UPSC QUIZ 12.10.2023

Explanation:

• Arunachal Pradesh has recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Arunachal Yak Churpi, Khaw Tai (Khamti rice), and Tangsa textile.

GI Tag

• A geographical indication (GI) tag is a name or sign used on certain products that correspond to a specific geographical location or origin.
• For example, Darjeeling Tea, Kanchipuram Silk, etc.
• Geographical indications are recognized as a part of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under Articles 1(2) and 10 of the Paris Convention and also under Articles 22 to 24 of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement
• India, as a World Trade Organisation (WTO) member, implemented the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999, which became effective on September 15, 2003, to protect such indications.
• A registered GI is valid for 10 years. It can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.

Explanation:

• International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), has launched the Coral Reef Breakthrough in partnership with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC).The Initiative was launched at the 37th ICRI General Meeting, 2023.

International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)

• It is a global partnership between Nations and organizations that strives to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems around the world.
• The Initiative was founded in 1994 by eight governments: Australia, France, Japan, Jamaica, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
• It was announced at the First Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity,1994.
• ICRI has 101 members, including 45 countries (India is one of them).

Explanation:

• Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 23rd Council of Ministers' Meeting scheduled for 11th October, 2023, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• It will hold the chairmanship of the association from 2023 to 2025.Bangladesh held the chairmanship from November 2021 - November 2023.
• The vision for IORA originated during a visit by the then President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995, where he said: “the natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean rim for socio-economic co-operation.
• ”It underpinned the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in March 1995, and the creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (then known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation) in March 1997.

Explanation:

• Union Cabinet has approved the issue of further Terms of Reference (ToR) to the existing Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) under the ISRWD (Inter State River Water Disputes) Act, 1956 for its adjudication between the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (AP).

Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II)

• Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II was constituted by the Centre in April 2004 under Section 3 of the ISRWD Act, 1956 to adjudicate and resolve water-sharing disputes related to the Krishna River.
• It was constituted to address the allocation of Krishna River waters among the riparian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• KWDT-II made recommendations and allocations of Krishna River waters based on the availability of water, the demands of the states, and other relevant factors. It provided specific quantities of water to each state, outlining the share they were entitled to receive.

Explanation:

• Recently, scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported a historic decline in Antarctic sea ice during winter, raising concerns about its broader impact on the environment and climate.
• The National Snow and Ice Data Center has confirmed that Antarctic sea ice has reached unprecedented levels during the winter.
• The missing sea ice is about 386,000 square miles less than the previous record low recorded in 2022 – an area larger than Egypt.

Role of sea ice

• Sea ice is frozen sea water that undergoes a cycle of melting during the summer and refreezing during the winter. In Antarctica, sea ice reaches its minimum extent in late February or early March, marking the end of the Southern Hemisphere's summer, and reaches its maximum extent in September as winter ends.