DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS
1 – About Rafflesia: GS III – Environmental Conservation
Key information:
- A genus of parasitic flowering plants in the Rafflesiaceae family is called Rafflesia.
- Huge flowers are produced by the species.
- The world’s largest flower belongs to one species.
- Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that does not photosynthesise and has no leaves, stalks, or roots.
- Instead, it harvests food and water from tropical rainforest vines in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand using long filaments that resemble fungal cells.
Threat and status of conservation:
- Due to the degradation of forest habitats in southeast Asia, it is under danger.
- Researchers warn that all 42 Rafflesia species, of which 25 are considered critically endangered and 15 are endangered, are in risk.
- Current conservation efforts do not safeguard more than two thirds of them.
- The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) only lists one species as severely endangered (Rafflesia magnifica).
Source – The Hindu
2 – Details of Wollemi pine: GS III – Environmental Conservation
Key information
- In 1994, a group of hikers rediscovered the Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis).
- The Wollemi pine, or Wollemia nobilis, is sometimes referred to as a “living fossil” because it resembles preserved remains from the Cretaceous period (145 million to 66 million years ago) almost exactly.
- Only 60 of these trees remain in the wild today.
- It is believed to have vanished about 2 million years ago.
- Wollemia is a genus of conifers that are native to Australia and members of the Araucariaceae family.
- Despite not being a real pine or a member of the pine family, the tree is nearly generally known as the Wollemi pine.
Status of conservation:
- The Wollemi pine is protected by law in Australia and is included on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered (CR).
Threat:
- Bushfires in the area constitute a hazard to these.
Source: The Hindu
3 – About Mohalla Clinic: GS II – Social issues
Key information:
- The Mohalla Clinic is the government of Delhi’s most prominent undertaking.
- These are primary care clinics that provide free basic medical care.
- They provide a minimal set of complimentary basic healthcare services, such as prescription drugs, diagnostic testing, and consultations.
- These clinics act as the patients’ initial point of contact, which lowers the state’s high referral rates to intermediate and tertiary healthcare facilities.
- The Mohalla Clinics project seeks to lessen the financial strain on low-income households by preventing lost wages and travel expenses.
Organisational design:
- A physician is in charge of each Mohalla Clinic.
- District nodal representatives oversee the Mohalla Clinics’ operations in their respective regions.
- The top of the hierarchical structure is occupied by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Source: The Hindu
4 – Details of Samvatsari: GS I – Indian Culture
Key information:
- The final day of Paryushana for the Shwetambar sect of Jainism is called Savatsari.
- Jains ask for and receive forgiveness from all living things on this day for whatever faults they have made, whether intentionally or accidentally.
- On this day, an elaborate annual penitential retreat known as “samvatsari pratikramana” is performed.
- After the pratikramana, Jains use the term Micchami Dukkadam to ask for forgiveness from all living things, including friends and family.
- Samvatsari is a language developed from Sanskrit.
- In ancient books like the Rigveda and other works of Vedic literature, the term “year” or “Samvatsara” is used.
- As a result, Samvatsari literally refers to an annual day.
Kshamavaani and Samvatsari:
- Kshamavaani is connected to the Digambara sect and Samvatsari is connected to the Shwetambar sect.
- Both days are marked as Forgiveness Days, and there are no significant differences between them.
- Despite both Samvatsari and Kshamavaani falling on the final day of Paryushan, there is a significant distinction between them.
Source: The Hindu
5 – About Asia Pacific Forum on Human Rights: GS II – International issues
Regarding the forum:
- Within the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) is one of four regional networks of NHRIs.
- The APF used to certify NHRIs for adhering to the Paris Principles of the UN, but it now recognises the accreditation judgements of an ICC subcommittee.
- The APF stands out from the other four regional networks because of its close working relationships with regional NGOs.
Members:
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- India
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- South Korea
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Thailand
- East Timor
When they exhibit adherence to the Paris Principles, the following are qualified for full membership:
- Bangladesh
- Maldives
Although they are located in the APF region, the following are not in accordance with the Principles and are therefore ineligible for membership:
- In Hong Kong
- Iran
- Fiji
It resigned from the ICC after being suspended in 2007.
- The inaugural International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which took place in Paris in 1991, created the Paris Principles.
- Both the UN General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Commission adopted them through resolutions.
- The status and operation of national institutions for the defence and advancement of human rights, often known as National Human Rights Institutions, are governed by the 1993 Paris Principles.
The Paris Principles outline certain obligations for national human rights institutions, including the following:
- Any scenario involving a violation of human rights that the institution decides to investigate will be under observation.
- The institution will have the authority to provide advice to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government as well as any other competent entity regarding individual human rights abuses, issues involving the law, and general compliance and implementation with international human rights agreements.
- Independent interaction between the institution and regional and international organisations is required.
- The institution will be charged with spreading knowledge about human rights.
- Some organisations have been given quasi-judicial authority.
- The accreditation procedure that governs NHRI access to the United Nations Human Rights Council and other organisations places a primary emphasis on compliance with the Paris Principles.
Source: The Hindu
