Current Affairs 26th December 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

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Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Context: Reduced human activity, especially curbing illegal mining, fueled a surge in tiger numbers at Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve.

About Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Location: West Champaran District, Bihar.
Significance: It is the only tiger reserve in Bihar and represents the easternmost limit of the Himalayan Terai forests in India.
Geographical Zone: The reserve is part of the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone.
Terrain: The forest is a mix of bhabar and terai tracts.
Establishment: Established in 1994
International Border: Shares a border with Nepal’s Chitwan National Park.
Rivers: The reserve is bisected by the Gandak and Masan Rivers.
- Gandak River borders the sanctuary on the west.

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Black Tigers

Context: As per the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation cycle, 16 tigers were recorded at Similipal Tiger Reserve, out of which 10 were melanistic tigers.

About Black Tigers

Black Tigers are a rare colour variant of the Bengal tiger, also known as Melanistic Royal Bengal Tigers.
The black tiger, an extremely rare variant with excess melanin, appears darker than typical tigers due to its golden colour interspersed with more black stripes, a condition known as pseudo-melanism caused by a recessive (Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep)) gene.
IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered

Palna Scheme

Context: The Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Union Government is planning to set up 17,000 creches at Anganwadi Centres nationwide under the Palna Scheme.

About Palna Scheme

Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development,
Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Earlier Name: National Creche Scheme.
Goal: To provide high-quality daycare facilities or creches for children of working women, thereby enhancing the nutrition and health status of these children.
Part Of: Samarthya, under the larger umbrella of Mission Shakti.
The scheme offers two types of creches:
- Anganwadi-cum-Crèches, which integrate crèche facilities with existing Anganwadi services, aiming to comprehensively cater to the needs of both mothers and children in a single location.
- Stand-alone Creches, which are continuations of the crèches that operated under the former National Creche Scheme.
Targets: Children aged 6 months to 6 years, belonging to working women in both rural and urban settings, who are employed for at least 15 days per month or six months per year.

Pompeii’s ancient art

Context: A new project inside the Pompeii archaeological site is reviving ancient textile dyeing techniques to show another side of daily life before the city was destroyed by a volcano in A.D. 79.

Pompeii Archaeological Site Overview

Pompeii, an ancient Roman city near Naples, Italy, was engulfed in volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius’s eruption in A.D. 79.
Archaeological digs have uncovered buildings, artefacts, and human remains, all remarkably preserved by the eruption.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Project on the Pompeii’s ancient art of textile dyeing

Revival of Pompeii’s historical textile dyeing techniques using plant-based dyes.
Production of scarves with colours and designs inspired by Pompeiian palette and House of Vettii frescoes.
Proceeds from scarf sales were allocated to further restoration of Pompeii.
The project incorporates elements from frescoes and vibrant and long-lasting artworks on plaster.