PIB 12th March 2021

QUAD

Focus: GS II-International Relations

Why in news?

Recently First Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit was held.

About Quad:

• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
• All four nations find a common ground of being democratic nations and also support the common interest of unhindered maritime trade and security.
• The idea of Quad was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia pulling out of it, apparently due to Chinese pressure.
• Finally, on November 12, 2017, India, Australia, the US and Japan, came together and formed this “quadrilateral” coalition.

HERATH

Focus: GS I-Festivals, Prelims

Why in news?

PM greets people on Herath.

 About Herath:

• The festival of Mahashivaratri, celebrated all over India, is locally known as Herath in Jammu & Kashmir.
• It is a three-day festival and symbolizes the values of devotion and harmony.
• The festival marks the wedding of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati.

APEDA

Focus: GS III-Agriculture

Why in news?

APEDA organizes first ever virtual trade fair to boost export potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products

•  Theme: India Rice and Agro Commodity

About Apeda:

Nodal:  Ministry of Commerce and Industry

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985. 
• The Authority has its headquarters in New Delhi.
• A Chairman is appointed by the Central Government.

Functions:

• APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the scheduled products viz. fruits, vegetables and their products; meat and meat products; poultry and poultry products; dairy products; confectionery, biscuits and bakery products; honey, jaggery and sugar products; cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; cereal and cereal products; groundnuts, peanuts and walnuts, pickles, papads and chutneys; guar gum; floriculture and floriculture products; herbal and medicinal plants.
• APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor import of sugar.
• Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products and fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports.
• Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughterhouses, processing plants, storage premises and improving packaging of the scheduled products.

ONE NATION ONE RATION CARD

Focus: GS III-Food Security

Why in news?

Seventeen (17) States have successfully operationalised “One Nation One Ration Card system” with Uttarakhand being the latest State to complete the reform.

About  One Nation One Ration Card

Nodal: Ministry of Finance

• One Nation One Ration Card System is an important citizen centric reform.
•  Its implementation ensures availability of ration to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes, especially the migrant workers and their families, at any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country.
• The reform especially empowers the migratory population mostly labourers, daily wagers, urban poor like rag pickers, street dwellers, temporary workers in organised and unorganised sectors, domestic workers etc, who frequently change their place of dwelling to be self reliant in food security.
• The reform also enables the States in better targeting of beneficiaries, elimination of bogus/ duplicate/ineligible card holders resulting in enhanced welfare and reduced leakage.
• The poor migrant workers will be able to buy subsidised rice and wheat from any ration shop in the country but for that their ration cards must be linked to Aadhaar.
• Migrants would only be eligible for the subsidies supported by the Centre, which include rice sold at Rs. 3/kg and wheat at Rs. 2/kg, It would not include subsidies given by their respective state government in some other state.
• This scheme will ensure that no poor person is deprived of subsidised grains.
• For remaining beneficiaries, all the States have been given one more year to use point of sale (PoS) machines in the ration shops and implement the scheme.

HUNAR HAAT

Focus: GS II- Minorities, Prelims

Why in news?

• 27th “Hunar Haat” being organised at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) from 12th March.
• Focus of the Hunar Haat :“Commitment to Swadeshi & Swavalamban” (self-sustenance) and “Resolve to Self-reliant India”

About Hunar haat:

Nodal: Ministry of Minority affairs

• Hunar Haat is an effective platform wherein opportunity is given to the exhibition of handicrafts and traditional products made by artisans from the minority communities.
• Main aim is to provide market exposure and employment opportunities to artisans, craftsmen and traditional culinary experts.
• These are organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme.
• The USTTAD scheme aims to promote and preserve the rich heritage of the traditional arts & crafts of the minority communities.
• Construction of Hunar Hubs is one of the projects considered under the scheme with the objective of enabling artisans/entrepreneurs to carry out exhibitions/melas/food-courts/skill training under one roof in the identified MCD Headquarters.