Prelims Focus – 26th April 2024

Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary

Recent News:

A tiger was seen on camera in a park in Haryana called Kalesar National Park.

Details: 

• The Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana, India. Here are some key details about the sanctuary:
• Location: Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas, covering parts of the Yamunanagar district in the state of Haryana.
• Size: The sanctuary spans over an area of approximately 46.82 square kilometres.
• Flora: The sanctuary is characterised by dense forest cover consisting of mixed deciduous vegetation. The flora includes species like sal, shisham, khair, and teak, along with various other shrubs and grasses.
• Fauna: Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a diverse range of wildlife species. Some of the notable fauna found here include:
  • Mammals: Common species include sambar deer, barking deer, wild boar, langur, Indian leopard, Indian civet, and porcupine.
  • Birds: The sanctuary is also rich in avifauna with numerous bird species, including peafowl, red junglefowl, Indian roller, parakeets, bulbuls, and various species of eagles and owls.
  • Reptiles: Snake species like the Indian python, cobra, and various types of lizards are also found within the sanctuary.
• Conservation Importance: Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary plays a crucial role in conserving the biodiversity of the region. It serves as a habitat for several threatened and endangered species, contributing to their conservation efforts.

Spices Board India

Recent News:

The Spices Board will begin mandatory testing of Indian spice shipments bound for Singapore and Hong Kong, following the ban of certain Indian spice brands in these countries due to quality issues.

Details:

• • The Spices Board India is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Established in 1987, it is responsible for the development and promotion of Indian spices globally. Here are some key details about the Spices Board India:
  • Objective: The primary objective of the Spices Board is to ensure the sustainable development and promotion of Indian spices, both domestically and internationally. It works towards enhancing the production, processing, quality, and marketing of spices to benefit farmers, traders, and consumers.

• Functions:

• • Quality Control: The Spices Board is involved in setting quality standards for various spices and spice products to maintain consistency and safety.
  • Research & Development: It conducts research and development activities to improve cultivation practices, enhance productivity, and develop new varieties of spices.
  • Market Promotion: The board promotes Indian spices in both domestic and international markets through various marketing initiatives, trade fairs, exhibitions, and promotional campaigns.
  • Export Promotion: It facilitates the export of Indian spices by providing market intelligence, trade information, and assistance in compliance with international regulations and standards.

• Spices Covered: The Spices Board oversees the production and promotion of a wide range of spices including pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, chilli, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, among others.
• Quality Certification: It offers quality certification services such as the “Spices Board Quality Certification” (SBQC) and “Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification” to ensure that Indian spices meet international quality standards.

Inheritance Tax

In News:  The chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda’s comments on the inheritance tax, have raised the specter of wealth redistribution.

• Inheritance tax, also referred to as estate tax, is imposed on the whole value of money and property left behind by a deceased man or woman before it is passed on to their legal heirs. 
• This tax is normally decided via thinking about the fee of the belongings minus any eligible exemptions or deductions.
• The predominant desires of inheritance tax are to elevate government revenue and facilitate wealth redistribution.
• In India, there may be no tax on inheritance as the Inheritance or Estate Tax. It was eliminated in 1985.

Pulicat Lake

In News: There was a concern arising from the fact that the State government plans to denotify a sizable area of the Pulicat wetland and sanctuary.

• It is located in the northern part of Tamil Nadu and the southern part of Andhra Pradesh, is the second-largest brackish water ecosystem in India.
• The Pulicat Ecosystem supports a very rich and numerous biota and acts as a breeding floor for numerous species of bird and marine life.
• Pulicat Lake is a biodiversity hotspot that hosts around 250 species of birds, 50 of which are intercontinental species.
• The lake’s specific hydrology and the presence of extra mangrove plantations in its eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) make it a significant habitat for wildlife.
• It plays a crucial role in the Central Asian Flyway for birds.

Law for Nomination

In News: The BJP’s candidate from the Surat Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat has been declared elected unopposed which follows the rejection of the nomination paper of the candidate set up by the Congress party and the withdrawal of nominations by other candidates.

• Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) consists of the necessities for a valid nomination.
• As per the RP Act, an elector above 25 years of age can contest Lok Sabha election from any constituency in India. 
• The proposer(s) of the candidate have to but be elector(s) from that respective constituency wherein the nomination is being filed. 
• Candidates set up by unrecognised events and independents need to be subscribed by ten proposers. 
  • A candidate can document up to four nomination papers with distinct units of proposers.
• This is to enable the reputation of nomination of a candidate even if one set of nomination papers is in order.
• Section 36 of the RP Act unites the law with the scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer (RO).
• It presents that the RO shall not reject any nomination for a disorder that isn’t always of a tremendous individual. 
• However, it specifies that the signature of the candidate or proposer located not actually is grounds for rejection.
• The election guidelines permit for a replacement candidate to be fielded by using a political birthday party.
• The nomination of this alternative candidate would be commonplace if the nomination of the authentic candidate is rejected
• Legal recourse:  Article 329(b) of the Constitution study with RP Act gives that no election shall be known as into question except by using an election petition earlier than the concerned High Court.
  • One of the grounds on which such an election petition can be filed is wrong rejection of nomination papers.
  •  Hence, the legal recourse to be had is to record an election petition in the Gujarat High Court.
  • The RP Act offers that High Courts shall endeavour to finish such trials within six months, which has in most cases not been accompanied within the past.
• Speedy disposal of election petitions might be a step in the right direction.

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