National
New CEO of KVIC
⇒ Shri Vinit Kumar (IRSEE) takes over the charge of CEO, KVIC Central Office, KVIC Mumbai on 21 November 2022.
- He is appointed as CEO, Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVlC), Mumbai under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
About Shri Vinit Kumar:
- Shri Vinit Kumar, an IRSEE officer of 1993 batch, has served as the Chairman of Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata (erstwhile Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata) before taking over as the Chief Executive Officer of Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
- He also served as Chief Electrical Engineer in Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd and looked after World Bank funded MUTP project before joining as CEO, KVIC.
- As Chairman of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, Shri Kumar has played a pivotal and dynamic role for the Port to achieve the highest cargo handling in two consecutive years of 2018-19 and 2019-2020; which surpassed all previous records in the 150-year history of the port.
- In addition to cargo handling, the Port achieved profitability of INR 60 crore for the first time in 150 years due to his thoughtful and energetic leadership.
Assessment of ‘CO2 Geological Storage Potential’
⇒ Under the aegis of NITI Aayog, NETRA NTPC and the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture & Utilisation (NCoE-CCU), IIT Bombay has launched the assessment of ‘CO2 Geological Storage Potential’ in India at NITI Aayog on 22 November 2022.
Key Points:
- As a part of this initiative, an assessment of CO2 storage potential in select Coalbed Methane (CBM) rich coalfields in India shall be carried out including those available with NTPC. This initiative is envisaged to be completed in 12 months’ time.
- This will culminate into a ‘CO2 Storage Atlas’ for select coalfields of India and is part of NTPC’s commitment to play a key role in India’s energy transition journey as the country marches ahead to achieve the ‘Net-Zero’ target and other climate goals.
- Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) is one of the key components of India’s CO2 mitigation strategy to facilitate the transition towards a low-carbon energy economy and subsequently to a ‘Net-Zero’ emission level.
International
19th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES
⇒ The 19th meeting of the Conference of Parties to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) was held in the scenic city of Panama from 14th to 25th of November 2022.
» Huge relief has been given to handicraft exporters of India during the meeting.
Reason:
- Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) is included in Appendix II of the convention, thereby requiring to follow CITES regulations for the trade of the species. As of now every consignment of weight above 10 kg requires CITES permit.
- Due to this restriction exports of furniture and handicrafts made of Dalbergia sissoo from India has been continuously falling from an estimated 1000 crore Indian Rupees (~129 million USD) per annum before the listing, to 500-600 crore Indian Rupees (~64 to 77 million USD) per annum after the listing.
Relief:
- On India’s initiative a proposal to clarify the quantity of Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) items such as furniture and artefacts was considered in the meeting.
- After sustained deliberations by Indian representatives, it was agreed upon that any number of Dalbergia sissoo timber-based items can be exported as a single consignment in a shipment without CITES permits if the weight of each individual item of this consignment is less than 10 kg.
- Further, it was agreed that for net weight of each item only timber will be considered and any other item used in the product like metal etc. will be ignored. This is a great relief for the Indian artisans and furniture industry.
Background:
- During the 17th meeting of Conference of Parties (CoP) at Johannesburg, South Africa in 2016, included all species of Genus Dalbergia in Appendix II of the convention, thereby requiring to follow CITES regulations for the trade of the species.
- In India, the species Dalbergia sissoo (North Indian Rosewood or Shisham) is found in abundance and is not treated as an endangered species.
- During the discussion it was duly acknowledged by the parties that Dalbergia sissoo was not at all a threatened species.
- The countries expressed that there was an urgent need for developing advanced technological tools for distinguishing the finished wood of Dalbergia, especially at the Customs point.
- Considering this aspect and in the absence of a clear technology for distinguishing the finished wood, the CoP did not agree to de-list the Species from CITES Appendix:II.
At CoP 19, India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle Batagur kachuga
⇒ The 19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was held at Panama City from 14th November to 25th November 2022.
» At CoP 19, India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle Batagur kachuga earned wide support of the parties in CoP 19 of CITES. It was widely appreciated by the parties and well accepted when introduced.
- During the meeting, India’s efforts to curb wildlife crime, Operation Turtshield, was appreciated.
Key Points:
- At CITES CoP 19, India reiterated its commitment regarding conserving tortoises and fresh water turtles in the country.
- India also highlighted that many of the species of turtles and freshwater tortoises which are recognized as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened are already included in Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and given high degree of protection.
- India while intervening pressed upon that listing of many such species in CITES Appendix II will further enhance the protection of the species from getting indiscriminately and illegally traded worldwide.
Background:
- At CoP of CITES, also known as the World Wildlife Conference, all 184 Parties to CITES have the right to attend, to put forward proposals for the Conference to consider, and to vote on all decisions.
- 52 proposals have been put forward so far that would affect the regulations on international trade for: sharks, reptiles, hippos, songbirds, rhinos, 200 tree species, orchids, elephants, turtles and more.
About CITES:
- CITES is an international agreement to which States and regional economic integration organizations adhere voluntarily.
- Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws.
- Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.
Important Day
'Martyrdom Day' of Guru Teg Bahadur
⇒ Every year, November 24 is celebrated as Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhs of Sikh religion.
- The day is celebrated as Shaheedi Divas of Guru Tegh Bahadur across the country.
- It was on 24 November 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life for the sake of people who did not even belong to his community to protect religion, human values, ideals and principles.
About Guru Tegh Bahadur:
- Guru Tegh Bahadur had resisted forced conversions of non-Muslims to Islam during Aurangzeb’s rule.
- He was publicly killed in 1675 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi.
- Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi are the sites of his execution and cremation.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur’s term as Guru ran from 1665 to 1675.
- In the Guru Granth Sahib, there are one hundred and fifteen hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur.