CSIR has recently sequenced the entire genome of Asiatic lion for the first time.
The genome sequencing has already been done for big cats like Royal Bengal tiger, African Cheetah and Jaguar.
With the complete genome of Asiatic lion, a comparative study of all these cats would be possible.
It would also help to better understand the evolution of Asiatic lion.
Asiatic Lion that once ranged from Persia (Iran) to Palamau in Eastern India were almost driven to extinction by hunting and habitat loss.
According to 2015 census, it is found in Gir Protected Area Network that includes Gir National Park, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary adjoining reserved forests, protected forests.
It is listed as “Endangered” in the IUCN red list of threatened species and in Schedule I in CITES Appendix.
It is included in 21 critically endangered species included in the Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH).
Asiatic lion conservation project will be funded under this scheme.
Services Trade Restrictiveness Index
STRI is released by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
It was launched in 2014 and it ranks countries (both OECD and non-OECD) based on their services trade policies.
The index is now available for 2018 for a total of 45 economies and 22 sectors.
It has placed Indian service sector as highly restrictive in areas such as FDI.
India has found problems with the current method under which index is being calculated.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECD, an organisation dedicated to economic development, consists of 36 member countries.
It includes not only most advanced countries but also emerging countries like Mexico, Chile and Turkey.
European Commission also participates alongside Members in discussions on the OECD.
It also works closely with non-member countries like China, India, Brazil and South Africa through "Enhanced Engagement" programmes.
Though India is not a member country, it is part of the various committee setup under OECD.
It administers and publishes the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is a regular assessment of the attainment of 15-year-olds in three areas of knowledge thus measuring the performance of educational systems across countries.
India is a signatory of this policy.
Square Kilometre Array
SKA project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with eventually over a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area.
It will use 1000s of dishes and up to a million low-frequency antennas that will enable astronomers to monitor the sky in unprecedented detail and survey the entire sky much faster than any system currently in existence.
South Africa’s Karoo region and Western Australia’s Murchison Shire were chosen as co-hosting locations for this project.
Karoo will host the core of the high and mid frequency dishes and Murchison will host the low-frequency antennas.
Recent Developments - MeerLITCH is the world’s first optical telescope linked to a radio telescope launched in South Africa.
The device forms part of the SKA project and will be linked to MeerKAT, a radio telescope located 200km away.
Scientists at Cambridge have finished designing the data processor of SKA’s telescopes.
