Porul

Critically Endangered Species of India- The Pygmy hog | UPSC

29 மே, 2023

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

(B) MAMMALS:

1. The Pygmy hog

The Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world’s smallest wild pig, with adults weighing only 8 kg. This species constructs a nest throughout the year. It is one of the most useful indicators of management status of grassland habitats.

The grasslands where the pygmy hog resides are crucial for the survival of other endangered species such as Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli), wild buffalo

(Bubalus arnee), hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), Bengal florican (Eupodotis bengalensis) and swamp francolin (Francolinus gularis). In 1996, a captive-breeding programme of the species was initiated in Assam, and some hogs have been reintroduced in Sonai Rupai area also in 2009.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered

HABITAT: Relatively undisturbed tall ‘terai’ grasslands.

DISTRIBUTION: Formerly, the species was more widely distributed along the southern Himalayan

foothills but now is restricted to only a single remnant population in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

and its buffer reserves.

THREATS: The main threats are loss and degradation of grasslands, dry-season burning, livestock

grazing and afforestation of grasslands. Hunting is also a threat to the remnant populations.

Also Read: Bengal Florican

Critically Endangered Species of India- Bengal Florican (UPSC)

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

(A) BIRDS:

5. BENGAL FLORICAN (Houbaropsis bengalensis)

Bengal Florican

Bengal Florican is a rare bustard species that is very well known for its mating dance. Among the tall grasslands, secretive males advertise their territories by springing from the ground and fl itting in the air to and fro.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered

HABITAT: Grasslands sometimes intersperesd with scrublands.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to only 3 countries in the world - Cambodia, India and Nepal. In India, it occurs in 3 States namely Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

THREATS: Ongoing conversion of the bird’s grassland habitat for various purposes including agriculture is mainly responsible for its population decline.

ALSO READ: Vultures

Critically Endangered Species of India- Vultures (UPSC)

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

(A) BIRDS:

4. VULTURES

Vultures

Out of nine species of vultures, population of three species ( White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris and Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus) have declined by 99%. Vultures keep the environment clean, by scavenging on animal carcasses.

The decline in vulture populations has associated disease risks including increased risk of spread of rabies and anthrax, besides adversely impacting the observance of last rites by the Parsis in the tower of silence.

Varying vultures have different conservation statuses. The three species (White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris and Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus) are now classified as critically endangered.

Long-billed Vulture

Slender-billed Vulture

White-backed Vulture

Habitat: Forests, habitation, villages etc.

Distribution: Across India.

Threats: A major threat to vultures is the use of the painkiller diclofenac for veterinary purposes.

On consumption of carcasses, diclofenac gets into the system of vultures which they are unable

to metabolize. Accumulation of diclofenac results in gout-like symptoms such as neck-drooping

ultimately leading to death.

Also Read: White-bellied Heron

Critically Endangered Species of India- White-bellied Heron (UPSC)

28 மே, 2023

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

(A) BIRDS:

3. WHITE-BELLIED HERON (Ardea insignis)

White-bellied Heron

It is is an extremely rare bird found in five or six sites in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, one or two sites in Bhutan, and a few in Myanmar. It is inherently rare, and populations have never been known to be very high.

The white-bellied heron is a large bird with a height of 127 cm. Its wingspan is estimated to be over 200 cm. The back and the long neck are dark grey in color. The belly plumage is whitish. The bill is large and black in color.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered

HABITAT: Rivers with sand or gravel bars or inland lakes.

DISTRIBUTION: Bhutan and north-east India to the hills of Bangladesh and north Myanmar.

THREATS: Loss and degradation of lowland forest and wetlands through direct exploitation and disturbance.

Also Read: The Forest Owlet

Critically Endangered Species of India- The Forest Owlet (UPSC)

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

(A) BIRDS:

2. The Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti)

The Forest Owlet

They are an exclusive species to India and can only be found there in tiny areas of forest. In the 1880s, the bird was first discovered. After then, nobody brought up these birds at all for almost a century. The cavity is used by the forest owlets to hide their prey. It is known as cashing.

When not sighted for decades, posters were printed and Salim Ali, the premier ornithologist of India made a public appeal to look for the bird. After 113 long years, in 1997, the owlet was rediscovered and reappeared on the list of Indian birds.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered

Habitat: Dry decidous forest

Distribution: South Madhya Pradesh, in north-west Maharashtra and north-central Maharashtra.

Threats: Logging operations, burning and cutting of trees damage roosting and nesting trees of the Forest Owlet.

Also Read: The Jerdon's Courser

PART XXII- Short title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals

23 மே, 2023

PART XXII

SHORT TITLE, COMMENCEMENT, AND AUTHORITATIVE TEXT IN HINDI AND REPEALS

393. Short title.—This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India.

394. Commencement.—This article and articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392 and 393 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions of this Constitution shall come into force on the twenty-sixth day of January, 1950, which day is referred to in this Constitution as the commencement of this Constitution.

394A. Authoritative text in the Hindi language.—

(1) The President shall cause to be published under his authority,—

(a) the translation of this Constitution in the Hindi language, signed by the members of the Constituent Assembly, with such modifications as may be necessary to bring it in conformity with the language, style and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in the Hindi language, and incorporating therein all the amendments of this Constitution made before such publication; and

(b) the translation in the Hindi language of every amendment of this Constitution made in the English language.

(2) The translation of this Constitution and of every amendment thereof published under clause (1) shall be construed to have the same meaning as the original thereof and if any difficulty arises in so construing any part of such translation, the President shall cause the same to be revised suitably.

(3) The translation of this Constitution and of every amendment thereof published under this article shall be deemed to be, for all purposes, the authoritative text thereof in the Hindi language

395. Repeals.—The Indian Independence Act, 1947, and the Government of India Act, 1935, together with all enactments amending or supplementing the latter Act, but not including the Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act, 1949, are hereby repealed.

Indian Constitution- Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions [Part 7]

PART XXI

TEMPORARY, TRANSITIONAL AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS

377. Provisions as to Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.—The Auditor-General of India holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless he has elected otherwise, become on such commencement the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and shall thereupon be entitled to such salaries and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as are provided for under clause (3) of article 148 in respect of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and be entitled to continue to hold office until the expiration of his term of office as determined under the provisions which were applicable to him immediately before such commencement.

378. Provisions as to Public Service Commissions.—

(1) The members of the Public Service Commission for the Dominion of India holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the members of the Public Service Commission for the Union and shall, notwithstanding anything in clauses (1) and (2) of article 316 but subject to the proviso to clause (2) of that article, continue to hold office until the expiration of their term of office as determined under the rules which were applicable immediately before such commencement to such members.

(2) The Members of a Public Service Commission of a Province or of a Public Service Commission serving the needs of a group of Provinces holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the members of the Public Service Commission for the corresponding State or the members of the Joint State Public Service Commission serving the needs of the corresponding States, as the case may be, and shall, notwithstanding anything in clauses (1) and (2) of article 316 but subject to the proviso to clause (2) of that article, continue to hold office until the expiration of their term of office as determined under the rules which were applicable immediately before such commencement to such members.

378A. Special provision as to duration of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.—Notwithstanding anything contained in article 172, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Andhra Pradesh as constituted under the provisions of sections 28 and 29 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, shall,

unless sooner dissolved, continue for a period of five years from the date referred to in the said section 29 and no longer and the expiration of the said period shall operate as a dissolution of that Legislative Assembly.

392. Power of the President to remove difficulties.—

(1) The President may, for the purpose of removing any difficulties, particularly in relation to the transition from the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, to the provisions of this Constitution, by order direct that this Constitution shall, during such period as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to such adaptations, whether by way of modification, addition or omission, as he may deem to be necessary or expedient:

Provided that no such order shall be made after the first meeting of Parliament duly constituted under Chapter II of Part V.

(2) Every order made under clause (1) shall be laid before Parliament.

(3) The powers conferred on the President by this article, by article 324, by clause (3) of article 367 and by article 391 shall, before the commencement of this Constitution, be exercisable by the Governor-General of the Dominion of India.