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The Narendra Modi government has brought di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), muriate of potash (MOP) and all other such fertilisers that receive nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) support under “reasonable pricing” controls.
NBS fertilisers — unlike urea, whose maximum retail price (MRP) is fixed by the government — are technically decontrolled. Under the NBS scheme, introduced in April 2010, their MRPs are supposed to be market-determined and set by the individual companies selling them.
The government merely pays a fixed per-tonne subsidy on each of these fertilisers, linked to their nutrient content or specific percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S).
But the Department of Fertilisers (DoF) has now, in an office memorandum dated January 18, issued detailed guidelines for the evaluation of “reasonableness” of the MRPs for all non-urea fertilisers covered under NBS.
The guidelines, to be effective retrospectively from April 1, 2023, have prescribed maximum profit margins that will be allowed for fertiliser companies – 8% for importers, 10% for manufacturers and 12% for integrated manufacturers (those producing finished fertilisers as well as intermediates such as phosphoric acid and ammonia).
Express Network
Fingerprints to videos and picture NIA builds its own terror database (Page no. 9)
(GS Paper 3, Internal Security)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has for the first time collected details of all terrorists – including those from Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba as well as Khalistani militant groups – and uploaded them in one common server at its headquarters in Delhi.
The National Terrorism Data Fusion & Analysis Centre (NTDFAC), which is modelled along the lines of the Global Terrorism Database of the US, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah .
According to sources, details of the terrorists and their associates, including their case history, fingerprints, videos, pictures and social media profiles and information on the terror groups they belong to have been compiled.
A source said that at the NTDFAC, the NIA has the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System with over 92 lakh fingerprint records, Integrated Monitoring of Terrorism with data of more than 22,000 terrorist cases along with their case studies, National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders with data of more than 5 lakh narco offenders, their source of funding, their involvement along with their cases registered in India, their latest pictures and social media profiles
SC extends stay on survey of Mathura Shahi Idgah complex (Page no. 9)
(GS Paper 2, Judiciary)
The Supreme Court extended the stay of execution of the Allahabad High Court’s December 14, 2023, order allowing an application for inspection of the Shahi Idgah complex in Mathura by a court-appointed commissioner in connection with the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute.
Adjourning the hearing on the appeal filed by the mosque committee challenging the May 2023 order of the Allahabad High Court transferring to itself all pending petitions in the matter, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said “interim orders, wherever granted, to continue”. The court adjourned the hearing on joint request of parties and fixed it for hearing next on the first half of April 2024.
Editorial
The quota gambit (Page no. 10)
(GS Paper 2, Governance)
In June 2022, when it engineered a split in its longstanding partner, the Shiv Sena, the BJP wouldn’t have imagined, even in its wildest dreams, that the man it entrusted with the responsibility of Maharashtra’s chief ministership would plan to build his vote bank and extend his use-by-date.
For the BJP, Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, when he was handed over the reins of the prized state of Maharashtra, was someone who could be fed its political agenda. But looks are deceptive, especially in politics.
Around two-and-a-half years later, Shinde has not only succeeded in rallying the politically strong Marathas behind him but also challenged the BJP’s traditional OBC base. Last week, he announced the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category.
In June 2022, when the BJP split Shinde and others from the Shiv Sena, the plan was pretty simple: Dethrone Uddhav Thackeray who, according to the party, was a traitor who deprived the BJP of Maharashtra by joining hands with Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Congress, after the 2019 assembly elections.
The BJP eyed Shinde for two reasons: One, he was Uddhav’s right-hand man and knew the Sena’s working inside out. Always an organisation man, Shinde till then had been a low-profile leader and was not seen as being ambitious.
Explained
Why some nations have paused UNRWA findings (Page no. 12)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
UN officials urged countries to reconsider their decision to suspend the funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), assuring that it would take strict action against any staff member found to be involved in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
The agency also highlighted that two million Palestinians in Gaza are dependent on UNRWA services that would be scaled back as soon as February if the funding is not restored.
The US and eight other Western countries, which together provided more than half of UNRWA’s 2022 budget, cut the money after Israel accused some of the agency’s staff members of involvement in the October 7 attack.
UNRWA stands for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East. It was founded in 1949 to provide aid to about 700,000 Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
World
Rise and shine: Japanese moon probe back to work (Page no. 14)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Japanese moon explorer is up and running Monday after several tense days without the sunlight it needs to generate power.
Japan's first lunar mission hit its target in a precision touchdown on Jan 20, but landed the wrong way up, leaving its solar panels unable to see the sun.
But with the dawn of the lunar day, it appears that the probe has power.
Economy
To push cyber infra, Govt may push use of made in India products (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Asserting that there has been significant progress over the last few years in the development of indigenous cybersecurity products and solutions, the Centre is expected to recommend enterprises – especially those in critical sectors like banking, telecom, and energy – to use only security products and services developed in India.
The government has drawn up a guiding policy called the National Cybersecurity Reference Framework (NCRF) in an attempt to provide an implementable measure – with clear articulation of roles and responsibilities for cybersecurity – based on existing legislations, policies and guidelines.
The action comes as India faces a barrage of cybersecurity-related incidents – most recently a high-profile attack on the systems of AIIMS Delhi in 2022– which pose a major challenge to New Delhi’s national security imperatives.
At least three union ministers told The Indian Express that they feel hamstrung by the lack of an overarching framework on cybersecurity when they are formulating sector-specific legislations. This is what the NCRF is expected to solve.