DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Dec. 1, 2024

Government of India and ADB sign $98 million loan to promote plant health management in India’s horticulture.

Tags: International News

Government of India and ADB sign $98 million loan to promote plant health management in India’s horticulture.

Why in the news?

• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $98 million loan to improve horticulture crop farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials, which will boost their crops’ yield, quality, and resilience to climate impacts.

Key points:

• “The project supports theGovernment of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP) that enhances plant health management.
•  It will help develop regulatory framework and institutional systems to effectively implement the CPP for horticulture in India. 
• It will be implemented bythe Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• The project will involve close consultation with private nurseries, researchers, state governments, and growers’ associations to ensure its success and sustainability.
• The plant health management promoted through the project will also help farmers adapt to climate change, as rising temperatures not only cause extreme weather events but also affect pest and disease behaviour.
• This will be achieved through establishing clean plant centres dedicated to maintaining disease-free foundation materials. 
• These centres will feature laboratories equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic testing methods and will be staffed with experts who are trained in clean plant centre operating procedures and diagnostic testing protocols.
• The project will roll out a clean plant certification scheme, accrediting private nurseries, and testing and certifying their planting materials. 
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Handigodu disease

Tags: State News

Handigodu disease

Why in the news?

• Health and family welfare minister of Karnataka,Dinesh Gundu Rao directed the health department officials to undertake a scientific study of Handigodu disease and present a detailed report on its control measures.

About  Handigodu disease:

•  Handigodu disease, a rare genetic condition affecting the nervous system, leads to muscle weakness, joint deformities, and skeletal abnormalities. 
• The condition was initially discovered in 1978 in Handigodu village, Sagar taluk, Shivamogga district. 
• Statistical data indicates that between 1978 and 1985, approximately 205 cases were documented, with nearly 100 fatalities reported.
• The minister issued strict directives against unauthorised practitioners offering allopathic treatments, ordering the immediate closure of their clinics. 
• He additionally mandated free treatment and ambulance services at govt healthcare facilities. 
• New ambulances have been provided to340 health centres in the state. Special physiotherapy centres will be opened in all district hospitals in the state.

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates exhibition ‘Shunyata : Emptiness’

Tags: National News

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates exhibition ‘Shunyata : Emptiness’ 

Why in the news?

• Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the special exhibition ‘Shunyata: Emptiness’,  at theNational Museum, New Delhi.

Important points:

• Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasised that the profound Buddhist concept of ‘Shunyata’ is an epicentre of all the philosophical branches, which is somewhat misconceived as synonymous with voidness. 
•  Emptiness in philosophy and art could be perceived and appreciated within the visualisation of formlessness, which is also manifested in the Holy Relics of Buddha.
• It is a cohesive concept bracketing your existence that unites humanity, which is essential in the current state of geopolitical crisis on the global stage. 
• The exhibition effectively communicates the essence of ‘Shunyata : Emptiness,’ as presented in the early Buddhist foundational text, the Prajnaparamita Sutra, by showcasing this profound concept through early Indian and contemporary art.