Prelims Factoids
COAST GUARD SEIZES 2000 KG SEA CUCUMBER

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Sea cucumber)
What's the NEWS

• In a swift operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team at Mandapam, Tamilnadu seized two tonnes of sea cucumber, a banned marine species.
• ICG teams were deployed in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas to effectively cordon the likely escape by sea route.

Sea cucumbers

• Sea cucumber in India is treated as an endangered species listed under schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea.
• They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad.
• Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothurian species worldwide is about 1,717 with the greatest number being in the Asia Pacific region.
• Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter after which bacteria can continue the degradation process.
• Like all echinoderms, sea cucumbers have an endoskeleton just below the skin, calcified structures that are usually reduced to isolated microscopic ossicles (or sclerietes) joined by connective tissue.
• Sea cucumbers are named for their resemblance to the fruit of the cucumber plant.

Governance
Centre to Simplify Coffee Act

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about coffee and role of coffee board + White Stem Borer + about coffee production India)
What's the NEWS

• The Minister for Commerce & Industry held a detailed interaction with Coffee Growers, Roasters, Exporters and other stakeholders at Coffee Board Head Office, Bengaluru.

The important outcomes of the meeting are as follows:
Simplification of Coffee Act:

• The present Coffee Act was enacted in 1942 and it has many provisions which have become redundant and are impediments to the coffee trade.

Increased Assistance under Transport and Marketing Assistance Scheme (TMA):

• Several exporters have raised concern that due to increase in international freight rates, the Indian agri-exports to several destinations have become un-competitive.
• The Minister assured the exporters that a special package to assist agri-exports at least for one year will be considered under TMA Scheme to tide over the present crisis.

White Stem Borer

• The Minister assured the growers that a request will be made to Agriculture Department and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to initiate advanced research on Coffee White Stem Borer.

Special package for restructuring of coffee loans and Interest subvention:

• Re-structuring of all existing loans into a single term loan with long repayment period and also extend fresh working capital with soft interest.

Strengthening the Extension activities of Coffee Board:

• To develop a Dashboard for real time updation of extension activities including field visits, workshops, demonstrations, seminars etc.
• It is proposed to shift the Coffee Board from the Ministry of Commerce to Ministry of Agriculture. This will ensure that the benefits of all the schemes of agriculture are extended to the coffee growers.

The Coffee Board of India

• It is an organisation managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the government of India to promote coffee production in India.
• The Coffee Board of India was established by an act of Parliament in 1942.
• Until 1995 the Coffee Board marketed the coffee of many growers from a pooled supply, but after that time coffee marketing became a private-sector activity due to the economic liberalisation in India.
• The Coffee Boards tradition duties included the promotion of the sale and consumption of coffee in India and abroad, conducting coffee research, financial assistance to establish small coffee growers, safeguarding working conditions for laborers, and managing the surplus pool of unsold coffee.

Know! all about coffee

• Coffee in India is grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
• This is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world.
• Coffee contributes significantly to sustain the unique bio- diversity of the region and is also responsible for the socio-economic development in the remote, hilly areas.
• In India, coffee is traditionally grown in the Western Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Coffee cultivation is also being expanding rapidly in the non traditional areas of AP and Odisha as well as in the North East states.
• Coffee is predominantly an export oriented commodity and 65% to 70% of coffee produced in the country is exported while the rest is consumed within the country.
• The two main varieties of coffee viz., Arabica and Robusta are grown in India.
• Arabica is mild coffee, but the beans being more aromatic, it has higher market value compared to Robusta beans.
• On the other hand Robusta has more strength and is, therefore, used in making various blends. Arabica is grown in higher altitudes than Robusta.
• The cool and equable temperature, ranging between 15 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius, is suitable for Arabica while for Robusta, hot and humid climate with temperature ranging from 20 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius is suitable.
• Arabica requires more care & nurture and is more suitable for large holdings whereas Robusta is suitable irrespective of size of the farm.
• The harvest of Arabica takes place between November to January, while for Robusta it is December to February. Arabica is susceptible to pests & diseases such as White Stem Borer, leaf rust etc., and requires more shade than Robusta.

Coffee white stem borer

• Coffee white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes, is a serious pest of arabica coffee causing a yield loss up to 40 per cent in all coffee growing areas of India.
• It is a blackish brown coloured beetle measuring about 2 cm in size with three pairs of white stripes running obliquely across the wings. Alternate host plants of this beetle include rose sandal wood, teak etc.

Prelims Factoids
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UP DAY

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about International Coastal Cleanup Day)
What's the NEWS

• The 36^th International Coastal Cleanup Day was celebrated consecutively for the tenth year by Eastern Naval Command (ENC) on 18 Sep 21.

The International Coastal Cleanup Day

• It is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September. In 2021, the day is being held on 18 September.
• The theme of International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2021: "Keep trash in the bin and not in the ocean".
• Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that works to help protect the ocean from the challenges it faces every year.
• The first International Coastal Cleanup Day was observed in 1986.
• The day aims to increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative impacts of litter in oceans, on coastlines and on beaches.
• International Coastal Cleanup began more than 30 years ago when communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering their coastline.
• Every year, on the third Saturday in September, the International Coastal Cleanup Community encourages people around the world to remove trash and debris from beaches, waterways and other water bodies, to identify the sources of the litter, to change behaviours that cause pollution and to raise awareness on the extent of the marine debris problem.

National Issues
Crime in India Report 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NCRB report highlights + about NCRB)
What's the NEWS

• Crime in India Report 2020 released by National Crime Records Bureau.

Report highlights

• Communal riots registered an increase of 96% in the year 2020 as compared to the previous year.
• A year marked by the months of lockdown saw a decrease in traditional crimes against women and children.
• Despite a 0.5% decrease in crimes that fall under the category of "violent offences", there was a modest 1% increase in murder cases.
• Delhi is the most unsafe city for women.
•  In the year 2020, there was an increase of 78.1% in the cases of 'Environment related offences' category in the country.
•  Cyber crime rate (incidents per lakh population) has also increased to 3.7% in the year 2020 from 3.3% in the year 2019.

National Crime Records Bureau

• Nodal Ministry : Under the Union Home Ministry in the year 1986
• Objective: To effectively enforce law and order in the Indian Police, to enable the police system by providing information technology solutions and criminal intelligence.
•  NCRB collects annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country ('Crime in India' report).

Prelims Factoids
'United in Science 2021' report

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about United in Science 2021 report highlights)
What's the NEWS

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the 'United in Science 2021' report.
• The report was published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Health Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Global Carbon Project, the World Climate Research Program and the Met Office (UK).

'United in Science 2021' report highlights

• The global COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed the pace of climate change.
• The world is lagging behind in its carbon emissions reductions.
• High latitude areas and the Sahel region of Africa are expected to be more humid than in recent times until 2021-2025.
• Temperatures are expected to temporarily exceed 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial era in the next five years.
•  Average global temperature was the highest on record in the last five years.
• Climate risks such as heat waves, forest fires and poor air quality threaten human health around the world, putting vulnerable populations at risk.
• Fossil fuel emissions due to coal, gas, cement, etc. had returned to the level of 2019 in the year 2019 but were even higher in the year 2021.
• The global mean sea level has risen by 20 cm from 1900 to 2018. increase was observed.

Prelims Factoids
Mura-Drava-Danube: World's first 'Biosphere Reserve of five countries'

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Mura-Drava-Danube + Man and Biosphere Reserve Program)
What's the NEWS

• The Mura-Drava-Danube was declared the world's first 'Biosphere Reserve of five countries' by UNESCO.
• The strategy aims to revive rivers (25,000 km) and protect 30% of the EU's land area by 2030.
• In Europe, this biosphere reserve is spread over an area of 700 km along the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia.

Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve

• Total area : one million hectares
• It is also called 'Amazon of Europe'.
• After this decision it is now the largest river protected area in Europe.
• It is one of the richest regions of Europe in terms of species diversity.
• Here floodplain forests, gravel and sand banks, river islands, oxbows (U-shaped lakes) and grasslands are found.
• Major species available: White-tailed Eagle, Little Tern, Black Stork, Beaver, Beaver and Sturgeon
• It is an important destination for more than 2,50,000 migratory waterfowl.

UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Reserve Program

• It is an intergovernmental scientific program
• Objective: To establish a scientific basis for improving relations between people and their environment.
• Biosphere reserves are designated by governments at the national level.
• They are nominated under the inter-governmental MAB program by the Director-General of UNESCO following the decisions of the 'MAB International Coordinating Council' (MAB ICC).
• There are currently 727 biosphere reserves in 131 countries, including 22 transboundary sites.
• At present there are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, out of which 12 Biosphere Reserves are included in the list of Man and Biosphere Reserves Program of UNESCO.

Governance
Grant of Rs. 2427 crore released to States for Urban Local Bodies

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the grant and grant mechanism under 15 FC) + Mains ( GS II governance)
What's the NEWS

• The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance today released an amount of Rs. 2427 crore to 11 States for the Urban Local Bodies.
• The amount released is the 1st instalment of tied grants for the year 2021-22.
• These grants have been provided for the Non-Million Plus cities (NMPCs) including Cantonment Boards.

Know! more about the grant mechanism recommended by the 15th FC

• The 15^th Finance Commission in its report for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 has divided the Urban Local Bodies into two categories: (a) Million-Plus urban agglomerations/cities (excluding Delhi and Srinagar), and (b) all other cities and towns with less than one million population(Non-Million Plus cities) and has recommended separate grants for them.
• Out of the total grants recommended by the Commission for Non-Million Plus cities, 40% is basic (untied) grant and the remaining 60% is as tied grant.
• Basic grants(untied) can be utilised for location specific felt needs except for payment of salary and incurring other establishment expenditure.
• On the other hand, tied grants for the Non-Million Plus cities are released for supporting and strengthening the delivery of basic services out of which 50% is earmarked for ‘Sanitation Solid Waste Management and attainment of star ratings as developed by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MOH&UA) and the remaining 50% is tied to ‘Drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling'.
• The tied grants are meant to ensure availability of additional funds to urban local bodies over and above the funds allocated by the Centre and the State for sanitation and drinking water under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes and provide quality services to citizens.
• The States are required to transfer the grants to the ULBs within 10 working days of receipt from the Union Government.
• Any delay beyond 10 working days requires the State Governments to release the grants with interest.

Prelims Factoids
World Patient Day celebrations

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about World Patient Safety Day -highlights + MusQan)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare chaired World Patient Day celebrations
• The World Patient Safety Day culminates the celebration of "Rogi Suraksha Saptaah'' in India which was observed from 11^th to 17^th September 2021.

World Patient Safety Day

• It is celebrated and observed every year on 17 September across the globe.
• The day is marked to raise awareness about patients' safety.
• The day also encourages individuals to reveal and showcase their commitment to making healthcare safer.
• As per World Health Organisation (WHO), the theme this year is - "Safe maternity and newborn care" while the slogan is "Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!"

History

• In May 2019, World Patient Safety Day was established by the 72^nd World Health Assembly.
• The day was recognised with the adoption of Resolution WHA72.6 on "Global action on patient safety". However, the permission was given for this special day to be held on 17 September, annually.
• Also, the International Patient Safety Day is a moment of a successful series of yearly Global Ministerial meets and summits that began in the year 2016 in London.

Objectives

• As the day is observed across the world, it aims to minimise all unnecessary risks to women and newborns during delivery time.
• It also signifies an objective to promote and support quality services at the point of care.
• Apart from improving maternal and newborn safety, the focus of this day is to bring together a wide range of stakeholders and implement innovative and effective solutions.

MusQan

• It is a scheme to target delivery of quality services to children in the health facilities
• It has been launched by the Union health Minister along with Maternal Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Response (MPCDSR) software.
• It aims to ensure provision of quality child friendly services in public health facilities to reduce preventable newborn and child morbidity and mortality
• It targets children below 12 years of age. It is a new quality improvement initiative within the existing National Quality Assurance Standard framework (NQAS)
• Schemes like NQAS &LaQshya, Kayakalp, MeraAspataal have played a pivotal role in reinstating and reconfirming trust and confidence of the community in public health facilities.
• LaQshya scheme - provides intra partum and post-partum care
• MusQan would similarly facilitate healthcare of infants and children below 12 years to the satisfaction of their parents.

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