Contents
- PM pays tributes to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his 350th Jayanti
- MSP Operation during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
- Culture Ministry issues guidelines for holding cultural events/activities in Virtual / Online mode under various scheme components of Central Sector Scheme ‘Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana’ (KSVY)
- Sale of Electoral Bonds at Authorised Branches of State Bank of India (SBI)
- Dr Harsh Vardhan chairs event on ‘World Food Day’ organized by FSSAI
- 40% discount on Cargo movement between India and Chabahar Port, Iran extended for one year
PM pays tributes to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his 350th Jayanti
Focus: Paper 1 History of India and Indian National Movement
Why in News?
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the brave Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji on his 350th Jayanti.
“Tributes to the brave Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji on his 350th Jayanti. He lives in the hearts of millions. He is remembered for his sense of justice. He made many efforts to empower the poor”, the Prime Minister said.
About Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji
Banda Singh Bahadur (born Lachman Dev) (27 October 1670 Rajauri, Poonch, present-day Jammu and Kashmir India – 9 June 1716, Delhi), was a Sikh warrior and a commander of Khalsa army.
At age 15 he left home to become a Hindu ascetic, and was given the name ‘’Madho Das’’. He established a monastery at Nanded, on the bank of the river Godavari , where in September 1708 he was visited by, and became a disciple of, Guru Gobind Singh, who gave him the new name of Banda Bahadur.
He came to Khanda in Sonipat and assembled a fighting force and led the struggle against the Mughal Empire. His first major action was the sacking of the Mughal provincial capital, Samana, in November 1709.
After establishing his authority and Khalsa rule in Punjab, Banda Singh Bahadur abolished the Zamindari system, and granted property rights to the tillers of the land. Banda Singh was captured by the Mughals and tortured to death in 1715-1716.
Extra Info :
Guru Gobind Singh ( Sikh 10th Guru)
The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the last living Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh. Its formation was a key event in the history of Sikhism. The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi.
MSP Operation during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
Focus: GS3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Why in News?
The arrival of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21 has already commenced and Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes as was done in previous seasons.
About MSP:
The MSP is the rate at which the government buys grains from farmers.
Reason behind the idea of MSP is to counter price volatility of agricultural commodities due to the factors like variation in their supply, lack of market integration and information asymmetry.
The Union Government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif and Rabi crops of 2019-20 season including Paddy, wheat, pulses and oilseeds on the line of fixing the MSP at a level of 1.5 times of the cost of production as announced in Union Budget 2018-19
Fixation Of MSP:
The MSP is fixed on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the Union government takes a final decision on the level of MSPs and other recommendations made by the CACP.
The CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, formed in 1965. It is a statutory body that submits separate reports recommending prices for Kharif and Rabi seasons.
Procurement: The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal central agency of the Government of India, along with other State Agencies undertakes procurement of crops.
Factors taken into consideration for fixing MSP include:
- Demand and supply
- Cost of production (A2 + FL method)
- Price trends in the market, both domestic and international
- Inter-crop price parity
- Terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture
- A minimum of 50% as the margin over cost of production and
- Likely implications of MSP on consumers of that product.
National Commission on Farmers: Swaminathan Committee
On 18th November, 2004, the Union government formed the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) with MS Swaminathan as its chairman.
It, in 2006, recommended that MSPs must be at least 50% more than the cost of production
It talked about the cost of farming at three levels:
- A2: All the types of cash expenditure to generate the crop like seeds, manure, chemicals, labour costs, fuel costs and irrigation costs.
- A2+FL: It includes A2 plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour.
- C2: Under C2, the estimated land rent and the cost of interest on the money taken for farming are added to A2 and FL.
Extra Info:-
Cropping Seasons:-
About Food Corporation Of India:-
The Food Corporation of India is an organization created and run by the Government of India. It is a statutory body under the Ministry Of Consumer Affairs , Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, formed by the enactment of Food Corporation Act 1964 in the Parliament of India.
Culture Ministry issues guidelines for holding cultural events/activities in Virtual / Online mode under various scheme components of Central Sector Scheme ‘Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana’ (KSVY)
Focus : GS2 : Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why in News?
The Covid outbreak has had a substantial impact on the Performing Arts & Cultural sector with in-person exhibitions, events, and performances either cancelled or postponed. However, there were intensive efforts by the Artists & the institutions of the Ministry of Culture to provide alternative or additional services through digital platforms with proper documentation of the events.
Ministry of Culture (Performing Arts Bureau) implements many schemes under its Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY), where the grants are sanctioned/approved for holding programs/activities which involve large audience.
About KALA SANSKRITI VIKAS YOJANA (KSVY)
Ministry of Culture (Performing Arts Bureau) implements many schemes under its Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY).
AIM
- The aim is to bring all schemes under an umbrella scheme of KSVY.
- The objective is to promote and disseminate the art & culture of the country by providing financial support to drama/theatre groups/dance groups/ music ensembles/ folk theatre & music and other genres of performing art activities.
- It is a Central Sector Scheme ,purely funded by Government of India.
SUB-SCHEMES
KSVY has the following sub-schemes through which financial assistance is provided to cultural organizations:
- Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture.
- Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure.
- Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Extra Info:-
Difference between Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector
Sale of Electoral Bonds at Authorised Branches of State Bank of India (SBI):-
Focus:- GS 2: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
Why in News?
The Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 vide Gazette Notification No. 20 dated January 02, 2018.
About Electoral Bonds:
The Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018 was notified in the official gazette on 2nd January 2018 and allows periodic issuances of electoral bonds.
Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties
As per provisions of the Scheme, Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a person , who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India.
A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.
The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorized Bank.
The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for 15 days from the date of issuance.
Extra Info:-
The Parliament has enacted laws like Representation of the People Act 1950 (RPA Act 1950), Representation of the People Act 1951 (RPA Act 1951).
The act was passed by the parliament under Article 327 of the constitution. It provides for the conduct of election to the parliament and state legislatures. It also clarifies about the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of those Houses.
Dr Harsh Vardhan chairs event on ‘World Food Day’ organized by FSSAI:-
Focus: GS3: Food Security
Why in News?
“India on the road to be trans-fat free by 2022, in line with Prime Minister’s vision of New India”.
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare today presided over an event to celebrate ‘World Food Day’. The event was organized by FSSAI. This year’s theme is Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together
Dr Harsh Vardhan re-iterates the game-changing potential of ‘Eat Right India’ and ‘Fit India Movement’.
Reiterating the game changing potential of ‘Eat Right India’ and ‘Fit India Movement’, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “These two movements along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts of the Environment Ministry will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment.”
FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement targets to promote safe and healthy food for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a part of its mandate to provide safe and wholesome food for all citizens. This will improve the food safety ecosystems and lift the hygiene and health of our citizens.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has unveiled last year ‘The Eat Right Movement’, built on two broad pillars of ‘Eat Healthy’ and ‘Eat Safe’.
The programme aims to engage and enable citizens to improve their health and well-being by making the right food choices.
Why such move?
- Studies have recently shown that 60,000 deaths occur every year due to cardiovascular diseases, which in turn are caused due to high consumption of trans fats.
- Since the impact of trans fats on human health is increasing exponentially, it is very important to create awareness about them.
- India is committed to eliminating it from the food supply and is progressing towards its objective of trans fat elimination by 2022; a year ahead of the global target by WHO.
What are Trans Fats?
- Trans fats are the worst type of fats with known health risks.
- Artificial Trans fats are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid.
- Since they are easy to use, inexpensive to produce and last a long time, and give foods a desirable taste and texture, they are still widely used despite their harmful effects being well-known.
- Trans-fats are largely present in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats/oils, vanaspati, margarine and bakery shortenings, and can be found in baked and fried foods.
About FSSAI:-
- It is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
- The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
- The FSSAI is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
40% discount on Cargo movement between India and Chabahar Port, Iran extended for one year:-
Focus: GS3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc
Why in News?
The Ministry of Shipping has extended the current concessional rate of 40% discount for coastal movement of cargo and vessel related charges, for a period of further one year to clients for cargo being handled at Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Deendayal Port from/to Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar, Iran.
About Chabahar Port:-
- Chabahar port is located on the Gulf Of Oman and is only 72 km away from the Gwadar Port in Pakistan which has been developed by China.
- The port serves as the only oceanic port of Iran and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.
Why this port is of interest to India?
- Counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port: India believes the port is critical to its interests and wants to develop it as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar port which was built with Chinese assistance
- Bypass Pakistan: The port will allow India to bypass Pakistan to transport goods to Afghanistan and Central Asia using a sea-land route
- Helpful in maritime commerce: Chabahar Port lies in the Persian Gulf in Iran and will help India in expanding its maritime commerce in the region
- Chabahar port will ensure in the establishment of a politically sustainable connectivity between India and Afghanistan. This will in turn, lead to better economic ties between the two countries.
- With Chabahar port becoming functional, there will be a significant boost in the import of iron ore, sugar and rice to India. The import cost of oil to India will also see a considerable decline. India has already increased its crude purchase from Iran since the West imposed ban on Iran was lifted.
Challenges in developing Chabahar Port for India
- Competition from China: The India-China competition for regional dominance has a new playground in Chabahar as China is also busy developing Gwadar port and plans to use it to connect it to CPEC and has also completed the lease agreement for 40 years.
- USA IRAN Tensions: Engagement over Chabahar can bring India and Iran closer which would impact the relations between India and USA as the tensions between USA and Iran over Iran s nuclear policy and enrichment program and the strict sanctions imposition and subsequent removal is yet to fully subside.
- The Taliban Factor: The trade between Indian and Afghanistan which has high potential is still fraught with many logistical challenges even after bypassing the Pakistan factor
