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1. On 1st November, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, and Kerala on their foundation day, acknowledging their contributions to the nation's cultural heritage, development, and natural resources. These states were formed as follows: Madhya Pradesh (1956) from parts of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and other regions; Karnataka (1956) from Kannada-speaking areas; Kerala (1956) through the union of Travancore-Cochin, Malabar, and Kasaragod; Haryana (1966) from Punjab; and Chhattisgarh (2000) from Madhya Pradesh. Constitutionally, Article 2 empowers Parliament to admit or establish new states, while Article 3 allows the creation of new states, reorganization of existing ones, or changes in boundaries/names. Any such change requires the prior recommendation of the President and, in some cases, consultation with the affected state legislature. No such consultation is required for union territories.
2. The Balfour Declaration, issued on November 2, 1917, was a statement by the British government supporting the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. At the time, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire with a small Jewish population. The declaration was motivated by a desire to ensure Jewish safety amid rising European persecution, as well as to gain Jewish support for the Allied powers during World War I. It conflicted with Britain's earlier promise to support an independent Arab state in the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence (1915-1916) in exchange for Arab help against the Ottomans. Britain also saw control of Palestine as vital for securing the Suez Canal and its interests in India. The Balfour Declaration played a significant role in the complex history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
3. Four elephants were recently found dead and five in poor health in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR), raising concerns about wildlife conservation in the region. India is home to the largest population of wild Asian elephants, with around 29,964 elephants as per the 2017 census. Karnataka, Assam, and Kerala have the highest numbers. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, located in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh, is known for its rich historical and natural heritage, including the Bandhavgarh Fort, ancient caves, and rock art. It was designated a national park in 1968 and a tiger reserve in 1993. Apart from Bengal tigers, it is home to various prey species like chital, sambhar, and wild pigs, as well as predators such as tigers, leopards, and wild dogs. The recent elephant deaths highlight ongoing challenges in preserving the biodiversity of this ecologically important reserve.
4. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the Indonesian island of Flores, recently erupted, adding to the heightened volcanic activity in the region. Indonesia, with about 120 active volcanoes, lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent seismic and volcanic events. The Ring of Fire, a zone along the Pacific Ocean, is prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes due to tectonic activity. It is primarily shaped by interactions between the massive Pacific Plate and smaller, less-dense plates like the Nazca and Juan de Fuca Plates. This tectonic activity makes Indonesia particularly vulnerable to natural disasters like eruptions and earthquakes, with Mount Merapi in West Sumatra also erupting recently. The eruption of Mount Lewotobi highlights the ongoing volatility of the region's geological landscape.
5. A recent study suggests that spraying diamond dust into Earth's upper atmosphere could reduce global temperatures by 1.6°C, offering a new geoengineering approach to mitigate global warming. This concept of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) involves using materials like diamond dust to reflect solar radiation, potentially more effective than previous options. Currently, global temperatures are about 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a 1.45°C rise expected in 2023, making the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement increasingly unlikely. Geoengineering includes SRM and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), with SRM methods inspired by volcanic eruptions. CDR techniques, like Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC), focus on reducing CO₂ levels. However, both SRM and CDR face significant technological, ethical, and economic challenges. Despite the promise, these methods may not be sufficient without stronger efforts to reduce emissions and shift to renewable energy.