Daily Prelims Notes 27 September 2022
- September 27, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN
Daily Prelims Notes
27 September 2022
Table Of Contents
- Surajpuri and Bajjika Dialects
- NavIC: India’s homegrown navigation system
- Orissa High Court judge pronounces 32 judgements in one day
- The Mining Sector
- Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden
- Govt cannot order blocking of accounts without notice to users: Twitter
- Govt bans mapping and export of sensitive locations under data regime
- International Civil Aviation Organization and CORSIA
- JALDOOT App
- AVGAS 100 LL
- Mission Integrated Biorefineries
- Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan
- Malnourishment: Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-garden
- Conservation of indigenous species of food crops -best practice
1. Surajpuri and Bajjika Dialects
Subject: Culture
Context: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Education Minister Prof Chandra Shekhar have asked the state education department to set up academies for the promotion of the Surjapuri and Bajjika dialects on the lines of the Hindi and Urdu academies.
Concept:
Surjapuri
- Surjapuri is spoken mainly in Kishanganj and other parts of Seemanchal in northeastern Bihar, including the districts of Katihar, Purnia and Araria.
- The dialect, a mix of Bangla, Urdu, and Hindi, is also spoken in contiguous parts of West Bengal.
- The name Surjapuri comes from Surjapur pargana, which no longer exists. But there is a toll plaza called Surjapur between Purnia and Kishanganj.
Bajjika
- Bajjika, one of five dialects spoken in Bihar, is a mix of Hindi and Maithili, and is spoken mainly in Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, and parts of Sitamarhi, Sheohar and Samastipur.
- Bajjika is not as well known as other dialects such as Bhojpuri and Maithili.
2. NavIC: India’s homegrown navigation system
Subject : Science & technology
Context: The Indian government is pushing smartphone makers to enable support for its NavIC navigation system in new devices sold in the country from next year, a move that has spooked the industry due to additional costs and tight time frames
Concept :
- Currently, NavIC’s use is limited. It is being used in public vehicle tracking in India, for providing emergency warning alerts to fishermen venturing into the deep sea where there is no terrestrial network connectivity, and for tracking and providing information related to natural disasters.
- Relying on systems like GPS and GLONASS may not always be reliable. NavIC is an indigenous positioning system that is under Indian control. There is no risk of the service being withdrawn or denied in a given situation.
Navigation in Indian Constellation
- Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC) is an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
- IRNSS consists of eight satellites, three satellites in geostationary orbit and five satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
- The main objective is to provide reliable position, navigation and timing services over India and its neighbourhood.
- It works just like the established and popular U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) but within a 1,500-km radius over the sub-continent.
- It has been certified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a global body for coordinating mobile telephony standards.
Global Navigations systems
- The main difference is the serviceable area covered by these systems. GPS caters to users across the globe and its satellites circle the earth twice a day, while NavIC is currently for use in India and adjacent areas.
- Like GPS, there are three more navigation systems that have global coverage – Galileo from the European Union, Russia-owned GLONASS and China’s Beidou.
- QZSS, operated by Japan, is another regional navigation system covering Asia-Oceania region, with a focus on Japan..
3. Orissa High Court judge pronounces 32 judgements in one day
Subject : Polity
Context : An Orissa High Court bench delivered judgement in 32 matters, pertaining to mostly civil disputes, in a single day.
Concept :
- The highest among them were writ petitions under Article 226 and 227, with as many as 67,266 cases pending.
Article 226 and 227
- Articles 226 and 227 are the parts of the constitution which define the powers of the High Court.
- Article 226, empowers the high courts to issue, to any person or authority, including the government (in appropriate cases), directions, orders, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari or any of them.
What are these Writs?
- Habeas Corpus – A simple dictionary meaning of the writ of Habeas Corpus is “a writ requiring a person under arrest of illegal detention to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person’s release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention”.
- Mandamus – A writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty.
- Prohibition – A writ of prohibition is issued primarily to prevent an inferior court or tribunal from exceeding its jurisdiction in cases pending before it or acting contrary to the rules of natural justice.
- Quo warranto – This simply means “by what warrant?”. This writ is issued to enquire into the legality of the claim of a person or public office. It restrains the person or authority to act in an office which he / she is not entitled to; and thus, stops usurpation of public office by anyone. This writ is applicable to the public offices only and not to private offices.
- Certiorari– Literally, Certiorari means “to be certified”. The writ of certiorari can be issued by the Supreme Court or any High Court for quashing the order already passed by an inferior court, tribunal or quasi-judicial authority.
- The High Court is conferred with this power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by part III of the Constitution or for any other purpose.
Article 227
- Article 227 determines that every High Court shall have superintendence over all courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction (except a court formed under a law related to armed forces).
- The High Court, can, under Article 227 –
- Call for returns from such courts,
- Make and issue general rules and prescribe forms for regulating the practice and proceedings of such courts.
- Prescribe forms in which books, entries and accounts be kept by the officers of any such courts.
- Settle tables of fees to be allowed to the sheriff and all clerks and officers of such courts.
Subject : Economy
Context Centre has proposed to amend the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 to put a ceiling on mineral-wise and State-wise area limits for each State.
Details:
- All states will have to follow the area limits for various minerals while auctioning resources, and changes would require permission from the Centre.
- Depending on the kind of mineral mined States can set aside 25-400sq km of Perspective license (PL) and 0-25 sq km for Mining Lease (ML)
- The limits are based on the reactions of a committee led by the Director General of Geological Survey of India with experts from Indian Bureau of Mines
Minerals | PL area limit-sq km | ML area limit-sq km |
Bauxite,gold& associated mineral | 50 | 20 |
limestone | 10 | 25 |
dimond | 400 | 10 |
Iron ore (Odisha) | 50 | 20 |
Iron ore (other States) | 25 | 10 |
Atomic minerals and others-coal, chromite, manganese | 25 | 10 |
- Aim:
- Smaller mining areas would attract more investors
- Increase competition- by preventing vast tracts of land irregularly ending up with a few miners
Concept–the Mining Sector
Mining process
- Government first identifies large areas of probable mining reserves and offer them to companies for initial testing
- Once the probable resource is established PL is given where licensees get to do more exploration to establish possible mineral resource
- It then applies for ML for a particular area to extract the resource.
- Centre is responsible for:
- survey and exploration of all minerals, other than natural gases, petroleum and atomic minerals,
- for mining and metallurgy of non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, gold, nickel, etc. and
- for administration of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 in respect of all mines and minerals other than coal, natural gas and petroleum.
- Indian Bureau of Mines, 1948:
- It is under the Ministry of Mines with responsibilities for conservation and systematic exploitation of mineral resources other than coal, petroleum and natural gas, atomic minerals and minor minerals.
- IBM performs regulatory functions under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
- Geological Survey of India:
- It is the largest and most comprehensive provider of basic earth science information or database for all minerals except Uranium .
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
- It regulates the overall mining sector in India and specifies the requirement for obtaining and granting mining leases.
- “Minerals” includes all minerals except mineral oils- natural gas and petroleum.
- As per Section 6 of the MMDR Act, the maximum area limit is 10,000 sq km for reconnaissance permit (RP), 25 sq km for PL and 10 sq km for ML.
- It allows the Centre to increase these limits.
- A person could acquire 1 mining lease for a maximum area of 10 sq km and Center can permit >1 lease.
- A mining lease can be granted for a minimum of 20 to a max of 30 years and could be renewed for a period not exceeding 20 years.
- In India, the minerals are classified as minor minerals and major minerals under MMDRA, 1957.
- Classification is not related to quantum/ availability/ level of production/ mechanization/ EXIM of these minerals but related to relative value and end use of these minerals.
Minor Minerals
| Major Minerals
|
- MMDRA (Amendment) Act, 2015
- States can grant licenses to bidders for all minerals except Coal / Lignite. They can allow licenses to be transferred by the winner to others. They conduct actual auctions via competitive bidding.
- The Center shall prescribe the terms and conditions, and procedure for auction, including parameters for the selection of bidders.
- Center may reserve particular mines for a specific end use and allow only eligible end users.
- Earlier license granted for 30 years but now 50 years. Previously 10 sq km area for licensee but now union can increase size too.
- Two new organizations created: National Mineral Exploration Trust, District Mineral Foundation.
- D.M.F to solve public grievance redressal, safeguard rights of public or tribals.
- DMF funds shall be used to implement PM KhanjiKshetra Kalyan yojana.
- Special courts can be set up to curb illegal mining.
- The Bill creates a new category of mining license i.e. the prospecting license-cum-mining lease.
- The state govt shall grant prospecting license-cum-mining leases for both notified and other minerals.
- Prospecting license-cum-mining lease for notified minerals (like bauxite, iron ore, limestone and manganese ore) shall be granted with the approval of the Centre.
- The holder of this licence may transfer the lease to any eligible person, with the approval of the state govt.
- The Act has been further amended in 2021.
- The reforms made are in the provisions related to statutory requirements, removal of end-use restrictions for captive mines and the division between captive and non-captive mines, transfer by auction of mineral-concessions, National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), National Mineral Index(NMI), the inclusion of private sector, and so on.
What are Mineral Concessions?
There are three kinds of mineral concessions, viz Reconnaissance Permit (RP), Prospecting License (PL) and Mining Lease (ML).
- RP is granted for preliminary prospecting of a mineral through regional, aerial, geophysical or geochemical surveys and geological mapping.
- PL is granted for undertaking operations for the purpose of exploring, locating or proving mineral deposit.
- ML is granted for undertaking operations for winning any mineral.
5. Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden
Subject: Culture
Context: President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to former U.S. security contractor Edward Snowden, according to a decree signed by the Russian leader.
Concept:
- Snowden, a former contractor with the U.S. National Security Agency, has been living in Russia since 2013 to escape prosecution in the US after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programs.
- He was granted permanent residency in 2020 and said at the time that he planned to apply for Russian citizenship, without renouncing his U.S. citizenship.
- Moscow several years ago relaxed its citizenship laws to allow individuals to hold Russian passports without rejecting their original nationalities.
Dual Citizenship
- Dual citizen status is a legal recognition in which an individual is considered a citizen of more than a country under the regulations of those countries at the same time.
- There is no convention that determines a person’s nationality or citizenship status. This is solely defined by laws, which can differ and conflict with one another. Dual citizenship countries arise as a result of different countries’ use of different and is not necessary to be mutually exclusive, citizenship criteria.
- A person with multiple citizenships is generally entitled to the same rights of citizenship within every country in which they hold citizenship, such as the right to a passport, the right to stay in the country, the right to work, the right to own property, the right to vote, and so on.
- Some of the prominent countries which allow for dual citizenship are the USA, UK, Russia, Australia, Portugal, Argentina, Scotland, Denmark, Mexico, Iceland, etc.
6. Govt cannot order blocking of accounts without notice to users: Twitter
Subject: Polity
Context: The court was hearing a petition moved by Twitter against orders issued by the Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology to block 39 accounts in 2021.
Concept:
- The Union government cannot block Twitter accounts without first issuing notices to the users and Twitter itself, the social media platform told the Karnataka High Court, citing norms laid down by the Supreme Court and Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- The counsel argued that “If the central government finds a tweet to be objectionable or offensive then there is a particular procedure to be followed and as per the Supreme Court decision in the Shreya Singhalcase they have to give notice to the person sending the message that this is objectionable and why it should not be taken down and the reasons have to be recorded in writing”.
- In India, the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, as amended from time to time, governs all activities related to the use of computer resources.
- It covers all ‘intermediaries’ who play a role in the use of computer resources and electronic records.
Section 69 (A) of the Information Technology Act
- It confers on the Central and State governments the power to issue directions “to intercept, monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource”.
- The grounds on which these powers may be exercised are:
- In the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state.
- Friendly relations with foreign states.
- Public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to these.
- For investigating any offence.
Process of Blocking Internet Websites:
- Section 69A, for similar reasons and grounds (as stated above), enables the Centre to ask any agency of the government, or any intermediary, to block access to the public of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored or hosted on any computer resource.
- The term ‘intermediaries’ includes providers of telecom service, network service, Internet service and web hosting, besides search engines, online payment and auction sites, online marketplaces and cyber cafes.
- Any such request for blocking access must be based on reasons given in writing.
Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India, 2015
- The Supreme Court of India struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- The Supreme Court of India observed that Section 66-A was over-broad and vague, hence it violated Article 19(1)(a).
- This judgement was considered to be vital for the preservation of online free speech in India.
About Section 66A:
- It empowered police to make arrests over what policemen, in terms of their subjective discretion, could construe as “offensive” or “menacing” or for the purposes of causing annoyance, inconvenience, etc.
- It prescribed the punishment for sending messages through a computer or any other communication device like a mobile phone or a tablet, and a conviction could fetch a maximum of three years in jail.
7. Govt bans mapping and export of sensitive locations under data regime
Subject : Security
Context:
- In a bid to meet the requirements of the liberalised geospatial data regime that was released in 2021, the central government has released a list of economic- and national security-related strategic and sensitive locations that cannot be mapped and exported.
- These sensitive locations include bulk oil and gas depots, and nuclear and military installations among others.
Order released by–
- The order has been released by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
- The transgression of the threshold values the Department of Science and Technology had mentioned in its guideline (in Annexure-I) issued on February 15, 2021, will not be allowed for mapping and collection of location data of the identified installations and facilities for the maintenance of the security of India.
What is the threshold value?
- The threshold values, as per the notification, are: “On-site spatial accuracy – one meter for horizontal or planimetry and three meters for vertical or elevation”, and “gravity anomaly – one milli-gal”.
- The threshold value in the case of “vertical accuracy of bathymetric data ( study of underwater depth) in territorial waters – ten meters for up to five hundred meters from the shoreline and one hundred meters beyond that”.
Security installations–
- The directive has listed out 51“security installations/ features and secured facilities” that have been tagged as “sensitive attributes” with each carrying “stipulated regulations” to prohibit them from mapping and location data sampling.
- The notification, for instance, added that all missile test ranges, be it for launch and firing, will ‘not to be labelled in geospatial data and map.’
- Other locations that are prohibited to be labelled in geospatial data and maps are- oil bulk depots/ storage tanks; LPG/ LNG storage area/tanks; operational control rooms of oil and gas terminals; seizing up of glacier lake depth; all nuclear installations in India; the nation’s intelligence agencies and its governance architecture; the space centre and space port; international boundaries with neighbouring countries.
The central intelligence agencies and governance architecture that are barred from mapping include Aviation Research Centre (ARC), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), and Cabinet Secretariat.
8. International Civil Aviation Organization and CORSIA
Subject: International relations
Context: At the 41st session of the International Civil Aviation Organization General Assembly, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation will be reviewed for the first time.
Concept:
International Civil Aviation Organisation
- ICAO was created in 1944 by the Chicago Convention in order to promote the safe and orderly development of civil aviation around the world.
- The Chicago Convention established the core principles permitting international transport by air, and also led to the creation of the ICAO
- The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was established to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).
- ICAO is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency.
- Its objective is to foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world.
- India is among its 193 members.
- It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
- The ICAO laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation.
- It works to reach a consensus on the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies for international civil aviation.
- These SARPs and policies are used by ICAO Member States to ensure that their local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms, which in turn permits more than 100,000 daily flights in aviation’s global network to operate safely and reliably in every region of the world.
- The ICAO is governed by the ICAO Council, which is headed by a President.
Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)
- It was developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and adopted in October 2016.
- It is a global scheme by ICAO to address the increase in total CO2 emissions from international aviation above 2020 levels.
- Its goal is to have a carbon neutral growth from 2020.
- It is one of the largest carbon pricing instruments in the world in terms of greenhouse gas emissions coverage.
- CORSIA uses Market-based environmental policy instruments to offset CO2 emissions: aircraft operators have to purchase carbon credits from the carbon market.
- Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and Landlocked Developing Countries can volunteer to participate in CORSIA, while it is not mandated on them.
- All ICAO member states with airplane operators conducting international flights are required to monitor, report and verify carbon dioxide emissions from these flights every year from 2019.
- Starting in 2021, the scheme is voluntary for all countries until 2027.
- All airplane operators with CO2 emissions less than or equal to 10,000 tonnes are exempted from the CORSIA reporting requirements.
- Emissions from domestic air travel are not included in CORSIA.
- Emissions from domestic aviation are addressed under the UNFCCC and calculated as part of the Nationally Determined Contributions.
- For Indian Operators, the CORSIA offsetting requirements will be applicable from 2027 i.e. the mandatory phase of the CORSIA implementation.
- CORISA is expected to complement other planned measures such as:
- aircraft technology evolution
- operational improvements
- the greater use of sustainable aviation fuels.
- In 2018, the International Civil Aviation Organization adopted the international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for CORSIA.
Subject: Government Schemes
Context: Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri Giriraj Singh will launch the “JALDOOT App” at a function in New Delhi tomorrow.
Concept:
- Ministry of Rural Development has developed “JALDOOT App” that will be used across the country to capture the water level of selected wells in a village.
- The Jaldoot app will enable Gram Rojgar Sahayak (GRS) to measure the water level of selected wells twice a year (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon).
- In every village, adequate number of measurement locations (2-3) shall need to be selected. These will be representative of the ground water level in that village.
- The app will facilitate panchayats with robust data, which can be further used for better planning of works.
- The ground water data could be utilised as part of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA planning exercises. Further, the data can also be used for different kinds of research and other purposes.
Context: Indian Oil becomes the first Oil Marketing Company to produce and market AVGAS 100 LL in the country
Concept:
- Currently India is importing this product from European countries
- The introduction of the indigenous, Principal grade of Aviation Gasoline, AVGAS 100 LL is designed for use in turbo charged reciprocating piston engines aircrafts, mainly used by FTOs and defence forces for training pilots.
- AV GAS 100 LL produced by Indian Oil’s flagship refinery at Vadodara has been tested and certified by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),
- It is a higher-octane Aviation fuel meeting the product specifications with superior performance quality standards, as compared to imported grades.
- The indigenous availability of AV GAS 100 LL will help reduce dependence on imports and address the associated logistical challenges.
- With the domestic availability of this product, Ministry of Civil Aviation is considering opening more training institutes in the country. Seeing the increase in aviation traffic, requirement of trained Pilots is expected to increase.
What is AVgas?
- Aviation gasoline (avgas) is the aviation fuel most commonly used in piston-engine aircraft. Avgas remains the only transportation fuel in the United States to contain lead.
- It is used in aircraft with spark-ignited internal combustion engines.
- Avgas is distinguished from conventional gasoline (petrol) used in motor vehicles, which is termed mogas (motor gasoline) in an aviation context. Unlike motor gasoline.
- It has been formulated since the 1970s to allow the use of platinum-content catalytic converters for pollution reduction, the most commonly used grades of avgas still contain tetraethyllead (TEL), a toxic substance used to prevent engine knocking (premature detonation).
- The most common and reliable type of avgas is 100 octane Low Lead, also known as 100LL.
- The main petroleum component used in blending avgas is alkylate, which is a mixture of various isooctane.
11. Mission Integrated Biorefineries
Subject: Government Schemes
Context: The launch of the “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries” developed by co-leads and active inputs from Brazil, Canada, EC and the UK.
Concept:
Mission Integrated Biorefineries
- The Mission Integrated Biorefineries was launched with co-leads from the Netherlands, uniting key members, international organisations, the corporate sector, academic institutions, and civil society to accelerate innovation for renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials for a low-carbon future.
- Goal of Mission Integrated Bio-refineries: Develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to accelerate the commercialization of integrated biorefineries, with a target of replacing 10% of fossil-based fuels, chemicals and materials with bio-based alternatives by 2030
- The Mission unites a dynamic and results-oriented partnership of a variety of stakeholders including countries, international organizations, among others, to accelerate innovation for renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials for a low- carbon future.
- The full launch of Mission Integrated Bio-refineries comes in the wake of the soft launch in November last year at COP26 side event at the Mission Innovation annual gathering.
“Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries”
- The “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries” aims to fill the void by identifying gaps and challenges in current biorefining value chains, prioritising Eight key actions to support the Mission, and guiding the Mission’s overall path in achieving its goal.
- it also provides policymakers with a strategy framework to establish a rising RD&D portfolio over the next five years, specific financing proposals across the entire spectrum of vital Biorefinery technologies, and rapid action suggestions.
Steps taken:
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has also planned to supply this indigenous enzyme to commercial 2G ethanol plant of 100 KL/day expected to be commissioned by Q2 of 2024.
- Further, lignin valorization process is also being developed to produce value added products from waste lignin.
- A pilot plant of 10 Tons/day capacity plant with integrated enzyme production is being set up at Panipat Haryana, which will be commissioned by December 2022. This will be the 1st indigenous technology for on-site enzyme production.
Subject :Government Schemes
Context: Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’ released under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Concept:
Under the guidance of the Minister for Environment, Forest and climate Change, the Ministry is going to launch Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan that promotes ranking of 131 cities in the country for implementing City Action Plans prepared as part of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for reducing air pollution upto 40% by 2025-26.
The objectives of Swachh Vayu Survekshan are:
- To create awareness among all sections of the society
- Inform citizens about the health impacts related due to exposure
- Comparing air quality conditions at different locations/cities
- To achieve the goal of NCAP “Clean air for all”.
Categorisation of cities:
131 cities are categorized into three groups based on population.
- 47 cities are in the first group having population more than 10 lakh.
- 44 cities are in the second group having population between 3 to 10 lakh.
- Third group consists of 40 cities having population less than 3 lakh.
How is the survey done?
- Cities are required to do the self-assessment as per the framework provided on PRANA online portal. This assessment is carried out annually.
- Cities have to report implementation of activities and measures taken in respect of solid waste management, road dust management, management of construction and demolition waste, control of vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.
Features of the survey:
- It was informed that based on the self-assessment and third party assessment, 3 best performing cities in each group will be given cash award in the spirit of competitive federalism.
- It is not based on the measurement of the air quality parameters to rank the cities. It is based on the actions taken by the cities to improve the air quality in different domains. The actions taken by the cities would result in the improvement of air quality.
- It thus, provides a planning implementation tool to improve the air quality and the assessment of the cities regarding how better they have aligned their actions to improve the air quality.
13. Malnourishment: Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-garden
Subject: Government Schemes
- Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens that are being set up across the country to provide easy and affordable access to fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants and herbs.
- Aim: to provide a fresh and regular supply of locally produced fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants to women and children straight from a nutri-garden at or near an Anganwadi Centre.
- Poshan Vatikas can play an important role in enhancing dietary diversity by providing key micronutrients through local fruits and vegetables.
- Poshan Vatikas is a good example of convergent action on-ground.
- Beyond the reward of locally available wholesome produce, it will reduce external dependency and make communities atmanirbhar for their nutritional security.
14. Conservation of indigenous species of food crops -best practice
Subject: Government Schemes
- Around 20 heritage rice varieties of Tamil Nadu are being traced, collected, redeemed, and restored at least through 10 community seed banks benefiting more than 500 farmers in the state.
- These varieties had been identified for their unique nutritional, medicinal, and ecological qualities and, above all, their climate resilience.
- The majority of small & medium farmers of Tamil Nadu have lost their heritage seeds, once owned traditionally by their community forefathers, due to
- monocropping of hybrids.
- The genetic erosion of heritage and indigenous gene pool of paddy varieties,
- loss of knowledge on the therapeutic/curative properties of native extant varieties,
- lack of accessibility to their seed stocks
Steps taken
- These community seed banks have been promoted by identification of willing farmers based on location with assistance from local NGOs in 24 districts
- A lead farmer cultivates one to many traditional varieties in his farm, a part of which when harvested is shared and distributed to other interested farmers in the neighbouring localities and districts with or without payment. This is an informal structure with voluntary participation.
- A seed bank capital of Rs. 2000 was distributed to each beneficiary farmer to strengthen the heritage rice community seed banks.
- The initiative by SASTRA Deemed to be University, with support from the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is reviving, conserving, and characterizing the traditional rice varieties.
- Paddy seed exchange festival – ‘Nel Thiruvizha’ organized along with CREATE- a Tiruvarur-based NGO, helped distribute heritage rice seed varieties such as Karuppu kouni, Thuyya malli, Mapillai samba, Karunkuruvai and so on
- The farmers are trained in conservation methods and ways of enriching and revitalizing the indigenous heritage germplasms, as well as on In situ trials for climate adaptability in the farmer’s field on a pilot scale.
- The initiative to collect & conserve the traditional landraces of rice varieties can help share and exchange knowledge about the varieties with inherent capacities to withstand climate uncertainties, drought and flood resistance, medicinal and nutritional properties. Once the knowledge about these local indigenous rice varieties spreads beyond the tiny localities to which they are confined, farmers can participate in preventing the erosion of the knowledge.
- The initiative can bring sustainable yield to all rice-based farmers in the event of climate change uncertainties. ‘Seeds of Past’ conserved to reserve ‘Seeds for future’ can be promoted for upscaling in coming years.