Current Affairs 21 September 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 21 September 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Stubble Burning

Source: Hindu
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; GS III: Food and Agriculture

What is discussed under Stubble Burning?

1. What is Stubble Burning?
2. Impacts
3. Bio-Decomposer Technology

Why in News?

• The Delhi government will spray a bio-decomposer free of charge over 5,000 acres of paddy fields in the city to limit stubble burning and decrease air pollution during winter.
• The Indian Agricultural Research Institute created a bio-decomposer capsule that decomposes straw and stubble into manure.

What is Stubble Burning?

• From the last week of September to November, it is a method of eliminating rice crop remnants from the land in order to seed wheat.
• It is the technique of igniting the paddy or wheat straw that remains after harvesting grains such as rice, wheat, and others.
• It is frequently necessary for places where crop residue is left behind by the combination harvesting process.

Reasons 

• Limited time available between rice harvesting and wheat sowing, as a delay in seeding wheat harms the wheat crop.
• There is just a two to three-week time window between harvesting the rice crop and seeding the following crop.
• It is one of the least expensive techniques for cleaning the field after harvesting.

Major Stubble Burning States in India

• Paddy stubble burning is mostly used to clear fields for rabi crop sowing in the Indo-Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

  

• The paddy crop harvesting in Punjab and Haryana happens during the first and final weeks of October.
• Wheat crop sowing occurs from the first week of November to the middle of December.
• Punjab has the greatest rate of paddy stubble burning, followed by Haryana, while Uttar Pradesh has the highest rate of wheat stubble burning.
• It has an impact on the national capital’s and NCR’s Air Quality Index (AQI).
• Stubble burning in Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab in north India is a major source of air pollution in Delhi and its surrounding areas.

Impacts 

• Pollution:
  • It discharges toxic gases into the environment, including carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
  • These pollutants diffuse throughout the environment, eventually generating a thick blanket of smog that affects air quality and people’s health.
• Soil fertility:
  • When the husk is burned on the ground, the soil becomes less fertile and its nutrients are eliminated.
• Heat penetration:
  • It creates heat that enters the soil, increasing erosion and the loss of beneficial bacteria and moisture.

Bio-Decomposer Technology for Stubble Burning

• The bio-decomposer Pusa Decomposer created by The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was employed by the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• It can turn crop residue into organic manure in just 15-20 days.

Benefits

• Simple to use.
• Friendly to the environment.
• Aids in the preservation of soil health.
• It replenishes the soil’s organic content.
• Spraying is simple.
• Effective and proven outcomes.
• Reduces pollution by resolving the problem of stubble burning.

Who Can Use It?

• Farmers can use it instead of burning agricultural debris to degrade it.
• Government agencies can spray it on farmers’ fields to break down agricultural leftovers.
• Industries that generate food and organic waste can utilise it to degrade garbage more quickly and turn it into organic manure.
• To break down organic waste in the kitchen garden.
• To decompose food waste in the food business.

AIBD Extends India’s Presidency

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Policies and Developmental Studies

What is discussed under AIBD Extends India’s Presidency?

1. Key Facts
2. About AIBD

Why in News ?

India’s Presidency of the prestigious Asia-pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) has been extended for one more year.

Key Facts

• Decided by the AIBD member countries at the two day General Conference of the Institute held in New Delhi.

  

• All the participating countries and member broadcasters pledged to work together for a sustainable broadcasting environment, latest technology know-how, finest content creation, various co-operative activities.
• The 47th AIBD Annual Gathering / 20th AIBD General Conference and Associated Meetings witnessed a range of discussions, presentations and idea exchange sessions especially focusing on the topic of Building a Stronger Future of Broadcasting in post pandemic era.
• A five year plan for co-operative activities and exchange programmes was also finalised.

Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)

• AIBD established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, is a unique regional inter-governmental organisation servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.
• The AIBD is mandated to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development.
• The AIBD currently has 26 countries as full members represented by 43 organizations, and 52 affiliate members.

Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards 2022

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies

What is discussed under this topic?

1. What Are Inclusive Cities Awards 2022?
2. Categories of Awards 2022

Why in News?

The winners of the Inclusive Cities Awards 2022 and the Smart Solutions Challenge were announced by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister.

What Is Smart Solutions Challenge & Inclusive Cities Awards?

• This award was launched in April 2022.

  

• Aim: Promoting people-centric design and fostering novel home-grown technological innovations and solutions.
• Following an extensive round of screenings and shortlisting by an outstanding 7-member jury panel, the top 10 technology-based ideas were recognised as winning solutions after an open call for proposals garnered over 100 entries.

Categories of Awards 2022

• Category 1: Early-stage Innovations
• Category 2: Market-ready Solutions
• Category 3: Implemented Solutions

The top 10 technology-based solutions were awarded

Category 1: Early-stage Innovations

• Fifth Sense by Glovatrix Pvt. Ltd
• Digital Mobility Subsidy by Ola Mobility Institute
• AxcesAble Places by AxcesAble Designs LLP

Category 2: Market-ready Solutions

• Mouseware by Dextroware Devices
• Signer.AI by Incluistic Pvt. Ltd. / Friends for Inclusion
• IncluMaps by Vikas Upadhyay, Research Scholar, IIT Delhi

Category 3: Implemented Solutions

• Multi-Dimensional Inclusiveness: Using Advanced Technologies for Education and Literacy by Belagavi Smart City Ltd.
• myUDAAN by Tekra Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• ‘Moving with Pride’ (Mo Bus and Mo E-Ride) by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Odisha
• Nirbhaya App by Sagar Smart City Ltd.

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