Daily Prelims 14th February 2024

PRELIMS BOOSTER  

1. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species:

• It also known as the Bonn Convention, is an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme. 
• It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.  
• It was signed in Bonn, Germany, on 23 June 1979. 
• It is the only global and UN-based intergovernmental organisation established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range. 
• It has two Appendices.  

• • Appendix I lists endangered migratory species and includes prohibitions regarding the take of these species. 
  • Appendix II lists species that have an ‘unfavourable conservation status’ (as per the conditions set out in the Convention) and encourages range states to draft range-wide agreements for the conservation and management of these species. 

2. E- Jagriti Portal :

• It is an initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. 
• It is a portal for consumer commissions. 
• This portal has been designed to further improve the customer experience. 
• It provides a simple, fast, and cost-effective consumer dispute redressal software solution at all levels. 
• It is envisaged to integrate consumer grievance platforms, namely, the Online Case Monitoring System (OCMS), E-Daakhil, the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) Case Monitoring System, CONFONET website, mediation application, on a single platform. 
• The e-Jagriti platform has case filing, online fee payment, case monitoring modules for seamless disposal of cases by all the Commissions, has Smart search facility on archived consumer complaints/cases/judgements using AI technology for metadata and keyword creation, and Voice-to-text conversion of judgements, case history and other details using AI / ML technology. 
• The portal will integrate a Virtual court facility for a convenient and accessible resolution of consumer complaints, reducing the time of disposal, multiple hearings, and physical court appearances, bringing effective and fast decisions & disposals in all Consumer Commissions. 

3. Hastal Minar :

• Location: It is located in a small village in western Delhi. 
• Its construction was finished in 1634 during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. 
• It is also known as Mini Qutab Minar. 
• Among the locals, it is also known as Hastsal Ki Laat and Kaushal Minar. 

Architecture 

• It was constructed using lakhori bricks and clad with red sandstone. 
• The minar is 17 metres (five storeys) tall, standing on a square platform and with an octagonal body. 
• A staircase inside the five-storey tower led to the domed Chhatri pavilion at the top.  
• It has three storeys, each with a reducing diameter, and is accessible through a narrow staircase 
• Shah Jahan utilised Hastsal as one of his hunting lodges during the 17th century. 

Present condition: 

• In 2018, the minaret was deemed as Grade A in heritage value and was given permission to be conserved under Phase IV of the Delhi government’s project to protect lesser-known monuments in the capital. 

Places in News 

1. Hope Island :

• It is a tadpole-shaped island, located off the coast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, in the Bay of Bengal.  
• Hope Island is so named for providing a natural haven to sailors against the forces of wind and tide against the weary traveller.  
• This island is young, as it was formed in the late 18th century, by the waters of the Koringa River, which is a distributary of the River Godavari. 
• The area between Kakinada coast and Hope Island is known as Kakinada Bay. 
• It acts as a natural barrier from storm surges and is a natural breakwater for the Kakinada coast.