Prelim Bits 22-02-2018

Global Corruption Index

India’s rank on the Corruption Perception Index fell two notches to 81 in 2017 from 79 in 2016.
The Berlin-based non-government body Transparency International ranked 180 countries in 2017.
New Zealand was the least corrupt and Somalia was the most.
The 2017 index revealed — despite attempts to combat corruption, most countries were moving too slowly with their effort.

ICGS Vajra

The Indian Coast Guard ship ‘Vajra’, was decommissioned in Paradip.
The Indian Coast Guard ship rendered three decades of service in maritime security along the northeast coastal waters.
The ship monitored the coastal activities along with Odisha and West Bengal.
It was built by Mazagon Dock, named ‘Vajra‘, after the weapon of Lord Indra, and commissioned on 1988.

Eravikulum National Park

Eravikulam National Park is located in the Kannan Devan Hills of the Southern Western Ghats in the Idukki District, Kerala State.
In the local language, Eravikulam denotes streams and pools.
The highest peak in peninsular India, Anamudi (2695 m), is situated in this park.
Three major types of plant communities found in the park are: Grasslands, Shrub Land and Shola Forests.

Neelakurunji ,a plant endemic to the Western Ghats, blooms once every 12 years is found in this national park.
It also is home to and the sanctuary of the Nilgiri tahr, an endangered goat species.
The catchment area of three important rivers, Periyar, Chalakudy and Pambar is located in this area.
The Muthuvans are the indigenous people, who have traditionally been associated with the management of the park.

Rare Fish Species from Australia

Scientists hauled up thousands of fish in an attempt to examine life at abyssal depths along Australia’s vast coastline.
Life at such depths is one of crushing pressures, no light, little food and freezing temperatures, with animals that call it home evolving unique ways to survive.
As food is scarce, they are usually small and move slowly and others are jelly-like and spend their lives floating about.
Some species have ferocious spines and fangs and lie in wait until food comes to them.
Over 42,000 fish and invertebrates were caught, some of which are potentially new species.
Scientists gathering in the Tasmanian capital Hobart to examine them which is a first in its nature.
It is the first systematic attempt to examine life at abyssal zone depths anywhere along Australia’s vast coastline.

Plastic pollution

India will host the official global World Environment Day celebrations on June 5.
The Theme of this year Environmental day will be “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
The following are some insights into the plastic pollution in the country,

The average production and consumption of plastic products between 2011-12 and 2015-16 at 707 million metric tons (MMT) per year.
A report by Central Pollution Control Board in 2015 estimated that around 4,059 tons per day of plastic waste is generated from major cities.

In 2015, the government had approved a scheme for “setting up of need-based plastic parks with requisite state-of-the-art infrastructure to assist the sector move up the value chain.
Ockhi Cyclone resulted in agglomeration of plastic debris along the coasts of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Gujarat.

Dara Shukoh

An exhibition was conducted to showcase the forgotten Mughal Prince Dara Shukoh, at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, in New Delhi.
He was the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan and heir apparent to the Mughal throne.
The religious insight of the Mughal prince marks him out from most other Mughal rulers.
Dara Shukoh leaned towards the Chishti order of Sufism that is known to have promoted tolerance.
He commissioned the translation of all the Upanishads from Sanskrit to Persian for Muslim scholar to learn.
He wrote the Majma-ul-Bahrain (The confluence of two seas).to elaborate upon the syncretism between Sufism and Vedic philosophies.
Prince Dara Shukoh was defeated by Prince Aurangzeb in the battle of Samugarh.

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Business Standard