APEDA’s say on Buffalo Meat

In News: Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said that all importing countries can safely procure Indian origin frozen boneless Buffalo meat. The Buffalo meat is prepared and exported in accordance with OIE guidelines for any risk mitigation.

Context:

  • India is one of the world’s leading exporters of buffalo meat. Despite Covid -19 Pandemic for over a year now, India has been able to achieve its exports value.
  • Top Indian buffalo meat importing countries are Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and UAE.
  • The affordably priced buffalo meat is contributing towards food security and food price inflation control in the importing countries.
  • There have been several interventions by the Government of India to control and eradicate various livestock diseases. One such program is:

National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP)

  1. The Launching of National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in June, 2019 to control Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis by 2025 with vaccination and eradication of disease by 2030 is one of the flagship scheme of GOI.
  2. In order to fully contain and eradicate the diseases, 100% cost of vaccine is borne by the Central Government.
  3. Under this programme all vaccinated animals are ear tagged and a complete traceability is maintained.
  4. India’s official FMD Control Programme received OIE’s endorsement, {The World Organisation for Animal Health, formerly the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)} as per the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
  5. World class meat processing infrastructure is available in India which is certified for Quality Management, Food Safety Management and Environment management systems.
  6. International organizations such as OIE, WHO and FAO have issued guidelines which categorically mention that it is highly unlikely that people can contact Covid -19 from food or food packaging. Covid -19 is a respiratory disease and the primary transmission route is through person to person contact.

12th Annual Day  of Competition Commission of India

In News: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman virtually commemorated the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Context:

  • The CCI was established under the Competition Act, 2002, in 2009, when the substantive provisions concerning anti-competitive conduct came into force.
  • Referring to the challenges of post-pandemic revival of enterprises, the Finance Minister stressed on the need for the CCI to proactively engage with industry so that market processes are not undermined.
  • The Annual Day commemoration also featured a half day workshop on Competition Law. The workshop had two plenary sessions. The first session was on ‘Anti-Trust Enforcement – Section 3 and 4 of the Act and its journey till date’. The second session was titled ‘Merger Regime in India – Our journey in the last ten years and way forward’.

INS Rajput to be Decommissioned

In News: On the 21st of May, 2021, a glorious era will come to an end with the decommissioning of the first destroyer of the Indian Navy – INS Rajput.

INS Rajput:

  • INS Rajput, the lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR was commissioned on 04 May 1980 and has rendered yeoman service to the Indian Navy for over 41 years.
  • INS Rajput will now be decommissioned at a solemn ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
  • INS Rajput was constructed in the 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolaev (present-day Ukraine) under her original Russian name ‘Nadezhny’ meaning ‘Hope’.
  • The ship has participated in several operations aimed at keeping the nation secure. Some of these include
    1. Operation Aman off Sri Lanka to assist IPKF
    2. Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka
    3. Operation Cactus to resolve hostage situation off the Maldives
    4. Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep
  • In addition, the ship participated in numerous bilateral and multi-national exercises. The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment – the Rajput Regiment.
  • As the sun sets on 21 May 21, the Naval Ensign and the Commissioning Pennant will be hauled down for the last time onboard INS Rajput, symbolising the decommissioning.

Indian Health Minister chairs 33rd Conference of Health Ministers of Commonwealth Countries

In News: Dr. Harshvardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare chaired the opening session of the 33rd meeting of Health Ministers of Commonwealth countries themed “Commonwealth Response to COVID-19: Ensuring Equitable Access to Vaccines and Building Resilience for Health Systems and Emergencies,” through video conference.

Context:

  • Health Minister stated, COVAX, the vaccine pillar of ACT Accelerator aims to deliver at least two billion vaccines by the end of 2021, covering 20% of the most vulnerable population in about 92 Low and Middle-Income countries.
  • India believes that this alone may not be enough and must be supplemented by all multilateral & bilateral platforms in accelerating coordinated action focused on equitable access to vaccines while also ensuring fair and transparent pricing.
  • He reminded member delegates that India has provided COVID-19 vaccines to more than 90 countries under its Vaccine Maitri initiative and is committed to working with all partners to do more.
  • In conclusion of his speech he urged states to not just focus on the COVID management but also on Commonwealth’s pre-COVID health priorities and Non-COVID health challenges like Non-Communicable diseases, immunization, malnutrition that the Commonwealth that needs to address together.

Indian Scientists on mystery behind complex phenomena in Plasma

In News: Indian Scientists have recently developed a theory that helps understand the complicated nature of Sun-Earth interaction’s happening in the magnetosphere-an area of space around Earth that is controlled by the Earth’s magnetic field.

Plasma Theory:

  • This new theory has opened up a plethora of opportunities to unlock the mysteries of the ion-hole structures (a localized plasma region where the ion density is lower than the surrounding plasma).
  • They are now working towards a detailed study of the ion hole structures observed in various space and astrophysical environments using the developed theory.
  • Scientists of Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) developed a theory that solves every bit of uncertainty regarding the conflict between the observations from Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission – a NASA robotic space mission to study the Earth’s magnetosphere and theoretical predictions.
  • They have completely ruled out the necessity of the upper limit in the temperature ratio between ions and electrons for the generation of a special kind of wave called Bernstein Green Kruskal (BGK) waves, named after the scientists who predicted this wave.
  • They revealed that the electrons that are not part of ion hole dynamics also play a vital role. This work has also been published in the journal ‘Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society’.
  • On NASA’s latest expedition to unlock Sun-Earth interaction’s complicated nature, the MMS spacecraft, observed negative monopolar potential (electric field potentials which can be visualized in the form of single-humped pulse-type structures).
  • The scientific community suddenly recognized its importance, and publications were presented. However, none of the available theories could explain the characteristics of these structures due to the exotic background conditions.
  • The new theory developed by the IIG team provides a better understanding of their characteristics and sheds light on the generation of these structures leading to the unraveling of nature’s greatest mystery that causes phenomena – plasma transport and heating of plasma — the fourth state of matter after solid, liquid, and gas, which is the most natural and widely observed state of matter in the entire universe.

Honey Testing Laboratory Project – World Bee Day

In News: On the occasion of World Bee Day, Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched the project of setting up of a honey testing laboratory at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi.

Context:

  • Inaugurating the project under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission, the Agri Minister said, production of honey is increasing in the country and its export is also going up.
  • Rs. 300 crore has been approved for the overall promotion of National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM), development of scientific beekeeping and achieving the target of “Sweet Revolution”.
  • Besides, Rs 500 crore has been allocated to NBHM by the Centre under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign.
  • A world-class state of art Honey Testing Lab has been established at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand with the help of Rs 5 crore.
  • Aiming at the development of this sector, 13 mini / satellite district level laboratories for honey and other products of beekeeping and projects related to online registration and development of traceability sources of honey and other products and other important projects have also been approved.
  • The Madhu Kranti portal for online registration and traceability system to track the source of honey and other bee products has also been launched.
  • Steps have also been initiated for making of FPOs of beekeepers along with other efforts to promote scientific beekeeping

Union Government formulates Kharif Strategy 2021

In News: To achieve self-sufficiency in the production of oilseeds, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has adopted a multi-pronged strategy for this Kharif season.

Kharif Strategy – 2021

  • Under the strategy, the Government of India has approved an ambitious plan for the free distribution of high yielding varieties of seeds to the farmers for the Kharif season 2021 in the form of mini-kits.
  • The special Kharif programme will bring an additional 6.37 lakh hectare area under oilseeds and is likely to produce 120.26 lakh quintals of oilseeds and edible oil amounting to 24.36 lakh quintals.
  • Through the consultations, both area and productivity enhancement has been formulated for soybean and groundnut with a focus on high yielding varieties of seeds to be provided free of cost under the National Food Security Mission (Oil Seeds and Oil Palm) Mission.
  • Distribution of soybean seeds for high potential districts in 73 districts of the 8 states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka, UP, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat is initiated.
  • Distribution of 74,000 Groundnut seed mini kits in the 7 states of Gujarat, AP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu has been decided.

About National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm

  • The Government of India through the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm has the objective to augment the availability of edible oils and reduce the import of edible oils by increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds and oil palm.
  • To this end a multi-pronged strategy is being adopted which includes the following:
    1. Increasing the seed replacement ratio with focus on varietal replacement
    2. Increasing irrigation coverage
    3. Nutrient management
    4. Intercropping with cereals/pulses/sugarcane
    5. Productivity improvement and adoption of proven and climate-resilient technologies
    6. Area expansion through diversification of low yielding food grains.
    7. Targeting rice fallow areas and high potential districts
    8. Promotion in non-traditional states
    9. Encouraging mechanization
    10. Research projects
    11. Training of farmers and extension officials
    12. Supporting cluster demonstrations for the adoption of good agricultural practices
    13. Creation of 36 oilseed hubs with a focus on regional approach for larger availability of quality seeds
    14. Post-harvest management at  farm and village level
    15. Formation of Farmer Producer Organisations

Ventilation is the key, says govt

In News: Aerosols can be carried in the air for up to 10 m and improving the ventilation of indoor spaces will reduce transmission, a government advisory on stopping the spread of COVID-19.

The Advisory:

  • The advisory said there was a need to remember the simple measures that could reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
  • Ventilation can decrease the risk of transmission from one infected person to the other. Just as smells can be diluted from the air through opening windows and doors and using exhaust systems, ventilating spaces with improved directional air flow decreases the accumulated viral load in the air, reducing the risk of transmission. Ventilation is a community defence that protects all of us at home or at work, it stated.
  • It recommended adding outdoor air in offices, homes and public spaces. Droplets and aerosols were the key transmission modes of the virus. While droplets fell up to 2 m from an infected person, aerosols could travel up to 10 m.

Declare mucormycosis an epidemic: Centre to States

In News:

  • The Union government has asked the States to declare Mucormycosis, the fungal infection being reported in COVID-19 patients, an epidemic.
  • In a letter to the States, Health and Family Welfare Ministry said declaring the black fungus infection seen in COVID-19 patients an epidemic would lead to health facilities screening for it and reporting all such cases to the government.
  • Rajasthan, Telangana and Tamil Nadu have declared it an epidemic.

Karnataka Industries anxious over missed export deadlines

In News: About 10 days into the lockdown, several industries relying on exports for their businesses are facing the heat over missed deadlines in export commitments.

Context:

  • As a number of industries have not been exempted under essential services to operate, they have remained closed following the lockdown order of May 7.
  • According to an estimate by the Karnataka Employers’ Association, exports from the State from the manufacturing sector alone roughly translate to about $250 million every month.
  • These come from about 300-export oriented companies as well as those companies catering to both the domestic and the international market. There are roughly about 500 garment industries that are exclusively export oriented.
  • The association said that industries in garment, auto, electronics, machine manufacturers and components that are now shut, since they are classified as non-essential, have been affected.
  • The association has also pointed out that neighbouring States, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are permitting industries to operate having export commitments.

Central Vista redevelopment project – National Archives to be safe

In News: The government is responsible for the records at the National Archives and will store them safely during the Central Vista redevelopment project, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said.

Context:

  • The historic National Archives building, housing all the “important” records, would not be touched during the revamp, in which the annexe building had been proposed to be demolished and replaced with a new one.
  • The National Archives was shifted from Kolkata to the present building in 1926 and the annexe was added post-Independence.
  • As a part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, the National Archives annexe building was proposed to be replaced with a new building meant for use by researchers in 2019.

Central Vista Redevelopment Project:

  • It refers to the redevelopment to revamp the Central Vista, India’s central administrative area located near Raisina Hill, New Delhi.
  • The area was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker during British colonial rule and was retained by Government of India after independence.
  • Scheduled between 2020 and 2024, the project as of 2020 aims
  • To revamp a 3 km (1.9 mi) long Rajpath between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate, convert North and South Blocks to publicly accessible museums by creating a new common Central Secretariat to house all ministries.
  • A new Parliament building near the present one with increased seating capacity for future expansion.
  • A new residence and office for the Vice President and the Prime Minister near the North and South Blocks.
  • Convert some of the older structures into museums.

China completes Tibet highway

In News: China has completed the construction of a strategically significant highway through the world’s deepest canyon in Tibet along the Brahmaputra river, enabling greater access to remote areas along the disputed border with Arunachal Pradesh in India.

Context:

  • The highway, passes through the Grand Canyon of the Yarlung Zangbo river, as the Brahmaputra is called in Tibet.
  • This is the “second significant passageway” to Medog county that borders Arunachal, directly connecting the Pad township in Nyingchi to Baibung in Medog county.
  • The highway will reduce the distance between Nyingchi city and Medog from 346 km to 180 km and will cut the travel time by eight hours.
  • The construction, which began in 2014, is part of a wider infrastructure push in border areas in Tibet.
  • In November, China began work on a strategically important railway line — its second major rail link to Tibet after the Qinghai-Tibet railway that opened in 2006 — that will link Sichuan province with Nyingchi.
  • In 2017, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government launched a plan to build “moderately well-off villages” in border areas, along China’s borders with India, Bhutan and Nepal.
  • Last year, satellite images emerged showing a new village called Pangda built 2-3 km into what Bhutan sees as its land.
  • On January 18, 2021, another village built 4-5 km into what India sees as its territory in Arunachal was seen via satellite images.
  • The civilian settlements, along with the new infrastructure connectivity, are seen as aimed at bolstering China’s control over the areas.

Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and the downfall of LTTE

  • 21st May 2021, marks the 30th anniversary of the grotesque killing of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi who was believed to be on a comeback trail to power.
  • He was assassinated by a suicide bomber from Sri Lanka, instigated by LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in 1991.

Sri Lanka Parliament passes Bill on China-backed Port City

In News: The Sri Lankan Parliament passed a controversial Bill on laws governing the China-backed Colombo Port City.

Context:

  • The development comes after the Supreme Court suggested certain amendments, following over a dozen petitions challenging the Bill that political opposition and civil society groups said “directly affected” Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
  • The $1.4-billion Colombo Port City was launched in 2014 during the previous term of the Rajapaksa government, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the island nation.
  • The mega infrastructure project is currently being built on land reclaimed alongside Colombo’s iconic sea front, while environmentalists and fisher folk opposed the move.

Chinese enclave theory:

  • Legislatures from Opposition parties, challenged its provisions saying it infringed upon the country’s sovereignty, gave the governing commission overarching powers, and immunity from Sri Lankan law, and threatened to create a “Chinese enclave”.
  • The “China-centric” Rajapaksa administration was again challenging the geopolitical order in the region. Observing that the “Tamil nation” had paid a heavy price the last time Sri Lanka made such choices, he said he opposed the Bill for that reason.

World’s largest iceberg breaks off from Antarctica, says European Space Agency

In News:

  • A huge ice block has broken off from western Antarctica into the Weddell Sea, becoming the largest iceberg in the world and earning the name A-76.

Context:

  • It is the latest in a series of large ice blocks to dislodge in a region acutely vulnerable to climate change, although scientists said in this case it appeared to be part of a natural polar cycle.
  • Slightly larger than the Spanish island of Majorca, A-76 had been monitored by scientists since May 13 when it began to separate from the Ronne Ice Shelf, according to the U.S. National Ice Center.
  • The iceberg, measuring around 170 km long and 25 km wide, with an area of 4,320 sq km is now floating in the Weddell Sea.
  • It joins previous world’s largest title holder A-23A — approximately 3,880 sq. km. in size — which has remained in the same area since 1986.
  • A-76 was originally spotted by the British Antarctic Survey and the calving — the term used when an iceberg breaks off — was confirmed using images from the Copernicus satellite, the European Space Agency said.

U.S., Russia at odds over military activity in the Arctic

  • The Biden administration is leading a campaign against Russian attempts to assert authority over Arctic shipping and reintroduce a military dimension to discussions over international activity in the area.
  • As Russia assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the U.S. rallied members to oppose Moscow’s plans to set maritime rules in the Northern Sea Route, which runs from Norway to Alaska, and its desire to resume military talks within the eight-nation bloc. Those talks were suspended in 2014 over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
  • The effort reflects growing concerns in Washington and among some NATO allies about a surge in Russian military and commercial activity in the region that is rapidly opening up due to the effects of climate change.