Top News Highlights- 5 December 2024

Table of Contents

Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary Declared as Madhya Pradesh’s 8th Tiger Reserve

Located in Raisen and Sehore districts, Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary includes the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Covers dry deciduous and moist deciduous forests with 55% teak coverage and houses tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and deer species.
Declared under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, highlighting India’s commitment to tiger conservation.
Madhya Pradesh now leads India with 8 tiger reserves.

States directed to appoint District Officers for enforcing the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) are mandatory in all organizations as per Section 4 of the Act.
SHeBox, a national platform, facilitates digital complaint registration to improve transparency and accessibility.
Focuses on ensuring a safer workplace for women across public and private sectors.

Held in Busan, South Korea, the treaty aims to address the full lifecycle of plastics.
Key issues: Lack of consensus on production caps, unclear definitions of microplastics, and opposition from India and China.
India advocates for financial and technical assistance to developing nations and opposes strict production caps affecting developmental rights.
Global plastic waste leakage into ecosystems ranges between 19-23 million metric tonnes annually.

Mandates compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations, including a 30% minimum shelf life for delivered products.
E-commerce platforms must display FSSAI licenses, and train delivery personnel on food safety standards.
Aims to bolster consumer trust, mitigate foodborne risks, and enhance quality assurance in online food markets.

Expands “mineral oils” to include hydrocarbons like coal bed methane and shale oil.
Introduces “petroleum leases” and simplifies penalties for regulatory violations.
Aims to reduce energy import dependence and attract investments in India’s oil and gas sectors.
Enhances dispute resolution through the Petroleum and Natural Gas Board Regulatory Act, 2006.

National index rose by 4.3% year-on-year; Bengaluru recorded the highest growth at 8.8%, Kanpur saw a -2% decline.
Data is sourced from property transactions in 10 major cities, offering insights into India’s real estate trends.
Indicates economic recovery and urban housing demand fluctuations.

Project Tiger: Centrally Sponsored Scheme for tiger conservation in India.
POSH Act (2013): Legal framework to prevent and address sexual harassment at workplaces.
SHeBox: A national platform for registering workplace harassment complaints.
Geographical Indication (GI): Legal protection for products with unique geographic origins and qualities.