Medaram Jatara
Why in News
• Activities like Koya tribal festivals, various state level competitions, financial assistance to MSME units will also be organized extensively.
Key point
• Medaram Jatara, the second largest fair in India after the Kumbh Mela, is celebrated for four days by the Koya tribe, the second largest tribal community of Telangana.
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs released Rs.2.00 crores each year for the Jatars organized in the year 2018 and 2020.
• At present, the Jatara festival is celebrated and organized biennially by the Koya tribes in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned Rs 2.26 crore for various activities related to Medaram Jatara 2022.
• The activities for which funds have been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs include Medaram, Promotion of Tribal Culture and Heritage, Chilkalgutta and Murals on the Walls and Security Wall for the Museum Complex at the Cultural Complex – Model Koya Tribal Village. Organizing a week long state level Tribal Dance Festival, strengthening of the museum etc.
• Other widely organized activities include research and documentation in the context of small festivals of Koya tribe, organizing various state level competitions and providing financial assistance to MSME units.
Medaram Jatara
• Medaram Jatara is organized in the honor of Goddess Sammakka and Saralamma. It is celebrated once in two years on the full moon day in the month of “Magha” (February). Many scheduled tribes from different villages gather there, and lakhs of pilgrims flock to Mulugu district to celebrate the festival with full enthusiasm.
• Currently, the Jatara festival is celebrated biennially and is organized by the Koya tribals in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana.
• Jatara was declared a state festival in 1996. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India released Rs.2.00 crore each year for the Jatars organized in the year 2018 and 2020.
• Funds will be used for branding of Medaram Jatara and its organizational activities such as a week long state level Tribal Dance Festival, production of film video documentaries, promotion of Medaram Jatara through print and electronic media, Medaram Tribal Museum and Cultural Complex was made to strengthen.
• In addition, the Ministry under Article 271(1) for setting up of infrastructure such as multi-purpose buildings in and around Medaram for the use of community shelters as agricultural godowns by the local tribals during the Jatara period and in other seasons. Approved Rs.7.00 crore in 2019-20 and Rs.5.00 crore in 2021-22.
• Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Government of India has announced that tribal culture and heritage will be the main focus during 2022.
GS PAPER II
India and G20
Why in News
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of a G20 Secretariat and its reporting structures, which will be responsible for the implementation of overall policy decisions and mechanisms necessary for the smooth conduct of India’s upcoming G20 presidency. will be responsible for
Key point
• India will chair the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. This term of chairmanship will culminate with the G20 summit in India in 2023.
• The G20 is a major forum for international economic cooperation, which plays an important role in global economic governance.
• As per convention, a G20 Secretariat is being set up by India to handle the basic/knowledge/material, technical, media, security and logistical aspects related to the G20 presidency.
• This Secretariat will be manned by officers and employees of Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance and other concerned Ministries/Departments and experts from the field. This secretariat will function till February 2024.
Apex Committee
• An Apex Committee headed by the Prime Minister will guide this Secretariat.
• The Apex Committee will consist of the Finance Minister, the Home Minister, the External Affairs Minister, and the G20 Sherpas (Ministers of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution), which will provide overall guidance to India’s G20 presidency.
• In addition, a coordination committee will also be set up to oversee all preparedness related to the G20, which will report to this apex committee.
• This G20 secretariat will enable India’s leadership to build long-term capacity building with knowledge and expertise on various global issues in multilateral fora.
GS PAPER III
Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
Why in News
Key point• APEDA actively assisted the government in taking the export of agricultural products to $ 20.67 billion in 2020-21.
• When it was established in 1986, exports of agricultural products were $0.6 billion. APEDA also helped in expanding exports to 205 countries.
• The share of APEDA exports ($20.67 billion) in 2020-21 was 49 per cent of total agri-product exports, including 59 per cent of cereals and fresh horticulture, 23 per cent of cereals and miscellaneous processed items and 18 per cent of animal products.
• With a view to take the export of agricultural products to a new level, APEDA promoted IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in promotion and development of exports from India.
• APEDA has introduced paperless office (re-engineering, digital signature, and electronic payment facility), APEDA mobile app, step-wise delivery, monitoring and evaluation of online services, equitable access and virtual trading to make governance more efficient and effective. Many initiatives like Mela have been started.
• In keeping with the Prime Minister’s appeal of ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, APEDA focuses on promoting export of indigenous, endemic agricultural products along with locally sourced Geographical Indications (GIs). Used to be.
• New products and new export destinations have been identified and accordingly trial shipments have been facilitated.
• As on date, there are 417 registered GI products and out of them about 150 GI tagged products are agricultural and food GI, out of which more than 100 registered GI products fall under the category of APEDA Scheduled products (cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, processed products etc.). Huh.
• In 2020-21 and in the current financial year, some of the endemic and GI tagged products exported by India include Dragon Fruit, Patented Village Rice, Jackfruit, Jamun, Burmese Grapes, Dehydrated Mahua Flower, Murmure, GI Varieties of Mango, GI Tag Shahi Litchi, Bhalia Wheat, Madurai Malli, Mihidana, Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholavad Sapota, Jalgaon Banana, Vajakulam Pineapple and Marayoor Jaggery etc.
• The implementation of the Revised Agriculture Export Policy is also in the final stage and 21 States and two Union Territories (Ladakh Andaman and Nicobar Islands) have already finalized the State Specific Action Plan.
• States having specific action plans are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Manipur, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Action plans for the remaining seven states are in various stages of finalization.
• Country specific agri-export strategy reports for 60 countries have been prepared in consultation with the Indian Embassies and High Commissions of the respective countries to take advantage of the opportunities emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for agricultural exports to the countries.
• APEDA introduced its first traceability system for export of grapes to EU countries in the year 2005-06.
• First the system was made paper based and then IT enabled which gave birth to the first traceability system in the horticulture sector in the form of Grapenet.
• Following the success of traceability implementation in the grape sector, it was replicated for other products such as groundnut (Peanut.net), organic product (Tracenet) and meat product (Meat.net).
• Traceability systems are being developed for more products for further implementation.
• APEDA website is providing online facilities for issuance of Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), Registration-cum-Allotment Certificate (RCAC) and submission of applications for Financial Assistance Schemes.
• Export growth has been achieved in the last two years despite supply disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. APEDA organized activities like organizing VBSM, showcasing the power of Indian agri-exports on virtual trade fair platform, synergizing with ministries and coordinating various schemes run by respective ministries and organizations.
GS PAPER III
PSLV-C52
Why in News
• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched its first Radar Imaging Satellite Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04) this year at 5 am on 14 February 2022 from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Andhra Pradesh. Successfully launched at 59 hrs.
Key point
• This launch took place by PSLV-C52 from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This is the first launch mission of the year 2022.
• Along with this mission, two other small satellites have also been sent to space.
• EOS-04 was sent to space Under this mission, radar imaging EOS-04 has been sent to space. EOS-04, weighing 1,710 kg, will orbit 529 km in space in a sun-synchronous polar orbit. ISRO said that EOS-04 is a radar imaging satellite.
• This satellite will be used to take high quality pictures of the Earth. These will help in preparation of maps of agriculture, forestry, plantation, soil moisture, water availability and flood prone areas. Apart from this, two other satellites have also been sent into space.
54th flight of PSLV
• This is the 54th flight of PSLV. This is the 23rd mission using PSLV-XL configuration with 6 PSOS-XL (strap-on motors).
• PSLV also carried two small satellites with it. These include InspireSat-1, a satellite of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), built in collaboration with the Atmospheric and Space Physics Laboratory of the University of Colorado, Boulder.
• The main objective of this satellite is to improve the understanding of the dynamics of the ionosphere and the coronal thermal processes of the Sun.
• The second satellite is a Technology Demonstrator Satellite (INS-2TD) of ISRO. This satellite has been developed and sent before the joint satellite of India and Bhutan, INS-2V.
• With a thermal imaging camera as its instrument, the satellite will help in the estimation of land surface temperature, surface water temperature of wetlands or lakes, vegetation (crops and forests) and thermal inertia (day and night).
GS PAPER III
54 more China’s apps banned
Why in News
• The central government has taken a big step for the security of the country. The central government will ban 54 Chinese apps that threaten the security of the country. This information was given by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on 14 February 2022.
Key point
• The central government says that these apps threaten the security, sovereignty, and integrity of India, so it should be banned.
• The Ministry of Electronics and IT said that these apps were transferring sensitive data of Indians to servers in foreign countries like China.
• The central government will ban 54 Chinese apps that threaten India’s security.
• 54 Chinese apps include apps from big Chinese technology companies such as Beauty Camera Sweet Selfie, HD Selfie Camera – Equalizer, Tencent, Alibaba, and gaming company NetEase.
• These 54 apps include these apps:
• Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD
• Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera
• Equalizer & Bass Booster
• Camcard for Salesforce Ant
• Isoland 2: Ashes of Time Light
• Viva Video Editor
• Tencent River
• Onmoyji Chase
• Onmoji Arena
• AppLock
• Dual Space Light
• Ban on 270 apps
• Earlier in the year 2020 also, a total of 270 apps were banned considering the security threat. At the same time, now this year i.e. in the year 2022, this is the first time when the government is banning apps.
• These apps are banned under Section 69A of the IT Act.
• India had banned 59 apps for the first time. This included popular names like TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, ES File Explorer, and Mi Community.
• According to the report, the Ministry of Electronics and IT says that these apps were transferring sensitive data of Indians to servers in other countries like China. The ministry also ordered top app stores including Google Playstore to block these applications.
GS PAPER III
Pulwama Attack
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Why in News
• It has been three years since the Pulwama terror attack. The CRPF (Central Reserve Force) convoy was attacked in Pulwama on 14 February 2019.
Key point
• In this attack 40 CRPF personnel were martyred for the country. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari paid tribute to the brave martyrs on the third anniversary of this terrorist attack. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the country will never forget his sacrifice.
• CRPF remembers its jawans on the anniversary of Pulwama attack. CRPF, remembering its soldiers martyred in the Pulwama attack, paid tribute to the martyrs through a tweet. Three years ago on this day the whole country was shaken by a terrorist attack.
Pulwama Attack
• It has been three years since the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on 14 February. On February 14, 2019, in Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir), there was a terrorist attack on a convoy of CRPF personnel coming to Srinagar by road from Jammu and 40 soldiers were martyred.
• As per reports, a convoy of around 70 CRPF vehicles was carrying 2547 jawans and the SUV that collided with them contained 350 kg of IED explosives. This is the biggest terror attack after Uri.
• This attack took place at a distance of only twenty kilometers from Srinagar. Most of these CRPF jawans were returning to their duty after spending their holidays.
• The convoy was ambushed at Latumod in Awantipora area on the Jammu and Kashmir Highway at around 3.30 pm.
• Almost all countries around the world condemned the Pulwama attack and declared their support to India’s fight against terrorism.
• China also supported the resolution of the United Nations Security Council against the Pulwama attack.
India’s retaliation after the Pulwama attack
• On 26 February 2019, exactly 12 days after the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out an airstrike on the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed’s bases in Balakot, Pakistan.
• In this airstrike, the Indian Army claimed that a large number of terrorists were killed.