PM Kisan SammanSammelan 2022 (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated the PM Kisan SammanSammelan 2022 at Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi.
Launches during the event:
- He also inaugurated 600 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) under the Ministry of Chemicals &Fertilisers.
- He also launched Pradhan MantriBhartiya Jan UrvarakPariyojana - One Nation One Fertiliser.
- He also released the 12th instalment amount of Rs. 16,000 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SammanNidhi (PM-KISAN) through Direct Benefit Transfer.
- He also inaugurated the Agri Startup Conclave and Exhibition.
- He also launched ‘Indian Edge’, an e-magazine on fertiliser.
Single brand Bharat:
- The Centre has started a new scheme - Pradhan MantriBharatiya Jan UrvarakPariyojana - One Nation One Fertiliser - under which it is mandatory for companies to market all subsidisedfertilisers under single brand 'Bharat'.
- Prime Minister launched the single brand Bharat under the schemeto prevent criss-cross movement of fertilisers and reduce high freight subsidy.
- All subsidised soil nutrients - urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MoP) and NPK - will be marketed under the single brand Bharat across the nation.
PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PM-KSK):
- He also inaugurated 600 PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) that will act as a one-stop-shop for farmers who can buy products and avail multiple services related to the agriculture sector.
- The Centre intends to convert more than 3.3 lakh fertiliser retail shops in the country into PM-KSK in a phased manner.
- The PM-KSK will supply agri-inputs like seeds, fertilisers and farm implements. It will also provide testing facilities for soil, seeds and fertilisers.
- It will provide information regarding various government schemes and ensure regular capacity building of retailers at block/district level outlets.
‘Indian Edge':
- He also launched Indian Edge', an e-magazine on fertilisers.
- It will provide information on domestic and international fertiliser scenarios, including recent developments, price trends analysis, availability and consumption, among others.
Coronavirus variants BF.7, XBB spreading fast
(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- Fresh COVID-19 cases are on the decline in India but new Omicron variants continue to emerge. The one spreading fast across the world is the BF.7 and India is not shielded from it.
- The first case of BF.7 has been detected in India by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research centre. It is considered to be highly infectious with greater transmissibility.
Where did BF.7 emerge?
- The Omicron variant emerged in Mongolia and is now spreading to other countries, posing new threats. It is one of the variants responsible for the spike in cases in China.
- The variant is also spreading to the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Belgium.
- The US Centre for Disease Control said BF.7 accounts for 5.3 per cent of the cases and is being monitored as a variant of concern along with BQ.1 and BQ.1.1.
- According to the UK Health Security Agency, BF.7 accounted for 7.26 per cent of cases. It is showing a relative growth advantage of 17.95 per cent over BA.5.
What are the symptoms of BF.7?
- BF.7 has been detected in the country. Experts have advised COVID-19-appropriate behaviour ahead of the festive season.
- The symptoms of BF.7 subvariant include continuous coughing, difficulty in hearing, chest pain, and quivering. It could also affect the sense of smell.
Way Forward:
- Health experts have said that the festival season is when people gather in large numbers and tend to forget about social distancing.
- They have suggested that masks should be worn and crowded places should be avoided to ensure the subvariant does not spread.
Panel for appointment of electricity tribunal
(GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Union Ministry of Power has formed a six-member committee under Supreme Court judge D Y Chandrachud to suggest candidates for the post of chairperson, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), the apex quasi-judicial body of the electricity sector.
Key Highlights:
- The Power Ministry in accordance with Section 3(3) of Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021, a Search-cum-election Committee is hereby constituted as follows for making recommendations to the Central Government for the appointment to the post of Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
- The other members of the Committee are secretaries of ministry of power, ministry of new and renewable energy, ministry of petroleum and natural gas, and Justice S SShinde who was former Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court.
- The committee will suggest two names for the appointment to the post.
Background:
- The position of the chairperson of APTEL has been vacant since August 2021.
- A Supreme Court bench in 2021 had suggested some names including the last serving APTEL head Justice ManjulaChellur who had re-applied but the government could not shortlist a candidate.
- In 2021, the ministry of power faced heat from the Supreme Court for not appointing a member (legal) in Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) which led to the Court ordering CERC to remain shut for months.
Sri Lankas ShehanKarunatilaka gets Booker prize
(Miscellaneous)
Why in news?
- Recently, Sri Lankan novelist ShehanKarunatilaka has won the Booker prize 2022 for fiction.
Details:
- He received his trophy from Queen Consort Camilla at the English language literary award's first in-person ceremony since 2019.
- He also got a 50,000 pound ($56,810) prize.
Award winning book:
- He won the award for his book, ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’.
- The Booker-winning novel tells the story of a dead war photographer on a mission in the afterlife.
- Set in 1990 Sri Lanka during the country's civil war, Karunatilaka's second novel follows gay war photographer and gambler, Maali Almeida, who wakes up dead.
- Time is of the essence for Maali, who has "seven moons" to reach out to loved ones and guide them to hidden photos he has taken depicting the brutality of his country's conflict.
About Booker Prize:
- Founded in 1969, the Booker Prize has a reputation for transforming writers' careers.
- It was originally open to British, Irish and Commonwealth writers but eligibility was expanded in 2014 to all novels in English published in the U.K.
- Past winners of the Booker Prize, which was first awarded in 1969, include Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie and Yann Martel.
