Daily Current Affairs : 4-Mar-2020
Major Topics Covered :
NATIONAL INTERLINKING OF RIVER AUTHORITY
BLACK CARBON LEVELS SPIKE AT HIMALAYAN GLACIERS
STEPS FOR DOUBLING FARMER INCOME
CALCULATING MSP
BANKING REGULATION (AMENDMENT) BILL
NATIONAL INTERLINKING OF RIVER AUTHORITY
Why in news?
The central government is working on the establishment of an exclusive body to implement projects for interlinking rivers.
Highlights:
To be called the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA), the proposed body is expected to take up both inter-State and intra-State projects.
It will also make arrangements for generating funds, internally and externally.
The proposal for an apex body on river linking has been under discussion for the past 18 months. However, the official said that as of now, no specific timeline has been determined for the constitution of the Authority. Also, the earlier idea of framing a Bill, envisaging the creation of the NIRA, is not being pursued now.
Source : HINDU
BLACK CARBON LEVELS SPIKE AT HIMALAYAN GLACIERS
Why in news?
Black carbon concentrations near the Gangotri glacier has risen 400 times.
Highlights:
Black carbon concentrations near the Gangotri glacier rose 400 times in summer due to forest fires and stubble burning from agricultural waste, and triggered glacial melt, says a study by scientists at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG).
The monthly mean concentration of EBC (equivalent black carbon) was found to be minimum in August and maximum in the month of May. The observed seasonal mean concentrations of EBC indicated a pristine glacial source and an absence of EBC sources in the locality
Black carbon results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. The fine particles absorb light and about a million times more energy than carbon dioxide. It is said to be the second largest contributor to climate change after CO2. But unlike CO2, which can stay in the atmosphere for years together, black carbon is short-lived and remains in the atmosphere only for days to weeks, before it descends as rain or snow.
India is the second largest emitter of black carbon in the world, with emissions expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades, says an April 2019 study in the journal Atmospheric Research, with the Indo Gangetic plains said to be the largest contributor.
Source : Hindu
STEPS FOR DOUBLING FARMER INCOME
Why in news?
Empowered body on doubling farmer income which was created to study the report of the Inter-ministerial committee on doubling farmer income has submitted its report.
Highlights:
The Committee has identified seven sources of income
Improvement in crop productivity;
Improvement in livestock productivity;
Resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production;
Increase in the cropping intensity;
Diversification towards high value crops;
Improvement in real prices received by farmers; and
Shift from farm to non-farm occupations.
Source : PIB
CALCULATING MSP
Why in news?
The Union Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep MSP at levels of one and half times of the cost of production.
Highlights :
Government fixes Minimum Support Price (MSP) on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Government has increased the MSP for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops with a return of atleast 50 per cent of cost of production for the agricultural year 2018-19 and 2019-20.
The Government is working on market architecture so as to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices on their produce. These include setting up of Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) with a view to promote 22,000 number of retail markets in close proximity of farm gate; competitive and transparent wholesale trade at APMC through e-NAM.
The recently launched Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)” provides for a holistic arrangement for assurance of a remunerative price for farmers. This Umbrella Scheme comprises Price Support Scheme (PSS) for pulses, oilseeds and copra, Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS) for oilseeds to ensure MSP to the farmers.
Source : PIB
#SheInspiresUsCampaign
Why in news?
On the occasion of Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be handing over his social media accounts “to women whose life, work inspire us”. The Prime Minister made an announcement on his Twitter handle, as he launched the She Inspires Us campaign.
Highlights :
As part of the campaign, Modi will hand over his social media handles to selected women who will share things about a better India.
While the idea is good, it is being criticised for being ill-timed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Source : PIB
BANKING REGULATION (AMENDMENT) BILL
Why in news?
The government has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to protect small depositors by bringing co-operative banks under the RBI’s regulations.
Highlights :
It will bring co-operative banks under the RBI’s regulation.
It is to avoid PMC bank like crisis in the future.
The Bill proposes to bring co-operative banks on a par with the developments in the banking sector through better management to ensure that the affairs of such banks are conducted in a manner that protects depositors
It further proposes to strengthen co-operative banks by increasing professionalism, enabling access to capital, improving governance, and ensuring sound banking through the RBI.
Source : BUSINESSLINE