Current Affairs 12 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 12 June 2021  focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. UNGA on Prevention of HIV/AIDS
2. Aerosol Particles Below 3 nm
3. 3-D Seismic Data For Marine Geohazards
4. Indian Mango Promotion Programme
5. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization Scheme

UNGA on Prevention of HIV/AIDS

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

Why in News ?

 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally addressed the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Key Facts

• While the common perception is that the HIV epidemic is under control, epidemics have the habit to resurge and hence constant vigil, and appropriate timely remedial measures are necessary.
• To meet the target, achieve zero new transmission of HIV if deliver on the promise of ending AIDS in the next 10 years.
• Identify our challenges and gaps, customise our program, share knowledge, emulate best practices and stride towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goal of ending the AIDS epidemic which is a grave public health threat, by 2030.

India against AIDS

• HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2017, provides a legal and enabling framework to safeguard the human rights of infected and affected populations.

  

• India’s unique HIV prevention model is centered around the concept of Social Contracting through which the ‘Targeted Interventions Program is implemented with support from civil society.
• The program is aimed at behaviour change, communication, outreach, service delivery, counselling & testing and ensuring linkages to HIV care.
• India is providing free anti-retro-viral treatment to close to 1.4 million people.
• Indian drugs are also reaching millions of People living with HIV in Africa.
• India’s National AIDS Control Program has been Revised, Revived and Revampedto focus on hard-to-reach and at-risk populations. 
• Viral Load Testing facilities have been scaled up, and HIV counselling, testing and community-based screening for early diagnosis have been ramped up to achieve the target of Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV.
• In line with the motto of the Government of India, Together, for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust’ the National AIDS Control Program has signed MoUs with public and private sector industries to mobilise their support for HIV prevention and treatment.
• India aspires to scale up HIV care to reach 100% of people living with this dreaded disease.

Aerosol Particles Below 3 nm

Source : PIB
GS II : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Why in News ?

Aerosol particles below 3 nm which can reach sizes having climatic impacts, formed frequently in urban locations in India.

Key Facts

• Scientists tracing the concentration, size and evolution of aerosol particles smaller than 3 nanometres at an urban location in India have found frequent formation of sub-3nm aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
• This has critical importance as a major fraction of these newly formed particles can reach to sizes of cloud condensation nuclei where they have climatic impacts.
• Scientists from the University of Hyderabad measured neutral sub-3nm particles for the first time at an urban location in India.
• They used AIRMODUS nano Condensation Nucleus Counter (nCNC) to measure particle size distribution in the size range of 1 to 3 nm.

What is an Aerosol ?

• The formation of small molecular clusters of sub-3nm size is technically called aerosol nucleation
• Subsequent growth of these newly formed clusters to the large sizes is called atmospheric new particle formation (NPF).
• NPF occurs everywhere in the terrestrial troposphere
• Therefore it is a large source of aerosol numbers to the atmosphere.
• Though extensively studied globally using field observations, laboratory experiments and modelling approach, it is largely unexplored in India.

What are the findings ?

• The team found a strong positive correlation between sub-3nm particle concentrations and sulphuric acid concentrations.
• Confirming the potential role of sulfuric acid in the formation of sub-3nm particles.
• Other vapours such as ammonia, amines and organics play a crucial role in the growth of newly formed particles.
• These newly formed particles did not always grow to large sizes.
• The team hypothesized that the particle growth was limited by lower concentrations of condensable vapours such as organic compounds calling for research using state-of-the-art instrumentation to understand the mechanisms driving NPF in diverse environments across India.

3-D Seismic Data For Marine Geohazards

Source : PIB
GS III : Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Why in News ?

3-D seismic data can help apprehend precursors of marine geohazards from interactions between seabed & marine sediments.

Key Facts

• Deep down in the ocean marine sediments move over the base of the ocean, shaping the probability of geohazards.
• Scientists have now used 3D seismic data to understand the interaction between bottom surface of marine sediments and the seafloor in the northern Taranaki basin offshore New Zealand.
• This can help apprehend the precursors of marine geohazards.
• Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, and scientists from Norway and Switzerland used high-resolution 3D seismic data
• This aims to unravel geomorphology of recurrent cases of movement of soil, sand, regolith, and rock downslope like a solid in Taranaki basin off New Zealand.
• This is technically called mass wasting of sediments.

What is Marine Geo-hazard ?

• Marine geohazards take place when the seafloor is unstable and is not able to withstand the transport processes of marine sediments from landwards deep into the ocean bottom.
• In such a situation, placement of drilling rigs becomes hazardous due to instability of the seabed.
• While understanding marine sediments interaction during their flow over the seabed is crucial to detect triggers of marine hazards like landslides, associated morphological investigation is a very challenging task, and geophysical/seismic prospecting methods are essential for it.

About the Study

• With the help of 3D seismic data the study offers a unique approach to comprehend the recurrent mass wasting processes and also understand how the seabed interacts with the bottom surface of marine sediments.
• The geological period between 23.03 and 2.5 Million years ago called Neogene succession.
• The study shows that the mass transport deposits are characterized into blocky-MTDs.
• It consisting of moderate to high amplitude, variably deformed rafted blocks, and chaotic masses composed of slides and debris flow deposits indicating a disturbed marine environment.
• Study will help understand different flow mechanisms associated with sediment movement over the seafloor.
• It will also shed light on several flow indicators that define the dynamics of the sediment mass movement or the dominant transport directions and mechanism of the mass flow.
• Understanding of these phenomena can help apprehend precursors of marine geohazards or the nature and physiography of the seafloor over which sediments can move.
• According to WIHG team similar geomorphological exercises can be extended to Indian and global marine sedimentary basins.

Indian Mango Promotion Programme

Source : PIB
GS II : Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management

Why in News ?

A week-long Indian mango promotion programme began in Bahrain where 16 varieties of the fruit including three Geographical Indications (GI) certified Khirsapati & Lakshmanbhog (West Bengal), Zardalu (Bihar) are being displayed.

Key Facts

• The mangoes were sourced from farmers in Bengal and Bihar by APEDA registered exporter.
• APEDA has been initiating measures to boost mango exports from the non-traditional regions and states.
• APEDA has been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festival to promote mango exports.
• It recently organised mango festival in Berlin, Germany.

Mango Export in India

• APEDA has been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festival to promote mango exports.
• It recently organised mango festival in Berlin, Germany
• In a bid to increase mangoes exports to South Korea, APEDA in collaboration with Indian embassy, Seoul and Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, last month organised a Virtual Buyer Seller Meet.
• Mangoes are processed by the APEDA registered packhouse facilities and then exported to various regions and countries including the Middle East, European Union, USA, Japan and South Korea.

Mango Production in India

• Mango in India is also referred to as ‘king of fruits’ and referred to as Kalpavriksha (wish granting tree) in ancient scriptures.

  

• While most of the states in India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have a major share in total production of the fruit.
• Alphonso, Kesar, Totapuri and Banganpalli are leading export varieties from India.
• Mango exports primarily take place in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp, and mango slice.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

• APEDA promotes exports of agricultural & processed food products.
• It providing assistance to the exporters under various components of its scheme such as Infrastructure Development, Quality Development and Market Development.
• In addition APEDA also conducts international Buyer Seller Meets (BSM), Virtual trade fairs with importing countries to promote agricultural & processed food products.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization Scheme

Source : PIB
GS II : 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 ?

To empower the farmers through Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme, Government of India has released funds for various activities of Farm Mechanization.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched a Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) in 2014-15. 

Agricultural Mechanization plays a vital role in optimizing the use of land, water energy resources, manpower and other inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc.

Objectives SMAM scheme :

• Increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions & difficult area where farm power availability is low.
• To promote Custom Hiring Centres and Hi-tech Hubs of High-Value Machines to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small and fragmented landholding and high cost of individual ownership
• Creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities.
• Ensuring performance testing and certification of agricultural machines at designated testing centres located all over the country.

Aim and Need SMAM scheme

• To boost up mechanization in the agriculture sector improved agricultural implements and machinery are essential inputs
• For modern agriculture mechanization enhance the productivity of crops besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation.
• Mechanization also helps in improving the utilization efficiency of other inputs.
• To boost the income of farmers and growth of the agricultural economy.
• Agricultural Mechanization is one of the key drivers for the sustainable development of the agriculture sector.

Key Facts

• Under the SMAM scheme from 2014-15 to 2020-21 an amount of Rs. 288.24 crores have been released to Madhya Pradesh for distribution of 2000 agricultural machinery and equipment and establishment of 90 Custom Hiring centres.
• An amount of Rs. 621.23 crore have been released to Andhra Pradesh.
• An amount of Rs. 421.65 crore have been released to Tamilnadu.
• Also amount for other states released based on the requirement. 

Custom Hiring Centre for farm machinery

• Custom hiring centres for farm machinery enabled farmers to access implements to take up several climate resilient practices and technologies with other machineries..
• Provides access to small and marginal farmers to costly farm machinery to agricultural operations, greater field coverage over a short period, cost-effectiveness.
• Facilitates timeliness in farm operations and efficient use of inputs and Promotes increase in cropping intensity wherever feasible.

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