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  • [pib] India to become self-reliant in Phosphatic Fertilizers

    The Department of Fertilisers is ready with an Action Plan to make India Aatmanirbhar in Rock Phosphate, the key raw material of DAP and NPK Fertilizers.

    What are Phosphatic Fertilizers?

    • Phosphorus is the eleventh most abundant element on the earth. Commercial phosphate fertilizers are manufactured using phosphate rock.
    • Approximately two-thirds of the world’s phosphate resources are derived from sedimentary and marine phosphate rock deposits.
    • Ground rock phosphate has been used as a source of phosphorous for soils in the past.
    • However, due to the low concentration of phosphorous in this native material, high transportation costs, and small crop responses, the usage of rock phosphate has reduced considerably in agriculture.
    • On the other hand, the usage of phosphorous based fertilizers has grown significantly.

    Which are the most common Ph fertilizers?

    • The most commonly used phosphatic fertilizers are Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP), NPKs, and SSP.
    • DAP is the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertilizer. It is popular due to its relatively high nutrient content and its excellent physical properties.
    • DAP is an excellent source of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) for plant nutrition.
    • It provides the correct proportion of phosphorous and nitrogen for the farming of grains such as wheat, barley, fruits, and vegetables.
    • NPKs, also called compound fertilizers, are fertilizers that contain all three nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in different proportions.

    Also read

    [pib] Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) for Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers

    Why need Phosphorus?

    • Phosphorus is an essential nutrient required for plant growth. It helps in root development, plant maturation, and seed development.
    • If soils are deficient in phosphorus, food production becomes restricted, unless the nutrient is added in the form of fertilizers.
    • Hence, to increase food production, an adequate amount of phosphorus is required.
    • Along with nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus is one of the most important elements for plant life.
    • Soil gets depleted of phosphorus due to several reasons including being washed away by rain. Therefore, modern farming is reliant on the use of phosphorus-based fertilizers.

    Consumption in India

    • Rock Phosphate is the key raw material for DAP and NPK fertilisers and India is 90% dependent on imports.
    • Volatility in international prices affects the domestic prices of fertilisers and hinders the progress and development of the agriculture sector in the country.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? (CSP 2020)

    1.Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
    2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
    3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
    4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

    (b) 1,2 and 4 only

    (c) 1,3 and 4 only

    (d) 2, 3 and 4 only

  • [pib] Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

    The Prime Minister has paid homage to Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on his birth anniversary.

    Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894)

    • Chattopadhyay was a revolutionary novelist, poet and journalist.
    • He was the composer of Vande Mataram, originally in Sanskrit, personifying India as a mother goddess and inspiring activists during the Indian Independence Movement.
    • Chattopadhyay wrote fourteen novels and many serious, serio-comic, satirical, scientific and critical treatises in Bengali.
    • He is known as Sahitya Samrat (Emperor of Literature) in Bengali.

    His literary work

    • Anandamath is a political novel that depicts a Sannyasi (Hindu ascetic) army fighting a British force. The book calls for the rise of Indian nationalism.
    • The novel was also the source of the song Vande Mataram which, set to music by Rabindranath Tagore, was taken up by many Indian nationalists and is now the National Song of India.
    • The plot of the novel is loosely set on the Sannyasi Rebellion.
    • He imagined untrained Sannyasi soldiers fighting and defeated the highly experienced British Army; ultimately, however, he accepted that the British could not be defeated.
    • The novel first appeared in serial form in Bangadarshan, the literary magazine that Chattopadhyay founded in 1872.
    • Vande Mataram became prominent during the Swadeshi movement, which was sparked by Lord Curzon’s attempt to partition Bengal.
    • Drawing from the Shakti tradition of Bengali Hindus, Chattopadhyay personified India as a Mother Goddess known as Bharat Mata, which gave the song a Hindu undertone.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Which among the following event happened earliest? (CSP 2018)

    (a) Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj

    (b) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan

    (c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath

    (d) Satyendranath Tagore became the first India to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination

  • Sainath awarded 2021 Fukuoka Prize

    Noted journalist P. Sainath has been selected as one of the three recipients of the Fukuoka Prize for 2021.

    Fukuoka Prize

    • The Fukuoka Prize is given annually to distinguished people to foster and increase awareness of Asian cultures, and to create a broad framework of exchange and mutual learning among the Asian people.
    • The Prize was established in 1990 by the city of Fukuoka in Japan and the Fukuoka City International Foundation.
    • The Grand Prize has earlier been awarded to Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh, historian Romila Thapar, and sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan. Eleven Indians have received the Fukuoka Prize so far.
    • 115 people from 28 countries and areas have received the Prize in the past 30 years.

    Citation for the award

    • In a statement issued Mr. Sainath was described as a “very deserving recipient of the Grand Prize of Fukuoka Prize”.
    • The Secretariat noted his work for creating a new form of knowledge through his writings and commentaries on rural India and for “promoting civil cooperation”.

  • [RSTV Archive] India and Afghan Peace Process

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar set out India’s red lines for the settlement process in Afghanistan during a UNSC debate. A Qatari official revealed that there was a “quiet visit by Indian officials to speak with the Taliban”.

    India has been becoming more central to the negotiations with the Talibans. In this article we will discuss and analyse all aspects of Afghan peace process from India’s perspective.

    The tension is the change in “the balance of influence between regional powers and the wider international community” where non-Western states have become more influential in matters of regional security.

    Afghan Peace Process

    • The Afghan peace process comprises the proposals and negotiations in a bid to end the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
    • This US-Taliban deal signed in February 2020 was seen in India as a “victory for Taliban and Pakistan”.
    • Although sporadic efforts have taken place since the war began in 2001, negotiations and the peace movement intensified in 2018 amid talks between the Taliban, which is the main insurgent group.
    • Besides the US, major powers such as China, India, Russia, as well as NATO play a part that they see as facilitating the peace process.
    • The Afghan peace group People’s Peace Movement sees regional and global powers as a cause of continued war.

    The peace process has not made much headway mainly because violence by the Taliban continues unabated. The Taliban now view this as an important milestone and is busy trying to establish their military superiority on the ground.

    Taliban prowess is ever increasing

    • Every single day since the ceasefire, the Taliban is strengthening and violence is mounting high.
    • Taliban is now more organized as an organization with diplomats on par with modern democratic nations with a state apparatus propaganda.
    • The Taliban strategy seems to be to capture power in Kabul by violence and intimidation despite warnings from the international community.
    • At the core of its diplomacy lies the untenable violent extremism based on radical religious ideology.

    India and Afghanistan

    • India’s contribution has been phenomenal in every area in Afghanistan since India built the Afghan Parliament.
    • India has been a major military and developmental assistance partner for Afghanistan.

    After years of mortal enmity, India is reportedly recalibrating its approach to the Taliban. Reports say New Delhi has opened an exploratory channel with a few Taliban factions. What explains this shift?

    Why is India engaging with the Taliban?

    • As the world and India have changed there is an aspiration that Afghan can’t be brought back from the brink.
    • India wants to play a positive role and sabotage those countries that support other terror groups in Afghan.
    • It is visibly clear and Taliban has claimed that the US withdrawal is a victory for them. At the same time, the democratically elected Afghan government is crashing.
    • India is pressing on a peace process all around Afghanistan so that all countries shall be peaceful.

    India’s concerns

    • India is concerned over the violence and loss of lives in Afghanistan. Violence has increased manifold after peace talks have started.
    • India, which has committed $3 billion in development aid and reconstruction activities, backs the Ashraf Ghani government in war-torn country.
    • New Delhi wants an all-inclusive “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled” peace process—not one that is remote-controlled by Pakistan, seen as the backers of the Taliban.
    • It supports zero tolerance against violence.
    • Our EAM has iterated that there is need of double peace i.e., within and around Afghan indirectly pointing towards the terror breeding centre, Pakistan.

    What are the stakes for India?

    • Afghanistan is a part of  India’s  extended  neighborhood and a link to Central Asia.
    • But for Pakistan occupying part of Kashmir, India would have had a direct border with Afghanistan.
    • Despite claims that the Taliban have changed in the past two decades, there is no proof that it has shed any of its obscurantist ideology which leans heavily towards Pakistan’s official foreign policy towards India.
    • A Taliban-controlled government in Kabul would mean Pakistan controlling Afghan policy on India.
    • And a repeat of the past when Pakistan used Afghanistan territory for anti-India activities.

    US withdrawal raises the prospect of an India-Pakistan ‘proxy war’ in Afghanistan, it is neither inevitable nor will it be in India’s interest to engage in such a messy conflict with Pakistan in Afghanistan, especially when Pakistan will likely have the dominant hand.

    Fear over sudden US withdrawal

    • US withdrawal at this moment is very dangerous to Afghan. The Taliban is waiting for the US to withdraw.
    • Once the last US marine leaves, it is no doubt that the Taliban would seize Kabul and bring the entire Afghan nation under control.
    • With violence continuing, Afghanistan may slip back into civil war, with warlords cutting deals with the Taliban to control their areas of influence, triggering an indefinite period of instability in the entire region.

    Terrorism and its export

    • Cross border terrorism is increasing at the Indian borders. Pakistan has been since long sponsoring them modern arms.
    • A ceasefire in Afghanistan may spill over the terror in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

    International community’s role

    • Many countries have been trying through multiple tracks to kickstart the stalled peace process in Afghanistan.
    • UN-backed talks among Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, and the US “to discuss a unified approach to supporting peace in Afghanistan,” do not seem to be happening.

    Role of regional actors: India and Pakistan

    • Both rivals India and Pakistan have been in conflict regarding the Afghan peace process.
    • Following a May 2020 attack at a hospital in Kabul, which the Afghan state blamed on the Taliban while the US blamed the regional ISIS branch, Pakistan accused India of trying to derail the process.
    • The Afghan government denied Pakistan’s claims and cited that India is a partner.

    Way forward

    • India’s role in Afghan’s peace process and the road ahead is difficult as we see more process and less peace.
    • India has urged for a permanent & comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan.
    • Our External Affairs Minister has said that durable peace requires peace within & around Afghanistan. India also asserted the need for zero tolerance for terrorism.

     For a peaceful subcontinent

    • Taliban have several sections that are both radical and some want talks with the international community.
    • So international organizations like the UN must come forward to stop Pakistan sponsor of terrorism. The FATF should move beyond grey-listing itself.
    • Nations should come together against the Taliban so that it can’t move forward without any foreign aid.
    • Aid and developmental cooperation through the UN, India, USA must be done simultaneously for the restoration of democracy.

    Conclusion

    • A lot of complexities are involved in the Afghan theatre; tangible demonstration of commitment is required from all stakeholders for a political settlement and to have a permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.

    Reference

  • Final Call for Civilsdaily’s National Scholarship Test UPSC CS 2022|| Upto 100 % Scholarship|| Register Fast || Test will Close Today

    The End of Civilsdaily’s UPSC CS 2022, National Scholarship Test Dates extension is nearing today. By end of the day today the National Scholarship test UPSC CS 2022, submission deadline will end. We have seen a phenomenal response and pan India interest for the test. So aspirants, ensure you don’t miss out on the benefits.

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  • Fighting hunger needs fighting climate change

    The article suggests pathways to achieve SDG-2 by the adoption of climate-friendly agriculture practices.

    Food and SDG

    • Food is a common thread linking all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and critical to achieving overall goals within the timeframe.
    • NITI Aayog recently released the SDG India Index 2020-21, highlighting the national and states’ progress on SDGs.
    • The report states that 34.7% children aged under five in India are stunted.
    • 40.5% of children between 6-59 months are anaemic.
    • 50.3% of pregnant women between 15-49 years are anaemic.
    • India shares a quarter of the global hunger burden.
    • Four out of 10 children in India are not meeting their full human potential because of chronic undernutrition or stunting.
    • NFHS-5 shows many states have not fared well on nutrition indicators.
    • In addition to the malnutrition challenges, India’s food system faces negative consequences of the Green Revolution technologies.

    Pathways to follow in meeting the targets under SDG-2 (Zero Hunger)

    • Crop diversification especially in those areas where the existing practices are ecologically unsustainable should be promoted.
    • While Indian agriculture is a significant contributor to GHG emissions.
    • As per third Biennial Update Report submitted by Government of India to UNFCCC, agriculture sector contributes 14% of the total emissions.
    • Some of the climate-smart interventions like conservation agriculture, organic farming and agro-ecological approaches can effectively address the environmental concerns while ensuring food security and nutrition.
    • Crop-residue burning has become a huge problem in parts of the country.
    • This is mainly propelled by monoculture and a package of subsidies.
    • Conservation agriculture offers solutions to such problems with good agronomy and soil management such as zero-tillage or no-till farming, crop rotation, in-situ crop harvest residue management/mulching, etc, and industrial uses like baling and bio-fuel production.
    • Use of botanical pesticides, green-manuring, biological pest control, etc. are nature-friendly and such practices lead to eco-conservation.
    • The organic movement, fortunately, is catching up in Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and a few other states.
    • Modifying consumer behaviour forms an essential ingredient to transform Indian food systems and correlate positively with crop and diet diversity.
    • POSHAN Abhiyaan, India’s national nutrition mission, can play an effective role in addressing the issues of persistent malnutrition.
    • According to FAO estimates, 40% of the food produced in India is either lost or wasted in every stage of supply chain.
    • Winning the fight against food loss and waste can save India $61 billion in 2050 through increased industry profitability and reduced food insecurity, as well as reduced GHG emissions, water usage, and environmental degradation.
    • Shifting towards a circular economy can enable India progress towards the SDGs including halving food waste by 2030 and improving resource efficiency.

    Conclusion

    India’s success is essential to achieve the planetary goal of Zero Hunger. There is a need for transformation towards sustainable, nutritious and resilient food systems to achieve the goal of zero hunger.

    Source:-

    https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/fighting-hunger-needs-fighting-climate-change/2279369/

  • Scholarship Test Extended for 2 MORE days || Upto 100 % Scholarship|| Register Today for National Scholarship Test For UPSC-CSE 2022

    Dates are being extended for Civilsdaily’s National Scholarship Test For UPSC-CSE 2022, as we are looking at a huge turnout and want the benefits to reach the most eligible irrespective of any divide. So aspirants, sign up for the test today !!

    Test yourself on a national level and Get up to a 100% scholarship.

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    Please Click on Test Submit after finishing the Test.

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    • Language: English
    • Time: 2 Hrs
    • Syllabus: GS Paper 1 (Preliminary exam)
    • No. of Questions: 100
    • Date: 26th and 27th June
    • Time: 10 AM
    • Result: 28/06/2022
    Register here

    Why should you take the CD’s Scholarship Test? 

    1. Test your preparation on UPSC-CSE grade questions, at national level.
    2. Chance to compete against the best. See where you stand.
    3. Identify your strengths, weak points, and problem areas (subject wise).
    4. Mentors will provide personalised counselling based on your performance in the scholarship test. 
    5. A detailed discussion will help you navigate through the challenges during the preparation.
    6. Achieve up to 100% scholarship in our exclusive mentorship programme. 

    As the program is rigorous and involves individual attention thus we can take only limited enrollments. Hence, we are going to conduct a Scholarship Exam on the 26th and 27th of June. Depending on your relative score, you can get up to a 100% scholarship.

    We are looking for-

    • Serious and hardworking aspirants.
    • Ready to dedicate a minimum of 5-8 hours daily.
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    • Willing to take feedback from mentors after each test.
    Register here

    Our 1:1 mentorship program – (Achieve up to 100% scholarship)

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  • Get FREE ACCESS To 13 UPSC Clubs Now! Join One, Join All, Your Choice

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  • Is it worthwhile to join a Civilsdaily Mentorship paid program for civil service? | Anushka’s answer

    Read Anusha’s Review on quora

    About Anushka

    Hi, I am Anusha. I am a working professional. After my 2 failed attempts, I felt I was lacking direction and decided to join any mentorship program. I have joined Civilsdaily in August 2020. I was assigned Asif Sir as my mentor.

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    Read Anusha’s Review on quora
    Read Anusha’s Review on quora

  • India-Africa relations

    The article deals with India’s strategy to deepen the ties with African nations and suggest a critical review of the implementation of India’s strategy.

    Need for review of India’s foreign policy for Africa

    • Africa is considered a foreign policy priority by India.
    •  Even as the COVID-19 era began in March 2020, New Delhi took new initiatives to assist Africa through prompt despatch of medicines and later vaccines.
    • But now the policy implementation needs a critical review.

    Four factors that explain need for a review of policy implementation

    1) Declining trade

    • Declining trade: Bilateral trade valued at $55.9 billion in 2020-21, fell by $10.8 billion compared to 2019-20, and $15.5 billion compared to the peak year of 2014-15.
    • Decline in investment: India’s investments in Africa too saw a decrease from $3.2 billion in 2019-20 to $2.9 billion in 2020-21.
    • The composition of the India-Africa trade has not changed much over the two decades.
    • Mineral fuels and oils, (essentially crude oil) and pearls, precious or semi-precious stones are the top two imports accounting for over 77% of our imports from Africa.
    • India’s top five markets today are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and Togo.
    • The countries from which India imports the most are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Angola and Guinea.

    2) Covid impact

    • COVID-19 has brought misery to Africa.
    • As on June 24, 2021, Africa registered 5.2 million infections and 1,37,855 deaths.
    • A recent World Health Organization survey revealed that 41 African countries had fewer than 2,000 working ventilators among them.
    • Despite these shortcomings, Africa has not done so badly.
    •  Sadly though, with much of the world caught up in coping with the novel coronavirus pandemic’s ill effects, flows of assistance and investment to Africa have decreased.
    • While China has successfully used the pandemic to expand its footprint by increasing the outflow of its vaccines.
    • Unfortunately India’s ‘vax diplomacy’ has suffered a setback. 

    3) Global competition for influence

    • Africa experienced a sharpened international competition, known as ‘the third scramble’, in the first two decades of the 21st century.
    • A dozen nations from the Americas, Europe and Asia have striven to assist Africa in resolving the continent’s political and social challenge.
    • These nations, in turn, stand to benefit from Africa’s markets, minerals, hydrocarbons and oceanic resources, and thereby to expand their geopolitical influence.

    4) Geopolitical tensions in Asia

    • Geopolitical tensions in Asia and the imperative to consolidate its position in the Indo-Pacific region have compelled New Delhi to concentrate on its ties with the United Kingdom, the EU, and the Quad powers, particularly the U.S.
    • Consequently, the attention normally paid to Africa lost out.
    • This must now change.

    Way forward for India-Africa relation

    • For mutual benefit, Africa and India should remain optimally engaged.
    • The third India-Africa Forum Summit was held in 2015.
    • The fourth summit, pending since last year, should be held as soon as possible, even if in a virtual format.
    • Fresh financial resources for grants and concessional loans to Africa must be allocated, as previous allocations stand almost fully exhausted.
    • The promotion of economic relations demands a higher priority.
    • Industry representatives should be consulted about their grievances and challenges in the COVID-19 era.
    • To impart a 21st-century complexion to the partnership, developing and deepening collaborations in health, space and digital technologies is essential.
    • India should continue its role in peacekeeping in Africa, in lending support to African counter-terrorism operations, and contributing to African institutions through training and capacity-enhancing assistance.
    • To overcome the China challenge in Africa, increased cooperation between India and its international allies, rates priority.
    • The recent India-EU Summit has identified Africa as a region where a partnership-based approach will be followed.
    •  When the first in-person summit of the Quad powers is held in Washington, a robust partnership plan for Africa should be announced. 

    Conclusion

    India should review the policy implementation and make changes in line with the changing geopolitical realities.

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