Facts in News

                                    Facts in News

Uighurs

• The Uighurs are a predominantly Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group, whose origins can be traced to Central and East Asia.
• Their native region is considered to be the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of China.
• The Uighurs are considered to be one of the 55 officially recognized ethnic minority communities in China.
• However, China recognises the community only as a regional minority and rejects that they are an indigenous group.
• Currently, while the largest population of the ethnic community lives in the Xinjiang region, which is tightly controlled by China.
• A significant diaspora of Uighurs resides in the neighbouring Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Mission Sagar-IV

• As part of Mission Sagar – IV, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa arrived at Port Ehoala, Madagascar to deliver a consignment of one thousand  Metric Tonne of rice and one lakh Hydroxychloroquine tablets in response to an appeal made by Madagascar for assistance to deal with natural calamities.
  • Earlier, as part of Mission Sagar-I, In May-June 2020, the Indian Navy had delivered essential medicines to the nation.
• About Mission Sagar
  • Mission Sagar was India’s initiative to deliver Covid-19 related assistance to the countries in the Indian Ocean region.
  • In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region’.
  • SAGAR was launched in 2015 to deepen economic and security cooperation.  

PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme

• Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in partnership with the State/ UT Governments, has launched an all India Centrally Sponsored PM FME Scheme for providing financial, technical and business support for up-gradation of existing micro food processing units in the country.
• The scheme was approved by the Cabinet in May 2020
• Objectives

• Increase in access to finance by micro food processing units.
• Increase in revenues of target enterprises.
• Enhanced compliance with food quality and safety standards.

Parosmia

• Parosmia is a medical term used to describe a condition in which affected individuals experience “distortions of the sense of smell”.
• A person with parosmia is able to detect certain odours, but they might experience the smell of certain things as different and often unpleasant.
• For instance, to someone with parosmia, coffee may smell like burnt toast.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) Scheme

• It came in effect from 1st January 2021.
• It replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
• Issued in the form of transferable duty credit or electronic scrips (any substitute for legal tender) which will be maintained via an electronic ledger.
• Objective: To boost exports which were relatively poor in volume previously.
• Features
  • Refund of the previously non-refundable duties and taxes.
  • Automated system of credit.
  • Quick verification through digitisation.
  • Multi-sector scheme.
  • Compliant with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) norms.
• Eligibility to Obtain Benefits
  • All sectors, including the textiles sector, can benefit.
    • Labor-intensive sectors will be given priorities.
  • Manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters (traders) are both eligible.
  • No particular turnover threshold to claim the RoDTEP.
  • Re-exported products are not eligible.
  • Exported products need to have the country of origin as India to be eligible.
  • Special Economic Zone Units and Export Oriented Units are also eligible.
  • Applies to goods exported via courier through e-commerce platforms.

Periodic Labour Force Surveys (PLFSs)

• India’s first computer-based survey.
• Launched by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2017 and is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• It has been constituted based on recommendation of Committee on Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) under the Chairpersonship of Professor Amitabh Kundu.
• Objective
  • To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (Worker Population Ratio, Unemployment Rate, etc.) in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
  • To estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both usual status and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.

Freedom Pineapple Campaign

• It has been started by the President of Taiwan to counter China’s ban on import of Taiwanese pineapples.
  • China banned the import of pineapples from Taiwan in March 2021 with allegation of risk of pests.
• It aims to attract more consumers to buy and consume the fruit locally as well as globally.
• A social media campaign with the hashtag “#FreedomPineapple” has been launched to gather global attention and support.
• Taiwan exports almost 10% of pineapples it grows annually, with most of the exports going to China.

                     (Image Courtesy: IE)