• The 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) which is currently underway at India.
• This event highlighted the different causes of drought and also saw launch of a toolbox which is a one-stop shop for all actions on drought.
• The toolbox is a sort of knowledge bank which contains tools that strengthen the ability of countries to anticipate and prepare for drought effectively and mitigate their impacts as well as tools that enable communities to anticipate and find the land management tools that help them to build resilience to drought.

Basel Ban Amendment

• The 1995 Basel Ban Amendment, a global waste dumping prohibition, has become an international law after Croatia (97th country to ratify) ratified it on September 6, 2019.
• Basel Ban Amendment was adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention in 1995.

• To protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes.
• The amendment prohibits all export of hazardous wastes, including electronic wastes and obsolete ships from 29 wealthiest countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to non-OECD countries.
• Basel Convention Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal - was opened for signature on 22 March 1989 and entered into force on 5 May 1992
• It is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs).
• It does not address the movement of radioactive waste.

• Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), laid the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) at Mumbai.
• It aims to provide skill training in highly specialized areas to students who want to pursue technical education after completing Class X and Class XII, making them employable.
• Tata Education Development Trust (TEDT) was selected as the private partner for setting up IIS at NSTI campus in Mumbai through a competitive bidding process.
• The aim of the Institute is to ensure that 5000 trainees will be passing out every year with 70% placement opportunities.
• The Union Cabinet had given its nod to set up Indian Institute of Skills (IISs) in three locations of the country - Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kanpur, to give wings to the Skill India Mission.
• These institutes will be constructed & operated on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model and in not-for-profit basis.

• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar instituted by WCD Ministry to felicitate meritorious children, individuals and institutions of the country is given under two categories i.e., Bal Shakti Puraskar and Bal Kalyan Puraskar.
• The Bal Shakti Puraskar aims to give recognition to children who have made extraordinary achievements in various fields including innovation, scholastic, sports, art and culture, social service and bravery.
• Whereas the Bal Kalyan Puraskar is given as recognition to individuals and institutions, who have made an outstanding contribution towards service for children in the field of child development, child protection and child welfare.

Digital initiatives of Ministry of Civil aviation are 

• eDGCA project - Automates the processes and functions of DGCA and to work on development of various modules including licensing of pilots is under progress.
• DigiSky - An online portal to regulate the entire gamut of activities relating to governance and operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)/Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs)/drones has been made operational.
• Esahaj- It is100% of security clearances through Esahaj online portal, It will grant clearances in respect of 24 categories.
• DigiYatra - DigiYatra initiative envisages seamless and hassle free passenger travel using biometric technologies to improve passenger experience, and reduce queue waiting.

• Snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft).
• Habitat extends through twelve countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• China contains as much as 60% of all snow leopard habitat areas.
• Global Snow Leopard Forum, 2013:12 countries encompassing the snow leopards range (Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).
• According to UNCCD’s report conservation of snow leopards and preservation of people’s cultural values can prevent land degradation of the Himalayan ecosystem. 
• Bishkek Declaration aims to protect the species and its environment.
• Global Snow Leopard and Eco-system Protection Program is a joint initiative of range country governments, international agencies, civil society, and the private sector.

• Astronomers have for the first time discovered water in the atmosphere of an exoplanet with Earth-like temperatures that could support life.
• K2-18b is now the only planet orbiting a star outside the Solar System known to have both water and temperatures that could be potentially habitable.
• K2-18b, which is eight times the mass of Earth, is now the only planet orbiting a star outside the Solar System.
• The planet orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18, which is about 110 light years from Earth in the Leo constellation, researchers said.
•  “K2-18b is not ‘Earth 2.0’ as it is significantly heavier and has a different atmospheric composition.

• Sixth Schedule of Indian constitution deals with the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. (Articles 244(2) and 275(1))
• Recently National Commission for Scheduled Tribes deliberated the issue of inclusion of UT of Ladakh under Fifth/Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
• The region is inhabited by following Scheduled Tribes, namely:

1. Balti
2. Beda
3. Bot, Boto
4. Brokpa, Drokpa, Dard, Shin
5. Changpa
6. Garra
7. Mon
8. Purigpa.

• Kani is a tribe living in the Western Ghats area of Kerala.
• Their use of the forest plant arogyapacha (trichopus zeylanicus) recently in news for its incredible medicinal values.
• A recently discovered species of tree-dwelling crab has been named Kani maranjandu after the tribe.

• Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched the Curriculum for Life Skills (JeevanKaushal) designed by University Grants Commission (UGC) for Under Graduate Programme.

• Life skills (JeevanKaushal) curriculum cover the set of human talents acquired by an individual via classroom learning or life experience that can help them to deal with problems encountered in day to day life.
• This includes the core skills each individual must possess internally as well as externally for the betterment of self and the society as a whole. Adoption of life skills is the key to success and quality in life.