Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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U.S. places India at Level 2 in its new travel advisory for citizens

News

The United States on Wednesday issued a new travel advisory for countries including India, which its officials said is “user friendly” as it is based on ready-to-understand level of advice ranging from one to four.

Beyond News

• India has been ranked Level 2 (exercise increased caution) while Pakistan has been places in Level 3 (reconsider travel).
• Level 1 advises travellers to exercise normal precaution, while Level 4, which has countries like Afghanistan, recommends “Do Not Travel“.

Impact of Terrorism.

• Placing India on Level 2, the State Department identified “crime and terrorism” for Americans to exercise increased caution.
• However, it asks Americans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir, except for eastern Ladakh and Leh and not to venture within 10 miles of the India-Pakistan border due to the “potential for armed conflict“.
• Ranking Pakistan on Level 3, the State Department asked Americans to reconsider travel to this country due to terrorism.
• Americans are also advised not to travel to Pak-Occupied Kashmir due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.

Ban on use of national flag made of plastic

News

The Central government urged everyone not to use a national flag made of plastic and asked the states and Union Territories to ensure strict compliance of the Flag Code in view of the Republic Day celebrations ahead.

Beyond News

• An advisory from the Union Home Ministry said that the “national flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of the country and hence should occupy a position of honour”, but since plastic flags are not biodegradable like paper flags, ensuring appropriate disposal of a national flag made of plastic is a practical problem.

Section 2 of The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

• As per Section 2 of The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, whoever in any public place or any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defiles, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

The advisory said that on important national, cultural and sports events, flags made of paper only are to be used by the public, and after the event such flags are to be disposed of in private, consistent with the dignity of the flag.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Mullaperiyar dam: SC asks Centre, TN, Kerala to set up panels to prepare disaster management plans

News

Despite assurances from the Union government that the 122-year-old Mullaperiyar dam is “safe,” the Supreme Court directed it to set up a special committee to exclusively prepare disaster management plans.

Beyond News

• A three-judge Bench also directed Tamil Nadu, which owns the dam, and Kerala, where it is situated, to set up similar committees.
• It said the three committees would work in harmony.
• The Bench said the step was taken to allay the fears of thousands of people who live downstream or in the vicinity of the dam.

It clarified in the order that the special committees have nothing to do with the lifespan or safety of the dam.

Their brief is restricted to disaster management plans to prevent a calamity or contain the loss of life and damage to property in case a tragedy hits the dam.

The Bench noted that a committee had been formed to cover the aspects of safety and lifespan of the dam as ordered by a Constitution Bench of the court in May 2014.

Gujarat to count elusive tigers

News

Gujarat, which houses a rich population of lions, will now see an exercise to find out if tigers also inhabit the State.

Beyond News

• The last time a tiger was spotted in Gujarat was way back in 1985.
  Now, over three decades later, a census has been planned next month to ascertain the presence of the striped animal in the forest of Dang district.
• The State forest department earlier sent a proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the census after some media reports suggested the presence of tigers in Dang.

The proposal was approved by the NTCA, a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

• Till the early 1980s, there were tigers in Gujarat, mainly inhabiting the forests of Dang, Narmada and Sabarkantha districts.
• “The last tiger died in a road accident in Dang in 1985. No tiger was seen in the State after that.
• The forest department sent a team in July last year to survey the area to ascertain the presence of tigers, but the report was negative.

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