In News:

A flock of Northern Pintail ducks was recently sighted at an unprecedented altitude of 13,500 feet in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh—far above their typical wintering habitats. This rare event has sparked interest in their migration behavior and adaptability to high altitudes.

About Northern Pintail Duck

• Scientific Name:Anas acuta
• Type: Migratory waterfowl known for elegance and long-range migration
• Common Nickname: Northern nomads

Distribution & Migration

• Found across every continent except Antarctica
• Breed in northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America
• Migrate southward in winter to regions including the Indian subcontinent
• Typically observed in low-lying wetlands; rarely at high altitudes
• Do not breed or reside south of the equator

• Seen in the high-altitude region of Arunachal Pradesh during winter, raising questions about changing migration patterns and climate adaptability

Key Features

• Size: Around 60 cm in length, over 1 kg in weight
• Wingspan: Up to 91 cm
• Speed: Capable of flying at 48 miles per hour due to aerodynamic build
• Male Appearance: Buff-gray body, chocolate-brown head, broad white stripe on chest, black back patterns
• Female Appearance: Mottled brown body, lighter chest and neck

Conservation Status

• Listed as “Least Concern” under the IUCN Red List
• Despite being widespread, their migratory nature warrants regular monitoring to track habitat changes and population health

In News:

The 21st AARDO Conference recently concluded in New Delhi, reaffirming the commitment to community-led rural development, local knowledge sharing, and South-South cooperation.

About AARDO

• Full Form: African-Asian Rural Development Organization
• Nature: Intergovernmental, autonomous organization
• Established:March 31, 1962
• Headquarters:New Delhi, India
• Origin:
  • Conceptualized at the 1955 East Asian Rural Reconstruction Conference (Tokyo)
  • Formalized after the 1961 Afro-Asian Conference on Rural Reconstruction (New Delhi)
  • Permanent HQ established in 1966 in India

Membership

• Full Members:32 countries from Asia and Africa (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Zambia, Malaysia)
• Associate Members:3 entities (e.g., Korea Rural Community Corporation, Agricultural Bank of Sudan)
• Eligibility: Open to Afro-Asian countries that are full or associate members of the UN or its specialized agencies focused on rural development

Observer Status with International Organizations

AARDO has observer status with:

• FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization
• IFAD – International Fund for Agricultural Development
• UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
• UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Objectives & Aims

• South-South Cooperation: Enhance technical and economic collaboration in rural development between Asia and Africa
• Sustainable Rural Development: Promote poverty alleviation, food security, and climate-resilient agriculture
• Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing: Encourage exchange of best practices, innovations, and research

Functions

• Policy & Dialogue Platform: Facilitates discussions among member countries on rural development strategies
• Training & Capacity Building: Organizes international, regional, and national training programs to strengthen rural institutions
• Research & Action Studies: Initiates and disseminates research on shared challenges in agriculture and rural livelihoods
• Pilot Projects: Offers technical and financial assistance for pilot projects to serve as replicable models
• International Collaboration: Partners with UN agencies, regional bodies, and NGOs for integrated rural development
• Data Sharing: Provides members with disaggregated statistics and information for informed decision-making

In News:

In the 119th edition of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Soliga tribe of the BiligiriRanganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka for their significant role in tiger conservation and sustainable forest practices.

Who are the Soligas?

• Location: Indigenous, forest-dwelling tribe residing primarily in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu, especially around Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara Hills.
• Meaning of the Name: "Soliga" translates to “children of bamboo”, symbolizing their deep ecological ties.
• Language: They speak Sholaga (a Dravidian language), along with Kannada and Tamil.
• Lifestyle:Soligas live in bamboo-and-mud huts, practice shifting cultivation, and depend on non-timber forest produce (NTFP) for sustenance.
• Diet & Livelihood:Honey is a staple in their diet; they extensively forage and harvest forest produce like amla, gooseberries, and medicinal herbs, leaving a portion for wildlife—a reflection of their conservation ethos.

Religious and Cultural Practices:

• Soligasworship wildlife, especially the tiger, locally called “DoddaNayi” (Great Dog). They have even built temples dedicated to tigers.
• Their belief system includes Hindu customs, animism, and naturism, highlighting their spiritual connection with nature.
• They produce eco-friendly artifacts like ‘jottai’ (leaf cups), showcasing sustainable craftsmanship.

Recognition of Forest Rights:

• In 2011, Soligas became the first tribal community in India to receive legal recognition of their forest rights within a tiger reserve, under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
• This ruling allowed them to reside within the BRT Tiger Reserve and sustainably collect forest produce without displacing wildlife.

Role in Tiger Conservation:

• Soligas’ traditional knowledge of forest ecology helps them coexist peacefully with wildlife, minimizing human-animal conflict.
• They assist the Forest Department in fire prevention, wildlife tracking, and ecological management.
• Their cultural practices ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife. For instance, during harvest, they intentionally leave 25–33% of the produce in the forest for animals.

BiligiriRanganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka; lies at the confluence of the Western and Eastern Ghats, forming a critical wildlife corridor.
• Ecosystem: Rich in biodiversity with forest types including:
  • Southern Tropical Evergreen
  • Semi-Evergreen
  • Moist Deciduous
• Flora:Axlewood, Rosewood, Terminalia spp., Indian Gooseberry, Ceylon Oak, Golden Shower Tree.
• Fauna: Tigers, Wild Dogs, Sloth Bears, Sambars, Bison, and endangered species like the Icthyophisghytinosus (Caecilian).
• Cultural Site: Named after Lord Rangaswamy, the reserve houses the Biligiri Temple atop mist-covered hills.

In News:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced its largest-ever USD-INR Buy/Sell Swap Auction worth $10 billionfor a tenor of three years. This strategic move is aimed at addressing the persistent liquidity deficit in the banking system and stabilizing the Rupee-Dollar exchange rate.

What is a USD-INR Buy/Sell Swap Auction?

A Dollar/Rupee Buy-Sell Swap Auction is a foreign exchange (forex) tool used by RBI to manage domestic liquidity and curb currency volatility. It is a two-leg transaction:

• First Leg (Buy Phase):Banks sell US dollars to the RBI and receive rupee liquidity.
• Reverse Leg (Sell Phase):RBI sells back the same amount of US dollars to banks at a future date (here, after 3 years), along with a swap premium.

Key Features of the February 2025 Swap Auction:

• Auction Size: USD 10 billion
• Tenor: 3 years (long-term)
• Rupee Liquidity Injected: Approx. ?86,000 crore
• Auction Date: 28 February 2025
• Spot Settlement Date: 4 March 2025
• Far-leg Settlement Date: 6 March 2028
• Reference Rate: Based on FBIL (Financial Benchmarks India Pvt Ltd) benchmark

Objectives and Benefits:

• Liquidity Management:
  • Addresses durable liquidity needs; helps ease banking system deficit (estimated at ?1.7 lakh crore).
  • Supports credit flow to businesses, aiding economic growth.
• Exchange Rate Stability:
  • Reduces volatility in the USD/INR rate (expected to stabilize around ?86.30).
  • Mitigates pressure from foreign fund outflows.
• Efficient Forex Reserve Utilization:
  • Uses RBI’s reserves productively to manage monetary conditions.
• Enhances Policy Transmission:
  • Aligns money market interest rates with RBI’s monetary policy stance.
• Supports Inflation Control:
  • Infuses liquidity without directly adding to inflationary pressures.

Challenges and Limitations:

• Impact on Forex Reserves:Large-scale swaps temporarily tie up reserves.
• Global Dependencies:Effectiveness may be affected by global interest rate differentials, capital flows, and external shocks.
• Market Speculation Risks:Poor timing or execution could trigger speculative activity in the forex market.
• Temporary Measure:Swap auctions offer short- to medium-term relief; structural reforms are needed for long-term liquidity management.

In News:

Launched under the Create in India Challenge Season 1, the Bharat Tech Triumph Program (TTP) is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting India’s gaming and interactive entertainment ecosystem on the global stage.

Key Highlights

• Launch Year: 2025
• Ministry Involved: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)
• Organizing Partner: Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC)

Objectives:

• Identify and showcase Indian gaming talent internationally.
• Support the growth of the gaming, animation, visual effects, and immersive technology (AR/VR/Metaverse) sectors.
• Boost the 'Create in India' initiative in the media and entertainment domain.
• Enable Indian developers and startups to create globally competitive digital products.

Program Features:

• Eligibility:
  Open to developers, studios, startups, and tech companies with working prototypes in:
  • Game development
  • Esports
  • Business solutions for gaming ecosystem
• Selection Process:
  • Game Submission
  • Expert Evaluation – Based on product, pitch, and team viability
  • Final Showcase – Winners selected by a jury

Global Exposure Platforms:

• Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025
  • Location: San Francisco
  • Dates: March 17–21, 2025
• World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025
  • Location: Mumbai
  • Dates: May 1–4, 2025
  • Venue: Jio World Convention Centre &Jio World Gardens
  • Focus Areas: Broadcasting, AVGC-XR, Digital Media, Innovation, and Films

Relevance of WAVES Summit:

• WAVES acts as a global convergence point for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector.
• AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics + AR/VR/Metaverse) is a central pillar, aligning with TTP’s goals.

Significance for India:

• Positions India as a global hub for innovation in digital entertainment.
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in the tech and creative economy sectors.
• Encourages cross-border collaborations and export of Indian intellectual property in the gaming domain.