Daily News Analysis 06 June 2023

Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs | By

Table of Contents

GS-2

  1. In the short term, stabilise the Line of Actual Control

Facts for Prelims

  1. Foot rot disease
  2. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
  3. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

In the short term, stabilise the Line of Actual Control

Context

  1. The LAC, which separates India and China, has witnessed tense situations in recent years, such as the Doklam and Galwan crises.
  2. Media reports often highlight transgressions and stand-offs between Indian and Chinese troops along the LAC.
  3. The increasing mobilization of Chinese forces into Tibet and growing rhetoric and aggression from both countries raise concerns about a major conflict.

Need for Stability:

  1. The fragile and dangerous military assessment of the LAC in Eastern Ladakh emphasizes the importance of stability.
  2. A major conflict in the region could have adverse political and economic impacts globally.
  3. It is in the best interest of both countries to establish a stable LAC and foster peaceful relations.

Complexity of the Border Problem:

  1. The India-China border problem is complex and does not offer an immediate permanent solution.
  2. Chinese territorial claims include Arunachal Pradesh and occupied Aksai Chin, which they are unlikely to abandon.
  3. The Indian political establishment cannot make concessions for a mutually acceptable border settlement.

Effective Steps for LAC Stability:

  1. Delineate the LAC as a Line of Control (LC) on maps and on the ground without prejudice to border claims to reduce troop advancement.
  2. Designate disputed areas on the LAC as no entry zones or allow mutually agreed patrols by both sides to maintain status quo and build confidence.
  3. Explore the possibility of joint patrols in disputed areas to maintain stability and enhance confidence.
  4. Strengthen existing Confidence Building Measures and engagement mechanisms by empowering the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) and establishing more Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points for quick resolution of local issues.
  5. Use technology and improved surveillance to better monitor movements along the LAC, reducing the chances of face-offs and clashes.
  6. Maintain firmness in dealing with China\’s tactics while also identifying the underlying reasons for rising LAC incidents and working towards solutions.

Conclusion:

  1. The situation on the LAC requires control and minimized risk of a full-fledged conflict.
  2. Implementing steps such as converting the LAC into an LC, treating disputed areas as no entry zones, joint patrolling, and strengthening engagement mechanisms can contribute to peace and stability along the border.

It is crucial for both India and China to prioritize diplomatic efforts and find ways to maintain a benign relationship as neighboring giants.

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

Context

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently alerted states about smaller outbreaks for five diseases—typhoid, malaria, dengue, scrub typhus and hepatitis A.

Overview:

  1. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is an institute that operates under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  2. The Institute is led by the Director, who is an administrative and technical head and belongs to the Public Health sub-cadre of Central Health Service.

History:

  1. The NCDC has a historical background starting with the Central Malaria Bureau established in Kasauli in 1909, which later became the Malaria Survey of India in 1927.
  2. The organization moved to Delhi in 1938 and was renamed the Malaria Institute of India (MII).
  3. In 1963, due to the success of the National Malaria Eradication Programme, the MII expanded its scope to cover other communicable diseases and was renamed the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
  4. In 2009, the NICD transformed into the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with an expanded mandate to control emerging and re-emerging diseases.
  5. The headquarters of NCDC is located in New Delhi.

Functions:

  1. NCDC serves as the primary agency in the country for disease surveillance, aiming to prevent and control communicable diseases.
  2. It works in collaboration with State Governments, possessing the ability to conduct disease surveillance, investigate outbreaks, and respond rapidly to contain and combat them.
  3. NCDC also addresses the issue of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), which is a growing concern with significant consequences.

The institute provides diagnostic support, capacity building, and technical assistance to states and union territories (UTs) across the country.

Foot rot disease

Context

Recently, several farmers raised the concern over “foot rot” disease in the saplings of the Basmati variety of paddy in the nurseries.

About Foot Rot Disease:

  1. Also known as Bakanae Disease.
  2. It is a severe fungal infection that affects the Basmati variety of paddy.
  3. The disease is caused by the fungi called \’Fusarium verticillioides\’.
  4. Infected saplings show symptoms such as pale yellow color, elongation, and eventual drying, leading to death.
  5. In some cases, symptoms may appear after transplantation, where infected plants initially grow taller than normal plants but eventually die.

Key Facts about Basmati Rice:

  1. Basmati rice is widely known and valued for its quality, taste, and long grain length when cooked.
  2. It is primarily cultivated in seven states in India: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
  3. Basmati rice from these regions holds a Geographical Indication (GI) status.
  4. It has a significant market abroad and contributes to foreign exchange earnings of around ₹30,000 crores every year.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Context

The carcass of a two-year-old tigress was recently recovered from the buffer zone of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

Location:

  1. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is situated on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
  2. It encompasses the Dudhwa National Park and two nearby Sanctuaries, namely Kishanpur and Katerniaghat.
  3. The buffer zone includes forest areas of North Kheri, South Kheri, and Shahjahanpur divisions.

Rivers:

  1. The Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is bordered by the Sharda River.
  2. The Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is traversed by the Geruwa River.
  3. Within the Dudhwa National Park, the Suheli and Mohana streams flow, both being tributaries of the Ghagra River.

Vegetation:

  1. The reserve exhibits North Indian Moist Deciduous vegetation, with Sal forests (Shorea robusta) being prominent and well-preserved.
  2. Other tree species in the area include Terminalia alata (Asna), Lagerstroemia parviflora (Asidha), Adina cordifolia (Haldu), Mitragyna parviflora (Faldu), Gmelina arborea (Gahmhar), Holoptelea intgrifolia (Kanju), and more.

Fauna:

  1. The reserve is home to various mammals, including species such as Guldar, Tiger, Fishing cat, Monkey, Langur, Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian civet, Jackal, and more.
  2. It boasts a diverse avian population, comprising both resident and migratory birds, such as Dabchick, Spot-billed Pelican, Large Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Grey Heron, White Stork, Black Stork, White Ibis, and numerous others.

Reptiles found in the reserve include Mugger, Gharial, Python, Sandboa, Banded Krait, Russell\’s Viper, Rat Snake, and more.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top