Mandarin Duck 🦆 = It is native to East Asia(Eastern China and Southern Japan) but has established populations in Western Europe and America too + These birds inhabit temperate forests near wetlands including rivers, streams, bogs, marshes, swamps, and freshwater lakes + The duck rarely visits India as it does not fall in its usual migratory route + It was recorded in 1902 in the Dibru river in the Rongagora area in Tinsukia (Assam). More recently, it was sighted in Manipur’s Loktak Lake in 2013, and in Saatvoini Beel in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam’s Baksa district in 2014 + Recently, found in Maguri-Motapung beel (or wetland) in Assam’s Tinsukia district + IUCN Status: ‘Least Concern’

#Prelims_2021 #Species_in_news
#Comprehensive_and_concise

#Prelims_2021 #Species_in_news

Brookesia Nana = Recently discovered chameleon from the island country, Madagascar + world’s smallest adult reptile + Previously, Brookesia micra was thought to be smallest

#Prelims_2021 #Species_in_news

Giant Leatherback Turtle 🐢 = largest of seven species of sea turtles + nest only in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands + Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 + found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic + Vulnerable

To be read in The Hindu 8/4/21

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)?

1. The CBI derives its powers to
investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
2. The CBI can suo-moto take up investigation of the offences in the Union Territories.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 Both
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements:

1. All states and Union Territories are represented in the Rajya Sabha.
2. The allocation of the seats to the federating units in the Rajya Sabha is listed in the Constitution.
3. The allocation of the seats to the federating units in the Lok Sabha is listed in the Constitution.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

Consider the following statements about the history of the urban local self- government:

1. Lord Mayo’s Resolution of 1870 encouraged the introduction of an elected President in the municipalities.
2. Bombay was first to have a Municipal Corporation in 1687.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 both
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

#Prelims_2021 #Species_in_news

HILSA 🐠 = It is Bangladesh’s national fish and was called Matsyaraja – the king of fishes + Hilsa has a history of migrating to Allahabad in the Ganga river system from Bangladesh + Though it’s a saltwater fish, it migrates to sweet waters of the Ganges from the Bay of Bengal + Anadromous fish i.e., it lives most of its life in the ocean, but during the rainy season (spawning time), it moves towards the estuary, where the rivers of India and Bangladesh meet the Bay of Bengal + Fish Pass(fish ladders or fish ways) for hilsa was constructed by govt in 2019, by redesigning navigation lock at Farakka Barrage and it facilitated movement of hilsa upstream along Ganga to its spawning grounds

To be read in The Hindu, 9/4/21