Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | 7 May, 2021

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“Pradhan Mantri VAN DHAN Yojana” (PMVDY) is Helping Rural Tribal Forest Economy

What is the News?

The Managing Director of TRIFED recently highlighted the role played by Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana in changing the rural forest-dwelling tribal economy.

About Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana:

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana in 2018, under the Forest Rights Act of 2005.
• Aim: To provide remunerative and fair prices to tribal gatherers of their Minor Forest Produces. It could be almost 3 times higher than what would be available to them from middlemen,
• Component of: The scheme is a key component of the ‘Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain for MFP’ Scheme.
• Implementation:
  • At the National Level, TRIFED acts as the Nodal Agency.
  • At the State level, the State Nodal Agency for MFPs and
  • Lastly, at the grass-root level, the District collectors will play a pivotal role in scheme implementation.
• Key Features of the Scheme:
  • Under the scheme, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are set up. These centers cater to 10 Self Help Groups and each group consists of thirty tribal gathers.
  • Vikas Kendras provides skill up gradation and capacity building training and helps in setting up of primary processing and value addition facility
  • They are also provided with working capital to add value to the products which they collect from the jungle.
  • Working under the leadership of Collector these groups can then market their products not only within the States but also outside the States. TRIFED provides training and technical support.

Progress of the Scheme:

• The North-East Region is leading the way with 80% of the established Van Dhan Vikas Kendras(VDVKs). Further, among the Northeast region, Manipur has emerged as the Champion state.
• Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh are other states where the scheme has been adopted with overwhelming results.

Source: PIB

GNAFC releases “Global Report on Food Crises 2021”

What is the News?

Global Network Against Food Crises(GNAFC) has released the “Global Report on Food Crises 2021”.

Key Findings:

• More than 155 million people experienced acute food insecurity in 2020. This is an increase of 20 million as compared to 2019.
• Two-thirds of the people in acute food crisis levels were in 10 countries. Such as Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, northern Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Haiti.
• The majority of the people facing acute food insecurity depend on agriculture.
• According to the report, 40.5 million people in 17 countries faced acute food insecurity because of “economic shocks”. This is primarily due to cut in jobs and incomes.
• Reasons: The magnitude and severity of food crises in 2020 worsened due to:
  • Prolonged conflicts
  • Economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Weather extremes that increased pre-existing fragilities.

About Global Report on Food Crises 2021:

• The report focuses on 55 countries that account for 97% of the humanitarian assistance.
• Also, the report depicts the acute food insecurity and malnutrition situation in countries chronically vulnerable to food crises. These countries often affected by fragile agri-food systems.

About Global Network Against Food Crises(GNAFC):

• It was founded during the first World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. It was jointly found by
  • European Commission for International Cooperation and Development,
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and
  • The World Food Programme(WFP)
• Purpose: It is an alliance united by a common commitment to tackle the root causes of food crises. They aim to tackle the food crisis through increased sharing of knowledge and analysis and strengthened coordination.

Source: Business Today

A report on “Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions”: India is the 3rd-largest emitter

What is the News?

Research and Consulting Firm Rhodium Group has released a report on Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Key Findings of the report:

• Global Greenhouse gas emissions including emissions of all six Kyoto gases have reached 52 gigatons of CO2-equivalent in 2019. This is an 11.4% increase over the past decade.
• The six main gases under Kyoto Protocol are:
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2);
  • Methane(CH4);
  • Nitrous oxide(N2O);
  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
  • Perfluorocarbons(PFCs);
  • Sulphur hexafluoride(SF6).
• Of the total emissions, China alone contributed more than 27% of total Global Greenhouse gas emissions. Further, China’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 exceeded the combined emissions of the US and other developed nations.
• Further, China’s net emissions in 2020 increased by roughly 1.7%. This is significant as the emissions from almost all other countries are declined during the pandemic.
• However, China’s history as a major emitter is relatively short compared to developed countries. Since 1750, members of the OECD bloc have emitted four times more CO2 on a cumulative basis than China.
• The United States is the second-highest emitter. The US alone contributed 11% of the total Global Greenhouse gas emissions.
• For the first time, India has surpassed the European Union and became the third-highest Global Greenhouse gas emitter. India contributed 6.6% of the total emissions.

Source: BBC

“Black Fungus Infection” Cases in Covid Patients

What is the News? 

Doctors in Delhi are witnessing a rise in cases of Covid-19 induced Black Fungus Infection.

 About Black Fungus Infection:

• Black Fungus infection is also known as Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis).
• It is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. These molds are present naturally in the environment.
• Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
• Symptoms of the disease are face numbness, nose obstructions on one side, swelling in the eyes, or pain.
• The infection can occur in almost any part of the body. However, the infection is not contagious. This means that it cannot transmit between people or between people and animals.
• Treatment of this infection is possible with prescription antifungal medicine. If not detected early, the infection can be fatal. It can also lead to loss of vision or jaw in others.

Note: Use of steroids in the treatment of Covid infection plus diabetes as co-morbidity could be the reason for a rise in the number of black fungus infections again.

Source: Indian Express

Mandatory online certification for Persons with Disabilities through “UDID portal”

What is the News?

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(DEPwD) has issued a notification for all States/UTs. In that, the DEPwD made the use of online mode as mandatory to grant certificates of disability using the UDID portal.

Note:

• The Central Government notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 under Rights of Persons with Disabilities(RPwD) Act, 2016.
• Under rule 18(5) The centre can issue directions to the state government/authorities. This includes mandating the issue of a certificate of disability through online mode.

About UDID Portal:

• Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities(UDID) project is an initiative of the DEPwD. The project has been under implementation since 2016.
• Aim: To build a holistic end-to-end integrated system for Issuance of Universal ID & Disability Certificates for Persons with Disabilities. This ID will contain their identification and disability details.
• Vision: The UDID project aims to create a National Database for PwDs. Further, it aims to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) to each person with disabilities.

Benefits of UDID Portal: The UDID card brings a host of benefits to Persons with Disabilities. Such as,

• Persons with disabilities will not need to make/maintain/carry multiple copies of documents. Further, the UDID card will capture all the necessary details. These details can be decoded with the help of a reader.
• The UDID card will be the single document of identification, verification of the disabled for availing various benefits in future.
• Also, The UDID Card will help in streamlining the tracking of the physical and financial progress of beneficiaries. The government can even track progress at all levels of the hierarchy of implementation(from village level, District level, State level and National level).

Source: PIB

What is Facebook’s Oversight Board?

What is the News?

Facebook’s Oversight Board has upheld Facebook’s decision to block the former-U.S. President Donald Trump from its platform.

About Facebook’s Oversight Board:

• The Oversight Board was established in 2020 by Facebook. It is an independent body that helps Facebook figure out what content can be allowed on the platform and what ought to be removed.
• Composition: The board is a panel of about 20 former political leaders, human rights activists, and journalists picked by Facebook.

How does the Board work?

• The board gives users the ability to appeal to the board, giving them a chance to challenge content decisions on Facebook and Instagram.
• For instance, if a user on any of the two platforms has exhausted all attempts to request for review of their content decisions and the user is not happy with the final decision, he or she can write an appeal to the board.
• However, this does not mean that the board will oversee all appeals. It selects cases based on how significant and difficult they are and if they are globally relevant and have the potential to inform future policy.

Is the Board decision binding on Facebook?

• Facebook as well as its users can refer cases to the board. The decisions of the board are binding on Facebook.

Is Facebook’s oversight Board independent?

• The company and paid members of the panel stress that the board is independent. But Facebook funds the board with a $130 million trust, and top executives played a big role in its formation.

Source: The Hindu

First “genetically modified mosquitoes” released in US

What is the News?

Biotech firm Oxitec has released its Genetically Modified Mosquitoes(GMM) in Florida, USA.

What are Genetically Modified Mosquitoes(GMM)?

• These are the mosquitoes whose genome has been altered using recombinant DNA technology. Their genome is altered in a way to favour the few desired physiological traits and the generation of desired biological products.
• The desired trait of these GMM is to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne human diseases.

How does GMM work?

• Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are known to spread deadly diseases to humans such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
• Among them, only female mosquitoes will bite humans because they need blood to produce eggs.
• The researchers have bioengineered male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These male mosquitoes will mate with wild female mosquitoes.
• Further, the genetically engineered males carry a specific gene that prevents the female from producing essential protein for survival.
• As the gene passes to their offspring, it will kill the female descendant at the early larval stages. 
• The gene does not affect the males’ survival. Further, the male will continue to possess the gene that will pass on to future generations.
• Over time, the GMM will reduce the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Thereby reduce the spread of disease to humans.

Note: Oxitec had previously released its modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Panama and Malaysia. The company had reported that local A. aegypti populations fell by at least 90% in those locations.

Source: IndiaTimes

Cabinet approves MoU between India and UK on “Global Innovation Partnership”

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet has given an ex-post facto approval for an agreement signed between India with the United Kingdom on Global Innovation Partnership.

About Global Innovation Partnership:

• Global Innovation Partnership has been launched by the Government of India and the UK.
• Purpose: The GIP will support Indian innovators to scale up their innovations in third countries. Thereby helping innovators to explore new markets and become self-sustainable.
• Under GIP, Indian entrepreneurs and innovators will receive seed funding, grants, investments and technical assistance. They will test, scale up and take innovative development solutions to select developing countries.
• The innovations will focus on Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) related sectors thereby assisting recipient countries to achieve their SDGs.
• Further, GIP will also develop an open and inclusive e-marketplace called E-Baazar. This will be used for cross border innovation transfer. Further, this will focus on results-based impact assessment thereby promoting transparency and accountability.

Source: PIB