UPSC Daily Current Affairs : 27-April-2020
Topic Covered :
Assam’s BTAD might see governor’s rule
Pitch black 2020
One Health initiative
Yemen separatists declare self-rule in south
Wheat Crop
ASSAM’S BTAD MIGHT SEE GOVERNOR’S RULE
Why in news?
The COVID-19 pandemic may earn Governor’s rule for the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in Assam.
Highlights:
The State’s Governor is the constitutional head of the BTAD that falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and is administered by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
The BTAD covers four districts of western and northern Assam.
Elections were scheduled to be held for the BTC on April 4 but was deferred indefinitely in view of the pandemic. The council’s current term expires on April 27.
Most of the political parties have asked for not extending the tenure.
Features of Bodo Peace Accord, 2020 :
Bodoland territorial Area Districts (BTAD) spread over four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri will be renamed as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
1500 armed cadres will abjure violence and join the mainstream.
A Special Development Package Rs. 1500 crores over three years
Promote and protect Bodo's social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities
Provide legislative protection for the land rights of tribals
Ensure quick development of tribal areas and rehabilitate members of NDFB factions.
A separate commission under section 14 of the sixth schedule will be created to recommend the inclusion or exclusion of tribal populations residing in villages adjoining BTAD area.
A Bodo Kachari welfare council be created.
Assam government will notify Bodo language as an associate official language in the state and will set up a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools.
More legislative, executive. Administrative and financial powers will be given to BTC.
Bodos living in the hills would be conferred a Scheduled Hill Tribe status.
The state government will give Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives during the agitation for a separate state.
Source : Hindu ( https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/coronavirus-pandemic-may-earn-governors-rule-for-assams-btad/article31438544.ece )
PITCH BLACK 2020
Why in news?
Australia has informed India that its premier multilateral air combat training exercise — Pitch Black 2020— scheduled from July 27 to August 14 has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation
Highlights:
The exercise is an opportunity to interact with forces from across the globe. The next edition of Pitch Black is scheduled for 2022.
In the last edition of Pitch Black in 2018, the IAF for the first time deployed fighter aircraft which it had said would “provide a unique opportunity for exchange of knowledge and experience with these nations in a dynamic warfare environment”.
The defence and strategic engagement with Australia has steadily gone up in recent years especially on the bilateral front with naval cooperation at the forefront.
The bilateral naval exercise AUSINDEX early last year saw participation of the largest Australian contingent ever to India with over 1,000 personnel.
Source : Hindu ( https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/covid-19-australia-cancels-premier-multilateral-air-combat-training-exercise/article31437582.ece )
ONE HEALTH INITIATIVE
Why in news?
Recently, to deal with zoonotic diseases, a need to operationalize “OneHealth’ policy in India was highlighted. Presently, India is dealing with coronavirus (COVID-19). The virus appears to have its origin in bats.
Highlights:
One Health is "the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment", as defined by the One Health Initiative Task Force (OHITF).
The areas of work in which a One Health approach is particularly relevant include-
Food safety, The control of zoonotic diseases (diseases that can spread between animals and humans, such as flu, rabies and Rift Valley Fever), and Combating antibiotic resistance (when bacteria change after being exposed to antibiotics and become more difficult to treat).
Source : WHO ( https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/one-health )
YEMEN SEPARATISTS DECLARE SELF-RULE IN SOUTH
Why in news?
Yemen’s main southern separatist group announced that it would establish self-rule in areas under its control.
Highlights:
Saudi-backed government warned that this would have “catastrophic consequences”.
The move threatens to renew conflict between the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-backed government, allies in Yemen’s war.
The Saudi-led military coalition on Monday rejected Yemen separatists' declaration of self-rule over the country's south and demanded "an end to any escalatory actions".
The STC, which is backed by key coalition partner the United Arab Emirates, on Sunday declared self-rule in southern Yemen, accusing the government of failing to perform its duties and of "conspiring" against the southern cause.
Yemen's separatists signed a power-sharing deal in Riyadh last November that quelled a battle -- dubbed a "civil war within a civil war" -- for the south that had in August seen them seize control of the second city of Aden.
Source : India Today ( https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/-saudi-led-coalition-rejects-south-yemen-self-rule-declaration-1671480-2020-04-27 )
WHEAT CROP
Context
There have been demands to relax the moisture specifications in wheat procurement from 12% to 18% in the wake of untimely rainfall that had damaged the harvested wheat crop lying in the grain markets and fields.
Highlights
Conditions of growth for wheat are more flexible than those of rice. In contrast to rice, wheat is a rabi crop which is sown in the beginning of winter and is harvested in the beginning of summer. The time of sowing and harvesting differs in different regions due to climatic variations.
The sowing of wheat crop normally begins in the September-October in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal; October-November in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and Nov.-Dee. In Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
The harvesting is done in Jan.- Feb. in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, M.P., and in West Bengal; March-April in Punjab, Haryana, U.P. and Rajasthan and in April-May in Himachal Pradesh and J&K.
The ideal wheat climate has winter temperature 10° to 15°C and summer temperature varying from 21°C to 26°C. The temperature should be low at the time of sowing but as the harvesting time approaches higher temperatures are required for proper ripening of the crop. But sudden rise in temperature at the time of maturity is harmful.
Wheat thrives well in areas receiving an annual rainfall of about 75 cm. Annual rainfall of 100 cm is the highest limit of wheat cultivation. The isohyet of 100 cm marks the boundary between wheat growing areas on one hand and rice growing areas on the other.
Production of wheat, state-wise
Uttar Pradesh
Punjab
Madhya Pradesh
Haryana
Source : Hindu ( https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/relax-moisture-norm-for-wheat-purchase/article31440225.ece )