News In Short 29-11-2024

Siddi Community

Syllabus: GS1/Tribal Population

Context

• Recently released film Rhythm of Dammam shines a light on the marginalised Siddi community.

About

• The Siddis are descendants of the Bantu populations of East and Central Africa.
• The ethnic group came to India through the slave trade centuries ago.
• The population resides primarily in five states (Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana), but the majority (90%) reside in Gujarat or Karnataka.
• The government of India has recognized the Siddi people as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in some regions.

Source: IE

Khelo India Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/ Government Schemes

In News

• The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports has updated the Rajya Sabha on implementation of Khelo India Scheme.

About Khelo India Scheme

• Brief: It is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, launched in 2016-17, with the aim of developing a sporting culture in India.
  • The Khelo India Scheme is being implemented in both rural and urban areas of the country.
  • The scheme has been revised n and extended for an additional five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Objective: It focuses on grassroots development, talent identification, and infrastructure development.
• Key Components: A national-level multi-discipline sports competition for school students.
  • Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) for providing State-of-the-art training facilities for young athletes.
  • Provides financial assistance to promising young athletes.
  • Encourages sports participation in universities and colleges.

Impact of Khelo India

• Increased Sports Participation among young people. 
• Talent Identification and nurturing young talent
• Development of world class Infrastructure
• Promotion of Sports culture

Source: PIB

International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN)

Syllabus: GS2/Health

In News

• The International Pathogen surveillance network announced the first round of grants towards understanding disease threats.
  • It supports low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in building capacity for pathogen genomic analysis to track and respond to disease threats.

About International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN)

• It is a global initiative led by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, aimed at advancing pathogen genomics and enhancing public health decision-making. 
• It focuses on monitoring and analyzing the genetic material of pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites to track their evolution, spread, and inform public health actions. 
• Importance : It fosters international collaboration, bringing together organizations with expertise in genomics and surveillance systems, to improve access, equity, and accelerate global efforts in pathogen genomic surveillance, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: TH

Punjab’s paddy procurement hits five-year low

Syllabus : GS3/Economy, Agriculture

In News

• Punjab is facing one of its lowest paddy procurements in the past five years despite the highest-ever area under rice cultivation.

About Paddy Cultivation – Paddy, also known as rice paddy, is primarily cultivated in southern and eastern Asia in irrigated fields with standing water.  – It is a semi-aquatic plant that thrives in tropical climates but can also be grown in subtropical and temperate regions. In India, paddy is cultivated almost year-round across three seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid, depending on factors like cultivar, climate, and water availability. – Conditions for paddy cultivation: Rainfall: Requires 750–1250 cm of annual rainfall. 1. Temperature: The ideal temperature is 30°C during the day and 20°C at night, though it can tolerate temperatures up to 40°C for short periods. – Paddy cultivation likely began between the 15th and 20th century B.C. in the Himalayan regions and is considered a key development in human history.  1. Rice is mentioned in ancient texts like the Yajur Veda.

Status in Punjab 

• Punjab is  a major contributor to India’s foodgrain pool and it has procured only 172.16 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy so far, falling short of the target of 185 LMT for the 2024-25 season, set by the central government.
• Several factors are responsible for this shortfall: 
  • Delayed Procurement: Early issues with rice mills led to delays, and some millers refused to store paddy, affecting the smooth procurement process.
  • Moisture Level Issues: Due to delayed harvesting, paddy’s moisture content dropped, resulting in lower yields. Farmers expected higher yields but faced losses of up to 5-6 quintals per acre.
  • Decline in Paddy from Other States: Restrictions on the transport of paddy from non-MSP states, which usually supplement Punjab’s procurement, further contributed to the shortfall.
  • Systemic Issues: The combination of procurement delays, lower yields, and policy changes led to a significant shortfall in procurement, affecting farmers’ earnings and Punjab’s contribution to the central grain pool.
• Impacts:  These combined challenges have led to a significant gap in paddy procurement, affecting farmers’ earnings and the state’s role in India’s grain supply.
• Suggestions:There is a need for  improving coordination between procurement agencies, transportation, and storage facilities, ensuring timely payments to arhtiyas (commission agents), and addressing labor demands will enhance the efficiency of the procurement process.

Source:IE

Pamban Rail Bridge

Syllabus: GS3/ Infrastructure

In News

• The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has raised serious concerns about the construction and design of the new Pamban Bridge.

Issues Highlighted

• The CRS report highlighted several glaring lapses like Non-adherence to Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) standards, Lack of Technical Advisory Group & Corrosion Concerns. 

About New Pamban Bridge

• The bridge is built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and connects the mainland Indian town of Mandapam with the pilgrimage island of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
• The original Pamban Bridge, completed in 1913 and began in 1914. The new Pamban Bridge is a state-of-the-art vertical lift bridge, allowing ships to pass underneath.
• The bridge plays a crucial role in connecting the mainland with the holy island of Rameswaram, a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus.

Pamban Island

• Location: Between India and Sri Lanka, in the Gulf of Mannar.
• Significance: The largest island in Tamil Nadu by area.
• Alternative Name: Also known as Rameswaram Island.
• Geographical Features: Part of a chain that includes Adam’s Bridge (Ram Setu) and Mannar Island.
  • Connected to the mainland by the Pamban Bridge.

Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS)

• The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) is a statutory authority in India under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, tasked with ensuring railway safety in the country.
• Headed by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS). Divided into nine circles. It reports to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for administrative purposes, but works independently of the Ministry of Railways.
• CRS is tasked with inspectorial, investigatory, and advisory functions as laid down in the Railway Act of 1989.
• The CRS’s jurisdiction spans the entire Indian Railways network.

Source: TH

Asian Development Bank (ADB) 

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors has unanimously elected Masato Kanda as ADB’s 11th President.

About Asian Development Bank (ADB) 

• Establishment: On 19th December 1966
• Objective: It is the principal international development finance institution for the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Supports projects in developing member countries that create economic growth and development impact.
• Focus areas include: Poverty reduction, Infrastructure development, regional integration.
• Membership: Total of 69 members (including 49 from Asia and the Pacific and 20 from outside the region).
  • India is a founding member and one of its largest borrowers.
• Shareholders: Japan and the United States hold the largest shares in ADB, each owning around 15.6% of the total subscribed capital.
  • ADB is run by a board of governors, which represents the member countries of the ADB.
• Sources of Funding: Mix of sources like by issuing bonds in international financial markets, contributions from member countries, income from interest on loans, investment income etc
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.

Source: AIR

K-4 Ballistic Missile

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• The Indian Navy successfully tested the K-4 ballistic missile from the INS Arighaat submarine, enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. 

About K-4 ballistic missile

• Development: K-4 or Kalam-4, code-named after former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, is a solid-fuelled nuclear capable ballistic missile developed by DRDO. 
• Range: Extending to 3,500 km 
• Nuclear triad: K-4 will strengthen India’s weakest leg of the nuclear triad. The land and air vectors, with the Agni ballistic missiles and fighter jets with nuclear gravity bombs, are relatively more robust.

Do you know? – The K-5, with a range of 5,000 km, is under development, promising to bridge the gap between regional and intercontinental strike capability.  – Simultaneously, efforts to field the K-6, a 6,000 km-range submarine-launched ballistic missile with MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) capability, are underway at DRDO’s Advanced Naval Systems unit in Hyderabad.

Source: TH