Why in the News?

Guindy National Park, packed with blackbucks and birds, is one of the few national parks located in an Indian metropolis.

About the Guindy National Park:

• Guindy National Park is a protected area, located in the heart of Chennai’s metropolitan area of Tamil Nadu.
• It's the 8th smallest national park in India, covering an area of 2.70 square kilometers (1.04 square miles).
• This national park is unique because it is situated within the city of Chennai and is an extension of the grounds around Raj Bhavan, which was formerly known as the 'Guindy Lodge' and serves as the official residence of the governor of Tamil Nadu.
• Guindy National Park plays a crucial role in both ex-situ and in-situ conservation efforts.
• It provides a habitat for various wildlife species, including 400 blackbucks, 2,000 spotted deer, 24 jackals, numerous snakes, geckos, tortoises, and over 130 bird species.
• Flora: Guindy National Park features a diverse range of vegetation, including dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests, grasslands, and water bodies.
• Fauna: The park is home to 14 mammal species, over 60 species of butterflies and spiders each, and a wide variety of invertebrates such as grasshoppers, ants, termites, crabs, snails, slugs, scorpions, mites, earthworms, and millipedes.

Why in the News?

A new species of gecko has been found recently in Tamil Nadu's Western Ghats, near Rajapalayam.

About Cnemaspis Rashidi:

• Cnemaspis Rashidi, also known as Rashid's dwarf gecko, is a recently discovered species of gecko in the Western Ghats of India.
• It is the smallest species in the genus Cnemaspis, measuring approximately two inches long from its snout to the vent.
• It is characterized by its beautiful color patterns of yellow, white, and black on its back.
• Cnemaspis rashidi is endemic to the Western Ghats.
• It was discovered in 2023 by a team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust.
• The scientists found the gecko at an altitude of 1,245 meters at the Kottamalai estate near Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu.
• This is the 94th species of gecko that has been identified to date, out of 93 that have been reported.
• It is also a reminder of the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, which is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots.

Why in the News?

Recently, Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, unveiled a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mining operations at Mount Celia Gold Project located in Western Australia.

About National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC):

• National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.
• It is the single largest producer of iron ore in India.
• It owns and operates highly mechanized iron ore mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.
• The registered office is situated in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• NMDC is considered to be one of the low-cost producers of iron ore in the world.
• It also operates the only mechanized diamond mine in India at Panna, Madhya Pradesh.
• The company is involved in the exploration of a variety of minerals, including iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, and beach sands.
• Most of the high-quality iron ore produced by NMDC is sold to the Indian domestic steel industry through long-term contracts.

Why in the News?

An IIT-Madras campus was inaugurated in Zanzibar on Monday, becoming the first campus of an IIT to be opened abroad.

Context:

• The first IIT campus outside of India was inaugurated on Monday with the opening of the IIT-Madras campus in Zanzibar.
• The pioneering venture is part of the central government’s initiative to project India’s education system onto the global stage.
• The campus is located in Bweleo district, a short distance from Zanzibar Town.
• The Zanzibar campus will benefit from an array of academic collaborations, including study abroad programs, internships with companies, and opportunities at the IIT-Madras campus in Chennai.
• It is open to students of all nationalities.

Key facts about Zanzibar (Tanzania):

• Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometers located off the coast of east-central Africa and a semi-autonomous province of Tanzania.
• It comprises the main island of Unguja (informally referred to as Zanzibar), and Pemba Island, along with numerous smaller islands.
• Zanzibar City, on Unguja, is the archipelago's capital and largest city.
• The official languages of Zanzibar are Swahili and English.
• Zanzibar has a rich history, dating back to the 1st century AD.
• It was once a major center for the trade of spices, slaves, and ivory.
• The archipelago has been ruled by various empires and dynasties over the centuries, including the Portuguese, Omanis, and British.
• In 1964, Zanzibar gained independence from Britain and merged with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
• Stone Town, the historic center of Zanzibar City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The raised sands and sandstones with varied residual deposits are found on Zanzibar and Pemba islands which are similar to the alluvial deposits present on the African mainland.
• It is known for its vast wilderness areas.
• They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain.

Why in the News?

The finance ministry has come out with an amnesty scheme for filing appeals against Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand orders.

What is the GST Amnesty scheme?

• The GST Amnesty scheme was introduced by the Centre to help businesses comply with the Goods and Services Tax laws in the country.
• Every entity that needs to file its GST returns must conduct the process in a sequential manner.
• If the taxpayer misses the last date, they may have to pay penalties for not filing the returns.
• In such a situation, the GST Amnesty scheme helps taxpayers file their returns without hefty penalties.
• The plan also aids businesses whose registration stands canceled for non-filing of returns.
• Under the GST Amnesty scheme, taxpayers can file for the revocation of their cancellation as well.

How can one benefit from the GST Amnesty scheme?

• Taxpayers cannot file the GST return for a particular period without submitting the previous ones.
• A heavy penalty will also be levied on them for missing their filings.
• The GST Amnesty scheme allows taxpayers to file their pending returns without incurring a hefty fine.
• It will help them in complying with the indirect taxation laws of the country.
• It also aids business entities to appeal against the cancellation of their registration if they have not submitted the GST returns for three consecutive quarters.
• The scheme will be open till January 31, 2024.