1. Center sets up committee to monitor tur stock
Tags: committee National News
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The Department of Consumer Affairs on 27 March constituted a committee to monitor the stock of Tur (Arhar) held by importers, millers, traders, and other such entities.
An overview of the news
This committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
A committee will monitor the stock of Arhar in coordination with state governments.
The decision was taken following reports that traders were not selling the pigeon pea stock in the market despite a good quantity of imports.
The Government is also closely monitoring the stock position in the domestic market to take necessary measures in case of an unexpected increase in the prices of pulses in the coming months.
The Government had issued an advisory to the States/UTs on August 12, 2022, to implement stock disclosure in respect of Toor under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Hike of Toor prices
According to the ministry’s data, the all-India daily average retail price of Tur was recorded at Rs 114.44 per kg on 27 March, 2023, which was 11.47 per cent higher than a year ago.
The all-India daily average wholesale price of Tur was recorded at Rs 10,462.03 per quintal, which was 12.48 per cent higher than a year ago.
2. PM Modi inaugurated Whitefield (Kadugodi) for Krishnarajapura Metro Line
Tags: National
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On March 26, PM Modi inaugurated the new metro line connecting Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapuram.
An Overview of the News
- The inauguration was seen as a boost to 'Ease of Living' for the people of Bengaluru.
- The new metro line is expected to reduce travel time and improve connectivity in the area.
- The Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapura Metro line is a part of the Namma Metro project in Bengaluru.
- The project was completed at a cost of about Rs 4,200 crore.
- The metro line extends over a distance of 15.5 km and has 14 stations.
About Namma Metro Project
- Namma Metro is a rapid transit system, also known as Bangalore Metro.
- The project was launched in 2005 with the goal of providing a safe, efficient and sustainable means of public transport for the city's growing population.
- The first phase of the project was completed in 2017 and consists of two lines: the Green Line and the Purple Line.
- The Green Line runs from Nagasandra in the northwest to Yelachenahalli in the south, while the Purple Line runs from Baiyappanahalli in the east to Mysore Road in the west.
- The second phase of the project is currently under construction and will add an additional 72.1 km of track to the network.
- The second phase will include the expansion of both the Green and Purple Lines as well as two new lines, the Yellow and Blue Lines.
3. India summons Canadian High Commissioner over actions of separatist elements
Tags: International Relations
The Government of India summoned the High Commissioner of Canada on 26 March 2023 and the purpose of the summons was to express strong concern over the actions of separatist and extremist elements against India's diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada.
An Overview of the News
The Government of India sought an explanation on how such elements were able to breach the security of diplomatic missions and consulates despite the presence of the police.
The Government of India requested that the Government of Canada arrest and prosecute individuals who have already been identified as having been involved in such acts.
India's Ministry of External Affairs expects the Government of Canada to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of diplomats and the security of diplomatic premises.
About Canada
Geography: Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area. It shares a border with the United States to the south.
Government: Canada is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II.
Languages: Canada has two official languages, English and French. French is primarily spoken in the province of Quebec, while English is the most widely spoken language in the rest of the country.
Culture: Hockey is considered the national sport of Canada, and the country is also known for its winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.
Nature: Some of the country's most famous natural sites include Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, and the Canadian Rockies.
Capital - Ottawa
Prime Minister - Justin Trudeau
Currency - Canadian Dollar
4. PM Modi launched ‘Call Before u Dig’ app
Tags: National National News
The Prime Minister on 22 March launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) app, to tackle Uncoordinated digging and excavation.
An overview of the news
The mobile application is an initiative of the Department of Telecom, Ministry of Communications.
It aims to prevent damage to underlying assets such as optical fiber cables, which is caused by unorganized quarrying and mining, which leads to a loss of about Rs 3,000 crore every year.
This will save potential business losses due to lesser disruption of essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity and reduce the inconvenience caused to citizens.
The app will connect excavators and property owners so that planned excavation can be carried out in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.
Significance
The App will save potential business loss and minimise discomfort to the citizens due to reduced disruption in essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity.
5. PM Modi launched ‘Call Before u Dig’ app
Tags: National National News
The Prime Minister on 22 March launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) app, to tackle Uncoordinated digging and excavation.
An overview of the news
The mobile application is an initiative of the Department of Telecom, Ministry of Communications.
It aims to prevent damage to underlying assets such as optical fiber cables, which is caused by unorganized quarrying and mining, which leads to a loss of about Rs 3,000 crore every year.
This will save potential business losses due to lesser disruption of essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity and reduce the inconvenience caused to citizens.
The app will connect excavators and property owners so that planned excavation can be carried out in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.
Significance
The App will save potential business loss and minimise discomfort to the citizens due to reduced disruption in essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity.
6. AFSPA removed from most areas of North Eastern states
Tags: National National News
Centre has decided to further reduce the jurisdiction of ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
An overview of the news
The decision has been taken in view of the significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India.
Compared to 2014, there has been a 76 percent reduction in extremist incidents in 2022.
During this period, there has been a 90 percent reduction in the deaths of security personnel and 97 percent in the deaths of civilians.
Earlier, in a historic move, the Center brought down the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 2022 under AFSPA.
What is AFSPA?
Armed Forces Special Powers Act, (AFSPA),1958, gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas.”
It came into force decades ago in the context of insurgency in the northeastern states.
It provides "special powers" to the army, air force and central paramilitary forces.
The Act provides that if "reasonable suspicion exists", the armed forces may also arrest any person without warrant; May enter or search premises without warrant and prohibit possession of firearms.
What are the Disturbed Areas?
A disturbed area means which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.
A region may be disturbed because of differences or disputes between members of different, racial, religious, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
The Central Government or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory have power to declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.
7. AFSPA removed from most areas of North Eastern states
Tags: National National News
Centre has decided to further reduce the jurisdiction of ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
An overview of the news
The decision has been taken in view of the significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India.
Compared to 2014, there has been a 76 percent reduction in extremist incidents in 2022.
During this period, there has been a 90 percent reduction in the deaths of security personnel and 97 percent in the deaths of civilians.
Earlier, in a historic move, the Center brought down the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 2022 under AFSPA.
What is AFSPA?
Armed Forces Special Powers Act, (AFSPA),1958, gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas.”
It came into force decades ago in the context of insurgency in the northeastern states.
It provides "special powers" to the army, air force and central paramilitary forces.
The Act provides that if "reasonable suspicion exists", the armed forces may also arrest any person without warrant; May enter or search premises without warrant and prohibit possession of firearms.
What are the Disturbed Areas?
A disturbed area means which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.
A region may be disturbed because of differences or disputes between members of different, racial, religious, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
The Central Government or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory have power to declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.
8. Bhupender Yadav launches Aravalli Green Wall Project
Tags: Environment National News
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the Aravalli Green Wall Project on March 26 at Tikli village in Haryana in a program organized on the occasion ofInternational Forest Day.
An overview of the news
The project will increase the green cover and biodiversity of Aravallis through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies.
It will also improve soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region.
The project will benefit the local communities by providing them withemployment opportunities, income generation and ecosystem services.
The objective of this initiative is to green a buffer zone of about 5 km of Aravalli mountain range spread over five states.
75 water sources will be rejuvenated under the project, starting with five water sources in each district of the Aravalli landscape on March 25.
The project will also involve massive tree plantation drive and conservation of water resources in the Aravalli region.
The project will cover barren land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari districts of Haryana.
About Aravali Green Wall Project
The project is part of the Union Forest Ministry's vision of creating green corridors across the country to combat land degradation and desertification.
The project covers the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi where the Aravalli hills are spread over an area of 6 million hectares.
The project will involve rejuvenation and restoration of ponds, lakes and rivers as well as planting of native species of trees and shrubs on scrub, barren land and degraded forest land.
The project will also focus on agro-forestry and grassland development to enhance the livelihood of local communities.
About Aravalli Range
It extends from Himmatnagar in Gujarat to Delhi for a distance of about 720 km, which extends to Haryana and Rajasthan.
It is thousands of years old, formed when the Indian subcontinental plate collided with the mainland of the Eurasian plate.
According to carbon dating, copper and other metals were mined in the Aravalli range around the 5th century BCE.
Its height is between 300 m to 900 m.
Its highest peak is Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) on Mount Abu.
9. Government hikes raw jute MSP Rs 300 to Rs 5,050 per quintal
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 24 March increased the minimum support price (MSP) of raw jute by Rs 300 to Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season.
An overview of the news
The approval is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
The MSP of Raw Jute (TD-3 equivalent to earlier TD-5 grade) has been fixed at Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season.
The announced MSP for raw jute for the 2023-24 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production announced by the Government in the Budget for 2018-19.
It assures a minimum of 50 per cent as profit margin.
This is one of the important and progressive steps towards ensuring better remunerative returns to the jute growers and promoting quality jute fibre.
The Jute Corporation of India shall continue as the nodal agency of the Central Government to conduct price support operations and the loss, if any, incurred in such operations shall be fully reimbursed by the Central Government.
What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?
MSP is the rate at which the government buys food grains from farmers.
This is based on the calculation of at least one and a half times the cost of production incurred by the farmers.
The Government of India fixes the MSP for 24 items twice a year.
When the market price falls below the declared MSP, the government buys food grains from the farmers at the MSP rate.
Who decides MSP?
The MSP price is calculated by an expert committee under the ministry of Agriculture.
The expert committee is called CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Price).
It recommends the MSP to the Agricultural ministry and the ministry announces the MSP.
However the Agricultural Ministry is not bound to accept the recommendation of the CACP.
10. ISRO launches heaviest rocket LMV-3
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 26 March successfully launched India’s largest Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) rocket/OneWeb India-2 Mission with 36 satellites onboard from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
An overview of the news
The LVM-III will deploy 36 satellites of the UK-based Network Access Associated Ltd (OneWeb) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The OneWeb Group Company has inked a contract with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd to launch 72 satellites into LEO.
The first satellite deployment collaboration between the two organisations took place in October 2022 with ISRO launching 36 satellites of OneWeb.
In the second mission on 26 March, the remaining 36 satellites, each weighing approximately 5805 kg, were placed into a circular low Earth orbit of 450 km by the LVM3 M3 launch vehicle.
LVM3 had five consecutive successful missions including the Chandrayaan 2 mission.
About OneWeb
OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments and businesses.
Bharti Enterprises is a major investor in OneWeb group.
After the SSLV-D2/EOS07 mission in February, the OneWeb India-2 Mission is ISRO’s second successful launch this year.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
It was established on 15 August 1969.
It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Headquarter: Bengaluru
Chairman: S Somnath
