Daily Current Affairs 23/06/17

 (23/06/17) 

A Law this time for Antartica

Preparing for a populous future in which Antarctica —the world’s only continent without countries and citizens — may see more tourists, over-exploited fisheries, disputes and crime,India is drafting a dedicated Antarctica policy and a law that will likely be tabled in the winter session of Parliament.
Ministry of Earth Sciences officials tasked with drafting the law said that India, being among the
countries that have acceded to the Antarctica Treaty, is expected to have a clear policy on the consequences of its activities in the region.
The treaty is framed to ensure ‘in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international
discord.’ 
Several related conventions,such as the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972) and the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), are appended to this treaty for protection.

India is expanding its infrastructure development in Antarctica. The government is rebuilding its
station, Maitri, to make it bigger and last for at least 30 years.  

First Indian base

Dakshin Gangotri, the first Indian base established in 1984, has weakened and become just a supply base.  

National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, said clear laws are necessary on a wide range of matters, including “domestic disputes between residents.” South Africa and Australia have specific laws.
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• It will be carrying the Cartosat-2 series satellite, along with 30 co-passenger satellites(i.e 31 Satellites) on Friday morning.  
• It will be the 17th Flight of the four-stage PSLV in the extended version with strap-on motors  
•  Rocket weighing 320 tonnes at lift-off uses solid propellant for the first and third stage ,the Second and fourth stage use liquid propellant   PSLV- C38 mission began- Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• This will be the second highest number of satellites to be launched by ISRO
• The PSLV-C38 payload includes a nano satellite designed and developed by the Noorul Islam University in Kanyakumari district.
• The rest of the payload comprises 29 nano satellites from 14 countries

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 Meeting held to preserve Sangai Deer  

• The Sangai deer is found only on a floating biomass on Manipur's Loktak lake.
• The critically endangered species of brow-antlered deer ‘Sangai’, which is found only on a floating biomass on Manipur’s Loktak lake, will soon be provided a second home to save it from extinction.
• The Manipur Forest Department planned in 2015 to translocate a section of the rare species of the endemic deer to Pumlen Pat, which is close to its existing habitat in Loktak. 
• Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), situated inside the lake, is the only remaining natural habitat of ‘Sangai’ which was once found across the Manipur valley.
• Due to lack of funds and poaching, sangai may become extinct     sooner than expected  

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 NATGRID can soon access PAN,I-T Records

• The Centre has empowered the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), the integrated mechanism to keep track of security-related data, to access the Income Tax department’s records on individual taxpayers as well as PAN card holders. 
• NATGRID and the I-T department could sign a pact soon to operationalise the data sharing arrangement  

Click here :NATGRID and it's role