Daily Current Affairs – 2020

Topic: For Prelims and Mains

Asian Water Bird Census

Why in News?

The two-day Asian Waterbird Census – 2020 has recently been launched in Andhra Pradesh.

In India, the Asian Aquatic Bird Census (AWC) is conducted annually by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International.

• Under the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC).in January, thousands of volunteers across Asia and Australasia visit wetlands in their country and count waterbirds.
• The AWC is an integral part of the global waterbird monitoring programme, the International Waterbird Census (IWC), coordinated by Wetlands International.
• The AWC was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent .
• The census covers the entire East Asian – Australian Flyway and a large part of the Central Asian Flyway.

Objectives of the Census:

• To obtain information on an annual basis of water bird populations at wetlands in the region .
• To monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands.
• To encourage greater interest in water birds and wetlands amongst citizens.

• Wetlands International is a global organization that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity.
• It is an independent, not-for-profit, global organization, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world.

Facts for Prelims

Toycathon-2021:

• This is a special kind of hackathon where students and teachers from schools and colleges, design experts, toy experts and start-ups will get together to crowd source ideas for developing toys and games that are based on Indian culture and ethos, local folklore and heroes, and Indian value systems.
• It is an inter-ministerial initiative.
• The participating agencies are the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women & Child Development, the Ministry of Textiles, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, DPIIT, Ministry of MSME, Innovation Cell (Education Ministry) and the AICTE.