Prashant Mavani, is an expert in current affairs analysis and holds a MSc in Management from University of Surrey (U.K.). Above all he is a passionate teacher.
Spain sacks Catalan govt., to hold polls Spain announced on Saturday that it would move to 1. Dismiss Catalonia s separatist government 2. Call fresh elections in the semi-autonomous region to stop its leaders from declaring independence. The drastic escalation of Spain s worst political crisis in decades will see separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and his administration stripped of their jobs. Autonomy is a highly sensitive issue in wealthy Catalonia, which saw its powers taken away under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. Under Article 155 of Spain's Constitution, Madrid enjoys powers to wrest control of rebellious regions, but it has never used them before. Saturday's dramatic developments come a day after Madrid won powerful backing from the Spanish King and the EU.
Aadhaar-bank account link must: RBI The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday clarified that linking of Aadhaar to bank accounts was mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017. The clarification comes after a section of the media, citing a reply to a Right to Information Act application, reported that the linking of Aadhaar and bank accounts was not mandatory. The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017, published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017, it said.
For a lark, this bird imitates 34 others! Appearances are deceptive, and unbelievably so for the tiny Tawny lark: the dull brown-coloured bird that is small enough to fit in your palm can imitate the calls of 34 other birds found in its habitat, and even shepherds whistles. Many birds mimic the calls of other birds to impress females during territorial displays, to discourage competing species from using the area and to teach their young to associate the calls of other birds with danger. The diminutive crested Tawny lark found only in the arid grasslands and scrub lands of central and west-central India, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra belongs to a family of larks well-known for their mimicking abilities. Tawny lark is one of India s 22 lark species. It is endemic to the Deccan region, locally common in its range and not yet threatened, says Dr. Barve. However, the habitat it lives in grasslands and scrub lands are one of the fastest disappearing in the country, he adds. Rapid urbanisation and conversion of grassland and scrub habitats into farms endanger these master mimics.
Butterflies are more than a nano attraction in Singur A recent study by researchers of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) shows for the first time that the hamlet Singur in West Bengal is home to at least 69 species of butterflies. Five of the species found in Singur are rare and to be protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They include species like the Tree Flitter, Striped Albatross, Pea Blue, Common Indian Crow and Danaid Eggfly. The other interesting species found here include the Zebra Blue, the Common Banded Peacock and the Indian Skipper. On August 30, 2017, the Supreme Court quashed the Left Front government s acquisition of 997 acres of land for the car plant in Singur. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee returned the acquired land to farmers on September 14, 2016.
Festive fervour People try to bring a bull under control during the Sagar festival held in Pune on Saturday. The annual festival is celebrated by the Gawli community on the occasion of the Bhai Bheej festivalmandar Tannu
383 policemen martyred: IB As many as 383 police personnel from different State forces, Central paramilitary forces and Central police organisations were killed this year, Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain said on Saturday. Of the personnel killed in the line of duty from September 2016 to August 2017 include 56 from the Border Security Force and 42 from the Jammu and Kashmir police, Mr. Jain said on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. The day is observed every year on October 21 to commemorate the 10 police personnel who were killed in Hot Springs in Ladakh in 1959 by the Chinese troops and 34,400 others who laid down their lives protecting India s unity and integrity. A majority of the personnel died while dealing with cross-border firing from Pakistan, fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxals and other law and order duties, a Home Ministry statement said.
Delinked polls with reason: CEC Mr. Joti said that with the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct would have immediately come into effect in Gujarat. This, in turn, would have disturbed the relief and rehabilitation operations in seven flood-affected districts of the State, as the staff there would have to be diverted for election-related duties. Mr. Joti said another reason was that as per a 2001 Supreme Court ruling, coupled with the statutory period of 25 days under the Representation of the People Act, the total time period from press announcement of the schedule to the completion of poll process should be generally around 46 days.
PM in Gujarat tomorrow to inaugurate projects Prime Minister Narendra Modi will again visit his home State, Gujarat, and will inaugurate the Ghogha-Dahej ferry service project being implemented by the Gujarat Maritime Board. In the first phase, the ferry service will carry passengers, while the next phase will include transportation of cargo and vehicles, Ajay Bhadoo, Chief Executive Officer of the board, said. The Rs 615-crore roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) ferry project was launched when Mr. Modi was Chief Minister and he had called it his dream project to connect the two provinces.
Tillerson to have big regional agenda Regional issues could take precedence over bilateral ones, as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives here on Tuesday. He is expected to raise Washington s new South Asia policy with respect to Pakistan and Afghanistan and prospects for more cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, officials and diplomats told The Hindu. After meetings in Pakistan, Mr. Tillerson will arrive here the same evening. He will hold bilateral talks on Wednesday with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From Delhi, he is expected to travel to Kabul to meet President Ashraf Ghani. Significantly, Mr. Ghani will visit New Delhi for a day on Tuesday before returning to Kabul. Officials told The Hindu that Mr. Tillerson and Ms. Swaraj will discuss pending bilateral issues on Wednesday as well, including enhancing trade, the U.S. s pitch to sell India UAV drones, F-16s and F-18s, and the outstanding decisions on the foundational agreements in defence.
Non-Iodised Salt Free Village In Nagaland, Kohima village has been declared as the first Non-Iodised Salt Free Village. The declaration was made today on the observance of Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day in the village. Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Meguosielie Kire said it is through various awareness campaigns that the village could achieve such status. Maintaining that Iodine deficiency is preventable, he urged people to use only iodised salt which is cheap and freely available.
Questions 1. Name a butterfly species in India that undertakes migration between two hilly regions of India. 2. Name African countries through which Equator passes?
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