GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;
Fertilizer Application Awareness Program
Context
To make farmers aware of new developments in the field of fertilizer usage and management, the Union Minister inaugurated the bi-annual Fertilizer Application Awareness Program.
About
- The bi-annual Fertilizer Application Awareness Program was inaugurated at PUSA in Delhi.
- The event is organised jointly by the Union Ministry for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Union Ministry for Chemical and Fertilizers before Kharif and Rabi season each year with the help of State Governments.
Aim of the Program
- To disseminate knowledge to farmers on optimum usage of fertilizer nutrients based on various parameters to sustain agricultural productivity.
- To make farmers aware of new developments in the field of fertilizer usage and management.
Fertilizer Nutrients
- A fertilizer is any organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic material added to soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
- These fertilizers provide six macronutrients and eight micronutrients to the plants for well balanced growth.
Six macronutrients are-
- Nitrogen (N),
- Phosphorus (P),
- Potassium (K),
- Calcium (Ca),
- Magnesium (Mg),
- Sulfur (S);
Eight micronutrients are-
- Boron (B),
- Chlorine (Cl),
- Copper (Cu),
- Iron (Fe),
- Manganese (Mn),
- Molybdenum (Mo),
- Zinc (Zn)
- Nickel (Ni)
- The macronutrients are consumed in larger quantities and that is why they make the bulk of the fertilizers.
- For sustained agricultural growth and to promote balanced nutrient application, fertilizers need to be made available to farmers at affordable prices.
Controlled fertilizer in India
- Urea is the only controlled fertilizer in India.
- It is sold at statutory notified uniform sale price.
- The Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizes are under a decontrolled regime and are sold at indicative maximum retail prices (MRPs).
Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme for other fertilizers
Government of India is implementing Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy since 1st April 2010.
The key features of this scheme are-
- This scheme is for 22 grades of decontrolled fertilizers namely DAP, MAP, TSP, DAP Lite, MOP, SSP, Ammonium Sulphate and 15 grades of complex fertilizers.
- These fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in these fertilizers.
- Additional subsidy is also provided on the fertilizers fortified with secondary and micronutrients as per the Fertilizer Control Order such as Boron and Zinc.
- The subsidy given to the companies is fixed annually on the basis of its nutrients content.
- Under this scheme, Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of fertilizers has been left open and manufacturers/marketers are allowed to fix the MRP at reasonable level.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (PUSA)
About
- The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is commonly known as the Pusa Institute.
- It is India’s national Institute for agricultural research, education and extension.
- The name Pusa Institute is derived from the fact that the institute was originally located in Pusa Bihar as the Imperial Institute of Agricultural Research in 1911.
- It was then renamed as the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute in 1919 and following a major earthquake in Pusa, it was relocated to Delhi in 1936.
- The current institute in Delhi is financed and administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
- The IARI was responsible for the research leading to the “Green Revolution in India” of the 1970s.
GS- 2nd Paper
Topics– Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
Context
Many initiatives taken by KVIC in Goa.
About
- Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and Goa Government and have joined hands with an aim to generate employment opportunities in Goa.
- KVIC along with GOA Govt.distributed electric potter wheels to 160 families and new models Charkhas (spinning wheels) to 50 trained women.
- This will create direct employment to 700 people.
- KVIC is also establishing a Lijjat Papad unit in Goa, which will create 200 direct jobs to the local women.
- Further for the first time electric potter wheels have been given to replace the traditional potter wheel which was highly labour intensive and less efficient in terms of production.
- KVIC has already helped 1,000 people to get employment with these initiatives.
About Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
- The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of 1956, as amended by act of 1987 and Act of 2006.
- In April 1957, it took over the work of former All India Khadi and Village Industries Board.
Objectives
The broad objectives that the KVIC has set before it are-
- The social objective of providing employment.
- The economic objective of producing saleable articles.
- The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst the poor and building up of a strong rural community spirit.
Functions
- It is an apex organization under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries within India.
- It seeks to – plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
GS- 3rd Paper
Topic– Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
International workshop on Environmental Flows Assessment and Implementation for India
Context
Two-day International Workshop on Environmental Flows Assessment and Implementation for India held in New Delhi.
About
- International workshop on Environmental Flows Assessment and Implementation for India was inaugurated by Union Minister for Jal Shakti at Delhi.
- The exchange of Indian, European and International Experiences was brought together by National Mission of Clean Ganga (NMCG) along with the Indo-German Cooperation with its project “Support to Ganga Rejuvenation” (SGR).
- The deliberations in this workshop and further research work would help in coming up with advanced version of this e-flow guidance document in future.
Criticality of Ganga
- The Ganga provides a unique ecosystem, which is home to India’s National Aquatic animal the Gangetic Dolphin, as well as Gharials, turtles and several birds and other wild animals.
- Other rivers like Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi etc. are also crucial ecosystems and sources for ecosystem services for us and we need to protect these towards sustainability and equitable water use.
- Under the Namami Gange programme, serious efforts have been done for maintaining the continuous flow of Ganga.
India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP)
- In order to promote cooperation in the water sector, the European Union through the India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP) as well as the Indo-German Cooperation with its project “Support to Ganga Rejuvenation” (SGR) has brought together stakeholders, such as governmental institutions, businesses and the civil society.
- Currently, a guidance document on the “Assessment of Environmental Flows in India” is being developed as part of the IEWP Action Plan.
Significance of the international workshop
- The international workshop aims to assist in the e-flows implementation in India by answering the following questions-
- What are the overall aims and targets for e-flows assessment in India?
- What are the short- and long-term steps to implement e-flows according to the overall aims and targets.
For Prelims
Regional Labour conference
Context
Regional Labour conference held in Bhubaneswar.
Highlights
- Regional Labour conference held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- ‘Labour’ comes under Concurrent list and Central and State Governments makes coordinated efforts for welfare of workers.
- Regional Conferences help in creating better coordination between Central and State Governments.
- Central Labour Laws are framed by Central Government but States implement them and bring changes in them keeping in view their special geographical and demographic situation after consultation with the centre.
