AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (3^rd Sept 2024)

Cabinet approves 7 farmer schemes with ₹14K Crore outlay

GS 3: Economy: Farmer schemes

About the news

• The Union Cabinet has approved seven significant agricultural projects with a total investment of ₹14,235 crore. The decision underscores the government’s commitment to advancing agricultural research, digital farming, and sustainable practices.

About the schemes

• The largest allocation of ₹3,979 crore is for the “Crop Science for Food and Nutritional Security” project. This initiative will focus on five key areas: enhancing academic and research capabilities in agriculture, managing and utilizing plant genetic resources for crop improvement, advancing genetic improvements for food and fodder crops, researching insects, microbes, and pollinators impacting crop health, and strengthening agricultural education and management.
• An additional ₹2,291 crore has been allocated to modernize agricultural education, management, and social sciences under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This initiative aims to align agricultural education with the New Education Policy 2020, incorporating advanced technologies such as AI, big data, and remote sensing, along with natural farming techniques and climate resilience measures.
• The “Digital Agriculture Mission,” with a budget of ₹2,817 crore, is designed to integrate AI and big data into farming processes. The mission includes two primary components: Agri Stack, which features a comprehensive farmers’ registry, digitized village land maps, and a crop sown registry; and the Krishi Decision Support System, which utilizes geospatial data, weather and satellite information, and groundwater data to support precision farming and risk management.
• The Cabinet has also allocated ₹1,702 crore to the “Sustainable Livestock Health and Production” project. This scheme focuses on improving animal health management and veterinary education, advancing dairy production and technology, managing animal genetic resources, and developing sustainable practices for animal nutrition and small ruminant production.
• For horticulture, ₹1,129.30 crore has been allocated to the “Sustainable Development of Horticulture.” This project will support the cultivation of various horticultural crops, including tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, root, tuber, bulbous, arid crops, vegetables, floriculture, mushrooms, and the development of plantation, spices, medicinal, and aromatic plants.
• Finally, ₹1,202 crore has been approved for strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and ₹1,115 crore for Natural Resource Management. These projects aim to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to manage their resources effectively and sustainably.

Digital Agriculture Mission

GS 3: Economy: Agriculture

Why is it in the news?

• The Union Cabinet approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission, aimed at creating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agricultural sector.
• This initiative is akin to previous government e-governance projects, such as Aadhaar and UPI, and seeks to establish a tech-based ecosystem with three major components: AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), and Soil Profile Maps.
• The mission will also implement the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) to provide accurate agricultural production estimates.

More about the news

• The mission’s budget includes Rs 1,940 crore from the Centre and the remaining from states and Union Territories. It is part of the Agriculture Ministry’s first 100-day plans for the current government’s third term and will be rolled out nationwide by 2025-26.
• Initially planned for the 2021-22 financial year, the mission’s launch was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was included in the Union Budgets of 2023-24 and 2024-25.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech, highlighted that the digital crop survey for Kharif will begin this year, covering 400 districts and incorporating details of 6 crore farmers and their lands into registries.
• The Digital Agriculture Mission’s core elements include:

1) AgriStack, which features three foundational registries: the Farmers’ Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and the Crop Sown Registry.

• The Farmers’ Registry will provide a digital ID for farmers, linking their records and simplifying access to benefits. Pilot projects for this registry have been conducted in six districts, and the goal is to establish digital identities for 11 crore farmers over the next few years.
• The Crop Sown Registry will track crop planting details through mobile-based surveys, with a national rollout planned.
• Geo-referenced Village Maps will connect land records with physical locations.

2) The Krishi Decision Support System (DSS) will create a comprehensive geospatial system integrating remote sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources to aid in crop mapping, drought and flood monitoring, and yield assessments for insurance claims.

3) The Soil Profile Maps will provide detailed soil information at a 1:10,000 scale, with 29 million hectares already mapped.

• The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) aims to enhance the accuracy of crop yield estimates, improving the reliability of agricultural data for government schemes and services such as Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement, crop insurance, and credit-linked crop loans.
• Moreover, this DGCES system will also facilitate crop diversification and assess irrigation needs based on crop and season, providing robust data for agricultural production estimates.

On Germany’s electoral architecture

GS 2: International Relations: Downsizing Germanys’ lower house of parliament

Why is it in the news?

• On July 30, 2024, Germany’s federal constitutional court upheld a government move to downsize the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, effective from the 2025 federal elections.
• The current Bundestag, with 736 deputies, is the largest ever and exceeds even the European Union’s 720-member parliament.
• Concerns about the growing size of the Bundestag include the strain on public finances and potential impacts on its efficiency.

More about the news

• The background to this decision involves the Bundestag’s complex electoral system and recent party fragmentation. Since 1953, German voters have cast two votes: one for a local constituency candidate via first-past-the-post and another for a party to allocate proportional seats.
• Each voter’s second vote determines the proportional representation of parties, while the number of seats per party is based on both their regional votes and the overall second votes received.
• Germany’s largest parties, the Centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), have historically won more directly elected seats than their proportional share would suggest, resulting in “overhang seats.”
• A 2008 court ruling deemed these seats unconstitutional due to their violation of election equality. In response, a 2012 decision required balance seats to offset the overhang, leading to further increases in the Bundestag’s size.
• In March 2023, the government proposed a cap on the Bundestag at 630 representatives from the 2025 elections. This cap will be achieved by eliminating both overhang and balance seats and adjusting the importance of candidate seats.
• Under the new system, winning more candidate seats than proportionally allowed will not guarantee a parliamentary seat if the vote share is low. This change, which the federal constitutional court has now upheld, aims to streamline the Bundestag and address the previous inefficiencies.
• However, the move has faced criticism for a lack of broad consultation before its enactment. The CDU, the main opposition party, has indicated it may reverse the law if it returns to power.

NIAB: To decode genetic blueprint of indigenous cattle

GS 3: Economy / S&T: Economics of Animal-Rearing / Genetic blueprint

About the news

• The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) is making strides in decoding the genetic blueprints of indigenous cattle breeds using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and genotyping technologies.
• This work aims to establish molecular signatures for registered cattle breeds, which will aid in maintaining breed purity and facilitate conservation efforts.
• According to NIAB, this process is vital for accurate breed identification and for the development of advanced vaccine platforms to combat livestock diseases like brucellosis, which significantly affect animal health and public safety.
• NIAB, operating under the Department of Biotechnology, is aligning its research with the recently announced ‘BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) policy, designed to enhance bio-manufacturing capabilities and position India as a global leader in biotechnology.
• Moreover, the institute expresses its enthusiasm for supporting the industry and biotech start-ups in transforming the country’s livestock-based economy. This transformation is crucial not only for food and feed security but also for advancing the development of animal vaccines, diagnostics, and innovative biomolecules.
• Furthermore, scientists at NIAB are investigating biomarkers related to susceptibility and resistance to tuberculosis in both native and crossbred cattle.
• The institute is also exploring alternative feed sources to improve animal nutrition and reduce environmental emissions including incorporating aquatic weeds and yeast-derived proteins into feed formulations.
• NIAB’s research program now encompasses alternative nutrition strategies using animal cells, in collaboration with two other DBT institutes.
• Additionally, NIAB is actively engaging with the community through the MILAN (meeting of livestock farmers) program, which aims to demonstrate sustainable livestock farming technologies to farmers.

Hayao Miyazaki wins Magsaysay Award

GS 2: Miscellaneous

Why is it in the news?

• Hayao Miyazaki has received the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award for his contributions to the arts and his profound impact on audiences across Asia.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised Miyazaki’s films like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” for their universal appeal.

More about the news

• Born in Tokyo in 1941, Miyazaki’s childhood was marked by WWII’s devastation, influencing his future work. Miyazaki began his career in animation in 1963, contributing to projects such as “Future Boy Conan” and “The Wonderful World of Puss ‘n Boots.”
• In 1985, Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, achieving commercial success with films like “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”
• “Spirited Away” (2001) won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, though Miyazaki refused to attend the ceremony due to his anti-war stance.
• Miyazaki’s films often explore themes of pacifism, environmentalism, and the impact of technology, reflecting his personal values and concerns. His films feature independent and well-developed female characters, inspired by his mother and free from stereotypical portrayals.
• Miyazaki’s portrayal of children blends innocence with maturity, contrasting with typical anime depictions. Miyazaki has criticized the modern anime industry for focusing on superficial trends, emphasizing the importance of genuine, real-life experiences.

Ramon Magsaysay Award 

• Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honour, celebrating exceptional service to the people of Asia. It is presented annually on August 31st, coinciding with the birthday of Ramon Magsaysay, the third President of the Philippines.
• Recipients receive a certificate, a medallion featuring Magsaysay’s image, and a cash prize. The award is widely regarded as Asia’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
• Initially, the award had six categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership.
• However, post-2009, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is no longer being given in fixed Award categories, except for Emergent Leadership.

SHe-Box portal

GS 2: Society: Ensuring women safety

Why is it in the news?

• The Union Minister of Women and Child Development has launched the new SHe-Box portal.

About the portal

• The SHe-Box portal is a centralized platform designed to register and monitor complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
• It aims to streamline the complaint process, offering a common platform to file grievances, track their status, and ensure timely processing by Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) across both government and private sectors. The portal also provides real-time monitoring through a designated nodal officer.
• The launch aligns with the Government of India’s broader vision for “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, emphasizing women-led development as a key driver of inclusive economic growth.
• This initiative supports the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, which seeks to protect women from workplace harassment and address their grievances effectively.

President unveils New Flag and Insignia of SC

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Supreme Court

About the news

• On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Supreme Court of India, President Droupadi Murmu has unveiled a new flag and insignia for the institution.

• The flag is a deep blue, featuring three prominent elements: the Ashoka Chakra, the Supreme Court building, and an open book representing the Constitution of India. This new design symbolizes the Court’s commitment to upholding justice and the rule of law.
• The insignia of the Supreme Court includes the phrase “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” inscribed in Devanagari script. This Sanskrit maxim translates to “Where there is Dharma, there is victory,” emphasizing the Court’s role in ensuring that righteousness prevails in its judgments.
• The Ashoka Chakra, a significant symbol derived from the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka’s Lion Capital at Sarnath, represents the “wheel of law” and reflects the Supreme Court’s dedication to justice and governance.