1. FORTIFICATION OF RICE
TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The government will implement fully rice fortification programme before the scheduled target of March 2024.
EXPLANATION:
- A scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) was launched in October 2021 in a phased manner in order to address the problem of anaemia in children and women.
- In the first phase, the target was to cover ICDS and PM POSHAN in India by March 2022.
- Under the second phase, the plan was to extend the scheme to beneficiaries of PDS and other welfare schemes in all aspirational and high-burden districts on stunting (a total of 291 districts) by March 2023.
- In the third phase, the target was to cover the remaining districts of the country by March 2024.
- The first phase got started only in October 2021 and about 17 lakh tonnes of fortified rice was lifted, the first phase was implemented under the budgetary provision of the Women and Child Development Ministry.
- In April 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the supply of fortified rice throughout the Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman-PM POSHAN (erstwhile Mid-Day Meal Scheme) and other welfare schemes in all states and Union Territories (UTs) by 2024 in a phased manner.
- The entire cost of rice fortification, which is around ₹ 2,700 crore per annum, would be borne by the Centre as part of the food subsidy till its full implementation up to June 2024.
- As of date, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has 240 lakh tonnes of rice, of which just 12 lakh tonnes are non-fortified rice.
- The government will also look at revising the advisory on fortified rice being harmful to people with sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia in light of new evidence.
- Food regulator FSSAI, the regulatory/licensing authority for food fortification, has drafted standards for FRK and Pre-mix, and provided direction to all the stakeholders for the operationalisation of draft standards with immediate effect.
What is fortified rice?
- According to the Food Ministry, fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets. According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg fortified rice will contain iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram) and Vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).
- In addition, rice may also be fortified with micronutrients, singly or in combination, with zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B6.
- Fortified rice is nearly identical to traditional rice in aroma, taste, and texture. This process is done in the rice mills at the time of milling of rice.
How is rice fortified with iron?
- Under the fortification scheme, milled broken rice is reduced to dust and a premix of vitamins and minerals is added to it. Thereafter, an extruder machine is used to produce fortified rice kernels (FRK) resembling rice grains.
- The kernels are then mixed in a 1:100 ratio with regular rice to produce fortified rice.
- It is found to be a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets with low turnaround time (TAT) and a step towards nutritional security and helps in fighting anaemia and malnutrition in the country.
2. 7TH GEF ASSEMBLY: GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK FUND
TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: Recently, Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held on Vancouver, Canada. Here, member countries got together to ratify Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
EXPLANATION:
- The ratification of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) would ensure that sufficient money is available for conservation and restoration of species and ecosystems.
- The fund was envisaged at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15 CBD) in December, 2022.
- It aims to ensure that countries have enough financial support to meet the goals and targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- GEF, which is the world’s largest multilateral funder of environmental action, is tasked with running the fund and has to mobilise at least $200 billion per year by 2030.
- For this, GEF will accept donations from countries, philanthropies and the private sector, along with stimulating schemes such as payment for ecosystem services, green bonds, biodiversity offsets and credits, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
- Under its current work plan, GEF has just $1.4 billion for action on three major environmental issues: Climate, biodiversity, and pollution.
- This amount is likely to reach $10.5 billion as GEF plans to generate another $9.1 billion in co-financing from other sources by 2026.
- Biodiversity is set to receive the maximum amount 47% of these funds. Climate change will receive 16 per cent, while land degradation will get 12 per cent. International waters and chemical waste will get 11 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.
- The proposed fund allocations are as follows:
- 20 per cent will go to Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC). This is an aspirational goal.
- 25 per cent will go to GEF agencies and must be enforced.
- Allocation of funds to IPLCs would be reviewed two years after ratification in August. SIDS and LDC will get 36 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. This would be reviewed three years after ratification.
3. RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS
TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first vaccination to save newborns from Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
EXPLANATION:
- The new vaccine is made by Pfizers and is given to mothers late in their pregnancies. It provides protection to infants through their first six months of life.
- During the trial of the vaccine on more than 7,000 pregnant people and their infants, it was found that it cut the risk that infants needed to see a doctor. It also reduced the cases of hospitalisation among infants.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. It’s so common that most children have been infected with the virus by age 2. Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-ul) virus can also infect adults.
- In adults and older, healthy children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) symptoms are mild and typically mimic the common cold. Self-care measures are usually all that’s needed to relieve any discomfort.
- RSV can cause severe infection in some people, including babies 12 months and younger (infants), especially premature infants, older adults, people with heart and lung disease, or anyone with a weak immune system (immunocompromised).
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These may include:
- Congested or runny nose
- Dry cough
- Low-grade fever
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Headache
In severe cases
RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Severe cough
- Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that’s usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
- Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
- Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)
United States Food and Drug Administration
- The United States Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services.
- The FDA is led by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The FDA has its headquarters in unincorporated White Oak, Maryland.
- The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, caffeine products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs.
4. RAJASTHAN’S FIFTH TIGER RESERVE IN DHOLPUR-KARAULI
TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change has accorded the final approval to Rajasthan’s fifth Tiger Reserve in Dholpur-Karauli.
EXPLANATION:
- With increasing big cat population in RTR, the Rajasthan state forest department had moved the proposal to develop Dholpur-Karauli the fifth tiger reserve in Rajasthan. NTCA gave its approval in February, 2023.
- It is the country’s 54th tiger reserve. The ministry also gave in-principle approval to declare Kumbhalgarh as a tiger reserve in Rajasthan.
- The other four tiger reserves in Rajasthan are – Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi, which was added in May 2022.
- Currently around 8-10 tigers are moving in Dholpur-Karauli forest area. The protected natural tiger corridor will increase from Ramgarh Vishdhari- RTR-Dholpur to Mukundra – the stretch would be around 4,000sq km.
Tiger Reserve
- A tiger reserve is made up of two areas: a “Core” or “Critical Tiger Habitat” that must be managed as a protected space, and a “Buffer” or “Peripheral” region that borders the Core area but may get less habitat protection.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority, which oversees Project Tiger, is in charge of the Indian tiger reserves, which were established in 1973.
Project Tiger
- Project Tiger was launched in the year 1973. It was one of the most important conservation efforts initiated to protect Tigers in India.
- It was the first of its kind of Project in India to maintain the population of Tigers in India and to protect them from Poaching and other threats.
Aims of Project Tiger:
- To identify factors causing a reduction in tiger habitats and mitigate them through suitable management practices. The damages already done to the habitat were to be corrected so that the natural ecosystem can be recovered to the extent possible.
- To maintain a viable tiger population for their economic, ecological, cultural, and aesthetic significance.
National Tiger Conservation Authority
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority is set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests.
- The Authority have eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament of whom two will be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States.
- The Inspector General of Forests, in charge of project Tiger, will be ex-officio Member Secretary.
- The Authority lay down normative standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in the Tiger Reserves, apart from National Parks and Sanctuaries.
5. REPORT ON STALLED REAL ESTATE PROJECTS
TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY
THE CONTEXT: A 14-member committee chaired by former NITI Aayog CEO and India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, which was constituted to examine stalled real estate projects and recommend ways to complete them, submitted its report.
EXPLANATION:
- The committee was set up in March,2023 by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and Amitabh Kant was appointed its head.
- It included officials of the Union Finance Ministry, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana state governments, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, the National Housing Bank and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) of Haryana and UP.
What did the committee find?
- The committee’s report cited that 4.12 lakh dwelling units of Rs.4.08 lakh crore were “stressed” and about 2.40 lakh (44%) of these were in the National Capital Region. Another 21% of the units were in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
- The committee concluded that the main reason for the stress in these projects was the “lack of financial viability”, which had led to cost overruns and time delays.
- The committee said the way to solve the problem would be to improve the Internal Rate of Return of the projects in order to attract funding.
- Judicial interventions, like the use of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, should be the last resort.
What did the committee recommend?
- The committee began its list of recommendations by reiterating provisions of the Real Estate(Regulation and Development)Act, 2016 to be enforced.
- Real Estate(Regulation and Development)Act, 2016 mandates that all projects where the land is over 500 square metres or the number of apartments to be constructed are more than eight are registered with the respective state RERA.
- The committee recommended de-linking the grant of registration or sub-lease by the land authorities to the homebuyers from the recovery of dues from developers.
- The committee recommended that the RERAs identify such projects where the homebuyers were not being given no-objection and completion certificates in projects that were substantially completed and expedite the process to grant certificates, irrespective of the developers’ paying their dues to the authorities.
- One of the main recommendations of the committee was for state governments to set up a rehabilitation package to get the stalled projects running again. Those developers who sign up for the package would have to commit to completing the projects in three years.
- The committee proposed a “partial surrender policy”, in which developers can give back some of the unused lands to the authority in exchange for a waiver on the dues for that land.
- The report said the MoHUA should prepare a detailed scheme for using the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund to “proactively” finance the stalled projects and sent it to the Finance Ministry.
- It said the requirement of minimum Internal Rate of Return and first charge in the SWAMIH fund should be reworked.
Real Estate(Regulation and Development)Act, 2016:
- It aims to protect the rights and interests of consumers by minimising the malpractices done by the developers and promoting uniformity business practices and transactions in the real estate sector.
- The RERA Act came into effect on and from 1 May, 2016. The centre, through the Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry, released the general rules of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
- The Act was legislated under entry 6 and entry 7 of the concurrent list of the Indian Constitution.
- The provisions of the RERA Act apply to residential apartments, buildings and plots whether residential or commercial. The Real Estate Project defined in the Act includes the development of buildings consisting of apartments, converting existing buildings into apartments and developing land into plots for the sale of all or some of the said apartments to carry out the purpose of this Act.
Salient features of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016
- To regulate and promote the real estate sector by establishing the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
- To protect the interests of the consumers and buyers and ensure the prevention of malpractices against them.
- To establish adequate and speedy dispute redressal systems and also establish Appellate Tribunals to hear and adjudge appeals from the orders, directions or decisions of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
- Establishes state-level regulatory authorities called RERA.
- To ensure that the money collected from project buyers must be kept in a separate bank account and utilised solely for the construction of the project. This sum is subject to change by the State Government.
- The Act provides the right to legal representation on behalf of the client by a CA, CS or CMA or legal practitioners
Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund
- It is a social impact fund specifically formed for completing stressed and stalled residential projects and considered as the lender of last resort for distressed projects.
- It was launched in November 2019, with an aim to provide priority debt financing for the completion of stressed, brownfield and RERA-registered residential projects that fall in the affordable, mid-income housing category.
- The Fund is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and is managed by SBICAP Ventures Ltd., a State Bank Group company.
- The Fund considers first-time developers, established developers with troubled projects, developers with a poor track record of stalled projects, customer complaints and NPA accounts, and even projects where there are litigation issues
