PIB Summary- 23rd July, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)

About NMOOP

• The National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) was launched by the Government of India in 2014-15 with an aim to boost the production of oilseeds in the country.
• The NMOOP was launched under Mini Missions (MM) I, II & III to achieve the following specific targets:
  • Under the MM–I, the mission aims to increase the production of oilseeds to 35.51 million tonnes from the current average production of 28.93 million tonnes of oilseeds.
  • Under the MM–II, the mission’s target is to broaden the area for oil palm cultivation and boost the production of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) from 4927 kg/ha to 15,000 kg/ha.
  • MM–III envisages to strengthen the seed collection of Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) such as olive, sal, mahua, kokum, wild apricot, Tung, etc., from 9 lakh tonnes to 14 lakh tonnes and provide best planting materials for the expanded areas.
• India is one of the major oilseeds growers and importers of edible oils. India’s vegetable oil economy is the world’s fourth largest after the USA, China & Brazil.
• A substantial portion of India’s requirement of edible oil is met through import of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia.
• It is, therefore, necessary to exploit domestic resources to maximize production to ensure edible oil security for the country.
• The strategy to implement the Mission includes:
  • Increasing Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) with focus on Varietal Replacement
  • Increasing irrigation coverage under oilseeds from 26% to 36%
  • Diversification of area from low yielding cereal crops to oilseed crops
  • Inter-cropping of oilseeds with cereals/pulses/sugarcane
  • Use of fallow land after paddy/potato cultivation
  • Expansion of cultivation of Oil Palm & TBOs in watersheds and wastelands
  • Increasing availability of quality planting materials of Oil Palm & TBOs
  • Enhancing procurement of oilseeds and collection & processing of TBOs
• The fund allotted under the mission is shared between the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 75:25 and is released to the Department of Agriculture/Horticulture of the State Governments.

Alexander Dalrymple Award

Details

• The Alexander Dalrymple Award has been named after the first hydrographer of the Admiralty and was instituted in 2006.
• India’s chief hydrographer, Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar, was honoured with the award in recognition of his leadership in the disciplines of hydrography and nautical cartography.

About the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt. of India

• The Chief Hydrographer heads the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) which is an Indian government agency responsible for hydrographic surveys and nautical charting in India.
• INHD’s headquarters National Hydrographic Office is located in Dehradun.
  • The department is also responsible for making electronic navigational charts officially on behalf of the government of India.
  • It was formed in 1954 although its origins date back to 1874 when the Indian Marine Survey Department was established in Calcutta.
  • Objectives of the INHD:
    • Carryout accurate hydrographic surveys.
    • Ensure availability of genuine, accurate and up-to-date navigational products to mariners.
    • Provide hydrographic services to National and International agencies and Public as well as Private sector undertakings.
    • Provide quality training in the field of Hydrography.
    • Ensure total satisfaction to the users of its products.
    • Extend cooperation in the field of Hydrography to the maritime states in the region.

United Nation’s Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation

Details

• India has scored 90.32% in United Nation’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) latest Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.
• This is a remarkable jump from 78.49% in 2019.
• After evaluation of 143 economies, the 2021 Survey has highlighted India’s significant improvement in the scores on all 5 key indicators, as follows:
  • Transparency: 100% in 2021 (from 93.33% in 2019)
  • Formalities: 95.83% in 2021 (from 87.5% in 2019)
  • Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation: 88.89% in 2021 (from 66.67% in 2019)
  • Paperless Trade: 96.3% in 2021 (from 81.48% in 2019)
  • Cross-Border Paperless Trade: 66.67% in 2021 (from 55.56% in 2019)
• India is the best performing country when compared to South and South West Asia region (63.12%) and Asia Pacific region (65.85%).
• The overall score of India has also been found to be greater than many OECD countries including France, UK, Canada, Norway, Finland, etc. and the overall score is greater than the average score of EU.
• India has achieved a 100% score for the Transparency index and 66% in the “Women in trade” component.

United Nation’s Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation

• The Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation is conducted every two years by UNESCAP.
• The 2021 Survey includes an assessment of 58 trade facilitation measures covered by the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
• The survey is important as it evidences whether or not the trade facilitation measures being taken have the desired impact and helps draw comparison amongst countries.
• A higher score for a country also helps businesses in their investment decisions.

Disease Eradication Programmes under Union Health Ministry

Context: The Government is implementing 3 disease eradication programmes namely, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP), National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) and National TB Elimination programme (NTEP).

National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP)

• Under this, 3 diseases namely Malaria, Filaria & Kala-Azar are under elimination programme.
• These diseases are targeted for elimination, and not for eradication.
• Eradication of the disease is the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidences of infection caused by a specific agent as a result of deliberate efforts; and when intervention measures are no longer needed.
• However, vector borne diseases (VBDs) are caused by vectors and vectors are climate sensitive and ecologically driven.
• Vectors are affected by temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc. and, therefore, it is not possible to eradicate the VBDs completely from the world.

Diseases targeted for elimination are malaria, lymphatic filariasis, kala-azar, leprosy and tuberculosis.

About Leprosy

• Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a bacterial disease that affects the skin and nerves leading to physical deformity and disability if left untreated.
• Despite a centuries-long stigma, it is not hereditary, it is completely curable, and is only mildly infectious – more than 85% of cases are non-infectious and over 95% of the population has a natural immunity to the disease.
• Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to 20 years.
• Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin and eyes.
• This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds. Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present.
• Leprosy is one of the world’s oldest diseases with India accounting for 60% of annual new cases.
• In 2005, it was officially declared eliminated as a public health concern in India. This was when the new cases fell to less than 1 per 10,000. Yet, India accounts for the largest number of leprosy-affected people in the world.