Gist of The Hindu : JULY 2024

Gist of The Hindu: JULY- 2024

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Bhil tribe

Recently, a large number of people from the Bhil tribe gathered at a rally in Rajasthan’s Mangarh Dham and again raised the “long due” demand for an independent ‘Bhil state’.

About Bhil tribe:

Bhils are considered as one of the oldest tribes in India.
The name 'Bhil' is derived from the word villu or billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as Bow.
They could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
They are mainly divided into two main groups: the central and eastern or Rajput Bhils.
The central Bhils are found in the mountain regions in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Bhils are also found in the north eastern parts of Tripura.
Language: They speak Bhili, which is an Indo Aryan language.
Religion practice among the Bhils differ from place to place.
Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called 'vaghdev'.
They consult Badvas -the hereditary sorcerers on all the occasions.
Main festivals: The Baneshwar fairis the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivratri and is dedicated to Baneshwar Mahadev also known as Lord Shiva.

Flower Flies

Researchers of the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) of Christ College, Irinjalakuda, have reported two species of flower flies for the first time from Kerala.

About Flower Flies:

Mesembrius bengalensisand quadrivittatus have been discovered from the Kole wetlands and Vilagan Kunnu hillocks of Thrissur district.
Flower flies belong to the family Syrphidae of order Diptera and are commonly called flower files because they are frequent visitors of flowers like bees and wasps.
They are flies that evolved to mimic bees or wasps to escape from their predators.
Ecological role: Flower flies are important pollinators. Larvae of these flies are excellent biological control agents and nutrient recyclers.

Key facts about Kole wetlands

It is the largest brackish, humid tropical wetland ecosystem located in the state of Kerala.
Extending from the northern bank of Chalakudy Riverin the south to the southern bank of Bharathapuzha River in the north
It is situated in the central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.

National Clean Air Programme

A new study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that road dust mitigation works undertaken to reduce particulate matter 10 (PM10) pollution is draining a lion’s share — 64% — of funds under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

About National Clean Air Programme:

It was launched in January, 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
It is a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner.

Objectives

Stringently implementing mitigation measures to prevent, control, and abate air pollution.
Strengthening an air quality monitoring network across the country.
Increasing public awareness and capacity building measures.

Target

NCAP envisages reduction by 20-30% in PM 10 concentration over baseline in year 2017 by 2024.
Target has been revised to achieve reduction in PM10 level up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 µg/m3) by 2025-26.

Implementation

In accordance with the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will execute this nationwide program.
131 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country for the implementation of the programme.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme

The tea industry has sought higher rates under the RoDTEP scheme to make exports more competitive in overseas markets.

About RoDTEP Scheme:

It is a flagship export promotion scheme of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The WTO-compliant scheme aims to refund to the exporters the embedded central, state, and local duties and taxes paid on inputs that have so far not been refunded or rebated.
RoDTEP was announced in September 2019 with the aim of boosting domestic exports and replacing the export incentive scheme, Merchandise Exports from India (MEIS) scheme.
This came after a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling stated that the MEIS scheme violated the provisions of the trade agency as it was providing export subsidies for a several range of goods.
The government decided to extend the benefit of the RoDTEP scheme to all goods, with effect from January 1, 2021, according to a notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
By providing support to crucial export sectors, the government aims to not only enhance their competitiveness but also create employment opportunities and contribute to overall economic growth, aligning with the vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Features:

This scheme is open to both manufacturers and merchant exporters, without any threshold of turnover.
The most important condition is that such goods should have been directly exported by such a person.
The RoDTEP scheme covers physical exports as well as outbound shipments of services from India. Service providers can also claim refunds on applicable hidden levies.
A rebate will have to be claimed as a percentage of the Freight On Board value of exports.
It will be implemented by Customs through a simplified IT System.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research

The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is building a new ocean research vessel to explore the deep Indian Ocean for rare minerals and metals as part of India's Deep Ocean Mission.

About National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research:

It is an autonomous research instituteestablished in 1998.
It is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms.
It is tasked with planning and executing polar expeditions and scientific research in Antarctica, Arctic, Himalayas and the Southern Ocean.
It is the nodal agency for planning, promoting, coordinating, and executing the entire gamut of polar and southern ocean scientific research in the country and the associated logistics activities.
It also undertakes research on some of the country’s strategically vital projects like mapping of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), continental shelf margins and the Deep Ocean Mission.
The Center maintains a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to help guide and concentrate the research activities.
Location: It is located in Vasco da Gama, Goa, and was formerly known as the National Center for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR).
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India.

Second Thomas shoal

Recently, China and the Philippines have struck a deal to defuse tensions on a contested Second Thomas shoal in the South China Sea.

About Second Thomas shoal:

It is a submerged reef (locally known as Ayungin) located in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea.
The Philippines first took possession of the feature in The Philippine outpost on Second Thomas Shoal is the BRP Sierra Madre.

What is the issue?

The Second Thomas Shoal lies about 108 nautical miles (200 km) from the Philippine island of Palawan.
China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, based on the historical and controversial Nine-dash line. China’s claims cut into the EEZs of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
In 2013, the Philippines had filed a case against China with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, challenging the legality of China’s claims and activities in the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal.
The court ruled in favour of the Philippines in 2016, but China rejected the judgment.