-Down to Earth A total of seven Great Indian Bustards have died in 2022 due to electrocution A Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked the Union government December 1, 2022, if a ‘Project Bustard’ could be launched on the lines of ‘Project Tiger’. The bench was hearing petitions throwing light on the critical situation of Great Indian Bustards (GIB) and their deaths due to electrocution from...

-The Telegraph Study reveals higher genetic diversity in the estimated 100 to 140 bustards in the state Wildlife scientists have discovered unique versions of genes in the last surviving great Indian bustards outside Rajasthan and recommended their introduction into the bustard Breeding programme aimed at pulling back the iconic bird from imminent extinction. The unique gene sequences would enrich the gene pool available for India’s conservation Breeding efforts underway in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and...

-The Telegraph Struggle to reduce cases in 6 districts The Bengal health department is finding it tough to pull down the dengue positivity rate to under 10 per cent in at least six districts, including Calcutta, because of the paucity of civic and rural workers with the skill to track and destroy mosquito Breeding pockets. Among Bengal districts, the dengue positivity rate this week is the highest in Calcutta, followed by Jalpaiguri, Hooghly,...

-The Hindu How significant is the development of the Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11)? Why are some activist groups opposing the commercial release of the crop? What are their allegations? How many transgenic crops are commercially cultivated in India? The story so far: The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India’s apex regulator of genetically modified plants and food products, has approved the environmental release of Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), a genetically-engineered variant of...

-The Telegraph West Bengal this year recorded the highest cumulative figure of dengue infections till a year’s 43rd week since 2017 Dengue cases will keep rising unless people become conscious and take steps to prevent mosquito Breeding, mayor Firhad Hakim said on Sunday. Hakim said it was not possible for any government or civic body to locate each and every mosquito-Breeding site, in each and every household. The dengue virus is spread by Aedes...