Exam Power: 04 April 2018 Current Affairs

Exam Power: 04 April 2018 Current Affairs

NIRF India rankings 2018 

The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Delhi’s Miranda House are India’s best university and college this year, according to the countrywide government ranking of educational institutions on Tuesday.

Union human resources development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar released the India Rankings of National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in New Delhi under nine categories – overall, universities, engineering, colleges, management, pharmacy, medical, architecture, and law this year.

New plant species found in Western Ghats

A new plant species from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Classified as a sedge, the grass-like plant has been named Fimbristylis agasthyamalaensis, after the locality from which it was found.

The authors have recommended a preliminary conservation assessment of the plant as ‘critically endangered,’ according to IUCN criteria. The report says the species is highly prone to wild grazing.

As the habitat falls within a tourism spot and the perimeter of a place of worship, the plant is also subject to anthropogenic pressures that could lead to its extinction in the absence of scientific conservation.

The new species belongs to the Cyperaceae family. In India, the genus is represented by 122 species, of which 87 are reported from the Western Ghats. Many of the known Cyperaceae species are medicinal plants or used as fodder.

During a critical analysis of the specimens, F.agasthyamalaensis was found to be similar to F.onchnidiocarpa in several characters including the nature of infloresence. But detailed studies revealed distinct features which led to the conclusion that it is a new species.

Mizoram government inks peace pact with HPC (D)

The Mizoram government and the Hmar Peoples’ Convention (Democratic) signed a peace pact on Monday evening.

The peace agreement brought an end to a 24-year-old conflict.

The agreed seven points Memorandum of Settlement include giving administrative autonomy to the enhanced hills council within the framework of the memorandum and that the surrendered cadres would be granted amnesty.

Chairman of HPC (D) H Zosangbera signed the treaty on behalf of HPC (D) while Arvind Ray, Chief Secretary of Mizoram signed the agreement on the state’s behalf.

“Nowhere have we seen a political dialogue between a government and an armed group without defining a proper ground rules and suspension of operation, this peace accord is an evidence and testimony of our shared interest and oneness. I cannot help but say that we are stepping into a new chapter where we can aspire to envision a new future together,” read a statement made by the HPCD chairman, who was too weak to deliver a speech.