PIB – November 01 , 2019


GS-3 Paper

Topic- Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country,

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

National Bamboo Mission (NBM)

Context

Three new Bamboo Technology Parks in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh would be set up in consonance with the National Bamboo Mission (NBM).

About National Bamboo Mission (NBM)

  • The mission was launched in April 2018. It aims to increase area under bamboo cultivation and also adopting region based strategies to promote bamboo products.
  • The NBM envisages promoting holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting area-based, regionally differentiated strategy and to increase the area under bamboo cultivation and marketing.
  • The NBM will be a sub-scheme of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under the umbrella scheme Krishonnati Yojana.

Objective of NBM

  • To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change as well as availability of quality raw material for industries.
  • To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of production, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.
  • To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.
  • To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India.
  • To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to market demand.
  • To re-align efforts so as to reduce dependency on import of bamboo and bamboo products by way of improved productivity and suitability of domestic raw material for industry, so as to enhance income of the primary producers.

Funding

  • 60:40 between Centre and State Govt. for all States (excepting NE & Hilly states),
  • 90:10 for the NE & Hilly States,
  • 100% for Union Territories/R&D Institutes/Bamboo Technology Support Groups (BTSGs) and National Level Agencies.

Why NBM is needed?

  • In India Bamboo covers 13.96 million hectares.
  • The mission has special cover the North Eastern States.
  • They encourage Bamboo cultivation to make sure the grass is available in the manufacturing process of Bamboo handicrafts.
  • Apart from North Eastern Regions, the mission is also spread across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.

GS- 2nd Paper

TopicBilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Context

Raksha Mantri to participate in SCO meeting and bilateral engagements in Uzbekistan.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
  • It was created 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China).
  • The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.
  • The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
  • Founding members of SCO were-
  1. The Republic of Kazakhstan,
  2. The People’s Republic of China,
  3. The Kyrgyz Republic,
  4. The Russian Federation,
  5. The Republic of Tajikistan,
  6. The Republic of Uzbekistan.
  • It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.

History

  • Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five, Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001.
  • Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders.
  • Uzbekistan joined the organisation in 2001, following this the Shanghai Five was renamed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
  • India and Pakistan became members in 2017.

Member Countries

Now, SCO is comprised of Eight Member countries. Namely-

  1. Kazakhstan
  2. China
  3. Kyrgyzstan
  4. Russia
  5. Tajikistan
  6. Uzbekistan
  7. India
  8. Pakistan

Objectives of SCO

  • Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states;
  • Promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas;
  • Making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region;
  • Moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.

GS- 2nd Paper

Topic Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Context

MNRE Hosts 2nd Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 31 October in New Delhi.

About 2nd Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA)

  • 2nd Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) is being held in New Delhi.
  • India is the President of International Solar Alliance.
  • Delegations from 78 countries are participating in this Assembly.
  • The Assembly also has participation from important ISA Partners, and other invitees.
  • Two countries – Eritrea and St. Kittis and Nevis, signed the framework agreement of ISA.
  • With this 83 countries have signed the ISA framework agreement.

About International Solar Alliance

  • International Solar Alliance was launched in 2015.
  • The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 122 countries initiated by India.
  • ISA is a coalition of solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn to specifically address energy needs by harnessing solar energy.
  • The Paris Declaration establishes ISA as an alliance dedicated to the promotion of solar energy among its member countries.
  • ISA brings together countries with rich solar potential to aggregate global demand, thereby reducing prices through bulk purchase.
  • It facilitates the deployment of existing solar technologies at scale, and promoting collaborative solar R&D and capacity building.

Secretariat

  • India and France jointly laid the foundation stone of ISA Headquarters.
  • They inaugurated the interim Secretariat of the ISA in National Institute of Solar Energy campus, Gurugram, Haryana.

Objectives

  • The ISA’s major objectives include global deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity and mobilisation of investment of over US$ 1000 billion into solar energy by 2030.

For Prelims

Bamboo Technology Park

Context

Bamboo Technology Parks to be set up in the two new UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Highlights

  • Bamboo Technology Parks would be set up in the two new Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) under North Eastern Council (NEC) will implement the project.
  • The model for bamboo cultivation, harvesting and utilisation currently existing in the North Eastern Region shall be replicated in the two new Union Territories to give a fillip to the sector.
  • The project for setting up three new Bamboo Technology Parks in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh would be in consonance with the National Bamboo Mission (NBM).
  • A Bamboo Industrial Park has already been approved to be set up in the Dima Hasao district of Assam.

Gottiprolu, Andhra Pradesh – a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period

Context

Excavation by Archaeological Survey of India in Gottiprolu, Andhra Pradesh indicate it as a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period.

Highlights

  • ‘Gottiprolu’is near Naidupeta in Nellore (now renamed as Sri Potti Sri Ramulu) district, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Gottiprolu, lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi.
  • Here ASI has discovered the remains of a huge settlement surrounded by a massive brick enclosure.
  • One life size Vishnu sculpture and a wide variety of pottery of the early centuries of current era are also unearthed.
  • The most outstanding discovery is of massive sized brick enclosure wall at the southern part of the mound.

Exercise Shakti-2019

Context

Indo-French Joint Exercise Shakti-2019 commenced.

Highlights

  • ‘Exercise SHAKTI’ between India and France commenced in year 2011.
  • It’s a biennial exercise and is conducted alternately in India and France.
  • The bilateral training exercise will be conducted at Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
  • The joint exercise will focus on Counter Terrorism operations in backdrop of semi-desert terrain under United Nations Mandate.
  • The training will focus primarily on high degree of physical fitness, sharing of drill at tactical level and learning of best practices from each other.
  • The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the two Armies.

First Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh

Highlights

  • Shri Radha Krishna Mathur sworn in as first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.

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