DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd February 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – Culture

Context: Nine-day mahamastakabhisheka celebrations begin at Venur in Karnataka

Background:-

• The Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava of Bhagavan Shri Bahubali Swami, the first Mokshagami and son of the first Theerthankara of Jainism, began with rituals at Venur in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

About Mahamastakabhisheka

• The Mahamastakabhisheka refers to the abhiṣheka (anointment) of the Jain images when held on a large scale.
• The most famous of such consecrations is the anointment of the located at Shravanabelagola(Hassan district) in Karnataka, India.
• It is an important Jain festival held once in every 12 years. It is an integral part of the ancient and composite Jain tradition.
• Karnataka has many important Jain pilgrim centres, temples and monuments.
• Shravanabelagola, Dharmasthala, Karkala, Moodbidri, Venur, Humcha and Narasimharajapura will astonish the visitors by their vast and abundant Jain heritage.

About Bahubali

• Bahubali, according to the traditions of Jainism,is the son of the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha.
• After Bahubali won a duel with his half brother for control of the kingdom, he is believed by the Jains to have realized the transience of temporal affairs and renounced the world.
• According to legend, he then stood immobile, with feet straight ahead and arms at his side, meditating for an entire year in the Yogic position of kayotsarga (“dismissing the body”). He was so unmindful of the world around him that vines grew undisturbed up his arms and legs and anthills rose around his feet.
• His meditation led him to true victory over human passion and, according to the beliefs of the Digambara sect of Jainism, enabled him to become the first human of this kalpa (world age) to gain liberation.

Source: Brittanica

Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment

Context: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an elevated road over nine corridors used by the animals of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, usually during heavy floods.

Background:

• NBWL is the forest land diversion regulatory body for the country’s protected areas such as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Apart from regulating land diversion, the body looks after important policy decisions regarding wildlife conservation.

About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory Board constituted on 22nd September 2003 under Section 5 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The NBWL is chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
• It has a total of 47 members, 19 of whom are ex-officio members. Every new government constitutes a new board, based on the provisions of the WLPA, with the new PM as the chair.
• It is responsible for guiding the government’s decisions on matters related to wildlife conservation, and issuing approvals for projects in protected areas. In practical terms, many of its tasks are delegated to a standing committee
• The standing committee of NBWL is chaired by the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

Source:  Down To Earth

Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment

Context:The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an elevated road over nine corridors used by the animals of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, usually during heavy floods.

Background:

• In the heart of Assam, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence.

About Kaziranga National Park

• Kaziranga National Park is a prestigious national park of India situated in the northeastern part of the country in the district of Golaghat and Nagoan in the state of Assam.
• It was declared a National Park in 1974.
• It was declared a tiger reserve in 2007.
• Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment in the year of 1985.
• The park has been identified as an Important Bird Area by the Birdlife International Society as it is home to various species of migrating and inhabitant birds.
• It is situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra.
• It is majorly known for the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, and Asiatic water buffalo.
• The National Highway 37 passes through it.
• The Diphlu River runs through it.
• The landscape is marked by: Tropical moist mixed deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests, tall grasses, open jungle, and short grasses .

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The European Union has recently launched a Red Sea mission named Mission Aspides.

Background:

• Since October 2023, numerous Houthi attacks have targeted vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Such attacks jeopardise the life of civilians on merchant and commercial vessels, and constitute a breach of the freedom of the high seas and of the right of transit passage in straits used for international navigation enshrined in United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

About Mission Aspides:

• Mission Aspides is a new European Union defensive maritime security operation launched by the Council of the EU on 19 February 2024.
• The objective of this operation is to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf.
• The operation will ensure European Union naval presence in the area, provide maritime situational awareness, accompany and protect vessels against possible multi-domain attacks at sea, and coordinate closely with like-minded international partners and other EU operations.
• The Operation headquarters is based in Larissa, Greece

Source: Business Today

Syllabus

• Prelims– Economy

Context: The Union Cabinet recently approved a hike in prices for sugarcane, known as fair and remunerative price (FRP), payable by millers to cane growers for the fiscal year 2024-25.

Background:

• The council of ministers cleared an FRP of ₹ 340 per quintal of sugarcane for the sugar year beginning on October 1, 2024. This is the highest FRP for sugarcane announced since 2014. The new FRP is 107% higher than the cost of production.

About FAIR AND REMUNERATIVE PRICE (FRP)

• The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price that sugar mills are required to pay to farmers for sugarcane.
• The FRP was introduced by the government in 2009 to replace the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP).
• It ensures timely payment to farmers, irrespective of the profit and loss to sugar mills.
• The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is fixed by the Union government, specifically the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Sugar Cane production in India

• Sugarcane is grown as a Kharif crop in India.
• The geographical conditions for the growth of sugarcane are as follows:
• Temperature: Sugarcane requires a hot and humid climate with an average temperature of 21°C to 27°C.
• Rainfall: Around 75-150 cm of rainfall is favourable for sugarcane cultivation.
• The largest producer of sugarcane in India is Maharashtra followed by Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

Source: The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q)The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the

1. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
2. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
3. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture
4. Agricultural Produce Market Committee

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The Union Cabinet approved further modification of National Livestock Mission by including the additional activities.

Background:

• The National Livestock Mission (NLM), also known as Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana, was established in the fiscal year 2014–15 and revised in 2021-22.

About NATIONAL LIVESTOCK MISSION (NLM)

• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• The mission aims to achieve sustainable development of the livestock sector.

Objectives

• To enhance the level of nutrition and standard of living of livestock keepers and farmers, especially small holders, through sustainable, safe, and equitable livestock development.
• To generate employment through entrepreneurship development in small ruminant, poultry, and piggery sector & fodder sector.
• To increase per animal productivity through breed improvement.
• To increase the production of meat, egg, goat milk, wool, and fodder.

The mission is implemented with the following three Sub-Missions:

• Sub-Mission on Breed Development of Livestock & Poultry: This sub-mission focuses on entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, and piggery by providing incentivization to individuals, FPOs, SHGs, Section 8 companies for entrepreneurship development and also to the State Government for breed improvement infrastructure.
• Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder development: This sub-mission aims towards strengthening of fodder seed chain to improve availability of certified fodder seed required for fodder production and encouraging entrepreneurs for establishment of fodder Block/Hey Bailing/Silage Making Units through incentivisation.
• Sub-Mission on Research & Development, Livestock Insurance, Extension and Innovation: This sub-mission aims to incentivize the Institutes, Universities, Organizations carrying out research and development related to sheep, goat, pig and feed and fodder sector, extension activities, livestock insurance and innovation.

Sources : Livemint

Syllabus

• Mains -GS3

Context: The While the Lewis Model has proved successful for China, India grapples with its implementation, encountering challenges in the transition from agriculture to industrialization.

Background:

• It was given by EconomistWilliam Arthur Lewis in 1954, who put forth the “Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labor” and won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979.

What is the Lewis Model?

• Lewis Model suggested thatsurplus labor in agriculture could be redirected to the manufacturing sector by offering wages just high enough to attract workers away from the farm. This shift, in theory, would stimulate industrial growth, enhance productivity, and lead to economic development.

Challenges in implementing the Lewis Model in India:

• Low wages and inadequate social security in urban manufacturing facilities fail to enticerural agricultural laborers to relocate, given the high costs of urban living, posing a hurdle to the implementation of the Lewis model.
• Manufacturing industries areincreasingly capital-intensive, relying on labor-displacing technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence. This transition restricts the absorptive capacity of labor-intensive sectors to accommodate surplus agricultural workers.
• India faces a scenario ofdisguised unemployment
• in the agricultural sector, where a surplus of workers is engaged in activities that do not significantly contribute to increased productivity or income. This surplus labor situationcomplicates the transition of workers to other sectors.
• There exists amismatch between the skills demanded by the industries and the skills possessed by the workforce. The education system might not adequately prepare individuals for the demands of the modern job market, resulting in a skill gap.
• Societal perceptions oftenprioritize white-collar jobs over vocational or technical skills. This bias against blue-collar work can limit the workforce available for skilled trade positions and technical jobs, affecting industrial growth.

Alternate Models to the Lewis Model for India:

• Farm-as-Factory Model suggests a focus onelevating the value addition and productivity within India’s agricultural sector rather than transferring workers from agriculture to manufacturing. By emphasizing the promotion of agribusiness, bio-fuels, and food processing this approach aims to enhance employment opportunities, income generation, and innovation for rural workers.
• Services-led Model proposes thatIndia should leverage its comparative advantage in services to drive its economic growth as India has a strong presence in sectors such as information technology, business process outsourcing, tourism, health care, and entertainment which can create high-skilled jobs, boost exports, and attract foreign investment.
• Amartya Sen’s Capability Approachemphasizes enhancing individuals’ capabilities and freedoms by prioritizing education, healthcare, and social support, this approach aims to empower individuals to pursue their own choices and opportunities.

Source: The Indian Express

Q1.)With reference to National Livestock Mission (NLM), consider the following statements:

1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
2. The mission aims to achieve sustainable development of the livestock sector.
3. NLM aims to enhance the level of nutrition and standard of living of livestock keepers and farmers.

How many statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2.)Consider the following statements:

1. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price that sugar mills are required to pay to farmers for sugarcane.
2. The Fair and Remunerative Price is fixed by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
3. The largest producer of sugarcane in India is Maharashtra.

How many statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q3.) Operation APSIDES, recently seen in news is aims to

1. Protect civilians from Israel- Hamas war
2. Resume Black Sea grain deal
3. Protect shipping in the Red Sea region from Yemen’s Houthi rebels
4. Defending the Ukrainian border from Russian invasion

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  23rd February  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d