Facts in News

Facts in News

Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs)

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the continuation of 1023 Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2023.
• FTSCs are set up for one year initially (subject to approval). Therefore, the Scheme does not intend to create any permanent infrastructure. 
• Each FTSC will have one Judicial Officer and seven staff members.
• The responsibility of setting up of FTSCs lies with the State & UT governments. 

Key Features 

• FTSCs are dedicated courts expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice. 
• They have a better clearance rate as compared to the regular courts and hold speedy trials. 
• They strengthen the deterrence framework for sexual offenders.
• It is supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for providing time-bound justice to hapless victims of sexual offences in the country including the remote and far-flung areas.
• Coverage :
  • It is currently covering 28 States and it is proposed to be expanded to cover all 31 states which are eligible to join the Scheme. 

INS Vikrant

• India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant‘ set sail for its maiden sea trials.
• INS Vikrant was named after the warship that played a crucial role in the 1971 war.
  • It is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy in the second half of 2022.
• Designed: By the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND), the carrier has been built at Cochin Shipyard Limited, a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Shipping.
• India has joined a select group of countries having niche capability to indigenously design, build and integrate a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier.

Features 

•  It is the largest and most complex warship ever to be designed and built in India.
• It has been designed with a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability.
• It has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. 
• The ship can accommodate an assortment of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

Highest Motorable Road in the World: Umlingla Pass

• Recently, the BRO has constructed the highest motorable road in the world in Eastern Ladakh.

About

• The BRO has constructed and black-topped the highest motorable road in the world at 19,300 ft at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh.
• The road now connects the important towns in the Chumar sector of Eastern Ladakh.
• It has been achieved by the BRO as part of “Project Himank”.

Significance:

• It will prove to be a boon to the local population as it offers an alternate direct route connecting Chisumle and Demchok from Leh.
• It will enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh.

Umlingla Pass

• It is located at an altitude of 19,300ft in the union territory of Ladakh.
• It is stretching to a distance of almost 86km which connects Chisumle and Demchok villages.

Project Himank

• Project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Ladakh region of northernmost India that started in August 1985.
• Under this project, the BRO is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and related infrastructure in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• It ensures access to sensitive military areas including the world’s highest battleground at the Siachen Glacier and Pangong Tso Lake.
• It constructed the world’s highest Bailey bridge at Khardung La, though this has been subsequently replaced by a causeway.

Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle

• The conservationists and veterinary experts along with global partners are making efforts to save the world’s most endangered turtle, Swinhoe’s softshell turtle from the brink of extinction.

About

• Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) has for centuries held special cultural significance in Vietnam. 
• The animal is also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle or Yangtze giant softshell turtle.

Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle

• These turtles are grey with light grey or yellow spots.
• Significance: They are important to the seafloor biosystem, where they contribute by enriching soil nutrients and facilitating seed dispersion.
• Habitat: The natural habitat for these turtles are wetlands and large lakes. Native to China and Vietnam.
• Threats: Habitat destruction due to water pollution to riverbed abrasion, and overexploitation for food and illegal trade.
• Protection Status: Listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the Red List maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Image Courtesy: Feerbeekeeper.com