In News:

For the first time, the Rusty-Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) has been spotted in the forests of Purulia district, West Bengal, captured on a camera trap set up by the NGO HEAL during pangolin poaching surveillance. This marks a significant range extension and has excited conservationists and forest officials.

Key Features

• World’s smallest and lightest wild cat: Weighs between 900 grams to 1.5 kg
• Length: Approx. 1.5 feet, with a 1-foot-long tail
• Appearance:
  • Fawn-grey coat with rusty red spots on back and flanks
  • Short, rounded head with two white facial streaks
  • Large eyes with greyish-brown to amber irises – an adaptation to nocturnal behavior
  • Short legs, black-soled feet, and an unmarked rusty tail
• Behavior:
  • Nocturnal and elusive
  • Uses scent marking to establish territory
  • Gestation period: 66–70 days

Habitat and Distribution

• Found in dry deciduous and semi-deciduous forests, including:
  • Northern & Central India, Western Ghats, Rajasthan, Kachchh, and Peninsular India
  • Also present in Sri Lanka and Nepal
• India hosts 80% of the global population

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened, due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I species (highest protection)

Significance of Purulia Sighting

• Located on the eastern edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau
• Forests are interconnected with neighboring regions like Jharkhand and Odisha
• Notified as reserved forests, not protected forests
• Threats: Hunting by local communities, habitat degradation

Impact of Conservation Efforts

• Post-COVID, the forest ecosystem in Purulia has improved due to reduced human disturbance
• Past sightings of leopards, bears, jackals, and foxes indicate a thriving ecosystem
• HEAL and the Forest Department have launched livestock compensation programs to reduce retaliatory killings of carnivores

In News:

India recently dispatched a humanitarian shipment of medical supplies to the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, reflecting its commitment to global cooperation and humanitarian diplomacy.

About the Kurdistan Region

• Geographical Spread: The Kurdistan Region is a culturally and geographically distinct area predominantly inhabited by ethnic Kurds, spread across:
  • Northern Iraq (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk, Halabja)
  • Eastern Turkey
  • Western Iran
  • Northern Syria and parts of Armenia
• Capital: Erbil (Iraq)
• Terrain: Dominated by the Zagros and Taurus mountain systems
• Major Rivers: Tigris River and Greater Zab River, crucial for agriculture and settlement

Ethnic and Political Context

• Kurds: An ethnic group of 25–30 million people, mostly Sunni Muslims, with no official nation-state. They seek autonomy or independence through the Kurdish nationalist movement.
• Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): An autonomous administration in northern Iraq, managing the Kurd-majority areas with limited sovereignty under Iraq’s federal system.
• Geopolitical Significance:
  • Rich in oil and natural gas, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Strategically located, controlling key border regions and trade routes
  • Kurdish militia (Peshmerga) played a critical role in the fight against ISIS

Ongoing Political Disputes

• Kurdish Independence Movement:
  • The 2017 independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan was rejected by Baghdad, followed by economic and military backlash.
  • Kurds face resistance from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, which fear territorial fragmentation.
  • Turkey regularly conducts military operations against Kurdish groups, labeling them as threats to national security.

India-Kurdistan Relations

• Diplomatic Presence: India established a Consulate in Erbil in August 2016 to deepen ties with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
• Economic and Workforce Engagement:
  • Indian companies have participated in trade fairs in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
  • A growing number of Indian workers are employed in sectors like:
    • Steel mills
    • Oil companies
    • Construction projects
  • Indian workers are valued for their skills and reliability in these industries.

In News:

The Economic Survey 2024–25 cautions against the risks of excessive financialisation in India, emphasizing that while finance is a crucial enabler of economic growth, unchecked expansion of the financial sector can pose systemic risks, increase inequality, and divert resources from the real economy.

What is Financialisation?

Financialisation refers to the growing dominance of financial markets, institutions, and motives in shaping economic policies, business decisions, and resource allocation. It involves:

• A shift from productive (real sector) activities like manufacturing to financial activities, including trading, speculation, and asset management.
• Increasing reliance on asset price growth (e.g., stocks, real estate) to stimulate the economy.
• Deep influence of financial motives in corporate governance, economic policies, and household behavior.

Key Drivers of Financialisation in India

• Increased household savings funneled into stock markets.
• Growing retail investor participation in equities and mutual funds.
• Policy and regulation increasingly influenced by financial market considerations.
• Rising public and private sector debt to leverage economic growth.

Risks Highlighted by the Economic Survey

• Real Sector Crowding Out: Over-expansion of the financial sector may compete with the real economy for scarce resources like skilled labour and capital, potentially depriving productive sectors.
• Unsustainable Booms: Rapid financial growth often favours high-collateral, low-productivity investments (e.g., construction) over innovation and manufacturing, creating unsustainable financial booms.
• Complex Financial Products: Proliferation of opaque and complex financial instruments can increase consumer risk exposure and the probability of a financial crisis, as seen during the 2008 global financial meltdown.
• Increased Inequality: Financialisation tends to transfer income from the real sector to the financial sector, worsening income inequality and contributing to wage stagnation.
• Debt Dependency: Over-reliance on financial leverage (debt) increases macro-financial vulnerabilities, especially if credit growth outpaces productive investment.

Global Lessons and Historical Context

• 2008 Global Financial Crisis: Reckless lending and financial engineering, including mortgage-backed securities, led to a global economic collapse. India was impacted indirectly, prompting RBI intervention to stabilise the economy.
• Examples from Ireland & Thailand: Rapid growth of private credit in these countries led to reduced productivity and economic distortions, serving as cautionary tales.

Balanced View on Finance

The Survey recognizes that a well-regulated financial system plays a vital role in:

• Channeling capital to innovative and high-risk ventures.
• Reducing transaction costs and improving price discovery.
• Alleviating poverty and inequality by enabling shock absorption for households and firms.
• Smoothing consumption across economic cycles.

However, the Survey emphasizes that there is a tipping point beyond which financial development becomes counterproductive.

In News:

The Economic Survey 2024–25 underscores the adverse impact of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) on public health, particularly among children and youth, and calls for urgent regulatory intervention.

Key Recommendations

• Stringent Front-of-the-Pack Labelling (FOPL): The Survey advocates for clear, enforceable FOPL rules to inform consumers, curb misleading nutrition claims, and restrict aggressive marketing, especially those targeted at children and adolescents.
• Stronger Role for FSSAI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is advised to:
  • Define UPFs clearly in regulation.
  • Establish labelling standards.
  • Monitor compliance of branded products.
• ‘Health Tax’ Proposal: The Survey proposes higher taxes on UPFs, especially brands engaging in excessive advertising, to act as a deterrent and promote healthier food choices.
• Awareness and Education: It recommends targeted awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, integrated with broader health and lifestyle campaigns, to reduce the rising consumption of UPFs.

Why this matter

• Rising Consumption: According to a 2023 WHO report, India’s UPF consumption grew from $900 million (2006) to over $37.9 billion (2019).
• Long-term National Impact: India's ?2,50,000 crore UPF industry is built on hyper-palatability and is a threat to India’s demographic dividend, productivity, and future economic growth.

Health Risks of UPFs

• Directly linked to:
  • Obesity
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders
  • Mental health issues, especially among youth
• Poor dietary intake due to UPFs contributes to micronutrient deficiencies, while synthetic additives may have long-term biological impacts.

What are Ultra-Processed Foods?

UPFs are industrial formulations that undergo extensive processing and typically include:

• Artificial flavours, colours, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and other cosmetic additives.
• High sugar, salt, and fat content for taste enhancement.
• Low in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
• Designed for convenience and high palatability, often leading to overconsumption.

Examples of Ultra-Processed Foods

(As per Indian Council of Medical Research - ICMR):

• Commercial bakery items: bread, cakes, biscuits, breakfast cereals
• Snack foods: chips, fries
• Condiments: sauces, jams, mayonnaise
• Dairy & protein products: processed cheese, butter, protein powders, soy chunks, tofu
• Frozen and ready-to-eat foods with additives
• Beverages: energy drinks, health drinks, sweetened fruit juices
• Refined flours of cereals, millets, legumes
• Culinary ingredients containing cosmetic additives like artificial colours or emulsifiers

In News:

The Government of India has added four new Ramsar sites, increasing the total to 89, the highest in Asia and third globally. The newly designated wetlands include:

• Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
• Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
• Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim)
• Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand)

This marks a significant milestone as Sikkim and Jharkhand have received their first Ramsar recognitions, while Tamil Nadu strengthens its lead with 20 Ramsar sites, the most among Indian states.

About the Ramsar Convention

• Adopted: 1971 in Ramsar, Iran
• Objective: Conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, national, and international cooperation.
• World Wetlands Day: Celebrated on 2nd February to promote awareness.

Key Highlights:

Therthangal Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu

• Notified in 2010; covers 29.29 ha.
• Crucial breeding and foraging site for waterbirds like Spot-billed Pelican, Black-headed Ibis, and Oriental Darter.
• Aids groundwater recharge and climate regulation.
• Part of the Central Asian Flyway.

Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu

• Notified in 2012; spans 230.49 ha.
• Located near Gulf of Mannar; significant stopover for migratory birds.
• Hosts endemic species and near-threatened fauna like Lion-tailed Macaque and Giant Squirrel.

Khecheopalri Wetland – Sikkim

• Sacred lake revered by Buddhists and Hindus; called Sho Dzo Sho locally.
• Known as a wish-fulfilling lake.
• Birds prevent leaves from settling on the surface.
• Rich in avifauna: fishing eagles, Brahminy kites.
• Integral to ecotourism and biodiversity conservation.

Udhwa Lake – Jharkhand

• Comprises Pataura Jheel (155 ha) and Brahma Jamalpur Jheel (410 ha).
• First Ramsar site of Jharkhand; near Ganga River.
• Declared a bird sanctuary in 1991; attracts migratory birds from September onwards.
  Falls under the Gangetic Plains biogeographic zone.