TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. World Food Safety Day 2. Mission on Advanced and High Impact Research (MAHIR) 3. MoU between NHPC & Department of Energy, Maharashtra 4. Amrit Generation Campaign 5. India’s Aviation Sector 6. Cabinet Approvals
Syllabus – GS2, Health: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Prelims – World Food Safety Day, 5th State Food Safety Index.
Context – On the occasion of World Food Safety Day, the 5th State Food Safety Index was released by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare.
Details –
- On the occasion of World Food Safety Day, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the 5th State Food Safety Index (SFSI) which evaluates the performance of State and UTs across six aspects of food safety.
- The parameters include Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
- The State Food Safety Index was launched in 2018-19 with the aim of fostering healthy competition and catalyse positive change in the food safety ecosystem throughout the country.
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) celebrated World Food Safety Day on 7th June 2023 and reaffirmed its commitment to India’s food safety and innovation.
- Among the larger states, Kerala topped the index followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu. Among the smaller states, Goa secured the top ranking followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
- Among the UTs, Jammu & Kashmir emerged as the winner followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.
- On the occasion, Rapid Food Testing Kit (RAFT) portal was unveiled, which is an innovative initiative by the FSSAI. The portal aims to streamline the operations of the RAFT scheme, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- The RAFT scheme was launched in 2019 to promote the adoption of advanced technologies for food testing, screening and surveillance purposes. Applicants can now apply online, and all steps from application processing to certificate issuance, and renewal can be carried out electronically.
About World Food Safety Day
- World Food Safety Day, marked on June 7, holds incredible importance as a worldwide event committed to promoting food safety practices. The day has become a significant event for bringing attention to the significance of food safety regulations at all levels.
- On 7th June 2019, the first World Food Safety Day was observed, marking a turning point in international efforts to address world safety issues.
2. Mission on Advanced and High Impact Research (MAHIR)
Syllabus – GS3, Infrastructure: Energy, Developing New Technology.
Prelims – MAHIR, Mission on Advanced and High Impact Research.
Context – The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have jointly launched MAHIR to identify emerging technologies in the power sector and develop them indigenously.
Details –
- The GoI has launched MAHIR (Mission on Advanced and High Impact Research) with a view to leveraging emerging technologies in the power sector and making the country a manufacturing hub. The National Mission MAHIR aims to facilitate indigenous research, development and demonstration of the latest and emerging technologies in the power sector.
- The mission has been planned for an initial period of five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
- The mission will serve as a catalyst to achieve the target – net zero emissions by 2070 and will boost initiatives like Make-in-India and Startup India.
- The mission will work with premier institutions like IITs, IIMs, NITs, IISERs and universities on the one hand and public and private power sector startups and established industries with the government acting as an enabler for creating an innovation ecosystem.
- The mission will also facilitate international collaboration for the smooth exchange of know-how and technology transfer. The mission will also seek collaboration with the best laboratories in the world for the joint development of technologies.
- Under the mission, once research areas are identified and approved, the proposals for outcome-linked funding will be invited from companies/organisations across the globe. The selection of the proposal will be done through Quality-cum Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) basis.
3. MoU between NHPC & Department of Energy, Maharashtra
Syllabus – GS3, Energy.
Prelims – NHPC, MoU between NHPC & Department of Energy, Maharashtra.
Context – NHPC inks MoU with Department of Energy, Govt. of Maharashtra for Pumped Storage Schemes and Other Renewable Energy Source Projects.
Details –
- State-owned power producer NHPC Ltd has signed an agreement with the Maharashtra government to build pumped storage hydro projects totalling 7,350 MW capacity with an investment of Rs 44,000 crore.
- The MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) envisages the development of four pumped storage projects aggregating to a total capacity of 7,350 MW, namely Kalu – 1,150 MW, Savitri – 2,250 MW, Jalond – 2,400 MW and Kengadi – 1,550 MW. Under the agreement, other renewable energy source projects will also be developed in the state of Maharashtra.
- The agreement will help to achieve the national objective of energy transition – net zero emissions by 2070 and an installed capacity of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
- Pumped Storage System utilises surplus grid power available from thermal power stations or other sources to pump up water from the lower to the upper reservoir and reproduces power during peak demand when there is a scarcity of power.
- NHPC Limited is the largest hydropower development organisation in India, with capabilities to undertake all the activities from conceptualization to commissioning of hydro projects. NHPC has also diversified in the field of Solar & Wind energy development etc.
Syllabus – GS2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Prelims – Amrit Generation Campaign.
Context – The Ministry of Women and Child Development together with Meta launched the Amrit Generation campaign.
Details –
- The Union Minister for the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Smt. Smriti Irani launched the Amrit Generation campaign, in association with Meta, under which children in the age group of 16-18 will be invited from across the country to showcase their creativity and share their aspirations by creating reels on Instagram and Facebook.
- The participants will be encouraged to explore their ambitions and what they aspire to become when they grow up, fostering a sense of community and inspiring others in the process.
- The participants need to create a reel on Instagram or Facebook showcasing their aspirations using the # (hashtag) Amrit Generation. Fifty entries from the campaign will be selected and invited to New Delhi for a unique opportunity to interact with senior policymakers and industry leaders who will offer guidance on how to achieve their dreams.
Syllabus – GS3, Infrastructure: Airports.
Prelims – UDAN scheme, Digi Yatra, FTOs
Context – The achievements of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Details –
- The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiratidya Scindia shared the achievements of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. India is the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world. The role of the Ministry of Aviation is of a facilitator and not a regulator.
- At present, there are 148 airports/helicopters/water aerodromes operational in the country and the GoI aims to take the total to 220.
- Under the UDAN – Regional Connectivity Scheme, 180 RCS airports including 25 Water Aerodromes & 40 Helipads have been identified for operation of RCS flights in the country. As of now, out of 1152 valid awarded RCS routes, 475 RCS routes have commenced, connecting 74 airports including 9 Heliports & 2 Water Aerodromes.
- UDAN 5.1 has been launched specifically for helicopter routes.
- The number of Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) in the country is 35 with 54 bases. By December 2023, 9 more bases will be added taking the number of bases to 63.
- The Ministry launched Digi Yatra for domestic flight passengers for a seamless, hassle-free and health risk-free passenger process at airports.
Syllabus – GS2, Government Policies and Interventions.
Prelims – Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme, MSP, RKVY.
Context – Cabinet Approvals for extension of the Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme and increase in MSP of Kharif crops for marketing season 2023-24.
Details –
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the continuation of the ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite’ scheme, a Central Sector scheme with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2980 cr. from 2021-22 to 2025-26 co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission cycle. The exploration is required to estimate coal reserves in the country which helps in preparing detailed reports to start coal mining.
Under this scheme, exploration for coal and lignite is conducted in two broad stages-
- Promotional (Regional) exploration – Approximately 1300 sq. km area will be covered under regional exploration.
- Detailed exploration in Non-Coal India Limited blocks – Approximately 650 sq. km area will be covered.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the increase in MSP (Minimum Support Price) for all mandated kharif crops for marketing season 2023-24.
- The increase in MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24 is in accordance with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the All-India weighted average Cost of Production, to provide reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers.
- The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in the case of bajra (82%) followed by tur (58%), soybean (52%) and urad (51%). For the rest of the crops, the margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be at least 50%.
- The GoI has been promoting the cultivation of crops, other than cereals like oil seeds, pulses, and Shree Anna/nutri-cereals by providing higher MSP for these crops.
- Various schemes and initiatives by the GoI are intended to encourage farmers to diversify their crops, for example, RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
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