Prelim Bits 28-06-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Meira Paibis

The Meira Paibis deliberately blocking routes and interfering in Operations of Security Forces during critical situations to save lives and property.

• The Meira Paibis, also known as Imas or Mothers of Manipur, are Meitei women who come from all sections of the society.
• They are loosely organised, usually led by groups of senior women and are widely respected, and represent a powerful moral force.
• They have no rigid hierarchy or structure, or any overt political leanings.
• They are called women torch bearers because of the flaming torches that they hold aloft while marching in the streets, often at night.
• Formation - It was formed in 1977.
• Aim - Its initial focus is to fight alcoholism and drug abuse.
• It has now expanded to countering human rights violations and the development of society at large.
• Leadership - Every Leikai (colony) in Imphal City has a group of Meira Paibis.
• The eldest of each group becomes its leader.

Reference

1. The Indian Express | Who are Meira Paibis?
2. The Indian Express | Meira Paibis of Manipur

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)

Google has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against a verdict by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) where it upheld a penalty imposed for its anti-competitive conduct in the Android ecosystem.

• NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT).
• Enacted on - 2016.
• Constituted by – Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Objectives
  • It hears appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
  • It hears appeals against the orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India.
  • It hears and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
  • It is also the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against the orders of the National Financial Reporting Authority.
• The President of the Tribunal, chairperson and Judicial Members of the Appellate Tribunal, shall be appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
• Chairperson - Chairperson shall be a person who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
• Term - 5 years, eligible to be reappointed.
• A person who is/has been a judge of a High Court for at least 5 years is eligible for becoming the President of the NCLT.
• An advocate of a court for at least 10 years, shall be eligible for becoming a Judicial Member.
• No civil court has the right to entertain any provision regarding NCLT or NCLAT.
• NCLT and NCLAT are judicial tribunals that exercise the jurisdiction previously vested on the High Courts.

Reference

The Indian Express| Google appeal NCLAT order

Hindu-Kush Mountains

• The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region extends 3,500 km over 8 countries from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar in the east.
• Range Countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• The HKH region harbours the highest mountain ranges in the world.
• It also contains the largest volume of ice on earth outside of the polar areas and is called ‘Third Pole’.

• The range is also the source of major Asian river system and called as ‘Water tower of Asia’.
• HKM in India - The entire territory of 11 mountain states & Darjeeling district of West Bengal state are included in the HKH region.
• The 11 states are Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Reference

Down to Earth | Hindu-kush-himalayas

GI tags in U.P.

Seven products from Uttar Pradesh recently got Geographical Indication tag.

Seven GI tag given products in U.P.

Reference

The Hindu | 7 products from UP get GI tag

Congo Rainforest

A recent report says that the Congo rainforest continues to vanish with half a million hectares lost in 2022.

• It is the world’s 2^nd largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon rainforest.
• The rainforest is spread across 6 African countries - Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
• 60% of the rainforest lies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• It is known for its high levels of biodiversity, including more than 600 tree species and 10,000 animal species.

• It is the world’s largest carbon sink (anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases) hence they are known as the “lungs of Africa”.

Quick Facts

Brazzaville declaration

• It was signed to promote better management and conservation of world’s largest tropical peatlands-Cuvette Centrale region in Congo Basin from unregulated land use and prevent its drainage and degradation.
• Brazzaville is the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo and Indonesia have jointly signed the Brazzaville declaration.

Peatlands are wetlands that contain a mixture of decomposed organic material, partially submerged in a layer of water, lacking oxygen.

Amazon Rainforest

• It is the world’s largest tropical rainforest.
• The rainforest spans over 9 different countries namely Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Colombia and Venezuela.
• Amazon River is the largest river in the world.
• Amazon Rainforest is considered the ‘Lungs of the Earth’.

Reference

Down to Earth | Congo-world-s-2nd-largest-rainforest