India’s Largest Leopard Safari Opens at Bannerghatta

Why in News?

• At the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP), South India’s first and largest leopard safari was inaugurated.
• This event marks India's efforts to conserve wildlife and enhance wildlife tourism.
• The safari spans 20 hectares, adhering to the stringent safety and ecosystem mimicry standards set by the Central Zoo Authority.

About Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP)

• Location: Situated near Bangalore, Karnataka, in the hills of the Anekal range.
• History:
  • Declared a National Park in 1974.
  • In 2002, a portion of the park became the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
  • It is the first biological park in India to feature a fenced forested elephant sanctuary.
  • In 2006, India’s first butterfly enclosure was inaugurated at the park.
• Geography:
  • The Suvarnamukhi stream is the primary source of water.
  • The park features three types of vegetation namely:
    • Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests
    • Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
    • Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests.
  • The flora includes Narcissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosa, Sandalwood, Neem, Tamarind, Bamboo, Eucalyptus, and more.
  • The park is a prime habitat for several species, including the endangered Asian Elephant, Indian gaur, Tiger, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Leopard, Wild dog, Wild pig, Sloth bear, Common mongoose, Pangolin, Slender loris, Black-naped hare, and others.

Ladakh Achieves Full Functional Literacy Under ULLAS

Why in News?

• Ladakh has become the first administrative unit to achieve full functional literacy under the Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS)-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Program).
• The Union Territory has surpassed 97% literacy, marking a major success for the centrally sponsored scheme aimed at empowering people aged 15 and above with foundational literacy, numeracy, and critical life skills.

About ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram

• It is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.
• The scheme aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• It aims to empower those people aged 15 years and above from all backgrounds who could not get due schooling and mainstream them with society to be able to contribute more to the growth story of the country.
• It covers five key components:
  • Foundational literacy and numeracy
  • Critical life skills
  • Basic education
  • Vocational skills
  • Continuing education
• The vision of the ULLAS Scheme is to make Bharat Jan Jan Saakshar, which is based on the spirit of Kartvya Bodh and is being implemented through volunteerism.
• Nationwide, the program has benefited over 77 lakh people, with the ULLAS Mobile App engaging more than 1.29 crore learners and 35 lakh volunteer teachers.

Leader of Opposition

Why in News?

• In the newly constituted Lok Sabha, the opposition party has unanimously adopted a resolution to select the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the 18^th Lok Sabha. 

Who is the Leader of Opposition?

• The leader of the largest opposition party having not less than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the Lok Sabha is recognised as the Leader of the Opposition.

Roles and Responsibility

• He will be a member of crucial committees such as Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, Estimates and also a member of several Joint Parliamentary Committees.
• He is entitled to be a member of various selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission, the CBI, the NHRC, and the Lokpal.
• He provides constructive criticism of the government policies and to provide an alternative government.
• The Leader of Opposition in both the Houses were accorded statutory recognition under the Salaries and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 and are entitled to the salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
• The office of the leader of the opposition is not mentioned in the Constitution.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Why in News?

• NATO appoints outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as next secretary-general.

About NATO

• It is an intergovernmental military alliance formed in 1949.
• It was established with the primary goal of providing collective defence against potential aggression, particularly from the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.

Membership

• Original Members: The original 12 founding members of NATO were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Expansion: NATO has expanded since its founding, with new member countries joining in multiple rounds. The alliance currently consists of 32 member countries.

Mission and Objectives:

• Collective Defence: NATO's primary mission is collective defence, as outlined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. This article stipulates that an attack on one member country will be considered an attack on all, and the members will respond collectively.
• Crisis Management: In addition to collective defence, NATO engages in crisis management activities, including conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and stabilisation efforts in various regions around the world.

History

• NATO was established on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C. by 12 founding member countries from Europe and North America.
• Cold War Era: During the Cold War, NATO served as a deterrent against Soviet expansionism, with the US providing significant military support to its European allies.
• Post-Cold War: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO expanded its focus to include crisis management, conflict prevention, and cooperative security efforts.

Structure of NATO

• Political Leadership: The North Atlantic Council (NAC) serves as NATO's principal political decision-making body, composed of ambassadors from all member countries.
• Military Command Structure: NATO's military command structure includes Strategic Commands (e.g., Allied Command Operations) responsible for operational planning and execution, as well as Regional Commands and Force Headquarters.
• Integrated Military Forces: NATO maintains integrated military forces, allowing member countries to contribute personnel and assets to collective defence efforts under NATO command.