Facts in News
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Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs)
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- 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.
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INS Vikrant
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- 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.
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Highest Motorable Road in the World: Umlingla Pass
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- 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.
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Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle
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- 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
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