater populations have fallen 30% over 26 years”. As solitary creatures, they require a large range for habitation. But this is becoming more and more difficult due to land seizures, expansion of farming, ranching, and mining “in the Amazon and the Brazilian savanna”. Further, the animal also has “a low population growth rate due to its life history of long gestation periods and single offspring”.

The giant anteater plays a significant role as both predator and prey. While it is consumed by jaguars and pumas, the mammal consumes large quantities of insects, especially ants and termites. Given this interconnectedness, the extinction of this insectivore can have unimaginable impacts on its ecological range.

Fires are not the only reason for falling giant anteater populations. As solitary creatures, they require a large range for habitation. But this is becoming more and more difficult due to land seizures, expansion of farming, ranching, and mining “in the Amazon and the Brazilian savanna”. Further, the animal also has “a low population growth rate due to its life history of long gestation periods and single offspring”.

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What is Enforcement Directorate?

The Enforcement Directorate is India’s premier central financial probe agency

The Centre has allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to share information about financial offenders with 15 more agencies, including Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Earlier, the ED used to share its data with 10 agencies.

Origin

The Enforcement Directorate’s origins go back to 1956. The Directorate began on May 1, 1956 in New Delhi (headquarters) as ‘Enforcement Unit, as part of the Department of Economic Affairs for handling Exchange Control Laws violations under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.

The unit’s name was changed to Enforcement Directorate in 1957. Another branch was opened in Madras (now Chennai).

In 1960, the administrative control of the Directorate was transferred from the Department of Economic Affairs to the Department of Revenue.

What is ED?

The Enforcement Directorate is a multi-disciplinary organisation mandated with the investigation of offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws.

It is responsible for the enforcement of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and certain provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PML).

The Directorate is under the administrative control of the Department of Revenue for operational purposes; the policy aspects of the FEMA, its legislation and amendments are within the purview of the Department of Economic Affairs. Policy issues pertaining to the PML Act, however, are the responsibility of the Department of Revenue.

Sanjay Kumar Mishra is the current chief of the Enforcement Directorate. The Directorate has 10 zonal offices, each of which is headed by a Deputy Director, and 11 sub-zonal offices, each of which is headed by an Assistant Director.

The Enforcement Directorate, India’s premier central financial probe agency, has always been in the limelight for probing some of the most high profile cases of the country, involving business houses, top politicians, and industrialists.

SOME OF THE AGENCIES WITH WHOM THE ED CAN SHARE DATA

  • Serious Fraud Investigation Office
  • Competition Commission of India
  • National Investigation Agency
  • State Police Department
  • Special Investigation Team
  • Directorate General of Foreign Trade
  • Ministry of External Affairs
  • National Investigation Agency
  • Central Vigilance Commission
  • Military Intelligence directorate
  • Central Bureau of Investigation
  • National Technical Research Organisation
  • Reserve Bank of India
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India
  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
  • Intelligence Bureau Financial Intelligence Unit
  • Department of Company Affairs
  • Cabinet Secretariat (Research and Analysis Wing)
  • Director (Financial Intelligence Unit)
  • National Intelligence Grid
  • Defence Intelligence Agency

Picture Credit : Google