In the winter session of Parliament, on 9 December 2021, Bhupendra Yadav, Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, presented a draft of an act to amend the Biodiversity Act, 2001.

The opposition demanded an intensive public discussion on the amendment.

The Joint Committee of Parliament, in a public notice on 16 December 2021, sought public opinion on these amendments within 15 working days.

People have to register their opinion, objections on these amendments by 31 January 2022.

There is a strong opposition to this amendment as it is about the only law of its kind which protects the natural wealth of the country. It is an umbrella law under which it protects India's natural resources, flora and fauna (flora and fauna) and the system of traditional knowledge associated with it.

It is designed to ensure the conservation of biodiversity, its sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits among the beneficiaries. Apart from this, this law is also a product of the United Nations conventions that have taken place on biological resources.

India recognizes the objectives of these international conventions and in particular the 'Nyoga Protocol'. This law is also directly related to India's patent, intellectual property rights and sovereignty.

The Ministry has introduced this draft of amendments only on the request of the beneficiaries of these special areas, whose declared main objectives are given in the following points, which are as follows-,

(i) It is necessary to reduce the pressure and dependence on wild medicinal plants and for this it is necessary to encourage the cultivation (production) of medicinal plants.

(ii) To promote Indian system of medicine.

(iii) To use the biological resources existing in India in such a way as to expedite research, patent application process, transfer of research results, without compromising with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and its NAYOGA Protocol Can go

(iv) to absolve of offenses contained in certain provisions

(v) To bring in maximum foreign investment keeping in view the research, patent and commercial interests of the range of biological resources without compromising on the interests of the country.

History

However, it took a long time for the term 'biodiversity' to be accepted in the language of forest management in India and the country's natural forests were seen as inferior due to the colonial approach and control of forest management. For a very long time, it was not seen from the point of view of biodiversity. If this was not the case, even today the natural forests of the country would not be recorded as 'mixed forest' in the 'Working Plan' of the Forest Department but as 'biodiversity-rich forests'. So.

In the initial working plan of the country in 1852, these forests were recorded as 'Shudra Van'. The word 'Shudra' in forest management has no scientific connotation but was seen as an expression of India's varna system. Later these were recorded as 'low forest' (degraded forest) then 'degraded forest'.

After 1992, when the United Nations gave importance to biological resources and traditional knowledge associated with it and stressed the need to take concrete steps regarding it, then the forest management of India also got a new language and terminology. From 2002 onwards, the Forest Department started recording these forests as 'mixed forests' in its working plan.

Two decades ago, when the Biodiversity Act came into force in 2002, it was called an epoch-making law that laid the foundation for recognizing the symbiotic relationships between communities living in forests and forests. This law took a progressive step to protect the biodiversity and claim benefits from the traditional knowledge of such communities and their knowledge system.

Later, the Forest Rights Recognition Act, 2006 also recognized the interdependent relationship between forests and communities and the traditional knowledge system as a right. If we look at the administrative side of this law, it came into existence for local self-government according to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and consequently the 11th and 12th Schedules added to the Constitution, which give importance to the jurisdiction of the 'Third Government' in the country. It creates an administrative structure in which the federal government, state governments and local governments of the country have played an autonomous but mutually cooperative role.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) based in Chennai, State Biodiversity Boards (SBDSs) and 2,50,000 Biodiversity Management Committees formed in 29 states of the country are the structures inspired by this decentralized system.

However, in the last two decades, there has not been much tangible impact at the local level, due to which the forest department had complete control over the forests till the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in 2008. Therefore, these local committees could not play any role both in principle and in practice in the 6 years from 2002 to 2008.

The formation of these committees was largely due to government efforts, so it was observed that the participation of local communities has not been as encouraging as seen after 2008, especially by those gram sabhas, which have been recognized for the rights of community forest resources under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Recognized.

These Gram Sabhas exercised the power conferred under Article 5 of the Forest Rights Act, which states that “Gram Sabhas shall use and control the community forest resources within their jurisdiction to protect wildlife, forests and biodiversity in any way.” not be harmed in any way”.

However, the manner in which all the state governments have shown political reluctance regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Recognition Act and have repeatedly given preference to other laws against its original objectives and intentions, due to the role of these local committees and biodiversity. Not even a fraction of the potential inherent in them has been revealed in the direction of conservation and promotion.

Along with mentioning the Forest Rights Recognition Act, it is also necessary to talk about the Eleventh (11)th and XIIth (12) Schedules, which were to be followed through laws like the Panchayati Raj Act, 1992 and the PESA Act, 2006 and which were to be implemented by local authorities. Gives local communities the rights to use, conserve and enhance resources in accordance with the traditional knowledge system.

What are the main objections and doubts ?

As Bhupendra Yadav has said while explaining the need for changes in this law, the present form of this law has objections to the institutions and agencies related to the medical sector, seed-producing sector, industry sector, and research sector. Therefore, it is certain that these proposed amendments are being brought keeping in mind the interests of these four areas.

Medical field- Indian system of medicine and AYUSH of the government have been cited for this, but in fact, on the pretext of this Ayurveda, which one non-profit trust has established control of the country's market in a very short time on the biological wealth of the country? This thing is done is not hidden from anyone. The performance and utility of AYUSH department is yet to be established.

Interestingly, a not-for-profit trust known as Patanjali (Divya Pharmacy Case) has been accused of exploitation of biological wealth and profit sharing with local communities because of this law. This current law gives special importance to local traditional knowledge and puts their interests first, which poses difficulties for such commercial but self-professional establishments to plunder organic wealth. So these apprehensions are reinforced as to what these amendments are ultimately trying to pave the way for in the medical field.

In the annual report of the Protection of Plants Variety and Farmers Rights Authority (Protection of Plants Variety and Farmers Rights Authority), it has been told that according to the annual report of the PPVFR Authority, the year 2021 A total of 602 applications have been received by the authority in which 237 applications are from private sector, 193 are from public sector and 172 are from farmers. Of these applications, 242 applications were received for crops that are becoming extinct (based on shared knowledge), 186 applications for seeds of new crops and 2 applications for gene production.

These figures create a picture that the private sector or the public sector, ready to go into private hands tomorrow, is looking at its future in the field of biological property. Undoubtedly, coming here, the important purpose of these amendments is also to encourage foreign investment.

There is also a special provision in this Act that if a 'seed company' of a group of farmers has obtained rights or permission under the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers' Rights, 2001, then that group should be licensed again under the Biodiversity Act. will not be needed.

It is noteworthy that the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers' Rights, 2001 gives seed companies intellectual property rights to the seeds they have developed and also gives these rights to farmers on the seeds they have traditionally protected.

It is also not a mere coincidence that a capable officer of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority has been serving in the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change for some time.

Industry Sector - Against the disputed agricultural laws, there is a general opinion in the country that they have been brought only for the unfettered possession of the industrialists on agriculture and farming. The government of the country could not give any concrete answer to this allegation. These may have been put on the back burner in view of practical politics and impending elections, but there has been no change in the intention of the government.

This amendment should also be viewed from this point of view. Amendment in this law is necessary for big multinational corporate houses eager to invest in forest based food items and agri-commodity sector.

The recently released Global Canopy Report Forest 500 tells us about one such big business that is based entirely on the destruction of forests and that is forever involved in our daily lives to meet our food needs. have been So far, the business of such industries/companies all over the world has been worth $ 500 trillion, which is more than double the GDP of the United Kingdom.

Although this business is mainly focused on palm oil, soya, dairy and timber, but ultimately its basic need is uninterrupted control of natural forests. It is not a coincidence that industrial initiatives are also taking place in making seeds and jeans, whose eyes are also on these natural forests.

As the demand for energy is increasing around the world, so is our consumption of fossil fuels. Due to which there is a huge increase in the emission of greenhouse gases that have an adverse effect on the environment. To address this, scientists are exploring alternative, renewable sources of energy.

Hydrogen can be produced from organic waste, or the "biomass" of plants and animals. Biomass also absorbs and stores CO2 from the atmosphere. Whereas biomass decomposition can also be a way to remove emissions or greenhouse gases. How to get maximum energy from biomass is a big question.

converting biomass to gas

There are currently two main methods used to convert biomass into energy. The first of which is the gasification or conversion of biomass to gas and the second is pyrolysis. The solid or liquid biomass is heated to a temperature of about 1000 °C to convert it into gas and solid compounds. This gas is called "syngas" while the solid is called "biochar".

Let us tell here that biochar is a substance made from plants, which is stored in the soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the form of charcoal. It is also used as a fertilizer in agriculture.

Syngas is a mixture of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons. These are what are used as "biofuels" to generate electricity. Biochar, on the other hand, is often regarded as a solid carbon waste, although it can be used in agriculture.

biomass pyrolysis

The second method, biomass pyrolysis, is similar to gasification, except that the biomass is heated to a lower temperature, between 400 and 800 °C, and to a pressure of up to 5 bar in an inert atmosphere. There are three types of pyrolysis: conventional, rapid and flash pyrolysis. Of the three, the first two take the most time.

Flash pyrolysis occurs at 600 °C and produces the most syngas and has the shortest residence time. Unfortunately, it also needs special reactors that can handle the high temperatures and pressures.

Use of banana peels for hydrogen production

Now scientists led by Professor Hubert Girault in the School of Basic Sciences of the cole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a new method for biomass photo-pyrolysis. Which not only produces valuable syngas, but also produces solid carbon biochar that can be reused.

This method performs flash light pyrolysis using xenon lamps, which are commonly used to cure metallic inks for printed electronics. Girault's team has also used the system over the years for other purposes, such as synthesizing nanoparticles.

The lamp's white flash light provides a powerful energy source as well as vibrations that promote photo-thermal chemical reactions. This is to generate a powerful flash light shot, which the biomass absorbs. Which helps in instant a photothermal biomass conversion into syngas and biochar.

This flashing technique was used on various sources of biomass. Banana peel, corn kernels, orange peel, coffee beans and coconut peel, all of which were initially dried at 105 °C for 24 h and then grinded to a fine powder.

The powder was then placed in a stainless steel reactor with a standard glass window at ambient pressure and in an inert atmosphere. The xenon lamp glows and the entire energy conversion process is completed in a few milliseconds.

Each 1 kg of dry biomass can produce about 100 liters of hydrogen and 330 grams of biochar. It accounts for up to 33 watts of the mass of a dried banana peel. In this method, the calculated energy per kg of dry biomass was 4.09 megajoules (MJ).

What stands out in this method is that both its end products, hydrogen and solid-carbon biochar, are valuable. Hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel, while carbon biochar can be used as a fertilizer or it can be used to manufacture conductive electrodes.

Problems with domestic and international flight schedules in the US in the past few days have restarted a years-long debate over whether to implement fifth-generation mobile networks or 5G around the world.

Even though flights have resumed, concerns still remain. Further investigation is needed in all countries where 5G is currently being implemented or is planning to be implemented.

On January 17, 2022, a letter written by major US airlines expressed concern over 5G technology implementation around airports disrupting flight navigation systems.

The paper deals with the interference in the 'C' band of the 5G spectrum with radio frequencies ranging from 3.7 to 3.98 GHz. It warned of a looming aviation crisis to come in the next 36 hours. Many international airlines, including India's Air India, had stopped their operations in the US.

The C-band frequency range of 5G wireless technology is very close to the 4.2 to 4.4 GHz range used by altimeters in aircraft.

Altimeters are used by aircraft to measure altitude and calculate the distance between aircraft and destination, especially in low visibility conditions.

The C-band range in the US is closest to the altimeter range, while in many other countries, including India (530 MHz), there is a considerable difference between the frequencies of the C-band and the altimeter range. America is using the highest power of the band to speed up the communication.

The chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines wrote in the letter that "until our major hubs are approved to fly, most travel and shipping cannot take place."

These concerns have been around for many years and now the magnitude is clear. The Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics or RTCA, a private non-profit organization established in 1935, in its October 2020 report, identified the risks that 5G technology in the C band could pose to all types of aircraft.

"This risk is widespread and has the potential to have a wide-ranging impact on aviation operations in the US, many of which could potentially be fatal," the report said.

The report analyzed altimeter risks in three categories of aircraft:

• commercial aircraft used to transport passengers and cargo

• Commercial aircraft used for regional transport, trade, and general aviation

• helicopter

These risks arise from three different sources, which can generate radio frequencies in the mid range of 5G wireless technology. Its sources are 5G base stations on the ground, 5G user equipment on the ground and 5G user equipment on the aircraft.

The report highlights that most of the risks are for class II and III aircraft and that the risk comes from the base station on the ground, the first source of 5G radio waves.

According to the report, there is a higher risk for first-class aircraft only in certain situations. Nevertheless, its consequences would be disastrous.

Another research paper published in the journal Transportation Research Procidia talks of less research on the effects of 5G radio waves. There has been little research into the waves emanating from mobile phones in aircraft and the various systems used by aircraft to fly.

This paper confirms that "modern mobile phones (especially 5G phones) are a 'high power emitter' capable of producing severe EMI. EMI is electromagnetic interference. Radio waves , are part of the electromagnetic wave spectrum.

The risk of altimeter failure comes not only from interference with the C-band frequency of 5G in the altimeter range, but also from unwanted emissions in the 4.2 to 4.4 GHz range, as per the RTCA report. Although this emission is low, its risks are very high.

According to the report's calculations, in the worst case, the safe limit for radio waves can be 47 dB (decibels) for second class aircraft and up to 45 dB for third class aircraft.

In case of unwanted emissions, this limit can be increased to 27 dB and 12 dB for both these categories of aircraft. The media around the world only talks about the risk to the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 and other large aircraft.

The RTCA report also states that the measures to keep aircraft safe with 5G wireless technology cannot be taken by airline companies or airport authorities alone.

It said that "it will be assumed that the Aeronautical Safety Service (in this case 5G technology providers) will be allowed to continue working but it will be their responsibility to act promptly and resolve the adverse situation."

Many countries have implemented different measures. For example, instructions to keep 5G ground equipment away from incoming or outgoing aircraft or to reduce the power of 5G equipment around them. But it is not known whether these measures are enough to ensure complete protection.

As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture released three pictorial books on 75 unsung heroes of the freedom struggle.

These pictorial books were released in association with "Amar Chitra Katha".

The book will highlight the contributions of heroines like Rani Abka, Parvati Giri and Matangini Hajra, Chakli Ilamma.

The book celebrates the lives of these women who led the campaign and lit the flames of protest and rebellion across the country.

It contains stories of queens who fought against British powers. These women dedicated and sacrificed their lives for the motherland.

first series

Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi launched the first of the series on January 28, 2022 in Delhi. The first part is devoted to 20 women, whose contributions remain largely unrecognized. The 20 women included:

Queen Abbakka – She was the first Tuluva queen of Ullal. He fought the Portuguese in the late 16th century.

Matangini Hazra – She was a Bengali revolutionary. In September 1942, he was shot dead by the British Indian Police.

Chakli Ilamma – His act of defiance against the local zamindar inspired many during the rebellion in the Telangana region.

Parvati Giri – She is known as Mother Teresa of Western Odisha. She was a prominent female freedom fighter from Odisha.

Gulab Kaur – She was a freedom fighter who gave up her dreams of life abroad to mobilize Indians against the British Raj.

Padmaja Naidu – She was the daughter of Sarojini Naidu and a freedom fighter. Later she became the Governor of West Bengal.

Bishni Devi Shah – She inspired a large number of people in Uttarakhand to join the freedom movement.

second edition of the series

The second edition of this series is in the process. It will include stories of 25 anonymous tribal freedom fighters.

third edition

The third and final edition of the series will feature the stories of 30 unknown heroes.

How can one get access to these books?

These books will be available free of cost in digital format on Amar Chitra Katha App.

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Neeraj Chopra brought laurels to India by winning the country's first athletic gold medal. At the Tokyo Olympics, Chopra won a medal with a javelin throw of 87.58 metres.

Achievements of Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2018. In 2020, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal. In 2016, Chopra was enrolled in the Rajputana Rifles as a Naib Subedar. He was part of the Mission Olympic Wing operating at the Army Sports Institute based in Pune. Mission Olympic Wing was an initiative of the Indian Army. Under this initiative, the Army has identified deserving sportspersons and trained them in various disciplines.

naib subedar

It is a rank in the Indian Army. Naib Subedar is a Junior Commissioned Officer. Their ranks are lower than that of lieutenants and higher than those of sergeants.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal

The award was instituted in 1960. It is given for services in peacetime. legally constituted armed forces, territorial forces, reserve forces; Assistant and Nursing Officer are eligible for this award. It is equivalent to the best Yudh Seva Medal. It is below Padma Bhushan and above Mahavir Chakra.

This medal is round in shape. Its diameter is 35 mm. It is made of gold gilt. A five pointed star is embossed on this medal.

military awards in india

• Shanti Kaal: Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal

• Wartime: Yudh Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

• Wartime or Peacetime Service Awards: Vayu Sena Medal (Vayu Sena), Sena Medal (Sena) and Nausena Medal (Nausena)

The Jagan Mohan Reddy government of Andhra Pradesh has recently created 13 new districts. Districts were created on the basis of parliamentary constituencies. With this, the total number of districts in Andhra Pradesh has gone up to 26.

new district

Araku Lok Sabha constituency in Visakhapatnam is divided into two districts.

Andhra Pradesh has 26 districts – Srikulam, Vizianagaram, Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju District, Visakhapatnam, Sri Balaji District, Chittaur, Annamayya, YSR Cuddapah, Sri Sathyasai District, Anantapuram, Nandyal, Kurnool, SPS Nellore, Prakasam, Palnadu, Bapatla, Guntur, NTR District, Krishna, Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Kona Border, Kakinada, Anakapalli.

Earlier in 1979 a new district was created in undivided Andhra Pradesh. This was Vizianagaram district.

How are new districts formed in India?

The power to create a new district rests with the state government. This is done either by passing a law in the state assembly or through an executive order. State Governments may also pass notification in the Official Gazette.

Why are new districts created?

According to the state governments, it is easier to administer if the districts are smaller. Smaller and more districts means more officers with less population. The grievances of the people can be resolved easily. Scheme implementation and fund transfer becomes easy.

What is the role of the central government in creating districts?

The central government has no role in creating new districts. The Home Ministry gets involved only when the state government wants to change the name of the railway station.

What is the current scenario of Indian districts?

According to the 2011 census, there were a total of 593 districts in India. Between 2001 and 2011, 46 districts were created. According to 'Know India' (a website of the Government of India), there are 718 districts in the country. The increase in numbers was mainly due to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. This number has not been added to the newly created Andhra Pradesh districts.

The United Nations' culture agency, UNESCO (UNESCO), added Nordic "clinker boats" to its heritage list in December 2021.

Wooden sailboats have allowed the peoples of northern Europe to spread influence, trade and sometimes war across continents and seas for thousands of years.

Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway jointly demanded UNESCO.

The word "clinker" is believed to refer to the way wooden boards were fastened together.

Viking Ship Museum

The Viking Ship Museum is located in Roskilde, west of Copenhagen. It not only displays the remains of wooden ships that were built 1,000 years ago, but also works towards rebuilding other Viking boats. This construction process involves the use of experimental archaeological methods to gain a deeper and insightful understanding of the Viking Age.

Features of wooden clinker boats

Wooden clinker boats are characterized by the use of overlapping longitudinal wooden hull planks. These planks are joined together. The boats are internally strengthened by additional wooden components, especially tall oak trees.

World Heritage Site

A World Heritage Site is an area or landmark that is legally protected by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These sites are designated by UNESCO to be of historical, cultural, scientific or other kind of importance. These sites are recognized worldwide as cultural and natural heritage, important to humanity.

number of world heritage sites

As of July 2021, there are 1,154 World Heritage Sites in 167 countries. Of these, 897 are cultural, 218 natural and 39 mixed properties. Italy, with 58 selected regions, is the country with the most sites on the UNESCO list.