09 Feb 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Conserving Marine Resources
2. Atal Tunnel
3. Status of Commission for Denotified and Nomadic tribes

1. Conserving Marine Resources

Syllabus: GS III, Conservation

Prelims: Coastal Regulation Zone, Wildlife Protection Act

Mains: Significance of conserving marine resources and the steps taken

Context: The Government of India has put forth considerable efforts to conserve the coastal and marine resources through effective policy interventions and monitoring.

Image Source: Ocean-climate.org

Government Interventions:

• The Wildlife Protection Act (WPA, 1972) consists of provisions that assure legal protection to many marine animals. India has 31 major marine protected areas that are notified under the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The National Committee on mangroves, wetlands and coral reefs functions as an advisory body to the government to formulate policies and programmes on marine species. 
• The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification keeps a strict check on the developmental activities and dumping of wastes in the sensitive coastal ecosystems.
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 along with the Biological Diversity Rules 2004 aim to provide protection to the marine ecosystem conserving biodiversity, sustainable use of resources and equitable sharing of its components. 
• The flagship scheme of the Department of Fisheries, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), focuses on the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India. The major objectives of the scheme are as follows:
  • Harnessing of fisheries potential in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner.
  • Robust fisheries management and regulatory framework.
• The Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), an attached office of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is entrusted with management strategies for the development of marine living resources. It carries out surveys to generate data on biodiversity within India’s  Exclusive Economic Zone accompanied by the hotspots for conservation. 
• Moreover, there have been a series of programmes to help the local communities of coastal areas. For example, CMLRE has implemented programmes on Marine Living Resources with an inbuilt component on societal services that intends to increase ornamental and batfish stocks in the wild. 

2. Atal Tunnel

Syllabus: GS III, Security challenges and their management in border areas

Prelims: Salient features of Atal Tunnel, BRO

Mains: Betterment of connectivity between people and places 

Context: Atal tunnel has been officially recognised as the longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet by the World Book of Records. 

The matter in detail:

• The certification of the Atal tunnel as the longest highway tunnel has been conferred at a ceremony to award the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for its remarkable achievement in constructing the tunnel. 
• The World Book of Records that offered the recognition to the tunnel, is an organisation that catalogues and verifies records throughout the world in order to authenticate such certifications. 
• The Atal tunnel is regarded as an engineering marvel which is anticipated to play a future role in the development of the Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh. 
• The tunnel will also benefit the armed forces by providing an alternative link to access the Ladakh region improving connectivity. 

Read more about Atal Tunnel in the provided link.

3. Status of Commission for Denotified and Nomadic tribes

Syllabus: GS II, Social Justice, Institutions and bodies constituted for the protection of the vulnerable sections. 

Mains: Steps taken by the government for the proper identification of various tribes

Context: The National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) prepares the state-wise list of castes belonging to a particular tribe. It submitted its report in 2018 finding that there are 1262 communities identified as denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities. This was discussed in the Parliament. 

What has been done?

• A committee has been established by the NITI Aayog to study the denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.
• This task of gathering information about various tribes in the country has been assigned to the Anthropological Survey of India which is a premier institute for anthropological research in bio-cultural studies operating under the Ministry of Culture. 

Important recommendations of the Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic tribes: 

• It suggested a permanent commission at the centre for denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.
• Setting up separate departments in every state for the above-mentioned communities. 
• The definition of notified and denotified tribes must be put forth with uniformity in their categorisation under SC/ST/OBC.
• It recommends a caste-based census to enumerate the population of these communities.
• There needs to be more awareness among these communities for their inclusion in the mainstream and their access to several welfare schemes. 

Read more about NCDNT in PIB dated July 27 2021.

Read previous PIB here.

February 9th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here