1) Conservation Reserve: Telangana’s State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) approved the corridor area between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Kawal Tiger Reserve as a conservation reserve.
- SBWL is established under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment (WPA) Act, 2002, headed by Chief Minister or Administrator in case of UT.
- About Conservation Reserve:
- A protected area under the ‘Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972’ (added through the WPA Act of 2002).
- Acts as buffer zone to or connectors and migration corridors between national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas.
- Declared by the State Government, after consulting with the central government and the local communities.
- It is administered with the help of the Conservation Reserve Management Committee.
2) Natural gas flare: Recently, natural gas flare samples collected in USA revealed high variation in nitrogen oxides emission estimates.
- It is the burning of the natural gas associated with oil extraction.
- The flare’s combustion converts hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water.
- The process lessens the climate impact and reduces the safety concerns of the natural gas. However, it also produces nitrogen oxides or NOx.
- NOx includes the highly reactive gasses such as nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide which directly and indirectly impacts air quality.
- In 2015, the World Bank and the United Nations, launched the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF) initiative.
2) Key Fact Statement (KFS): Reserve Bank of India has mandated that all regulated entities provide a KFS to retail and MSME borrowers.
- It is a document that clearly explains lending terms and has key information regarding a loan agreement in a simple and easy-to-understand format.
- It enhances transparency in lending and enables customers to make informed decisions.
4) Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport (KMTT) Project: Myanmar rebel’s capture of Paletwa town adversely impacts KMTT project.
- Project Aims to provide connectivity between India and Myanmar from Ports on India’s eastern seaport to Myanmar’s Sittwe Port, and further to North East India.
- 4 stages –
- Kolkata to Sittwe port via Bay of Bengal.
- Sittwe to Paletwa inland (River Kaladan).
- Paletwa to India-Myanmar border post in Mizoram.
- Border to Lawngtlai in Mizoram (NH 54).
- Significance: Improved access to South East Asia, improved connectivity to north eastern states, etc
Places in News:
1) Iceland (Capital: Reykjavik):
- Recently, a volcano erupted in Iceland.
- Political features:
- An island country, located in North Atlantic Ocean.
- Part of the Nordic Countries.
- Other Nordic countries are Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
- Bounded by Greenland Sea (North); Norwegian Sea (East); Atlantic Ocean (South and west); Denmark Strait (Northwest).
- Geographical Features
- It is underlain by basalt, a dark rock of igneous origin.
- Lies on the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
- Ridge is formed at divergent plate boundary where the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate are moving away from each other.
- Highest Peak: Hvannadals Peak
- Major river: Thjórs River
