Facts in News

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.

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.

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.

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).

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