Solution (a)

The Taiwan Strait is a 180-km wide strait separating the island of Taiwan and Continental Asia. The strait is currently part of South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the north. Entire strait is under Asia’s Continental Shelf.

Recently, China protested the passage by a US navy ship through the Taiwan Strait, calling it a provocation that undermined peace and stability in the region.

Article Link: China says U.S. threatening peace as warship transits Taiwan Strait

Solution (d)

The above mentioned, along with three other sites (Maratha military architecture, Hire Bengal megalithic site, Bhedaghat- Lametaghat of Narmada Valley)  have been added to India’s tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites, but they are not yet declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

Being added to the tentative list is a requirement before the final nomination of any site.

These proposals will remain in tentative list for a year after which the government will decide which one of them to push for in their final dossier to UNESCO.

Article Link: 6 UNESCO heritage sites added in India

Solution (b)

The A76 iceberg recently broke off from the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Nearly half the size of Puerto Rico, it is the largest iceberg in the world.

The iceberg got spilt from Ronne Ice Shelf into the Weddell Sea through a process known as calving. 

The iceberg measures about 4320 square kilometres, making it larger than A23a, an iceberg that formed in 1986 and had a total area of 4000 square kilometre.

Article Link: Antarctica gives birth to world’s largest iceberg

Solution (d)

Main oilseeds produced in India include groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesame, soybean, castor seeds, linseed and sunflower. Most of these are edible and used as cooking mediums. Some of them are also used as a raw material in the production of soap, ointments and cosmetics.

The Government of India through the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm has the objective to augment the availability of edible oils and reduce the import of edible oils by increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds and oil palm. To this end a multi-pronged strategy is being adopted which includes the following:

• Increasing the seed replacement ratio with focus on varietal replacement
• Increasing irrigation coverage
• Nutrient management
• Intercropping with cereals/pulses/sugarcane
• Productivity improvement and adoption of proven and climate-resilient technologies
• Area expansion through diversification of low yielding food grains.
• Creation of 36 oilseed hubs with a focus on regional approach for larger availability of quality seeds
• Post-harvest management at  farm and village level
• Formation of Farmer Producer Organizations

Article Link: To achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils Union Government formulates Kharif Strategy 2021

Solution (a)

There are two missions regarding Beekeeping and Honey production:

• National Beekeeping & Honey Mission 
• Honey Mission

National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM):

• The mission was announced as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme. It ia a central sector scheme.
• It is implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare.
• NBHM aims for the overall promotion & development of scientific beekeeping in the country to achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’.
• The main objective of NBHM is to promote holistic growth of beekeeping industry for income & employment generation for farm and non-farm households, to enhance agriculture/ horticulture production, developing infrastructural facilities, including setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre, honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, custom hiring centres, bee breeders, etc. and empowerment of women through beekeeping.

Honey Mission: 

• Honey Mission is implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• It is in line with the Sweet Revolution.
• Under Honey Mission KVIC provides mission awareness, training and Bee boxes along with bee colonies are provided to the farmers

Article Link: Agriculture Minister Launches Honey Testing Laboratory Project on the Occasion of World Bee Day