[Mission 2022] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 11 MAY 2022 – INSIGHTSIAS

GS Paper 1:

Topics Covered: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context:

The 161st birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated across the nation on May 7.

• He was born on 7 May 1861.

About Rabindranath Tagore:

Early life:

• Popularly known as ‘Gurudev’, he was born in an affluent Family.B
• Tagore was primarily known as a writer, poet, playwright, philosopher and aesthetician, music composer and choreographer, founder of a unique educational institution – Visva- Bharati and a painter.
• Tagore wrote his first poetry aged He published his first poems aged 16 under the pen-name ‘Bhanusimha’.
• He had spoken at the World Parliament for Religions in the years 1929 and 1937.

Contributions:

• He wrote the National Anthems of India and Bangladesh.
• He left his imprint on art and played a role in transforming its practices and ushering into modernism.
• Between 1928 and 1940, Rabindranath painted more than 2000 images. He never gave any title to his paintings.
• Expressionism in European art and the primitive art of ancient cultures inspired him.

Awards:

In 1913, he became the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature for his novel ‘Geetanjali’.

Role in the freedom struggle:

• He denounced British imperialism, yet he did not fully support or agree with Gandhi and his Noncooperation Movement.
• He viewed British rule as a symptom of the overall “sickness” of the social “disease” of the public.
• In his writings, he also voiced his support of Indian nationalists.
• Rabindranath Tagore wrote the song Banglar Mati Banglar Jol (Soil of Bengal, Water of Bengal) to unite the Bengali population after Bengal partition in 1905.
• He also wrote the famed ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’which helped ignite a feeling of nationalism amongst people.
• He started the Rakhi Utsavwhere people from Hindu and Muslim communities tied colourful threads on each other’s wrists.
• Tagore rejected violence from the British as well and renounced the knighthood that had been given to him in by Lord Hardinge in 1915 in protest of the violent Amritsar massacre in which the British killed at least 1526 unarmed Indian citizens.
• The cornerstone of Tagore’s beliefs and work is the idea that anti-colonialism cannot simply be achieved by rejecting all things British, but should consist of incorporating all the best aspects of western culture into the best of Indian culture.

What freedom meant for Tagore?

“Freedom” does not simply mean political freedom from the British; True freedom means the ability to be truthful and honest with oneself otherwise autonomy loses all of its worth.

Insta Links:

Prelims Link:

1. Essence in Tagore’s paintings.
2. When and why did he renounced his knighthood?
3. His contributions to literature?
4. About Vishwabharati University.
5. Tagore award.

Mains Link:

Explain how Rabindranath Tagore catalyzed the progress of the Indian national movement in innumerable ways.

Q1) Identify the personality based on the information given below:

1. He wrote his first poetry aged He published his first poems aged 16 under the pen-name ‘Bhanusimha’.
2. He had spoken at the World Parliament for Religions in the years 1929 and 1937.
3. He viewed British rule as a symptom of the overall “sickness” of the social “disease” of the public.

Choose the correct answer:

1. Rabindranath Tagore.
2. Mahatma Gandhi.
3. Subhash Chandra Bose.
4. None of the above. 

Sources: pib.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

Context:

The Ministry of Finance has revised the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) rules.

Revised norms:

The interest that the fund accrues will be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India.

What is MPLAD Scheme?

The article has been covered in – depth here. Please read it.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. How is MPLADS connected to Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana?
2. Where can nominated MPs recommend their works?
3. Is there any special focus on SC and ST Welfare?
4. Difference between grants and loans?
5. Implementing agencies.

Mains Link:

Critically examine whether MPLADS has helped in bridging the gaps in provisioning of public services?

Q.2 With reference to the funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are correct? (CSP 2020).

1. MPLADS funds must be used to create durable assets like physical infrastructure for health, education, etc.
2. A specified portion of each MP’s fund must benefit SC/ST populations.
3. MPLADS funds are sanctioned on a yearly basis and the unused funds cannot be carried forward to the next year.
4. The district authority must inspect at least 10% of all works under implementation every year.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Welfare Schemes for the vulnerable sections of the society.

Context:

Social security schemes Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) have completed seven years of their launch.

When were the schemes launched?

The schemes were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, 2015.

Basic details of the schemes:

PMJJBY:

• It is a one-year life insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death due to any reason.
• Eligibility: Individuals in the age group of 18-50 years having a savings bank or a post office account are entitled to enroll under the scheme.
• Life cover of Rs 2 lakh in case of death due to any reason against a premium of Rs 330 per annum.

Achievements: 12.76 crore enrollments.

Further reading: Read This.

PMSBY:

• It is a one-year accidental insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death or disability due to accident.
• Eligibility: Individuals in the age group of 18-70 years having a savings bank or a post office account are entitled to enroll under the scheme.
• Accidental death cum disability cover of Rs.2 lakh (Rs.1 lakh in case of partial disability) for death or disability due to an accident.

Achievements: 28.37 crore enrollments.

Further Reading: Read This.

APY:

• It seeks to provide financial security and cover future exigencies for the people in the unorganized sector.
• APY is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS).
• Eligibility: Open to all bank account holders in the age group of 18 to 40 years.

Achievements: 4 Crore registrations.

Further Reading: Read This.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About PMJJBY, PMSBY & APY.
2. Eligibility.
3. Benefits.
4. When were they launched?
5. Other similar schemes.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of PMJJBY.

Q.3) Which of the following is/are true regarding the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)?

1. Individuals in the age group of 18-50 years are eligible for the scheme.
2. The Scheme provides a Life cover of Rs 2 lakh in case of death due to any reason.
3. The premium is completely borne by the Central Government.

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 only.
2. 2 and 3 only.
3. 3 only.
4. 1 and 2 only. 

Sources: PIB.

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Agriculture related issues.

Context:

Punjab Government is promoting the cultivation of green manure these days.

• The state government is providing a subsidy on the seed at the rate of Rs 2,000 per quintal.

What is green manure?

• These are crops grown specifically for maintaining soil fertility and structure.
• They are normally incorporated back into the soil, either directly, or after removal and composting.
• Green manure varieties are incorporated into the soil when the crop is 42-56 days old.

Examples:

There are three main varieties of green manure, including Dhaincha, Cowpea, Sunhemp. Also some crops such as summer moong, mash pulses and guar act as green manure.

Benefits:

1. Helps in enhancing the organic matter in the soil.
2. Meets the deficiency of the micronutrients.
3. Reduces the consumption of the inorganic fertilisers.
4. It is a good alternative to the organic manure.
5. It conserves the nutrients, adds nitrogen and stabilises the soil structure.
6. It decomposes rapidly and liberates large quantities of carbon dioxide and weak acids, which act on insoluble soil minerals to release nutrients for plant growth.
7. It contains 15 to 18 quintals of dry matter, which also contains phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, iron and manganese, per acre and 20 to 40kg per acre of nitrogen.

Why is sowing of green manure important in Punjab?

Punjab’s per hectare fertiliser consumption, which is around 244 kg, is one of the highest in the country and is also higher than the national average.

• Green manure can curtail this consumption to a large extent by 25 to 30% and can save huge input cost for the farmers.
• Regular use of chemical fertilisers such as urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) lead to deficiencies of micronutrients like iron and zinc, especially in the soils where rice is cultivated thus affecting productivity.
• PH level of the soil in several parts of Punjab is more than 8.5 and 9 per cent. Green manure helps maintain it.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Green manure.
2. Composition.
3. Types.
4. Benefits.
5. Applications.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of Green Manure.

Q.4) Consider the following:

1. Dhaincha.
2. Cowpea.
3. Sunhemp.

These are:

1. Green Manures.
2. Chemical Fertilizers.
3. Organic Fertilizers.
4. None of the above. 

Sources: Indian Express.

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Biotechnology related issues.

Context:

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) recently conducted a webinar on “Export Promotion of Tissue Culture Plants such as Foliage, Live Plants, Cut Flowers, and Planting Material”.

• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) accredited tissue culture laboratories spread across India participated in the Webinar.

What is plant tissue culture?

It is culturing plant seeds, organs, explants, tissues, cells, or protoplasts on a chemically defined synthetic nutrient media under sterile and controlled conditions of light, temperature, and humidity.

Advantages of plant tissue culture:

• Quickly produce mature plants.
• Allows them to be moved with greatly reduced chances of transmitting diseases, pests, and pathogens.
• Storage of genetic plant material to safeguard native plant species.

India’s exports of tissue culture plants:

• In 2020-2021, India’s exports of tissue culture plants stood at US USD 17.17 million, with the Netherlands accounting for around 50 per cent of the shipments.
• The top ten countries importing tissue culture plants from India are the Netherlands, USA, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia and Nepal.

Issues and challenges faced by tissue culture plant laboratories:

1. Increasing power costs.
2. Low efficiency levels of the skilled workforce in the laboratories.
3. Contamination issues in the laboratories.
4. Cost of transportation of micro-propagated planting material.
5. Lack of harmonization in the HS code of Indian planting material with other nations.
6. Objections raised by the forest and quarantine departments to the export of live planting material.

How the government is encouraging the export of tissue culture plants?

APEDA is running a Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) to help laboratories upgrade themselves so as to produce export quality tissue culture planting material.

• It also facilitates exports of tissue culture planting material to diversified countries through market development, market analysis and promotion and exhibition of tissue culture plants at international exhibitions and by participating in buyer-seller meets at different international forums.

Insta Curious:

Do you know about different types of Tissue Culture? Reference: read this.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Plant tissue culture.
2. Types.
3. Benefits.
4. Challenges.

Mains Link:

Discuss the concerns associated with Plant Tissue Culture.

Q.5) Which of the following is/are the advantages of Plant tissue culture?

1. Quickly produce mature plants.
2. No risk of pest attacks.

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 only.
2. 2 only.
3. Both.
4. None. 

Sources: the Hindu.