11-Feb-2023: First Sundarban Bird Festival was organised by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) division
Sundarban Bird Festival
- First-ever festival organized by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) division of the West Bengal Forest Department
- 145 different bird species were sighted during the festival. This provides a baseline data on Sundarbans' bird species diversity.
- Species recorded during the festival included 78 forest birds and 42 species of waders, raptors, etc. Some of the birds spotted are Eurasian Curlew (Near Threatened), Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Least Concern), Lesser Sandplover (Least Concern) among others.
Sundarban Biosphere Reserve
- Located on the delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
- Includes Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Sundarban National Park (core area), Halliday Island and Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuaries with Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary forming its buffer area.
- Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Flora: Moist tropical forests and tidal forests.
- Fauna: Home to Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarine Crocodile, Gangetic Dolphin, Water Monitor Lizard, and 428 bird species.
Sundarbans
- is a cluster of low-lying islands in the Bay of Bengal, spread across India and Bangladesh. They are famous for its unique mangrove forests.
- Sundarbans forest in India is divided into the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve and 24 Parganas (South) Forest Division. Together with the forest in Bangladesh, it is the only mangrove forest in the world where tigers are found.
- Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recorded 428 bird species in the Sundarbans, which is one-third of all the avian species found in the country.
- Habitat faces threats including plantation activity along the chars (river islands) which disturbs the birds, and illegal activities along chars and uninhabited islands.
4-Feb-2023: 36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela
- Inaugurated by the Vice President of India
- Held annually in February
- Organized by Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism
- Collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs
- Aims to promote skilled artisans using indigenous technology
- Helps counter cheaper machine-made imitations
- Theme State for 2023 is North Eastern Region (NER)
- NER is an important stakeholder in India’s Look-East & Act-East Policy
- Partner country for 2023 is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
- Union Budget 2023-24 envisages PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman
- Helps craftsmen expand the reach and quality of their creations
- Other initiatives include Mudra Yojana, One District, One Product and Unity Malls, etc.
30-Jan-2023: Government of India is organising the six-day mega event “Bharat Parv”
Bharat Parv 2023:
- Ministry of Tourism is designated as nodal ministry
- Event is being held from Jan 26-31, 2023
- Celebrates India's unity in diversity
- Aims to make India a hub of civilization, culture, spirituality, and inheritance
- Includes a food festival, handicraft mela, cultural performances, tableaux display, Red Fort illumination
- Promotes Dekho Apna Desh, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, G20, and Mission LIFE
- Promotes Vocal for Local motto
Initiatives:
Dekho Apna Desh
- Launched in Jan 2020
- Objective: create awareness about rich heritage and culture of India, encourage domestic travel.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
- Launched in 2015
- Objective: promote engagement and bonding between people of diverse cultures across States/UTs, strengthen unity and integrity of India.
G20
- India assumed G20 presidency.
- Formed in 1999 after financial crisis in East and Southeast Asia.
- Objective: secure global financial stability by involving middle-income countries.
LiFE
- Introduced by India at COP26 in 2021.
- Promotes environmentally conscious lifestyle.
- Focuses on 'mindful and deliberate utilisation' instead of 'mindless and wasteful consumption'.