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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 28 April 2022

::NATIONAL::

The Union Cabinet chaired has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers for Kharif Season – 2022.

Benefits:

The increase in the international prices of Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and its raw materials have been primarily absorbed by the Union Government.
The Union Government has decided to provide subsidy of Rs. 2501 per bag on DAP instead of existing subsidy of Rs.1650 per bag which is a 50% increase over the last year’s subsidy rates.
The increase in the prices of DAP & its raw material is in the range of approx. 80%. It will help farmers to receive notified P&K fertilizers on subsidized, affordable and reasonable rates and support the agriculture sector.

Background:

Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 25 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/ importers.
The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f 01.04.2010.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report highlighted that, the world needs to rethink the extraction and use of sand, the second-most used resource globally.
The report titled‘Sand and Sustainability: 10 strategic recommendations to avert a crisis’by UNEP was released recently.

It aims:

To raise awareness around the world on sand extraction and use, and its related impacts,
Urge policymakers to explore and adopt policies on sand extraction,
Shape common goals across sectors that will help achieve just and responsible sand governance.

Highlights of the report:

Sand plays a strategic role in delivering ecosystem services, maintaining biodiversity, supporting economic development, andproviding livelihoods within communities.
It is linked to all 17 SDGs either directly or indirectly.
Current sand extraction exceeds the replenishment rates of naturally occurring sand.
Extracting sand where it plays an active role, such as rivers and coastal ormarine ecosystems, can cause a series of damages to the environment.

Impact of sand mining

Lead to erosion threatening communities and livelihoods.
Pollution of groundwater.
Alter river bed, force the river to change course, erode banks and lead toflooding.

UN has released the ‘Global Assessment Reporton Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 (GAR- DRR2022)- Our World at Risk: TransformingGovernance for a Resilient Future’.
It builds on the analysis of UnitedNations-mandated SDG data onincreased gender-based violence indisasters.

Social impact of disaster as shown by thereport:

Increasing instances of displacement andmigration due to floods and cyclones inWest Bengal and Odisha makes peoplemore vulnerable to trafficking.
Monitoring during the COVID-19pandemic highlighted the "shadowpandemic" issue of systematic gender-based violence.
Violence against women and girlsincreases in the aftermath of disasters andat the extreme end of the scale.

Initiatives taken to reduce disaster impact

National Disaster Management Authority ofIndia (NDMA).
World bank aided Tamil Nadu andPuducherry Coastal Disaster RiskReduction Project (CDRRP).

The Union Cabinet approved a Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) project for upgrading 2G mobile services to 4G at security sites in LWE ( Left Wing Extremism) areas.

About:

The project envisaged upgrading 2,343 sites in Phase-I from 2G to 4G mobile services at an estimated cost of ₹1,884.59 crore (excluding taxes and levies).
This includes O&M for five years. However, BSNL will maintain the sites for another five years at its own cost. The work will be awarded to it because these sites belong to it.
The Cabinet also approved the funding of operations and maintenance cost of LWE Phase-I 2G sites by BSNL for an extended period beyond the contractual period of five years at an estimated cost of ₹541.80 crore.

Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre has developed and completed the first trials for the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) vaccine on guinea pigs and rats.

About:

Canine distemper is caused by the paramyxovirus virus and it spreads through body fluids like infected urine, blood and saliva.
The virus attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs and can be transmitted to lions, tigers, leopards and other wild cats as well as seals.
There is no known cure for CDV.

Background:

To prevent catastrophes like the one in 2018, where around 27 Asiatic lions died from the illness, the vaccine is being prepared for the lion population in Gir National Park.