PaleoIndia Portal
- Context: The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently launched the PaleoIndia Portal.
About the PaleoIndia Portal
- PaleoIndia Portal is a digital platform developed jointly by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, using dynamic geological maps provided by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
- The portal records fossil fauna found across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India.
- It currently contains details of over 5,000 fossil specimens, including: Mammals, Reptiles, Birds,Fishes, Amphibians, Molluscs, Arthropods, Foraminifera, Echinoderms, Ichnofossils (trace fossils)
- It has a real-time data upload feature, allowing researchers, field scientists, and citizen scientists to add fossil records and help protect India’s paleontological heritage.
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)
- Established: 2011
- Set up by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
- Type: Autonomous institution
- Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Main Objectives
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- To become a leading knowledge centre for coastal environment, resources, and related research.
- To promote integrated and sustainable management of India’s coastal and marine areas.
- To improve the livelihood and well-being of coastal and island communities.
- To provide scientific and policy advice to the Central and State Governments on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
Major Areas of Work
- Conducts coastal vulnerability assessments.
- Carries out coastal environmental impact studies.
- Identifies and maps Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
- Prepares Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plans.
Six Research Divisions of NCSCM
- Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Integrated Social Sciences & Economics
- Coastal Environmental Impact Assessment
- Conservation of Coastal & Marine Resources
- Knowledge, Governance & Policy
- Futuristic Research and Integrated Island Management Unit.
National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)
- Context: Recently, the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) achieved a major success in conserving the genetic resources of India’s wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur district, Assam.
About the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)
- Established: 2006
- Under: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
- Nature: Advisory body
- Headquarters: New Delhi
Objectives
- To promote sustainable agriculture in rainfed areas.
- To increase agricultural productivity in rainfed regions.
- To improve the income and livelihood of farmers.
Mandate
- NRAA’s role is not limited to water conservation.
- It focuses on the overall and sustainable development of rainfed areas
- It promotes suitable farming practices and livelihood-based approaches for long-term rural development.
Governing Board
- Provides leadership and ensures proper coordination in implementing various programmes.
- Chairperson: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
- Co-Chairperson: Union Minister of Rural Development.
MANAS Helpline
- Context: The National Narcotics Helpline MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) has recorded nearly one million connection attempts since its launch, reflecting growing public participation in reporting drug-related activities and seeking support.
About MANAS Helpline
- MANAS Helpline was launched by the Government of India on 18 July 2024.
- Objective: To encourage public participation in the fight against drugs by providing a safe and confidential platform for anonymous reporting of drug trafficking, illegal cultivation, manufacturing, storage, and other drug-related offences.
Key Features of MANAS Helpline
- Offers counselling and rehabilitation support, encouraging greater citizen involvement in building a drug-free India.
- Developed as a secure, bilingual, and integrated digital platform, providing a confidential and user-friendly system for reporting drug-related activities and accessing rehabilitation services.
Services Available through MANAS
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- Report anonymously any information about drug trafficking, storage, production, or illegal cultivation.
- Receive counselling and rehabilitation assistance through integration with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) Helpline 14446.
- Access awareness materials, including posters, videos, and brochures, through the MANAS web portal.
- Participate in awareness campaigns on the MyGov platform through quizzes, poster-making, and reel-making competitions to support the Drug-Free Bharat campaign.
