19 May 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Sowa Rigpa
2. Export of sugar in sugar season 2021-22
3. World Bee Day
4. New Development Bank
5. Competition Commission of India (CCI)
6. Stop TB Partnership

1. Sowa Rigpa

Syllabus: GS II, Health; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Prelims: About Sowa Rigpa

Context

The Ministry of Ayush organised a workshop on Sowa Rigpa.

Sowa Rigpa

• The Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine is one of the oldest surviving traditional medical practices in the world with a history of more than 2500 years. 
• The term ‘Sowa Rigpa’ is derived from the Bhoti language which means ‘Knowledge of Healing’.
• It is famously called Amchi and is practised in various regions of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Darjeeling.
• It is also practised in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, China, Nepal, and a few parts of the former Soviet Union.
• Sowa Rigpa employs a complex approach to diagnosis, incorporating techniques like pulse analysis and urinalysis, and uses behaviour and dietary modification, medicines composed of natural materials (e.g., herbs and minerals) and physical therapies to treat illness.

2. Export of sugar in sugar season 2021-22

Syllabus: GS III, Agriculture; Marketing of agricultural produce

Prelims: Ethanol Blending Programme

Mains: Trends in sugar exports and the impact of ethanol blending on the Indian economy

Context

Export of sugar in the sugar season 2021-22 has been 15 times better as compared to export in sugar season 2017-18.

Trends in Sugar Exports

• In the sugar season, 2020-21 70 LMT have been exported against the target of 60 LMT.
  • In the previous sugar seasons of 2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20, about 6.2 LMT, 38 LMT & 59.60 LMT of sugar were exported respectively.
• To address the problem of excess sugar, the Government has urged the sugar mills to divert excess sugarcane to ethanol. 
  • The government has set a target of achieving 10% blending of fuel-grade ethanol with petrol by 2022 & 20% blending by 2025.
  • This has been undertaken with a vision to boost the agricultural economy, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, save foreign exchange on account of crude oil import bills and reduce environmental pollution.

Image source: PIB

• In the year 2021-22, about 186 cr litres of ethanol have been blended with petrol till May 2022, thereby achieving 9.90% blending. 
  • It is expected that in the current ethanol supply year 2021-22, India will be achieving a 10% blending target. 
• Due to various steps taken by the Government in the past few years, the fundamentals of sugar mills have improved and the sugar industry has become self-sustainable which has resulted in top line and bottom line growth of the sugar companies, which is reflected in the share prices of the listed companies which have increased 4 to 5 times.

Impact of 20% blending on Indian economy

• It is expected to benefit maize & paddy farmers and address the problem of surplus.
• Diversion of 60 lakh tons of surplus sugar would also address the problem of surplus sugar thus improving liquidity for sugar mills and ensuring timely payment of dues to farmers.           
• It also attracts new investment opportunities, as about Rs.41,000 crores would be invested to set up new distilleries in rural areas and thus creating rural employment.   
• The measure also aims at improving air quality and promoting environmentally friendly behaviour.
• The move will save foreign exchange of about Rs.40,000 crores on account of crude oil import bill and would reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Know more about – Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme

3. World Bee Day

Syllabus: GS III, Economy; Economics of animal-rearing

Prelims: World Bee Day and National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)

Context

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) is celebrating World Bee Day.

World Bee Day

• The UN General Assembly declared 20th May as World Bee Day in 2017 and the first Bee Day took place in May 2018.
• World Bee Day was declared to create awareness of the crucial role played by the Bees and other pollinators in keeping people and the planet healthy, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development. 
• World Bee Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Slovenian beekeeper Anton Janša, who was the pioneer of modern beekeeping. 
• Every year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the host country organise an international celebration of World Bee Day.
• The theme for World Bee Day 2022 is: “Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems”

Know more about – World Bee Day

National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)

• The Government of India approved a Central Sector Scheme called “National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)” for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23).
• The mission envisages the overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping in India with a view to achieve the goals of ‘Sweet Revolution’ which is being implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB).
• The mission was announced as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme. 

Know more about the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)

4. New Development Bank

Syllabus: GS II, International Relations; Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. 

Prelims: Facts about New Development Bank

Context

The Finance Minister of India chairs the 7th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Development Bank.

New Development Bank

• New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank, established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in 2014 and the bank started its operations in 2015. 
• The Bank’s membership is open to members of the United Nations.
• Headquarters: Shanghai, China. 
• Objective: Mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the BRICS and other Emerging Market and Developing Countries of the world.
• Current Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh, the UEA, Egypt and Uruguay.

Know more about – New Development Bank

5. Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Syllabus: GS II, Polity; Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Prelims: Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Context

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved various merger and acquisition deals.

Competition Commission of India (CCI)

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established as a statutory body by the Union Government in 2003 but it was duly constituted in 2009.
• The CCI acts as the competition regulator in India under the provisions of the Competition Act 2002. 
• Composition: CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
• Objective: It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effects on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.
• CCI also acts as a quasi-judicial body by giving its opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases. 

Know more about – Competition Commission of India (CCI)

6. Stop TB Partnership

Syllabus: GS II, Health; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Prelims: About Stop TB Partnership

Context

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the 35th Board meeting of the Stop TB Partnership.

Stop TB Partnership

• Stop TB Partnership was founded in 2001 and is a United Nations hosted organization.
• The Stop TB Partnership Secretariat is hosted and administered by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The Stop TB Partnership brings together expertise from a broad spectrum of country, regional, and global partners to end Tuberculosis by 2030.
• Five key objectives:
  • To ensure that every person with TB has access to effective diagnosis, treatment, and cure
  • To stop the transmission of TB
  • To reduce the inequitable social and economic toll of TB
  • To develop, implement and increase access to new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic TB tools, products, and strategies
  • To amplify the voices of people affected by TB and secure a meaningful change through strategic advocacy and communications

Know more about – Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Read previous PIB here.

May 19th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here