Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- Context: The 28th meeting of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Society was recently held under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
About the Wildlife Institute of India
-
- The Wildlife Institute of India is an autonomous institution established in 1982.
- It operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
- It was established to advance wildlife science, research, conservation, and management in India.
- Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Functions
- WII is an internationally recognized institution.
- It offers the following:
- Training programs
- Academic courses
- Research
- Technical advice on wildlife conservation and management
Objectives
- To build scientific knowledge regarding India’s wildlife resources.
- To provide training to officials and professionals engaged in wildlife conservation and management.
- To conduct research aimed at improving wildlife management using methods suited to the Indian environment.
- To provide expert advice on issues related to wildlife conservation and management.
- To collaborate with international organizations in wildlife research, training, and conservation.
- To emerge as a regionally significant center for wildlife and natural resource conservation.
Research Areas
- The Institute conducts research in the following fields:
- Biodiversity conservation
- Wildlife policies
- Endangered species
- Wildlife management
- Wildlife forensics
- Ecodevelopment
- Spatial modeling
- Climate change and its impact on wildlife
Training
- Since its inception, WII has trained numerous forest officials and wildlife managers from India and other developing countries (particularly from South Asia and Southeast Asia).
Administration
- The apex administrative body of WII is the ‘Society’.
- It is headed by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- It comprises representatives from the Central Government, State Governments, academic institutions, and other organizations.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
- Context: The Union Cabinet has approved an additional investment of ₹30,000 crore by the Government of India in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. With this, the government’s total investment commitment to the fund has risen to ₹60,000 crore.
About the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
- The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund was established in 2015.
- It is a government-backed investment platform created to mobilize long-term capital for infrastructure projects and other key sectors, and to attract global investors.
Structure
- NIIF is professionally managed by the company ‘NIIF Limited’.
- The Government of India holds a 49% stake in it.
- The remaining 51% of the investment is sourced from large-scale global institutional investors.
Investor Participation
- NIIF has received investments from:
- Sovereign wealth funds
- Pension funds
- Multilateral development institutions
- Domestic financial institutions
- Investors hail from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Role and Functions
- NIIF invests in projects that support key government initiatives. These include:
- PM Gati Shakti
- Digital India
- Make in India
- FAME
- PM E-DRIVE
- India’s climate goals
- Atmanirbhar Bharat
- Furthermore, it provides advice to government agencies on the following matters:
- Public-Private Partnership
- Asset monetization
- Strategic investment planning
Significance
- This additional investment in NIIF is expected to help:
- Attract more private and institutional investors.
- Accelerate infrastructure development.
- Generate direct and indirect employment opportunities.
- Strengthen key sectors of the economy.
- Assist India in achieving the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047.
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER)
- Context: The Vice President of India recently addressed the 15th convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Bhubaneswar.
About NISER
- NISER was established in 2006.
- It is an autonomous institution functioning under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
- It is located approximately 20 km south of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- The institute features modern laboratories, advanced computing facilities, a library, and student hostel facilities.
- NISER is affiliated with the Homi Bhabha National Institute (Mumbai)—a ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ that manages the academic programs of institutions under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Objective
- To produce skilled scientists and researchers who can contribute to India’s future knowledge-based economy.
Key Functions of NISER
- Science Education
-
- NISER serves as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for higher education in basic sciences.
- It offers:
- A five-year integrated M.Sc. (Master of Science) program.
- Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) programs in pure and applied sciences.
- Scientific Research
- NISER promotes both theoretical and experimental research in advanced fields of science.
- The institute comprises seven distinct schools (departments), each focusing on different branches of science.
- Scientific Awareness and Policy Formulation
- NISER disseminates scientific knowledge among the general public and school students.
- It fosters scientific thinking, cultivates an interest in science, and encourages the pursuit of careers in scientific research. o Professors from this institute also serve on various government committees that help formulate the country’s scientific policies.
Kavach 4.0 System
- Background: To further strengthen railway safety and operational efficiency, Indian Railways has approved a project worth ₹206 crore to install ‘Kavach Version 4.0’—an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system—across 680 route kilometers of the Northern Railway network.
About the Kavach 4.0 System
- Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed in India.
- It is an advanced electronic safety system designed to help prevent train accidents.
- If the loco pilot fails to control the train correctly, the system automatically regulates the train’s speed and applies the brakes to avoid collisions.
Developer
- Developed by the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industries.
Objective
- Its primary goal is to achieve zero accidents within Indian Railways.
- It assists by:
- Preventing Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD).
- Controlling over-speeding.
- Ensuring safe train operations during low-visibility conditions, such as dense fog.
Mode of Operation
- he system utilizes:
- RFID tags installed on the railway tracks.
- On-board equipment fitted in the locomotives.
- Radio towers installed at railway stations.
- These components continuously exchange information to monitor the train’s location and speed.
- If the system detects a potential collision or observes the train exceeding speed limits, it automatically applies the brakes without requiring driver intervention.
Key Features of Kavach 4.0
- Enhanced Precision
- Provides highly accurate train location data.
- Handles signal information more effectively, particularly in busy railway yards.
- Direct Integration
- Integrates directly with electronic interlocking systems.
- Receives real-time information regarding track usage and signal status.
- Advanced Communication
- Utilizes an optical fiber network and UHF radio communication between stations.
- Ensures continuous and reliable communication.
- Automatic Braking
- Automatically applies brakes in the following situations:
- When the loco pilot passes a red signal.
- When the train exceeds the permitted speed limit.
- SOSR (Save Our Souls) Feature
- Sends emergency alert messages to all nearby trains within a specific area.
- Helps prevent major accidents during emergencies.
Southern States Establish Anti-Drug Mechanism
- Context: To strengthen anti-drug surveillance in the region, a permanent inter-state coordination mechanism will be established, involving the police forces of the southern states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana—and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Key Features of the Anti-Drug Mechanism
- Real-time Intelligence Sharing: Coordination officers with the rank of Superintendent of Police (or higher) will be appointed to facilitate continuous intelligence exchange and operational coordination.
- Disrupting the Supply Chain: Monitoring and securing state borders, roads, railway lines, and waterways to block drug trafficking routes.
- Joint Enforcement: Integrated operations involving the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Customs, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in collaboration with state police forces.
- Joint Crackdown on Syndicates: Targeting and dismantling inter-state and cross-border drug networks.
- Financial Investigation: Detecting illegal financial transactions and confiscating proceeds of crime or illegally acquired assets.
- Enhanced Regional Coordination: A permanent inter-state structure for rapid information sharing and coordinated anti-drug operations.
Southern States’ Anti-Drug Coordination Body
- Objective: To establish a permanent inter-state anti-drug coordination body to strengthen surveillance and curb drug trafficking.
- Participating States/Union Territories: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry.
- Real-time intelligence sharing: Coordinating officers of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) (or higher) will facilitate continuous intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
- Focus on supply chains: Monitoring and sealing state borders, roads, railway lines, and waterways to block drug trafficking routes.
- Joint enforcement: Coordinating with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Customs, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for integrated anti-narcotics operations.
- Key actions: Dismantling inter-state/cross-border drug syndicates, monitoring financial networks, and seizing illegally acquired assets.
CAMPA Approves Conservation Projects for Four Species
Context
- The Governing Body of National CAMPA approved four new wildlife conservation projects for the River Dolphin, Snow Leopard, Wild Water Buffalo, and Indian Rhinoceros during its 7th Governing Body meeting chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in Coimbatore.
- four new wildlife and forestry conservation projects for dolphins, snow leopards, wild water buffalo and indian rhinoceros approved by GB CAMPA
Aim
- To strengthen the conservation and recovery of the four priority species.
- To protect and restore critical habitats and improve ecosystem health.
- To ensure the long-term survival of these threatened wildlife species.
Purpose
- Implement species-specific conservation measures using CAMPA funds.
- Enhance habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, and research.
- Strengthen anti-poaching efforts and wildlife protection.
- Promote community participation and sustainable conservation practices.
- Contribute to biodiversity conservation and fulfil India’s national and international conservation commitments.
National CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority)
ABOUT CAMPA
- National CAMPA is a statutory authority established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.
- It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- It manages and utilizes Compensatory Afforestation Funds collected when forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes.
Aim
- To compensate for the loss of forest land through afforestation and ecological restoration.
- To support forest, wildlife, and biodiversity conservation across India.
Functions
- Fund compensatory afforestation and forest regeneration.
- Support wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and biodiversity protection.
- Improve forest infrastructure, protection, and management.
- Monitor and ensure the effective utilization of CAMPA funds by States and Union Territories.
Significance
- Helps maintain ecological balance and forest cover.
- Strengthens conservation of endangered species and their habitats.
- Contributes to climate change mitigation by increasing carbon sinks and restoring degraded ecosystems.
