14.04.23 Daily [Uttarakhand] UKPSC Current Affairs

Jungle safaris atop elephants in Corbett and Rajaji national parks, which were stopped around five years ago when the Nainital (HC) banned commercial use of elephants, are set to begin again.

At the recent meeting ofCorbett Tiger Foundationattended by senior forest officials as well as forest minister,Subodh Uniyal, it was decided to allow jumbo rides in a “regulated manner”. “The interpretation of orders vary from case to case and our state holds significant potential for ecotourism.

The PIL had also red-flagged environmental damage caused to Corbett due to mushrooming hotels, resorts and other commercial properties around it, adding that owners of such properties also conducted elephant safaris in the area.

Shri Parshottam Rupala, the Union Minister of , Animal Husbandry & Dairying, launched two significant initiatives: the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI) and the Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) project, which is funded by the World Bank. The launch event will take place at the India Habitat Center in New Delhi and will be held under the National One Health Mission

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has partnered with the World Bank on a collaborative project called the Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH), which aims to establish an ecosystem for better animal health management through the One Health approach.

The project will be carried out in five states and will focus on enhancing the capacity building of stakeholders involved in animal health and disease management. It also calls for the participation of the Human Health, Forest and Environment Department at the national, regional, and local levels to create and strengthen the One Health architecture, including community engagement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Rajasthans first Vande Bharat Express train via video conferencing, which is the 15th such train in the country. The prime minister emphasized that the Vande Bharat Express symbolizes development, modernity, self-reliance, and stability, enriching the spirit of India First, Always First. He also mentioned that the train will greatly benefit Rajasthans tourism

Modi highlighted that this was the sixth Vande Bharat Express launched in the past two months, and that in the past, the modernization of the railways had been hindered by selfish and corrupt politics. Large-scale Corruption had prevented the railways from developing and had made the selection process non-transparent, he added

According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), out of the 28 state chief ministers and two union territories, 29 of them are millionaires in India. Jagan Mohan Reddy from Andhra Pradesh is the richest among them with assets worth 510 crore, while Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has the lowest assets worth around 15 lakh. The report also noted that Jammu and Kashmir, which is a Union Territory, does not have a chief minister at present. Out of the 30 CMs analyzed, 29 (97 percent) are crorepatis with the Average assets being 33.96 crore for every CM, the ADR said. Out of the 30 CMs analyzed, 29 (97 percent) are crorepatis with the average assets being 33.96 crore for every CM, the ADR said

The top three chief ministers in terms of assets are Andhra Pradeshs Jagan Mohan Reddy (over 510 crore), Arunachal Pradeshs Pema Khandu (over 163 crore), and Odishas Naveen Patnaik (over 63 crore), according to the ADR

The Philippines and the United States have launched their largest-ever joint military exercises, called Balikatan, involving nearly 18,000 troops to counter Chinas growing assertiveness in the region. The annual drills, which include a live-fire exercise in the South China Sea, are being held for the first time under President Ferdinand Marcos, who seeks to strengthen ties with the US. The maneuvers include military helicopters landing on the Philippine island of Luzon and the retaking of an island by amphibious forces

The exercises follow Chinas three-day military exercise, which simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory. While the joint news conference did not address questions about the Taiwan tensions, U.S. troops will be allowed to use four Philippine military bases under the agreement, including a naval base near Taiwan