Why in the News?

The National Security Guard (NSG) is actively combating the encroachment of the invasive plant species known as vilayati kikar at its Manesar campus, situated near the Delhi-Ajmer highway.

What is Prosopis Juliflora?

• Prosopis juliflora, a shrub or small tree belonging to the Fabaceae family and classified as a type of mesquite, is indigenous to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean.
• Introduced to Delhi by the British in the 1920s during the construction of the national capital, this species is locally known by various names in India, including Bellary jaali, seemai karuvelam, seemai jaali, gando baval, and vilayati kikar.
• Known for its high ecological adaptability, Prosopis juliflora can thrive in diverse soil types, ranging from sand dunes to clay, and from saline to alkaline soils.
• It exhibits a wide altitude range, growing below 200 to above 1500 meters above sea level, with a mean annual rainfall varying from 50 to 1500 mm.
• However, despite its adaptability, it is recognized as an invasive plant with a propensity for vigorous growth, enabling it to outcompete indigenous plant species.

Impacts on the Environment: This invasive species pose significant environmental challenges:

• Prosopis juliflora absorbs more than four litres of water to produce one kilogram of biomass.
• The plant generates less oxygen and more carbon dioxide, making it less conducive to supporting bird habitats.
• It has the potential to contaminate groundwater, posing risks to the overall quality of this vital resource.
• The species contributes to land erosion by displacing grasslands that serve as habitats for native plants and animals.
• The invasive nature of Prosopis juliflora raises concerns about its ecological impact and necessitates efforts to manage and control its spread in affected regions.

Why in the News?

The central government has introduced changes to the rules governing the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for white goods, specifically air conditioners and light-emitting diode lights, with the goal of ‘simplifying the scheme’s operations’ and promoting the ease of doing business, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

What are White Goods?

• Major home appliances, commonly known as white goods, encompass substantial household devices like stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, and air conditioners.
• While these durable consumer durables were initially available only in white, contemporary options offer a variety of colours, yet they persistently retain the term "white goods."
• Renowned for their robustness and extended lifespan, white goods are engineered to endure the rigours of daily use.
• Additionally, the term "white goods" may extend to white fabrics, particularly linen or cotton, including items like curtains, towels, or sheets, which historically were crafted from white cloth.
• In the beverage industry, the term "white goods" refers to colourless spirits such as vodka or gin.

What is Brown Goods?

• Brown goods refer to relatively lightweight electronic consumer durables, including computers, digital media players, TVs, and radios.
• In contrast to large household appliances (white goods), brown goods are primarily geared towards entertainment, communication, and convenience.
• Typically featuring electronic components, these devices are designed to deliver audio, video, or data-related services as their primary functions.

What is Grey Goods?

• When a commodity is traded through distribution channels, which are unofficial but legal are known as the grey goods.
• They are goods that are traded in a specific area, where the manufacturer does not intend to sell the product, but with different specifications.
• Grey goods are sold without the knowledge of the original manufacturer.
• They are typically less costly than the ones that are available by the authorised distributor.
• Also, they might be made to pertain to some jurisdiction.
• Example: A factory-unlocked version of the iPhone. It is made to suit US standards but is sold in India for a lesser price than the iPhone made for Indian standards.
• When it comes to such Grey goods, the manufacturer does not provide any warranty for the product.

Why in the News?

Migratory birds have started their annual journey to Chilika Lake—India’s largest waterbird habitat in Odisha — ahead of winter this year.

About Chilika Lake:

• Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lake and a shallow lagoon with estuarine character spread across the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam in the state of Odisha in eastern India.
• It is considered to be the largest lagoon in India and is counted amongst the largest lagoons in the world.
• It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent.
• It is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the country, and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened Animals inhabit the Lake area for at least part of their life cycle.
• On account of its rich bio-diversity, Chilika Lake was designated as a "Ramsar Site", i.e. a wetland of International Importance.
• The Nalaban Island within the lake is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The National Wetlands, Mangroves and Coral Reefs Committee of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, have also identified the lake as a priority site for conservation and management.
• The Lake is a highly productive ecosystem, with rich fishery resources.
• The rich fishing grounds sustain the livelihood of more than 0.2 million fisherfolk who live in and around the lake.
• It has a great heritage value and maritime trade to the far east countries used to take place from here.
• It is the largest winter ground of migratory birds in the Indian sub-continent and home to more than 150 highly threatened Irrawaddy dolphins, which is the largest lagoonal population globally.
• It supports some of the largest congregation of migratory birds from large parts of Asia, particularly during the winters that arrive from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and South East Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas to feed and breed in its fertile waters.

Why in the News?

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently shared a satellite image of Deception Island, one of the only places in the world where a ship can sail directly into the centre of an active volcano.

About Deception Island:

• Deception Island is situated within the South Shetland Islands, forming part of an archipelago northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula.
• This volcanic island is notable for its dynamic features and distinct geography.
• Originating from a colossal volcanic eruption, Deception Island's formation resulted in the collapse of its central structure, allowing seawater to inundate the resulting caldera.
• The landscape is characterized by desolate volcanic slopes, steaming beaches, and glaciers adorned with ash layers, creating a unique horseshoe-shaped entrance to the sea via Neptune’s Bellows.
• The island encircles Port Foster, recognized as one of the safest harbours in the Antarctic, offering vessels a rare opportunity to navigate into the heart of an active volcano.
• Among the few places globally where this is possible, Deception Island has experienced over twenty eruptions since the 19th century.
• Notably, the island witnessed three volcanic eruptions from 1967 to 1970, leading to the destruction of Chilean and British stations.
• Presently, Argentina and Spain maintain summer scientific stations on the island.
• Deception Island is safeguarded under the Antarctic Treaty, designating it as a protected area with restricted human visits and minimized environmental impact.

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of an autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat).

About Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat):

• Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an autonomous body will benefit the youth in the age group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘Youth’ in the National Youth Policy.
• In the case of programme components specifically meant for adolescents, the beneficiaries will be in the age group of 10-19 years.
• It will help in Setting the focus of the Government on youth-led development and to make the Youth “active drivers” of development and not merely “passive recipients”.
• It will be launched on 31st October 2023 on National Unity Day.

Objective:

• The primary objective of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is to make it a whole of Government platform for youth development.
• With access to resources & connection to opportunities, youth would become community change agents and nation builders allowing them to act as the Yuva Setu between the Government and the citizens.
• It seeks to harness the immense youth energy for nation-building.

The establishment of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) would lead to:

• Leadership Development in the Youth:
• Improve leadership skills through experiential learning by shifting from isolated physical interaction to programmatic skills.
• Investing more in youth to make them social innovators, and leaders in the communities.
• Setting the focus of the Government on youth-led development and making the Youth “active drivers” of development and not merely “passive recipients”.
• Better alignment between youth aspirations and community needs.
• Enhanced efficiency through Convergence of existing programmes.
• Act as a one-stop shop for young people and Ministries.
• Create a centralized youth database.
• Improved two-way communication to connect youth government initiatives and activities of other stakeholders that engage with youth.
• Ensuring accessibility by creating a digital ecosystem.

Why There is a Need for Such Initiative?

• India’s youth are to play a critical role in defining the future of the nation.
• There is a need to establish a new contemporary technology-led platform for the Government to engage with the present-day youth.
• Ensuring accessibility by creating a digital ecosystem
• Mera Yuva Bharat supported by a technology platform would help to increase the Youth outreach efforts of the Department of Youth Affairs.