Current Affairs 8 July 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 8 July 2021 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Geographical Indications Certified Bhalia Wheat

Source : PIB
Economy

What is discussed under Geographical Indications Certified Bhalia Wheat ?

1. Wheat Export in India ?
2. What is Geographical Indication or GI ?

Why in News ?

The first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was exported to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat. 

Key Facts

• The GI certified wheat has high protein content and is sweet in taste.
• The crop is grown mostly across Bhal region of Gujarat which includes Ahmadabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, Bharuch districts.
• This initiative is expected to give boost wheat exports from India. 
• Wheat Export in India ?
  • In 2020-21, the wheat exports from India witnessed a significant growth of 808 % to Rs 4034 crore from Rs 444 crore reported in the previous fiscal.
  • In US dollar terms, the wheat exports rose by 778% to $ 549 million in 2020-21. 
  • India exported substantial quantity of grain to seven new countries – Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar during 2020-21. 
  • In the previous financial years, only small quantities of wheat were exported to these countries.
  • Wheat exports did not take place to these seven countries in 2018-19 and only 4 metric tonne of grain was exported in 2019-20.
  • The volume of exports of wheat to these countries rose to 1.48 lakh tone in 2020-21.

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.

What is Authorised Economic Operators ?

Source : PIB
Economics

What is discussed under What is Authorised Economic Operators ?

1. What is Authorised Economic Operators ?
2. Indian AEO Programme
3. World Customs Organization (WCO)

Why in News ?

Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) inaugurated the online filing of Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) T2 and T3 applications.

Key Facts

• The web application is designed to ensure continuous real-time and digital monitoring of physically filed AEO T2 and

  

  AEO T3 applications for timely intervention and expedience.

• To ensure that the processes and benefits of the programme are at par with the International best standards CBIC has thoroughly digitized the application filing processing and digitally-signed delivery of AEO certification for AEO T1 applications by way of this website.
• What is Authorised Economic Operators ?
  • An Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) is defined by the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards as a party involved in the international movement of goods in whatever function that has been approved by or on behalf of a national Customs administration as complying with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards.
  • AEOs include inter alia manufacturers, importers, exporters, brokers, carriers, consolidators, intermediaries, ports, airports, terminal operators, integrated operators, warehouses and distributors.
• Indian AEO Programme
  • The Indian AEO Programme, which started in 2011.
  • It was designed to set standards to secure and to facilitate the ever-growing flow of goods in international trade.
  • The programme has a membership of nearly 5,000 AEO entities as of now.
  • This includes 5,000 economic entities which have actively collaborated with Indian Customs to ensure safety and security in the Supply Chain.
  • And in return they are reaping benefits of an ever-widening set of benefits from Indian Customs such as faster processing and clearance of cargo, deferred payment of duty, direct port delivery/entry.

World Customs Organization (WCO)

• Established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC).
• It is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
• WCO represents 183 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.
• As the global centre of Customs expertise the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.

India – EU Cooperation in Agriculture

Source : PIB
International Relation

What is discussed under India – EU Cooperation in Agriculture ?

1. About the meet
2. EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP)

Why in News ?

A Virtual meeting between  Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Member of the European Commission, Agriculture was held recently.

Key Facts

• Discussed
  • EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the recent India market reforms.

    

  • EU Farm to Fork Strategy and UN Food System Summit and bilateral cooperation.
  • G20 Agriculture Minister process and fixation of the Maximum Residue Limit of Tricyclazole in Indian Basmati Rice by the EU.
• The Member of the European Commission, Agriculture explained in detail the recent reforms undertaken by the EU in the Common Agriculture Policy as well as the EU Farm to Fork Strategy to make agriculture green as well as sustainable.
  • The EU has set a target of bringing 25 per cent of area in the EU under Organic Farming by 2030.
• Concerns raised by India
  • Issue of fixing the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) of Tricyclazole used in rice crop which has been a concern for India.
  • It is affecting India’s Basmati Rice Exports to the EU.
  • All the required studies and documents have been submitted to EU in May-2021 and MRL will be fixed by second quarter of 2022 before next season.

Common Agriculture Policy

• To provide financial support to farmers in member states.
• It is one of the founding policies of the original Common Market.
  • This brings together national intervention programmes into one scheme to allow farmers to compete on a level playing field.
  • At the same time protecting against volatility in agricultural prices and to provide food security.
• European Union Treaty sets out the specific objectives of the CAP 
  • To increase agricultural productivity.
  • To ensure a fair standard of living for farmers.
  • To stabilise markets.
  • To ensure the availability of supplies.
  • To ensure reasonable prices for consumers.

SPARSH : System for Pension Administration (Raksha)

Source : PIB
Governance

What is discussed under SPARSH : System for Pension Administration (Raksha) ?

1. About SPARSH
2. About the Agreement to this effect was signed
3. Need for the SPARSH
4. The major benefits upon implementation of SPARSH

Why in News ?

Ministry of Defence implements web-based integrated system for sanction & disbursement of defence pension SPARSH (System for Pension Administration (Raksha))

Key Facts

• SPARSH is an integrated system for automation of sanction and disbursement of defence pension.

  

• This web-based system processes pension claims and credits pension directly into the bank accounts of defence pensioners without relying on any external intermediary.
• A Pensioner Portal is available for pensioners to view their pension related information, access services and register complaints for redressal of grievances, if any, relating to their pension matters.
• It is a Comprehensive Pension Package (CPP), an end to end Online System facilitating and easing every aspect of Defence Pensions from Initiation to Disbursement
• An establishment of Service Centres aims at providing last mile connectivity to pensioners who may not be able to directly access the SPARSH portal for any reason.
• In addition to several offices of the Defence Accounts Department which are already functioning as Service Centres for pensioners the two largest banks dealing with defence pensioners have been co-opted as Service Centres.
  1. State Bank of India (SBI)
  2. Punjab National Bank (PNB)
• Agreement to this effect was signed
  • Under the agreement, the pensioners can approach various branches of these two banks for obtaining any service relating to their pension issues.
• Need for the SPARSH
  • Current challenges in the pension sanctioning and disbursement process such as Decentralized solution existing in silos, Manual intervention in processing, Lack of Centralized information for addressing pensioner queries etc.
• The major benefits upon implementation of SPARSH are :
  • Timely and correct payment to the pensioners.
  • Accurate and real time status of pension budget.
  • Multiple channels for pensioners to avail different departmental services.
    • Portal
    • Mobile App
    • Service Centres
  • Call Centre availiability. 
  • Structured and SLA based grievance redressal mechanism.

Madurai Malli : Geographical Indications (GI) Certified

Source : PIB
General Awareness

What is discuss under Madurai Malli : Geographical Indications (GI) Certified ?

1. What is the economical advantage ?
2. Madurai Malli
3. What is Geographical Indication or GI ?

Why in News ?

Indians living abroad get supplies of fresh flowers to deities at home and temples consignments of Geographical Indications (GI) certified Madurai malli and other traditional flowers such as button rose, lily, chamanthi and marigold were exported to USA and Dubai from Tamil Nadu.

• The flowers for the consignments were sourced from Nilakottai, Dindigul and Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu.

Key Facts

• During 2020-2021 fresh cut flowers jasmine flowers and bouquets (comprising of jasmine and other traditional

  

  flowers) valued at Rs 66.28 crores were exported to countries like USA,UAE, Singapore, etc.

• Out of which value of Rs.11.84 crores were exported from Tamil Nadu region through major airports of Chennai,Coimbatore and Madurai.
• What is the economical advantage ?
  • The initiative generated employment to about 130 women workers and about 30 skilled workers.
  • Direct contacts with the farmers to cultivate quality flowers were undertaken by the exporters.
  • Indian community in Dubai and USA would be able to offer fresh flowers. 
• Madurai Malli
  • Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) is one of the most popular flowers found across the world.
  • The scent of Jasmine is synonymous with the splendor ofMadurai’s Meenakshi temple.
  • Madurai has emerged as a major market for the malligai grown inits neighbourhood.
  • Now it has has evolved into the ‘jasmine capital’ of India.
  • Weaving and selling sweet-scented jasmine marks a life of tremendous work.
  • References to the flower is mentioned in the Sangam literature.

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.

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