Context: The Prime Minister paid tributes to Savitribai Phule and Rani Velu Nachiyar on their Jayanti.

Savitribai Phule

Savitribai Phule was a Maharashtra-based social reformer and educator who, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, played a significant role in promoting women's rights in India. Here are some key points about her life and work:

- Born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon, Maharashtra.

- Married to Jyotirao Phule at the age of 9.

- Became the first female teacher in India, opening the first school for girls in Pune in 1848.

- Started the first school for girls at Bhide Wada in Pune in 1848.

- Established the Society for Promoting the Education of Mahars, Mangs, and others.

- In 1852, the British government honored the Phule family for their contributions to education.

- In 1855, the couple started the first-ever infanticide prohibition home in India called Balhatya.

- Authored two books: Kavya Phule (1854) and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1892).

- Fought against dowry and other social evils that obstruct women's empowerment.

- Started teaching women and children from downtrodden castes, including Mang and Mahar.

Savitribai Phule's work has had a lasting impact on women's education and social reform in India. In 2015, the University of Pune was renamed Savitribai Phule Pune University in her honor.

Rani Velu Nachiyar

- Rani Velu Nachiyar was the 18th-century queen from Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu, known for her fight against British rule to recapture her kingdom.

- She was born on January 3, 1730, in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, and died on December 25, 1796, in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu

- Velu Nachiyar was the princess of Ramanathapuram and the only child of King Chellamuthu Nachiyar. She was trained in various combat methods, including war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam, horse riding, and archery.

- She was a scholar in many languages and was proficient in languages like French, English, and Urdu.

- Velu Nachiyar married the king of Sivagangai, with whom she had a daughter. When her husband, Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar, was killed in a battle with EIC soldiers in 1780, she was drawn into the conflict.

- Velu Nachiyar was the first Indian queen to wage war with the East India Company in India. She is known by Tamils as Veeramangai, which means "brave woman".

- She was the first queen to fight against the British colonial power in India and is regarded as a significant figure in the Indian independence movement.

- Velu Nachiyar is also credited as the first person to apply a human bomb.

- She is remembered for her bravery and her contributions to the fight against British colonial rule in India.

Context: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has launched 'SMART 2.0' (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research among Teaching professionals) program to promote robust clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda with Ayurveda academic institutions/hospitals across the country through mutual collaboration.

About:

• The objective of ‘SMART 2.0’ is to generate a tangible evidence to demonstrate efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions using interdisciplinary research methods and translating it into public health care.
• Under the ‘SMART 1.0’, around 10 diseases were covered with the active participation of teaching professionals from 38 colleges.

SMART program

The SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program is an initiative launched by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda Science (CCRAS) under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India The program aims to boost scientific research through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals

Key aspects of the SMART program include:

• Identifying and supporting innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas such as Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Motivating Ayurveda teachers to take up projects in designated areas of healthcare research
• Creating a large database for research purposes The SMART program is expected to have a deep, long-term rejuvenating impact on research in the field of Ayurveda and will serve as a great service to the nation

CCRAS

It is an apex organization for the formulation, co-ordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda, functioning under the Ministry of Ayush.

Context: Roll-out schedule of 3 new criminal codes will be notified by January 26
About:
The three new criminal laws introduced in 2023 are:
1. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023: This bill replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860 and aims to overhaul the criminal justice system in India
2. Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 (BSS): This bill replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 and introduces several changes to the criminal justice system, including the addition of 24 new sections and the repeal of six sections. One of the new sections is related to mob lynching, which has been termed a hate crime, and capital punishment has been introduced for such offenses.
3. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Bill, 2023 (BNSSS): This bill replaces the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 and has 170 sections, with 24 new sections added and six sections repealed. The bill aims to improve the criminal justice system and provide justice to the accused.

Significance:

• The significance of the implementation of the new criminal laws lies in their potential to modernize and streamline the criminal justice system in India.
• These laws are expected to bring about significant changes in the investigation, trial, and sentencing processes, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in the country

Criticisms:

• Critics of these new laws argue that they are felonious and instead of preventing crimes, they provide legal cover to the government's crimes.
• They also claim that these laws are an attempt to give legal cover to the government's crimes and that the people facing charges of terrorism are also defining terrorism.
• Some critics have compared these laws to the Rowlatt Act, a British legislation that was widely criticized for its use of "preventive detention" and "protective custody" during World War I.
• These new laws have been criticized for potentially threatening fundamental rights to privacy and free speech, attempting to digitize many aspects of criminal procedure without outlining procedural safeguards, and being passed without proper review by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

The new laws aim to overhaul the colonial-era criminal laws and make punishments more stringent for crimes such as terrorism, lynching, and offenses endangering national security. However, critics argue that these laws could lead to further violations of human rights and civil liberties in India.

Context: The Union government is all set to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border. People living in border areas, who could cross over to India, will soon require visas, the official added.
About:
Free Movement Regime

• The Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border is a mutually agreed pact between India and Myanmar that allows tribes residing on either side of the border to travel up to 16 km into each other's territory without visa restrictions.
• The FMR has been in place for several decades and has facilitated cultural and economic exchanges between the border communities.

Significance:

• Cultural and Economic Exchanges: The FMR allows tribes residing on either side to travel up to 16 km into each other's territory without visa restrictions, fostering cultural and economic exchanges between the border communities.
• Historical Ties: The FMR has been in place for several decades and has maintained age-old ties between the border communities
• Peaceful Coexistence: The FMR has contributed to peaceful coexistence between the border communities, promoting mutual respect and understanding
• Tourism: The FMR has also facilitated tourism in the region, with people from both sides visiting each other's countries for leisure and religious purposes

Challenges

• Insurgency and Border Crimes: The FMR has been associated with promoting insurgency across and inside the border, as well as illicit and informal trade, including drug trafficking and arms smuggling
• Illicit Activities: The changing socio-politico-economic conditions in Myanmar and the dynamic demographic profile have led to an increase in illicit activities and border crimes, posing a significant challenge to the security and stability of the region
• Ethnic Violence: The FMR has contributed to the internal security challenge of ethnic violence in states like Manipur, where the movement of insurgent groups and the influx of illegal arms and substances have been facilitated by the FMR
• Influx of Illegal Immigrants: The FMR has also been linked to the influx of illegal immigrants, posing challenges related to border security and the management of cross-border movements
• Local Aspirations and Ancestral Lands: The FMR's impact on local communities and their ancestral lands has been a point of contention, with concerns about the potential impact of its suspension or revision on the livelihoods and traditional practices of the border communities

The way forward involves finding a balance between preserving the social and economic benefits of the FMR while addressing security concerns. This may include implementing alternative mechanisms to facilitate legitimate cross-border activities and trade, while strengthening border security to prevent illegal movements and activities.

Context: The recent report highlights the challenges faced by judiciary
The key highlights of the State of the Judiciary report are:

• Nearly one-fifth of the district court complexes in the country lack separate toilets for women, according to a report published by the Centre for Research and Planning of the Supreme Court recently
• The report underscores the necessity of women-friendly toilets, stating that sanitary napkin vending machines have been provided at only 6.7% of the toilets meant for women
• The report cites data from the National Judicial Data Grid, which shows that while 19.7% of district courts did not have separate toilets for women as of September 25, 2023, the condition of the existing washrooms painted a grim picture
• The report highlights the need to ensure equality, dignity, and the right to menstrual health and sanitation facilities for women in institutions of justice
• The report also emphasizes the importance of digitizing the criminal justice system and introducing procedural safeguards to protect fundamental rights to privacy and free speech

Context: With the government refusing to extend the deadline for Aadhaar details of workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to  be seeded to their job cards beyond December 31, 2023, to enable payments through an Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS), the system has now become mandatory.

Aadhaar seeding

• It is the process of linking the 12-digit Aadhaar number of individuals with their personal identification documents, such as bank account numbers, pension IDs, scholarships, and other government-issued identification.
•  It is a mechanism to integrate Aadhaar numbers into the service delivery databases of various service providers, enabling the use of Aadhaar for authentication and facilitating the transfer of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) provided by various government schemes.
• Aadhaar seeding is also essential for receiving subsidies and benefits, and it is a part of the account opening process for customers with Aadhaar numbers, enabling them to operate their accounts through Aadhaar Enabled Payment Systems (AEPS) and to receive various subsidies.
• The process involves linking the Aadhaar number to the customer's account and in the NPCI mapper, and it is facilitated through various channels, including bank branches, ATMs, internet banking, and SMS banking.
• Aadhaar seeding is also a prerequisite for the authentication of accounts, and it is a means to ensure the interoperability of Aadhaar numbers across different service providers.

Benefits of Aadhaar Seeding:

•  Proper Identification: Aadhaar seeding leads to better targeting of development schemes provided by the government, public sector, and private sector, ensuring that all fake, duplicate, and ghost records are weeded out from databases so that leakages resulting from such records can be prevented
• Ease of Identification: Linking Aadhaar with various government schemes makes it easier to identify fake accounts, pensions, etc., and ensures that the benefits reach the right and deserving people
• Simpler and Faster Flow of Information and Funds: Aadhaar seeding is a part of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, which aims to provide subsidies and benefits directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring that the benefits reach the intended recipients
• Interoperability: Aadhaar seeding ensures the interoperability of Aadhaar numbers across different service providers, enabling the use of Aadhaar for authentication and facilitating the transfer of DBT provided by various government schemes
• Convenience: Aadhaar seeding is a prerequisite for the authentication of accounts, and it is a means to ensure the convenience of operating accounts through Aadhaar Enabled Payment Systems (AEPS) and to receive various subsidies

Concerns of Aadhaar Seeding:

• Security Concerns: Security remains a significant concern with Aadhaar seeding, as the concentration of sensitive information with specific entities increases the risk of data breaches and identity theft
• Privacy Concerns: The use of Aadhaar for authentication and the collection of biometric data raises concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of personal information
• Reliability of Biometric Authentication: The reliability of biometric authentication is another concern, as it may not work correctly for everyone, leading to exclusion and denial of benefits
•  Risk of Disastrous Results: The fact that Aadhaar is linked to so many things makes it difficult not to have disastrous results, and the potential for errors and misuse of data is a significant concern
• Exclusion of Vulnerable Populations: The mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and schemes may exclude vulnerable populations who do not have Aadhaar numbers or face difficulties in obtaining them

• NHPC Limited and Gujarat govt sign MoU for Rs.4,000 crore in the proposed 750 MW Kuppa Pumped Hydro Storage Project in Chhota Udaipur, Gujarat.
• It aims to utilize pumped hydro storage projects for energy storage and addressing.

It is a part of “Vibrant Gujarat” initiative.

• North India’s 1^st industrial biotech park inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua recently.
• Biotech Parks offer facilities to scientists and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for technology incubation, demonstration, and pilot plant studies.

The parks are established to facilitate product advancement and innovation through the development of biotechnology industrial clusters.

Recently, Department of Justice have announced nomination of Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC).

• Constituted under - Section 3A the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which states that the Central Authority (NALSA) shall constitute the committee.

Legal Services Authorities Act was constituted in 1987 to give a statutory base to legal aid programmes and to provide free and competent legal services to eligible groups.

• National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was constituted in 1995 to monitor and evaluate the implementation of legal aid programmes and to lay down policies for making them available.
• Objective – To provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society, in cases falling under the top court’s jurisdiction.
• Composition – It consists of a sitting SC judge, who is the chairman, along with other members possessing the experience and qualifications prescribed by the Centre.

Currently in 2024, SCLSC consists of chairperson and 9 members.

• Selection criteria – Under Section 27 of the 1987 Act, the Centre is empowered to make rules in consultation with the CJI, by notification.
• Rule 10 of the NALSA Rules, 1995, entails the numbers, experience, and qualifications of the SCLSC members.
• Appointment – CJI nominates both the chairman and other members of SCLSC and appoints the Secretary to the Committee.
• Powers of the Committee – It can appoint officers and other employees as prescribed by the Centre, in consultation with the CJI.

Transporters and commercial drivers from States like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Punjab have staged protests against the recent legislation concerning hit-and-run incidents.

Principle underlying the law – It wants to prevent drivers from engaging in rash and negligent driving that may lead to death.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 47,806 hit and run incidents which resulted in the deaths of 50,815 people in 2022.

• It creates a positive obligation on part of the offender to report such an incident to the police or magistrate
• It enforces moral responsibility on the part of the offender towards the victim of a road accident.
• Such conversion of moral responsibility into a legal duty is not new to cases pertaining to motor vehicle accidents.
  • For instance, Section 134 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, requires the driver to take all reasonable steps to secure medical attention for the injured person unless it is not practicable on account of mob fury.

In the case of Rajesh Tyagi versus Jaibir Singh (2021), Delhi High Court had formulated that the offender fleeing from the spot as a significant factor for motor accidents claim.

• Provision – Section 106 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Hit and Run – It is an offence for fleeing an accident spot and failing to report the incident to a police officer or a magistrate.

Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 also covers provision on causing of death due to rash or negligent acts under

Penalty – It is up to 10 years in jail and Rs 7 lakh fine.

Section 106 (1) of the BNS applies to rash or negligent driving where if the driver reports the matter to the police, they shall incur a punishment of up to 5 years with a fine.

What are the concerns with the new law?

• Primary concern – Severe punishment of imprisonment and a fine for the drivers.
• Not aligned with the realities of road transport – It fails to consider
  • Driver’s challenging work conditions, including long driving hours and difficult roads.
  • The factors beyond the driver’s control, such as poor visibility due to fog.
  • The scenario of mob violence against drivers in the event that they stop to assist the injured at accident sites.

It may be abused by law enforcement agencies to their detriment.

Against the principles of equality– An exception under 106 (1) of the BNS for doctors, where the punishment will be up to 2 years with a fine.

Other issues – There is no actual mention in the BNS about the fine being Rs 7 lakh.Despite increase in the quantum of punishment, the offence has not been made non-bailable.

Mismatch with existing provision – Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, provides Rs 2 lakh compensation for victims of hit-and-run accidents and for grievous hurt it is Rs 50,000.Unlike Section 106 (2) of BNS, the compensation in this case is not recoverable from the drivers.

Road Accident Mitigation Measures Taken by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways?

Education Measures:To create effective public awareness about road safety, the Ministry undertakes various publicity measures and awareness campaigns through social media, electronic media and print media.Further, Ministry implements a scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies for administering Road Safety Advocacy.

Engineering Measures:Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage. Road Safety Audit (RSA) of all highway projects has been made mandatory at all stages.The Ministry has notified the mandatory provision of an airbag for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.

Enforcement Measures:The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety rules (specify the detailed provisions for placement of electronic enforcement devices (speed camera, body wearable camera, dashboard camera, etc)).

What are the Initiatives Related to Road Safety?

Global:

Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015):The declaration was signed at the second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety held in Brazil. India is a signatory to the Declaration.The countries plan to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 i.e., to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.

Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030:The UN General Assemblyadopted resolution "Improving global road safety " with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.The Global Plan aligns with the Stockholm Declaration by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety.The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP): It is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives through safer roads.

India:

Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019:The Act hikes the penalties for traffic violations, defective vehicles, juvenile driving, etc.It provides for a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.It also provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the Central Government.

The Carriage by Road Act, 2007:The Act provides for the regulation of common carriers, limiting their liability and declaration of the value of goods delivered to them to determine their liability for loss of, or damage to, such goods occasioned by the negligence or criminal acts of themselves, their servants or agents and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2000:The Act provides for the control of land within the National Highways, right of way and traffic moving on the National Highways and also for removal of unauthorized occupation thereon.

National Highways Authority of India Act 1998:The Act provides for the constitution of an authority for the development, maintenance and management of NHs and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Sundar Committee Recommendations on Road Safety

• Creation of the National Road Safety & Traffic Management Board, an apex body at the national level to promote road safety and traffic management in the country, to be constituted through an Act of the Parliament with members and experts drawn from various fields including road engineering, automobile engineering, traffic laws, medical care, etc.
• Establishment of State Road Safety & Traffic Management Boards in each state and union territory, with similar functions and powers as the national board, to coordinate with the state governments and local authorities on road safety and traffic management issues.
• Development of a National Road Safety Plan with specific targets, strategies, and action plans for reducing road accidents and fatalities, and enhancing road safety and traffic management.
• Improvement of post-accident care and trauma management, and establishment of a national road accident database and information system, with standardized formats and protocols for data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• To provide flow of funds, the Committee has suggested earmarking of 1% of total proceeds of cess on diesel and petrol for Road Safety Fund.
• The Committee has also dwelt upon other various issues like decriminalization of road accidents, insurance and dedicated highway police, etc.

Based on the recommendations of the Sundar Committee, the Union Cabinet approved the National Road Safety Policy in 2010.

The Ministry was carved from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare in 2019.

• Departments
  • Department of Fisheries
  • Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Department of Fisheries

• Fisheries sector plays an important role in the Indian economy as it contributes to the national income, exports, food and nutritional security as well as employment generation.
• It is recognized as the ‘Sunrise Sector’ and is instrumental in sustaining livelihoods of around 30 million people in India particularly that of the marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Key Initiatives/Schemes

Institutes

• The Department is responsible for the development of inland , marine and coastal fisheries and fishery institutes.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

Flagship scheme to bring Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India.

Aim - To double the income of fish farmers and fishers in the country

Launched - 2020

• Components
  • Central Sector Scheme (CS) and
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).

Tenure- 5 years (from 2020-21 to 2024-25)

• Artificial reef program- Implemented by Fishery Survey of India (FSI) and ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to rejuvenate coastal fisheries.
• Matsya Sampada Jagrukta Abhiyan- An outreach programme to reach fish farmers and 3477 coastal villages and ensures last mile connectivity.
• Sagar mitras- Youth will be engaged in fisheries extension through the interface between the Government and fishers and act as first person of contact for any marine fisheries related demands/services of fishers.
• Swath sagar plan- To modernize the fisheries sector including the promotion of Bio-toilets, insurance coverage for fishing vessels, fisheries management plan, e-trading and national IT based database.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

• Launch year- 2018
• Tenure- 2018-19 to 2022-23
• Aim- To achieve a sustainable growth of 8-9%, to augment the country’s fish production to the level of 20 million tonnes by 2022-23.
• Nodal Implementing Agency - National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad.
• Nodal Loaning Entities - NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation and Scheduled Banks.
• Lending rate of interest - Not lower than 5% per annum.
• Period of repayment - 12 years inclusive of moratorium of 2 years on repayment of principal.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

• KCC scheme was extended in 2018-19 to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital requirements.
• Kisan Rin portal- This digital platform offers a comprehensive view of farmer data, loan disbursement specifics, interest subvention claims etc.,

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana

• Central Sector Sub Scheme- Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Objective- To enhance the earnings and incomes of fishermen, fish vendors and micro & small enterprises engaged in fisheries sector.
• The scheme focus on gradual formalization of the unorganized fisheries sector including digital inclusion, facilitating access to institutional financing, maintenance of job for women in fisheries sector etc.,

Multipurpose Seaweed Park

• India’s 1st Fisheries Aquapark in form of Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu was announced in the Union Budget 2021.
• Model - Hub-and-spoke model
• Objective - To promote the cultivation and conservation of seaweed.
• To supply high quality seaweed planting materials, product innovation lab to develop new product lines, testing facility for quality testing of water and seaweed products, along with single window support for entrepreneurs and processors.

Major Fishing harbours

• Chennai, Kochi, Paradip, Petuaghat and Vishakhapatnam

Sagar Parikrama Yatra

• Aim- To solve the problems of fishermen and fish farmers by disseminating information about various government schemes.

• Recent Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-X has emerged as a significant initiative to empower coastal communities and promote sustainable development in the fisheries sector.

Global Fisheries Conference India 2023

• The event was organised at the Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad.
• The event is the 1^st edition which was instrumental in getting varied stakeholders together on one platform and facilitate discussions for internal and international collaboration.

National Fish Farmer’s Day

• It is celebrated on 10^th July every year to commemorate the remarkable achievements of the Indian fisheries sector.

G-20 Agriculture Working Group

• The 1^st meeting of the group showcased the development in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector which discussed on themes such as inclusive agricultural value chains and food systems.

Report Food Disease Mobile App

• It has been developed by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow and launched under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases.
• The app can be used by the farmers to report disease cases in finfish, shrimps and molluscs on their farms to the field level-officers and fish health experts and get scientific advice for quickly addressing the disease problems on their farms.

Other initiatives

• World Food India
• Special Campaign 3.0
• Run for Unity programme

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying

• It is responsible for livestock production, preservation, protection from diseases and improvement of stocks and dairy development.

Key Initiatives/Schemes

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• Launch year- 2014
• Aim- To genetically improve the cattle population and promote and conserve indigenous cattle breeds.
• Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production: Help in artificial insemination and in preventing the livestock from infectious diseases.
• E-Pashu Haat- An e-market portal connecting breeders and farmers to provide quality- disease free bovine germplasm.
• Pashu Sanjivni- An Animal Wellness Programme with the provision of animal health cards along with Unique ID identification.
• Gokul Gram- Establishment of integrated indigenous cattle centres.
• Gopalan Sangh- Establishment of breeder’s societies
• National Digital Livestock Mission- Established by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), to improve the productivity, control diseases, ensure quality livestock both for domestic and export markets.
• National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres- Established as Centres of Excellence.
• DNA based genomic selection
  • INDUSCHIP- Developed by NDDB for selection of elite animals of indigenous breeds
  • BUFFCHIP- Developed for genomic selection of buffalos which is 1^st time in the world
• Progeny Testing Programme- Implemented for Gir, Shaiwal indigenous breed of cattle and Murrah, Mehsana indigenous breed of buffalo.
• Sex sorted semen production- Introduced for production of only female calves up to 90% accuracy with subsidy of Rs 750 or 50% of the cost of sorted semen on assured pregnancy to farmers.
• Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana- Rashtriya Gokul Mission is continued under this umbrella scheme from 2021 to 2026.
• Gopal Ratna award is given to farmers and Kamadhenu award to breeders’ societies.

Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund

• Objectives
  • Modernization of milk processing plants and machinery
  • Creation of additional infrastructure for processing more milk
  • Bringing more efficiency in dairy processing plants and dairy institutions
• Implementing agency
  • National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
  • National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
• Financial assistance- by NABARD

National Program for Dairy Development

• Aim- To strengthen infrastructure for the production of high-quality milk as well as for the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products.

Statutory Bodies

National Livestock Mission

• Launch year- 2014-15
• Objective- Sustainable development of livestock sector, focusing on improving availability of quality feed and fodder, risk coverage, effective extension, improved flow of credit and organization of livestock farmers / rearers etc.,
• Sub-missions
  • Sub-Mission on Breed Development of Livestock & Poultry
  • Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder development
  • Sub-Mission on Extension and Innovation

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

• Announced under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package.
• Aim- To incentivize investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies to establish
  • Dairy processing and value addition infrastructure
  • Meat processing and value addition infrastructure and
  • Animal Feed Plant

Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme

• Aim- To improve the animal health sector through prophylactic vaccination programmes against various diseases of livestock and poultry, capacity building, disease surveillance and strengthening of veterinary infrastructure.
• Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs)-  1 MUV is provided approximately for 1 lakh livestock population at strategic locations to provide service within targeted time.
• Classical Swine Fever Control Program (CSF-CP)- Classical Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral diseases of pigs and the program is implemented with 100% central assistance.

Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey Scheme

• It is a Centrally sponsored scheme with two components
  • Livestock Census
  • Integrated Sample Survey Scheme
• Livestock Census
  • Aim- To provide information on livestock population species-wise and breed-wise along with age, sex-composition etc., up to household level in rural and urban areas.
  • Livestock census started in 1919 till now 20 livestock census has been conducted.
  • Tablet computers were introduced for the first time in the 20^th livestock census, the next census will be conducted in 2024.

Integrated Sample Survey Scheme-

• Aim- To bring about the estimates of major livestock products such as milk, egg, meat and wool.
• Published- Annually in the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics.
• eLISS- A specialised software through which data is entered into the tablets by the field workers.

Animal Health Support System for One Health

• The project focus on upgrading the laboratory, veterinary hospital/dispensary infrastructure and work towards strengthening disease surveillance and reporting using One Health approach.
• Tenure- 2022-23 to 2026-27
• Implementation states- Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.

Industrial pollution has destroyed local fisheries in Dahej near Bharuch, Gujarat.

Dahej

• Location - Near the ancient port site of Barygaza (near today’s Bharuch) on the Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat.
• Economic importance - It began to be developed as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1990.
• It is one of the four Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemicals Investment Regions (PCPIR) in the country.

Ecological significance - The freshwater of the Narmada enters the saline waters of the Gulf of Khambhat in Dahej.

• Many types of sea life including shrimp, bumla, salmon, boi, makul are found here.
• It is also the breeding ground of the Hilsa (‘palwa’ in Gujarat) fish.

Gujarat has the longest coastline in the country (1,600 km) and an Exclusive Economic Zone covering an area of 0.214 million square kilometres.

Effects of industries on Dahej

• Dahej is witnessing the increasing stench of chemicals in the air, turbid sea water and decreasing of fish population.
• The Gujarat Ecology Commission, in its environmental strategy for the year 2014-2019, found Bharuch district to be critically polluted in terms of industrial waste.