Centrally Protected Monuments
Recently, The Ministry of Culture reported to Parliament that 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments were missing.
Why in news?
- The Ministry of Culture mentioned in its report titled ‘Issues relating to Untraceable Monuments and Protection of Monuments in India’ which was submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.
What are Centrally Protected Monuments?
- The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) 1958 regulates the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
- The Act protects monuments and sites that are more than 100 years old, including temples, cemeteries, inscriptions, tombs, forts, palaces, step-wells, rock-cut caves, and even objects like cannons and mile pillars that may be of historical significance.
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture, functions under this Act.
What is ASI?
- It was founded in 1861 by a British Army engineer Alexander Cunnigham who is also known as the ‘Father of Indian Archaeology’.
- It engages in archaeological research and conservation, and protection and preservation of ancient monuments and archaeological sites in the country.
- ASI regulates all archaeological activities conducted in the country through the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), 1958.
- It also regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, of 1972.
- ASI has more than 3,693 protected monuments and archaeological sites of National Importance that it protects and preserves.
Heat Dome
Recently, Several parts of Europe witnessed an unprecedented winter heat wave and experts said that temperatures increased 10 to 20 degrees Celsius above normal.
Why in news?
- At least seven countries in Europe recorded their hottest January weather ever. These included Poland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia.
- Experts said that the continent is experiencing an extremely warm spell because of the formation of a heat dome over the region.
What is a heat dome?
- A heat dome occurs when an area of high-pressure traps warm air over a region, for an extended period. The longer that air remains trapped, the more the sun works to heat the air, producing warmer conditions with every passing day.
- Heat domes generally stay for a few days but sometimes they can extend up to weeks, which might cause deadly heat waves.
- Moreover, when air sinks, it gets drier and further raises the temperature of the area.
How is a heat dome formed?
- The heat dome’s formation is related to the behaviour of the jet stream; an area of fast-moving air high in the atmosphere.
- The jet stream is believed to have a wave-like pattern that keeps moving from north to south and then north again.
- When these waves get bigger, they move slowly and sometimes can become stationary. This is when a heat dome forms.
Previous instances of heat domes
- In 2021, a heat dome formed over western Canada and the US, causing deadly heat waves. Portland city in Oregon, US, saw the mercury rise to 46 degrees Celsius while the temperature in Washington hit 49 degrees Celsius.
Who was Rani Velu Nachiyar
Recently, The Prime Minister of India paid tributes to Rani Velu Nachiyar on her birth anniversary.
About:
- Rani Velu Nachiyar was born on January 3, 1730, in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
- She was the first queen to have ever actively opposed British rule and fought against colonial rulers many years before the Sepoy Mutiny.
- She is known by Tamils as
- She was trained in war to match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam (fighting using the stick), horse riding and archery.
- She was a scholar in many languages and she had proficiency in languages like French, English and Urdu.
- She married the king of Sivagangai named Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiyathevar, with whom she had a daughter. When her husband was killed by British soldiers, she was drawn into battle.
- War against the British: In collaboration with Hyder Ali and Gopala Nayaker, she waged a war against the British and emerged victoriously
- She granted powers to the Marudu brothers to administer the country in 1780.
African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT)
Recently, Ethiopia has released the first edition of an atlas to map a parasitic disease affecting livestock in the country and the vector behind it.
Why in news?
- Ethiopia’s National Institute for Control and Eradication of Tsetse and Trypanosomosis (NICETT), through this atlas initiative, aims to establish a reference for the distribution of tsetse flies and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) in western Ethiopia.
What is AAT?
- It is caused by the parasitic protozoa trypanosomes, which are transmitted by the bite of tsetse flies, an African blood-sucking fly.
- It is a major livestock disease constraining sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural production.
- There is no vaccine, and existing drugs are becoming less effective because of the development of resistance in parasites.
- A human form of the disease also exists, known as human African trypanosomosis or sleeping sickness.
On-going Projects related to AAT
- The COMBAT project(Controlling and progressively Minimising the Burden of Animal Trypanosomosis)
- The European Commission financed a four-year research and innovation project in Africa.
- The project spans from August 2021-August 2025 and houses African countries, including South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Senegal, Sudan, Chad, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT)
Recently, Ethiopia has released the first edition of an atlas to map a parasitic disease affecting livestock in the country and the vector behind it.
Why in news?
- Ethiopia’s National Institute for Control and Eradication of Tsetse and Trypanosomosis (NICETT), through this atlas initiative, aims to establish a reference for the distribution of tsetse flies and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) in western Ethiopia.
What is AAT?
- It is caused by the parasitic protozoa trypanosomes, which are transmitted by the bite of tsetse flies, an African blood-sucking fly.
- It is a major livestock disease constraining sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural production.
- There is no vaccine, and existing drugs are becoming less effective because of the development of resistance in parasites.
- A human form of the disease also exists, known as human African trypanosomosis or sleeping sickness.
On-going Projects related to AAT
- The COMBAT project(Controlling and progressively Minimising the Burden of Animal Trypanosomosis)
- The European Commission financed a four-year research and innovation project in Africa.
- The project spans from August 2021-August 2025 and houses African countries, including South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Senegal, Sudan, Chad, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU)
India is set to take over leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union after successful elections held during the 13th Congress held in Bangkok.
Why in news?
- Dr Vinaya Prakash Singh, erstwhile Member (Personnel) of, the Postal Services Board will take over the charge of Secretary General of the Union for a tenure of 4 years.
What is APPU?
- Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is an intergovernmental organization of 32 member countries of the Asian-Pacific region.
- It is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
- Goal: To extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.
- As the regional centre for various UPU projects, it also takes the lead in ensuring that all technical and operational projects of the UPU are fulfilled in the region so that the region is integrated into the global postal network in the best possible way.
- The APPU is made up of the three bodies
- Congress: It is the supreme organ of the Union and meets not later than 2 years after the UPU congress
- Executive Council: It comprises all members and meets every year to ensure the work of the union.
- APPU Bureau: It serves as a body for liaison, information, inquiry and training for members.
- Secretary General leads the activities of the Union and is also the Director of the Asian Pacific Postal College (APPC) which is the largest intergovernmental postal training institute in the region.
