Prelims Focus 7th April 2025

INS Tarkash 

In News: The Indian Navy’s frigate INS Tarkash has successfully intercepted and seized over 2,500 kg of narcotics in the Western Indian Ocean. 

• Operation Details: On March 31, 2025, INS Tarkash received intelligence from an Indian Navy P8I aircraft about suspicious vessels believed to be involved in illicit activities, including narcotics trafficking. The ship altered its course to intercept these vessels.
• Seizure: After systematically interrogating multiple vessels, INS Tarkash intercepted and boarded a suspect dhow. A specialist boarding team, including Marine Commandos, conducted a thorough search, discovering sealed packets containing narcotics. The seizure included 2,386 kg of hashish and 121 kg of heroin.
• Deployment and Collaboration: INS Tarkash has been deployed in the Western Indian Ocean since January 2025 as part of Maritime Security Operations. The ship is supporting Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, a multinational security coalition under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and is participating in the joint operation Anzac Tiger.
  This operation highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to combating maritime crime and promoting regional security through international collaboration.

Ottawa Convention

In News: Poland, Finland, and all three Baltic states have introduced plans to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-worker landmines, citing developing security threats from Russia. 

• • It is officially called the Convention at the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.
  • It  is an international agreement that bans anti-personnel landmines.
  • It was followed in 1997 for the duration of a diplomatic conference in Oslo and opened for signature in Ottawa later that year.
  • The treaty came into force on March 1, 1999.

• Progress 

• • It has significantly reduced the production and use of anti-worker mines, leading to the destruction of over 40 million stockpiled mines. 
  • It has also facilitated help for survivors and communities affected by landmines, in addition to the clearing of mine-contaminated regions.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

In News: Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla is leading a Parliamentary Delegation to the 150th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), being held in Tashkent from five to 9 April, 2025.

• • The subject of the assembly will be recognition of “Parliamentary action for social development and justice,” addressing issues like poverty eradication, decent paintings promoting, social inclusion, and the participation of marginalized agencies in decision-making.

• The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

• • It  is an international organisation of country wide parliaments, based in 1889 with 181 Members and 15 Associate Members.
  •  It promotes peace, democracy, and sustainable development by means of facilitating parliamentary international relations and empowering parliaments to deal with international problems.
  • Its project is to guide democratic governance, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, weather movement, and sustainable development through political talk and cooperation.
  • It  is funded in particular by its Members and has headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with places of work in New York and Vienna.

Naini Lake

In News: Naini Lake in Nainital is experiencing record-low water levels this year, with the water level dropping to 4.7 feet the lowest in five years. 

Key Causes Low water levels:

• Insufficient Rainfall and Snowfall: The region has seen a 90% reduction in rainfall and snowfall since October 2024, with only two snowfall events recorded this winter (December 9 and January 12), far below the average. This has drastically reduced the inflow of water into the lake, which primarily depends on precipitation for replenishment.
• Deforestation and Construction: The removal of Himalayan oak trees, known for their water-retention capabilities, has disrupted natural water recharge zones. Unregulated construction in the lake’s catchment area and the concreting of natural recharge zones have further exacerbated the problem by preventing groundwater absorption.
• Groundwater Depletion: Declining groundwater levels have reduced the contribution of underground springs that help sustain the lake.
• Sewage Inflow and Pollution: Untreated sewage inflow has worsened the lake’s condition, affecting both its water quality and ecological balance.

Impacts:

• Water Scarcity: The declining water levels threaten drinking water supplies for residents and tourists as the peak summer season approaches.
• Tourism: The lake’s receding edges and visible deltas are tarnishing its aesthetic appeal, potentially impacting tourism revenue.
• Ecosystem Damage: Reduced biodiversity and worsening water quality are endangering aquatic life, with invasive species like carp being removed to restore balance.

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