Comprehensive Current affairs 4 March 2021

Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.

Recently, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship was awarded to a distinguished scholar, writer, translator and critic,Professor Velcheru Narayana Rao.

Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is the highest literary honour in the country awarded by Sahitya Akademi.

Sahitya Akademiis an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture working to promote literature in the languages of India including English.

This honour is reserved for 'the immortals of literature' and limited to 21 only at any given time.

Sahitya Akademi has also instituted a Premchand Fellowship named after Premchand during his 125thBirth Anniversary in 2005.

Custodian of Enemy Properties for India.

The Centre has identified over 3,000 new enemy properties left behind by the Chinese and Pakistani nationals after the India-China war in 1962 and Indo-Pak wars in 1965 and 1971.

According to government officials, the number of enemy properties vested with the Custodian of Enemy Properties for India (CEPI) has risen to 12,426 from 9,406.

Enemy property/alien properties refers to property or assets held or managed on behalf of an enemy subject or an enemy company.

It also refers to assets left behind by individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China and are no longer citizens of India.

Enemy Property Act 1968 was enacted to deal with such properties.

Administration of enemy properties is done by Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), underMinistry of Home Affairs.

Caracal.

The National Board for Wildlife and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change last month included the caracal in the list of critically endangered species.

It is medium-sized wildcat found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Its earliest evidence in subcontinent comes from a fossil dating back to Indus Valley civilisation.

It is also found in Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia. While it flourishes in parts of Africa, its numbers in Asia are declining.

It finds mention in Abul Fazl’s Akbarnama, as a hunting animal in the time of Akbar.

IUCN lists Caracals under Least concern due to large numbers in Africa.

Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021.

Inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister the Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 is underway at Noida Haat.It will continue till 14th March.

The fair remains open from 11 AM to 8 PM daily. More than 300 rural self-help groups and craftsman from 27 states are participating in the Mela which is being by the Ministry of Rural Development.

The Ministry of Rural Development is working to include more women in Self Help Groups (SHGs). He said these SHGs played a vital role in increasing family income and improving quality of life.

India-Russia explore partnership with Asean as part of Indo-Pacific construct.

 India and Russia have decided to explore a partnership in the Indo-Pacific region with special focus on the Asean region and SE Asia.

It is happening the following the recent senior-level consultations led by the foreign secretary in Moscow.

New Delhi and Moscow are in talks to join hands with Asean-related bodies as part of their emerging Indo-Pacific partnership besides widening their connectivity and business links in East Asia and North-East Asia.

It is understood that the Russian side is receptive to India’s suggestions and is expected to explore bilateral partnership in the Asean with focus on post-pandemic economic re-building.

India has been emphasising on a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and as part of its inclusivity concept views Russia as a Pacific power and a key player in the Indo-Pacific region.

Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin.

Union Minister for Health communicated the Global Indian Physicians Congress, organised by the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), through virtual conference.

GAPIO is a non-profit organization established in 2011.

It is founded by Padma Vibhushan, Dr.Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group and Founder President of GAPIO along with Dr.Sanku Rao – Past President of AAPI, USA and Dr. Ramesh Mehta – President of BAPIO, UK.

The aim of GAPIO is to bring together 1.4 million physicians of Indian origin in the world on one professional platform.

GAPIO currently has presence in 53 countries. Dr. Anupam Sibal is the current President of GAPIO.

India, China foreign ministers to set up hotline.

The foreign ministers of India and China have agreed to establish a new hotline to ensure “timely communication” in the wake of last year's border crisis, but differed sharply on the way forward to restore relations.

Border crisis impact

Underlining how both sides have viewed differently the impact of the border crisis on the broader relationship, Mr. Wang said “there has been some wavering and back-pedalling in India's China policy”, because of which “practical cooperation between the two countries has been affected.”

India’s stand.

India made it clear to China that it is not realistic to insulate the relationship from the boundary crisis, and emphasised that in its view, peace on the border is a prerequisite for the rest of the relationship to develop.

China, however, has hit out at India’s economic measures, such as banning Chinese apps and stricter curbs on investment following last year’s tensions, viewing India’s “whole of government” approach as going against a past consensus of containing differences while cooperating elsewhere.

Ketoprofen.

Recently, Bangladesh banned painkiller ketoprofen.

It became the first country to ban any of the drugs now known to be toxic to vultures since the previous veterinary diclofenac ban more than 10 years ago.

Ketoprofen is painkiller which is used widely to treat the cattle.

Diclofenac and ketoprofen are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) which are the primary threats to the vultures of South Asia and responsible for the catastrophic 99.9% declines of white-rumped vultures in the region.

In India, diclofenac drug was banned by the Drug Controller General of India in 2006.

Mobile Train Radio Communication .

Mobile Train Radio Communication (MTRC) System commissioned first time in Western Railway Trainsin Mumbai.

The Mobile Train Radio Communication system is an effective and a technologically advanced communication system which can play an intrinsic role in preventing train accidents and reducing delays through effective communication.

It facilitates an instant and constant interaction of train crew with the Control Centre and the Station Master.

MRTC acts in a similar way to that of Air traffic control (ARC) for aircrafts.

The system will monitor, track and aid in communication between the trains and the control room thereby ensuring smooth movement of rakes as well as help in preventing adverse events

Bond yield.

Rising yields on government securities or bonds in the United States and India have triggered concern over the negative impact on other asset classes, especially stock markets, and even gold.

The yield on 10-year bonds in India moved up from the recent low of 5.76% to 6.20% in line with the rise in US yields, sending jitters through the stock market, where the benchmark Sensex fell 2,300 points last week.

Why do bond yields rise?

Bond yield is the return an investor gets on that bond or on a particular government security.

The major factors affecting the yield is the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India, especially the course of interest rates, the fiscal position of the government and its borrowing programme, global markets, economy, and inflation.

A fall in interest rates makes bond prices rise, and bond yields fall — and rising interest rates cause bond prices to fall, and bond yields to rise.

In short, a rise in bond yields means interest rates in the monetary system have fallen, and the returns for investors (those who invested in bonds and govt securities) have declined.

Bond yields play a big role in foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flow. Traditionally, when bond yields rise in the US, FPIs move out of Indian equities.

Also, it has been seen that when the bond yield in India goes up, it results in capital outflows from equities and into debt.

Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021.

Government notifies Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.

The rules have been framed in exercise of powers under section 87 (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011.

Part- II of these Rules shall be administered by Ministry of Electronics and IT, while Part-III relating to Code of Ethics and procedure and safeguards in relation to digital media shall be administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Salient features:

Due Diligence to Be Followed by Intermediaries: The Rules prescribe due diligence that must be followed by intermediaries, including social media intermediaries. In case, due diligence is not followed by the intermediary, safe harbour provisions will not apply to them.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism: The Rules seek to empower the users by mandating the intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, to establish a grievance redressal mechanism for receiving resolving complaints from the users or victims.

Ensuring Online Safety and Dignity of Users, Especially Women Users: Intermediaries shall remove or disable access withing 24 hours of receipt of complaints of contents that exposes the

private areas of individuals, show such individuals in full or partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the nature of impersonation including morphed images etc.

Two Categories of Social Media Intermediaries: To encourage innovations and enable growth of new social media intermediaries without subjecting smaller platforms to significant compliance requirement, the Rules make a distinction between social media intermediaries and significant social media intermediaries.

The Rules will come in effect from the date of their publication in the gazette, except for the additional due diligence for significant social media intermediaries, which shall come in effect 3 months after publication of these Rules.

TLR7/8 .

The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT)played a role in the development of Covexin, the indigenous vaccine developed by city-based Bharat Biotech International Limited.

The vaccine is a highly purified, whole virion, inactivated SARS-CoV2.

The vaccine has been formulated with ‘Algel-IMDG’, which contains chemically absorbed TLR7/8 as an agonist or an adjuvant onto aluminium hydroxide gel to generate the requisite type of immune responses without damaging the body.

The firm had approached the IICT to develop the synthetic route for the adjuvant molecule TLR 7/8 with indigenous chemicals at an affordable price and with highest purity.

This indigenously developed molecule aided Bharat Biotech to scale up the production of the adjuvant.

Comprehensive Current affairs 28 January 2021

CAQM setting up Decision Support System for air quality for Delhi-NCR.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas has begun the process of setting up a Decision Support System (DSS).

DSS will have a web, Geographical Information System and multi-model based operational and planning decision support tool.

It will have an integrated framework to handle both primary and secondary pollutants using a chemical transport model.

CAQM was recently established for better co-ordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding air quality index in NCR region.

CAQM has replaced the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority.

Sree Narayana Guru.

Vice President of India launched a book of poems, “Not Many, But One” (Two Volumes), an English translation of poems of Sree Narayana Guru by Prof G.K. Sasidharan.

He was saint and social reformer born in Kerala into an Ezhava family, a lower caste.

He preached “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All” and also authored ‘Atmopadesa Satakam’ (onehundred verses of self-instruction).

He was one of the greatest proponents and re-evaluators of Advaita Vedanta, the principle of non-duality putforward by Adi Shankara.

He extended this non dualistic principle into practical modes of self-realisation through spiritualeducation, compassion, and peaceful coexistence of humanity.

Western Disturbance.

Western Disturbance (WD), labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, is an area of low pressure that brings sudden showers, snow and fog in northwest India.

• The disturbances will result in fairly widespread light to moderate snowfall in Kashmir and rains in the plains of Jammu .

• The meaning of WD lies in its name. The disturbance travels from the “western” to the eastern direction.

• These travel eastwards on high-altitude westerly jet streams - massive ribbons of fast winds traversing the earth from west to east.

• The Disturbance means an area of “disturbed” or reduced aipressure.

• Equilibrium exists in nature due to which the air in a region tries to normalise its pressure.

• In the term “extra-tropical storm”, storm refers to low pressure. “Extra-tropical" means outside the tropics. As the WD originates outside the tropical region, the word extra-tropical has been associated with them.

• It is associated with rainfall, snowfall and fog in northern India. It arrives with rain and snow in Pakistan and northern India. The moisture which WDs carry with them comes from the Mediterranean Sea and/or from the Atlantic Ocean.

• It brings winter and pre-monsoon rain and is important for the development of the Rabi crop in the Northern subcontinent.

• The WDs are not always the harbingers of good weather. Sometimes WDs can cause

extreme weather events like floods, flash floods, landslides, dust storms, hail storms and cold waves killing people, destroying infrastructure and impacting livelihoods.

• Expert opinion on western disturbances is divided regarding the 2013 floods in Uttarakhand in which over 5000 people were killed, after three days of Incessant Rainfall.

Modified Scheme to Enhance Ethanol Distillation Capacity.

The Department of Food & Public Distribution has notified the modified scheme for Extending Financial Assistance for enhancement of Ethanol Distillation Capacity.

Modified Scheme to Enhance Ethanol Distillation:

• The scheme will provide financial assistance to develop distilleries for producing 1st Generation (1G) ethanol from feed stocks such as cereals (rice, wheat, barley, corn & sorghum), sugarcane, sugar beet etc. or converting molasses-based distilleries to dual feedstock.

Biofuel Categories:

• First generation biofuels: Made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology.

• E.g. Bio alcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bio ethers, Biogas.

• Second generation biofuels: Produced from non-food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood).

• E.g. biohydrogen, bio methanol.

• Third generation biofuels: Produced from micro-organisms like algae.

• Government would bear interest subvention for five years including one-year moratorium against the loan availed by project proponents from banks @ 6% per annum or 50% of the rate of interest charged by banks whichever is lower.

Benefits:

• Create Employment Opportunities.

• Facilitate diversion of Excess Sugar to ethanol production.

• Encourage farmers to diversify their crops to cultivate particularly maize/corn.

• It would facilitate in achieving blending targets of ethanol with petrol and would reduce import Dependency on Crude Oil.

• Enhance Income of Farmers.

Targets:

• 10% blending of fuel grade ethanol with petrol by 2022 & 20% blending by 2030.

• Now, it has been proposed to achieve 20% Blending of ethanol with petrol by 2025.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme:

• EBP programme was started in 2003.

• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• Oil Marketing Companies will procure ethanol from domestic sources.

• Objective: Sale of 5% ethanol blended Petrol.

Aim:

✓ Reducing import dependency

✓ Conserving foreign exchange

✓ Reducing carbon emissions

✓ Provide boost to agriculture sector.

 India and China held military dialogue.

India and China held 16 hours-long marathon military dialogue to resolve an ongoing border dispute and thinning of forces along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, government official said on Monday. The ninth Corps Commander level talks between both the countries took place at the Moldo Meeting point almost two months of last dialogue.

The military commanders to convey the details of the meeting to Prime Minister Office.

The Ministry of External Affairs representative was also part of dialogue.

The eight Corps Commander level talks had taken place happened on November 6.

Michael and Sheila Held Prize .

Nikhil Srivastava, a young Indian mathematician, has been named winner of the prestigious 2021 Michael and Sheila Held Prize along with two others for solving long-standing questions on the Kadison-Singer problem and on Ramanujan graphs.

He is from the University of California, Berkeley, along with Adam Marcus, the Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Daniel Alan Spielman from Yale University will receive the 2021 Michael and Sheila Held Prize.

The prize consists of a medal and USD 100,000.

They solved long-standing questions on the Kadison-Singer problem and on Ramanujan graphs, and in the process uncovered a deep new connection between linear algebra, geometry of polynomials, and graph theory that has inspired the next generation of theoretical computer scientists.

The Michael and Sheila Held Prize is presented annually and honours outstanding, innovative, creative, and influential research in the areas of combinatorial and discrete optimisation, or related parts of computer science, such as the design and analysis of algorithms and complexity theory.

Investment in upskilling can boost global GDP by $6.5 trillion by 2030.

According to World Economic Forum report, Investment in upskilling has potential to boost the global GDP by $6.5 trillion by 2030, including by $570 billion (over ₹40 lakh crore) in India alone -- the third highest after China and the US.

The study released during the ongoing online Davos Agenda Summit.

It also said that accelerated investment in upskilling and reskilling of workers could create 53 lakh (net) new jobs by 2030, and help develop more inclusive and sustainable economies worldwide.

Country-wise, India has the second highest additional employment potential at about 23 lakh, after the US at close to 27 lakh, but much more than 17 lakh for China.

The report, Upskilling for Shared Prosperity, authored in collaboration with PwC, found that accelerated skills enhancement would ensure that people have the experience and skills needed for the jobs created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution – boosting global productivity by 3 per cent, on average, by 2030.

The additional GDP potential is the highest in China at almost $2 trillion, followed by close to $1 trillion in the US.

Lunar Sample 76015,143.

After taking office as the 46th US President on January 20, Democrat Joe Biden has made a couple of changes to the Oval Office– the commander-in-chief’s principal place of business which is visited by the most powerful people in the world.

Among the changes is the addition of a Moon rock– a sample of Earth’s natural satellite collected by astronauts of the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, just before Joe Biden began his long career in the US Senate.

Lunar Sample 76015,143, which weighs 332 grams, was collected by Apollo 17 astronaut Ronald Evans and moonwalkers Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan.

143 is a smaller rock that was cut from its parent 76015, a larger rock of 2.819 kg that was chipped off a large boulder 3 km away from the location of the Apollo Lunar Module– the lander spacecraft used during NASA’s Moon missions.

Apollo 17 was the last mission to send humans to set foot on the lunar surface.

The rock has been placed in the Oval Office “in symbolic recognition of earlier generations’ ambitions and accomplishments, and support for America’s current Moon to Mars exploration approach.

2k time trial.

The two-kilometre time trial set at eight minutes and 15 seconds for fast bowlers and 8:30 for batsmen, spinners and wicketkeepers.

It has become mandatory for India’s centrally-contracted cricketers.

What is the 2k time trial?

On a standard athletics track, the distance is covered in five laps of 400 metres each. The timings can be measured with a stop-watch or an electronic clock.

The 2k time trial is a speed-endurance test, according to Ramji Srinivasan, the 2011 World Cup-winning Indian team’s strength and conditioning coach.

How will it help cricketers?

Srinivasan gives the example of someone batting for hours in difficult conditions. “Time trial is going to make you fitter. For example, if you have to cover the last 100 metres in 20 seconds, you cannot stride, you have to sprint.

Especially when your muscles are fatigued, you have to push. For example, a batsman is in the 90s, it is extremely hot and humid outside.

The time trial will help in terms of when to push (and) when to sprint,” Srinivasan said.

. For example, a batsman is in the 90s, it is extremely hot and humid outside.

The time trial will help in terms of when to push (and) when to sprint,” Srinivasan said.

Comprehensive Current affairs 22 January 2021

 Floating solar power plant.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) commissioned one of the biggest floating solar power (FSP) plants in the State with a capacity of 452 KWh. The project is part of the company’s efforts to sustain the power-positive airport by using green energy.

The total installed capacity of the airport has gone up to 40 MWp, helping it generate around 1.60 lakh units of power a day. The daily consumption stands around at 1.30 lakh units.

CIAL’s tryst with experiments in generating green energy achieved yet another milestone with the installation, as the company has introduced cost-effective high-density polyethylene floats using French technology.

A total of 1,300 photovoltaic panels were mounted and laid over two artificial lakes located in the 130-acre CIAL golf course.

The plants covering a total area of one acre are connected to the KSEB grid which is to be banked on when needed.

The world’s largest FSP (600 MW solar energy) will be constructed at Omkareshwar dam on Narmada river inKhandwa, Madhya Pradesh.

It will begin power generation by 2022-23.FSP doesn’t take up valuable space on land, however it is 25-30% costlier.

FSP in India include a 10 kW plant in Kolkata, a 100 kW by NTPC in Kerala and a 2 MW project by GreaterVisakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL) in Visakhapatnam.New AnubhavaMantapa.

Karnataka Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the ‘New AnubhavaMantapa’in Basavakalyan, the place where 12th century poet-philosopher Basaveshwara lived for most of his life.

He promised completion of the ₹500-crore project within two years on a 7.5-acre area and said it would be inaugurated by P M Modi.

The project to highlight the teachings of Basaveshwara (an icon of Veerashaiva-Lingayat community) was first proposed back in 2016 when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister and a committee led by Go. Ru. Channabasappa was set up to draw a plan.

Political significance;

Basavakalyan, an important pilgrim centre for Lingayats.

The New AnubhavaMantapa project is also expected to bolster Mr. Yediyurappa’s image as an undisputed Lingayat strongman, especially when leadership issue has emerged prominently within the BJP and there is one-upmanship to claim the community’s support.Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has recently said that the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) will be launched soon in 600 districts across all states of India focussing on new-age and COVID -related skills.

About PMKVY 3.0:

• Skill India Mission PMKVY 3.0 envisages training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021.

• The 729 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), empaneled non-PMKK training centres and more than 200 ITIs under Skill India will be rolling out PMKVY 3.0 training to build a robust pool of skilled professionals.

• On the basis of the learning gained from PMKVY 1.0 and PMKVY 2.0, the Ministry has improved the newer version of the scheme to match the current policy doctrine and energize the skilling ecosystem affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About PMKVY:

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), launched in 2015, is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by National Skill Development Corporation.

• The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.

• Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 2.0 (PMKVY 2.0) 2016-20

• After the Successful Implementation of pilot PMKVY (2015-16), PMKVY 2016-20 was launched by scaling up both in terms of Sector and Geography and by greater alignment with other missions of Government of India like Make in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat, etc.

Objectives of PMKVY 2016-20:

• Enable and mobilize a large number of youths to take up industry designed quality skill training, become employable and earn their livelihood.

✓ Encourage standardisation of the Certification process and put in place the foundation for creating a registry of skills.

✓ Benefit 10 million youth over the period of four years (2016- 2020).

What is Skill India Mission?

• “Skill India Mission” has Gained Tremendous Momentum through launch of its flagship scheme PMKVY to unlock the vision of making India the ‘Skill Capital’ of the world.

Government of India strengthens cargo handling capacity of Chabahar Port, Iran.

India has supplied a consignment of two Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) to Iran’s Chabahar port, with a total contract value of over USD 25 Million under a contract agreement for supply of 6 MHC.

Key highlights:

With 140 metric tons lifting capacity, multipurpose equipment and accessories like Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) will enable India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to provide seamless services for Container, Bulk and General Cargo at Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar.

This is a step towards India’s commitment towards infrastructure development of Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar.

The delivery of consignment of heavy equipment, including cranes shows India’s commitment to the strategic connectivity of Chabahar port project that will provide access to markets in Central Asia.

Development of Chabahar port is the anchor for the expansion of economic and mutual relations between India and Iran and it will give a further boost to the maritime trade between both the countries.

About:

Government of India is strengthening cargo handling capacity of Chabahar Port.

Chabahar Port is jointly being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan for multi-modal transport of goods and passengers.

It is located in the Gulf of Oman.

It gives India a sea-land access route into Afghanistan and Central Asia through Iran's eastern borders.

It is seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at a distance of around 80-km from Chabahar.

World food price index rises for seventh straight month in Dec.

World food prices rose for a seventh consecutive month in December, with all the major categories, barring sugar, posting gains last month, the United Nations food agency said.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 107.5 points last month versus 105.2 in November.

For the whole of 2020, the benchmark index averaged 97.9 points, a three-year high and a 3.1% increase from 2019.

It was still down more than 25% from its historical peak in 2011.

Vegetable oil prices continued recent strong gains, jumping 4.7% month-on-month in December after surging more than 14% in November. For the whole of 2020, the index was up 19.1% on 2019.

The cereal price index posted a more modest 1.1% rise in December from the month before. For all of 2020, the index averaged 6.6% above 2019 levels.

The dairy index climbed 3.2% on the month, however, over the whole of 2020, it averaged some 1% less than in 2019. Bucking the rises in other indices, average sugar prices dipped by 0.6% in December.

The FAO revised down its harvest forecast for the 2020 cereal season for a third month running, cutting it to 2.74 billion tonnes from a previous 2.75 billion tonnes.

 Govt to overhaul fiscal roadmap, may aim budget deficit at 4% of GDP by FY26.

Fiscal deficit of 7-8 per cent of gross domestic product in 2020-21, the Centre may follow a glide path which will bring down the budget deficit to 4 per cent of GDP by 2025-26.

This means that the long-standing medium-term fiscal deficit target of 3 per cent of GDP, as mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, no longer holds. The above-mentioned changes will require amendments to the FRBM Act through the Finance Bill, 2021. Though the FRBM Act came into being in 2003, the medium target has never been met.

About:

Fiscal deficit or budget deficit is the difference between a government’s expenditure and revenues.

When revenue is higher, the budget is seen as fiscal surplus. Fiscal deficit is measured as a percentage of real GDP and is the most important measure of the health of a government’s balance sheet.

It is tracked keenly by investment banks, economists markets, rating agencies and sovereign bond investors.

It is understood that a relaxed fiscal roadmap for the Centre in light of the pandemic has been suggested by the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

The Commission, whose report for 2021-22 to 2025-26 will be tabled in Parliament along with the budget, is learnt to have given the Centre breathing space till 2025-26, and may have recommended a fiscal deficit target range for each year of its award period, till 2025-26, instead of a single number.

The markets have factored in a fiscal slippage this year and next financial year, with an expectation that the finance minister, in her budget, will spell out a new fiscal roadmap for the medium term.Alternative anti-cancer therapy using transgenic zebrafish.

Angiogenesis is critical in the growth of cancer because tumors need blood supply to grow.

 Tumors trigger the growth of blood cells by giving off chemical signals that stimulate angiogenesis. Deregulation of angiogenesis is the main reason for tumor growth and progression.

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis has become a popular anti-cancer strategy after chemotherapy.

However, the clinically approved anti-angiogenic drugs are ineffective due to parallel activation of various compensatory mechanisms involving a cascade of molecules, which aids tumor angiogenesis and investigation of these mechanisms are essential for developing anti-angiogenic therapies.

The research team is further working to develop transgenic zebrafish (which have exogenous genes added to their genome) model by use of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool to further study the compensatory angiogenesis mechanism in tumor microenvironment.

Differential expression of biomolecules between two types of angiogenesis (sprouting angiogenesis and intussusceptive angiogenesis) and their molecular mechanism will be analysed using transgenic zebrafish models in tumor microenvironment.

The transgenic or CRISPR/Cas9 edited Zebrafish platform (TZP) can be used for studying the efficacy of a drug as anti or pro-angiogenesis in the next phase of the project.

The transgenic zebrafish model has been selected for the intussusceptive angiogenesis study because of its rapid development, optically transparent, high yield in offspring, and easy techniques for forward and reverse gene manipulation.

The CRISPR/Cas9 edited zebrafish platform will also be used for studying the efficacy of a drug as anti or pro-angiogenesis in the next phase of the project.

Forest Fires are in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh recently witnessed Forest fires, which is Frequent during Dry Weather Conditions.

About the News:

• Recently, a Forest fire which started near Kullu raged for several days before being brought under control.

• Forest fires were also Reported in Shimla and other parts of the state.

What is the Forest Cover of Himachal Pradesh?

• Although two-thirds of the total geographical area of Himachal Pradesh is legally classified as forest area, much of this area is permanently under snow, glaciers, cold desert or alpine meadows and is above the tree line.

• As per the Forest Survey of India, the effective forest cover is around 28 percent of the total area which amounts to 15,434 square kilometres.

• Chir, Pine, Deodar, Oak, Kail, Fir and Spruce are some of the common trees found here.

How is Fire Prone in these Forests?

• Except for periods of precipitation in monsoon and winter, the forests remain vulnerable to wildfires. In the summer season, forest fires occur frequently in the low and middle hills of the state, where forests of Chir Pine are common.

• During the post-monsoon season and in winters, forest fires are also reported in higher areas, including parts of Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Kangra and Mandi districts, where they Usually occur in Grasslands.

Causes of the Fire:

• Natural causes such as lightning or rubbing of dry bamboos with each other can sometimes result in fires, but forest officials maintain that almost all forest fires can be attributed to human factors.

• Setting up of temporary hearth to cook food by the herdsman and minor forest produce gatherer may leave behind a smouldering fire, it can develop into a forest fire.

• Also, when people burn their fields to clear them of stubble, dry grass or undergrowth, the fire sometimes spreads to the Adjoining Forest.

• A spark can also be produced when dry pine needles or leaves fall on an electric pole.

What is done to Prevent and Control Forest Fires?

• To prevent and control forest fires the following can be done:

• Forecasting fire-prone days using meteorological data.

• Clearing camping sites of dried biomass.

• Early burning of dry litter on the forest floor.

• Growing strips of fire-hardy plant species within the forest, and

• Creating fire lines in the forests are some of the methods to prevent fires (fire lines are strips in the forest kept clear of vegetation to prevent the fire from spreading).

Way Forward:

• In 1999, the state government notified forest fire rules which restrict or regulate certain activities in and around forest areas such as lighting a fire, burning agricultural stubble or undergrowth (Ghasnis) and stacking inflammable forest produce such as dried leaves and firewood.

• For such activities, the state Forest Department has a fire Protection and Fire Control Unit.

comprehensive current affairs 21 Jan. 2021

 

 

Gucchi Mushroom.

Recently, a geographical indication (GI) tag has been sought for Gucchi (Morel).

It is one of the costliest mushrooms (priced at over ₹20,000 a kg) in the world growing in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

It grows wild and is collected manually by local farmers and tribals.

It is said to have medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties and is found in the temperate forests of the Doda district.

They are also considered a rich source of protein, carbohydrates and Vitamin B.

Other J&K’s GI tags are Kashmir Paper Machie, Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving, Khatamband, Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet, Kashmir Saffron, Kani Shawl etc.

DICCI plans business facilitation centres in all States.

The Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) is planning to set up business facilitation centres in all State headquarters.

According to DICCI, at present the industry body has seven business facilitation centres.

DICCI has 30 chapters all over the country including Jammu and Kashmir and North East with 10,000 member entrepreneurs.

With a tag line of ‘Be Job Givers’, DICCI wants to motivate SC, ST youth to enter the business and industry sector as entrepreneurs and carve their own niche.

Demand for Autonomy in Assam.

Recently, there has been a demand for implementation of Article 244A for the creation of an autonomous State within Assam.

Highlights:

• The areas inhabited by the socially and educationally backward ‘Aboriginals’ are called Scheduled Areas.

• There are two schedules (5th and 6th) of the Indian Constitution which entail the details about the control and management of the Scheduled and Tribal Areas.

• The provisions regarding the administration and control of Scheduled and Tribal Areas of any state except the four states (Assam, Meghalaya,Tripura, Mizoram) are mentioned under this schedule.

• At present, 10 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh,

Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana have Fifth

Schedule Areas.

Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

• This schedule deals with the administration and control of the scheduled and tribal areas of the four states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram.

• Scheduled and Tribal Areas are dealt with two articles:

Article 244:

• This article deals with the administration of the Scheduled and Tribal Areas.

• It defines Scheduled Areas as the areas defined so by the President of India and are mentioned in the fifth schedule of the Constitution.

Article 244A:

• Formation of an autonomous state comprising certain tribal areas in Assam and creation of local legislature or Council of Ministers or both therefore.

 

U.K. invites PM Modi for G7 summit.

The United Kingdom has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 summit that is scheduled to be held in June.

Apart from India, Australia and South Korea are also invited to participate in the proceedings of the summit as guest countries.

About:

Group of Seven (G-7) is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975 by the top economies of the time as aninformal forum to discuss pressing world issues such as global economic governance, international security,and energy policy.

G-7 countries consist of U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan.

G-7 was formerly referred to asG-8 until Russia was suspended from the group in 2014 after illegally annexing Crimea.

International Migration 2020 Highlights.

The Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs has launched a new report International Migration 2020 Highlights.

It presenting the main results from the 2020 revision of estimates of the international migrant stock.

Key highlights:

Globally, 54 per cent of the 111 Governments that responded to a recent survey reported having policies to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration.

In 2020, international migrants comprised nearly 15 per cent of the total population in high-income countries, compared to less than 2 per cent in middle- and low-income countries.

73 per cent of international migrants worldwide were between the ages of 20 and 64 years, compared to 57 per cent for the total population in 2020. International migrants thus often make up a larger proportion of working-age persons compared to the national population.

India topped the list of countries with the largest diasporas in 2020, with 18 million persons from India living outside of their country of birth. Other countries with a large transnational community included Mexico and the Russian Federation (11 million each), China (10 million) and Syria (8 million).

Bank Investment Company.

The RBI raising concerns over the issuance of zero-coupon bonds for recapitalisation of public sector banks (PSBs).

The Finance Ministry is examining other avenues for affordable capital infusion, including setting up of a Bank Investment Company (BIC).

To setting up a BIC as a holding company or a core investment company was suggested by the P.J. Nayak Committee in its report on ‘Governance of Boards of Banks in India’.

The report recommended transferring shares of the government in the banks to the BIC which would become the parent holding company of all these banks; as a result of this, all the PSBs would become ‘limited’ banks.

Heat-tolerant wheat varieties resulting in improved grain yield.

Recently, INSPIRE Faculty fellow’s engineering is exploring to produce heat-tolerant wheat varieties resulting inimproved grain yield.

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research(INSPIRE) is an innovative programme sponsored and managed by the Department of Science & Technology forattraction of talent to Science.

It aims to communicate to the youth creative pursuit of science attract talent to the study of science at an early age etc.

INSPIRE has three components:

Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS).

Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE).

Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC).

Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of the Ecosystem Services (NCAVES).

Recently, Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of the Ecosystem Services (NCAVES)

India Forum-2021 is being organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme

Implementation (MoSPI) in virtual format.

• The MoSPI has taken up several initiatives under the project “Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (NCAVES)” which aims to advance the theory and Practice of Ecosystem Accounting in India.

Highlights:

• It is funded by the European Union, has been jointly implemented by the United Nations

Statistics Division (UNSD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the

Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

• India is one of the five countries taking part in this project - the other countries being Brazil, China, South Africa and Mexico.

• It is being implemented by the MoSPI in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the Department of Space.

About Natural Capital Accounting (NCA):

• It is an umbrella term covering efforts to make use of an accounting framework to provide a systematic way to measure and report on stocks and flows of natural capital.

• Natural capital is another term for the stock of renewable and non-renewable resources that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people.

• NCA covers accounting for individual environmental assets or resources, both biotic and abiotic (such as water, minerals, energy, timber, fish), as well as accounting for ecosystem assets (e.g. forests; wetlands), biodiversity and ecosystem services, in both physical and monetary terms.

• Just like the compilation of national accounts of a country is guided by the System of National Accounts (SNA), for natural capital accounting, the System of Environmental- Economic Accounting (SEEA) is taken.

• The System of Environmental -Economic Accounting (SEEA) provides a framework for measuring the link between the environment and the economy.

• SEEA-Central Framework was adopted in February 2012 as an international statistical standard by the UN Statistical Commission.

• The SEEA accounts bring into direct focus the relationship between the environment and economy not revealed through traditional measures of economic activity, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP).