UPSC: Bhima River, 2+2 Dialogue, Miyawaki Method, and More

Table of Contents

UPSC GS 1

Bhima River

News: The Kalaburagi district administration recently conducted a drill on the banks of Bhima river at Saradagi village to determine preparedness to tackle a flood.
Definition:
- - The Bhima River, also known as the Chandrabagha River, is the largest tributary of the Krishna River.
Course:
- - The river originates near Bhimashankar Temple in the Bhimashankar hills on the western side of the Western Ghats in Pune District, Maharashtra.
  - It flows southeast, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.
  - The Bhima River eventually merges with the Krishna River in Karnataka’s Raichur district.
  - The river spans a total length of 861 km.

Geographical Features
- - The river is bordered by the Western Ghats to the west, the Balaghat Range to the north, and the Mahadeo Hills to the south.
  - The total basin area of the Bhima River is 48,631 sq. km, with 75 percent of the area lying in Maharashtra.
  - The river runs through a well-entrenched valley, and its banks are heavily populated.
Seasonal Changes
- - The water level of the Bhima River is influenced by monsoonal changes, with the river experiencing flooding in August due to heavy rains and becoming nearly stagnant in March and April.
  - Tributaries
  - The major tributaries of the Bhima River include the Indrayani River, Mula River, Mutha River, and Pavana River.
Cultural Importance
- - Pandharpur, an important pilgrimage center, is located on the right bank of the Bhima River.

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UPSC GS 2

2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

News: India and Japan held a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi recently.
Definition:
- - The 2+2 meetings involve the participation of two high-level representatives from each country, specifically Ministers holding Foreign and Defence portfolios.
Rationale:
- - These meetings aim to enhance the scope of dialogue, fostering a deeper understanding of each country’s strategic concerns and political sensitivities.
  - This helps build a stronger, integrated strategic relationship in a rapidly changing global environment.

India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue:
- - Partnership: India and Japan share a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” based on democracy, freedom, and rule of law.
  - Defence Cooperation: Defence is a key pillar in the India-Japan relationship. Strengthened defence ties are essential for a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Key Initiatives:
- - Joint Services Staff Talks and Exercise Veer Guardian (Fighter exercise between Air Forces).
  - All three services conducted bilateral exercises within a single calendar year.
  - First Joint Staff Talks focused on learning best practices for jointness in forces.
  - Defence Policy Dialogue: Held in April 2023 between India’s Defence Secretary and Japan’s Vice Minister of Defence.
  - Vision for a developed and transformed India by 2047 includes building domestic defence capabilities (Aatmanirbhar Bharat).
Common Goals: India and Japan share a vision for peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
India’s Role: India is an active member of the ADMM Plus, fostering cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus countries, including Japan.
India’s 2+2 Partners:
- - The US is India’s oldest and most important 2+2 talks partner.
  - Other Partners: India has also held 2+2 meetings with Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Russia.

Offshore Areas Mineral Trust Rules, 2024

News: The Central Govt has made offshore mineral rules stricter but eased the awarding process.
Offshore Areas Mineral Trust Rules, 2024
- - The Offshore Areas Mineral Trust Rules, 2024, set out a comprehensive framework for the exploration and sustainable development of offshore mineral resources. Key aspects of the rules include:
Key Definitions:
- - The rules provide clear definitions for important terms such as “Act,” “Chairperson of the Executive Committee,” “Chairperson of the Governing Body,” “Fund,” “Governing Body,” and “Trust.”
Membership of Governing Body and Executive Committee:
- - The Central Government is responsible for determining the composition of both the Governing Body and the Executive Committee.
  - The Governing Body will consist of ex-officio members and special invitees, while the Executive Committee will include ex-officio members with voting rights.
Functions of the Governing Body and Executive Committee:
- - The Governing Body will be tasked with setting policy guidelines and overseeing the operations of the Offshore Mineral Area Trust.
  - The Executive Committee will manage and supervise the Trust’s activities, following the directions issued by the Governing Body.
Identification of Offshore Areas:
- - The Geological Survey of India will identify offshore areas with geological potential for mineral exploration and development.
Offshore Areas Mineral Trust Fund:
- - The Executive Committee will manage the “Offshore Areas Mineral Trust Fund,” ensuring proper administration of the resources allocated for offshore mineral exploration and development.

UPSC GS 3

Miyawaki Method

News: To combat urban heat island and pollution, Manendragarh forest division has created a mini forest with Miyawaki plantations.
Miyawaki Method Overview
- Origin: Developed by Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert Professor Akira Miyawaki.
- Afforestation Technique: Involves planting 2-4 types of indigenous trees per square meter.

Key Features
- - Dense Planting: Seedlings are densely planted, encouraging rapid growth due to competition for sunlight.
  - Native Species: Only native species are planted, which would naturally occur in the area without human intervention, based on the climate and natural conditions.
  - Theory of Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV): Selection of species is linked to PNV, focusing on the vegetation that would occur naturally without further human interference.
Growth and Sustainability
- - Rapid Growth: Miyawaki forests grow 10 times faster than conventional methods.
  - Density and Biodiversity: Miyawaki forests are 30 times denser, and are 100 times more biodiverse than a conventional plantation.
  - Self-Sustainability: Trees become self-sustainable and reach full maturity within three years.
  - Low Maintenance: After the initial two to three years, these forests require no further maintenance.
  - Flexible Size: Forests can be established on small plots, with a minimum of 3 square meters.
Goals and Benefits
- - Environmental Impact: The method improves biodiversity, sequesters carbon, increases green cover, reduces air pollution, and helps preserve the water table.
  - Urban Climate Resilience: Miyawaki forests provide cities with a viable solution for rapidly building climate resilience.
  - Natural Reforestation Principles: The method replicates natural forest regeneration processes by using native species adapted to the local environment.

New Ramsar Sites of India

News: The three new Ramsar sites in India are; the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary; the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.
Ramsar Sites:
- - A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
  - Ramsar Convention also known as “The Convention on Wetlands”, is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975.
  - It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands and wise sustainable use of their resources.
  - Ramsar identifies wetlands of international importance, rare or unique wetland types or for their importance in conserving biological diversity, especially those providing waterfowl habitat.
  - India is one of the ‘contracting parties’ to the Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. It became a signatory in 1982.
Why is it called Ramsar?
- - It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
  - It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971.
New Sites From India:
- - The three new Ramsar sites in India are; the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary; the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.
  - This takes India’s tally to 85 Ramsar sites, covering an area of 13,58,068 hectare in India.
  - Currently, Tamil Nadu harbours the maximum number of Ramsar sites (18 sites), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
  - India’s Ramsar wetlands comprise around 10% of the total wetland area in the country across 18 States. No other South Asian country has as many sites though this has much to do with India’s geographical breadth and tropical diversity.
Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary
- - Biodiversity: Hosts nearly 191 bird species along with several species of reptiles, fish, amphibians, and plants.
  - Migratory Importance: Serves as both wintering and breeding grounds for migratory birds.
  - Historical Significance: Named after King Nanjarayan, who repaired and restored the lake during his reign.
  - Native Bird Species: Includes Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Great Egret, Spot-billed Duck, Common Coot, and Little Grebe.
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary
- - Location: A brackish shallow lake on the Coromandel Coast, connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli Creek and the Edayanthittu Estuary.
  - Migratory Flyway: Lies in the Central Asian Flyway and serves as an important stopover for about 40,000 migratory bird species.
  - Unique Migratory Species: The Grey-tailed Tattler, a rare migratory wader, has only been recorded here and in Pulicat in India.
  - Other Migrants: Includes Black-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Curlew, White Stork, Ruff, and Dunlin.
  - Habitat: Known as one of Tamil Nadu’s largest waterfowl congregation sites, it supports Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests and degraded mangrove patches containing Avicennia species.
Tawa Reservoir
- - Location: Situated at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers in central India.
  - Ecological Significance: Forms the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Banni Grassland

News: In a new study, researchers have assessed the suitability of different areas of Banni for sustainable grassland restoration, considering ecological value to be the primary criterion.
Location: Situated along the northern border of Kachchh district in Gujarat, it is Asia’s largest grassland.
Inhabitants: Home to 22 ethnic groups, primarily pastoralists: Maldharis, the Rabaris, the Jats, the Mutwas, and the Meghwals.

Salt-tolerant: Banni is a salt-tolerant grassland, meaning that it can survive and thrive in saline and arid conditions.
Biodiversity
- - Flora: Contains 37 grass species, including Prosopis juliflora, Cressa critica, Cyperus spp., Sporobolus, Dichanthium, and Aristida.
  - Fauna: Hosts a variety of mammals, including Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Wild Boar, Golden Jackal, Indian Hare, Indian Wolf, Caracal, Asiatic Wildcat, and Desert Fox.
  - Avifauna: Supports 275 bird species.
  - Domesticated Animals: Includes Buffalo, Sheep, Goat, Horses, and Camels.
  - Protected Areas: The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve are part of the grasslands.
Key Facts About Grasslands
- - Global Ecosystem: One of the largest ecosystems, found mainly in semiarid and arid regions, including savannahs, grassy shrublands, and open grasslands.
  - Ecological Benefits:
  - Provide habitat for unique and iconic species.
  - Offer ecosystem services such as carbon storage, climate mitigation, and pollination.
  - Threats:
  - Face degradation due to deforestation, overgrazing, agriculture, urbanization, and natural or human-made reasons.
  - Approximately 49% of global grassland areas are estimated to be degraded.
  - India’s Grasslands: Account for about eight lakh sq. km, or 24% of India’s total land area.

Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs)

News: The Reserve Bank of India has issued a framework for recognition of self-regulatory organisations in the financial markets space to help strengthen compliance culture.
Definition: An SRO is a non-governmental entity created by industry members to govern companies within that sector.
Purpose: The goal is to set and enforce rules and standards for member conduct, promoting ethics, equality, professionalism, and customer protection.
Role and Functions
- - Rule Enforcement: SROs establish and enforce industry-specific rules to ensure disciplined operation among members.
  - Stakeholder Collaboration: They work in collaboration with various stakeholders to frame rules and regulations relevant to the industry.
  - Impartial Regulation: SROs administer self-regulation through impartial mechanisms, ensuring fair practices and the acceptance of penal actions by members.
  - Broader Responsibilities: SROs address concerns beyond industry self-interests, such as protecting workers, customers, and other ecosystem participants.
Relationship with Government
- - Regulatory Role: Although SROs are private organizations, they are still subject to some level of government regulation.
  - Delegated Authority: Governments often delegate aspects of industry oversight to SROs, giving them regulatory influence within their sector.
  - Watchdog Function: SROs act as watchdogs to prevent fraud and maintain professional standards in the industry.
Authority and Control
- - Internal Mechanisms: SROs derive their regulatory authority from internal mechanisms, governing the flow of business operations.
  - External Agreements: Authority may also come from agreements between businesses within the industry, rather than from government grants of power.
  - Governance from Within: The purpose of SROs is to provide internal governance, avoiding direct ties to a country’s government while maintaining regulatory control over their industry.

South American Lungfish

News: It has been found that the South American lungfish has the largest genome of any animal.
Species: Lepidosiren paradoxa.
Habitat: Inhabits freshwater, primarily slow-moving and stagnant waters in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, and Paraguay.
Evolutionary Significance: Closest living relative to the first land vertebrates, resembling primordial ancestors from over 400 million years ago.

Genomic Information
- - Largest Genome: It possesses the largest genome of any known animal on Earth.
  - Genome Size:
    - The DNA in each cell of the lungfish stretches nearly 60 meters.
    - Its genome is more than 50 times the size of the human genome, which extends a mere 2 meters.
    - 90% of its genome consists of repetitive elements.
Global Distribution: In addition to the South American species, four other lungfish species live in Africa, also with large genomes.
Key Features of Lungfish
- - Devonian Period Origin: Lungfish first appeared during the Devonian Period, a crucial time when fish with lungs and muscular fins evolved into the first tetrapods.
  - Breathing Adaptation: While most fish rely solely on gills, lungfish also have lung-like organs that allow them to breathe air.
  - Adaptation to Environment: It thrives in oxygen-poor, swampy environments in the Amazon and Parana-Paraguay River basins, where it supplements its oxygen intake by breathing air.

Operation Parakram

News: Former Chief General S Padmanabhan, who led the Indian Army in the crucial ‘Operation Parakram’ Against Pakistan, passes away.
Operation Parakram was the codename for India’s military mobilisation following the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament by Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Initiated after a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Security, it involved a significant military buildup along the India-Pakistan border.