Topics for Prelims
ACROSS
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved continuation of the nine sub-schemes of the umbrella scheme ACROSS during 2017-2020 at an estimated cost of Rs. 1450 crore.
The CCEA also approved establishment of National Facility for Airborne Research (NFAR) with a financial commitment of Rs 130 crore during 2020-21 and beyond.
About ACROSS Scheme
- ACROSS stands for Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services
- It will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through its institutes namely India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service(INCOIS).
- Scheme pertains to the atmospheric science programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and addresses different aspects of weather and climate services, which includes warnings for cyclone, storm surges, heat waves, thunderstorms etc.
- Each of the above aspects is incorporated as nine sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme “ACROSS” and is implemented in an integrated manner through the aforesaid four institutes.
Objectives of ACROSS Scheme
- To provide a reliable weather and climate forecast for betterment of society
- Improving skill of weather and climate forecast through sustained observations and intensive R & D activities
- Adopting effective dissemination and communication strategies to ensure its timely reach to the end-user of all services like Agro-meteorological Services, Aviation service, Environmental monitoring services, Hydro-meteorological services, climate services, tourism, pilgrimage, mountaineering etc.
Benefits of ACROSS Scheme
- Provides improved weather, climate and ocean forecast and services, thereby ensuring transfer of commensurate benefits to the various services.
- Generating employment opportunities as sizable number of scientific and technical staff along with requisite administrative support, thereby generating employment.
World Fisheries Day
- World Fisheries day is celebrated every year on November 21 throughout the world by the fisherfolk communities.
- Day helps in highlighting the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of water. Water forms a continuum, whether contained in rivers, lakes, and ocean.
- The origin of World Fisheries Day occurred on the same day that an international fishermen’s organization was formed in New Dehli, India.
- The World Fisheries Forum (WFF) was established on November 21, 1997. On that day fishing representatives from 18 countries signed a declaration advocating for a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies.
- The creation of WFF was founded on the common principles of sustaining the fishing communities, sustaining the fisheries, social justice, and preserving the cultural history of fish harvesters and fish workers.
Asia Environment Enforcement Awards
- India gets UN Environment award for combating transboundary environmental crime.
- United Nation Environment has awarded Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
About Asia Environment Enforcement Awards
- The Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions/teams combating transboundary environmental crime in Asia.
- The awards are given to outstanding individuals and/or government organizations/teams.
- WCCB has been conferred this award in Innovation category.
- WCCB has developed an online Wildlife Crime Database Management System to get real time data in order to help analyze trends in crime and devise effective measures to prevent and detect wildlife crimes across India.