Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Latest News

The Union government has decided to expand the ambit of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana to include crop damage by animals as a ground for payouts, a long-standing demand by farmers, an official said recently.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

• Launched on 18th February 2016, PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture.
• PMFBY aims to provide financial protection to farmers against crop loss due to natural disasters (hail, drought, famine), pests, and diseases. 
• PMFBY provides crop insurance at a cost-effective premium to all Indian farmers. 
• It is implemented through a network of insurance companies and banks. 

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Objectives

• To provide financial assistance and support to farmers suffering from crop damage or loss arising out of unforeseen events.
• To stabilise the income of farmers and ensure continuance in farming.
• To encourage the farmers to adopt modern and innovative agricultural practices.
• To ensure crop diversification, and creditworthiness of the farmers, enhance growth, and competitiveness of the agriculture sector and protect the farmers from production risks.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Eligibility

• All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, growing the notified crops in the notified areas are eligible for coverage.
• Compulsory Component:All farmers availing Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans from Financial Institutions (i.e. loanee farmers) for the notified crops would be covered compulsorily.
• Voluntary Component: The Scheme would be optional for the non-loanee farmers.
• Farmers must have an insurable interest in the insured crops.
• Farmers must possess a valid and authenticated land ownership certificate or a valid land tenure agreement.
• Farmers must not have received compensation for the same crop loss from any other medium or source.
• Special efforts shall be made to ensure maximum coverage of SC/ST/Women farmers under the scheme. 
• Budget allocation and utilization under this should be in proportion to land holdings of SC/ ST/ General along with women in the respective state cluster.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Benefits

• Affordable Premiums:
  • The maximum premium payable by the farmer will be 2% for the Kharif food and oilseed crops. 
  • For rabi food and oilseed crops, it is 1.5% and for yearly commercial or horticultural crops it will be 5%. 
  • The remaining premium is subsidized by the government.
  • For the farmers in the North-Eastern States, Jammu, Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, the government also pays the entire premium.
• Comprehensive Coverage:
  • The scheme covers natural disasters (droughts, floods), pests, and diseases.
  • Post-harvest losses due to local risks like hailstorms and landslides are also included.
  • Loss or damage to notified insured crops due to war, nuclear risks, malicious damage and other preventable risks is excluded from the scope of coverage.
• Timely Compensation: PMFBY aims to process claims within two months of the harvest to ensure that farmers get the compensation quickly, preventing them from falling into debt traps.
• Technology-Driven Implementation: 
  • PMFBY integrates advanced technologies like satellite imaging, drones, and mobile apps for precise estimation of crop loss, ensuring accurate claim settlements.
  • The National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) digitizes processes for seamless farmer-insurer-bank interaction. YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology) ensures remote sensing based accurate yield estimation, while CROPIC (Collection of Real-time photos and Observations of Crops) uses geotagged photos to verify crops for precise damage assessment. 

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana FAQs

Q1. Who are called sharecroppers?

Ans. A sharecropper is a tenant farmer, someone who works land that's rented from its owner

Q2. What are Rabi Crops?

Ans: Rabi crops are cultivated during the spring season, which typically lasts from November to April in India. 

Q3. What are Kharif crops?

Ans: Rabi crops are winter crops sown after the monsoon and harvested in spring, thriving in cool, dry conditions.

Q4. What is remote sensing?

Ans: Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites.

Source: HT

Namdapha Tiger Reserve Latest News

Recently, an elephant has been camera-trapped in Namdapha Tiger Reserve after 12 years, fuelling conservation hopes.

About Namdapha Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is located in the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, surrounded by Myanmar in the South East.
• It has a common boundary with Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is nestled between the Dapha Bum ridge of Mishmi Hills, of North Eastern Himalayas and the Patkai Ranges.
• Namdapha Tiger Reserve Vegetation: It consists of Northern Tropical Evergreen Forest, North Indian Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests, East Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests, Moist Alpine Scrub Forests.
• River: Namdapha river flows right across in a North-South direction of this reserve and hence the name Namdapha has been given.
• It is located at the junction of the Indian Sub-continent and Indo-China Biogeographic Regions.
• Namdapha Tiger Reserve Fauna: Elephants, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Sun Bear, Hoolock Gibbon (only Ape in India), Slow Loris etc.
• Namdapha Tiger Reserve Flora:
  • It consists of species like Pinus Merkusi and Abies Delavavi being exclusive to the park.
  • It is home to Blue Vanda which is a rare and endangered orchard.
  • It also consists of medicinal plants like Mishimi Teeta (Copti teeta), which is used by the local tribes to treat different types of diseases.

Namdapha Tiger Reserve FAQs

Q1: Where is Namdapha Tiger Reserve situated?

Ans: Arunachal Pradesh

Q2: What is the highest peak in Namdapha National Park?

Ans: Dapha Bum

Q3: Which river passes through Namdapha National Park?

Ans: Noa-Dihing river

Source: TH

Wetland Accredited Cities Latest News

Recently, Indore and Udaipur have become the first two Indian cities to join the global list of wetland accredited cities.

About Wetland Accredited Cities

• It is a voluntary accreditation scheme that provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.
• It was approved during the Ramsar Convention COP12 held in the year 2015.
• Aim: It aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
• The Wetland City Accreditation is valid for 6 years, after which it must be renewed, providing that it continues to fill each of the 6 criteria
• It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands.
• It also recognizes the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments and to take appropriate measures to conserve and protect these wetlands.
• To be formally accredited, a candidate for WCA should satisfy the standards used to implement each of the six international criteria mentioned in Operational Guidance for WCA of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• Since Ramsar COP13, 74 cities from 17 countries have been officially recognized as “Wetland Cities”.

Wetland Accredited Cities FAQs

Q1: What is meant by wetland city?

Ans: Wetlands are land areas that are flooded with water, either seasonally or permanently

Q2: Which are the first wetland cities in India?

Ans: Indore and Udaipur

Q3: What is a wetland accredited city?

Ans: It is an international recognition for the cities that value their natural and human-made wetlands.

Q4: What is the Ramsar Convention Vajiram and Ravi?

Ans: It is an international agreement for the preservation and responsible use of wetlands known as the Ramsar Convention

Source: TOI

WASP-127b Latest News

Scientists recently detected 'supersonic winds' travelling at a speed of 33,000 km per hour on a giant gaseous planet named WASP-127b. 

About WASP-127b

• It is a large gaseous exoplanet, located in our Milky Way galaxy.
• It is approximately 520 light-years from the earth in a tight orbit around a star similar to our sun.
• It is a type called a hot Jupiter, a gas giant that orbits very close to its host star.
• It orbits its star roughly every four days at just about 5% of the distance between the earth and the sun, leaving it scorched by stellar radiation.
• Like our moon is to the earth, one side of WASP-127b perpetually faces its star—the day side. The other side always faces away—the night side.
• Its atmosphere is about 2,060 degrees Fahrenheit (1,400 degrees Kelvin/1,127 degrees Celsius), with its polar regions less hot than the rest.
• WASP-127b’s diameter is about 30% larger than Jupiter’s, but its mass is only about 16% that of Jupiter’s, making it one of the puffiest planets ever observed.
• Like Jupiter, WASP-127b is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, but its atmosphere also contains traces of more complex molecules such as carbon monoxide and water.
• WASP-127b is a gas giant planet, which means that it has no rocky or solid surface beneath its atmospheric layers.
• Instead, below the observed atmosphere lies gas that becomes denser and more pressurized the deeper one goes into the planet.
• The supersonic jet stream winds circling WASP-127b at its equator are the fastest of their kind on any known planet.

WASP-127b FAQs

Q1. When was WASP-127b discovered?

Ans. WASP-127b was discovered in 2016.

Q2. Why are planets named WASP?

Ans. Exoplanets named after astronomical or planet-searching projects include the HAT planets (after the Hungarian Automated Telescope Network (HATNet)), and the WASP planets (after the SuperWASP project), both of which are ground-based efforts.

Q3. How old is the Milky Way?

Ans. Our universe is about 13.8 billion years old, so most galaxies formed when the universe was quite young. Astronomers believe that our own Milky Way galaxy is approximately 13.6 billion years old.

Source: N18

Etikoppaka Toys Latest News

Recently, Andhra Pradesh's eco-friendly wooden Etikoppaka Toys earn accolades at Republic Day parade.

About Etikoppaka Toys

• These are known as Etikoppaka Bommalu, the exquisite wooden toys are rooted in a 400-year-old tradition of craftsmanship.
• Origin: These are originating in Etikoppaka village in Andhra Pradesh, the toys are renowned for their smooth contours and vibrant colours.
• These toys are made out of wood and are coloured with natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer, bark, roots and leaves. 
• The artisans mainly use the wood from trees known as 'ankudu' (Wrightia Tinctoria) that is soft in nature.
• These toys have no sharp edges. They are rounded on all sides.
• In 2017, the toys received official recognition with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a hallmark of their authenticity and cultural significance.
• The Etikoppaka toys, with their vivid colours and timeless designs, have since gained international recognition.

What is the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag?

• It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.

Etikoppaka Toys FAQs

Q1: What are Etikoppaka toys famous for?

Ans: These are crafted lacquered and have vibrant colors and rounded edges.

Q2: Etikoppaka toys are crafted in which state?

Ans: Andhra Pradesh

Q3: What are the uses of lacquer?

Ans: It is fast drying, impervious to water, and maintains its transparency as it ages.

Source: IE

Baltic Sea Latest News

Sweden recently seized a ship suspected of having damaged a fibre-optic cable under the Baltic Sea linking the country to Latvia. 

About Baltic Sea

• It is one of the seas of the Atlantic Ocean, situated in Northern Europe. 
• It is the youngest sea on our planet, emerging some 10,000-15,000 years ago as the glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age.
• It is approximately 1,600 km long and 193 km wide, covering an area of approximately 377,000 sq.km.
• Surrounding Countries: It has a coastline of approximately 8,000 km, shared by several countries, including Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Denmark, and Russia. 
• It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Straits.
• It is connected to the White Sea via the White Sea Canal and to the North Sea’s German Bight via Kiel Canal.
• The Baltic Sea contains three major gulfs: the Gulf of Bothnia to the north, the Gulf of Finland to the east, and the Gulf of Riga slightly to the south of that.
• It is often cited as the world’s largest brackish inland water body. 
• Its water salinity levels are lower than that of the World Oceans due to the inflow of fresh water from the surrounding land and the sea’s shallowness. 
• There are about sixty rivers draining into the Baltic Sea. Neva is the largest river that drains into the Baltic Sea.
• Islands: It is home to over 20 islands and archipelagos. Gotland, located off the coast of Sweden, is the largest island in the Baltic Sea.
• Algal Harmful Blooms are also one of the issues that affect the Baltic Sea.

Baltic Sea FAQs

Q1. What are the Baltic countries?

Ans. The Baltic States refer to the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Q2. What is special about the Baltic Sea?

Ans: The Baltic Sea is the youngest sea on the planet, almost enclosed, experiencing near-arctic conditions and is one of the world's largest brackish waters.

Q3. Which countries border the Gulf of Bothnia?

Ans: The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea, situated between the eastern coast of Sweden and the western coast of Finland.

Q4. Which countries border the Gulf of Finland?

Ans: Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea, between Finland (north) and Russia and Estonia (east and south).

Q5. Which countries border the Gulf of Rig?

Ans: Gulf of Riga is bounded by the northern coast of Latvia and the western coast of Estonia.

Source: HT 

Fentanyl Latest News

Recently, the US President Donald Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports as fentanyl is being sent from China to the US via Mexico and Canada.

About Fentanyl

• It is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic [for pain relief] and anesthetic.
• It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.
• Its overdoses can cause “stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, cyanosis [blue skin], coma, and respiratory failure leading to death”.

What are Opioids?

• These are a class of drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the opium poppy plant.
• Impacts on the human body: They activate an area of nerve cells in the brain and body called opioid receptors that block pain signals between the brain and the body.
• They produce a variety of effects, including pain relief and euphoria, and are highly addictive. Some common opioids include oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl.
• Their overuse can lead to death due to the effects of opioids on the part of the brain which regulates breathing.
• An opioid overdose can be identified by a combination of three signs and symptoms: pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness and difficulties with breathing.

Fentanyl FAQs

Q1: What are the uses of fentanyl?

Ans: It is used to relieve severe pain during and after surgery.

Q2: What is the systematic name of fentanyl?

Ans: N-(1-Phenethyl-4-piperidyl) propionanilide dihydrogen citrate

Q3: What are the side effects of fentanyl?

Ans: Stomach pain, Feeling dizzy and Headaches

Q4: What class of drug is fentanyl in?

Ans: Opioid analgesics

Source: IE

Surajpur Wetland Latest News

The Greater Noida authority recently prepared a project to help protect and conserve the Surajpur wetland.

About Surajpur Wetland

• It is situated near Surajpur Village in Dadri Tehsil of District Gautam Budh Nagar under the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, Uttar Pradesh.
• It is an excellent example of an urban wetland in the Yamuna River basin.
• It is a green lung for Greater Noida, with 308 hectares of catchment area and 60 hectares of the waterbody alone.
• It is classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Bird Life International.
• It forms suitable breeding ground for water fowl such as Spot-billed Duck, Lesser-whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, and Comb Duck, and wintering waterfowl such as Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Common Teal, Northern Shoveler, and Gadwall.
• Apart from a large population of avifauna, the wetland also supports six species of mammals, including Nilgai, Indian Grey Mongoose, Indian Hare, Golden Jackal, and Five-striped Squirrel.
• The wetland is under threat due to the indiscriminate discharge of highly polluted wastewater into its channels.

Surajpur Wetland FAQs

Q1. What is the latitude and longitude of Surajpur Bird Sanctuary?

Ans. The area lies between Latitudes 28°31.425'N and Longitude 77°29.714'E at an elevation of 184.7m msl.

Q2. Which is the oldest water bird sanctuary in India?

Ans: The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu established in 1936 is considered the oldest water bird sanctuary in India. 

Q3. What is BirdLife International?

Ans: BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organizations focused on the protection of birds, their habitats, and biodiversity.

Source: DTE 

Nagoba Jatara Latest News

Nagoba Jatara, the eight-day holy pilgrimage event of Mesram clan Adivasi Gonds, is slated to start at Keslapur village in north Telangana’s tribal heartland of Indervelli mandal in Adilabad district.

About Nagoba Jatara

• Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in January/February in Keslapur village, Adilabad district, Telangana.
• It is the second biggest tribal festival in India, after the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, held in Telangana itself.
• It is celebrated for 10 days by the Mesaram clan of Gond tribes.
• Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Mesaram clan offer prayers at the festival.
• The chief deity at the festival is the ‘Nagoba’ (Sri Shek – Cobra).

Nagoba Jatara Rituals

• Few elder members of the Mesram clan go barefoot to the river Godavari a few days before the Jatara, bring holy water, and keep it near the Banyan Tree in front of the Nagoba Temple.
• The Jatara includes a ‘Bheting’ ceremony, where new brides are introduced into the clan. New brides come in possession wearing white saris and are led by the elder women to worship the Nagoba, after which they are recognized as a full-fledged member of the clan.
• The Gusadi Dance performance by dancers from the Gond tribe is a major special attraction of the event.

Nagoba Jatara FAQs

Q1. Who is the deity of Nagoba Jatara?

Ans. A host of traditional rituals and religious activities will be held at the Nagoba (the serpent God) temple as part of the annual tribal fair.

Q2. Who are Gonds?

Ans: The Gonds are the largest Adivasi Community in India and can be traced to the pre-Aryan era.

Q3. Which is the largest tribal community in Telangana?

Ans: The Lambada tribe is the largest tribal community in Telangana. They speak Banjara language.

Source: TH

Certificates of Origin 2.0 System Latest News

Recently, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has launched the enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System.

About Certificates of Origin 2.0 Systems:

• It is an upgrade designed to simplify the certification process for exporters and enhance trade efficiency.
• Features of Certificates of Origin 2.0 Systems: Multi-user access, which enables exporters to authorize multiple users under a single Importer Exporter Code (IEC). Additionally, the system now supports Aadhaar-based e-signing alongside digital signature tokens, providing greater flexibility.
• An integrated dashboard offers exporters seamless access to eCoO services, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) information, trade events, and other resources.
• The platform also introduces an in-lieu Certificate of Origin feature, allowing exporters to request corrections to previously issued certificates through an easy online application process.
• The Certificates of Origin platform processes over 7,000 eCoOs daily, including both preferential and non-preferential certificates, connecting 125 issuing agencies which includes 110 national and regional chambers of commerce & industry
  • Certificates of Origin is a single access point for all exporters, for all FTAs/PTAs and for all agencies concerned. 
  • The platform has been designed and developed by DGFT and Regional & Multilateral Trade Relations (RMTR) Division, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Certificates of Origin 2.0 Systems FAQs

Q1: Who provides a Certificate of Origin?

Ans: The certificate of origin shall be issued by the Government authorities designated by the Government of the exporting Beneficiary country.

Q2: Who has developed the Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System?

Ans: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

Q3: What are Free Trade Agreements? 

Ans: These are comprehensive trade deals between two or more countries, aimed at reducing or eliminating trade barriers such as tariffs and import/export restrictions

Source: PIB