11 June 2022 – Current Affairs

Boosting India’s wine exports

(Paper 3 Economics)

Why in News?

Recently APEDA participates in London Wine Fair for boosting India’s wine exports.

Key points –

• In a bid to give a boost to the export of Indian wine, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which works under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated participation of ten exporters in London Wine Fair, 2022.
• The London Wine Fair organised during June 7 – 9, which is regarded as one of the world’s most important wine trade events.
• Indian exporters who participated in the London Wine Fair are Resvera wines, Sula vineyards, Good drop wine cellars, Hill Zill wines, KLC wines, Soma vine village, Grover Zampa vineyard, Plateaux Vintners, ASAV vineyards and Fratelli vineyards.
• Given that India is the third-largest market for alcoholic beverages in the world, there are 12 joint venture companies having a licensed capacity of 33,919 kilo-litres per annum for the production of grain-based alcoholic beverages. Around 56 units are manufacturing beer under license from the government of India.
• India has exported 2.47 lakh metric tonne of alcoholic products to the world for the worth of USD 322.12 million during 2020-21. The major export destinations of Indian alcoholic products in 2020-21 were United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Singapore, Congo, and Cameroon, etc.
• Maharashtra has become an important state for wine manufacturing as there are more than 35 wineries in the state. Around 1,500 acres are used for grapes cultivation for wine production in Maharashtra. To promote wine manufacturing, the state government has declared the wine-making business a small-scale industry and has also offered excise concessions.
• The demand of India’s alcoholic beverages products like beer made from malt, wine, white wine, brandy, whiskies, rum, gin, etc. has increased manifold in the global market.
• APEDA has conducted several workshops and wine tasting events at various international trade fairs for creating awareness about the potential of Indian wines.
• Indian Wine industry has grown at compound annual growth rate of 14 per cent during 2010 to 2017 making it the fastest growing industry under alcoholic beverage in the country.

What is APEDA?

• APEDA Full name is – Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
• APEDA is a body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry whose job is to promote exports.
• It has been established by the Government of India under the APEDA Act, 1985 .
• Earlier, the body was called the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC). 
• This body was entrusted with the responsibility to pay special attention to the export of these commodities, including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, milk products, honey, jaggery, sugar, cocoa, alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, pickles, papads, chutneys, cereals,  Includes peanuts, walnuts, flowers, guar gum, herbs and medicinal plants.
• In addition, APEDA has also been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the import of sugar.
• It has also been entrusted with the responsibility of determining the standards and specifications of export products and to canbate and market them.
• Niti Aayog has  issued a directive to implement the standards prescribed by APEDA for organic products so that they can have greater penetration into the world market.

Administrative structure –

• Chairman – Appointed by the Central Government
• Director – Appointed by APEDA
• Secretary – Appointed by the Central Government
• Other officers and staff – appointed by APEDA

Source – PIB

National Centre for Space Promotion and Authorization

(Paper 3 Science Technology)

Why in News?

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, recently inaugurated the headquarters of the Indian National Centre for Space Promotion and Authorization (IN-SPACe).  

Key points –

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated the headquarters of the National Centre for Space Promotion and Authorization of India (IN-SPACe)  at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• It is worth mentioning that this has been established to promote innovation and private investment in the space sector.
• Addressing the inaugural function in Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said that the Government has initiated reforms in the space sector and opened it up to the private sector.
• Mr. Pawan Goenka has been made the chairman of IN-SPACE.  It has   12 members, including the Chairman, UGC prof. M. Jagdish Kumar, Sandhya Sharma- IAS, former secretary of earth sciences- Shailesh Nayak and director of Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Application and Geoinformatics (BISAG) Tej Pal Singh.

About IN-SPACE –

• IN-SPACE is an independent central agency under the Department of Space to allow  private entities (NGPE) to use facilities owned by the Department of Space and allow space activities as well as prioritize launch programmes.
• It is worth mentioning that IN-SPACE will meet the requirements of the private sector.  If the private companies  need any technical assistance from ISRO, then IN-SPACE will help them. 
• Thus IN-SPACe is building a single window for the private sector to approach the government for any space-related activity.

Source – Indian Express

National Customs and GST Museum – ‘Dharohar’

(Paper 3 Economics)

Why in News?

Today i.e. on 11th June 2022, Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is going to inaugurate the National Customs and GST Museum.

Key points –

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will dedicate the National Customs and GST Museum ‘Dharohar’ to the nation at Panaji in Goa today as part of the prestigious week celebrations of the Finance Ministry’s  Independence Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• It is worth mentioning that the “Dharohar” is located in the famous Blue Building of Panaji on the banks of the Mandvi River. This two-story building is 400 years old. It was known as Alfandega during the period of Portuguese rule in Goa.
• The Dharohar is a museum of its kind in the country, which not only displays the seized artifacts of Indian Customs across the country, but also reflects the basic customs procedures for the knowledge of the general public.
• The exhibition features handwritten manuscripts by Ain-e-Akbari, replicas of amin columns, confiscated metal and stone artifacts,  ivory objects and wildlife objects.
• Recently, it has included the GST Gallery, which showcases the journey of the creation of new India’s most historic indirect tax reform i.e. the Goods and Services Tax.

Source – PIB

Govt issues new guidelines to curb misleading ads

(Paper 2 Governance)

Why in News?

Recently Centre issues ‘Guidelines on Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022.

Key points –

• The Central Consumer Protection authority (CCPA) under the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified ‘Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022’ with an objective to curb misleading advertisements and protect the consumers, who may be exploited or affected by such advertisements.
• The guidelines seek to ensure that consumers are not being fooled with unsubstantiated claims, exaggerated promises, misinformation and false claims. Such advertisements violates various rights of consumers such as right to be informed, right to choose and right to be safeguarded against potentially unsafe products and services.

What is CCPA ?

• The CCPA has been established under section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• CCPA is established for regulating matters relating to violation of the rights of the consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.

Powers & Functions of CCPA –

• To recall goods or withdrawal of services that are “dangerous, hazardous or unsafe”;
• Pass an order for refund the prices of goods or services so recalled to purchasers of such goods or services;
• Discontinuation of practices which are unfair and prejudicial to consumer’s interest;
• Impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.

Guidelines –

• In exercise of the powers conferred by section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, to CCPA, the Guidelines were notified.
• Misleading advertisement has already been defined under section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• The present guidelines define “bait advertisement”, “surrogate advertisement” and clearly provides what constitutes as “free claim advertisements”.
• Keeping in view the sensitiveness and vulnerability of children and severe impact advertisements make on the younger minds, several preemptive provisions have been laid down on advertisements targeting children. Guidelines forbid advertisements from exaggerating the features of product or service in such manner as to lead children to have unrealistic expectations of such product or service and claim any health or nutritional claims or benefits without being adequately and scientifically substantiated by a recognized body. 
• Guidelines says that advertisement targeting children shall not feature any personalities from the field of sports, music or cinema for products which under any law requires a health warning for such advertisement or cannot be purchased by children.
• Disclaimers in advertisements play a pivotal role from consumer perspective since, in a way it limits the responsibility of the company. Therefore, guidelines stipulates that disclaimer shall not attempt to hide material information with respect to any claim made in such advertisement, the omission or absence of which is likely to make the advertisement deceptive or conceal its commercial intent and shall not attempt to correct a misleading claim made in an advertisement.
• Further, it provides that, a disclaimer shall be in the same language as the claim made in the advertisement and the font used in a disclaimer shall be the same as that used in the claim.
• Similarly, clear Guidelines are laid for duties of manufacturer, service provider, advertiser and advertising agency, due diligence to be carried out before endorsing and others. Guidelines aims to protect consumer’s interest through bringing in more transparency and clarity in the way advertisements are being published, so that, consumers are able to make informed decisions based on facts rather than false narratives and exaggerations.

Penalty for violation –

• Penalty for violating the Guidelines are also clearly outlined. CCPA can impose penalty of upto 10 lakh rupees on manufacturers, advertisers and endorsers for any misleading advertisements.
• For subsequent contraventions, CCPA may impose a penalty of upto 50 lakh rupees.
• The Authority can prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement from making any endorsement for upto 1 year and for subsequent contravention, prohibition can extend upto 3 years.

Source – Business Standard

Hypogonadism

(Paper 2 Health)

Why in News?

Testosterone replacement therapy is the standard treatment for hypogonadism, which can cause sexual dysfunction, weakening of bones and muscles, and reduced quality of life.

Key points –

• Hypogonadism is a condition caused by the deficiency of the male sex hormone, testosterone, and a new study in Lancet Health Longevity looks at the short- to medium-term safety of testosterone treatment.
• Hypogonadism means diminished functional activity of the gonads—the testes or the ovaries—that may result in diminished production of sex hormones.
• Low androgen (e.g., testosterone) levels are referred to as hypoandrogenism and low estrogen (e.g., estradiol) as hypoestrogenism. These are responsible for the observed signs and symptoms in both males and females.
• Analysis of data from more than 3,400 patients with hypogonadism from 17 clinical trials found little evidence that testosterone treatment increases the risk of cardiovascular events such as arrhythmia, heart attack, and stroke, in the short to medium terms.
• Testosterone replacement therapy is the standard treatment for hypogonadism, which can cause sexual dysfunction, weakening of bones and muscles, and reduced quality of life.
• Risk factors include ageing (as testosterone levels decline with age), obesity and diabetes. worldwide, 2% of men aged over 40 are affected, and this is growing as the population gets older.

Source – Indian Express

Amyloidosis

(Paper 2 Health)

Why in News?

Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf (retired) has been hospitalized for the last 3 weeks due to Amyloidosis ailment.

Key points –

• Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein, called amyloid, builds up in one’s organs, affecting their shape and functioning.
• Amyloid deposits can build up in the heart, brain, kidneys, spleen and other parts of the body, leading to life-threatening conditions like organ failure.
• Amyloid isn’t normally found in the body, but can be formed from several different types of proteins. Some varieties of amyloidosis occur in association with other diseases.
• These types may improve with treatment of the underlying disease. Some varieties of amyloidosis may lead to life-threatening organ failure.
• Amyloidosis may be secondary to a different health condition or can develop as a primary condition as well. Sometimes, it is due to a mutation in a gene, but usually, the cause of amyloidosis remains unknown.

What is the cause of Amyloidosis?

• Many different proteins can lead to amyloid deposits, but only a few lead to major health problems. The type of protein and where it collects tell the type of amyloidosis one has. Amyloid deposits may collect throughout one’s body or in just one area.
• Moreover, while some varieties are hereditary, others are caused by outside factors, such as inflammatory diseases or long-term dialysis.

Different kind of amyloidosis –

There are also different amyloidosis that are prevalent: –

1. Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis –
2. Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common type in developed countries which can affect the kidneys, spleen, heart, and other organs. People with conditions such as multiple myeloma or a bone marrow illness are more likely to have AL amyloidosis.
3. This starts in plasma cells within the bone marrow. Plasma cells create antibodies with both heavy chain and light chain proteins. If the plasma cells undergo abnormal changes, they produce excess light chain proteins that can end up in the bloodstream. These damaged protein bits can accumulate in the body’s tissues and damage vital organs such as the heart.

• AA amyloidosis
• Another type is the AA amyloidosis. Previously known as secondary amyloidosis, this condition is the result of another chronic infectious or inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis.
• It mostly affects one’s kidneys, digestive tract, liver, and heart. AA refers to the amyloid type A protein that causes it.

• Dialysis-related amyloidosis
• Dialysis-related amyloidosis is more common in older adults and people who have been on dialysis for more than 5 years.
• This form of amyloidosis is caused by deposits of beta-2 microglobulin that build up in the blood. Deposits can build up in many different tissues, but it most commonly affects bones, joints, and tendons.

• Transthyretin amyloidosis
• Transthyretin amyloidosis can be inherited from a family member and is hence commonly referred to as familial amyloidosis.
• Transthyretin is a protein that is also known as prealbumin made in the liver. As such, this often affects the liver, nerves, heart, and kidneys and many genetic defects are linked to a higher chance of amyloid disease.

What are the symptoms of Amyloidosis?

Symptoms of amyloidosis are often subtle and can vary greatly depending on where the amyloid protein is collecting in the body. As amyloidosis progresses, the deposits of amyloid can harm the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, digestive tract, brain or nerves.

The general signs or symptoms would include:

• Severe fatigue
• Loss of weight
• Swelling in the belly, legs, ankles or feet
• Numbness, pain or tingling in hands or feet
• Changes in skin colour
• Purple spots (purpura) or bruised-looking areas of skin around the eyes
• Bleeding more than usual after an injury
• Swelling of the tongue
• Shortness of breath

Diagnosis and treatment of Amyloidosis –

• One or more imaging procedures to take a look at the body’s internal organs, such as an echocardiogram, nuclear heart test or liver ultrasound, are the normal tests to diagnose the condition.
• The goals of amyloidosis treatment are to slow the progression, reduce the impact of symptoms, and prolong life. The actual therapy depends on which form of amyloidosis one has. Chemotherapy is one form of treatment as some medicines used to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing can also stop the growth of cells that are making the abnormal protein in people with AL amyloidosis.
• A bone marrow transplant, where the stem cells are removed from one’s blood, and then chemotherapy is used to kill the abnormal cells in the bone marrow, is another form of treatment. The stem cells are then infused back into one’s body where they travel to the bone marrow and replace the unhealthy cells destroyed by the chemotherapy.
• Secondary (AA) amyloidosis is treated by controlling the underlying disorder and with powerful anti-inflammatory medicines which fight inflammation.
• The United States Food and Drug Administration has also recently approved multiple medications for transthyretin amyloidosis. These medicines work by either “silencing” the TTR gene or by stabilizing the TTR protein. As a result, further amyloid plaque should not deposit in the organs. The medication for one will depend on one’s symptoms and the hereditary form of TTR amyloidosis.

Source – Indian Express

Chelonoidis phantasticus tortoise

(Paper 3 Biodiversity)

Why in News?

Chelonoidis phantasticus is a giant tortoise species believed to be extinct for more than a century. Now, a surviving member has been identified.

Key points –

• A giant tortoise, found alive in 2019, has been confirmed to belong a Galápagos species long believed extinct.
• Named Fernanda after her Fernandina Island home, the tortoise is the first of her species, Chelonoidis phantasticus, to be identified in more than a century.
• Researchers has reported the confirmation in a paper in Nature Comunications Biology.
• Chelonoidis phantasticus means “fantastic giant tortoise”. Commonly called the Fernandina Island Galápagos giant tortoise, the species was so far known only from a single individual, collected in 1906.
• To determine Fernanda’s species definitively, researchers sequenced her complete genome and compared it to the genome he was able to recover from the specimen collected in 1906.
• they also compared those two genomes to samples from the other 13 species of Galápagos tortoises — 12 living, one extinct.  They showed that the two known Fernandina tortoises are indeed members of the same species.
• Fernanda was very similar to the one that they found on that island more than 100 years ago, and both of those were very different from all of the other islands’ tortoises.

Source – Indian Express

Hirasar Greenfield Airport

(Paper 3 Infrastructure)

Why in News?

Airports Authority of India is constructing the Hirasar Greenfield Airport in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Key points –

• To cater the growing population of the fourthlargest city in the state of Gujarat and increasing flow of air traffic in this region, Airports Authority of India has undertaken the work for construction of New Greenfield Airport, Rajkot in Gujarat.
• With the project cost of Rs. 1405 crores, the new airport is envisioned to be a transportation hub for people traveling abroad from the state.
• Spread over 2534 acres, a new greenfield airport has been planned with modern facilities and conveniences for the travellers with increased number of counters and other necessary facilities.
• The location of new airport is approximately 30 kms from Rajkot city and on Rajkot-Ahmadabad highway. With total built-up area of 23,000 sqm excluding basement, the terminal building of this new airport will be capable to handle 1800 passengers during peak hours.
• The terminal will be equipped with state-of-the-art passenger facilities, four passenger boarding bridges, three conveyor belts and 20 check-in counters along with modern firefighting and fire alarm system.
• The city side area of the airport will also be developed for adequate parking facilities for car, taxi and buses along with landscaping. Runway length is planned for 3040 m for serving AB-321type of aircraft which will be capable of parking 14 aircraft at a time.
• The terminal façade design is influenced from the existing Palaces of Rajkot like the Ranjit Vilas Palace, integrating traditional elements into a contemporary form. An outer skin of traditional Jalis of Palaces is provided to minimize the heat gain inside building. The terminal will depict various artforms including dandiya dance through its dynamic external façade and splendid interiors. Rajkot is famous for its golden jewellery and filigree work and that has inspired the exterior panel work at drop-off area of city side kerb.
• More than 82% of earth work and 80% of Runway and other pavement works have been completed. The work for new terminal building & ATC Tower is also in progress. To commission the airport, an interim terminal building of size 60m x 60m capable of handling 300 passengers per hour is also in progress. The present progress of the total project is 45%. It is expected that the new airport will be ready for operation by March 2023.
• Rajkot is effectively contributing to the economy of India through its small scale and heavy industries. The city is playing an important role in complex supply chains with global perspective, which is expected to grow exponentially.
• thus the Air connectivity to the international market will boost the industrial growth, which in turn will generate new employment opportunities. Apart from this, the new airport will come up with lots of commercial development. This will boost travel-logistics, hotel industry, restaurants, warehouse-Cargo handling and clearing business etc. and many more.
• In the PM Gati Shakti’s spirit of inclusive multi-modal connectivity, the Hirasar Airport is accessed from the National Highway NH-27. A clover -leaf flyover is planned on the highway for unhindered access to the airport.
• Being located on Rajkot-Ahmadabad highway, this airport will aim to reduce time and cost related to logistics for multiple industries in the region. More Importantly, the ceramic industry of Morbi and other industries of Jamnagar also depend on Rajkot for air connectivity.
• The plans to modernize and beautify the ancient city of Rajkot are already in place and all such infrastructure development projects including construction of greenfield airport will help promote the local business houses adding economic wealth to the country.

What is a greenfield airport ?

• A greenfield airport is one which is built from scratch on a new (undeveloped) site. The word ‘greenfield’ originates from software engineering. It means a project that does not have any constraints imposed by prior work. Such airports are constructed to support the projected requirements of traffic of the existing airport.
• To cater to the rising air traffic, the government of India has been working towards increasing the number of airports.
• The Government of India has formulated a Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008 which provides extant guidelines for the development of greenfield airports in the country.

Source – PIB

Euro Parliament Ban on Petrol and Diesel Cars

(Paper 2 international issues)

Why in News?

Recently Members of the European Parliament voted to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

Key points –

• The European Commission last year unveiled plans to stop the sale of vehicles using internal combustion engines as part of an ambitious climate target to cut emissions by more than half over this decade and 90 percent by 2035.
• The measure passed by 339 votes to 249 with 24 abstentions at a session in Strasbourg — in practice limiting future sales to emissions-free all-electric models.
• Cars currently account for 12 percent of all CO2 emissions in the 27-member EU bloc, while transportation overall accounts for around a quarter.
• Members of the European Parliament are still required to negotiate the final law with ministers from 27 national governments in Europe. Final shape of the law will be determined through negotiations in 2022 itself. If this agreement is reached, it will end the use of combustion-engine car in Europe.
• EU lawmakers has also endorsed a reduction in CO2 by 55 %, from automobiles in 2030 compared with 2021. This move deepens an existing obligation on car industry to decrease CO2 emission by 37.5 % on an average by the end of this decade.

Source – TOI

Transport service between India and Bangladesh

(Paper 2 International relations)

Why in News?

Recently, the bus service between Kolkata and Dhaka resumed on June 10, 2022.

Key points –

• The bus service between Kolkata and Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka resumed on June 10, 2022 . The bus will pass through Akhaura-Agartala and Benapole-Haridaspur integrated check post.
• It may be recalled that in less than two weeks,  the Maitree Express between Dhaka-Kolkata and Bandhan Express between Kolkata-Khulna started on May 29 and the Mitali Express between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka on June 1.
• A release from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said that the commencement of bus services will boost tourism and strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
• Presently, there are 4 operational rail links between India and Bangladesh. They are – Petrapole (India) – Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India) – Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India)–Birol (Bangladesh). The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is one such route which was operational till 1965.

Source – All India Radio