11 July 2023 Current Affairs Quiz

The answer is B.
Statements 1,3 and 4 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong.
Statement 1: It prohibits the use of forest land for non-forest purposes without prior permission from the central government.
Statement 2. The Act grants significant power to the Central government to enforce its provisions and make rules regarding forest conservation.
Statement 3. State governments are restricted from dereserving forest land or using it for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of the central government.
Statement 4. Prior approval of the Central Government is necessary to issue mining leases in forest areas.
CONTEXT:
A parliamentary committee has supported proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, of 1980, despite objections from various groups. The amendments aim to clarify the applicability of the Act and encourage afforestation efforts. However, critics argue that the changes dilute protections for forests and allow for activities that could compromise their integrity. Some concerns include exemptions for certain projects near international borders, the renaming of the law, and the removal of Central protection for deemed forests. The Environment Ministry defends the amendments, stating that they address ambiguities and promote forest conservation and livelihood opportunities. The Bill will be presented in Parliament during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
FOREST CONSERVATION ACT 1980:
1. The Forest Conservation Act, of 1980 is a law enacted by the Indian government to protect and preserve forests in the country. It was introduced to address the alarming rate of deforestation and promote the regeneration of forests.
2. The Act replaced the previous Indian Forest Act, of 1927, which focused mainly on timber production and revenue generation.
3. The objective of the Forest Conservation Act is to maintain ecological balance, preserve forest resources, and promote afforestation.
4. It prohibits the use of forest land for non-forest purposes without prior permission from the central government.
5. The Act also establishes penalties for violations of its provisions.
6. The core idea is to strike a balance between the rights of tribal people and forest conservation.
Some key features of the Act include:
1. Central Government Control: The Act grants significant power to the central government to enforce its provisions and make rules regarding forest conservation. Any activities that involve the clearing of forests or felling of trees require prior permission from the Central Government
2. Advisory Committee: The central government has the authority to form an advisory committee to guide on forest conservation matters.
3. Restrictions on Dereservation: State governments are restricted from dereserving forest land( Dereserving forest land means taking away the status of ‘reserved forest’ from the forest land)or using it for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of the central government.
4. Penalties: The Act specifies penalties for individuals or organisations found guilty of violating its provisions.

5. Offences by Authorities and Government Offices: The Act holds government officials and authorities accountable for offences committed under their jurisdiction and requires them to prove that the offences were committed without their knowledge or that preventive measures were taken.

Additional KnowHow:
RESERVED FOREST vs PROTECTED FOREST:
1. In reserved forests, activities such as hunting and grazing are generally prohibited, unless specific orders are issued otherwise. Protected forests, on the other hand, may allow certain activities, such as hunting and grazing, for communities living on the fringes of the forest who depend on forest resources for their livelihood.
2. Reserved forests enjoy a higher degree of judicial protection and have strict measures in place to prevent poaching and hunting. Protected forests can be demarcated or undemarcated, depending on whether the limits of the forest have been specified through a formal notification.

● Indian Forest Act 1927: Who was the viceroy? (Think)

The answer is C.
All three joined hands to establish the turtle breeding and rehabilitation centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.

CONTEXT: Under the Namami Gange Programme, large scale human efforts have been undertaken since 2014 to clean the Ganga and rejuvenate the nearly 2,600­km river network. In this, marine life, especially turtles, has been playing a key role as well. In 2014, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Ministry of Forest joined hands with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the agency implementing the Namami Gange Programme. Since 2017, they have been running the turtle breeding and rehabilitation centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.

The answer is A.
National Mission for Clean Ganga

NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA:
1. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
2. The aims of the programme is to ensure effective abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensive planning and management and
to maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

The answer is B.
The AFSPA is in force in the States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council Area), Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and areas falling within the jurisdiction of the eight police stations of districts in Arunachal Pradesh bordering the State of Assam and also it is applicable in Jammu and Kashmir.
CONTEXT: Operating without the legal cover provided by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a major limitation that security forces are facing in Manipur, Army sources say. There has been no instance of attempts to snatch weapons from Army troops, even as a large number of weapons have been looted from other security forces
ARMED FORCES(SPECIAL POWERS) ACT 1958:
1. It grants special powers to the armed forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas.”
2. It was first enacted in 1958 and is applicable in certain states and regions, including parts of the northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.
3. Under the AFSPA, armed forces personnel have the authority to take actions such as opening fire, making arrests without a warrant, and conducting searches in areas declared as “disturbed.”
4. The act provides legal immunity to soldiers for their actions and protects them from prosecution, except with the sanction of the Central Government.
5. Section (3) of AFSPA empowers the governor of the state/Union territory to issue an official notification declaring the state or a region within as a “disturbed area”, after which the centre can decide whether to send in armed forces

The correct answer is A.
Statement 2 is correct. Statements 1, 3 and 4 are wrong.
Statement 1: Turtles are herbivorous and carnivorous too.
Statement 2:They can help in improving the Biological Oxygen Demand levels in rivers.
Statement 3:All tortoises are turtles but all turtles are not tortoises.
Statement 4: One major key difference is that tortoises spend most of their time on land while turtles are adapted for life spent in water.

Additional KnowHow:
1. Tortoises have more rounded and domed shells where turtles have thinner, more water-dynamic shells.
2. Turtle shells are more streamlined to aid in swimming.
3. One major key difference is that tortoises spend most of their time on land and turtles are adapted for life spent in water.
4. Tortoises have club-like forelegs and ‘elephantine’ hind legs. Because tortoises are often larger and heavier, their elephantine hind legs help them move around and carry the extra weight.
5. Turtles will have more flipper-like legs, or webbed feet to make it easier to cruise through the water.