PIB Summary- 20th March, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

India’s maize exports

Context

Increase in India’s maize exports.

Maize cultivation

• Maize is regarded worldwide as the “queen of cereals”. It is one of the most important cereal crops in India after rice and wheat.
• It is extensively cultivated in States like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Maharastra.
• Maize has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals and is highly adaptable to various climatic changes.
• Maize is used as a staple food for humans and animals, it is also used as a raw material in the production of starch, oil, alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textile, gum, paper industries, etc.

Trends in export of Maize in India

• The export of maize has clocked an all-time high of USD 816.31 million in the fiscal year 2021-22.
• Maize became a major foreign exchange earner under the commodities covered under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela

Context

The 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela was inaugurated.

Surajkund International Crafts Mela

• The Mela was first organized in 1987 to showcase the richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms, and the cultural heritage of India.
• It is organised jointly by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in association with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, External Affairs and Government of Haryana.
  (i) Surajkund is located in Faridabad (Haryana) and is close to South Delhi.
• The Mela provides a platform for thousands of craftsmen from across the country to showcase their arts and products to a wider audience.
• The Mela gives opportunities to showcase talent and encourages people to preserve India’s rich heritage & culture.

35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela

• The ‘Theme State’ of the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2022 is Jammu & Kashmir.
  (i) The unique culture and rich heritage in various art forms and handicrafts from the state will be on display.
• More than 30 countries will be a part of the 35th edition of the Mela.
• Uzbekistan will be the partner country.
• Apart from Jammu & Kashmir, art forms from other states will be displayed such as;
  (i) Kacchi Ghodi, Stick walker, Kalbelia, Behrupia – Rajasthan
  (ii) Kangri Nati – Himachal Pradesh
  (iii) Bihu – Assam
  (iv) Bhangra, Jindua, Jhoomer – Punjab
  (v) Chapeli – Uttarakhand
  (vi) Barsana ki Holi – Uttar Pradesh
  (vii) Wangia – Meghalaya
  (viii) Sambalpuri – Odisha
  (ix) Badhai – Madhya Pradesh
  (x) Lawni – Maharashtra

Ethanol production in India

Context

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has asked the sugar factories to make a shift to the conversion of sugar into ethanol.

Details

• The Minister noted that India is a rice-surplus, corn-surplus and sugar-surplus country.
• The Minister warned the sugar producers that the excess production of sugar will have adverse effects on the industry as well as the economy.
• The Minister suggested the producers to cut down the production of sugar and increase the production of Ethanol.

Significance of Ethanol

• Ethanol is considered to be a green and clean fuel
• Currently, India is producing about 465 crore litres of ethanol.
  (i) With the implementation of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (E-20 programme), India would be able to produce around 1,500 crore litres.
• The economics of ethanol is superior to that of vehicles run by diesel or petrol.
• The use of ethanol will help in ethanol import-substitution and adopting cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous solutions.
• There is a significant increase in the number of flexible-fuel vehicles or flex-engine vehicles which are capable of running on more than one fuel, usually running a mixture of petrol and ethanol, or even 100% ethanol.  
• India is also exploring ways to use ethanol in the aviation industry.
• Extensive production of ethanol in India will also help to tap the wide market abroad through exports.

Women Transforming India Awards

Context

NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is organising the fifth edition of the Women Transforming India Awards (WTI)

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

• Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is a portal that aims to catalyse the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women and address information asymmetry.
• Its objective is to build a vibrant ecosystem for women-led enterprises.
• The platform also strengthens the industry linkages and spreads awareness about the existing programmes and services.
• About 900 women entrepreneurs have been benefited through the 77 programmes hosted on the platform.
• The platform also played a key role during the Covid pandemic by conducting webinars to assist businesses of women entrepreneurs like the “Masking It Up campaign”, whereby support was extended to women-led small businesses in India that were impacted due to the pandemic.

Women Transforming India Awards (WTI)

• Women Transforming India Awards is an annual initiative of NITI Aayog that highlights the commendable and ground-breaking endeavours of India’s women leaders and change-makers.
• As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence, the WTI Awards will be conferred to 75 women achievers to celebrate their contribution towards a ‘Sashakt Aur Samarth Bharat’.
• The awards will be conferred to women based on their contribution in various fields such as;
  (i) Public and Community Service
  (ii) Manufacturing Sector
  (iii) Non-manufacturing Sector
  (iv) Financial Products enabling Economic Growth
  (v) Climate Action
  (vi) Promote Art, Culture and Handicrafts
  (vii) Digital Innovation