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Here are the topics covered for 17 January 2024:
GS-1: Multidimensional Poverty Index
GS-2: India-Argentina
GS-3: Snow Leopards , National Framework of Climate Services (NFCS)
Facts For Prelims: Punganur Cow , Model-Based Lending
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
Context
- NITI Aayog has recently released the MPI that highlighted that in India since 2005-06 – 24.82 crore people have escaped multidimensional poverty in the last nine years.
Highlights of the Report
- There has been a decline of 17.89 percentage points in poverty in India i.e., from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23.
- Uttar Pradesh has been recorded as highest decline in poverty followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
- India is set to achieve SDG 1.2 i.e., to reduce multidimensional poverty by 2030.
- India is likely to reach single-digit poverty levels during 2024.
- Initiatives like the public distribution system (PDS), Poshan Abhiyan, and Anemia Mukt Bharat have helped India to decrease its poverty.
About MPI
- Since 2010, the UN\’s Human Development Report has used the MPI to go beyond income and measure poverty in all its dimensions.
- Now, India has its own national MPI, launched by NITI Aayog in 2021.
- This tailored index takes context into account, focusing on areas most relevant to India\’s fight against poverty.
- The report dives deep into national, state, and district levels, using data from 2015-16 to reveal who\’s falling through the cracks and how badly.
India-Argentina
Context
- India and Argentina have recently signed an agreement for the Lithium Exploration & Mining Project in Argentina.
More About News
- Indian government entity Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) has been granted exclusive rights to explore lithium projects.
- The agreement will ensure a resilient and diversified supply chain for critical and strategic minerals.
- It will also help in exploring brine-type lithium.
- Along with Bolivia and Chile, Argentina is a part of the ‘Lithium Triangle’.
- It contains over 75% of the existing known lithium reserves.
- India is heavily dependent on other countries for its lithium demand.
- Almost 5 million tonnes of lithium reserves were discovered in Jammu and Kashmir.
Snow Leopards
Context
- Darjeeling\’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has achieved remarkable success, breeding 77 snow leopards since the 1980s.
About Snow Leopard
- The snow leopard, a large cat native to Central and South Asia\’s mountains (including India\’s western Himalayas and eastern regions like Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh), plays a crucial ecological role as the top predator.
- Prey like marmots, wild sheep, and ibex sustain it, while its health serves as an indicator of the mountain ecosystem\’s well-being.
- Protection Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
About PNHZP
- Founded in 1958 as the Himalayan Zoological Park, the PNHZP, now located in Darjeeling, West Bengal, focuses on maintaining ecological balance in the Eastern Himalayas.
- The park has three main objectives:
- Ex-situ conservation and captive breeding of endangered Himalayan animal species.
- Raising awareness about Himalayan ecosystem conservation among local communities and visitors through education and outreach programs.
- Conducting applied research on animal biology, behavior, and healthcare.
- The PNHZP is a pioneer in captive breeding of endangered Eastern Himalayan species in India.
- The first ex-situ conservation breeding program started in 1986 with snow leopards.
- The Red Panda project followed in 1990.
- The PNHZP is the largest high-altitude zoo in India.
National Framework of Climate Services (NFCS)
Context
- The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) launched a NFCS that seeks to reduce losses from climate hazards and extreme weather events and to commemorate the 150th year of the IMD.
About NFCS
- It aims to strengthen science-based climate monitoring and prediction services\’ production, availability, delivery, and application.
- It will cover key sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, and disaster management.
- It is premised on the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) launched by the World Metrological Organization (WMO).
About IMD
- Established in 1875 it is one of the six Regional Specialized Metrological Centres of the WMO.
- With headquarters in New Delhi, it works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- It takes metrological observations and warns against severe weather phenomena.
Facts For Prelims
Punganur Cow
- The Prime Minister has recently fed this cow on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
- This cow is native to Punganur village in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
- It is 70-90cm tall and weighs around 115-200 kg.
- It has adaptability in hot and dry climates.
- Andhra Pradesh has even launched Mission Punganur to revive this breed.
Model-Based Lending
- The RBI has recently cautioned banks and NBFCs against model-based algorithmic lending.
- It uses digital technologies for credit assessment, loan approval, customer acquisition, disbursement, recovery, etc.
- It increases financial inclusion, and fintech collaboration, and facilitates innovative products.
- However, the RBI raises concerns about the accuracy of information, algorithmic biases, and exclusion of various sections.