02 Dec 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India joins Executive Committee of Codex Alimentarius Commission
2. Mati Kala Mahotsav
3. Time to define "Bio-vision" for Bharat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. India joins Executive Committee of Codex Alimentarius Commission

Syllabus: GS-2, International relations

Prelims: Codex Alimentarius Commission

Context: India has been unanimously elected as a member representing the Asian region in the Executive Committee of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) during its 46th meeting being held at FAO Headquarters at Rome.

Details:

• The Executive Committee is an important arm of the CAC and the member countries have a considerable interest in getting its membership. In this capacity, India would not only get an opportunity to contribute substantially in the International standard setting process for different food product categories but will also be involved in the decision making process. 
• The Executive Committee supports in the management of the Commission’s programme of standards development by conducting a “critical review” of proposals to undertake work and monitors the progress of standards development.
• The Executive Committee comprises the Chair, three vice Chairs, six regional coordinators and seven elected representatives from the various geographical regions of Codex.
• India’s proposal for setting up group standards for millets was also accepted by the Commission and India’s initiative for establishing global standards for millets was acknowledged by the Commission and supported by the member countries.
• India had proposed setting up the global standards for millets under the Additional Agendas category on the first day of the CAC meeting on 27th November 2023 and the matter was deliberated at length on 30th November and was approved by the Commission for preparation of three Project documents.

2. Mati Kala Mahotsav

Syllabus: GS-2, Social issues

Prelims: Mati Kala Mahotsav

Context: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation addresses the ‘Mati Kala Mahotsav’ in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Details:

• Khadi Mati Kala Mahotsav is a multidimensional idea which has been taken forward by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
• The idea of Khadi was first put forward by Mahatma Gandhi in front of everyone by linking it with the freedom movement and through this, Bapu worked to connect all the people living in poverty with employment. 
• Along with this, Gandhi Ji worked towards reducing the demand for foreign clothes and spreading the spirit of Swadeshi and Swaraj to every village. 
• The idea of Khadi is multi-dimensional and multi-purpose. Prime Minister Modi has not only revived the idea of Khadi but also worked to popularize Khadi by taking it forward and to the common people.

3. Time to define “Bio-vision” for Bharat

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology

Prelims:  “Bio-vision” for Bharat

Context: Addressing the first-ever meeting of the BRIC Society after its registration on 10th November, 2023 after getting the Cabinet approval, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that time has come for defining “Bio-vision” for Bharat.

Details: 

• The Union minister said that the new Apex Autonomous Society called Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) will fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision for Atma Nirbhar Bharat in areas like healthcare, food and energy needs by scaling biotech research and innovation.
• Indian Bio-economy recorded 13 times increase in the last ten years.
• The Minister quoted PM Modi as saying, “India is not too far from reaching the league of top-10 countries in Biotech’s global ecosystem”. He added that BRIC is going to be a testimony to this and again by inculcating the spirit of Sabka Prayas, the government is bringing together the best minds on a unified platform.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology is functioning as the nodal agency for promotion of Biotechnology in the country. 
• It was accorded the Cabinet approval for rationalization of its 14 Autonomous Institutions (AIs) by subsuming them under one Apex Autonomous Society viz. Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), for centralized and unified governance to maximize impact of biotech research across the country.
• The Minister also launched the ‘Zero Waste Life on Campus’ program on the occasion of first Society Meeting of BRIC.
• The ‘Zero Waste Life on Campus’ program is aimed at achieving sustainability through application and adoption of knowledge and technologies, and promotion of management models focused on co-responsibility, on each BRIC campus. 
• The diverse locations, cultures and climatic conditions of the 13 BRIC campuses will provide an opportunity to understand the benefits and challenges related to recycling technologies and techniques. This program will forge a new direction for research towards integrated waste management by the community at large.

Read the previous PIB articles here.