Padma awards 2024

Why in news?

• President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma awards during a Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi.

What are Padma Awards?

• About:
  • Padma Awards are one of thehighest civilian honors of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day after the Bharat Ratna.
  • The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
  • The award does not amount to a titleand cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.
  • The awards are presented by the President of India.
• Categories:The Awards are given in three categories: 
  • Padma Vibhushanis awarded for ‘exceptional and distinguished service;
  • Padma Bhushanis awarded for ‘distinguished service of a high order’; and
  • Padma Shriis awarded for ‘distinguished service’.
• For 2024,the President had approved the conferment of 132 Padma awards, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one).
  • The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri awards.

Cook Islands 

Why in news?

• Deep-sea mining companies  have been exploring the the Cook Islands for minerals used in electric car batteries

About Cook Islands

• Cook Islands comprises 15 small islands, spread over 2.2 million square kilometres, between American Samoa and French Polynesia, South of Hawaii.

• The Cook Islands lie in the South Pacific Ocean, about 2 900 km northeast of New Zealand and about 4500 km south of Hawaii. 
• Avrarua, on the island of Rarotonga, is the national capital.
• Cook Islands is self-governing in ‘free association’ withNew Zealand, an arrangement dating from August 1965.

Constructed Wetlands

Why in news?

• Constructed wet lands are nature’s solution for wastewater treatment in India.

Constructed Wetlands

• Constructed wetlands are engineered structures designed to replicate the functions of natural wetlands. 
• They are composed of meticulously chosen vegetation, soil and water, orchestrated to facilitate a seamless process of purification.
• They are divided into two categories:subsurface flow (SSF) and surface flow (SF).
  • SSF wetlands direct wastewater through gravel beds or porous media,promoting microbial activity that degrades organic matter.
  • In contrast, SF wetlands demonstrate their aesthetic appealabove the water’s surface, with gently flowing streams and lush vegetation.
• One such example is the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi,situated on the city’s outskirts.
  • Here, a constructed wetland system aids in purifying sewage from nearby settlements while also providing a sanctuary for diverse flora and fauna, thus contributing to regional biodiversity conservation.
• The Kolkata East Wetlands in West Bengal, designated as a Ramsar site, feature a vast network of natural and constructed wetlands.