Prelims Focus – 12th March 2024

Cutlass Express 24

Recent News:

INS Tir is a cadet training ship located in SNC, Kochi, and recently participated in the annual maritime exercise Cutlass Express – 24. 

Details:

• The exercise aims to enhance maritime security in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean region through joint training and collaboration with navies from 16 friendly foreign countries. 
• This exercise helps to improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote regional security, and enhance interoperability between participating navies. 
• The involvement of the Indian Navy in this exercise highlights the strong relationships and cooperation between regional navies, promoting friendship and unity.

Oran land

Recent News:

• Villagers in Rajasthan are against the state government’s plan to designate sacred groves, or orans, as deemed forests, as they are concerned about potential restrictions on access and impact on their livelihoods. 
• The notification was issued on February 1, 2024, in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines.

Details:

• Communities depend on forests for cultural, religious, and economic purposes, such as cattle herding and gathering resources. 
• They are concerned that the categorization of forests will hinder their access to them and disrupt their way of life. 
• However, legal professionals explain that although classified forests are safeguarded from certain activities like mining, they still allow communities to use them for grazing and worship.

Orans:

• Orans are traditional sacred forests in Rajasthan, India that are protected and controlled by rural communities and are often connected to local deities. 
• They are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including endangered ones, and have been preserved for many years. 
• Orans are used for grazing livestock, community events, and festivals.

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