Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Ep...

Mangalyaan 2 in the making :)

Riding on the recent success of its Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), India plans to revisit the planet in 2018, possibly with a lander and rover to conduct more experiments, a space official said Wednesday.

"We plan to launch a second mission to Mars in 2018, probably with a lander and rover, to conduct more experiments for which we have to develop new technologies," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite centre director S. Shiva Kumar told reporters here.

The state-run space agency successfully inserted its spacecraft (MOM) Sep 24 in the Martian orbit with five scientific instruments to search for life-sustaining elements on the planet over nine months after it was launched Nov 5, 2013 from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and about 90 km northeast of Chennai.

"We will be able to take the Mars-2 mission after launching the second mission to the moon (Chandrayaan-2) in 2016 with our own lander and rover, which will help us develop a separate lander and rover for the red planet," Kumar said, ahead of a three-day 'Engineers Conclave-2014' by the space agency with the Indian National Academy of Engineering here.

As missions to Mars can be launched only at an interval of two years, the space agency is looking for a slot in 2018 and by which it hopes to have a heavy rocket fully operational to carry a lander and rover with scientific experiments as additional payloads.

"We hope to have fully operational heavy rockets over the next two-three years for carrying communication satellites weighting two-three tonnes into the geo-stationary orbits around the earth," Kumar said.

The space agency has developed the geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-Mark I-III) with indigenous cryogenic engine to launch heavier satellites weighing more than two tonnes and three tonnes into the geo-orbit at 36,000 km above Earth.

"GSLV-Mark I-III will be used for Chandrayaan-2, which will have heavier payload than its predecessor (Chandrayaan-1) and later for Mars-2 mission, as both will have a lander and rover in addition to scientific experiments," he said.

The space agency launched Jan 5 a GSLV rocket with an indigenous cryogenic engine from the spaceport and placed a communication satellite (Gsat-14) in the geo-stationary orbit.

Chandrayaan-1 was launched Oct 22, 2008, using a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C11), a four-stage rocket.

The 475 kg Mars Orbiter was also launched onboard a polar rocket.

The GSLV-Mark III's maiden launch is likely to be in December.

Africa[Zambia] has its first white democratic president[Guy Scott]

An African country has a white democratic president for the first time ever, although he was not directly elected to office.

Guy Scott, who was born in Zambia and whose family is of Scottish descent, has been named the interim leader of Zambia following the death in London of president Michael Sata, aged 77.

Mr Scott, 77, was up until today vice-president of Zambia.

Under Zambian law, presidential elections for a permanent successor for Mr Sata must be held within three months.

Raise in Natural Gas Price to $5.61 per mm Btu

1. Government  approved raising natural gas price to US $5.61 per mmBtu from November 1 but Reliance Industries will continue to get current US $4.2 rate till it makes up for shortfall in output  KG-D6 block.

2. The cabinet modified the Rangarajan formula approved by previous UPA government to bring down the increase in rates from US $8.4 to US $5.61. 

3. Rates will be revised every six months with the next revision being on April 1.

4. For RIL's flagging D1&D3 gas fields in KG-D6 block where output should have been 80 mmscmd but is languishing at less than 8 mmscmd, the Cabinet decided the current rates will continue to apply.

5. Consumers will, however, pay the revised increased price but RIL will get only USD 4.2 with the difference being deposited in an escrow account. RIL will get the higher rates if it is legally able to prove that it did not deliberately cut production and output fall was a result of geological reasons as it claims.

Consequences:1. Higher gas prices would increase the,  a. expense of running power stations and fertilizer plants, b. thus, raising infrastructure and food costs and accelerating the rate of inflation. c. Every dollar increase in gas price will lead to a Rs 1,370 per tonne rise in urea production cost and a 45 paise per unit increase in electricity tariff (for just the 7% of the nation's power generation capacity based on gas).d. there would be a minimum Rs 2.81 per kg increase in CNG price e.  there would be a minimum Rs 1.89 per standard cubic metre hike in piped cooking gas. 

NOTE: 1. The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a traditional unit of energy equal to about 1055 joules. It is the amount of energy needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In science, the joule, the SI unit of energy, has largely replaced the BTU.

2. Escrow Account: A financial instrument held by a third party on behalf of the other two parties in a transaction. The funds are held by the escrow service until it receives the appropriate written or oral instructions or until obligations have been fulfilled. Securities, funds and other assets can be held in escrow.

Daily Vocab-27/07/2014

Amass: gather together or accumulate (a large amount or number of material or things) over a period of time.

"he amassed a fortune estimated at close to a million pounds"   / gather/ collect/ assemble

Chattel: A personal possession.

Daily Vocab-23/07/2014

1. Altruism: Behaviour of an animal that benefits another at its own expense.

Ex: Jacob showed altruism when he gave the homeless man a job.

2. Perfunctory: (of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort.

"he gave a perfunctory nod"

3. Abate:  become less intense or widespread./ make (something) less intense./ diminish/ reduce.

"the storm suddenly abated"

4. Fortitous: happening by chance rather than intention.

"the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous"

5. Embodiment: a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling./ realization./ actualization

"it was in Germany alone that his hope seemed capable of embodiment"

National Green Tribunal- Ecology, Environment and Biodiversity-23/07/2014

National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (NGT)^[2] is an Act of the Parliament of India which enables creation of a special tribunal to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.^[3] It was enacted under India's constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.

The Tribunal's dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts. The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice. The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.

During the Rio De Janeiro summit of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992, India vowed the participating states to provide judicial and administrative remedies for the victims of the pollutants and other environmental damage.

There lie many reasons behind the setting up of this tribunal. After India's move with Carbon credits, such tribunal may play a vital role in ensuring the control of emissions and maintaining the desired levels. This is the first body of its kind that is required by its parent statute to apply the "polluter pays" principle and the principle of sustainable development.

This court can rightly be called ‘special’ because India is the third country following Australia and New Zealand to have such a system.

The sanctioned strength of the tribunal is currently 10 expert members and 10 judicial members although the act allows for up to 20 of each. The Chairman of the tribunal who is the administrative head of the tribunal also serves as a judicial member. Every bench of the tribunal must consist of at least one expert member and one judicial member. The Chairman of the tribunal is required to be a serving or retired Chief Justice of a High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India. Members are chosen by a selection committee (headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India) that reviews their applications and conducts interviews. The Judicial members are chosen from applicants who are serving or retired judges of High Courts. Expert members are chosen from applicants who are either serving or retired bureaucrats not below the rank of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India (not below the rank of Principal Secretary if serving under a state government) with a minimum administrative experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters. Or, the expert members must have a doctorate in a related field

The Tribunal has Original Jurisdiction on matters of “substantial question relating to environment” (i.e. a community at large is affected, damage to public health at broader level) & “damage to environment due to specific activity” (such as pollution). However there is no specific method is defined in Law for determining “substantial” damage to environment, property or public health. There is restricted access to an individual only if damage to environment is substantial. The powers of tribunal related to an award are equivalent to Civil court and tribunal may transmit any order/award to civil court have local jurisdiction.The Bill specifies that an application for dispute related to environment can be filled within six months only when first time dispute arose (provide tribunal can accept application after 60 days if it is satisfied that appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filling the application).

Also Tribunal is competent to hear cases for several acts such as Forest (Conservation) Act, Biological Diversity Act, Environment (Protection) Act, Water & Air (Prevention & control of Pollution) Acts etc. and also have appellate jurisdiction related to above acts after establishment of Tribunal within a period of 30 days of award or order received by aggrieved party. The Bill says that decision taken by majority of members shall be binding and every order of Tribunal shall be final. Any person aggrieved by an award, decision, or order of the Tribunal may appeal to the Supreme Court within 90 days of commencement of award but Supreme Court can entertain appeal even after 90 days if appellant satisfied SC by giving sufficient reasons.

National Environment Tribunal

In 1995 the Central Government established the National Environment Tribunal [through the National Environment Tribunal Act 1995] to provide for strict liability for damage arsing out of accidents caused from the handling of hazardous substances.

****What are the rules of natural justice?

The principles of natural justice concern procedural fairness and ensure a fair decision is reached by an objective decision maker. 

Maintaining procedural fairness protects the rights of individuals and enhances public confidence in the process. 

A word used to refer to situations where audi alteram partem (the right to be heard) and nemo judex in parte sua (no person may judge their own case) apply. 

The principles of natural justice were derived from the Romans who believed that some legal principles were "natural" or self-evident and did not require a statutory basis. 

These two basic legal safeguards govern all decisions by judges or government officials when they take quasi-judicial or judicial decisions. 

Three common law rules are referred to in relation to natural justice or procedural fairness. 

The Hearing Rule 

This rule requires that a person must be allowed an adequate opportunity to present their case where certain interests and rights may be adversely affected by a decision-maker. 

The Bias Rule

This second rule states that no one ought to be judge in his or her case. This is the requirement that the deciding authority must be unbiased when according the hearing or making the decision. 

The Evidence Rule 

The third rule is that an administrative decision must be based upon logical proof or evidence material. 

SOURCE: 

1. wikipedia.org

2. http://envfor.nic.in/

3. http://www.justice4you.org/

QFI and FII; ECONOMICS-23/07/2014

The Reserve Bank of India, on Tuesday, simplified foreign portfolio INVESTMENT norms by putting in place an easier registration process and operating framework with an aim to attract inflows.

“The portfolio investor registered in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) guidelines shall be called Registered Foreign Portfolio Investor (RFPI),” the RBI said in a notification.

The existing portfolio investor class, namely, Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) and Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) registered with SEBI shall be subsumed under RFPI, it said.

Who is a Qualified Foreign Investor?

QFIs shall include individuals, groups or associations that are:

1. Resident in a country that is a member of the FINANCIAL Action Task Force (FATF) or a country that is a member of a group which is a member of FATF and
2. Resident in a country that is a signatory to IOSCO’s MMOU – or a signatory of a bilateral MOU with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

 A QFI should neither be a person resident in India nor should be registered with the SEBI as a Foreign Institutional Investor (‘FII’), sub-account or Foreign Venture Capital Investor.

A QFI should be set up with a SEBI - registered Qualified Depository Participant (QDP) to commence activities. The QDP shall provide inter alia custody services.

Who are Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)?

Foreign Institutional investors (FIIs) are entities established or incorporated outside India and make proposals for investments in India. These INVESTMENT proposals by the FIIs are made on behalf of sub accounts, which may include foreign corporates, individuals, funds etcetera. In order to act as a banker to the FIIs, the RBI has designated banks that are authorised to deal with them. The biggest source through which FIIs invest is the issuance of Participatory Notes (P-Notes), which are also known as Offshore Derivatives.

***Sub-Account: A segregated balance of funds (account) for which the bank acts on behalf of the account holder.

***Particapatory Notes: Participatory Notes -- or P-Notes or PNs -- are instruments issued by registered foreign institutional investors to overseas investors, who wish to invest in the Indian STOCKmarkets without registering themselves with the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

FINANCIAL instruments used by hedge FUNDS that are not registered with Sebi to invest in Indian securities. Indian-based brokerages to buy India-based securities / stocks and then issue participatory notes to foreign investors. Any dividends or capital gains collected from the underlying securities go back to the investors.

Why P-Notes?

Since international access to the Indian capital market is limited to FIIs. The market has found a way to circumvent this by creating the device called participatory notes, which are said to account for half the $80 billion that stands to the credit of FIIs. INVESTING through P-Notes is very simple and hence very popular.

What are hedge funds?

Hedge funds, which invest through participatory notes, borrow money cheaply from Western markets and invest these funds into stocks in emerging markets. This gives them double benefit: a chance to make a killing in a stock market where stocks are on the rise; and a chance to make the most of the rising value of the local CURRENCY.

Who gets P-Notes?

P-Notes are issued to the real investors on the basis of stocks purchased by the FII. The registered FII looks after all the transactions, which appear as proprietary trades in its books. It is not obligatory for the FIIs to disclose their client details to the Sebi, unless asked specifically.

FII VS QFI

Particulars	FII	QFI
Investors Permitted	Foreign entities like pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies, INVESTMENTtrusts, banks, asset management companies, investment managers, advisors, institutional portfolio managers, etc. are all considered under the FII category	QFI includes individuals, groups or associations, resident in a country that is a member of the FATF or a country that is a member of a group which is a member of FATF or… Resident in a country that is signatory to IOSCO's MMOU or a signatory of a bilateral MOU with SEBI. QFIs do not include FIIs / Sub-Accounts / FVCIs
SEBI Registration	Required	Not required
SEBI Registration Fee & Tenure (Subject to change by Regulator)	FII - US$5,000 for 3 years. Renewal fee is the same. Sub-Account - US$1,000. Validity is co-terminuswith the FII registration under which it is registered.	Not required
Permissible Transactions	All securities in primary and secondary markets including shares, debentures, warrants, etc. issued by companies engaged in the business wherein foreign INVESTMENT is permitted.	Purchase and sale of listed equity shares (delivery-based only), IPOs, rights issues, bonus shares, stock splits, shares received due to corporate actions, dividends, open offer, buy-backs of listed companies and equity schemes of mutual FUNDS. Debt - Purchase and sale of corporate debt securities listed on recognized STOCK exchanges, purchase of corporate debt securities through public issues, if listing on recognized stock exchange(s) is committed, sale of corporate debt securities by way of buyback or redemption by the issuer, purchase and sale of units of debt schemes of Indian mutual funds.
Issue of offshore derivative instruments / participatory notes against shares in India	Permitted	Not permitted
Taxation	Taxation under advise from local CPA	Applicable tax deducted at source by QDP on account of profits / gains / dividends or any other income accruing to or received by QFI. Taxation will be applicable as per CBDT Circular as per the extent rules, regulations and procedure

SOURCE: 

1. http://www.thehindu.com/

2. http://investindia.kotak.com/

3. economictimes.indiatimes.com

4. www.investopedia.com

5. http://www.rediff.com/

6. http://www.kotaksecurities.com/

Bal Gangadhar Tilak-23/07/2014; Modern History

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a social reformer and freedom fighter. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and strongest advocates of Swaraj (Self Rule). He was universally recognized as the "Father of Indian Movement".

Social Reforms

He was a great reformer and throughout his life he emphasized on the concepts of women education and women empowerment. Tilak educated all of his daughters and did not marry them till they were over 16. To inspire a sense of unity, he introduced the festivals like 'Ganesh Chaturthi' and Shivaji Jayanti'. Today, Ganesh Chaturthi is considered as the prime festival of the Marathis. It is a sheer tragedy that for his allegiance towards extremism, Tilak and his contribution were not given the recognition, he actually deserved. 

Newspapers

Towards his goal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched two newspapers called 'Mahratta' (English) and 'Kesari' (Marathi). Both the newspaper stressed on making the Indians aware of the glorious past and empowered them to be self reliant. In other words, the newspaper actively propagated the cause of national freedom.

In 1896, When the entire nation was gripped by the famine and plague, the British government declared that there was no cause for anxiety. The government also rejected the need to start a 'Famine Relief Fund'. The attitude of the government was severely criticized by both the newspapers. Tilak fearlessly published reports about the havoc caused by famine and plague and government's utter irresponsibility and indifference. 

Extremism

Bal Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress Party in 1890. Realizing that the constitutional agitation in itself was futile against the British, Tilak opposed the moderate views of the party. This subsequently made him stand against the prominent leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He was waiting for an armed revolt to broom-away the British. His movement was based on the principles of Swadeshi (Indigenous), Boycott and Education. But his methods also raised bitter controversies within the Indian National Congress Party and the movement itself. 

As a result, Tilak formed the extremist wing of Indian National Congress Party. Tilak was well supported by fellow nationalists Bipin Chandra Pal in Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab. The trio was referred to as the Lal-Bal-Pal. A massive trouble broke out between the moderate and extremist factions of the Indian National Congress Party in the 1907 session of the Congress Party. As a result of which, the Congress split into two factions.

During 1908-1914, Bal Gangadhar Tilak spent six years rigorous imprisonment in Mandalay Jail, Burma. He was deported because of his alleged support to the Indian revolutionaries, who had killed some British people. Following his growing fame and popularity, the British government also tried to stop the publication of his newspapers. His wife died in Pune while he was languishing in Mandalay prison. 

Tilak returned to India in 1915 when the political situation was fast changing under the shadow of World War I. There was unprecedented jubilation in India after Tilak was free and back in India. After seeing such a grand welcome, Tilak decided to re-unite with his fellow nationalists and founded the All India Home Rule League in 1916 with Joseph Baptista, Annie Besant and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

SOURCE: www.cultureindia.net

Index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector-23/07/2014

Mineral Production during May 2014

The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of May (new Series 2004-05=100) 2014 at 125.6, was 2.7% higher as compared to May 2013. The cumulative growth for the period April-May 2014-15 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 2.6%. The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during May 2014 was Rs. 18952 crore. The contribution of: coal was the highest at Rs. 6232 crore (33%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 5770 crore, iron ore Rs. 3111 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1836 crore, lignite Rs. 529 crore and limestone Rs. 430 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in May 2014. SOURCE: pib.nic.in

Ecology, Environment and Biodiversity-23/07/2014

Critically Endangered Reptiles of India

1. The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as the gavial, and the fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian of the family Gavialidae, native to the Indian Subcontinent. The global gharial population is estimated at less than 235 individuals, which are threatened by loss of riverine habitat, depletion of fish resources and use of fishing nets. As the population has declined drastically in the past 70 years, the gharial is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

The gharial is one of the longest of all living crocodilians, measuring up to 6.25 m (20.5 ft). With 110 sharp interdigitated teeth in its long thin snout it is well adapted to catching fish, its main diet.The male has a distinctive boss at the end of the snout, which resembles an earthenware pot known as ghara.

Gharials once inhabited all the major river systems of the Indian Subcontinent, from the Irrawaddy River in the east to the Indus River in the west. Their distribution is now limited to only 2% of their former range. They inhabit foremost flowing rivers with high sand banks that they use for basking and building nests. They usually mate in the cold season. The young hatch before the onset of the monsoon.^[3]

The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile.

##Habitat: Clean rivers with sand bank

##Threats: The combined effects of dams, barrages, artificial embankments, change in river course, 

pollution, sand-mining, riparian agriculture and ingress of domestic and feral livestock caused 

irreversible loss of riverine habitat and consequently of the gharial. 

2. The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a heavily exploited species. The species is migratory in nature and nesting occurs in about 70 countries across the world. Maturation is slow and is estimated between 25 – 40 years. 

##Habitat: Nesting occurs on insular, sandy beaches.

##Distribution: In India they are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the coast of Tamil Nadu and Orissa.

##Threats: Turtle shell trade, egg collection, slaughter for meat, oil pollution and destruction of 

nesting and foraging habitats. 

3. The Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of the living sea turtles, weighing as much as 900 kg. 

##Distribution: Found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

4. Four-toed River Terrapin or River Terrapin (Batagur baska) is a critically endangered turtle. The omnivorous diet of the river terrapin and other terrapin species makes them an essential part of the efficient clean-up systems of aquatic habitats.

##Habitat: Freshwater rivers and lakes.

##Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

##Threats: Use of flesh for medicinal purposes, demand for eggs, which are considered a delicacy. 

5. Red-crowned Roofed Turtle or the Bengal Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga) is a critically endangered turtle mainly restricted to the Ganga basin. Males have a bright red coloration during the breeding season.

6. Sispara day gecko (Cnemaspis sisparensis) is a large gecko which dwells usually in forests, it is largely insectivorous and is active by night.

##Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, and found in Sispara, Nilgiris, Kavalai near Cochin.

##Threats: Habitat conversion and modification.

SUMMARY

Thus, the critically endangered reptiles of India are:

1. Gharial

2. Hawksbill turtle

3. Leatherback turtle

4. Four-toed river terrapin

5. Red crowned roofed turtle

6. Sispara day gecko

Critically endangered fishes of India

1.  The Pondicherry Shark(Carcharhinus hemiodon) is a marine fish that occurs or occurred inshore 

on continental and insular shelves. 

Threats: Large, expanding, and unregulated commercial fisheries in inshore localities and habitats. 

2. The Ganges Shark (Glyphis gangeticus) is a uniquely adapted fish-eating shark that occurs in the 

turbid waters of the Ganga river and the Bay of Bengal. The small eyes suggest that it is adapted to living 

in turbid water, while the slender teeth of the species suggests that it is primarily a fish-eater. It grows to a 

maximum length of 2.04 m. 

Distribution: It occurs in India and possibly in Pakistan. The Ganga river system and Hooghly river 

mouth are its known habitats.

Threats: Major fisheries targeting sharks. Other probable threats include overfishing, pollution, 

increasing river use and construction of dams and barrages. A few jaws of the species were found to 

have been traded in the international market during recent years, which testifies that the species 

is not extinct. 

3. The Knife-tooth Sawfish(Anoxypristis cuspidata) has a long narrow snout with blade-like teeth 

and a shark-like body. It spends most of its time near the bottom of the sea and can withstand a range of salinity conditions. It is found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries.

## Threats: The principal threat to all sawfish are fisheries (targeted, bycatch, commercial and 

subsistence). Their long tooth-studded saw, makes them extraordinarily vulnerable to entanglement 

in any sort of net gear, including primitive fishing contraptions. When sawfish are caught in by 

catch, they often end up being traded because of the very high value of their products (meat is high 

quality and fins and saws extremely valuable in international trade). 

4. Large-tooth Sawfish 

5. Long-comb Sawfish or Narrow-snout Sawfish

Critically endangered spiders!!

1. The Rameshwaram Ornamental or Rameshwaram Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica) was recently described in 2004, and is only found in India. It can give a nasty bite which usually is not fatal. The species is semi-social, which means they live partly in groups.  

Distribution: Endemic to India. 

Threats: Major threats causing the disappearance of this species is habitat alteration and degradation.

2.  The Gooty Tarantula, Metallic Tarantula or Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica) is steel blue in colour with patches of intense orange-yellow, black and white. It was first found Gooty(Ooty/Udagamandalam) in south India in a burn pile during railway 

construction. Ever since the first picture of this spider was circulated globally, it has been in great demand in the illegal pet trade. A combination of small litter sizes and increased human pressures have made this species critically endangered. 

##Habitat: Wooded mountain area of south India.

##Distribution: Endemic to India

##Threats: They are one of the most expensive spiders in the illegal pet trade. Large areas where the 

species occurs have been deforested, or subjected to habitat degradation due to local fuel wood 

collection, leading to decline in its population.

Critically Endangered Corals:

1. Fire corals (Millepora boschmai) are more closely related to jellyfish than corals. On contact, one usually feels a burning sensation similar to a sting from a jellyfish.

## Threats: Collected for decoration and jewellery trade. This group is also sensitive to temperature rise, and is thought to have completely disappeared from the majority of marine areas possibly because of growing global warming related bleaching effects. 

SOURCE: MOEF, GOI

                 Wikipedia

Ecology, Environment and Biodiversity-23/7/2014

Critically Endangered Birds of India!

A. The Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) 

is a nocturnal bird found only in the northern part of the state of Andhra Pradesh in peninsular India. It is a flagship species for the extremely threatened scrub jungle. 

##Habitat: Undisturbed scrub jungle with open areas. 

##Distribution: Jerdon’s Courser is endemic to Andhra Pradesh. 

##Threats: Clearing of scrub jungle, creation of new pastures, growing of dry land crops, plantations of exotic trees, quarrying and the construction of the Telugu-Ganga Canal. Illegal trapping of birds is also a threat.

B. The Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti) had been lost for 

more than a century. It has an interesting history. When not 

sighted for decades, posters were printed and Salim Ali, the 

premier ornithologist of India made a public appeal to look 

for the bird. After 113 long years, the owlet was rediscovered 

in 1997 and reappeared on the list of Indian birds. 

##Habitat: Dry deciduous forest.

##Distribution: South Madhya Pradesh, in north-west Maharashtra and north-central Maharashtra. 

##Threats: Logging operations, burning and cutting of trees 

damage roosting and nesting trees of the Forest Owlet.

C. The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) is an extremely rare bird found in five or six sites in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, one or two sites in Bhutan, and a few in Myanmar. It is inherently rare, and populations have never been known to 

be very high.

##Habitat: Rivers with sand or gravel bars or 

inland lakes. 

##Distribution: Bhutan and north-east India to 

the hills of Bangladesh and north Myanmar. 

##Threats: Loss and degradation of lowland forests 

and wetlands through direct exploitation and 

disturbance by humans.

D. Out of nine species of vultures, the population of three species- White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) and Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) has declined by 99%. The Red- headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) has also suffered a rapid decline in the recent past. 

##Vultures keep the environment clean, by scavenging on animal carcasses. The decline in vulture populations has associated disease risks, including increased risk of spread of rabies 

and anthrax, besides adversely impacting the observance of last rites by the Parsis in the Towers of Silence.

##Habitat: Forests, villages etc.

##Distribution: Across India.

##Threats: A major threat to vultures is the painkiller diclofenac used by veterinarians to treat cattle. 

When vultures consume these carcasses, diclofenac enters their system, but they are unable to metabolize it. Accumulation of diclofenac results in gout-like symptoms such as neck-drooping[sagging of neck], ultimately leading to death.

D. The Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) is a rare bustard species that is very well known for its mating dance. 

##Among the tall grasslands, secretive males advertise their territories by springing from the ground and flitting to and fro in the air. 

##Habitat: Grasslands occasionally interspersed with scrublands.

##Distribution: Native to only 3 countries in the world - Cambodia, India and Nepal. In India, it occurs in 3 states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

##Threats: Ongoing conversion of the bird’s grassland habitat for various purposes including agriculture is mainly responsible for its population decline.

E. The Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) is presumed to be extinct since no reliable records of sightings of this species exist after 1876. Intensive surveys are required as this 

species is hard to detect due to its reluctance to fly and its preference for dense grass habitats. Possible sighting of this species was reported in Nainital in 2003.

##Habitat: Tall grass and scrub on steep hillsides.

##Distribution: Western Himalayas.

##Threats: Indiscriminate hunting during the colonial period along with habitat modification.

F.  The beautiful Pink- headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) has not been conclusively recorded in India since 1949. Males have a deep pink head and neck from which the bird 

derives its name.

##Habitat: Overgrown still-water pools, marshes and swamps in lowland forests and tall grasslands.

##Distribution: Recorded in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Maximum records are from north-east India.

##Threats: Wetland degradation and loss of habitat, along with hunting are the main causes of its 

decline.

G.  The Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious) is a winter migrant to India. This species has suffered a sudden and rapid population decline due to which it has been listed as critically endangered.

##Habitat: Fallow fields and scrub desert.

##Distribution: Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, 

India, Pakistan and Oman. In India, distribution is restricted to the north and north-west of the country.

##Threats: Conversion of habitat to arable land, illegal hunting and proximity to human settlements.

H.  The Spoon Billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) requires highly specialized breeding 

habitat, a constraint that has always kept its population scarce. India is home to some of the 

last existing wintering grounds of this species (estimated at only 150-320 breeding pairs worldwide).

##Habitat: Coastal areas with sparse vegetation. 

@No breeding records further inland than 7 km 

from the seashore.

##Distribution: Has been recorded in West Bengal, Orissa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

##Threats: Habitat degradation and land reclamation. Human disturbance also leads to high 

incidence of nest desertion.

I. The Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) is a large, strikingly majestic migratory bird that 

breeds and winters in wetlands. They are known to winter at Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan. 

@However the last documented sighting of the bird was in 2002.

##Habitat: Wetland areas.

##Distribution: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan.

##Threats: Pesticide pollution, wetland drainage, development of prime habitat into agricultural 

fields, and to some extent, hunting.

SUMMARY

Thus, the critically-endangered birds of India are:

1. Jerdon's courser

2. The forest owlet

3. White bellied heron

4. White-backed vulture; Slender billed vulture; Long-billed vulture; Red-headed vulture

5. The Bengal florican

6. The himalayan quail

7. Pink headed duck

8. Sociable lapwing

9. Siberian Crane.

SOURCE: Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.