Important Facts for Prelims (18th February 2019) | 18 Feb 2019

Punjab’s Blackbuck Under Threat

  • Blackbuck is fighting for its existence at the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS) located in the Fazilka District of Punjab which is an open sanctuary, spread across private land in several villages.
  • Blackbuck's status is 'Least Concern' species (IUCN Red List) but it faces a severe threat from stray cattle, attacks by stray dogs, barbed wire and habitat fragmentation due to change in land use and cropping patterns over the past few years.
  • The blackbuck was notified as the State animal of Punjab in 1989 and its presence in the State is confined to AWS due to the unique habitat of semi-arid plains consisting agricultural fields, intermittent fallow-barren lands, scattered sand dunes, sand mounds, and ridges.

Munich Security Conference

  • Recently, the 55th Munich Security Conference (MSC) concluded in Germany.
  • MSC is an annual conference on the international security policy that takes place in Munich, Germany since 1963.
  • During the MSC 2019, India raised the issue of the Pulwama terror attack during bilateral meetings with several countries, including the US, Germany, and Russia.
  • MSC is an independent venue for policymakers and experts for open and constructive discussions about the most pressing security issues of the day and of the future.
  • MSC publishes the Munich Security Report, an annual digest of relevant figures, maps, and research on crucial security challenges.

Tagore Cultural Harmony Award

  • Recently, the President of India has presented the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony.
  • The award was given to Shri Rajkumar Singhajit Singh ( scholar of Manipuri dance), Chhayanaut (a cultural organization of Bangladesh) and Shri Ram Sutar Vanji (a renowned sculptor) for the years 2014, 2015 & 2016 respectively.
  • The Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony was instituted by the Government of India from 2012 recognizing the contributions made by Rabindranath Tagore to humanity at large with his works and ideas, as part of the Commemoration of his 150th Birth Anniversary in 2012, for promoting values of Cultural Harmony.
  • The Award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.