Prelims Focus – 24th May 2024

Spain Becomes Member of International Solar Alliance

In News: Spain has become the 99th member of the International Solar Alliance. 

• India and France collectively launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at some stage in 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015.
• The ISA pursuits to make contributions to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through the speedy and huge deployment of sun electricity.
• Members: At present, 119 international locations are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement, of which ninety eight nations have submitted the vital gadgets of ratification to come to be complete contributors of the ISA.

Mount Nemrut

In News: The International Space Station of NASA captured a rare image of an unusual crater on Mount Nemrut.

• It is one of the highest peaks of the Eastern Taurus mountain variety in south-east Türkiye.
• It was named after the biblical discern King Nimrod, standing 9,672 ft (2,948 meters) tall at the intersection between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. 
• It is a geologically younger stratovolcano and closing erupted in 1650 C.E.
• It is the Hiero Theseion (temple-tomb and house of the gods) constructed by the late Hellenistic King Antiochus I. 
• It has been a World Cultural Heritage website online by UNESCO, and is one of the most critical National Parks in the country.

Baltic Sea

In News: Leaders around the Baltic Sea reacted to reports that Russia could revise the borders of its territorial waters in the region.

• The Baltic Sea is the youngest sea on this planet, emerging a few 10,000-15,000 years ago as the glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age. 
• It is placed in Northern Europe, enclosed through Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.
• It is one of the planet’s biggest bodies of brackish water, wherein salt water from the North-East Atlantic blends with fresh water from the surrounding rivers and streams.

Foreigners Tribunal (FT)

In News: The Supreme Court (SC) recently paused the deportation of a woman who had been declared a foreigner by a Foreigners’ Tribunal in Assam.

• The Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) were established under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, which empowers state administration officials like District Collectors or District Magistrates to refer individuals suspected of being foreigners to these tribunals.
• This order was enacted by the Central government using powers granted under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
• Although the 1964 Order applies nationwide, FTs are currently only operational in Assam. 
• In other states, illegal immigrants are presented before local courts and handled under the Foreigners Act, 1946.
• Before the 2019 amendment to the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, only the Central government had the authority to establish FTs in states. 
• The amendment extended this power to state governments as well.

Rangelands

In News: The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s latest report, titled “Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists,” emphasised that rangelands are experiencing a gradual decline without much attention.

• The rangelands classification of Earth’s land cover primarily comprises natural grasslands utilised by both domesticated and wild animals for grazing and foraging purposes. 
• These areas encompass various vegetation types such as tallgrass prairies, steppes, desert shrublands, savannas, chaparrals, and tundras. Rangelands, often referred to as “Wild Open Spaces,” span approximately half of the Earth’s land surface and a significant portion of western North America.
• The degradation of rangelands is primarily driven by the conversion of pastures to cropland and other alterations in land use resulting from population growth and urban expansion. 
• Other contributing factors include escalating demands for food, fibre, and fuel, excessive grazing, land abandonment, and policies that encourage overexploitation.
• Rangelands hold immense significance as they serve as crucial resources for livestock grazing, wildlife habitats, water sources, mineral deposits, timber products, outdoor recreation areas, and natural landscapes. 
• They play a vital role in the economies of many nations and are integral to various cultures, housing a quarter of the world’s languages and numerous World Heritage Sites. 
• Rangelands have profoundly influenced the customs, identities, and values of pastoralist communities for centuries.

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