TAMILNADU

State may not exceed grain production target

Tamil Nadu’s food grain production for 2020-21 is not likely to exceed the target of 125 lakh tonnes. Officials of the Agriculture Department attribute the possible under-performance to the adverse impact of Cyclones Nivar and Burevi, which struck the State in November and December last year, and the unseasonal rain in February this year.

According to data compiled after the second estimate, the overall figure is 108.26 lakh tonnes. The third estimate figures, which are likely to come out by September, will include the production achieved through crops that have been planted after the Samba season and are expected to be harvested in the coming months.

For 2019-20, the figure went up from 101.02 lakh tonnes (after the second estimate) to 115.02 lakh tonnes (after the third). If a similar pattern occurs, the tally may touch around 120 lakh tonnes.

But for the natural calamities, the production would have exceeded the target because, in terms of area under paddy, the State had exceeded the target by about 3.75 lakh hectares, the officials said. Compared with the targeted 16.515 lakh hectares, the coverage was 20.256 lakh hectares.

This was nearly 1.3 lakh hectares more than what was recorded during 2019-20. As for the total food grains, including millets and pulses, 38.33 lakh hectares were covered as against the target of 37.75 lakh hectares. Again, this was around 1.66 lakh hectares higher than the 2019-20 figure.

INTERNATIONAL

Red Sea Troop Base Attacked by Yeman

Western and UN experts say that Iran has provided weapons and support to the Houthis in Yemen during the country’s years of war. Iran denies the post-armed Hus, even though the parts found in the rebel weapons have links to Tehran.

Red Sea: The Red Sea (also the Erythraean Sea) is the sea inlet of the Indian Ocean which is located between Africa and Asia. The connection to the sea passes through the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden in the south. To the north are the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez (towards the Suez Canal). The Red Sea Rift Valley is part of the Great Rift Valley, on the ocean floor. The salinity of the Red Sea is higher than the world average, about 4%.

NATIONAL

MoU Between Department of Animal Husbandry and Ministry of AYUSH

The Ministry of Animal Husbandry under the Ministry of Fisheries, Livestock and Dairy and the Ministry of AYUSH signed a memorandum of understanding to introduce the concept of Ayurveda and its related disciplines into veterinary medicine. Help establish a regulatory mechanism to use Ayurveda in the field of veterinary medicine. Highlights:

It will also focus on capacity building in related fields through training.

The memorandum of understanding will explore the marketing possibilities of herbal medicines on a sustainable basis.

It will provide the cultivation, protection and preservation of medicinal plants.

The cooperation will develop a herbal veterinary education program.

It will make farmers and dairy farmers aware of the importance and utilization of herbal veterinarians and the cultivation of herbal medicines. Animal Husbandry in India: According to the “2021 Economic Survey”, the contribution rate of livestock increased from 24.32% in 2014-15 to 28.63% in 2018-19. According to the 20th Livestock Census, the total stock of livestock in India is 557.8 million. India has the largest livestock population in the globe.

PLI Scheme for Air Conditioners and LED Lights – White Goods

The Union Cabinet approved the production-linked incentive (PLI) plan for white goods (air conditioners and LED lights) with a budget of Rs. 62.38 billion. Highlights:

The PLI plan for goods manufactured in India will provide companies engaged in the manufacture of air conditioners and LED lights with incentives of 4% to 6% for the incremental sales of goods manufactured in India within five years.

Entities that enjoy benefits under other government PLI programs. India will not be eligible for this program. It will be implemented as a pan-India plan.

The plan may benefit many global and domestic companies, including many small and medium enterprises.

Lab on Wheels New Education Scheme in Delhi

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia unveiled the Wheel Technology Lab, which is part of the Delhi Technical University (DTU) “Education Reach You” program. Highlights:

The laboratory will provide science education for students and disadvantaged children of Delhi government schools. The minister also unveiled DTU’s new classroom complex Pragya Bhawan and the new centre of the design department.

The wheeled laboratory is a vehicle equipped with 17 computers, two A customized bus with a computer. Televisions, a 3D printer, cameras and ordinary printers will be pulsating in the city to provide educational lectures, tutoring and teaching to students, which is part of its expansion plan to guide students in the development of mathematics, science and advanced technology.

Chaff Technology by DRDO

The DRDO has developed advanced Chaff Technology to protect the naval ships from enemy missile attacks. Highlights:

The Defense Laboratory Jodhpur (DLJ) of DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) Laboratories has indigenously developed three variants of the technology- Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range

Chaff Rocket (MRCR) and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR) that meet the requirements of the Indian Navy.

Chaff is a passive, expendable electronic countermeasure technology used worldwide to protect naval ships from enemy radar and RF (radio frequency) missile seekers.

Launch of Integrated Health Information Platform – IHIP

The Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) was launched by the Ministry of Health. Highlights:

IHIP is the next generation highly streamlined version of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) currently in use.

Among the nations, India is the first country to adopt this advanced disease surveillance system.

It will accommodate the data entry and management of the Indian Disease Surveillance Program.

In addition to tracking the current 33 diseases (compared to the previous 18 diseases), it should also ensure that near real-time data is provided digitally.

It is also the world’s largest online disease monitoring platform.

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