New Agriculture Bills 2020
The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Who declares MSP?
MSP is declared by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs before the sowing time on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
what is procurement price ?
- the government procures at a higher price than the MSP. Here, the price will be referred as procurement price.
- The procurement price will be announced soon after the harvest.
- Normally, the procurement price will be higher than the MSP, but lower than the market price.
Nandankanan Zoological Park: Odisha
- It is the first zoo in India to become a member of the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA).
- It is recognized as a leading zoo for the breeding of the Indian pangolin and white tiger.
Hundreds of long-finned pilot whales die
- Over 450 long-finned pilot whales have died in Australia’s largest recorded mass-stranding event.
- The whales were beached at a remote beach in Tasmania’s west coast.
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- The whales were beached at a remote beach in Tasmania’s west coast.
African Elephant dying due to Cyanobacteria
Recently, neuro-toxins in water produced by cyanobacteria killed more than 300 African elephants in the Okavango delta region, Botswana, South Africa
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Leuser Ecosystem
- It is among the most ancient and life-rich ecosystems ever documented by science.
- It is a world-class hotspot of biodiversity.
An investigation by the global watchdog Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has shown that various food, cosmetics and finance companies have links with companies which are responsible for the destruction of the Leuser Ecosystem.
Morphological Phenotypic Plasticity in Kalinga Frog
Phenotypic plasticity refers to some of the changes in an organism’s behaviour, morphology and physiology in response to a unique environment.
Petroleum projects in Bihar inaugurated
- Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- Commissioned by: IndianOil and HPCL
- The projects include the Durgapur-Banka section (about 200 km) of the Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur Pipeline Augmentation Project and two LPG Bottling Plants in Banka and Champaran.
- The line from Paradip – Haldia will now be further extended to Patna, Muzaffarpur and the pipeline coming from Kandla which has reached Gorakhpur will also be connected to it.
Pusa Decomposer to be used on trail basis
- ‘Pusa Decomposer’ is developed to tackle the issue of stubble burning.
- Developed by: Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI).
- It is a fungi-based liquid solution that can soften hard stubble so that it can be easily mixed with soil in the field to act as compost.
- It will also help in retaining the essential microbes and nutrients in soil that are otherwise damaged due to the burning
Bharatmala Pariyojana
- Initiated by: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- Objectives: (1) To optimise the efficiency of freight and passenger movement across India by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions; (2) To generate a large number of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the construction and infrastructure sector; (3) To connect 550 districts in the country through national highway linkages.
India’s First Seaplane Project to be inaugurated on 31st October
- The first of the five seaplane services in Gujarat will be inaugurated on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- It shall connect Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia in Narmada district.
- Ministry: Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)
- It was launched as a regional connectivity scheme (RCS) in 2016
- Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Aim: (1) To develop the regional aviation market; (2) To provide affordable and profitable air travel on regional routes to the common man
