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Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) Scheme, Govt. provides budgetary support (interest free loan) for working capital and other incidental expenses for procurement and distribution of agri-horticultural commodities. The intervention is expected to regulate price volatility through procurement by State/UT Government and Central agencies/Central PSUs/Cooperative organisations of selected produce, maintenance of buffer stocks and regulated release into the market.  Govt. has launched ‘Bharat Atta’ and ‘Bharat Rice’ ‘Bharat Pulses’ which is available at all physical and mobile outlets of Kendriya Bhandar, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and will be expanded to other retail outlets and e- commerce platforms. FCI's Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) attempts to sale wheat and rice in the wholesale market, the ultimate aim is ofcourse to bring down the prices in the retail market but OMSS intervention is in wholesale market. But Bharat Brand Atta/Rice/Dal is being sold (intervention) in the retail market under PSF scheme.

River linking Projects in India

Critical Minerals recognized by India

In News: As per Indian Coast Guard, Oil spill originating from Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd refinery has spread across 20 square kilometres into the sea. About Oil Spill: An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into environment, especially marine areas. Causes of Oil Spills: Equipment breaking down due to human errors; deliberate acts by illegal dumping; natural disasters like hurricanes, etc. Impacts of oil spill: (a) Destroys insulating ability of fur on mammals and impacts water repelling qualities of a bird’s feathers. (b) Impacts immune system and reproduction of dolphins and whales by oil inhalation. (c) Health problems like heart damage, immune system effects, headache due to strong odour, skin irritation, etc. (d) Obstruct passage of sunlight into sea, thereby destroying photosynthesising phytoplankton. (e) Impacts mangrove forests as they can no longer shield coastlines. Bio remediation technology developed in India for oil spills: • Oilzapper (developed by TERI), an eco-friendly technique of using the bacteria to get rid of oil sludges and oil- spill. • Oilivorous-S (jointly developed by TERI and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd) has an additional bacterial strain that makes it more effective against sludge and crude oil with high-sulphur content. Steps taken for preventing oil spills: • India: National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan by Indian Coast Guard. Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 has provision of Prevention and Containment of Pollution of sea by oil. • Global: International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and Prevention of Pollution of marine environment from Ships (MARPOL).

12 ways to stay poor: 1. Start tomorrow 2. Avoid discomfort. 3. Tolerate mediocrity. 4. Think the world is fair. 5. Fail once, quit forever. 6. Read books. Do Nothing. 7. Blame your circumstances. 8. Wait for perfect conditions. 9. Assume you're always right. 10. Make promises. Break promises. 11. Expect the government to save you. 12. Find something that works. Stop doing it.

Context: Centre held a virtual meeting with the CMs of all the northeast States to discuss the implementation of all projects including those under Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE). What is PM-DevINE Scheme? ⇒ It is a central sector scheme to address development gaps in the North Eastern Region (NER) by funding infrastructure and social development projects, based on felt needs of the States. ⇒ It also aims to fill sectoral gaps without replacing current Central and State Schemes. Challenges in implementation of this scheme: ⇒ Only about 10% of the funds under this scheme have been sanctioned. ⇒ Prevailing law and order situation in north eastern states like Manipur has created hurdles in taking up new projects under the scheme. Importance of NER for India: ⇒ NER is the gateway to South-East Asia. ⇒ Most culturally diverse. ⇒ Rich in natural resources. ⇒ Biodiversity hotspot ⇒ Geopolitical significance, because it shares international borders with several countries, including China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Challenges to the Development of the NER: ⇒ Difficult Terrain difficult for the government schemes to be implemented in the area. ⇒ Backward Areas: lack of technology, standard of living continues to be low, due to the absence of high-income generation opportunities.  ⇒ Poor connectivity: Because NER is a landlocked region and difficult terrain. ⇒ Lack of political and social stability in the country. ⇒ Existing inter-state and international territorial conflicts Ex:- Assam megalaya issue, greater nagalim  and kukiland demand etc Other initiatives taken for development in the North-East: ⇒ North Eastern Region District SDG Index: To measure the performance of the districts of the eight North Eastern States on the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) and their corresponding targets and ranks the districts based on the same. ⇒ North Eastern Council(NEC) : For the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region  ⇒ North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS): For gradation of roads ⇒ North East Rural Livelihood Project(NERLP) : To improve rural livelihood, especially that of women, unemployed youth. ⇒ North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC): To protect and promote the rich and diverse traditions and culture of NE Region.

Context: The Supreme Court recently held that the declaration of State emergency under Article 356 and the subsequent actions of the President should have a reasonable nexus. What is Article 356 of Indian Constitution? If the President, on receipt of report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may be Proclamation impose President’s rule. What was the Supreme Court Ruling? The court held that: ⇒ President’s actions during a State Emergency are subject to judicial scrutiny. ⇒ The court while judicially reviewing the exercise of power can determine if the exercise of the constitutional power of the Legislature of the State by Parliament has a reasonable nexus with the object sought to be achieved by the Proclamation. ⇒ The onus is on the person challenging the actions of the President during emergency to prima facie establish they were a “mala fide or extraneous exercise of power”. ⇒ if a prima facie case is made out, the onus would shift from the person complaining to the Centre to justify that the exercise of power had a reasonable nexus with the object of the proclamation of President’s rule under Article 356.

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