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Current Affairs Date: 04 December 2022

National

PM releases wild Cheetahs in Kuno National Park

⇒ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Madhya Pradesh on 17th September 2022.

PM at Kuno National Park:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released wild Cheetahs – which had become extinct from India – in Kuno National Park on 17 September 2022.

    • Cheetahs – brought from Namibia – introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which is world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
    • Out of the eight Cheetahs there are five female and three male Cheetahs.
    • The Prime Minister released Cheetahs at two release points in Kuno National Park.
Background:
    • The release of wild Cheetahs by the Prime Minister in Kuno National Park is part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify India’s wildlife and its habitat. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952.
    • The Cheetahs that would be released are from Namibia and have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year. The introduction of Cheetah in India is being done under Project Cheetah, the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
    • Cheetahs will help restore open forest and grassland ecosystems in India. This will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation, benefiting society at large. This effort, in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment to environmental protection and wildlife conservation, will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities.
Other Points:

The historic reintroduction of Cheetahs in India is part of a long series of measures for ensuring sustainability and environment protection in the last eight years which has resulted in significant achievements in the area of environment protection and sustainability.

    • The coverage of Protected Areas which was 4.90% of the country’s geographical area in 2014 has now increased to 5.03%. This includes an increase in Protected Areas in the country from 740 with an area of 1,61,081.62 sq kms in 2014 to present 981 with an area of 1,71,921 sq kms.
    • Forest and tree cover has increased by 16,000 square kms in the last four years. India is among few countries in the world where forest cover is consistently increasing.
    • There has also been an increase in the number of community reserves. From just 43 in 2014 their numbers are more than 100 in 2019.
    • India is home to 52 Tiger Reserves covering approximately 75,000 Sq Km area in 18 States with approximately 75% population of the wild tiger at global level. India achieved the goal of doubling the tiger numbers in 2018 itself, four years in advance from the targeted year 2022.
    • The Tiger Population in India has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018.
    • The budgetary allocation for tiger conservation has increased from Rs 185 crore in 2014 to Rs 300 crore in 2022.
    • The population of Asiatic Lions has shown a steady increase with a population of 674 individuals with an increase rate of 28.87 per cent (one of the highest growth rates so far) from the 523 lions in 2015.
    • India now (2020) has 12,852 leopards as compared to the previous estimate of 7910 conducted in 2014. More than 60% increase in population has been recorded.

PM at SHG Sammelan in Madhya Pradesh

⇒ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Madhya Pradesh on 17th September 2022.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Self-Help Group Sammelan organised at Karahal, Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh.
    • On the occasion, the Prime Minister also inaugurated four Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) skilling centres under PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
    • The Prime Minister also handed over Bank Loan Sanction letters to SHG members and Kits under the Jal Jeevan Mission were also handed over by him.
    • About one lakh women who are members of SHGs were present on the occasion and about 43 lakh women were connected from various centres.
Background:
    • The Sammelan is witness to the attendance of thousands of women Self Help Group (SHG) members/community resource persons that are being promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
    • DAY-NRLM aims to mobilise rural poor households into SHGs in a phased manner and provide them long-term support to diversify their livelihoods and improve their incomes and quality of life. The Mission is also working towards empowering the women SHG members through awareness generation and behaviour change communication on issues like domestic violence, women’s education and other gender-related concerns, nutrition, sanitation, health etc.

1st Justice J.S. Verma Memorial Lecture

⇒ The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar attended as the Chief Guest at the first ‘Justice JS Verma Memorial Lecture’ at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh on 18 September 2022.

Speaking as the Chief Guest, the Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar asked the media to be extra careful while reporting about the judiciary. He praised late Justice J.S Verma for path-breaking judgments and ideas.

» The first ‘Justice JS Verma Memorial Lecture’ was delivered by the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul to the august gathering.

International

Ms. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France visits India

⇒ Ms. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France called on Prime Minister Modi on 14 September 2022.

    • She was on an official visit to India from September 13-15, 2022.
    • Besides discussion on bilateral and other issues of mutual interest, the Minister conveyed President Macron’s message of friendship and cooperation to the Prime Minister.

» During her stay in New Delhi, Ms. Colonna held talks with External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. She also traveled to Mumbai for engagements with industry leaders and site visits.

» Ms. Colonna’s visit paved the way for further strengthening of the partnership across trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors.

Sports

Inter-Ministry, Bar & Bench Badminton Championship

⇒ Inter-Ministry, Bar & Bench Badminton Championship supported by the Ministry of Law and Justice in association with Fit India Movement was held on 17th and 18th September, 2022 at Thyagaraj Sports Complex.

The two-day Championship saw participation from ministers, judges, and lawyers, among others.
    • A first-of-its-kind event the Inter-Ministry, Bar & Bench Badminton had participation from the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of External Affairs, Bar Council of India, Supreme Court Bar Association, Bar Council of Delhi, Delhi High Court Bar Association, National Company Law Tribunal & Appellate Tribunal, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, and Dalmia Bharat Limited.

» The event was conceived by ex-badminton player Abantika Deka in partnership with the Ministry of Law and Justice and Fit India.

» The event was attended by Union Minister of Law and Justice Shri Kiren Rijiju on 18th September. At the closing of the event, the Minister felicitated all the winners with trophies.

Source: PIB & Other News Reports

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