A powerful earthquake struck off Japan’s southern coast, triggering a tsunami advisory.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered in waters off the eastern coast of Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 30 km.
About Tsunamis:
These are large waves generated by sudden movements of the ocean floor that displace a large volume of water.
Formation of Tsunami:
A tsunami is a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor. This force creates waves that radiate outward in all directions away from their source, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins.
Unlike wind-driven waves, which only travel through the topmost layer of the ocean, tsunamis move through the entire water column, from the ocean floor to the ocean surface.
These are usually associated with earthquakes. However, they can also be triggered by submarine landslides, volcanic eruptions, or due to impact of meteorites and asteroids.
Different kinds of events can produce a tsunami:
Earthquake: Earthquakes are generated by movements along fault zones associated with plate boundaries, which can cause vertical movement of the seafloor and large areas of horizontal motion. Shallow focus earthquakes in subduction zones are responsible for the most destructive tsunamis, which are caused by the amount of vertical and horizontal motion of the seafloor, the area over which it occurs, and the efficiency with which energy is transferred from the earth's crust to the ocean water.
Landslides: Resulting in rock falls, icefalls, or underwater (submarine) landslides or slumps can generate displacement of water to create a tsunami. More often than thought, submarine landslides are often caused by earthquakes, large and small, therefore strengthening the force of an earthquake induced tsunami.
Volcanic eruption: Volcanic eruptions can generate powerful and destructive tsunamis, most commonly occurring around the "Ring of Fire" area in the Pacific Ocean. The most destructive tsunami on record was caused by the explosion and collapse of the volcano Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883, killing over 36,000 people and destroying coastal towns and villages.
2.Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0
Why in the news?
The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0.
A total government subsidy of ₹2.30 lakh crore will be provided under the scheme which will have a total investment of ₹10 lakh crore.
About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0:
It is one of the major flagship programmes being implemented by the Government of India to provide all-weather pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries in the urban areas.
It is a credit-linked subsidy scheme initiated to provide affordable housing to low and moderate-income residents across the country.
Its objective is to provide housing for all in urban areas.
Financial assistance will be provided to one crore urban poor and middle-class families to construct, purchase or rent a house at affordable cost.
Its beneficiaries include:
Economically Weaker Section (EWS): families with an annual income up to ₹3 lakh.
Low-Income Group (LIG): families with an annual income from ₹3 lakh up to ₹6 lakh.
Middle-Income Group (MIG): families with an annual income from ₹6 lakh up to ₹9 lakh.
PMAY-U 2.0 components:
Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC): Financial assistance will be provided to individual eligible families belonging to EWS categories to construct new houses on their own available vacant land. In case of landless beneficiaries, land rights (pattas) may be provided by States/UTs.
Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP): Financial assistance will be provided to EWS beneficiaries for owning houses being built with different partnerships by States/UTs/ Cities/Public/Private agencies.
Redeemable Housing Vouchers will be given to beneficiaries who purchase house from private projects.States/UTs/ULB shall whitelist the private sector projects complying with all the necessary norms
An additional Grant in the form of Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) @₹1000 per sqm/unit shall be provided to AHP Projects using innovative construction technologies
Affordable Rental Housing (ARH): It will create adequate rental housing for working women/industrial workers/urban migrants/homeless/destitute/students and other eligible beneficiaries. It shall ensure affordable and hygienic living spaces for urban dwellers who do not want to own a house but require housing for short term basis or those who do not have the financial capability to construct/buy a house.
PMAY-U 2.0 will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), except for the Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS) component, which will be implemented as Central Sector Scheme.
3.Privilege Motion
Why in the news?
Congress moves privilege motion against the Education Minister.
The Congress submitted a notice to initiate privilege proceedings in the Rajya Sabha against Union Education Minister for allegedly misleading the House on the issue of ‘dropping’ the Preamble to the Constitution from certain NCERT textbooks
About Privilege Motion:
In the context of the Indian Constitution, a Privilege Motion refers to a formal process through which the Parliament or State Legislatures can deal with instances of breach of parliamentary privileges by individuals or authorities.
It is a procedural device that allows members to bring to the notice of the House any case of breach of privilege or contempt of the House.
It is usually moved with the permission of the presiding officer (Speaker in the case of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the case of the Rajya Sabha).
If the motion is admitted, it is referred to the Committee of Privileges for examination, and the committee then investigates the matter and submits its report to the House.
It is an essential tool for the protection of the dignity and integrity of the Parliament or state legislatures and ensures that members can carry out their duties without hindrance.
It serves as a mechanism to maintain the autonomy and functioning of the legislative bodies in India.
Parliamentary privileges:
These are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by the members of Parliament or state legislatures, individually and collectively, to ensure the effective functioning of the legislative bodies.
Parliamentary privileges include freedom of speech, freedom from arrest in civil cases during the session of the Parliament or state legislature, and the right to regulate their own internal affairs.
When any of these privileges are breached, a member of Parliament or a state legislature can raise the issue by moving a Privilege Motion.
Committee of Privileges:
It consists of 15 members in Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker and 10 members in case of Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairman from time to time.
In the Rajya Sabha, the deputy chairperson is appointed by the Chairman as the head of the committee of privileges.
It examines every question involving a breach of privilege of the House or of the members or of any Committee referred to it by the Speaker/Chairman and makes suitable recommendations in its report.
If the House has not fixed any time for the presentation of the report, it shall be presented within 1 month of the date on which reference to the Committee was made.
Once presented, a motion has to be passed for the consideration of the report and amendments can be suggested.
The right to raise a question of privilege is based on satisfying two conditions - the question shall be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence and the matter requires the intervention of the Council.
4.Arecanut
Why in the news?
The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, has issued an advisory to farmers to control ‘kole roga’ (fruit rot disease) in arecanut plantations.
This year, ‘koleroga’ is quite rampant in a few places due to incessant rains. For those who could not take up spray during July, the prevalence is quite high. Therefore, it is important to take up control measures timely whenever there is a break in rainfall, a CPCRI release said.
About Arecanut:
Its tree is usually referred to as Areca palm, yellow palm, butterfly palm etc.The arecanut palm is the source of a common chewing nut, popularly known as betel nut or Supari.
Production:
India is the largest producer as well as consumer of arecanut.
Major producing states in India include Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal.
Grading: Arecanut kernels are boiled, and then areca precipitates are added after removing the husk. Afterwards, the nuts are dried and sorted into different grades like Nuli, Hasa, Rashi, Bette, and Gorabalu based on their market worth.
Favorable agro climatic conditions:
Climate:
It is mostly confined to 28º north and south of the equator.
It grows well within the temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC and is adversely affected by temperatures below 10ºC and above 40ºC.
Soil:
The largest area under the crop is found in gravelly laterite soils of red clay type. It can also be grown on fertile clay loam soils.
Sticky clay, sandy, alluvial, brackish and calcareous soils are not suitable for arecanut cultivation.
Ideal rainfall:
750 mm to 4500 mm/ Irrigation
Season:
June to December is found to be the optimum.
It is considered a horticulture crop in Karnataka, a commercial crop at the national level and a dry fruit at an international level.
Average yield of different varieties of arecanut vary between 10-20 quintals per acre (0.4 hectare).
MIP on arecanut was first introduced in 2012 to restrict unabated import and prevent entry of inferior quality arecanut into the Indian market, thereby destabilising the domestic prices.
It is imported mostly from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Bhutan.
Threats:
Large areas under the crop are damaged by yellow leaf disease, blast disease and fruit rot disease.
Minimum Import Price (MIP):
It is the rate below which no imports are allowed.
Imports without MIP or at low rates threaten the domestic prices and lead them to crash.
5.Bhitarkanika National Park
Why in the news?
As many as 1,348 saltwater crocodile hatchlings were born in Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapara district recently.
This year, during the nesting season, 114 nests were seen which are usually made with mangrove twigs, leaves and mud. Nests are usually made in areas on high ground which are not inundated in floodwaters during the rainy season and where they can get direct sunlight.
A single female crocodile typically lays a clutch of between 30 to 60 eggs that incubate for 70-80 days. Around 40 per cent eggs are hatched in the wild and 50 per cent survive the first year.
About Bhitarkanika National Park:
It is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.
It is India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sunderbans.
It is a 145 Sq km large national park which was designated on 16th September 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site in August 2002, i.e. the second Ramsar site of Odisha after the Chilika Lake.
It is a network of creeks and canals which are inundated with waters from rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Patasala, forming a unique ecosystem.
Flora:
Mangrove species, casuarinas, and grasses like the indigo bush.
Fauna:
Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodiles in India.
The Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otter, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolfs, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.
Saltwater crocodiles:
These are also called estuarine crocodiles.
These are enormous creatures and the world's largest living reptiles.
They inhabit brackish waters of wetlands and marine intertidal environments from SriLanka, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar east to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and south to Australia’s northern coast.
The average male is 5m in length and weighs around 500kg, while females are significantly smaller.
They are nocturnal hunters.
They are known for their aggressive nature, as shown by numerous attacks on people and livestock each year.
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