All about African Union

The African Union (AU) has been admitted as a new member of the G20.

This development took place at the ongoing 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi.

• The AU is an intergovernmental organization consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
• Basically, it is a continental union with a wide range of goals aimed at strengthening its member states both individually and collectively.
• It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).
• The AU’s headquarters are in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

What is the News?

A Constitution Bench held that a Supreme Court judgment of 2014 which declared Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act invalid has a retrospective effect.

What is Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act?

Section 6A of the DSPE Act was added in 2003 through Section 26 of the Central Vigilance Commission Act(CVCA).

The section mandated the government’s prior sanction to proceed in corruption cases against officers of the rank of joint secretary and above. 

However, an exception provided in Section 6A(2) states that no approval is necessary for cases involving arrest of a person on the spot on the charge of accepting or attempting to accept a bribe.

In 2014, a five-judge Constitution Bench struck down Section 6A of the DSPE Act, ruling that status or position cannot shield an officer of the level of joint secretary and above from an unconstrained probe by the CBI in cases of corruption. 

This court termed Section 6A a “discriminatory” provision that “impedes tracking down the corrupt senior bureaucrats”. 

But the 2014 ruling did not clarify what would happen to existing cases being probed by the CBI 

Therefore, a constitution bench was constituted to examine whether the 2014 decision would affect existing corruption cases.

What did the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court rule?

The main question before the constitution bench was related to the applicability of Section 6A in DSPE Act.

The constitution bench held that the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling which struck down Section 6A of the DSPE Act will apply retrospectively.

This means that there would be no protection to the public servants on the premise of a sanction under Section 6A in pre-2014 cases.

3. Election Commissioner of India visits Maldives to observe Presidential Elections 2023

What is the News?

Election Commissioner of India is leading a three-member delegation to Maldives to observe the conduct of the Presidential Election, 2023. 

How is the Presidential Election conducted in Maldives?

Under the Election Laws of Maldives, the President is elected for a five-year term directly by the people by universal and secret suffrage.  

The voting system for election of the President is a direct election through a majority vote with the first-past-the-post method. 

The winning candidate has to secure a minimum of 50 % of total votes polled in one or multiple rounds.

How has been the India-Maldives relations in recent times?

Maldives has been a strong partner of India over the last few years.As India has been actively pursuing Neighborhood first policy, Maldives has been following an India-first approach.

India has proactively played the role of a first responder for Maldives during several crises including the 1988 coup, 2004 Tsunami and 2014 water crisis. 

The relations between the two countries have been taken to a new high over the last few years with India helping Maldives through several developmental projects. 

Apart from this, India has been involved in 47 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) of which 7 have been completed and inaugurated. 

It is also noteworthy that the Indian Prime Minister had attended the inauguration ceremony of Maldives President Solih in 2018.However, the Maldives opposition under Abdulla Yameen’s guidance has been vocal with their India Out Campaign.

4. Why the earthquake in Morocco has caused so much damage

News: Morocco has been hit by its most powerful earthquake. It has resulted in casualties of more than 2500 people.

Morocco was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.8. Its epicenter was located in the Al-Haouz province, in the Atlas Mountains of the historic city of Marrakech.

It has resulted in heavy casualties and many survivors are left without food, electricity and phone services.

The earthquakes in the North Africa are the result of northward convergence of the African plate with the Eurasian plate along a complex plate boundary. The present earthquake was attributed by USGS to “oblique-reverse faulting at shallow depth within the Moroccan High Atlas Mountain range”.

Why the Morocco earthquake was that dangerous?

Although the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.8, which in many other regions did not result in destruction and casualties. But in Morocco, it was a very shallow earthquake.

USGS reported the epicenter of earthquake roughly 18.5 km below the Earth’s surface. While Morocco’s own seismic agency pegged the depth at 11 km.

Shallow earthquakes carry a much higher amount of energy when they hit the surface. Whereas earthquakes with deep epicenters lose energy when they hit the surface. Although, deep epicenter earthquakes spread farther to great distances.

For example, the earthquakes, that hit Turkey and Syria were also shallow, originated 17.9 km below the Earth’s surface, with magnitude 7.8. it caused death of more than 50,000 people and destroyed about 1,60,000 buildings containing 5,20,000 apartments.

What are the measures of earthquake?

Apart from depth, magnitude is also an indicator of quake. Magnitude tells how big the seismic waves are. Each increasing number of magnitudes represents 32 times more energy release and 10 times more amplitude.

In simple terms, the seismic waves produced by a magnitude 6 earthquake have 10 times higher amplitude than the ones produced by a magnitude 5 earthquake.

What are the reasons behind heavy destruction in Morocco?

First, earthquakes are not very common in North Africa. Therefore, Morocco was not prepared for such a calamity.

Second, many changes were introduced to construction rules after Morocco faced the earthquake in 1960, but buildings in rural areas and older cities are not built to withstand the earthquake. Many houses collapsed in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What are the earthquake zones in India?

Western Himalayan region of the 2500-km stretch from the Hindu Kush mountains to the end of Arunachal Pradesh, is the most dangerous seismic zones in the world.

A huge amount of energy is stored along the fault lines there, due to the continuous interaction of different tectonic plates.

Energy can be released only in the form of massive earthquakes.

Morocco

• Location – North Africa.
• Bordered by – Western Sahara to the south and Algeria to the east.
• Coastlines – Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.
• Mountains- The Atlas Mountains and Rif Mountains.
• Jebel Toubkal is the highest point of Morocco and is also the highest peak of the Atlas Mountains.
• Water sources – Moulouya River, whose source is located in the Atlas Mountains, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Ethnic groups – Morocco is composed mainly of Arabs and Imazighen (Berber)
• Morocco possess two-thirds of the world’s reserves of phosphates.

5. Why simultaneous elections would militate against federalism

News– The Union government has constituted a committee headed by former President Ramnath Kovind to explore the possibility of conducting simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, the Legislative Assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats.

What are the issues with conducting simultaneous elections?

It would result in the shortening of the tenures of all Legislative Assemblies except for those in four States: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim.

In total, 17 States would experience a reduction in the duration of their Assembly terms by nearly a year and a half.

Among these, the terms of the Legislative Assemblies in Karnataka, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat would be shortened by approximately three and a half years or more.

The government has advocated for simultaneous elections as a measure to reduce costs. A 2018 report from the Law Commission asserted that  conducting the elections simultaneously would cut costs in half.

However, these reports tend to view election expenditure as “wasteful”. It overlooks the multiplier effect and the broader economic influence of holding elections on sectors such as transportation, printing, media, and infrastructure.

Simultaneous elections have significant implications for the distinct legislative and governance levels in India.

India elects 543 Lok Sabha representatives, over 4,100 Assembly legislators, representatives for 89,194 urban wards, and nearly 31.89 lakh elected panchayat representatives. Each of these tiers has its own set of roles and responsibilities.

The significant number of representatives across these tiers underscores the importance of each tier and the necessity for competition to address the specific needs of voters.

For example, if a voter is concerned about waste management in her area, she would give a vote to choose a candidate best suited to address the local ward’s issues.

Holding simultaneous elections could potentially merge the various issues related to these three tiers into a single electoral mandate for voters. This could undermine federalism and the fundamental structure of three-tier governance.

India-Europe Economic Corridor

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to establish the India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

• Aim – To foster connectivity and economic integration between South Asia, Arabian Gulf and Europe.
• It is a network of transport corridors, including railway lines and sea lanes.
• MoU Countries – India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the UAE, France, Germany and Italy.
• Funding – IMEC is a part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII).
• Route – IMEC will consist of 2 distinct corridors
  • The Eastern corridor linking India to the Arabian Gulf,
  • The Northern corridor linking the Arabian Gulf to Europe. 
• The corridor will include a rail link as well as an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline and a high-speed data cable.
• The project is also called as “a green and digital bridge across continents and civilizations.”
• Significance – It is being positioned as a modern-day Spice Route, and alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• The corridor also extends India’s reach to North Africa and North America.
• This corridor is expected to reduce the time and cost of transporting Indian goods to Europe by 40% and 30%, respectively, and vice versa.
• It complements the existing maritime and rail-road transport routes, such as the Suez Canal, North South Transport Corridor, and China’s Silk Routes.
• IMEC looks at increasing economic efficiency, reducing costs and fostering economic unity among participating nations.
• It also aims to align with sustainable development goals.

G20 Satellite Mission

India has proposed to launch the G20 satellite mission for environment and climate observation in the recently held G20 Summit.

• Aim – To help the countries of Global south for environment and climate observation.
• Access – The climate and weather data obtained from this will be shared with all the countries, especially the countries of the Global South.
• India invites all G-20 countries to join this initiative.
• Other missions – India had earlier launched a satellite for the benefit of the SAARC countries, popularly called SAARC Satellite, in 2017 as a part of its ‘neighbourhood first policy.
• India has also been working with the US on the world’s most sophisticated dual-band NASA-ISRO satellite (NISAR).
• India and U.S. commenced discussions on joint efforts for the International Space Station in 2024.

Global Biofuel Alliance

India announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance on the recently held G20 summit and urged the G-20 nations to join the initiative.

• Launched by – India.
• Founding members – US, India and Brazil (largest producers and consumers of biofuels).

The US, India and Brazil contribute about 85% of the global production and the 81% of consumption of ethanol.

• So far, 19 countries and 12 international organizations, both members and non-members of G20, have agreed to be a part of the union.
• Non-members – China, Saudi Arabia and Russia have decided deciding not to be part of the alliance.
• Focus – Accelerated adoption of biofuels, creating new biofuels, setting globally recognized standards, identifying global best practices, and ensuring industry participation.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to put the world’s energy systems on track toward net zero emissions by 2050.

The global ethanol market was valued at $99.06 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% by 2032 and surpass $162.12 billion by 2032.

• Achievements of India – The government has advanced its target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26 from an earlier target of 2030.
• The target of petrol supplies with 10% ethanol blending was achieved in June 2022, ahead of the original schedule.

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

Small island nations seek protection from ocean pollution, climate change and appeal to the United Nations maritime tribunal recently.

• A group of 9 SIDS countries will urge the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to rule on whether greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the marine environment should be considered pollution.
• It will also seek the tribunal’s advisory opinion on the obligations countries have to prevent it.
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – Group of low-lying island nations, home to approximately 65 million people.
• They are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change despite being responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

• Established by – It is an independent judicial body established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Aim – To look after and resolve the disputes arising among the nations on the following matters.
• Subject matters – Delimitation of maritime zones, navigation, conservation and management of the living resources of the sea, protection and preservation of the marine environment and marine scientific research.
• Members – This tribunal consists of 21 independent members elected by secret ballot by the state parties to the convention.
• They are elected from among the members who have immense knowledge and ability to resolve matters related to the law of the sea.
• Jurisdiction – The tribunal has jurisdiction over any dispute that requires concern over or interpretation of any rule laid down by the UNCLOS. Its function is to work in sync with the Convention.
• The tribunal has power over the states and international organisations that are already members of the convention.
• It also has a hold over the parties who are not its members, like inter-governmental organisations and private entities.

Inward & Outward FDI Trends 2023

A recent census by the Reserve Bank of India shows that Total outward direct investment by Indian firms rose by 19.46% in FY2023.

• This census relied on foreign liabilities and assets (FLA) data, which encompassed cross-border assets and liabilities of various entities such as companies, limited liability partnerships, alternative investment funds, and partnership firms engaged in inward and outward direct investment (DI).
• Outward direct investment (ODI) – It is a business strategy in which a domestic firm expands its operations to a foreign country.
• It distinguishes from the foreign portfolio investment.

• Singapore was the largest beneficiary of outward direct investment (ODI) by Indian firms.
• Also, 3 countries Bermuda, Jersey and Cyprus which are known for their tax benefits are in the top 10 countries that received Indian ODI.
• Inward FDI Trends – US was the largest source of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) followed by Mauritius, the UK and Singapore which collectively accounted for 60% of the inward FDI in the country.
• Sector wise – The manufacturing sector continued to attract the largest share of FDI equity, both at market value as well as at face value.
• Services – Among services, information & communication and financial & insurance activities were the major FDI recipient sectors.
• Market Value – In terms of market value, ODI growth outpaced the growth in FDI and, as a result, the ratio of inward to outward direct investment stood at 5.5 times in 2023 as compared with 6.1 times in 2022.

Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)

The investments of SWFs in India have seen a steady rise over the past few years.

• Sovereign wealth fund – It is a state-owned investment fund comprised of money generated by the government, often derived from a country’s surplus reserves.
• An SWF is used to invest in capital assets such as real estate, metals, stocks, and bonds.
• SWFs also invest in alternative investments such as private equity funds and hedge funds.
• The main objective of the SWFs is to allocate funds for the betterment of the country’s economy.
• India’s SWF – The National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) is India’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund (SWF).
• The funding for a SWF can come from a variety of sources.
• Sources
  • Balance of payments surpluses
  • Official foreign currency operations
  • The proceeds of privatizations
  • Governmental transfer payments
  • Fiscal surpluses
  • Receipts resulting from resource exports

• Recent trends – The total assets of 6 of the top 10 SWFs investing into Indian equities rose by more than 50% in the year to June.
• The Singapore government was the largest SWF followed by Norway’s Norges and Kuwait Investment Authority.
• Investment from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority rose to 400%, the most in percentage terms among the top 10 SWFs.
• India has also overtaken China as the most attractive emerging market for investing in emerging market debt.
• Saudi Arabia is now considering setting up an office for its SWF at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.
• Reasons – Since 2020, SWFs have been granted tax exemptions under the Indian tax laws when they invest in specified infrastructure companies directly.
• Such exemption has also been extended to investments in units of InVITS and AIFs which invest in infrastructure companies.
• The exemption has not only increased the net return in the hands of SWFs, but has also acted as a catalyst for increasing SWF investments in the infra sector.

BRSR Framework

IICA and UNICEF jointly organize workshop to provide a comprehensive understanding of the BRSR framework.

• BRSR – Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting.
• Launched by- SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) in 2021.
• Predecessor – Business Responsibility Report (BRR), launched in 2012, has evolved into BRSR.
• Aim – To encourage listed companies to adopt sustainable business practices and disclose information related to their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.
• Features – It mandates the top 1,000 listed entities (by market capitalisation) to file BRSR as part of the Annual Report with SEBI.
• Principle – These listed entities report on their performance against the 9 principles as per ‘National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct’ (NGBRCs).
• BRSR Principles

• Advantages
  • Increased value creation
  • Attraction and retention of talent
  • Stronger brand positioning

References

1. PIB | Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR)
2. BRSR | About
3. INDIA CSR | BRSR

Inward & Outward FDI Trends 2023

A recent census by the Reserve Bank of India shows that Total outward direct investment by Indian firms rose by 19.46% in FY2023.

• This census relied on foreign liabilities and assets (FLA) data, which encompassed cross-border assets and liabilities of various entities such as companies, limited liability partnerships, alternative investment funds, and partnership firms engaged in inward and outward direct investment (DI).
• Outward direct investment (ODI) – It is a business strategy in which a domestic firm expands its operations to a foreign country.
• It distinguishes from the foreign portfolio investment.

• Singapore was the largest beneficiary of outward direct investment (ODI) by Indian firms.
• Also, 3 countries Bermuda, Jersey and Cyprus which are known for their tax benefits are in the top 10 countries that received Indian ODI.
• Inward FDI Trends – US was the largest source of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) followed by Mauritius, the UK and Singapore which collectively accounted for 60% of the inward FDI in the country.
• Sector wise – The manufacturing sector continued to attract the largest share of FDI equity, both at market value as well as at face value.
• Services – Among services, information & communication and financial & insurance activities were the major FDI recipient sectors.
• Market Value – In terms of market value, ODI growth outpaced the growth in FDI and, as a result, the ratio of inward to outward direct investment stood at 5.5 times in 2023 as compared with 6.1 times in 2022.

Reference

1. The Indian Express | ODI

Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)

The investments of SWFs in India have seen a steady rise over the past few years.

• Sovereign wealth fund – It is a state-owned investment fund comprised of money generated by the government, often derived from a country’s surplus reserves.
• An SWF is used to invest in capital assets such as real estate, metals, stocks, and bonds.
• SWFs also invest in alternative investments such as private equity funds and hedge funds.
• The main objective of the SWFs is to allocate funds for the betterment of the country’s economy.
• India’s SWF – The National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) is India’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund (SWF).
• The funding for a SWF can come from a variety of sources.
• Sources
  • Balance of payments surpluses
  • Official foreign currency operations
  • The proceeds of privatizations
  • Governmental transfer payments
  • Fiscal surpluses
  • Receipts resulting from resource exports

• Recent trends – The total assets of 6 of the top 10 SWFs investing into Indian equities rose by more than 50% in the year to June.
• The Singapore government was the largest SWF followed by Norway’s Norges and Kuwait Investment Authority.
• Investment from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority rose to 400%, the most in percentage terms among the top 10 SWFs.
• India has also overtaken China as the most attractive emerging market for investing in emerging market debt.
• Saudi Arabia is now considering setting up an office for its SWF at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.
• Reasons – Since 2020, SWFs have been granted tax exemptions under the Indian tax laws when they invest in specified infrastructure companies directly.
• Such exemption has also been extended to investments in units of InVITS and AIFs which invest in infrastructure companies.
• The exemption has not only increased the net return in the hands of SWFs, but has also acted as a catalyst for increasing SWF investments in the infra sector.

References

1. The Hindu Business Line | sovereign wealth funds
2. Live Mint | Saudi plans to set up wealth fund office
3. Investopedia | Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)
4. SWFI Institute | What is a Sovereign Wealth Fund?

Gifts to G20 Leaders

Different heads of states & leaders representing their countries at the recently held G20 summit in New Delhi got a special gift hamper from the government of India.

• Some of the products are the product of centuries of tradition & cherished across the world for their unparalleled workmanship and quality.
• The hamper had the following products:

The Gift	Significance
Sheeshamwood Sandook With Brass Patti	Sandook is the Hindi word for a treasure chest.Traditionally, it is a strong box made of solid old wood or metal, with a lid on top and embellishments all over.The Sandook gifted was handcrafted using Sheesham (Indian Rosewood), which is valued for its strength, durability, distinctive grain patterns and rich colour.The brass patti (strip) was delicately etched and embedded on to the wood.
Kashmiri Saffron	Saffron has been valued across cultures and civilizations for its unparalleled culinary and medicinal value.Kashmiri Saffron’s intense aromatic profile, vibrant colour and unmatched potency sets it apart.This is due to the crisp air, abundant sunlight and well-drained soil of Kashmir, which yields saffron with a higher concentration of essential oils.
Pekoe Darjeeling And Nilgiri Tea	Pekoe Darjeeling and Nilgiri Tea are two illustrious gems from Bharat’s tea tapestry, epitomizing the delicate art of tea cultivation and infusion.Darjeeling tea is the most valued tea in the world.Nilgiri Tea comes from the most spectacular mountain range in southern India, cultivated amidst the mountains’ lush terrain at an elevation of 1000-3000 ft.
Araku Coffee	Araku Coffee is the world’s first terroir mapped coffee, grown on organic plantations in the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh.Araku Coffee is known for its unique texture and a symphony of flavours that makes for a smooth, well-balanced cup.
Sundarbans Honey	Sundarbans is home to wild colonies of honeybees.The distinct and rich flavour profile of Sundarbans honey mirrors the bio-diversity of the area.It is less viscous than other types of honey.
Kashmiri Pashmina	The Kashmiri Pashmina shawl has many enchanting stories woven into its fabric.‘Pashm’ means wool in Persian.In ancient courts, Pashmina was used as an indicator of rank and nobility.
Zighrana Ittar	Zighrana Ittar is a masterpiece of fragrance from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh.Ittar (perfume) is an essential oil derived from botanical sources.It showcases a centuries-old tradition of exquisite perfume crafting.
Khadi Scarf	Synonymous with Mahatma Gandhi, khadi is an eco-friendly clothing material most beloved for its beautiful texture and versatility throughout the seasons.It is also one of the most important symbols of India’s freedom struggle.
Coin Box	To commemorate India’s G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released special G20 postage stamps and coins on July 26 this year.The G20 India Stamps and Coins were released during the inauguration of Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan.The designs of both the coins and stamps draw inspiration from India’s G20 logo and theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’.
Banarasi silk stole in Ebony Jali box	Handcrafted using delicate lattice or jail work on the extremely dense and fine textured Indian Ebony wood.
Assam stole in kadam wood box	Stole using Muga silk.Kadam – Burflower tree wood handcrafted by Karnataka artisans.
Kanchivaram stole in kadam wood box	Stole using pure mulberry silk threads.
Ikkat stole in teak wood box	Stole by artisans of Odisha using mulberry silk with the exquisite Ikkat technique.Box by artisans of Gujarat.

References

1. The Times of India – Gifts to G20 leaders
2. News 18 – Gifts G20 Leaders Took Home from India

Nipah Virus

A recent outbreak of cases of Nipah infection have been found in Kerala again, after two people were confirmed to have died of the viral disease in Kozhikode district.

• About – It is a zoonotic disease that spreads primarily between animals and humans.
• Transmission – Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (such as bats or pigs), or contaminated foods and can also be transmitted directly from human-to-human.
• Fruit bats are known to transmit this virus to other animals like pigs, and also dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.
• Cause – The natural host of the Nipah virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family and Pteropous genus, widely found in South and South East Asia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the infection has been found to be fatal in 40% to 75% of the infected patients.

• Symptoms – Fever, headache, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.
• Patients either show no symptoms of the infection (asymptomatic infections), thereby making it difficult to detect.
• Otherwise, patients develop acute respiratory problems, or encephalitis that often becomes fatal.
• Treatment – There is currently no specific treatment available for the Nipah virus. No drugs or vaccines specific to Nipah are currently available, as per WHO.
• Countries – Common in Asia, primarily Bangladesh and India.

Ayushman Bhav Campaign

The President of India will launch the ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign.

What is the Ayushman Bhav campaign?

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Purpose: It is a comprehensive nationwide healthcare initiative that aims to extend healthcare coverage to every village and town transcending geographical barriers and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Collaboration between: The campaign is a collaborative effort involving gram panchayats, the Department of Health, various government departments, and local elected bodies in both rural and urban areas. 

Components: The campaign aims to extend comprehensive coverage of health services through its three components:

– Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0: This initiative aims to provide Ayushman cards to remaining eligible beneficiaries enrolled under the PM-JAY scheme, ensuring that more individuals have access to essential health services.

– Ayushman Melas at HWCs and CHCs: These Melas at Ayushman Bharat- HWCs and CHCs will facilitate the creation of ABHA IDs (Health IDs) and issuance of Ayushman Bharat Cards. They will also offer early diagnosis, comprehensive primary health care services, tele consultation with specialists, and appropriate referrals.

– Ayushman Sabhas: These gatherings in every village and Panchayat will play a pivotal role in distributing Ayushman cards, generating ABHA IDs, and raising awareness about vital health schemes and disease conditions such as non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis (Nikshay Mitra), sickle cell disease as well as blood donation and organ donation drives.

Recognition: Panchayats that successfully extend comprehensive coverage of health services will earn the prestigious title of ‘Ayushman Gram Panchayat’ or ‘Ayushman Urban Ward,’ symbolizing their dedication to equitable healthcare provision.

Significance: Ayushman Bhav campaign is aligned with the vision of creating ‘Healthy Villages’ and ‘Healthy Gram Panchayats,’ laying the foundation for achieving Universal Health Coverage in the country. 

Salem sago gets GI tag

Source: The post is based on the article “Salem sago gets GI tag”  published in The Hindu on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd. (SAGOSERVE) from Tamil Nadu has received a Geographical Indication(GI) Tag for Salem sago.

What is Salem sago?

Source: The Hindu

Sago is derived from raw tapioca.It is in the form of small hard globules or pearls and is pearl white in colour.

It is produced in Salem district in Tamil Nadu which is the main center for sago production in the country.

It is manufactured from the wet starch powder crushed from tapioca roots.The wet starch powder is used for producing sago and the dry powder has been used as a raw material for industrial purposes.

Sago is used in various industries, including food, paper, construction, textile, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, mining, and alcohol, among others.

What is Tapioca?

Tapioca is a starchy food derived from the cassava root.In India, tapioca pearls are referred to as “Sabudana”.

Climate and Soil: Any well drained soil preferably red lateritic loam with a pH range of 5.5 -7.0 is best suited for tapioca cultivation. 

– It thrives best in tropical, warm humid climate with well distributed rainfall of over 100 cm per annum. This crop can be cultivated upto an elevation of 1000 m.

Origin: Tapioca originated in South America and was later introduced to India.

– In India, tapioca is predominantly cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.