Protection of Wetlands:
- Tamil Nadu is the only state in India where 18 wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites.
- The agreement to protect wetlands of global importance was signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar city, Iran. This was declared as World Wetlands Day by the United Nations.
- Accordingly, World Wetlands Day is celebrated on Sunday, February 2.
- The theme for this year’s World Wetlands Day is “Let’s protect wetlands for our common future.” 97.5% of the world’s water resources are salty and in the oceans.
- Only 2.5% is freshwater, of which 0.79% is groundwater. Rivers, lakes, and ponds contribute to only 0.01% of the total surface water. In Tamil Nadu, the per capita water availability is just 590 cubic meters.
- Wetlands, where water is stored, are called wetlands. Wetlands provide countless benefits, including improving water and land resources, reducing pollution, conserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and boosting the economy.
- The Ramsar organization estimates that there may be at least 150 crore hectares of wetlands globally.
- According to ISRO’s wetland map, the number of wetlands in India covering more than 2.25 hectares is 231,195.
- Since the protection of wetlands has been a goal of the central government, the Wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules were introduced in 2017.
- In response to pressure from organizations like Green Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Authority was established by the Tamil Nadu Government in 2018.
- Under Section 4 of the Wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules 2017, the conversion of wetlands into other uses is prohibited.
- Industries and factory expansions in wetlands are prohibited.
- All types of waste management regulations are mandatory. Dumping of solid waste, mixing of wastewater, and construction activities are all prohibited.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam:
- Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a month-long event held in 2022.
- It is an annual month-long event organized by the Ministry of Education of the Government of India to celebrate and reinforce the ancient ties between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.
- It was launched on November 19, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the aim of establishing the feeling of “One India, Great India” and expanding the relevance of the National Education Policy 2020, the event seeks to rediscover the ancient knowledge and cultural connections between Tamil Nadu and the holy city of Varanasi (also known as Kashi) as part of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”
- This initiative was supported by funding from IIT Chennai in collaboration with Banaras Hindu University.
Budget Session Begins with President’s Speech:
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget, marking her 8th time presenting the budget.
- Following this, a debate will be held on the motion thanking the President for their speech.
- A tribal development plan has been launched for the 5 crore people in India’s tribal communities.
- The government has decided to provide an additional 3 crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, 6 crore senior citizens above the age of 70 will be provided health insurance.
- Each year, they will receive 5 lakh rupees in health insurance coverage.
- India’s metro rail network has now crossed the 1,000-kilometer milestone, making it the third-largest metro network in the world.
- To ensure healthcare services for all, 1.75 lakh health centers (Arogyamitr) have been set up across the country. 30 new medical colleges have been established in areas inhabited by tribal communities.
February 1: Indian Coast Guard Day:
- On February 1, the Indian Coast Guard celebrates its foundation day. This year, the Indian Coast Guard is celebrating its 47th Raising Day.
Information Nuggets:
- NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, of Indian descent, has set the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman.
- The Starliner spacecraft, built by Boeing in the US, reached the International Space Station on June 5 last year, with Sunita Williams and Pat Wilmore on board.
- According to the Ministry of Finance’s economic survey, India’s economic growth is projected to rise to between 6.3% and 6.8% in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
- The 38th Indian International Leather Goods Exhibition will be held at the Trade Center in Nandampakkam, Chennai.
- The US Congress has banned the use of the AI application ‘DeepSeek’ developed in China in their speech recognition devices.
- In the National Games, Tamil Nadu athlete Narayan Ajith won a gold medal in weightlifting in the 73 kg category by lifting 311 kg.
- In the National Games, the Tamil Nadu team secured 6th place with a total of 4 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze medals.