Why in the news? 

• Recently, advisory panel was formed last year to examine the international governance of artificial intelligence (AI) and make new recommendations. 

AI needs global governance 

• The pace of AI development focuses on power and wealth globally, with geopolitical and geoeconomic ramifications. 
• Lack of understanding of the inner workings of AI to fully control outcomes or predict trends. 
• Because AI technology is cross-border in design and application, it cannot be left to market forces alone. 
• To equitably distribute AI opportunities such as upgrading energy grids and improving public health and agriculture. 

The gap in global AI governance 

• Lack of a truly comprehensive global strategy: In the absence of many AI governance documents and projects. 
• Lack of representation: Seven of the sampled countries are part of all AI governance efforts, while 118 countries are neither (mainly in the global South). 
• Implementation issue: The promises don’t translate into tangible outcomes that prevent equitable sharing of the opportunities AI provides. 

Recommendations: 

• An independent international scientific community on AI. 
• The Intergovernmental Dialogue on AI Governance is held twice a year. 
• Creating an AI standards revolution, connecting stakeholders. 
• Building AI capability development networks. 
• Creating a global fund for AI to facilitate AI penetration. 
• The Creation of a global AI data framework, developed through a process initiated by a relevant agency. 
• The UN Secretariat for supporting and coordinating global efforts in AI risk management and global governance. 

Source: TH 

Why in the news ? 

• Recently, during the 3rd edition of world food india (WFI) 2024, the india PM highlighted significant reforms in the past decade for boosting the food processing sector.  

The world food india ( WFI):  

• About:  
  • Launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFSPI) in 2017 to promote investments in India's food processing sector and showcase its rich food culture. 

Food Processing Sector in India: 

• Growth:  
  • 7.3% annual growth between 2015-2022. 
  • The food processing market size in India is estimated to reach $1,274 billion by 2027 from the US. $866 billion by 2022. 
  • Rising food consumption is expected to reach the United States. $1.2 billion by 2025-26 due to urbanisation and changing infrastructure. 
  • The Indian packaged food and beverages industry is witnessing significant growth where it is expected to grow from US$ 33.7 billion by 2023 to US$ 46.3 billion by 2028 
• Employment:  
  • 12.22% of registered factory jobs, supporting 2.03 million people and 5.1 million in unregistered food processing. 
• Growth drivers:  
  • Diverse agro-climatic conditions, large raw material base, and India’s leadership in milk, spices, poultry, and fruits production. 

Steps taken by the government to improve the efficiency of the project: 

• PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana: Comprehensive provision of modern services and efficient supply chain. 
• PMFME Scheme: Legitimizes and scales existing small businesses in the unorganised food processing sector. 
• Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLISFPI): Encourages domestic manufacturing, exports and capacity expansion in food processing, and allows 100% FDI. 
• One District Object (ODOP): A framework for establishing value chains in 713 districts, covering 137 unique objects. 
• Mega Food Park (MFP) Scheme: Provides modern processing facilities on farms; 41 projects approved, active as at 24 December 2023 . 
• Operation Greens: Supports FPO, logistics and processing for tomato, onion and potato (TOP) crops, later expanded to all fruits and vegetables (TOTAL). 

Challenges : 

• Cold chain logistics: Lack of proper cold storage leads to significant food wastage, especially in the case of perishables. 
• Transport: Inadequate road and transport infrastructure shares the flow of goods, affecting the freshness and quality of goods. 
• Competitiveness: Stringent compliance with rules and norms set by agencies like FSSAI, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). 
• Labour delays: Obtaining permits and approvals can be time-consuming, affecting business operations. 
• Reducing modern processes: Many small products lack advanced manufacturing technologies and devices, making them more efficient and scalable 
• Price sentiment: Consumers generally appreciate prices, putting pressure on manufacturers’ profits. 
• Supply irregularities: Fluctuations in agricultural production due to weather disrupt the supply chain, leading to scarcity and high prices 

Source: IE 

Why in the news ? 

• In the year 2024 marks the 100 Years completed of the announcement of the discovery of the Indus Valley civilisation. 

About the civilisation: 

• In 1924, John Marshall, then-Director General of the ASI, announced the discovery of the “civilisation of the Indus Valley” in “The Illustrated London News”. 
• About 1,500 sites in northwestern India, including in Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and about 500 sites in Pakistan, and a few in Afghanistan, with key sites like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Rakhigarhi, and Dholavira. 
• The Harappan civilization is identified as a Bronze-age civilization because many objects have been found that are made up of copper based alloys. 
• Daya Ram Sahni first excavated Harappa in 1921-22, and Rakhal Das Banerji in 1922 started excavating Mohenjo-daro. 

Characteristics: 

• Urban Planning: The Harappans created elaborate cities with tunnels, improved drainage systems and standardised brickwork. 
• Craftsmanship: Exotic coins, pottery and jewellery were produced, especially unique steatite coins with intact animal figures and inscriptions. 
• Trade Relations: The civilization engaged in extensive trade, as evidenced by objects made of lapis lazuli and carnelian from distant regions. 

Enigmas:  

• Intact Language: Indus script has 400-600 characters and remains intact due to lack of bilingual script. 
• Spirituality: Understanding of Harappan religious beliefs is limited. The coins suggest possible deities, but the lack of temples leaves much to be desired. 
• Cause of decline: The decline around 1900 BCE is debated, with unclear factors including climate change, tectonic activity, resource overexploitation, and invasions. 
• Trade Expansion: The evidence points to trade with Mesopotamia and elsewhere, but the details of the exchanges and their impact on Harappan society remain unclear 

Significance: 

• Addressing historical gaps: The discovery of the Harappan civilization extended the timeline of settlement in South Asia by more than 3,000 years, reshaping the historical context of urban settlements 
• Cultural and Economic Intelligence: The Harappans were skilled artisans in beadwork, pottery and metalwork, adding to their economic power and cultural identity 
• Influence on subsequent civilizations: The Harappan civilization influenced later South Asian cultures through its urban practices, agricultural techniques, and possibly religious beliefs 
• Sustainable use of water: The Harappans demonstrated water management through drainage and rainwater harvesting and emphasised sustainable agricultural practices 
• Trade with Western Asia: Evidence suggests that the Harappans were involved in maritime trade with Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula, indicating their navigational skills

Source:  TH 

Why in the news ? 

• Recently, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the standard operating procedure for ‘White Revolution 2.0’. 

About the White Revolution: 

• The White Revolution, or Operation Flood, was a major dairy development initiative launched in 1970 by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to boost milk production in India.  
• Led by Dr. Verghese Kurien, the program successfully addressed milk scarcity, earning Kurien the title "Father of the White Revolution." 

Current status in India: 

• Production: The milk production of India has registered 58% increase during the last nine years i.e., during the year 2014-15 and 2022-23 and increased to 230.58 Mn Tonnes in the year 2022-23. 
• Top 5 states: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Together, they contribute 53.11% of the total dairy production in the country. 
• Value-added products: The dairy industry in India has diversified beyond liquid milk to produce value-added products such as butter, ghee, cheese, yoghourt and ice cream  
• Economy: Contributes 5% to the national economy and directly benefits over 80 million farmers Employs about 8.47 million people on a yearly basis out of which 71% are women.  

What is White Revolution 2.0? 

• Aim:  The aim is to transform the Indian dairy industry by empowering women farmers, increasing milk production and modernising dairy infrastructure. 
• Target: The aim is to increase current procurement of 6.6 million liters per day to 1,000 million liters per day. 
• Finance:   
  • An initial amount of ₹40,000 for each Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) by the National Dairy Development Council. 
  • Total expenditure was ₹70,125 crore including full government financial support. 

Provisions: 

• Women Empowerment: Focus on women empowerment in cooperatives dairy. In Gujarat alone, 36 lakh women activities, contributing worth ₹60,000 crore annually. 
• Increase in milk procurement: The target is to increase milk procurement by 50% in the next five years. 
• Co-operatives: 100,000 new and existing co-operatives (mainly regional co-operatives and agricultural credit unions) have been formed or enhanced. 
• RuPay Kisan Credit Cards: To be rolled out across the country for dairy farmers, with micro-ATMs in cooperatives. 
• Computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies: 67,930 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies will be computerised for better management. 

Significance:    

• Development of Rural Economy: cooperatives and milk procurement ₹4,000 crore will improve rural livelihoods. 
• Improvement: Modern technology, micro-ATMs(2600) and computerization will improve efficiency. 
• Employment generation: Spread of enterprise and modernization practices will create employment for 13 lakh farmers. 
• Reduced malnutrition: Improves milk quality to prevent malnutrition. 
• Cooperative Modernization: Focus on artificial intelligence and advanced technology. 
• Enhancement of milk exports: Improving production and quality to boost milk exports in India. 

Challenges of Dairy Sector in India: 

Government Initiatives : 

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission (2014): Conserve and develop indigenous cattle breeds to enhance productivity and genetic improvement. 
• National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD, 2014): Strengthen infrastructure for high-quality milk production, procurement, processing, and marketing through State Cooperative Dairy Federations. 
• Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS): Create self-employment by providing financial assistance for small-to-medium dairy ventures. 
• National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP, 2019): Vaccinate 100% of cattle, buffalo, and other livestock against Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis. 
• National Livestock Mission (NLM): Sustainable livestock development, including dairy farming, improving productivity, health, and feed resources. 

 Source: TH 

Why in the news ? 

• Recently, several cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis have been reported in Kerala, mainly affecting children aged 5-15 years.  

About amoebic meningoencephalitis: 

• About:  
  • This is a rare but serious infection that affects the central nervous system. 
  • It is mainly caused by abnormally viable amoebae found in freshwater. 
• Types of Amoebic Encephalitis: 
  • Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM): It is caused by Naegleria fowleri, known as the “brain-eating amoeba”. 
  • Granulomatous amoebic encephalopathy (GAE): Symptoms can resemble brain tumors or encephalitis. 
• Risks and infection 
  • Exposure: Usually with swimming or playing in warm, stable, fresh water. 
  • Other sources: Untreated tap water used in neti pots can also cause infection. 
• Amoebae grow in tropical environments and are sensitive to changes in temperature and pH. 

Source: TH 

Why in the news ? 

• Recently, the President of the French Space Agency, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES),celebrated 60 years of French-India space cooperation with the TRISHNA mission. 

About the Trishna Mission:  

• About: 
  • The Thermal and Infrared Imaging Satellite for High-Resolution Natural Resource Assessment (TRISHNA) is a joint venture between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES). 
• Objectives: 
  • Provide high spatial and temporal resolution data on Earth surface temperature, vegetation health, and water cycle dynamics. 
  • Assistance in exploring urban heat islands, detecting volcanic and geothermal activity, and monitoring snow flow and ice dynamics. 
  • It should provide valuable information on aerosol optical depth, atmospheric water vapor, and cloud cover. 
• Benefits: 
  • Thermal Infrared (TIR) Payload (from CNES): A long-wavelength infrared sensor used to provide a beautiful image of the Earth's surface temperature. 
• VNIR-SWIR payload (from ISRO):  
  • Seven spectral bands used for mapping maps to estimate temperature gradients and biophysical variables. 
• Classroom and Life: 
  • It Operates in a solar and synchronous orbit of 761 km, providing a range of 57 meters in land/coastal areas and 1 km in the ocean.  
  • It has an operating life of 5 years. 

Source: TH