Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

Context:

• PM chairs First meeting of Governing Body of Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
• The meeting focussed on discussion about India’s Science and Technology landscape and redesigning of research and development programmes.

About ANRF:

• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been established with Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2023 Act.
• The ANRF aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
• ANRF will act as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP).
• With the establishment of ANRF, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of Parliament in 2008 has been subsumed into ANRF.
• ANRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries.

Governing Board:

• ANRF has a Governing Board headed by the Prime Minister of India.
• The Board will provide strategic direction to the Foundation and monitor the implementation.
• Other members of the Board:
• Union Ministers of Science and Technology, Education as Vice Presidents
• Principal Scientific Advisor as Member Secretary
• Secretaries to the Departments of Science and Technology, Biotechnology, and Scientific and Industrial Research

Executive Council:  

• Foundation has an Executive Council to undertake implementation.
• The Principal Scientific Advisor is the chairperson of the Council.

Additional Solicitor Generals (ASGs)

Context:

• Centre appoints six new ASGs for Supreme Court

News:

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal for the appointment of six senior advocates as Additional Solicitor General (ASG) in the Supreme Court of India.
• These appointments has been made for a period of three years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the office.
• These appointments are made by the Union Government to strengthen the legal team representing the government’s interests in the Supreme Court.

About Additional Solicitor General:

• He/she is a law officer of India who assists the Solicitor-General and the Attorney-General.
• SGI is governed by Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987.

Duties:

• To give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time, be referred or assigned to him by the Government of India.
• To appear, whenever required, in the Supreme Court or in any High Court on behalf of the Government of India in cases (including suits, writ petitions, appeal and other proceedings) in which the Government of India is concerned as a party or is otherwise interested.
• To represent the Government of India in any reference made by the President to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution.
• To discharge such other functions as are conferred on a Law Officer by or under the Constitution or any other Law for the time being in force.

Restrictions of private practice:

• He/she is not allowed to:
• Hold briefs in any court for any party except the Government of India or the government of a State or any University, Government School or College, local authority, Public Service Commission, Port Trust, Port Commissioners, Government aided or Government managed hospitals, a Government company, any Corporation owned or controlled by the State, any body or institution in which the Government has a preponderating interest.
• Advise any party against the Government of India or a Public Sector Undertaking, or in cases in which he is likely to be called upon to advise, or appear for, the Government of India or a Public Sector Undertaking.
• Defend an accused person in a criminal prosecution, without the permission of the Government of India.
• Accept appointment to any office in any company or corporation without the permission of the Government of India.
• Advise any Ministry or Department of Government of India or any statutory organization or any Public Sector Undertaking unless the proposal or a reference in this regard is received through the Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs.

Light Pollution

Context:

• City light pollution is shrinking spiders’ brains

About Light Pollution:

• Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial (usually outdoor) light.
• Too much light pollution has consequences:
• It washes out starlight in the night sky
• Interferes with astronomical research
• Disrupts ecosystems
• Has adverse health effects and wastes energy

Effects of Light Pollution:

• Disrupting ecosystem:
• Light pollution poses a serious threat in particular to nocturnal wildlife, having negative impacts on plant and animal physiology.
• It can confuse the migratory patterns of animals, alter competitive interactions of animals, change predator-prey relations, and cause physiological harm.
• The rhythm of life is orchestrated by the natural diurnal patterns of light and dark, so disruption to these patterns impacts the ecological dynamics.
• Adverse health effects:
• Many species, especially humans, are dependent on natural body cycles called circadian rhythms and the production of melatonin, which are regulated by light and dark (e.g., day and night).
• If humans are exposed to light while sleeping, melatonin production can be suppressed.
• This can lead to sleep disorders and other health problems such as increased headaches, worker fatigue, medically defined stress, some forms of obesity due to lack of sleep and increased anxiety.
• And ties are being found to a couple of types of cancer.
• There are also effects of glare on aging eyes.
• Health effects are not only due to over-illumination or excessive exposure of light over time, but also improper spectral composition of light (e.g., certain colors of light).
• Energy wastage:
• Lighting is responsible for at least one-fourth of all electricity consumption worldwide.
• Over illumination can constitute energy wastage, especially upward directed lighting at night.
• Energy wastage is also a waste in cost and carbon footprint.

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

News:

• Union Home Minister launched key initiatives for prevention of cyber crime.
• He dedicated the Cyber ​​Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) to the nation and launched the Samanvay platform (Joint Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Facility System).
• He also inaugurated the ‘Cyber ​​Commandos’ program and Suspect Registry.
• He also said a National Cyber ​​Forensic Laboratory has also been set up in Delhi under I4C.

About I4C:

• Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with cyber crime in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
• It was established in 2015 under the ‘Safe Cyber ​​Space’ campaign.
• I4C focuses on tackling all the issues related to Cybercrime for the citizens, which includes improving coordination between various Law Enforcement Agencies and the stakeholders, driving change in India’s overall capability to tackle Cybercrime and to improve citizen satisfaction levels.

Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC):

• CFMC has been established at Indian cybercrime Coordination Centre (14C) in New Delhi with representatives of major banks, Financial Intermediaries, Payment Aggregators, Telecom Service Providers, IT Intermediaries and States/UTs Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
• They will work together for immediate action and seamless cooperation to tackle online financial crimes.
• CFMC will serve as an example of “Cooperative Federalism” in law enforcement.

Samanvay Platform (Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System): 

• The platform is a web-based module that will act as a one stop portal for data repository of cybercrime, data sharing, crime mapping, data analytics, and cooperation and coordination platform for Law Enforcement Agencies across the country.

‘Cyber Commandos’ Program:

• Under this program a special wing of trained ‘Cyber Commandos’ in States/UTs and Central Police Organizations (CPOs) will be established to counter threats of cyber security landscape in the country.
• Trained Cyber Commandos will assist States/UTs and Central Agencies in securing the digital space.
• A target has been set to prepare about 5 thousand cyber commandos in 5 years.

Suspect Registry:

• As part of this initiative a Suspect Registry of various identifiers is being created based on National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), in collaboration with banks and financial intermediaries for strengthening fraud risk management capabilities of financial ecosystem.

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

News:

• Standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has cleared projects such as a transmission line in Little Rann of Kutch, a controversial transmission line project in Goa’s Mollem national park as well as a clutch of infrastructure projects in tiger corridors of central India.
• Two approvals were granted for erection of transmission lines in Gujarat. One in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Kutch and another in the Wild Ass sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch.
• To prevent impact on avifauna, bird diverters to be installed on earth wire to make it visible to birds from long distance to prevent any possible collision of birds.

About NBWL:

• A comprehensive central legislation was enacted in 1972 called the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) for providing special legal protection to India’s wildlife and to the endangered species of fauna in particular.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was subsequently amended during 1991 and last during 2002.
• As per the amendment of the Act in 2002, a provision was incorporated for the constitution of the National Board for Wildlife, replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife.
• The National Board for Wildlife came into existence in 2003.
• The National Board for Wildlife has 47 members with the Prime Minister in the Chair.
• The Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment & Forests in the Central Government is the Vice-Chairperson.
• The Additional Director General of Forests (WL) & Director, Wildlife Preservation is the Member-Secretary to the Board.
• The Board is responsible for promotion of conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
• The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of Protected Areas, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.
• Several proposals seeking statutory approvals for such projects come up before the Standing Committee which meets once every three months to deliberate and grant or reject approvals.

Standing Committee of the NBWL:

• It is constituted by NBWL under WLPA.
• It is headed by Union Environment Minister.
• It consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife), the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.
• Most of the proposals that come up before the Standing Committee are for dams, highways, mines, power lines and such other projects that destroy wildlife or involve diversion of habitat.

Little Rann of Kutch:

• It is an entry point into India for several migratory birds.
• Apart from flamingos, it is an important habitat for other threatened bird species such as Asian Houbara, vultures, cranes and storks.

Wild ass sanctuary:

• It is home to wild asses, jackals, bluebulls, desert fox, Indian wolf, jungle cat, chinkara.
• However, the landscape is especially important as an important wintering, breeding site for migratory birds, especially the lesser flamingos, who build nesting mounds on the landscape during winters.

Other facts from the news article:

• Son Gharial sanctuary is located in Madhya Pradesh.
• Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary is located in Goa.