Daily News Analysis : 18 July 2024
6 min readUK-India Young Professional Scheme 2024
The details of the second and final ballot of the India Young Professional Scheme 2024 was recently released by the UK Home Office. The scheme is aimed at facilitating Young Indian nationals to live, work and study in the UK for upto 24 months. The scheme was formally launched in February 2023 and it will permit upto 3000 of their degree-holding citizens aged between 18 to 30 to live and work in each other’s countries.
Key Points:
A) The India Young Professionals Scheme visa (also known as a Youth Mobility Scheme visa) is an important part of the UK-India Mobility and Migration Partnership, which was signed between the two countries in May 2021.B) There were 3,000 places available for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa in 2024.C) Most places were allocated in the February ballot, with the remaining spots available in the July ballot.
ICAR launched One Scientist, One Product scheme
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently launched a groundbreaking initiative namely “One Scientist, One Product” scheme aimed to revolutionise the landscape of Agricultural and animal Husbandry Research in India. The scheme was launched on ICARs 96th foundation day under the leadership of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
Key Points:
A) It will also formally announce the release of 323 varieties of 56 crops, including cereals, oilseeds, forage crops, and sugarcane, at a function in Delhi.B) These crops include 289 climate-resilient varieties and 27 bio-fortified varieties.C) The ICAR had given a target to all 5,521 scientists under the institution to come up with a product, a technology, a model, a concept or a good publication.
Delhi Opts out of PM-SHRI scheme
The Government of Delhi has recently refused participation in the PM School for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme thereby becoming the third state after Punjab and West Bengal to do so. PM SHRI is a Centrally Sponsored scheme with the objective to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools overseen by government, local bodies, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.
Key Points:
A) The education ministry has suspended funds for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) school education in secondary schools in Punjab, West Bengal and Delhi after the three states refused to join the Pradhan Mantri School for Rising India (PM-SHRI).B) With an overall budget of over Rs 27,000 crore for the next five years— under PM-SHRI, Modi government and states will shoulder 60 and 40 per cent of the financial burden.C) Two states— Tamil Nadu and Kerala have however expressed their willingness to be part of PM-SHRI.
National Waterway 101 on the Tizu Zunki River
Feasibility studies are to be carried out by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to explore Tizu Zunki river to connect hilly Nagaland with Southeast Asia for trade and tourism. The Tizu-Zungki waterway or NW 101 will link Nagaland with the Chindwin River, Myanmar. The tizu river system flows towards the east and pours into the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.
Key Points:
A) Both the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Transport Department of the government of Nagaland are likely to work together to study navigation feasibility.B) Besides, initiatives will be taken to develop the immense tourism potential of Doyang river with community jetties as well as study feasibility of roll-on/roll-off passenger ferries.
Jerdon’s Courser not spotted over a decade
Jordan’s Courser, a nocturnal cursorial bird endemic to Eastern Ghats of India has not been visually spotted in over a decade. The species is endemic to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and specially found in SriLanka LankaMalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary in Kadapa. Its IUCN status is Critically Endangered.
Key Points:
A) Once thought extinct, with no records after 1900, the species was miraculously rediscovered in 1986 near Reddipalli village in Kadapa, prompting the establishment of the Sri Lankamalleswara wildlife sanctuary.B) Before 2000, the elusive Jerdon’s courser was mainly spotted during nocturnal excursions.C) The call of the Jerdon’s courser was first recorded and identified in September 2002, an achievement that involved meticulous observation and taping of a calling individual.
Late Blight Disease
An advisory for potato farmers across the country has been issued by Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) of Late Blight Disease. The warning has been issued due to changes in weather conditions. Late Blight, Scientifically called Phytophthora Infestans is one of the most serious fungal diseases that can affect potato and tomato.
Key Points:
A) Farmers should use fungicides such as cymoxanil + mancozeb, fermion + mancozeb, or dimethomorph + mancozeb in areas where symptoms of the disease have already appeared.B) It is stressed in the advisory that the frequency of fungicide spraying should be every 10 days, adjusted according to the severity of the disease.C) It is essential to promptly manage late blight disease to prevent significant decreases in yield and to encourage the growth of a robust potato crop.
ASMITA project
The Ministry of Education along with University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently launched the ASMITA project. It stands for Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing. The mission is aimed at bolstering the availability of educational resources in Indian Languages by developing 22000 books in Indian Languages in the coming five years.
Key Points:
A) ASMITA represents a joint effort between the UGC and the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, a high-powered committee established by the ministry.B) The primary objective of this initiative is to promote and integrate Indian languages more deeply into the education system, thereby enriching the learning experience and making it more inclusive.C) This project is seen as a part of a broader strategy to enhance the accessibility and quality of educational materials across various Indian languages.
World Bank Group Guarantee Platform
The World Bank Group Guarantee platform housed at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee agency (MIGA) was opened for business. The platform brings together products and experts from World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and MIGA for simplicity, efficiency and speed. It aims to boost WBG annual guarantee issuance to USD 20 billion by 2030.
Key Points:
A) While the World Bank Group still lends significantly to developing countries, we are pivoting from primarily being a lending institution to also being a leveraging one.B) The guarantee platform, housed at the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), will be a one-stop shop for all the institution’s guarantee business.C) The platform has three product families: credit guarantees (for loans to the public or private sector); political risk insurance (for private sector projects or public-private partnerships); and trade finance guarantees for public sector risk.
Chandipura Virus Infection (CHPV)
The Government of Gujarat has recently announced that six children have died of suspected Chandipura Virus (CHPV) infection throughout the state. The virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae Family and includes members such as Lyssavirus that causes Rabies.
Key Points:
A) Chandipura virus is a serious pathogen with a rapid onset of severe symptoms, primarily affecting children in certain regions.B) However, this disease is not contagious.C) Due to the lack of specific antiviral treatments, early diagnosis and supportive care are crucial.
Sumit Nagal Achieves career high ATP ranking 70
The Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal recently achieved a career high ATP ranking of 70. Nagal skipped 5 spots following historic grand slam appearance to move past Sashi Menon.
Key Points:
A) He now becomes the fourth highest ranked Indian player in history.B) Nagal had earlier hit a career-high 71 a month ago.C) Nagal’s achievements this year have been remarkable, with successful entries into the main draws of prestigious tournaments such as the Australian Open, French Open, Indian Wells Masters, and Monte Carlo Masters.
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