CoP20 CITES concludes in Samarkand
Context: The 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) concluded on 5th Dec, marking a milestone for global wildlife trade governance.
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- The CoP20 marks the 50th anniversary of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
- The convention was celebrated under the slogan “CITES at 50 in Samarkand: Bridging Nature and People”, which was held in Silk Road Samarkand Expo Centre, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Key Outcomes
- The CoP adopted unprecedented protections for over 70 species of sharks and rays, including the uplisting of highly threatened species to Appendix I.
- Marine species – such as wedgefish and giant guitarfish – received “zero quota” restrictions (suspension of wild-caught exports), while additional sharks were placed on Appendix II, meaning trade in them will be subject to regulations aimed at ensuring it is both legal and sustainable.
- New protections were also agreed for many terrestrial species.
- Okapis and the golden-bellied mangabey (an endangered primate), both of which are found exclusively in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were afforded maximum protection with Appendix I listings.
- Two Critically Endangered species of African vulture were also ‘uplisted’ to Appendix I.
- Proposals to weaken protections for iconic species like elephants and rhinos in order to facilitate international trade were heavily voted down.
- CoP20 efforts fell short to introduce trade regulations for Japanese and American eel species, to harmonise eel protection and help prevent the laundering of the beleaguered European eel.
PM pays tribute to C Rajagopalachari on his 147th birth anniversary
Context: Remembering C Rajagopalachari as a freedom fighter, thinker, intellectual, and statesman, the Prime Minister noted that Rajaji remains one of the sharpest minds of the 20th century, who believed in creating value and upholding human dignity.
Rajaji’s Life and Legacy
- Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, born on December 10, 1878, in Madras Presidency, was a lawyer and intellectual among many other things.
- He is regarded as an early political comrade of Mahatma Gandhi, who left his legal practice to join the Indian National Congress and later participated in various protests against the British Crown.
- Most popularly, Rajagopalachari agitated against the Rowlatt Act, non-cooperation, and the Civil Disobedience movement.
- He was the last Governor-General of India. The office was abolished after India became a republic in 1950.
- He also served as Chief Minister of Madras State (1952–54).
- He was conferred with the Bharat Ratna in 1954. He was also the first Governor of West Bengal from 1947-48, when Bengal province was divided into two.
- In 1959, he founded the Swatantra Party (1959) in direct opposition to the Indian National Congress’s socialist policies.
PM pays tribute to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati on his birth anniversary
Context: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid glowing tributes to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati on his birth anniversary, recalling his unparalleled role in shaping India’s cultural, literary and national consciousness.
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- The Prime Minister said his verses ignited courage and his thoughts had the power to leave a lasting impression on the minds of countless people and illuminated India’s cultural and national consciousness.
- He also remarked that Shri Bharati worked towards creating a society that is just and inclusive, and his contributions to enriching Tamil literature remain unparalleled.
About Mahakavi Subramania Bharati
- Subramania Bharati, born on 11 December 1882 in the town of Ettayapuram in Tirunelveli district, Madras Presidency (present-day Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu), was an Indian writer, poet, composer, journalist, teacher, Indian independence activist, social reformer and polyglot.
- He was bestowed the title Bharati for his poetry and was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry.
- He worked as a journalist with many newspapers, including Swadesamitran, The Hindu, Bala Bharata, Vijaya, Chakravarthini and India.
- He considered Sister Nivedita, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, as his guru.
- A symbol of the multilingual spirit that characterises India, Bharati knew 32 languages, including three foreign languages.
- His works include Panjali Sabatham, Kannan Paatu, Kuyil Paatu, Paapa Paatu, Chinnanchriu Kiliye, Vinayagar Nanmanimalai and Tamil translations of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and Bhagavat Gita.
- Bharathi was the first poet whose literature was nationalized in 1949.
86th Nupi Lan Day
Context: The President of India offered floral tributes at the Nupi Lan Memorial Complex in Imphal on the occasion of the 86th Nupi Lan Day.
About Nupi Lan Day
- Nupi Lan (‘Women’s War’ in Meitei Language) in Manipuri was a series of protests and boycotts that took place in the Imphal district and other regions of Manipur, the first in 1904 and the second in 1939-1940.
- Although Nupi Lan Day commemorates both uprisings, it is observed on December 12, the day the second movement began.
- The movement is remembered as one of the most important mass movements led by women.
- Its second movement started as a forceful protest led by Manipuri women against the Marwari monopolists and the Maharaja’s economic policies in Manipur.
- It involved the boycott of British-owned businesses, strikes, and other forms of civil disobedience.
- The movement eventually transformed into a drive for Manipur’s administrative and constitutional reforms.
- The primary demands of the women were primarily the banning of rice exports and immediate changes in the administrative set-up.
- Manipur could not afford the enormous quantities of rice that the British were exporting.
- It resulted in the area becoming a market for manufactured goods from abroad, which ultimately contributed to the decline of the local cottage industries.
- This significantly incited the women, who marched in hundreds through Imphal’s streets.
- The Nupi Lan Movement sowed the seeds for economic and political reforms for a new Manipur in the 1940s.
First Nupi Lan
- The First Nupi Lan was triggered by Colonel Maxwell’s reintroduction of the Lallup system in July 1904, which forced men to perform ten days of unpaid labour every 30 days.
- On 3 September 1904, thousands of women marched to Maxwell’s residence demanding the withdrawal of the Lallup system.
- Although the British promised to revoke the orders, they failed to do so, leading to another protest by around 5,000 women at Khwairamband Bazar on 5 October.
- Despite violent suppression, the women persisted, ultimately forcing the British to withdraw the orders and rebuild the bungalows at their own expense.
2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
Context: India is set to co-host the 2nd World Health Organisation Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.
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- The summit is to be held from December 17 to 19 at Bharat Mandapam, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- Theme 2025: ‘Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being’.
- The Summit aims to promote a global movement restoring balance for people and the planet, based on Traditional Medicine.
- The Summit is aligned with and guided by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.
- A focused side event titled “Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact –Perspectives from Leading Global Experts” will be held.
- Organised by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (WHO-GTMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush.
- The session will examine evidence on Ashwagandha’s adaptogenic, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties, along with safety assessments.
- The 1st WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was organised in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2023.
- Ahead of the first summit, the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO-GTMC) was established in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
About WHO
- It was established in 1948 and is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
- It has 194 Member Countries and its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland
- WHO connects nations, partners and people to work collectively on global health priorities.
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the supreme decision-making body, where all member states meet annually in Geneva to set policies, approve budgets, appoint the Director-General, and address global health priorities.