Current Affairs 20 May 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 20 May 2021  focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Fertiliser Subsidy Hike
2. Gholvad Sapota Geographical Indication
3. NEGVAC New Recommendations
4. Surge In Single Use Plastic
5. Malerkotla New District for Punjab
6. 22 New AIIMS Under PMSSY
7. Infrastructure Status For Convention Centres
8. New sites to India’s tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites
9. Colombo Port City
10. NASA-ESA Solar Orbiter Spacecraft

Prelims

1. FakeBuster
2. World Bee Day

Fertiliser Subsidy Hike

Source : PIB
GS III : Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing

Why in News?

Decision was taken to increase the subsidy for DAP fertiliser from Rs. 500 per bag to Rs. 1200 per bag which is an increase of 140%.

Diammonium phosphate (DAP)

• It is the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertiliser.
• Its relatively high nutrient content and excellent physical properties make it a popular choice in farming and other industries.

Key Facts

• The price of fertilisers is undergoing an increase due to the rising prices of phosphoric acid, ammonia etc internationally.
• Central Government was giving a subsidy of Rs. 500 per bag previous years.
• The international prices of phosphoric acid, ammonia etc. used in DAP have gone up by 60% to 70%.
  • The actual price of a DAP bag is now Rs 2400, which could be sold by Fertiliser companies at Rs 1900 after considering a subsidy of Rs 500.
  • Farmers will continue to get a DAP bag for Rs 1200.

Subsidy for Chemical Fertiliser

• Fertiliser Subsidy
  • Buy fertilisers at MRPs (maximum retail price) below their normal supply and demand based market rates or what it costs to produce/import them.
  • The subsidy goes to fertiliser companies.
• Current Method of Subsidy Transfer
  • From March 2018 direct benefit transfer (DBT) system was introduced to curb diversion.
  • The subsidy payment to the companies would happen only after actual sales to farmers by retailers.
  • A point-of-sale (PoS) machine linked to the Department of Fertilisers’ e-Urvarak DBT portal.
  • Anybody buying subsidised fertilisers is required to furnish his/her Aadhaar unique identity or Kisan Credit Card number.
  • The quantities of the individual fertilisers purchased along with the buyer’s name and biometric authentication have to be captured on the PoS device.
  • Only upon the sale getting registered on the e-Urvarak platform can a company claim subsidy.
• At present, the Centre is following a no denial policy. Anybody, non-farmers included, can purchase any quantity of fertilisers through the PoS machines
• Central Government spends about Rs 80,000 crore on subsidies for chemical fertilisers every year excluding arrear.
• With the increase in subsidy in DAP Government of India will spend an additional Rs 14,775 crore as subsidy in Kharif season.
• This is the second major decision in the farmers interest, after directly transferring Rs. 20,667 crore in Farmers account under PM-KISAN.
• Fiscal Policy statement of the Budget mentions that a total of 610.08 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of fertilisers have been sold under DBT scheme from March 2018 to May 2019.
• The fertiliser subsidy allocated for 2020-21 will be around Rs 1.36 trillion while the requirement for this year is about Rs 1.28 trillion including for the amount for pending arrears. 
• Urea is the top fertiliser sold in India and almost 75 per cent of its cost of sales comes from subsidies from the government.

Gholvad Sapota Geographical Indication

Source : PIB
GS III : Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers

Why in News?

Gholvad Sapota Geographical Indication will helps to boost the export. GI certification of Ghovad Sapota is held by Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh and the fruit is known for its sweet and unique taste.

Key Facts

• In a major boost to exports of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products a consignment of Dahanu Gholvad Sapota from Palghar district of Maharashtra shipped to the United Kingdom.
• About Ghovad Sapota Geographical Indication
  • It is believed that the unique taste is derived from calcium rich soil of Gholvad village.
  • Around 5000 hectares of land is under sapota or plantation.
  • Out of 5000 farmers who grow Sapota, 147 farmers are authorized GI users.
  • This will be a boost for the production of farmers in these region.
  • Export can increase many folds if the mainstream buyers are also targeted as Sapota can be grown throughout the year unlike other fruits.
  • Since it is a GI products with its uniqueness, intrinsic value and practically no competition from outsiders, offers good potential for export.
  • APEDA has been thrust on promotion of exports of GI products.
• Sapota is grown in many states Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Karnataka is known to be the highest grower of the fruit, followed by Maharashtra.

What is Geographical Indication or GI

• Sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin.
• Possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
  • It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications thus preventing unauthorized use of the registered GIs by others.
• Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• It comes under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
  • Registration of GIs began in the financial year 2004-05 after the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 came into effect from September 2003.
• Geographical indications are typically used for
  • Agricultural products
  • Foodstuffs
  • Wine and spirit drinks
  • Handicrafts
  • Industrial products.
• Geographical Indications Registry has a total of 361 GIs registered in India as of September 2019.
  • So far 65 Handloom products and 6 product logos are registered under GI Act.
  • Karnataka has the highest number of GI-tagged products.
  • Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004–2005.

NEGVAC New Recommendations

Source : PIB
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resource

Why in News?

National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has shared fresh recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• These recommendations have been based on the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging global scientific evidence & experience.

Key Facts

• Individuals having lab test proven SARS-2 COVID-19 illness : COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery.
• SARS-2 COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma: COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months from the date of discharge from the hospital.
• Individuals who have received at least the 1st dose and got COVID-19 infection before completion of the dosing schedule: the 2nd dose should be deferred by 3 months after clinical recovery from COVID-19 illness.
• Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalization or ICU care should also wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
• An individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of COVID-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative, if suffering from COVID-19 disease.
• COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women.
• No requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to COVID-19 vaccination.

National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC)

• Providing guidance on prioritisation of population groups, procurement and inventory management, vaccine selection and vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism.
• The expert group deliberated on conceptualization and implementation mechanisms for creation of a digital infrastructure.
• The expert group formulate financial resources required for procurement of COVID-19 vaccine.
• It is mandated with NEGVAC its recommendations on prioritised population groups for vaccination. 

Surge In Single Use Plastic

Source : Indian Express
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Why in News?

Issues of Surge In Single Use Plastic came in a report comes from researchers led by Minderoo, a nonprofit organization based in Australia that advocates for cleaner oceans, along with academics at the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Environment Institute.

• It was reviewed by KPMG, the accounting firm.

Key Facts

• The report cited a number of reason for the Surge In Single Use Plastic and its impact.
• Throwaway plastic that holds our takeout food and wraps our dry cleaning is widely seen as one of the world’s biggest environmental hazards.
• It is thrown away and can leads to
  • Clogging waterways
  • Choking animals
  • Burned that leads to sending hazardous fumes into the air
• In the next five years alone, production capacity is forecast to grow by 30%.
• Governments are also big stakeholders in this industry.
  • About 40% of the largest single-use plastic makers are partly owned by governments, including China and Saudi Arabia.
• How much Single use plastic accumulated year ?
  • The average American uses and throws away 110 pounds, or roughly 50 kilograms, of single-use plastic every year.
  • Only Australians currently match U.S. scales of waste.
  • The average Chinese person uses only about a third as much as an American.
  • The average Indian uses less than one-twelfth.

What is the challenge for reduction ?

• Single-use plastic has been a very good business, and that’s projected to continue.
• Efforts focused on curtailing the production of single-use plastic have been limited so far.
• The economics favour more plastic production.
• The recycling of the plastic done in small pace.
  • Only about 8% of plastic gets recycled in the United States.

Need of the Hour

• Increasing the efficacy of recycling and supporting improvements in plastic waste recovery.
• The decision by State and municipal governments have had success in banning certain items like plastic grocery bags, foam cups and drinking straws.
• Also decision by European Union to issue a directive calling for consumer brands to use at least 30% recycled content in plastic bottles by 2025.

Malerkotla New District for Punjab

Source : Indian Express
GS III : Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers

Why in News?

Malerkotla New District for Punjab has been announced by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the former princely state would be the 23rd district of the state.

Key Facts

• It was the seat of the princely state during the British Raj.
• The state joins the union of India in 1947 and was merged with other nearby princely states to create the Patiala and East Punjab States Union.
• Malerkotla, a Muslim majority state was established in 1454 A.D. by Sheikh Sadruddin-i-Jahan from Afghanistan.
• The only Muslim-dominated town of Punjab presently.

Procedure of creating new districts within a state

• Formation of a new district or reorganisation of existing districts in new districts is a matter completely under the power of state Govt.
• Formation of district which can do so through an executive order or by passing a bill in the assembly, depending on the state.
• The home and finance department will study the feasibility of the formation of a new district.
  • States argue that smaller districts lead to better administration and governance.
• The Centre has no role to play in the alteration of districts or creation of new ones.

History of Malerkota

• Malerkotla owes its foundations in the 15th century to Sufi saint Sheikh Sadrauddin Sadar-i-Jahan, also known as Haider Sheikh.
• The initial settlement being called Maler and Kotla meaning Fortress.
• 17th century with a collection of villages which formed a jagir which was awarded to Bayzid Khan.
• After the decline of the Mughal empire, Malerkotla’s rulers exercised greater independence.
• It was a part of Cis-Sutlej states
  • Cis-Sutlej states were a group of small states in Punjab region in the 19th century lying between the
    • Sutlej River on the north
    • Himalayas on the east
    • Yamuna River and Delhi District on the south
    • Sirsa District on the west
• States accepted British protection in 1809 and were free from interference from the Sikh Maharaja.
• Malerkotla joined the new state of PEPSU or Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) after the abolition of Princely States.
  • PEPSU itself was dissolved in 1954 and Malerkotla became a part of Punjab.

Major events in the History of Malerkotla New District for Punjab

• Haa Da Naara’ Episode in 1705
  • Malerkotla Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan had raised his voice ‘Haa Da Naara’
  • It was against brutal execution of Chote Sahibzade who is the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (6)  by Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan in 1705.
• Wadda Ghallugara
  • The events of Nawab Bhikam Shah is said to have fought on the side of Abdali’s forces in a battle against the Sikhs in 1762
  • Also known as the Great Holocaust
  • Tens and thousands of Sikhs were killed.
• 1769 treaty of friendship
  • It was signed with Raja Amar Singh of Patiala by the then Nawab of Malerkotla.
  • Thereafter the Patiala princely state was often to the aid of Malerkotla especially in 1795 when Sahib Singh Bedi a descendant of first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, attacked Malerkotla over the issue of cow slaughter.
• Namdhari Massacre of 1872
  • Namdhari is a sect of Sikhs.
  • Namdhari for protesting against the British merciless killng of 69 Namdharis including women and children, after tying them to barrels of cannons.
  • British Agent who administered Malerkotla at the time as the Nawab was a minor.

22 New AIIMS Under PMSSY

Source : PIB
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Why in News?

22 New AIIMS started under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana are providing advanced COVID Care in States.

Key Facts

• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) a Central Sector Scheme.
  • It was announced in August 2003 to address imbalances in availability of tertiary care hospitals and improve medical education in the country.
• Setting up of 22 new AIIMS under PSSY has been approved under the scheme, out of which six AIIMS at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh are already fully functional.
• In another seven AIIMS, OPD facility and MBBS classes have started while in five more institutes only MBBS classes has started.
• These regional AIIMS very significant role in management of COVID since the beginning of the pandemic early last year.
  • They serve areas where the health infrastructure was weak.
• The new regional AIIMS also delivered other critical non-COVID health services to COVID patients such as those requiring dialysis or those with serious heart ailments, pregnant women, paediatric cases.

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana

• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was announced in 2003 with the objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.
• Implementation
  • The first phase
    • The PMSSY has two components
      • Setting up of six institutions in the line of AIIMS
      • Upgradation of 13 existing Government medical college institutions
    • At an estimated cost of Rs 840 crores per institution.
    • In addition to this, 13 existing medical institutions spread over 10 States will also be upgraded, with an outlay of Rs. 120 crores.
  • Second Phase
    • Government has approved the setting up of two more AIIMS-like institutions
    • One each in the States of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and upgradation of six medical college institutions.
    • The estimated cost for each AIIMS-like institution is Rs. 823 crore.
    • For upgradation of medical college institutions, Central Government will contribute Rs. 125 crore each.
  • Third Phase
    • In the third phase of PMSSY it is proposed to upgrade the 6 existing medical college institutions.
    • The project cost for upgradation of each medical college institution has been estimated at Rs. 150 crores per institution
      • Out of which Central Government will contribute Rs. 125 crores and the remaining Rs. 25 crore will be borne by the respective State Governments.

Infrastructure Status For Convention Centres

Source : The Hindu
GS III : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

Why in News?

The government has expanded the definition of infrastructure to include exhibition-cum-convention centres.

Key Facts

• Convention and exhibition centres had been included in the harmonised master list of infrastructure sub-sectors under the social and commercial infrastructure sub-sector.
• To qualify under the category projects will require a minimum built-up floor area of 100,000 square metres of exclusively exhibition space or convention space.
• Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre is included in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and Commercial Infrastructure.
• Inclusion in the list implies access to concessional funds, promotion of projects and continuity of construction for the specified sub-sectors.
• The infrastructure tag no longer involves significant tax breaks but would help such projects get easier financing from banks, said experts.
  • Restrictions on size may be a dampener for some ventures.
• How it will help ?
  • India doesn’t have large convention centres or single halls with capacities to hold 7,000 to 10,000 people, unlike countries like Thailand that is a major global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination.
  • Becoming a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination can generate significant revenue with several global companies active in India.
  • It will take time to become a preferred destination.
  • This move will enable more such projects to come up across India’s tourist and other commercial  destinations.

What is Infrastructure status ?

• Infrastructure status gives industries access to cheaper foreign currency funding through the external commercial borrowing route.
• Infrastructure sectors including those concerning road, ports, shipping, railways, inland water transport, urban development, power, new and renewable energy, railways and telecommunication sector referred to Department of Economic Affairs by the Administrative Ministries concerned.
• It was decided that new sub-sectors would be included only when it fulfilled six characteristics of infrastructure.
  • These include
    1. Natural monopoly
    2. Non-rivalness in consumption
    3. High sunk costs and asset specificity
    4. Possibility of price exclusion
    5. Non-tradability of output, Presence of externalities
    6. One or more of the three parameters
       • Importance to the scheme of economic development
       • Ability to contribute to human capital
       • Specific circumstances under which it has developed in India

New sites to India’s tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites

Source : Indian Express
GS I : Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times

Why in News?

Six Indian sites have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, the Ministry of Culture  recently announced.

Key Facts

• The submissions were made by Archaeological Survey of India which is responsible for the conservation and preservation of Indian monuments.
• The sites are
  • Maratha military architecture, Maharashtra
  • Hire Bengal megalithic site, Karnataka
  • Bhedaghat-Lametaghat of Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh
  • Ganga ghats, Varanasi
  • Temples of Kancheepuram
  • Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
• With the addition of these six sites UNESCO has 48 proposals in the tentative list of India.
• As per Operational Guidelines 2019 it is mandatory to put any monument/site on the Tentative List (TL) before it is considered for the final nomination dossier.
• As per rules, any country can submit the nomination dossier after one year of it being on the TL.
  • It will utilise this time to prepare the nomination dossiers.

About the sites

• Satpura Tiger Reserve
  • Home to 26 species of the Himalayan region including reptiles, and 42 species of Nilgiri areas largest tiger-occupied forest and also has the largest tiger population.
  • Rich in its biodiversity and can feel the wildlife very closely.
• Maratha military architecture, Maharashtra
  • 12 forts in Maharashtra dating back to the era of the 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.
  • The theme for the serial nomination of these forts is Maratha Military Architecture in Maharashtra and Guerrilla Warfare.
• Hire Bengal megalithic site, Karnataka
  • 2,800-years-old megalithic site of Hire Benkal in Karnataka is one of the largest prehistoric megalithic settlements where some funerary monuments are still intact.
  • The granite structures are burial monuments that may also have served many ritual purposes.
• Bhedaghat-Lametaghat of Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh
  • Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of India.
  • Known for its marble rocks and their various morphological forms on either side of the Narmada river which flows through the gorge.
  • First Dinosaur fossil was collected from Lameta Bed by William Sleeman in 1828
• Ganga ghats, Varanasi
  • Ganga river with its riverfront ghats fulfil the criteria of Cultural Landscapes.
  • Varanasi’s riverfront mainly falls into the second category of cultural properties i.e: groups of buildings, groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science.
• Temples of Kancheepuram
  • Situated on the banks of River Vegavathi, this historical city once had 1,000 temple only 126 (108 Shaiva and 18 Vaishnava) now remain. 
  • Pallava dynasty which made the region its capital between the 6th and 7th centuries.
  • Its architectural gems that are a fine example of Dravidian styles.

Colombo Port City

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

Why in News?

Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed a law installing a powerful economic commission to administer a huge Chinese luxury oceanside development after altering elements of the bill ruled unconstitutional by the country’s top court.

Key Facts

• The bill to create the Colombo Port City Economic Commission passed in Sri Lanka’s Parliament.
• This is a part of Chinese project and part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• Court found parts of the bill inconsistent with the constitution.
  • The amended version gives real power to regulators.
• The government now has two options to either stick with the current version or to amend the proposal.
  • The bill would need a nationwide referendum to pass.
  • They could simply bring it in line with the constitution.
• This bill gives government the authority to put foreigners on the board effectively handing over power to Chinese officials.

Impact over Srilanka

• It wants an overseas province. 
• Sri Lanka lost the Hambantota port after signing massive deals with the Chinese.
• China has already pumped millions into the project.
  • That debt has deepened Sri Lanka’s debt burden.
  • They reclaimed the land and built the high-rises.
• Sri Lanka’s government sees the project as a lifeline for an economy hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Colombo Port City

• Colombo port city is a special financial zone being built next to Colombo, mostly on land reclaimed from the sea.
• Powered by renewable energy, the city will have a financial centre, an international island, and a sprawling park right in the middle.

Impact over India

• The project has raised concerns in Sri Lanka and neighboring India that the development could become a  virtual Chinese outpost or colony.
• Building of the Maritime Silk Route and the Belt and Road Initiative have been dream projects for China,India already raised concerns.

NASA-ESA Solar Orbiter Spacecraft

Source : NASA
GS III : Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights

Why in News?

Solar Orbiter spacecraft rocketing around the Sun discovered Sun, its surface is covered in miniature solar flares or otherwise known as campfires to the scientists behind the spacecraft.

Key Facts

• Having continued its exploration efforts NASA and European Space Agency’s spacecraft has now captured the first solar eruption on the Sun’s surface.
• If these eruptions on the Sun’s surface are big enough, they can cause billions of tons of plasma and electrically charged particles to dash towards Earth.
• These eruptions, also known as coronal mass ejections (CME), were observed by the Solar Orbiter.
  • This was the first coronal mass ejection seen by the instrument.
• CME was captured by NASA’s instrument, the Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager (SoloHI).
  • It is onboard the spacecraft.
  • SoloHI observes the solar wind, dust, and cosmic rays that fill the space between the Sun and the planets.
  • It used one of its four detectors at less than 15 per cent of its normal cadence to reduce the amount of data acquired.

NASA-ESA Solar Orbiter Spacecraft

• Solar Orbiter is a collaborative mission between the ESA and NASA to study our Sun.
• Launched on February 10, 2020.
• It carries ten scientific instruments, four of which measure properties of the environment around the spacecraft, especially electromagnetic characteristics of the solar wind, the stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun.
• Orbiter reached closer to the Sun this year on February 10 when it flew within 48 million miles (77 million kilometers) of the star that is just half the distance between the Sun and Earth.
• Its official mission begins in November when SoloHI and the rest of the remote-sensing instruments will be switched on in full mode.

Prelims Facts

FakeBuster

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar in Punjab and Monash University, Australia have developed a unique detector named ‘FakeBuster’ to identify imposters attending a virtual conference without anybody’s knowledge.
• It can also find out faces manipulated on social media to defame or make a joke of someone.
• Need for such a detector :
  • In the present pandemic scenario when most of the official meetings and work is being done online.
  • This detector enables a user/organizer to detect if another person’s video is manipulated or spoofed during a video conferencing.
  • The technique will find out if some imposter is attending a Webinar or virtual meeting on behalf of one of your colleagues by morphing his image with his own.

World Bee Day

• To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.
• Bees are pollinators, pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.
  • Present species extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal due to human impacts.
  • Without pollinators many sustainable development goals (SDGs), such as the one aiming at ending world hunger and the one aiming at preserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, will no longer be attainable.
• The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators.
  • Therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.
• This year the day is celebrated under the theme “Bee engaged – Build Back Better for Bees”.

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