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- Recently, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district experienced an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale.
- The NCS serves as the primary agency of the Government of India responsible for monitoring earthquake activity and conducting seismological research across the nation. Operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES), it plays a crucial role in maintaining a continuous 24×7 monitoring center to enhance understanding of earthquake source processes and promote earthquake-safe practices within society.
- Key Functions of National Centre for Seismology (NCS):
- Monitoring and Services: The NCS monitors seismic activity nationwide through its comprehensive National Seismological Network (NSN), comprising 153 observatories strategically located across India.
- Hazard and Risk Assessments: It conducts assessments to evaluate earthquake hazards and risks, aiding disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts.
- Geophysical Observation Systems: Utilizing advanced geophysical observation systems, the NCS gathers data crucial for earthquake prediction and research.
- Information Dissemination: Rapid dissemination of earthquake information is a priority, with earthquake bulletins distributed within five minutes of an event to various stakeholders, including disaster management authorities.
- Aftershock Monitoring: The NCS tracks aftershock and swarm activities nationwide to assess potential risks and provide timely alerts.
- Additionally, the NCS engages in microzonation studies, which offer site-specific insights into ground motion characteristics. This data supports urban planning, land use decisions, and the retrofitting of structures to enhance seismic resilience.
- Through its dedicated efforts, the NCS plays a pivotal role in safeguarding communities across India from seismic threats and promoting sustainable development practices in earthquake-prone regions.
- India is poised to achieve a significant milestone by assuming the chairmanship of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee for the first time in its history.
- The World Heritage Committee operates under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Its primary mandate includes overseeing the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, managing the World Heritage Fund, and allocating financial support upon requests from member states.
- Key Responsibilities of the World Heritage Committee:
- Listing of Properties: The Committee holds authority over the inscription of sites on the prestigious World Heritage List, ensuring they meet stringent criteria of cultural or natural significance.
- Conservation Oversight: It reviews reports on the conservation status of listed properties and mandates corrective actions when necessary to uphold their integrity.
- Risk Assessment: The Committee decides on the inclusion or removal of sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger, safeguarding endangered cultural and natural heritage.
- Committee Structure: Comprising representatives from 21 member states elected by the General Assembly, each serving six-year terms, the Committee operates with a Bureau that oversees its operational logistics and strategic planning.
- The Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, composed of seven states parties including a Chairperson, five Vice-Chairpersons, and a Rapporteur, plays a pivotal role in coordinating the Committee's activities and scheduling its sessions effectively.
- India's forthcoming leadership role underscores its commitment to global cultural and natural heritage preservation, signaling its proactive engagement in international conservation efforts under UNESCO's auspices.
- LIC has recently announced through a regulatory filing its approval to invest in a new company promoted by the National Housing Bank (NHB), focused on residential mortgage-backed securities.
- About National Housing Bank (NHB):
- Established under the National Housing Bank Act of 1987, NHB operates as a pivotal All-India Financial Institution (AIFI) wholly owned by the Government of India. Its primary objective is to serve as the principal agency promoting housing finance institutions at local and regional levels, providing financial support and fostering development in the housing finance sector.
- Key Functions of NHB:
- Supervision of HFCs: NHB oversees Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), ensuring compliance with regulatory capital norms, risk management frameworks, and governance standards, among others.
- Financial Support: It facilitates refinancing options for primary lenders and directly finances projects by public housing agencies.
- Promotion and Development: NHB plays a crucial role in promoting the growth and development of the housing sector across the country.
- NHB RESIDEX: India’s first official Housing Price Index (HPI), NHB RESIDEX tracks movements in residential real estate prices, providing critical data for market analysis.
- Headquartered in New Delhi, NHB operates under the direction and management of its Board of Directors, overseeing strategic decisions and policy implementations crucial to advancing housing finance in India.
- LIC's decision to invest in a new company supported by NHB underscores its commitment to fostering liquidity and investment opportunities in the housing finance market, aligning with broader initiatives aimed at promoting affordable housing and economic growth.
- Sharks and rays, collectively known as elasmobranchs, have historically been a staple in the diets of tribal and coastal communities in India. Recently, however, these marine creatures have gained popularity among new demographics such as foreign tourists and the middle- and upper classes of India.
- Elasmobranchs, including sharks, rays, and skates, are characterized by their cartilaginous skeletons, unlike bony fish. They typically have five to seven external gill slits without a gill cover, distinguishing them from Holocephali, which includes chimaeras like ratfish and elephantfish. Holocephali, in contrast, have a single gill cover and fewer gill slits.
- Elasmobranchs possess several unique features such as rigid dorsal fins, spiracles for breathing, and a jaw structure where the upper jaw is not fused to the skull. They lack swim bladders but compensate with large oil-filled livers for buoyancy. Their skin is covered in tooth-like denticles, enhancing their hydrodynamic efficiency and sensory capabilities.
- These marine creatures are renowned for their adaptability and can be found in a wide range of marine environments, from near shore regions to deep oceanic waters. Some species are highly migratory, crossing multiple Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Elasmobranchs are most diverse in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific Ocean but are widely distributed throughout the world's oceans.