Archives (PRELIMS  Focus) Lokpal Category: Polity and Governance Context: The number of complaints, Lokpal has received since it began functioning in 2019-20 has dropped from a peak of 2,469 in 2022-23 to just 233 this year till September. About Lokpal: Nature: The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provided for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union. It is a statutory body without any constitutional status. Work: They perform the function of an “ombudsman” and inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters. Composition: Lokpal is a multi-member body, that consists of one chairperson and a maximum of 8 members. Out of the maximum eight members, half will be judicial members and minimum 50% of the Members will be from SC/ ST/ OBC/ Minorities and women. Eligibility: Chairperson of the Lokpal should be either the former Chief Justice of India or the former Judge of Supreme Court having special knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, etc. The judicial member of the Lokpal either a former Judge of the Supreme Court or a former Chief Justice of a High Court. Term: The term of office for Lokpal Chairman and Members is 5 years or till the age of 70 years. Appointment: The members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. Selection panel: The selection committee is composed of the Prime Minister who is the Chairperson, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,  Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him/her and One eminent jurist. Powers: Lokpal has powers of confiscation of assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances. It has the power to recommend transfer or suspension of public servant connected with allegation of corruption. It also has the power to give directions to prevent the destruction of records during the preliminary inquiry. Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction of Lokpal includes Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament, Groups A, B, C and D officers and officials of Central Government. However, it does not have jurisdiction over Ministers and MPs in the matter of anything said in Parliament or a vote given there. Exception: The Lokpal does not have jurisdiction over Ministers and MPs in the matter of anything said in Parliament or a vote given there. Source: The Hindu Western Ghats Category: Geography Context: The expansive Western Ghats and two other national parks in India have been categorised as being of “significant concern” in the IUCN list of natural World Heritage sites across Asia. About Western Ghats: Nomenclature: The range is called Sahyadri in northern Maharashtra and Sahya Parvatham in Kerala. The northern portion of the narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is known as the Konkan Coast. The central portion is called Kanara and the southern portion is called Malabar region or the Malabar Coast. In the south the range is known as the Nilgiri malai in Tamil Nadu. Views about its formation: The mountains of the Western Ghats are Block Mountains formed due to the down warping of a part of land into the Arabian Sea. The mountains of the Western Ghats are not true mountains, but are the faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau. Geographical extent: The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north, go south past Goa, through Karnataka and into Kerala and Tamil Nadu end at Kanyakumari embracing Indian ocean. These mountains cover an area of around 140,000 km² in a 1,600 km long stretch. Prominent hill stations: It is home to many hill stations like Matheran, Lonavala-Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Amboli Ghat, Kudremukh and Kodagu. Major rivers: West flowing: The rivers that originate in Western Ghats and flow towards west are Periyar, Bharathappuzha, Netravati, Sharavathi, Mandovi etc. East flowing: The rivers that originate in Western Ghats and flow towards east include three major rivers viz. Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, and many smaller/tributary rivers such as Tunga, Bhadra, Bhima, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Hemavathi, Kabini. Influence on climate: The high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern. The Ghats act as a key barrier, intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer. Vegetation: The western slopes have tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests marked predominantly by Rosewood, Mahogany, Cedar etc. The eastern slopes of the Western Ghats have dry as well as moist deciduous forests marked predominantly by Teak, Sal, Shisham, Sandalwood trees. Wildlife: The Nilgiri marten, brown palm civet, stripe-necked mongoose, Indian brown mongoose, small Indian civet and leopard cat are the small carnivores living in the forests of the Western Ghats. Many species are endemic, such as the Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) and the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus). Uniqueness: It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the eight hotspots of biological diversity in the world due to its high level of biological diversity and endemism. Protected areas: Western Ghats is home to India’s two biosphere reserves, 13 National parks, several wildlife sanctuaries and many Reserve Forests. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats. Source: The Hindu Birsa Munda Category: History and Culture Context: In the run-up to the fifth Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15, which will mark the end of tribal icon Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary, the Union government has written to the States, saying they “must organise” commemorative events at the State and district levels from November 1 to 15. About Birsa Munda: Birth: He was born in Ulihatu on 15th November 1875, now in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, to a poor sharecropper (sajhadar) family. He belonged to the Munda tribe, a major Adivasi community of the Chotanagpur plateau. Education: He attended local schools under the guidance of Jaipal Nag. He then studied at a missionary school and later at BEL school in Chaibasa for four years. He was also influenced by Christianity but