Facts For Prelims: September 16, 2024

Jute Cultivation In India – Key Notes

Definition: Jute is a natural fibre similar to flax, hemp, and kenaf, grown in eastern India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh.
First Mill: India’s first jute mill was established in 1855 at Rishra, near Kolkata.

Soil & Climate:

Thrives in loamy alluvial soil.
Requires 40-90% humidity, 17°C-41°C temperature, and over 120 cm rainfall.

Main species:

Tossa and White jute are the main commercial species.
Mesta (Hibiscus cannabinus, Hibiscus sabdariffa) is another bast fibre crop.

Harvesting:

Best quality fibre is harvested at pre-bud or bud stage (100-150 days).
Early harvest = better quality, older harvest = higher quantity but coarser fibres.

Retting Process: Jute stems are soaked in water (covered with water hyacinth) to separate fibres from the stem.

Uses:

Outer stem: Jute fibres for products.
Leaves: Used in cooking.
Woody stems: Used for paper.
Roots: Enhance next crop yield.

Jute Production: Key States: West Bengal, Assam, Bihar; Mostly cultivated by small farmers.
Employment: Provides livelihood for ~14 million people.
Importance: Second most important cash crop in India after cotton. India is the world’s largest producer.

Benefits of Jute

Eco-Friendly:
Jute bags are biodegradable, offering a better alternative to plastic.

Income for Farmers:
Earnings: Rs 35,000-40,000/acre, including fibre, leaves, and stalks.

Sustainability:
Jute uses less land, water, and chemicals compared to cotton.
Carbon-neutral crop, sequesters up to 1.5 tons of CO₂ per hectare/year.

Challenges in Jute Farming

Water Shortage:
Reduced flooding affects retting, now done in artificial ponds.

Underutilization:
Industry operates at 55% capacity, impacting 50,000 workers.

Outdated Mills:
Many jute mills use 30+ year-old machinery, reducing efficiency.

Limited Product Range:
Potential in products like geotextiles and insulation remains underdeveloped.

Mill Location:
60 out of 70 jute mills are in West Bengal, causing regional access issues.

Lack of Support:
Inadequate implementation of existing policies like the Jute Packaging Materials Act.

Government Schemes

Relevant Policies:
Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987.
Technical Textiles Mission.
Minimum Support Price for Jute.
National Jute Policy 2005.
Jute Technology Mission (JTM).
Jute SMART.

Way Forward

Golden Fiber Revolution:
Push for increased jute cultivation, better product quality, export promotion.

Water Management:
Implement practices to simulate natural flooding for retting.

Tech Upgrades:
Government subsidies/loans for mills to modernise equipment.

Innovation:
Encourage new applications for jute (e.g., geotextiles, activated carbon) through tax benefits/grants.

Policy Enforcement:
Ensure effective implementation and review of jute-related policies.

Key Initiatives At PMMSY 4th Anniversary

NFDP Portal: Centralised platform for fisheries stakeholders to access information and services.
PM-MKSSY Guidelines: Framework for implementing PM-Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana.
Rangeen Machhli App: Provides resources for the ornamental fish sector (hobbyists, aquarium owners, fish farmers).
Amrit Catla: Genetically improved Catla fish for wider distribution to farmers.
SOPs: Guidelines for Pearl cultivation, Ornamental fisheries, and Seaweed cultivation clusters.
CRCFVs: Plans to develop 100 Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages.
Drone Pilot Project: Use of drones for fish transportation and monitoring inland fisheries.
Centres of Excellence: Mandapam Centre (ICAR-CMFRI) for seaweed farming and research.
Nucleus Breeding Centres (NBCs): Genetic enhancement for important marine and inland species.
Integrated Aqua Parks: Established in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland.

PM-Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)

Purpose:
Formalise the fisheries sector, support microenterprises, and boost the value chain.

Key Components:
Digital identities for 40 lakh small/micro enterprises.
Financial aid for 6.4 lakh microenterprises and 5,500 cooperatives.
Insurance up to Rs 25,000/ha for farms up to 4 ha.
Performance grants (up to 25% or Rs 35 lakh for General; 35% or Rs 45 lakh for SC/ST/women).

Investment:
Rs 6,000 crore over four years (FY 2023-24 to 2026-27).

Beneficiaries:
Fishers, farmers, workers, vendors, small enterprises, SHGs, FFPOs, and startups in fisheries.

Semicon India Conference 2024

Event: Semicon India 2024, co-hosted with electronica and productronica India, formed South Asia’s largest electronics manufacturing event.
Trade Fair: Leading trade fair for electronic components, systems, and solutions.
Key Features: Exhibitions, programs, and networking opportunities for industry professionals.

India’s Semiconductor Industry Vision

Global Role:
India aims to strengthen the global semiconductor supply chain.

Growth Target:
Electronics sector to expand from USD 150 billion to over USD 500 billion by 2030, creating 6 million jobs.

Key Milestone:
India is one of eight countries hosting an international semiconductor event.

Strengths:
Driven by reforms, growing manufacturing, and a tech-savvy market.

Talent Development:
Plan to train 85,000 engineers and technicians over the next decade.

Semiconductor Hub:
Uttar Pradesh emerging as a key semiconductor design and consumer electronics hub.

US-India Collaboration: ITSI Fund

Fund Purpose: The ITSI Fund, under the US CHIPS Act, focuses on securing the global semiconductor supply chain and telecom networks.
Key Focus: Initial review of India’s Assembly, Testing, and Packaging (ATP) sector.
Collaboration Goals: Strengthening the semiconductor supply chain and supporting digital transformation, aligned with shared democratic values.

PMGSY-IV Key Points

Timeline:
2024-25 to 2028-29, aims to build 62,500 km of all-weather roads.

Coverage:
25,000 unconnected habitations.

Population thresholds:
500+ in plains.
250+ in Northeast and hill states.
100+ in LWE-affected districts.

Objective:
Improve rural connectivity, access to education, healthcare, markets, and growth centres.

Employment:
Creates 40 crore human-days of work.

Scheme Overview

Launch:
Started in 2000 for all-weather rural road connectivity.

Funding:
Initially 100% central, now 60:40 central-state share (from 2015-16).

Achievements:
800,000 km of roads built.
180,000 habitations connected.

2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation – Key Points

Event Overview:

Hosted by India in collaboration with ICAO, marking ICAO’s 80th anniversary.
Gathered aviation leaders, ministers, policymakers, and 8 international organisations, with participation from 29 countries.

Delhi Declaration: The conference concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, focusing on global cooperation and opportunities in the aviation sector.

India’s Aviation Highlights:

India is the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market (after the US and China).
15% of Indian pilots are women, exceeding the global average of 5%.

India’s Key Aviation Initiatives

UDAN Scheme:
Aims to make air travel affordable for common citizens.

National Civil Aviation Policy (2016):
Provides a comprehensive roadmap for the aviation sector.

MRO Services GST Reduction:
GST for domestic Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul services reduced from 18% to 5%.

Open Sky Agreement:
Facilitates easier air travel between participating countries.

Digi Yatra:
Digital travel initiative for seamless airport experiences.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Overview

Role:
ICAO coordinates international air navigation and supports global aviation growth, ensuring safety and order.

Founded:
Established in 1944 by the Chicago Convention; headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Turkey’s Bid to Join BRICS

Possible Motives:

Turkey may be using the BRICS bid to gain leverage in its stalled EU accession process.
It could also reflect Turkey’s frustration with the EU.

Benefits for Turkey

Global Influence: Joining BRICS increases Turkey’s global standing.
Economic Cooperation: Provides access to emerging markets and economic partnerships.
Leverage in EU Talks: Strengthens Turkey’s position in EU negotiations.

Concerns for Turkey

Strained Relations: Could damage ties with the EU and NATO.
Credibility Issues: Undermines Turkey’s standing in Western alliances.
Risk of Isolation: May lead to diplomatic isolation from Western powers.

India’s Stance on BRICS Expansion

Support for Expansion:
India welcomed BRICS expansion during the 15th summit in Johannesburg.

Focus on Developing Countries:
Expansion enhances BRICS as a representative of developing nations.

Proposals from India:
BRICS space consortium.
Investments in skill mapping, technology, education.
Emphasis on cooperation for conservation.

Aim:
To make BRICS “future-ready” by boosting cooperation, digital solutions, and development.

Significance for India

Geopolitical Influence:
Expansion of BRICS allows India to expand its partnerships and influence.

Concerns:
Potential pro-China dominance within BRICS is a key concern for India.

Related Readings

Food vs. Fuel And Cars Dilemma

Food vs. Fuel Issue: Conflict between using crops (sugarcane, maize, soybeans) for biofuel production (ethanol, biodiesel) instead of food, affecting supply and prices.
Food vs. Cars Issue: Phosphoric acid, vital for fertilisers like DAP, is being increasingly used in EV batteries (LFP), risking fertiliser shortages and impacting food production.
Impact on Food Security: Diverting phosphoric acid for EV batteries may reduce fertiliser supply, threatening agricultural productivity and food security.
Competing Priorities: Conflict between using limited phosphoric acid for crop production (food security) or EV battery production (environmental goals and clean energy).
Global Resource Imbalance: India’s dependency on phosphate imports raises concerns if resources are directed more toward wealthier industries like EVs, affecting food security in developing nations.
Sustainability vs. Economic Growth: Dilemma in prioritising environmental sustainability (EVs) or immediate needs like food security for long-term global well-being.
Effect on Small Farmers: Shift of resources like phosphoric acid to EV production could lead to rising fertiliser costs, adversely affecting small-scale farmers and increasing inequality.

Source: Indian Express

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