About Indian vulture:

• The Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) is an Old-World vulture native to Asia.
• They are also known as Indian long-billed vultures due to their comparatively longer beak. 
• It is a medium-sized and bulky scavenger feeding mostly on the carcasses of dead animals.
• Females of this species are smaller than males.
• Distribution: These are native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
• Habitat: They are usually found in savannas and other open habitats around villages, cities, and near cultivated areas.
• Threats: The Indian vulture has suffered a 97-99% population decrease due to poisoning caused by the veterinary drug This drug is toxic for vultures; it was given to working animals as it reduced joint pain and so kept them working for longer. 
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

About Qanat system:

• It is an ancient type of water-supply system, developed and still used in arid regions of the world.
• It taps underground mountain water sources trapped in and beneath the upper reaches of alluvial fans and channels the water downhill through a series of gently sloping tunnels.
• The qanats have been used for centuries in arid and semi-arid parts of north Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where water supplies are limited.
• It’s known by a variety of names, “foggara” in north Africa, “falaj” in Oman and “qarez” in parts of Asia.
• Many old qanāts are still used in Iran and Afghanistan, chiefly for irrigation.
• It’s a system that’s managed by everyone and its benefits are shared.
• Some of the region’s qanat systems, like those in Iran, are protected under heritage status.
• Significance of the system
  • The qanat is sustainable as it works with gravity and no electricity is needed. It can even be used to create clean energy.
  • Water lost to evaporation is minimal in comparison to surface water supplies.
  • It can have a wide scale impact. Qanats are multiple kilometres long and once this water hits a floodplain, it can irrigate multiple hectares of land.
  • It fosters social cohesion. Many people, with different skills, are involved in maintaining the system.
  • The lifespan of the system extends beyond that of a deep water well, which is only about 20 years. Tunnels do not clog as easily as wells.
  • The quality of water coming from the mountains is much better than water on the plains. It’ll have lower salinity and be better for crops and people.

About the African dream herb:

• A perennial climbing vine that is used by African traditional healers to induce vivid dreams that enables them to communicate efficiently with their ancestors.
• Common names: Giant sea bean, African dream herb, snuff box and Entada rheedii
• Distribution and habitat: It is indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia and Madagascar. It grows in tropical lowlands, along the coastline and river banks, in woodland, thickets and riverine rain forests.
• Uses
  • A paste made from the leaves, bark and roots is used to clean wounds, treat burns and heal jaundice in children.
  • Tea made from the whole plant is used to improve blood circulation to the brain and heal the after-effects of a stroke.
  • The bark is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and parasitic infections.
• This creeper yields a dark brown and spherical seed, almost the size of a human patella or kneecap, used to play ‘Hambi Kepathu’. Associated with the origin of the Karbi community.

What is Hambi Kepathu?

• It is also known as Simrit in some parts of Karbi Anglong, is played on three rectangular courts by two teams comprising three members each.
• Each member of a team has to place a ‘hambi’, or the glazed creeper seed, vertically on the midpoint of the boundary line of his court for a player of the rival team to hit with his ‘hambi’.
• Hambi Kepathu, whose name is derived from the first syllables of the names of a Karbi sister-brother duo, is a male-only game like other traditional Karbi games such as ‘Pholong’ (spinning top), ‘Thengtom Langvek’ (torch swimming), and ‘Kengdongdang’ (bamboo stilt race).

About Gentoo penguin:

• It is exclusively found in the Southern Hemisphere between 45 and 65 degrees south latitude.
• Within this range, gentoos are found on the Antarctic Peninsula as well as many sub-Antarctic islands.
• One of the most predominant locations gentoos inhabit is the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
• Habitat: Gentoo penguins typically are found along the shoreline. This allows the penguins to be able to quickly access food while remaining close to their nest.
• The major difference between gentoo penguins and other penguin species are their head markings.
• Gentoos feature two white wedges around their eyes that are connected by a medium-sized line across the tops of their heads.
• Their heads are mostly covered in black feathers but small flecks of white feathers can also be found.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

About SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) Scheme:

• It is an initiative of the State Bank of India (SBI)with the aim of raising money to finance environment-friendly projects.
• The deposit scheme is open to resident individuals, non-individuals, and non-resident Indian (NRI) customers.
• The current framework permits green deposits to be denominated in rupees only.
• It offers investors the flexibility to choose from three distinct tenors: 1,111 days, 1,777 days, and 2,222 days.
• Interest Rate:
  • SGRTD will offer 10 basis points (bps) interest rates below the card rate for retail and bulk deposits for respective tenors.
  • Senior Citizens/ Staff/ Staff Senior Citizens are eligible for an additional interest rate over the applicable rate for the public.
  • The benefit of additional interest shall not be available to NRI Senior Citizens/NRI Staff.
• Premature withdrawals are allowed under the scheme.
• Loan/ overdraft facility will be available against the deposit.

What is a Green Deposit?

• A Green deposit is an interest-bearing deposit, received by the regulated entities (RE) for a fixed period, the proceeds of which are earmarked for being allocated towards green finance.
• The deposits raised under the framework are covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

About BS-VI Norms:

• Bharat stage (BS) emission standards are laid down by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine and spark-ignition engine equipment, including motor vehicles.
• India has adopted BS Emission Standards since 2000, modelled on European Union norms.
• The first emission norms with the name ‘India 2000’ were introduced in the year 2000. BS2 and BS3 were introduced in 2005 and 2010, while BS4 norms came into effect in 2017 with stricter emission standards or norms.
• The BS standards regulate tailpipe emissions of air pollutants, including particulate matter, SOx, and NOx, as well as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and methane.
• Who sets them? The standards and timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• In April 2020, India leapfrogged from BS-IV to the implementation of BS-VI. The central government has mandated that vehicle makers must manufacture, sell, and register only BS-VI (BS6) vehicles from April 1, 2020.
  • It is applicable for cars, trucks, buses, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers (motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds).
  • This emission norm does not apply to off-highway equipment and vehicles such as tractors, back-hoe loaders, excavators, etc.
• Difference between BS-IV and BS-VI:
  • Both BS-IV and BS-VI are unit emission norms that set the maximum permissible levels for pollutants that an automotive or a two-wheeler exhaust can emit.
  • Compared to BS4, BS6 emission standards are stricter. 
  • The main difference is in the amount of sulphur in the fuel, which is reduced from 50 ppm in BS IV fuel to 10 ppm in BS VI fuel for both gasoline and diesel. Hence, BSVI engines produce less harmful emissions and pollutants.

About Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

• What is it? It is a proposed European Union (EU) tariff on carbon-intensive products.
• Purpose: To put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon intensive goods that are entering the EU and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.
• It was adopted on May 17, 2023, and the CBAM transitional period started October 1, 2023.
• It is designed to counter the risk of carbon leakage and operates by imposing a charge on the embedded carbon content of certain imports that is equal to the carbon price of domestic production.
• How does it Work? 
  • If implemented as planned, EU importers will have to buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid in the EU if the goods had been produced locally.
  • The price of the certificates would be calculated according to the auction prices in the EU carbon credit market.
  • The amount of certificates required would be defined yearly by the quantity of goods and the embedded emissions in those goods imported into the EU.
  • Companies in countries with a domestic carbon pricing regime equivalent to the EU’s will be able to export to the EU without buying CBAM certificates.
  • The CBAM will initially affect goods imported from non-EU countries that are particularly carbon-intensive, namely specified goods within the cement, electricity, fertilisers, aluminium, iron, steel, and hydrogen sectors, as well as some upstream and downstream products (mainly iron, steel, and aluminium). 
• Transition Period:
  • In the transitional phase of the implementation of the CBAM, from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, affected companies are subject to a reporting obligation without financial obligations.
  • During this period, importers must determine and document direct and indirect emissions that occur in the course of the production process of the imported goods.
  • In addition, affected EU importers are obliged to prepare a quarterly CBAM report that provides information on the imported quantity of CBAM goods, the direct and indirect embedded emissions contained therein (reporting on indirect embedded emissions is initially only for cement, electric power, and fertiliser), as well as any carbon taxes effectively paid in the country of production.
• With the start of certificate trading from January 1, 2026, importers are obliged to purchase sufficient emission allowances for imported embedded emissions during the year.

About Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka State.
• The tiger reserve derives its name from ‘BILIGIRI ‘, the white rocky cliff which has a temple of Lord ‘VISHNU’, locally known as ‘Rangaswamy’.
• This unique bio-geographical entity, situated in the middle of the bridge between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats in South India, was constituted as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974. BRT Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2011.
• Vegetation: The forests of BRT Tiger Reserve are principally of dry deciduous type and are interspersed with moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen, and shola patches occurring at varying altitudes.
• Flora: The major species include Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia paniculata, Grewia teliaefolia, Terminalia alata, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia paniculata, etc.
• Fauna: Animals including tiger, elephant, leopard, wild dog, bison, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, sloth bear, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, varieties of reptiles, birds, etc., are found in the Tiger Reserve.

About Sponge farming:

• Sponge farming is a relatively new business opportunity that does not harm the marine environment.
• A sponge is a living animal which is made of loosely arranged cells that surround a skeleton of fibres.
• The specialised cells nestled within thousands of tiny chambers act as microscopic pumps, and tirelessly drawing water into the sponge’s body with their whip-like tails.
• Sponges provide homes for many other animals, plants, and microorganisms. In many cases, they all work together in a mutual symbiotic relationship.
• Sea sponges exist in all oceans around the world and make up 20% of the global silicon biological sink.
• This unique pumping mechanism, which helps sponges extract nutrition and oxygen, also purifies the ocean water by removing impurities, including sewage.
• Uniqueness: Sponges, unlike seaweed, possess remarkable resilience to climate change, require minimal maintenance, and command premium market prices.
• Reproduction: Most sponges are hermaphrodites, harbouring both male and female reproductive organs, enabling them to self-propagate effortlessly.
• New sponges emerge from small buds that detach from the parent sponge and begin independent growth. Even damaged or fragmented sponges can regenerate into new individuals.
• This remarkable regenerative ability underpins the ease and feasibility of commercial sponge farming.
• Uses:
  • These sponges are used for bathing and general hygiene because they are naturally antibacterial and antifungal and can resist odours.
  • Research has also shown that the spongy creatures play an important role themselves in combating climate change.
  • Their skeletons break down into microscopic pieces of silicon, which helps control the carbon cycle in the ocean and reduces the greenhouse effect.
  • Dissolved silicon is critical for the growth of diatoms, tiny organisms which absorb large amounts of CO2 in the ocean using photosynthesis.

About Hog deer:

• It is a solitary creature but sometimes spotted feeding in small groups in open fields when food there is plentiful.
• For the most part it is sedentary and does not migrate.
• Males tend to be territorial and mark their territory with glandular secretions.
• This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The females are slightly smaller than males and lack antlers.
• Distribution
  • It has a native geographic range throughout India, including the Himalayan foothills and Southeast Asia.
  • Humans have introduced free-ranging populations of this deer in Sri Lanka, Australia and the United States, including Texas, Florida, and Hawaii.
• Habitat:
  • It appears to prefer dense forests; however, they are often observed in clearings, grasslands and occasionally wet grasslands.
  • This variation is usually associated with time of year and food distribution.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Scheduled I 

Key facts about the Rajaji Tiger Reserve

• It is spread over three districts of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal.
• It is situated along the hills and foothills of the Shiwalik ranges.
• In the year 1983, Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary was merged with Motichur and Chilla wildlife sanctuaries and made into Rajaji National Park.
• It was named after the famous freedom fighter Rajgopalachari popularly known as “Rajaji”
• It’s location in a transition zone between temperate western Himalaya and central Himalaya enhances the species diversity.
• Vegetation: The area is covered with diverse forest types ranging from semi-evergreen to deciduous and from mixed broad-leaved to Terai grassland and has been classified as Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest type.
• Flora: Rohini, Palash, Shisham, Sal, Sandan, Khair, Arjun, Baans, Semul, Chamaror etc.
• Fauna: Tiger and Asian Elephants. Leopard, Jungle cat and Himalayan Black Bear etc.

About Pallas fish eagle:

• It is also known as Pallas’s sea eagle or band-tailed fish eagle, is a large, brownish sea eagle.
• It can be seen near lakes, marshes and large rivers, from lowlands to 5,000 metres of elevation.
• It feeds primarily on fish, but many other prey are part of its diet.
• It breeds usually near water in a large nest placed in a tall tree.
• Distribution: It is found in east Palearctic in Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. 
• It is partially migratory.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
• Threats: Humans contribute to the decline of this species through habitat degradation, pollution, and draining or overfishing lakes.

Key facts about the Chilika lake:

• It is a brackish water lake and a shallow lagoon with estuarine character spread across the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam in the state of Odisha.
• It is connected to the Bay of Bengal by a wide channel that mostly runs parallel to the Bay separated by a narrow spit.
• It is located at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
• It can be broadly divided into four ecological sectors based on salinity and depth, namely the southern zone, the central zone, the northern zone and the outer channel. 
• It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent.
• The Nalaban Island within the lake is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

About Wetland City Accreditation:

• The Ramsar Convention during COP12 held in the year 2015 approved a voluntary Wetland City Accreditation system.
• It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands.
• It also recognizes the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments and to take appropriate measures to conserve and protect these wetlands.
• This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.
• This scheme aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.  
• To be formally accredited, a candidate for WCA should satisfy the standards used to implement each of the six international criteria mentioned in Operational Guidance for WCA of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• Since Ramsar COP13, 43 cities from 17 countries have been officially recognized as “Wetland Cities”.

The three nominated cities include:

• Indore: Founded by Holkars. Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site in the city has been recognised as an important site for water bird congregation and is being developed as a Bird Sanctuary. A strong network of wetland mitras is engaged in bird conservation and sensitising the local community to protect Sarus Crane.
• Bhopal: Bhoj Wetland, Ramsar Site is the city’s lifeline, equipped with the world-class wetlands interpretation centre, Jal Tarang. Additionally, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has a dedicated Lake Conservation Cell.  
• Udaipur: Located in Rajasthan, the city is surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai. These wetlands are an integral part of the city’s culture and identity, help maintain the city’s microclimate, and provide a buffer from extreme events.

About Northeast African Cheetah:

• It is found in the Horn of Africa.
• It is also known as the Sudan cheetah. This subspecies is more closely related to the Southern African cheetah than to Saharan cheetah populations.
• The cheetah’s long tail helps it keep its balance when changing direction mid-chase. Cheetahs can make even 90-degree turns with ease while sprinting.
• Appearance: Like it’s relative to the south in East Africa, the Northeast African cheetah is fairly large. Physically, it most resembles the East African cheetah.
• Distribution: Contemporary records are known in South Sudan and Ethiopia. These animals live in wide open lands, grasslands, semi-arid areas, and other open habitats where prey is abundant such as in the East Sudanian Savanna.
• Threat: The subspecies’ cubs are being heavily trafficked across the Red Sea to Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. 
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Vulnerable

About Sikki Grass:

• Sikki grass belongs to the zizanoides grass family.
• It is a rich yellowish variety of reed grass, locally known as ‘Kaincha’ is called Golden Grass due to its golden luster on drying.
• Scientifically called Chrysopogon zizanioides, it finds mention in ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Ramayana, where it is referred to as viran, sugandhimool, ushir and nalad. 
• This grass grows indigenously in the Tarai regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and has an average height of 3-4 feet.
• While the stem is used to make artefacts, the roots are used for extracting oil that is used both for perfumery and medicinal purposes. 
• In the hilly terrains, it is also now grown to arrest soil erosion.
• Sikki got the geographical identification tag in 2018.
• Uses:
  • It is most known for its handicraft. It has been a source of livelihood for many since antiquity.
  • It is used to make traditional items such as multipurpose baskets, ornaments, show pieces and many more utility items that are still considered valuable in rural India.
• Challenges
  • One of the serious challenges that Sikki craftsmen are facing currently is the brunt of climate change that has impacted the quality of the grass.
  • The deteriorating quality of grass due to continual spike in temperature that impacts the softness of Sikki.
  • Brittle grass needs extra processing time and is not suitable for making baskets or other artefacts. 

About Kuno National Park:

• Location:
  • It is located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
  • It is nestled near the Vindhyan Hills.
• It is named after the Kuno River(one of the main tributaries of the Chambal River) that cuts across it.
• Initially established as a wildlife sanctuary, it was only in 2018 that the government changed its status into a national park.
• It was selected under ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’. It has gained international recognition for conservation and restoration because of the recent reintroduction of cheetahs.
• Vegetation: The vegetation in the park varies from tropical dry deciduous forest to savannah grasslands. 
• Landscape: It is characterized by rocky hills, ravines, and plateaus.
• Flora: Kardhai, Salai, and Khair trees dominate the forested area.
• Fauna:
  • The protected area of the forest is home to the jungle cat, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, and dhole, along with more than 120 bird species.

About Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It lies partly within Khurda and partly in Cuttack Districts of Odisha State, and is in close proximity to the state capital, Bhubaneswar.
• It is nestled in the Khordha uplands of the ‘North-Eastern Ghats’ biotic region.
• Spread over 193.39 sq.km of rolling table land and small sprawling hillocks, it is a wildlife sanctuary since August 1982.
• It is known for the successful conservation of elephants, which is the principal species here.
• Vegetation: The floral diversity of the sanctuary is distributed in six types, which include secondary moist miscellaneous semi-evergreen forests, moist Kangada (Xyliaxylocarpa) forests, Coastal Sal forests, thorny bamboo brakes, planted Teak, and Eupatorium scrub.
• There are two water reservoirs, Deras Dam and Jhumka Dam, situated within the sanctuary.
• Flora: The main tree species are Kochila, Kalicha, Belo, Kangada, Giringa, Sunari, Sal, Kumbhi, Jamu, Karanja, Teak, and Sidha.
• Fauna:
  • Apart from elephants, other mammals include Leopard, Chital, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Wild pig, Common langur, Rhesus monkey, small Indian civet, etc.
  • Prominent birds of the sanctuary are Peafowl, Red jungle fowl, Crested serpent eagle, Great horned owl, Black headed oriole, etc.