What’s in Today’s Article?

• Spice Production in India Latest News
• Introduction
• Current Status of Spice Production in India
• Challenges Facing India’s Spice Industry
• Government & Industry Efforts for Improvement
• News Summary
• India’s Spice Industry FAQs

Spice Production in India Latest News

• Mr Ramkumar Menon, chairman of the World Spice Organisation (WSO), recently stated that despite being the largest producer and exporter of diverse varieties of spices in the world, India’s share in the global seasoning market is only 0.7%.

Introduction

• India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of spices, growing a diverse variety due to its 15 different agro-climatic zones.
• However, despite this dominance in production, India’s presence in the global seasoning market is surprisingly low.
• The country accounts for only 0.7% of the $14 billion global seasoning industry, while China and the USA hold 12% and 11% shares, respectively.
• This gap highlights the urgent need to improve value addition, boost exports, and explore new commercial applications for Indian spices.

Current Status of Spice Production in India

• India produces around 1.5 million tonnes of spices annually, contributing to $4.5 billion in exports—about 25% of the $20 billion global spice market.
• The primary spice-growing regions include Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat.
• However, new regions like the North-East, Odisha, and Jharkhand are emerging as significant spice producers.
• Some of the most widely grown and exported spices in India include:
  • Black Pepper – "The King of Spices," mainly grown in Kerala and Karnataka.
  • Cardamom – Highly valued in global markets, produced in South India.
  • Turmeric – Used in culinary, medicinal, and nutraceutical applications.
  • Cumin & Coriander – Essential for Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
  • Chilies – India is the largest producer of red chilies, widely grown in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• While India leads in raw spice exports, it lags in value-added products, such as spice blends, extracts, and nutraceutical formulations.
• Currently, only 48% of exported spices are value-added, with the rest being raw spices.

Challenges Facing India’s Spice Industry

• Low Value-Added Exports
  • India primarily exports whole spices rather than processed spice products like seasonings, extracts, and nutraceuticals.
  • To meet the $10 billion export target by 2030, the share of value-added spices should increase from 48% to 70%.
• High Cost of Production
  • Farmers struggle with rising costs due to inefficient agricultural practices, pesticide overuse, and outdated processing methods.
  • Improving productivity and cost-efficiency is crucial for global competitiveness.
• Limited Global Market Penetration
  • While India dominates spice production, countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, and China have expanded their presence in international spice markets.
  • Additionally, African nations have recently entered spice cultivation, posing new competition.
• Quality & Safety Concerns
  • Stringent global regulations on pesticide residues and contamination require strict quality control measures.
  • Many Indian spice farmers need training in integrated pest management, hygiene, and sustainable practices to meet international standards.
• Climate Change Impact
  • Spice cultivation is highly sensitive to climate conditions. Unpredictable monsoons and rising temperatures threaten yields and quality.
  • Developing high-yielding and climate-resistant varieties is essential to maintaining production levels.

Government & Industry Efforts for Improvement

• Several initiatives are underway to enhance India’s spice production and exports:
  • Spices Board of India – Promotes research, processing, and export growth in the sector.
  • World Spice Organisation (WSO) – Works with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to improve spice farming techniques.
  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Developing high-yield and climate-resistant spice varieties.
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs – Educates farmers on sustainable cultivation practices.
• By focusing on quality improvement, innovation in value-added products, and expanding into nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications, India can significantly increase its global market share.

News Summary

• Despite being the world’s largest producer and exporter of spices, India holds just 0.7% of the $14 billion global seasoning market.
• The country exports $4.5 billion worth of spices annually, but only 48% of these are value-added products.
• To achieve the $10 billion spice export target by 2030, India must:
  • Increase value addition – Shift from whole spices to seasonings, spice blends, and medicinal extracts.
  • Expand global market presence – Strengthen trade agreements and diversify export destinations.
  • Improve quality & safety compliance – Enhance pesticide control and meet international standards.
  • Boost production efficiency – Reduce costs through modern farming and processing methods.
• If these steps are implemented, India can transform from being the largest raw spice producer to a dominant player in value-added global seasoning markets.

India’s Spice Industry FAQs

Q1. What is India's share in the global seasoning market?

Ans. Despite being the world’s largest spice producer, India holds only 0.7% of the global seasoning market, far behind China (12%) and the USA (11%).

Q2. Why is India’s spice industry struggling in global exports?

Ans. India exports mainly raw spices instead of value-added products like spice blends and extracts, leading to a lower market share.

Q3. What are the key challenges facing India’s spice industry?

Ans. Key challenges include low value addition, high production costs, global competition, quality concerns, and climate change impacts.

Q4. How can India increase its spice exports to $10 billion by 2030?

Ans. India must focus on value-added spice exports, reducing production costs, ensuring quality compliance, and diversifying export markets.

Q5. What role does the Spices Board of India play in spice production?

Ans. The Spices Board of India promotes spice research, processing, exports, and training programs for farmers to improve quality and sustainability.

Source: TH

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Tahawwur Hussain Rana Extradition Case Latest News
• Background - Rana’s Involvement in 26/11 and Other Cases
• Legal Battle Over Extradition
• India-US Extradition Treaty (1997)
• US Position on Indian Extradition Requests
• Conclusion
• Tahawwur Hussain Rana Extradition Case FAQs

Tahawwur Hussain Rana Extradition Case Latest News

• The United States Supreme Court has rejected the plea of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, against his extradition to India. 
• Rana had filed an "Emergency Application for Stay" following former President Donald Trump's approval of his extradition.

Background - Rana’s Involvement in 26/11 and Other Cases

• Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, is accused of aiding and abetting reconnaissance activities for the Mumbai attacks along with David Coleman Headley.
• Arrested in Chicago in 2009 for involvement in the Mumbai attacks and a foiled attack on the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
• Convicted in the US for providing material support to terrorism in Denmark and to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Sentenced to 168 months in prison on January 7, 2013.
• Released on compassionate grounds on June 9, 2020, but immediately faced an extradition request from India.

Legal Battle Over Extradition

• India requested Rana's extradition in December 2019 under the India-US Extradition Treaty (1997).
• Rana opposed extradition, citing "double jeopardy," claiming he was already acquitted of charges related to India.
• A US Magistrate Judge rejected his argument in May 2023, stating that Indian charges had distinct legal elements.
• His subsequent petitions to the US District Court, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and ultimately the US Supreme Court were all rejected.

India-US Extradition Treaty (1997)

• It facilitates extradition for offences punishable by more than one year of imprisonment in both countries.
• Acts such as terrorism, hijacking, and crimes against protected persons are extraditable, however,
• Political offences are non-extraditable. 
  • However, certain actions such as 
    • The murder or other willful crime against a Head of State/ Government or a member of their family,
    • Aircraft hijacking and aviation sabotage, 
    • Crimes against internationally protected persons, and
    • Hostage-taking, etc., 
  • are not construed as political offences under the treaty.
• The US government found "probable cause" to believe that Rana committed extraditable offences under the treaty’s dual-criminality clause.

US Position on Indian Extradition Requests

• Only two alleged terrorists have been extradited from the US to India:
  • Charanjeet Singh Cheema (2005)
  • Kulbeer Singh Kulbeera (2006)
• The treaty facilitated 11 extraditions between 2002-2018, mostly for financial fraud. 65 Indian extradition requests remain pending with the US.
• The US refused to extradite David Headley due to his plea bargain and Warren Anderson (Union Carbide CEO) due to "insufficient evidence."

Conclusion

• The US Supreme Court's rejection of Rana’s plea paves the way for his extradition to India, where he will face charges related to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. 
• This case highlights the complexities of international extradition, diplomatic negotiations, and legal interpretations under the India-US Extradition Treaty.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana Extradition Case FAQs

Q1. What are the key provisions of the India-US Extradition Treaty, 1997?

Ans. The treaty allows extradition for offences punishable by over one year of imprisonment in both countries while exempting political offences.

Q2. Why did the United States Supreme Court reject Tahawwur Rana’s plea against extradition?

Ans. The court upheld India’s extradition request, rejecting Rana’s “double jeopardy” claim, as Indian charges had distinct legal elements from those tried in the US.

Q3. What was Tahawwur Rana’s role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks?

Ans. Rana was accused of aiding David Headley in reconnaissance activities for the attacks and facilitating terrorist operations.

Q4. How has the US responded to India’s extradition requests in previous cases?

Ans. While only 11 individuals have been extradited since 2002, including two alleged terrorists, the US has refused high-profile cases like David Headley and Warren Anderson.

Q5. What legal challenges did Rana face in the US before his extradition approval?

Ans. Rana’s extradition was contested through multiple appeals in US courts, including a habeas corpus petition and emergency stay plea, all of which were rejected.

Source: IE

What’s in Today’s Article?

• US Bitcoin Reserve Latest News
• Working of Bitcoin Reserve
• Other Digital Assets in the Stockpile
• Boost to Crypto Market
• US Bitcoin Reserve FAQs

US Bitcoin Reserve Latest News

• Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a US Digital Asset Stockpile. 
• The Bitcoin reserve will be funded with BTC forfeited in criminal or civil asset seizures, providing the U.S. with a strategic advantage. Other agencies will assess their ability to contribute seized Bitcoin. 
• Similarly, the Digital Asset Stockpile will include other forfeited digital assets. 
• Despite the move, Bitcoin's price dropped over 4% at the time.

Working of Bitcoin Reserve

• The White House fact sheet highlights that no clear policy exists for managing seized digital assets, leading to accountability issues and missed opportunities for centralization and security.

Government Bitcoin Holdings & Audit

• It is estimated that the U.S. government owns around 200,000 BTC, but a full audit has never been conducted. 
• The executive order mandates a complete accounting of federal digital asset holdings.

Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset

• The U.S. will not sell Bitcoin deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve but will hold it as a store of value. 
• The Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce are tasked with developing budget-neutral strategies to acquire more Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers.

Strategic Advantage & Missed Opportunities

• With Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins, the fact sheet underscores the importance of early adoption for strategic positioning in the global financial system. 
• Past premature sales of Bitcoin have cost U.S. taxpayers over $17 billion.

Other Digital Assets in the Stockpile

• Apart from Bitcoin, the US Digital Asset Stockpile will include Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano, as mentioned by President Trump earlier.

Acquisition Policy

• The U.S. government will not actively acquire additional digital assets for the stockpile. 
• Instead, it will consist only of assets obtained through forfeiture proceedings, similar to the Bitcoin reserve.

Management & Potential Sales

• The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to develop strategies for responsible stewardship, which may include selling assets from the stockpile. 
• All government agencies must report their digital asset holdings to the Secretary of the Treasury and the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.

Boost to Crypto Market

• The cryptocurrency market has surged following Trump’s election victory, driven by expectations that his administration will adopt a pro-crypto stance.

Elon Musk’s Influence

• Trump’s potential collaboration with Elon Musk, a known crypto advocate, has further strengthened investor confidence in Bitcoin and other digital assets, despite concerns about conflicts of interest.

Pro-Crypto Leadership at SEC

• Trump has chosen Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a figure widely regarded as a crypto-friendly regulator.
• The SEC has dropped multiple investigations and lawsuits against cryptocurrency firms over alleged securities violations.

US Bitcoin Reserve FAQs

Q1. What is Trump's US Bitcoin Reserve?

Ans. Trump's executive order establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve using forfeited BTC, positioning the U.S. as a global crypto leader.

Q2. Why did Trump create a Bitcoin Reserve?

Ans. Trump aims to leverage Bitcoin’s fixed supply, enhance U.S. financial strength, and prevent taxpayer losses from premature BTC sales.

Q3. Which cryptocurrencies are in the Digital Asset Stockpile?

Ans. Apart from Bitcoin, the stockpile includes Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano, obtained through forfeiture proceedings.

Q4. How does Trump’s policy impact the crypto market?

Ans. His pro-crypto stance, SEC reforms, and Elon Musk’s involvement have boosted investor confidence, despite regulatory concerns.

Q5. Who leads the SEC under Trump’s administration?

Ans. Paul Atkins, a crypto advocate, heads the SEC, promoting a friendlier regulatory environment for digital assets.

Source: IE | TWH

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Duplicate Voter ID Latest News
• Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
• Allegation on Electoral Roll Manipulation
• Election Commission’s Response on Duplicate EPIC Numbers
• Duplicate Voter ID FAQs

Duplicate Voter ID Latest News

• The Election Commission (EC) has pledged to resolve the long-standing issue of duplicate voter ID numbers within three months. This follows concerns from Opposition parties over potential voter manipulation. 
• The EC acknowledged that different individuals could share the same Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number due to states using identical alphanumeric series but denied this indicated fake voters. Opposition leaders argue that duplicate voter IDs exist within the same state. 
• According to the EC’s Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, all EPICs should have unique numbers.

Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)

• The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 mandates the issuance of Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to prevent voter impersonation. 
• State governments began issuing EPICs to registered voters in 1993.

Nature of EPICs

• EPICs serve as identity documents but do not grant the right to vote. Only those listed in the electoral roll of a constituency can vote. 
• An EPIC includes the voter's name, age, residence, specified particulars, a photograph, and the facsimile signature of the registration officer.

Unique EPIC Number System

• As per the EC Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, each EPIC is assigned a unique alphanumeric number consisting of three alphabetical codes followed by a seven-digit number. 
• This includes a Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) for each Assembly constituency.

Issuance Process

• Since 2017, EPICs have been generated through the EC’s ERONET portal and can only be created online. 
• A unique EPIC number is assigned to a voter when issued for the first time. If a replacement is needed, the original number remains unchanged.

Allegation on Electoral Roll Manipulation

• A prominent political party has alleged that many voters have the same EPIC number, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral roll.
• It further alleged that non-residents were being brought into Bengal to vote using duplicated EPIC numbers.

Election Commission’s Response on Duplicate EPIC Numbers

• The Election Commission (EC) acknowledged the existence of duplicate EPIC numbers but clarified that this does not indicate fake voters.

Reason for Duplication

• Before the introduction of the ERONET platform, different states used the same alphanumeric series for EPICs, leading to duplication. 
• However, other voter details, such as name, address, constituency, and polling booth, remained unique.

Clarification on Voting Rights

• The EC emphasized that an elector can only vote at their designated polling station within their registered constituency, regardless of their EPIC number.

Plan for Rectification

• To address concerns, the EC assured that unique EPIC numbers would be assigned to all registered voters. 
• The ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to facilitate this process, and new EPIC numbers will be issued to those affected by duplication.

Duplicate Voter ID FAQs

Q1. What is the issue of duplicate voter IDs?

Ans. Some voters share the same EPIC number due to states using identical alphanumeric series before ERONET’s introduction.

Q2. Why is the Election Commission addressing duplicate EPIC numbers?

Ans. Opposition parties raised concerns over electoral roll integrity, alleging voter duplication and potential election manipulation.

Q3. How does the EC plan to resolve duplicate voter IDs?

Ans. The EC will update ERONET 2.0 to assign unique EPIC numbers to all voters within three months.

Q4. Do duplicate EPIC numbers indicate fake voters?

Ans. The EC denies fake voter claims, stating that voting rights depend on electoral roll listing, not just EPIC numbers.

Q5. What is ERONET and its role in voter ID management?

Ans. ERONET is the EC’s online platform ensuring unique EPIC issuance and eliminating duplication across states.

Source: IE | IE | TH