New initiatives for Farmer’s welfare
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare unveiled initiatives with the aim to enhance financial inclusion, optimize data utilization, and improve the lives of farmers across the nation.
- KCC Ghar Ghar Abhiyaan: Campaign to (as per World Bank) connect around 1.5 crore beneficiaries who are not yet connected to KCC scheme.
- Kisan Rin Portal (KRP): For comprehensive farmer data, loan disbursement specifics, interest subvention claims under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), etc.
- WINDS Manual: Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) initiative aims to establish a network of Automatic Weather Stations and Rain Gauges at the taluk/block and gram panchayat levels.
Five Eyes alliance
Canada’s charge about India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was backed by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
- It is an intelligence-sharing arrangement between US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- Under this, intelligence agencies of these 5 countries share signal, military and human intelligence among themselves.
Green nudges
A study suggests that ‘green nudge’ cut single-use plastic waste in China.
- They are positive and gentle persuasion to encourage sustainable and environment-friendly behavior in people.
- Benefits – cost-effective, work better in raising awareness, bringing long-term sustainable changes etc.
- Examples – When a university provides easy bicycle parking and repair stations, it nudges students to bike to campus. When a university makes plant-based food the default dish, it nudges students towards environment-friendly diets.
Saffron
Saffron is becoming one of the rare spices in the world to compete and surpass the price of precious metal.
- Jammu and Kashmir – 2nd largest saffron-producing area in the world after Iran.
- Kashmir produces 4 main kinds of saffron – lacha, mongra, androciam and perianth.
- Price drop due to adulteration with glycerin, weed, synthetic strands and colouring agents.