Madhya Pradesh’s traditional Gond art has recently received the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Gond painting, a unique form of tribal art, is produced predominantly by the Gond tribe. The art depicts a multitude of themes such as nature, animals, and religious motifs, providing insight into their indigenous lifestyle and cultural heritage.
The main source of Gond painting is found in Dindori district, but its popularity has spread to other nearby regions. Thanks to the efforts of the National Rural Livelihood Mission(NRLM) and National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), this art form will reach larger audiences through novel platforms like greeting cards, mobile covers, and bag covers.
The Innovation of Cellular Agriculture
Cellular agriculture, a novel concept propelling the agriculture sector forward, provides a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional animal farming practices. It involves growing animal-based products – meat, dairy, seafood – using cell cultures rather than directly from the animals themselves.
Cellular agriculture encompasses two primary approaches – cell cultivation and precision fermentation. In cell cultivation, animal stem cells multiply and differentiate into muscle tissue in nutrient-rich environments, ultimately forming the main component of meat. Precision fermentation, on the other hand, leverages microorganisms like yeast to produce items such as milk and egg-white proteins through a process similar to traditional fermentation used in food industries.
One of the significant advantages of cellular agriculture is its potential to tackle environmental and ethical issues linked with conventional animal farming. It uses fewer resources and generates less waste and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to overall sustainability. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for raising and slaughtering animals, significantly improving animal welfare.
US-Philippines Joint Military Exercises: A Step Towards Defense Enhancement
Recently, the annual “Balikatan” military exercises were launched by the US and Philippines to boost their militaries’ joint response capabilities to threats in the Indo-Pacific region. Initiated in 1991, the exercises aptly named “Balikatan,” meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder,” are a testament to the countries’ collaborative outreach.
A shift towards the US is evident in the Philippines’ foreign policy, moving away from its earlier China-friendly position. The joint military exercises underline the Philippines’ strategy to augment its military prowess in order to counteract China’s assertive presence in the region.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) 2022: A Critical Insight
The National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) fifth round of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) for 2022 has yielded significant results. The Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) achieved the top rank, followed by Satpura and Bandipur reserves.
In Tamil Nadu, all five reserves showed commendable management. Specifically, the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) improved their ranking from “very good” to “excellent”. These reserves join ten others nationwide that have been classified as “excellent”.
The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) maintained their “very good” status. The recently announced tiger reserve, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai, was categorized as “good”.
Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) framework, the MEE evaluation assessed six elements including context, planning, input, process, output, and outcomes.