7-February-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

CONGRESS TO REACH OUT TO LAKHS OF AGNIPATH SCHEME ASPIRANTS

SUBJECT: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

As part of the Jai Jawan campaign, Congress plans to connect with over 35 lakh Agnipath scheme aspirants.

The Agnipath Scheme

• The Agnipath scheme, introduced in 2022, aimed to recruit personnel for the Army, Navy, and Indian Air Force (IAF) on four-year contracts, including six months of training.
• Recruits serve in various branches, except the technical cadre of the medical branch.
• Allows up to 25% of recruits to apply for regular service after four years, based on merit and organizational requirements.

Objectives of the Agnipath Scheme:

• To ensure a youthful profile for the armed forces by reducing the average age of serving soldiers.
• Transformation of the armed forces into a tech-savvy and modern fighting force.
• Empowering civil society by providing disciplined and skilled youth for various roles post-retirement.

Benefits for Agniveers:

• Monthly remuneration ranges from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000, along with risk and hardship allowances.
• Seva Nidhi contributory package ensures financial security, with contributions from both Agniveers and the government.
• Upon completion of four years, Agniveers receive around Rs 11.71 lakh (with interest), exempt from income tax.
• In case of death or disability during service, Agniveers receive substantial financial support.

Comparison with Regular Soldier Benefits:

• Starting salary for Agniveers is lower than regular soldiers.
• Agniveers are not eligible for pension, unlike regular soldiers who receive pensions post-retirement.
• Benefits like liberalized family pension, gratuity, insurance, and children’s education allowance are exclusive to regular soldiers.

 RAJYA SABHA PASSES BILLS TO ADD PVTGS OF ODISHA, A.P. IN ST LISTS

SUBJECT: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Rajya Sabha recently passed two significant bills, the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order Amendment Bill, 2024, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order Amendment Bill, 2024.

These bills focus on adding new communities to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list in Odisha and incorporating synonyms and phonetic variations of existing tribes in both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Key Inclusions:

• The Bills pave the way for adding several communities to the ST list of Odisha.
• Seven Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), a subset of STs, are included — four in Odisha and three in Andhra Pradesh.
• Notable additions in Odisha include Pauri Bhuyan and Paudi Bhuyan as synonyms of the Bhuyan tribe, Chuktia Bhunjia as a synonym of the Bhunjia tribe, and Bondo as a sub-tribe of the Bondo Poraja tribe.
• In Andhra Pradesh, the PVTGs added are Bondo Porja and Khond Porja as synonyms of the Porja tribe.

India’s tribal population constitutes 8.6% of the total population.

• PVTGs represent the most vulnerable subset within tribal communities, facing challenges that require targeted developmental efforts.
• Initially termed Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) in 1973 by the Dhebar Commission, the category was later renamed PVTGs in 2006 by the Government of India.
• In 1975, the government identified and declared 52 PVTGs, with an additional 23 groups added in 1993, totaling 75 PVTGs among the 705 Scheduled Tribes.
• PVTGs share common characteristics, such as homogeneity, small population size, physical isolation, lack of a written language, simple technology, and a slower rate of change.
• Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs among the listed 75 groups.

MeitY TRANSFERS THE TECHNOLOGY FOR SMART FOOD GRAIN STORAGE SYSTEM (SAFEETY) TO THE INDUSTRY

SUBJECT: ECONOMY– SOURCE: PIB

The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) developed the Technology for Smart Food Grain Storage System (SAFEETY).

Features:

• Conveyorized loading & unloading of grain bags equipped with RFID for traceability.
• Online weight and moisture measurement incorporated.
• Radio frequency-based moisture removal system for grains.

Need for Scientific Food Grain Storage:

• Low Production Capacity: India, with 18% of the global population, has only 11% of arable land, necessitating efficient storage.
• Inadequate Storage Infrastructure: India’s foodgrain storage capacity covers only 47% of total production, leading to wastage.
• Food Security Concerns: Food Corporation of India (FCI) exceeds buffer capacity, highlighting the need for enhanced storage facilities.
• Economic Viability of Farming: Effective storage reduces wastage, stabilizes market prices, and enhances foodgrain exports, supporting farmers’ incomes.

Initiatives for Scientific Food Grain Storage:

• Grain Storage Plan: Approval for the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” to establish decentralized storage capacity at Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.
• Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme: Funding for the construction/renovation of godowns/warehouses in rural areas.
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: Providing financing for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets, enhancing storage capabilities.

NAGOYA PROTOCOL

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT– SOURCE: DD NEWS

Cameroon recently adopted the Nagoya Protocol, demonstrating its commitment to biodiversity conservation and equitable utilization of genetic resources.

About Nagoya Protocol:

• Global Agreement: The Nagoya Protocol is a binding international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• Adoption: Adopted in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, it became effective on October 12, 2014, after the ratification of 50 instruments.
• Objective: Implements access and benefit-sharing obligations, focusing on fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resource utilization.

Benefits of Nagoya Protocol:

• Legal Framework: Provides a transparent legal framework ensuring fair sharing of benefits for utilizing genetic resources.
• Research and Development: Facilitates access to genetic resources for biotechnology research, encouraging investment in biodiversity-based research.
• Indigenous Communities: Recognizes and respects traditional knowledge, allowing indigenous communities to benefit from associated genetic resource utilization.

Coverage:

• Genetic Resources: Applies to genetic resources covered by the CBD, regulating benefits from their utilization.
• Traditional Knowledge (TK): Includes traditional knowledge associated with CBD-covered genetic resources and benefits derived from their utilization.

HINDU KUSH HIMALAYA REGION, A BIOSPHERE CLOSE TO COLLAPSING, SAY SCIENTISTS

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT – SOURCE: NDTV

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has emphasized the need for immediate action and financial support to prevent the collapse of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

About Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH):

• Geographic Location: Spanning across South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Area: Covers approximately 3,500,000 square kilometers.
• Water Tower of Asia: Acts as a vital water source, feeding major rivers like the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yellow River, and Yangtze, supporting millions of people across Asia.

Region on the Brink:

• Biodiversity Hotspot: Renowned for its rich biodiversity, the HKH region is facing a biodiversity crisis.
• Scope of Crisis: Rapid habitat loss and environmental degradation threaten the region’s ecosystems, demanding urgent intervention.

Alarming Statistics:

• Biodiversity Richness: Houses four global biodiversity hotspots, 575 Protected Areas, and 335 important bird areas.
• Biodiversity Loss: Despite conservation efforts, 70% of original biodiversity has been lost in the past century.
• Human Dependence: 85% of mountain communities rely on HKH biodiversity for sustenance, water, and cultural identity.
• Population Pressure: With 241 million inhabitants, 31% face food insecurity and half experience malnutrition.

Human Impact:

• Threat to Humanity: Environmental decline in the HKH region poses risks to both natural ecosystems and human societies.
• Water Tower of Asia: HKH serves as a crucial water source, providing clean water to one-third of the global population.

MADAGASCAR RESTORATION PROJECT

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT– SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

A six-year project aims to reintroduce giant tortoises to Madagascar, potentially restoring megaherbivores to the island after 600 years.

Significance: This reintroduction could have significant ecological impacts, contributing to habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation in Madagascar.

       

About Aldabra Giant Tortoise:

• Second Largest Species: The Aldabra giant tortoise is the second-largest land tortoise species globally, after the Galapagos giant tortoise.
• Long Lifespan: With a lifespan of up to 100 years, these tortoises have a rich evolutionary history.
• Origin: Descendants of Aldabrachelys abrupta, they once inhabited Madagascar for millions of years before migrating to the Seychelles around four million years ago.

Habitat:

• Terrestrial Habitats: Aldabra giant tortoises inhabit various habitats, including scrub forests, mangrove swamps, and coastal dunes.
• Grasslands: The largest populations are found in grasslands called “platins,” where they contribute to the creation of unique habitat structures known as “tortoise turf.”

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Status: Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss, invasive species, and illegal trade.
• CITES Listing: Included in Appendix II, highlighting the need for international cooperation in regulating trade to ensure their conservation.

THRIPS PARVISPINUS

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT– SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

Union Agriculture Minister informs Rajya Sabha about the prevalence of Thrips Parvispinus in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, potentially replacing the native chilli thrips (scirtothrips dorsalis).

About Thrips Parvispinus:

Invasive Pest:

• Thrips Parvispinus is an invasive pest species causing agricultural concerns.
• Polyphagous Nature: It grows on various hosts such as drumstick, pigeon pea, chickpea, papaya, mango, and weed species.
• Geographic Distribution: Originally reported from Thailand, Australia, and Europe, it has expanded its presence to multiple countries, including India.

Distribution in India:

• First Report: Initially discovered on papaya in Bengaluru in 2015.
• Regional Dominance: It is observed to dominate or replace the native chilli thrips in the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh region.

Habitat and Infestation:

• Adult Habits: Adults colonize on flowers and the underside of leaves.
• Larval Behavior: Larvae extract sap from the undersurface of leaves.
• Impact: Heavy infestation leads to flower drop, reducing overall fruit production.

Global Impact:

• Worldwide Spread: The species has extended its distribution to France, Greece, Hawaii, Mauritius, Spain, Tanzania, and the Netherlands.

Thrips in General:

• Thrips are a significant group of sucking pests causing economic losses and transmitting plant viruses.
• Outbreak Causes: Changes in crop patterns, pesticide use, and climate change contribute to thrips outbreaks in various regions.