On February 3, 2022, Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb laid the foundation stone for Kamalpur-Kurmaghat border haat between India and Bangladesh.

Highlights

• The border haat will be constructed in Dhalai district.
• This project will further boost trade relations between both the countries. It will strengthen the cultural and emotional ties between both.

Background

The cultural and trade ties between India and Bangladesh started under the leadership of founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Significance of Tripura

Tripura is considered to play crucial role in India-Bangladesh friendship. This state was at the centre of Bangladesh’s Liberation War against Pakistan atrocities in 1971. It had sheltered 15 lakh East Pakistani refugees and hosted training camps and shelters for liberation warriors (Muktijoddhas).

About the third border haat

The third border haat of Tripura will be opened at Kamalpur. It would be spread over an area of 75 square meters. It is likely to be able to accommodate 100 vendors on each side.

Operational Border Haat

Two border Haats are already operational at Kamalasagar in Sipahijala district and at Srinagar in South Tripura.

When did countries identified locations for border haat?

Authorities from India and Bangladesh had identified locations for three additional border haats in February, 2020. Locations were identified along the Tripura-Bangladesh frontiers. The proposed locations were:

1. Paharmura of Khowai district
2. Jagarampur of Sepahijala and
3. Bamutia of West Tripura district.

What is Border Haats?

Border Haats are unique modes of duty-free trading post, along India-Bangladesh border. At this space, locally grown products are sold to people, who are living within a radius of 5 Km of the Haat. Products are sold on specific days of the week. Border haats were conceptualized for promoting wellbeing of people from remote areas across the India-Bangladesh Border. It is jointly organised by governments of Bangladesh and India. This place not only act as a market for locals and tourists to buy daily commodities but also act as a reunion spot for families living along the international border of India and Bangladesh.

The ‘ITS’ is Intelligent Transportation System. It is a Korean technology. The technology is to be used to monitor Mumbai – Nagpur Expressway. It is the longest expressway in India. The technology will help to prevent accidents. The first phase of the expressway is to be opened by the end of February 2022.

About the Expressway

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is building the expressway. It is the fastest and longest expressway in the country. It is an eight lane expressway. Vehicles can run at a maximum speed of 150 km per hour. The total cost of the expressway is Rs 55,000 crores. The loan to build the expressway is provided by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. It is a Korean fund.

The expressway will reduce the travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai to eight hours. Currently it is 16 hours.

What is ITS?

The ITS makes the roads safe. It is an intelligent system that monitors the road, informs about road blockages well ahead, reports about weather conditions. It is communication and information technologies applied on road transport.

Features of ITS

• The three main features of ITS are Optical Fibre Cable network, Integrated Traffic Management System and Toll collection system.
• ITS includes visual messaging service, video incident detection, traffic violation control and surveillance, vehicle detection, drone based surveillance, tunnel management system, speed and lane enforcement.
• ITS will include a tunnel traffic management centre. The centre will close the entrance of the tunnel automatically in case of serious accidents. And the system will inform the other vehicles on the expressway about the closure.
• The entire system will be monitored through CCTV cameras. The ITS will collect real time data about accidents, speed and weather. This helps to prevent accidents. This includes drone cameras as well.
• The system will have an electronic toll collection centre. The centre is to be located at every 100 km of the expressway. FAST Tags are to be used for toll collection.

Paray Shikshalaya is open room classroom. It is to be launched by the West Bengal Government. The Paray Shikshalaya is launched for the pre – primary and primary students.

Key Features

Under the scheme, elementary education will be provided to students of class 1 to class 5. The classes will be conducted on ground. The students will be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Mid – day meals will be provided.

Need for the scheme

According to NITI Aayog, the dropout rate in primary level in 2010-11 was 6.61%.  Also, after COVID, the number students coming to schools have decreased all over India. The rural areas of West Bengal have not yet received internet services. In this condition, the open room classroom is the best way to bring in the primary school children. It is inexpensive. The state government is already borrowing loans from World Bank and IMF to implement its scheme.

Education in West Bengal

The instructions are mainly provided in Bengali or English. In central Kolkata, Urudu is also used. The state is mainly famous for its higher education. The literary rate in the state has increased from 68.64% in 2001 to 77.08% in 2011. The female literacy rate is 70.54% and the male literacy rate is 81.69%. The top literate districts of the state are Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, Kolkata, Howrah and Hugli. The state follows 10+2+3 education patter. In order to comply with the new Education policy, 2020, the education pattern of the state may be change to 5+3+3+4.

The researchers of Netherlands have discovered a new HIV variant. It has been named as VB variant. It was lurking the country for a long period. The variant causes 3.5 times to 5.5 times higher levels of infection. However, there is no cause of alarm because of modern treatments.

About the VB variant

The recovery of immune system in VB variant is same as that of the other HIV variants. The variant emerged between 1980 and 1990 in Netherlands. However, it began to decline in 2010.

Inference from the discovery

Viruses evolve to become more virulent. Delta variant of COVID-19 is justifies the statement. Therefore, it is essential to widen the testing points. The widened HIV testing helps in early diagnosis. Therefore, one should never be overconfident about the evolution of viruses. Also, it wrong to assume that viruses evolve to become milder.

Virulent nature of the new variant

The VB variant has so far had 500 mutations. It is constantly evolving. Finding mutants is normal. However, it is not common to find new variant with unusual properties.

What is unique in VB variant?

The HIV kills the immune cells. It deteriorates the immune system. This is measured by monitoring the decline of CD4 T – cells. These cells are the primary target of HIV. And these cells play a major role in human immune system. In patients infected with VB variant, the CD4 decline is two times higher. This means the development of AIDS diseases is faster and vigorous.

What are CD4 T – cells?

These cells are called helper cells. These cells trigger the response of the body. They do not neutralise the infections.

Beehive Project

The variant was first identified under the Beehive project. The project monitors HIV samples collected from Uganda and Europe.

Current Scenario

The VB Variant is becoming less virulent in Uganda and more virulent in the US. The reason for the happening is not yet known.

On February 4, 2022, Pakistan signed a new agreement with China to start second phase of USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Key Points

• On the occasion, Prime Minister Imran Khan praised the controversial projects, stating that it has strategic significance for Pakistan and China. It will also deliver tangible benefits to the people.
• Prime Minister arrived in China, on a four-day visit for attending the opening ceremony of 2020 Beijing Winter Olympics.
• He held virtual meeting with He Lifeng, Chairman of China’s National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and held discussion on expansion of Chinese investments in Pakistan.

Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation

On the occasion, Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation was also signed with the aim of:

1. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
2. Promote industrialisation and development of economic zones, and
3. Initiating, planning, executing and monitoring projects in public as well as private sector.

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects, which are under construction throughout Pakistan. It started in 2013. This project was originally valued at USD 47 billion. Its value has increased to worth USD 62 billion as of 2020. CPEC project focuses on rapidly upgrading Pakistan’s required infrastructure and strengthening its economy by constructing modern transportation networks, special economic zones and numerous energy projects. It is a 3,000-km long route of infrastructure projects, to connect China’s northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Gwadar Port in western province of Balochistan in Pakistan.

The NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) has become first survey capable of searching entire dark sky for near-Earth objects (NEOs), every 24 hours.

Key Facts

• ATLAS is a state-of-the-art asteroid detection system. It is operated by University of Hawai‘i (UH) Institute for Astronomy(IfA) for Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) of NASA.
• ATLAS has expanded its reach to southern hemisphere by including two additional observatories in Chile and South Africa. It now comprises of four telescopes.
• It has two existing northern-hemisphere telescopes on Haleakala and Maunaloa in Hawai‘i.
• ATLAS is now capable of searching entire dark sky every 24 hours. Thus, it has become an important asset for NASA’s continuous effort for finding, tracking and monitoring NEOs.

Who developed ATLAS?

First two ATLAS telescopes were developed in Hawai‘I, by UH IfA. It was developed under a 2013 grant from NASA’s Near-Earth Objects Observations Program. Now, these telescopes are part of NASA’s PDCO. The two facilities on Haleakala and Maunaloa, became fully operational in 2017.

The craft map of Manipur was prepared on the basis of a field survey by an expert team in 2018-19. It is the first of its kind, prepared with the objective of providing equal, concentrated attention to all art forms.

Highlights

• The craft map of Manipur was prepared more than a year ago.
• It provides the details of Manipur’s handloom and handicraft traditions.
• This map recently came into limelight, when Konsam Ibomcha Singh received the 2022 Padma Shri for doll-making craft.
• Apart from him, Lourembam Bino Devi was similarly honoured for preserving ‘leeba’ applique textile art from state, for more than five decades.

Art forms mapped by MEETAC

The Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC), Manipur mapped several art forms, in association with the National Institute of Design. It includes:

1. Longpi, village in Ukhrul district of Manipur lent its name to black earthenware, which was crafted by Tangkhul community without using a potter’s wheel.
2. GI-tagged Manipuri half sari called ‘moirang phee’, has been named after Moirang village from where it originated.
3. Thangjam Leikai in Imphal East district derived its name from ‘thang’, meaning knife.

Objectives of MEETAC

MEETAC work with the objective of addressing the issues of raw materials faced by craftspeople.

World Interfaith Harmony Week is observed during first week of February, that is, February 1 to 7, annually.

When was this week designated?

World Interfaith Harmony week was designated in 2010 by the General Assembly.

Who proposed the observance of the week?

World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote culture, peace and nonviolence. This week was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2010, at the United Nations.

Why is this week observed?

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was started to promote cultural peace and nonviolence. It is based on pioneering work of Common Word initiative.

Common Word Initiative

This initiative was started in 2007. It called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in dialogue, on the basis of two common fundamental religious Commandments that is- Love of God and Love of the Neighbour. These commandments are at the heart of three Monotheistic religions. Thus, they provide the most solid theological ground possible.

Events to observe World Interfaith harmony week

World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform, where all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill can showcase to the world what a powerful movement they are. These groups organise thousands of events. But it often goes unnoticed by general public as well as the groups themselves. The week will allow these groups in becoming aware of each other. It will also strengthen the movement by avoiding duplicating each other’s efforts and building ties.

The Chilika Development Authority recently held the annual survey at the Chilika lake recently. The survey was all about the flora and fauna in the lake. According to the survey, the lake has more than 33% of sea grass area of the country. Sea grass is under water plants. They live in or close to the sea.

Key Findings of the survey

Five species of sea grass were witnessed. They are Halophila beckari, Halophila ovate, Halophila ovalis, Halodule pinifolia, Holodule uninervis. The sea grass vegetation was found in 172 square kilo metre. This is 169 square kilometre more as compared to 2020.

Implication of sea grass in the lake

The sea grass plays a major role in water purification. It purifies the water by carbon sequestration. It retains high amounts of carbon. They are one of the good bio – indicators of an aquatic ecosystem. If sea grass is in good health, it means the water clarity is good, salinity regime is in good condition and the water nutrients are at right proportion. The sea grass serves as breeding spot for many fish.

How did the growth of sea grass increase?

Because of the efforts of the Chilika Development Authority, the sea grass cover in the lake increased. The CDA removed the illegal prawn enclosures. These enclosures obstructed the growth of the sea grasses.

Survey about the Irrawaddy dolphins

The Irrawaddy dolphins are endangered species. There were 150 Irrawaddy dolphins in the lake. The survey also found colonizing areas of the dolphins. These dolphins were found mainly in the Rambha bay.

Survey about the water birds

The survey reported 10.5 lakhs of water birds. There were 75 species of water birds in Nalabana sanctuary. The total number of birds in the sanctuary was 2,86,929. 2000 Greater Falmingos were reported. Ferrunginous ducks that are listed as near threatened were also found.

Survey about the Eurasian Otter

For the first time, Eurasian Otters were spotted in the lake. They are carnivorous predators.

Recently scientists found that the highest glacier on the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest is melting at a faster rate. It is the South Col glacier and the glacier has lost 54 metres of thickness in the last 25 years.

About the melting

The South Col glacier is located at a height of 7,906 metres. The glacier is thinning rapidly. The major climatic factors that are inducing the glacier melting are strong winds and warming temperatures. Between 1990 and 2020, the ice that took 2000 years to form had melted away. The snow pack on the glacier has been eroded. This has exposed the underlying black ice in some areas. This is accelerating the melting. Black ice is the coating over the surface of the mountain. If black ice melts, the mountain is exposed to the sun. The mountain retains more heat for longer duration as compared to that of ice. This will accelerate the melting further. The region’s climate is intact. There are no changes in the climatic conditions of the region. The melting is due to increase in global temperature. The snow packs in the mountain are all gone. They are now replaced predominantly by ice.

Inference

More than one billion people are dependent on the Himalayan mountains for drinking water. If the glaciers are melting like that of the South col, then their capacity to provide water for irrigation and drinking will fall.

Impact on climbers

The climbers will face more difficulties if the glacier melting increases. More bedrock will be exposed. This bedrock is highly challenging to climb as compared to that of the thick ice covering it.

Way forward

The study shows that the melting of Mount Everest glacier is to bring bad climate impacts in India and other Himalayan countries. It is to have a great effect on the monsoon. The avalanches are to increase. More water sources are to dry up.