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A consignment of Dahanu Gholvad sapota has been exported to the United Kingdom from Maharashtra’s Palghar district, providing a major boost to shipments of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products from India. Sapota (Chikoo) is grown in many states- Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka is known to be the highest grower of the fruit, followed …

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat’s Banni grasslands within six months. The court also said the Maldharis (Pastoralists) will continue to hold the right to conserve the community forests in the area, granted to them as per the provisions in Section 3 of Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. National Green Tribunal It …

According to a recent study, exotic invasive whiteflies in India are causing direct and indirect yield losses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry crop plants. Whiteflies are tiny, sap-sucking insects that may become abundant in vegetable and ornamental plantings, especially during warm weather. They excrete sticky honeydew and cause yellowing or death of leaves. Important points: The first reported invasive spiralling …

India and Israel have signed “a three-year work program agreement” for development in agriculture cooperation. Important points: The programme aims to grow existing Centres of Excellence, establish new centers, increase CoE’s value chain, bring the Centres of Excellence into the self-sufficient mode, and encourage private sector companies and collaboration. Both countries are implementing the “INDO-ISRAEL Agricultural Project Centres of Excellence” and “INDO-ISRAEL Villages of Excellence”. …

Recently, an unusual shortage of inputs, especially semiconductor chips, has made India-based vehicle manufactures (car manufactures and premium bikes) curtail production across categories. Important points: Semiconductors are materials which have a conductivity between conductors (generally metals) and nonconductors or insulators (such as most ceramics). Semiconductors can be pure elements, such as silicon or germanium, or compounds such as gallium arsenide or …

In the Financial Year 2020-21, India sees growth of 10% (to $82 bn) in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) FDI equity investments rise 19% to $60 billion. In 2019-20, India had received $74.39 billion in FDI, with almost $50 billion coming in the form of equity investments. Important points: Singapore emerged as the top investor with almost a third of all investments, followed by the US which accounted for 23% of …

The report, titled Protected Planet Report 2020, underlined the progress the world has made toward the ambitious goals agreed by countries in 2010 at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Convention on Biological Diversity It is a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity that has been in force since 1993. Nearly all countries including India …

Recently the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) was observed on 20th May. Important points: Competition Commission of India is a statutory body responsible for enforcing the objectives of the Competition Act, 2002. CCI was established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003, but it became fully functional on 20th May, 2009. A Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. The CCI was …

A new research in zebrafish has demonstrated how induced hibernation (torpor) may protect humans from the elements of space, especially radiation, during space flight. Important points: The researchers exposed zebrafish to radiation like what would be experienced on a six-month journey to Mars. They observed signs of oxidative stress (imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals), DNA damage, stress hormone signaling …

Recently, two US officials have shown symptoms of a mystery illness that is linked to Havana Syndrome. In 2020, a report by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), US found directed microwave radiation to be the plausible cause of the Havana syndrome. Increasing number of cases is being considered a mass psychogenic illness. Mass psychogenic illness is when people in a group start feeling …