India is presently caught up in a nationwide dispute sparked by the inflammatory remarks of an MP against the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), leading to his conviction for defamation and disqualification from Parliament. The origins of OBC identification can be traced back to the Kalelkar Commission of 1953, which was the first to recognize backward classes separate from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at a national scale.
The government, following the recommendation of the Second Backward Classes Commission, also known as the Mandal Commission, specified a 27% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) or OBCs in 1990. This was earmarked for civil post vacancies and services, filled through direct recruitment. This decision was initially opposed but got judicial support from the Supreme Court in 1992 under the Indira Sawhney case.
The Justice Rohini committee, formed in 2017, is yet to submit its report on the sub-categorization of OBCs.
Rhino Poaching Cases in Assam
Assam witnessed its first incident of rhinoceros poaching in 2022, following a year of zero poaching cases. In response to the rising threat to these majestic creatures, the Assam Government constituted an Anti-Poaching Task Force in 2021. There are five existing species of rhinos globally, with India being home to the Great One-Horned Rhino, also referred to as the Indian Rhino.
This species, identifiable by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds, is primarily found in the Indo-Nepal terai region, northern West Bengal, and Assam. However, its dwindling numbers have led to it being listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.
India’s First Cloned Female Calf
In a bid to boost milk production, the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal, Haryana recently succeeded in producing India’s first cloned female calf of the native breed, Gir. Part of an NDRI project, this development aims at cloning indigenous cow breeds such as Gir and Sahiwal, which play a significant role in Indian milk production and the dairy industry’s growth.
The Gir breed is globally renowned and has been exported to various countries including Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Venezuela. It’s worth noting that cloning refers to the creation of genetically identical copies of a biological entity.
AFINDEX-2023
The concluding session of the second edition of the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-2023) was recently held in Maharashtra. Alongside this, the strategically significant India-Africa Army Chiefs Conclave was hosted in Pune. From 16 to 29 March 2023, the exercise drew participation from 25 African nations with 124 participants and Indian troops from the Sikh, Maratha, and Mahar regiments.
The multinational military drill aimed at promoting the concept of Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT). It also delved into the evolving dynamics of UN Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF) through in-depth discussions and tactical exercises.