Daily News Analysis

Snow leopard

stylish_lining

Context: Sadyr Zhaparov, the president of Kyrgyzstan signed a decree to declare the snow leopard as the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan.

About Snow Leopard:

  • Scientific Name: Panthera uncia
  • Indicator Species: Snow leopards serve as crucial indicators of the mountain ecosystem's health due to their role as the top predator in the food web.
  • Habitat: Found in the mountains of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, their habitat spans elevations from approximately 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) in winter to about 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) in summer.
  • Geographical Range: The snow leopard's range covers twelve countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • Geographical Range in India:
    • Western Himalayas: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh.
    •  
    • Eastern Himalayas: Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Hemis National Park (Ladakh): Recognized for its significant snow leopard population, Hemis National Park is also known as the Snow Leopard Capital of the world.
    • IUCN status: vulnerable

Global Conservation Initiatives for Snow Leopards:

  • Project Snow Leopard (PSL): Initiated in 2009, PSL aims to foster an inclusive and participatory approach to safeguarding snow leopards and their habitats.
  • Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change Recovery Program: Snow leopards are included in the list of 21 critically endangered species designated for the recovery program led by the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
  • SECURE Himalaya:Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), SECURE Himalaya focuses on conserving high-altitude biodiversity and reducing the reliance of local communities on the natural ecosystem.
  • Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme: India has been actively participating in the GSLEP Programme since 2013, emphasizing global collaboration for snow leopard conservation.
  • Flagship Species Designation:The Government of India has recognized the snow leopard as a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayas, indicating its significance in conservation efforts.

About Kyrgyzstan

  • Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia.
  • Bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and China to the east and southeast.

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

CARA clarified that digitally certified adoption orders sent via email are legally valid and hard copies are not mandatory for adoptive parents. This aims to simplify and speed up adoption procedu
Share It

India–Ghana Relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ghana as part of a five-nation tour, marking the first visit by an Indian PM in over 30 years.The visit reflects India’s commitment to deepening ties
Share It

mud volcano

A mud volcano erupted in Wandan Township, southern Taiwan, in front of a temple.The eruption lasted nearly 10 hours, ejecting bubbling mud from 4 vents, reaching 2 meters (6.6 feet) high. About
Share It

Agriculture Output Report

The agriculture sector in India is witnessing a significant transformation with a shift from traditional staple crops like cereals to high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, spices, and anima
Share It

India’s Import Curbs on Jute Products from Bangladesh

India has imposed immediate restrictions on the import of jute and allied fibre products from Bangladesh. These apply at all Indian land and seaports except Nhava Sheva in Maharash
Share It

GPS Interference

  GPS interference refers to deliberate or unintentional disruption of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, which are crucial for navigation in aircraft, ships, and ground transport sy
Share It

India’s Civil Nuclear Law Reform:

  India is revising its civil nuclear laws—the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010—to: Attract private and forei
Share It

Secondary Pollutants

A recent study has shed light on an important aspect of India's air pollution crisis: secondary pollutants, which now contribute to nearly one-third of PM2.5 pollution in the country. These pollut
Share It

Myogenesis

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Myogenesis experiments on the ISS represent a major leap forward in India’s space research efforts, focusing on the formation and regulation of muscle fib
Share It

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS)

A scholarship scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) initiative by the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education. It Provides financial assistance to m
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS