ANDHRA PRADESH
Andhra Pradesh emerges as the top banana exporter in country
For the first time ever, Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the country’s top banana exporter, having exported over 45,000 metric tonnes (MT) bananas in the 2019-20 fiscal, surpassing Maharashtra and Gujarat. Andhra Pradesh is expected to export over 75,000 MT bananas in the current fiscal, all set to retain the top spot in the export of the Green Cavendish.
Andhra Pradesh stands at the top in area under cultivation, production and export of bananas in the country. The state government has identified banana as one of the growth engine crops owing to proactive steps taken by the department of horticulture.
The area under banana cultivation has increased tremendously from 79,360 hectares in 2014–15 to 1.04 lakh hectares in 2019–20, along with a steep increase in productivity to 60 metric tonnes per hectare.
The majority of banana farmers in the state grow Karpura Chakkerakeli, Tella Chakkerakeli, Budida Chakkerakeli, Amruthapani, Red-Banana, Sugandhalu (Karpura), Karpuravali (Budida Arti) and Rasthalu varieties.
In 2018, the state horticulture department came up with a novel initiative on fruit-care activities through PPP (public-private partnership) projects with banana exporting companies and promoting marketing and export of banana.
Banana produce from Andhra Pradesh found acceptance in countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran. Beginning with a modest 246 MT in 2016–17, Andhra Pradesh was able to scale up export to 40,000 MT in 2020 despite the pandemic.
INTERNATIONAL
USA Restores Relations with Palestine
The US Presidential Administration announced that it will resume relations with the Palestinians and provide assistance to Palestine refugees.
This is a reversal of the shutdown of the Donald Trump administration and a key element of its new support for the two-state solution to the decades-long conflict that Israel and Palestine have agreed to.
Palestine is officially recognized as a Palestinian state by the United Nations and other entities.
It is a legally sovereign state in West Asia. Although its administrative center is currently located in Ramallah, the West Bank (on the border with Israel and Jordan) and the Gaza Strip (on the border with Israel and Egypt) have Jerusalem as the designated capital.
Since 1948, the entire territory claimed by the State of Palestine has been occupied by Egypt and Jordan, and then by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967.
NATIONAL
New Central Bank Digital Currency India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is studying whether India needs a new central bank digital currency (CBDC) and is exploring ways to implement digital currency operations.
RBI’s statement is based on the popularity of private digital currencies, virtual currencies and encrypted currencies.
These currencies cannot be used in India because regulators and governments have been skeptical of the risks associated with these currencies.
Therefore, the Reserve Bank of India is exploring the possibility of requiring a digital version of fiat currency.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is legal tender and is a central bank liability in digital form. Digital currencies are priced in sovereign currencies.
Integrated Weapons System Design Centre in DRDO
The Vice President of India established an Integrated Weapon System Design Center at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam missile complex in DRDO, Hyderabad.
It is said that the Integrated Weapon System Design facility will enhance the design and development capabilities of command and control systems for surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems.
The centre will focus on the overall system design and evaluation methods of advanced missile systems, and will help improve the performance of the missile.
National Mission for Edible Oil Agriculture Ministry
The Ministry of Agriculture has proposed the establishment of a National Mission for Edible Oil to increase domestic supply and reduce dependence on imports. It has been proposed to carry out the mission within the next five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
NMEO is composed of the following three Sub-Missions, which aims to increase the production of oilseeds and edible oil from the following three aspects:
Primary sources-it includes Annual Crops, Plantation Crops and Edible TBO
Secondary sources-it includes Rice bran oil and Cotton seed oil.
Consumers are aware of keeping the consumption of edible oil constant at 19.00 kg per person per year.
The purpose of this mission is to increase the output of oilseeds from 30.88 tons to 47.8 million tons. It plans to produce 7.00 to 11 million tons of edible oil from Primary sources by 2024-25. In addition, the edible oil from Secondary sources will increase from 3.50 times to 7 million tons.
Gross enrolment ratio of girls in schools improved from 2014-15 to 2018-19: WCD
The gross enrolment ratio of girls in schools at secondary level has improved from 2014-15 to 2018-19, and there have been promising trends of improvement in sex ratio at birth.
Sharing the achievements of the government’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Andolan (BBBP) ahead of National Girl Child Day on Sunday, the ministry said the scheme has resulted in increased awareness and sensitisation of the masses regarding prevalence of gender bias and role of community in eradicating it.
In a statement, it said the gross enrolment ratio of girls in schools at secondary level has improved from 77.45 (2014-15) to 81.32 (2018-19-provisional figures) as per UDISE-data.
Some districts which had very low SRB in 2014-15 have shown huge improvement after implementation of the scheme such as Mau (Uttar Pradesh) from 694 (2014-15) to 951 (2019-20), Karnal (Haryana) from 758 (2014-15) to 898 (2019-20), Mahendergarh (Haryana) from 791 (2014-15) to 919 (2019-20), Rewari (Haryana) from 803 (2014-15) to 924 (2019-20), and Patiala (Punjab) from 847 (2014-15) to 933 (2019-20).
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