Current Affairs 06 April 2024

CONTENTS

1. Agricultural Transformation in West Bengal: Embracing Crop Diversification
2. India’s Economic Status and Roadmap to Development
3. Steel Ministry’s Initiative Towards Green Steel Policy and Decarbonization
4. Groundbreaking 3D Map of the Universe Unveiled by International Researchers
5. Shallowfakes
6. Sannati Buddhist site
7. Paira Cropping System

Agricultural Transformation in West Bengal: Embracing Crop Diversification

Context:

West Bengal has been undergoing a notable transformation in its agricultural sector, especially in districts bordering Bangladesh. Farmers in these regions are increasingly diversifying away from traditional wheat cultivation. Instead, they are embracing alternative crops such as bananas, lentils, maize, and other varieties. This shift towards crop diversification not only reflects changing agricultural practices but also signifies efforts to enhance productivity, sustainability, and adaptability in response to evolving market demands and climatic conditions.

Relevance:

GS III: Agriculture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Reasons Behind the Shift from Wheat Production
2. Why India Needs to Focus on Crop Diversification
3. Benefits of Crop Diversification
4. Concerns and Challenges
5. Conclusion

Reasons Behind the Shift from Wheat Production:

Wheat Blast Disease Outbreak:

• The emergence of the wheat blast disease in Bangladesh in 2016 prompted a two-year ban on wheat cultivation in border areas of West Bengal, including Murshidabad and Nadia districts.
• The disease is caused by the fungal infection Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum (MoT), which affects wheat crops by causing dark lesions on wheat spikes, leaves, and stems, leading to significant yield losses.

Economic Advantages of Alternative Crops:

• Farmers have found economic benefits in cultivating alternative crops like bananas. The profitability of banana cultivation during peak seasons has outweighed the benefits of growing wheat, especially considering stagnant wheat prices.

Concerns over Water Consumption:

• Wheat cultivation is water-intensive. With increasing concerns over water scarcity and efficient water management, farmers are opting for crops that require less water.

Shift to Maize Cultivation:

• Maize cultivation has witnessed a substantial increase in the region, with production rising eightfold from 2011 to 2023.
• Although maize prices might be lower per quintal compared to wheat, the higher per-hectare output and the demand from poultry and food processing industries have made maize a more lucrative alternative.

Increase in Pulses and Oilseeds Production:

• Alongside maize, there has been a notable surge in the production of pulses and oilseeds in the area.
• Diversifying crops not only offers economic benefits but also helps in soil health and nutrient management.

Why India Needs to Focus on Crop Diversification:

• Crop Diversification refers to cultivating a variety of crops on a farm instead of concentrating on a single crop.
• The Green Revolution in India, marked by the introduction of high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat, significantly boosted food production, addressing hunger and malnutrition challenges.
• However, this emphasis on monoculture led to reduced crop diversity, resulting in the decline of traditional, region-specific crop varieties and a consequent loss of genetic diversity.
• India has witnessed a decline of over 100,000 traditional rice varieties since the onset of the Green Revolution in the 1970s.

Benefits of Crop Diversification:

Mitigating Drought Risks:

• In drought-prone regions, cultivating a mix of drought-tolerant crops (e.g., millets, sorghum) alongside water-intensive crops (e.g., rice, vegetables) ensures some level of harvest even under water scarcity.

Soil Health and Nutrient Management:

• Planting leguminous crops like soybeans or peanuts can enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefiting subsequent crops such as maize or wheat.

Market Opportunities:

• Crop diversification can help farmers tap into niche markets or emerging trends, like the rising demand for organic produce, which often fetches higher prices than conventionally grown crops.

Pest and Disease Management:

• Intercropping or mixed cropping practices can deter pests naturally. For example, planting marigold alongside vegetable crops can reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides.

Biofuel Production:

• Crops like Jatropha and Pongamia can be harnessed for biofuel production, offering additional income avenues for farmers and contributing to India’s energy needs.

Concerns and Challenges:

Market Dynamics:

• Farmers are reluctant to shift from traditional crops like rice and wheat due to fluctuating prices of alternative crops and limited market demand.

Financial Constraints:

• Crop diversification demands additional investments in seeds, equipment, and knowledge, which smallholder farmers, constituting a significant portion of India’s agriculture sector, might find challenging.

Infrastructure Limitations:

• Diversified and perishable crops often require specialized storage and transportation facilities, which are lacking in many rural areas, leading to post-harvest losses.

Disruption of Established Markets:

• In regions where rice and wheat dominate consumption patterns, introducing crop diversification could potentially disrupt established market dynamics.

Conclusion:

While crop diversification offers numerous benefits, including improved resilience, soil health, and market opportunities, addressing the associated challenges is crucial. Ensuring financial support, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering awareness about the long-term benefits of diversification can encourage farmers to adopt diversified cropping systems, promoting sustainable and resilient agriculture in India.

-Source: The Hindu

India’s Economic Status and Roadmap to Development

Context:

Currently, India is classified as a “lower-middle income” country with a per capita GDP ranging between $1,136 and $4,465. In contrast, China stands as an “upper-middle income” nation with a per capita GDP between $4,466 and $13,845. Looking ahead, even with a modest annual GDP growth rate of 6%, India is projected to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. To achieve its vision of a “Viksit Bharat” or developed India by 2047, India should aim to significantly boost its per capita GDP to levels between $13,000 and $14,000. This focus on economic growth and development will be crucial in elevating India’s global stature and improving the standard of living for its citizens.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. China’s Growth Story
2. Why India’s Focus Must be on Per Capita?

China’s Growth Story:

Historical Perspective:

• Starting from similar economic levels in 1990, China rapidly outpaced India in economic growth.
• In 1990, China’s economy was marginally larger than India’s by 1.2 times. However, by 2010 and 2022, this gap widened significantly to 3.6 times and 5.3 times respectively.

Growth Trajectory:

• China experienced sustained double-digit growth rates during the 1990s and 2000s, which propelled its per capita GDP beyond the $10,000 mark by 2019.
• Despite a slight moderation in growth to an average of 7% since 2010 and 5.3% in the five years leading up to 2022, China remains on a robust growth trajectory.

Future Projections:

• With an economic size of $18 trillion in 2022, China is poised to potentially overtake the US ($25.4 trillion GDP in 2022) as the world’s largest economy by the early to mid-2030s, based on current growth rates.

Where India Stands?

Economic Performance:

• India’s real GDP growth in dollar terms has decelerated, averaging 5.9% between 2010-22 and further dropping to 5.7% over the nine years from 2014.
• Despite its nominal GDP reaching $3.4 trillion in 2022, which is close to China’s 2007 levels, India has lagged in economic growth compared to its eastern neighbor.

Global Ranking:

• While India has improved its global GDP ranking from No. 10 to No. 5 between 2013 and 2022, this ascent has been driven by a relatively modest average annual growth rate of 5.7%.
• For context, Japan and Germany, with nominal GDPs of $4.3 trillion and $4.1 trillion respectively in 2022, surpass India’s economic output.

Future Potential:

• To attain the position of the world’s No. 3 economy by 2028, India would need to sustain a growth rate of 6% in current dollars. In comparison, for Japan and Germany to maintain their positions, they would only need a growth rate of 2%.

Why India’s Focus Must be on Per Capita?

Geopolitical Weight vs. Economic Well-being:

• While aggregate GDP is crucial for determining a country’s geopolitical influence on the global stage, it may not necessarily reflect the economic well-being of its citizens.
• For instance, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Bermuda may have the highest per capita GDPs globally, but their small populations and unique economic structures do not equate to superpower status.

Relevance of Per Capita GDP for India:

• Given India’s vast population and its current developmental stage, per capita GDP is equally significant as aggregate GDP.
• It serves as an indicator of the average economic prosperity and living standards of the population.

Components of GDP Growth:

• GDP growth is influenced by two primary factors: population growth and growth in per capita output.
• Population growth is demographic in nature, whereas growth in per capita output reflects improvements in the overall standard of living.

Chinese Growth Story – A Case in Point:

• China’s economic growth has been exceptional, witnessing a nearly 46-fold expansion in its economy from 1990 to 2022.
• More importantly, this growth has been accompanied by a significant rise in its per capita GDP, which surged from $348 (slightly lower than India’s $369) to an impressive $12,720 (significantly higher than India’s $2,411) during the same period.

Path to Development – A Target for India:

• To be classified as a “high-income” country by the World Bank, a nation must achieve a per capita GNI (gross national income) threshold of $13,846.
• For India to realize its vision of becoming a “Viksit Bharat” or a developed nation by 2047, it is imperative to strive towards reaching this per capita income benchmark.

-Source: Indian Express

Steel Ministry’s Initiative Towards Green Steel Policy and Decarbonization

Context:

The Steel Ministry is in the process of formulating a comprehensive green steel policy aimed at complete decarbonization of the steel industry. This holistic approach will cover various aspects including the manufacturing process, necessary skill sets, and financial support mechanisms. By focusing on green steel production, the ministry aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices within the steel sector.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Green Steel: An Overview
2. Significance of Green Steel for the Indian Steel Industry
3. Status of Steel Production in India
4. Global and India’s Initiatives Towards Green Steel Production

Green Steel: An Overview

Definition:

• Green steel refers to the sustainable and environmentally friendly production of steel, aiming to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while potentially improving cost-efficiency and product quality compared to conventional steel production methods.

Need for Green Steel:

Environmental Impact of Traditional Steel Production:

• The conventional steel manufacturing process involves various methods such as blast furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, and electric arc furnaces, which are significant contributors to global carbon emissions.
• The primary environmental concern arises from the high consumption of coal and coke in blast furnace operations, leading to substantial greenhouse gas emissions.

Growing Steel Demand and Environmental Concerns:

• With the global demand for steel expected to increase significantly throughout the 21st century, there is a pressing need to adopt more sustainable and low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission alternatives for steel production.
• India’s steel sector, for instance, accounts for 12% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with an emission intensity of 2.55 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel, surpassing the global average of 1.9 tonnes of CO2.

Green Steel Production Methods:

Low-Grade Carbon Production Techniques:

• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions at the source and storing them underground or utilizing them in other industrial processes to prevent their release into the atmosphere.
• Green/Blue Hydrogen: Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources through water electrolysis, while blue hydrogen is derived from natural gas with carbon capture technology. Both can serve as clean energy sources in steel production, reducing carbon emissions significantly.
• High Biomass Utilization: Utilizing biomass, such as agricultural residues and waste wood, as a renewable source of carbon in the steel production process to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.
• Artificial Iron Units (AIUs): Involves the use of alternative iron units derived from sustainable sources, such as direct reduced iron (DRI) produced using hydrogen-based processes, to produce high-grade steel with lower carbon footprint.

Significance of Green Steel for the Indian Steel Industry

• The steel industry in India is a major contributor to carbon emissions due to its intensive energy and resource use.
• As per the commitments made at the COP26 climate change conference, the Indian steel industry needs to substantially reduce its emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
• Green Steel production can play a crucial role in achieving these targets.

Status of Steel Production in India

• India is currently the second-largest producer of crude steel in the world, producing 120 Million Tonnes (MT) crude steel during the financial year 2021-2022.
• More than 80% of the country’s reserves are in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and the northern regions of Andhra Pradesh. Important steel-producing centers are Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Durgapur (West Bengal), Burnpur (West Bengal), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Rourkela (Odisha), and Bokaro (Jharkhand).
• India is also the second-largest consumer of finished steel in the world, consuming 106.23 MT of finished steel in 2021, preceded by China as the largest steel consumer, as per the World Steel Association.

Global and India’s Initiatives Towards Green Steel Production

Global Initiatives:

First Movers Coalition:

• Objective: Decarbonization of industrial sectors, including steel.
• Progress: The Coalition has expanded to include 55 companies and nine countries, all committed to sourcing a portion of their industrial materials and transportation from suppliers using near-zero or zero-carbon solutions.

Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI):

• Objective: Encourage governments to report environmental data and promote the use of low-emission and near-zero emissions cement/concrete and steel in construction projects.
• Progress: Nine countries, including the U.S., have joined the initiative and are expected to declare their pledges soon.

SteelZero and ConcreteZero by The Climate Group:

• Objective: Corporate partnerships aiming for net-zero steel and low- and net-zero emission concrete production.
• Progress: SteelZero has 25 company partnerships, while ConcreteZero has 22, with commitments to sustainable production practices.

European Union:

• Objective: Host nearly 50 green and low-carbon steel projects by 2030.
• Progress: Driven by policies like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU is on track to achieve its green steel production goals.

Sweden:

• Initiatives:
  • Hybrit: Supplied Volvo with the first coal-free “green steel.”
  • H2 Green Steel: Constructing a fossil fuel-free steel plant with a sustainable hydrogen facility.
• Progress: Both initiatives are making significant strides in promoting environmentally friendly steel production.

India’s Initiatives:

Green Steel Policy Development:

• Objective: Achieve complete decarbonization in the steel sector.
• Progress: The Steel Ministry is formulating a green steel policy that includes process definitions, required skills, and funding mechanisms. Thirteen task forces have been established to determine the modalities around green steel-making.

Exploring Biochar and Biomass in Steel-making:

• Objective: Reduce carbon emissions during steel manufacturing.
• Progress: The 14th task force has been set up to investigate the use of biochar or biomass as alternatives in blast furnaces.

Hydrogen-Based DRI Technology:

• Objective: Develop pure-hydrogen-based Direct Reduction of Iron (DRI) technology.
• Progress: A project report on hydrogen-based DRI technology is under scrutiny, and plans for a consortium-based pilot for a hydrogen-based DRI facility are being considered.

Funding and Support:

• Objective: Promote hydrogen usage in steel production.
• Progress: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has allocated ₹455 crore for piloting the use of hydrogen in steel-making, indicating a strong commitment to advancing green steel production in India.

-Source: The Hindu

Groundbreaking 3D Map of the Universe Unveiled by International Researchers

Context:

An international team of scientists has unveiled the most comprehensive three-dimensional map of the universe to date. This monumental achievement could potentially provide valuable insights into the mysterious nature of dark energy, a force believed to be driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. By mapping the vast cosmic structures in unprecedented detail, researchers hope to unravel the secrets of dark energy and further our understanding of the fundamental dynamics shaping the cosmos.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Ordinary Matter vs. Dark Matter
2. Understanding Dark Energy in the Universe
3. New Map of the Universe Using DESI

Ordinary Matter vs. Dark Matter

Normal Matter:

Definition:

• Normal matter encompasses everything we can directly observe, from the vast galaxies to the smallest particles.

Characteristics:

• Visibility: Observable in visible light using our eyes or specialized telescopes that can detect other light spectrums like ultraviolet or infrared.
• Composition: Predominantly consists of atomic particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• States: Can exist in various states – gas, solid, liquid, or plasma (charged particles).

Presence:

• Despite being omnipresent in our daily lives, normal matter constitutes less than 5% of the universe’s total mass-energy content.

Dark Matter:

Definition:

• Dark matter is a mysterious form of matter that doesn’t emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible to current detection methods.

Characteristics:

• Visibility: Lacks visibility due to its non-reflective nature, making it undetectable by conventional telescopes.
• Composition: Despite comprising 27% of the universe’s content, its exact composition remains elusive.

Scientific Theories and Observations:

• Gravitational Effects: Scientists have inferred its existence through its gravitational effects on visible matter. Dark matter forms a vast, web-like structure known as the cosmic web, which exerts gravitational influence, pulling galaxies and other cosmic structures towards it.
• Unknown Particles: Current understanding suggests that dark matter isn’t composed of the known particles of ordinary matter. The ongoing quest involves identifying the elusive particles or entities that constitute dark matter.

Understanding Dark Energy in the Universe

Definition and Significance:

• Dark energy is a mysterious and elusive form of energy constituting a substantial portion of the total energy content in the universe.
• It is believed to drive the observed accelerated expansion of the cosmos.

Energy Distribution:

• Approximately 68% of the universe is composed of dark energy, while dark matter makes up about 27%.
• All observable normal matter on Earth, using various instruments, contributes to less than 5% of the universe.

Key Points on Dark Energy:

• Acts as an unseen force responsible for the universe’s accelerated expansion, contrary to gravity, which pulls objects together.
• Presents a new perspective on space, defining it as a dynamic and stretchable medium responsive to energy presence.
• Different forms of energy, including matter, radiation, and dark energy, uniquely contribute to the non-uniform expansion of the universe.
• Dominates the universe’s energy budget, determining the overall rate of space expansion and maintaining balance with other energy forms.

Implications of Dark Energy Amount:

• The quantity of dark energy holds significant consequences for the observable universe.
• Excessive positive energy could result in galaxies moving away faster than light, limiting visibility to nearby regions.
• Excessive negative energy might lead to the universe collapsing to a tiny point.

Characteristics and Diluteness:

• Despite dominance, dark energy is incredibly dilute across the vast universe, comparable to a single sugar crystal in a cubic kilometer.
• The diluteness raises questions about the nature and distribution of this enigmatic force.

Possible Explanations of Dark Energy

Einstein’s Cosmological Constant:

• Albert Einstein was the first to propose that empty space possesses its own energy.
• The cosmological constant in Einstein’s gravity theory suggests that the energy of “empty space” remains constant, not diluted with the expansion of space.
• This energy-of-space contributes to the accelerating expansion of the universe as more space is created.

Quantum Theory of Matter:

• According to the quantum theory of matter, “empty space” is filled with temporary (“virtual”) particles that continuously form and disappear.

Fifth Force Hypothesis:

• There are four fundamental forces in the universe, and some speculative theories propose the existence of a fifth force.
• To explain this fifth force, various models for dark energy incorporate special mechanisms.
• Some theorists refer to this hypothetical force as “quintessence,” drawing inspiration from the fifth element in Greek philosophy.
• None of these theories have been conclusively proven, leading to the characterization of dark energy as “the most profound mystery in all of science.”

New Map of the Universe Using DESI

About the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI):

Functionality:

• DESI is an advanced instrument designed to capture the light from an astonishing 5,000 galaxies simultaneously.

Collaboration:

• Over 900 researchers from various global institutions are part of the DESI collaboration. Notably, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in India is the sole participating institution from the country.

Location:

• DESI is mounted on the Mayall 4-Meter Telescope located in Arizona, United States.

Achievements:

• With DESI, scientists have managed to measure light emissions from an impressive six million galaxies. Some of these galaxies are remnants from an epoch as ancient as 11 billion years ago.

Key Highlights of the DESI Study:

3-D Map of the Universe:

• Leveraging the vast data collected by DESI, researchers achieved unprecedented accuracy in measuring the distances between galaxies.
• This meticulous data collection and analysis enabled the creation of the most detailed 3D map of the universe to date.

Expansion Rate of the Universe:

• One of the significant findings from the DESI collaboration is the determination of the universe’s expansion rate.
• The study reveals that the universe’s expansion is accelerating at a rate of 68.5 km per second for every 3.26 million light-years of distance, termed as a megaparsec by astronomers.

-Source: The Hindu

Shallowfakes

Context:

With the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to start on April 19, social media platforms are abuzz with misinformation, mostly in the form of shallow fakes.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Understanding Shallowfakes
2. What is a deepfake?
3. Measures to address the threats related to deepfakes

Understanding Shallowfakes

What are Shallowfakes?

Definition:

• Shallowfakes involve the manipulation of images or videos using basic editing tools, unlike deepfakes which utilize sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for creation.

Creation Methods:

• Instead of employing advanced AI technology, shallowfakes are produced using simpler editing techniques. This can include basic photo editing, slowing down video footage to alter speech patterns, or mis-captioning and mis-contextualizing existing content.

Quality and Authenticity:

• Shallowfakes are generally of lower quality compared to deepfakes, making them somewhat easier to identify upon closer examination.

Threat Perception:

• Despite their lower quality, shallowfakes are often perceived as more significant threats than deepfakes. This is primarily due to their ease of creation and dissemination, as well as the potential for misleading a larger audience.

Usage of Shallowfakes:

False Identity Creation:

• Shallowfakes can be employed to forge proof of identity or address, including the production of counterfeit photo ID documents such as passports and driver’s licenses.

Creation of Fake Supporting Evidence:

• They are also utilized to fabricate supporting evidence to bolster a claim or transaction. This can include generating fake contracts, agreements, invoices for services, no claims discount certificates, and more.

What is a deepfake?

• Deepfakes are a compilation of artificial images and audio put together with machine-learning algorithms to spread misinformation and replace a real person’s appearance, voice, or both with similar artificial likenesses or voices.
• It can create people who do not exist and it can fake real people saying and doing things they did not say or do.

Background:

• The term deepfake originated in 2017, when an anonymous Reddit user called himself “Deepfakes.”
• This user manipulated Google’s open-source, deep-learning technology to create and post pornographic videos.
• The videos were doctored with a technique known as face-swapping.
• The user “Deepfakes” replaced real faces with celebrity faces.

Where can it be used?

• It is used to generate celebrity porn videos, produce fake news, and commit financial fraud among other wrongdoings.
• It is now being used for nefarious purposes like scams and hoaxes,election manipulation, social engineering, automated disinformation attacks, identity theft and financial fraud.
  • Deepfake technology has been used to impersonate former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Hollywood celebrity Tom Cruise.

Measures to address the threats related to deepfakes:

Collaborative actions and collective techniques across legislative regulations, platform policies, technology intervention, and media literacy can provide effective and ethical countermeasures to mitigate the threat of malicious deepfakes.

Media literacy:

• Media literacy for consumers and journalists is the most effective tool to combat disinformation and deepfakes.
• Media literacy efforts must be enhanced to cultivate a discerning public. As consumers of media, we must have the ability to decipher, understand, translate, and use the information we encounter.
• Even a short intervention with media understanding, learning the motivations and context, can lessen the damage. Improving media literacy is a precursor to addressing the challenges presented by deepfakes

Legislative regulations:

• Meaningful regulations with a collaborative discussion with the technology industry, civil society, and policymakers can facilitate disincentivising the creation and distribution of malicious deepfakes.

Technological solutions:

• We also need easy-to-use and accessible technology solutions to detect deepfakes, authenticate media, and amplify authoritative sources.

-Source: Indian Express

Sannati Buddhist site

Context:

The Sannati Bhddhist site, left neglected for many years after it came to light through the ASI excavations in the 1990s, got a restoration project in 2022.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Sannati Buddhist Site: A Historical Overview

Location and Importance:

Geographical Context:

• The Sannati Buddhist site is situated on the banks of the Bhima river near Kanaganahalli, which is part of the larger Sannati archaeological complex in the Kalaburagi district of Karnataka.
• Apart from its historical significance, the site also attracts tourists due to the nearby Chandrala Parameshwari Temple.

Historical Significance and Findings:

Phases of Development:

• The site is believed to have evolved over three distinct constructional phases: Maurya, Early Satavahana, and Later Satavahana periods, spanning from the 3rd Century B.C. to the 3rd Century A.D.

Ranamandala Area:

• The Ranamandala region of Sannati provides a unique chronological scale, offering insights into both prehistoric and early historic times.

Inscriptions and Artifacts:

• An inscription discovered at the site, written in Prakrit language using the Brahmi script, sheds light on the linguistic and scriptural practices of the era.
• A notable discovery includes a stone sculpture depicting Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, showcasing him alongside his queens and female attendants. The sculpture bears the inscription “Raya Asoko” in Brahmi script, confirming the identity of the depicted figure.
• The archaeological excavations at the site have also unearthed approximately 60 dome slabs featuring sculptural depictions of Jataka stories, significant events in Buddha’s life, portraits of Shatavahana monarchs, and unique representations of Buddhist missionaries dispatched by Emperor Ashoka to various regions.

Nearby Historical Sites:

Nagavi Ghatikasthana:

• Situated around 40 km from Sannati, the ancient Nagavi Ghatikasthana is often referred to as the “Takshashila of the South” by historians.
• This Ghatikasthana, akin to a modern-day university, emerged as a prominent educational center during the reigns of the Rashtrakuta and Kalyana Chalukya dynasties between the 10th and 12th centuries.

-Source: The Hindu

Paira Cropping System

Context:

A unique conservation agricultural practice, Paira cropping system has dwindled in recent years due to climate change.

Relevance:

GS III: Agriculture

Paira Cropping System: An Overview

Geographical Distribution and Practice:

Regions:

• The Paira cropping system is predominantly practiced in several states including Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

Cropping Technique:

• Paira cropping represents a relay method of sowing, wherein seeds of lentil, lathyrus, urdbean, or mungbean are broadcasted into the standing rice crop approximately two weeks prior to its harvest.

Agronomic Features:

• Unlike conventional cropping systems, the Paira method restricts agronomic interventions such as tillage, weeding, irrigation, and fertilizer application.
• The productivity of the pulses in this system is significantly influenced by the rice variety cultivated.

Advantages of Paira Cropping System:

Optimal Resource Utilization:

• The Paira cropping system capitalizes on the available soil moisture during the rice harvest, preventing its rapid loss.

Enhanced Yield:

• Empirical studies have indicated that Paira cropping yields a higher lentil output compared to traditional cultivation methods involving tillage post rice harvest.

Sustainable Crop Intensification:

• Paira cropping exemplifies an efficient approach to sustainable agricultural intensification, facilitating enhanced land productivity while conserving resources.

Relay Cropping Method: A General Overview

Concept:

• Relay cropping is a form of multiple cropping wherein a secondary crop is sown into a standing primary crop well before the primary crop’s harvest.

Benefits:

• Resource Optimization: Relay cropping addresses challenges related to inefficient resource utilization, enabling optimal use of land, water, and nutrients.
• Sowing Time and Fertilizer Management: This method mitigates conflicts arising from conflicting sowing times and facilitates synchronized fertilizer application.
• Soil Health: Relay cropping aids in soil conservation and minimizes degradation, ensuring sustained agricultural productivity.

-Source: Down To Earth