Relevance IN - Prelims (about Sufal Bangla scheme) + Mains ( GS III steps taken by the state for farmer welfare)
What's the NEWS

• It is an effective scheme run by the West Bengal government has meant that many consumers, especially those belonging to the lower-income group, in Kolkata and some nearby cities have been shielded from the spike in food inflation.

• The Sufal Bangla scheme, which involves fair-price stalls and counters across the city, allows people to procure vegetables at affordable prices.
• Every time there is a crisis because of skyrocketing prices of vegetables and fruits, Sufal Bangla stalls help out the common people.
• The project was initiated in 2014 - with 14 mobile shops - to directly procure fruits and vegetables from farmers and sell them to consumers.
• The state government was committed to fair play in agricultural marketing practices in order to safeguard the interests of both the growers and the consumers, thus paving the way for Sufal Bangla
• With Sufal Bangla, the government aimed to aid to target groups: farmers (at the back end) and customers (at the front end).

• The higher prices of food articles paid by the poor urban consumers never reach the poor rural farmers.
• High food inflation not only hits the pockets of consumers, it also rarely benefits the farmers as the benefits are cornered by the middlemen.
• With the Sufal Bangla scheme, the state government plays the role of a benevolent middleman.
• It directly procures vegetables from farmers, paying them a higher price than what they would have received while selling the same at less than the prevailing market prices in urban markets.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IDA) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chaired the sixth meeting of the Island Development Agency (IDA)
• The Island Development Agency reviewed the progress made towards the programme "Holistic development of islands".

• For the first time in the country, under the guidance of IDA, an initiative of sustainable development in the identified Islands within scientifically-assessed carrying capacity has been taken-up.
• Development Plans with focus on creation of jobs for the islanders through tourism promotion as well as export of seafood and coconut-based products made in the Islands have been prepared and are being implemented in four islands of Andaman & Nicobar and five islands of Lakshadweep.
• In the second phase, suitable sites in 12 more islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 5 islands in Lakshadweep have been covered.
• For strengthening infrastructure support, projects for improving air, sea and digital connectivity are also being implemented.
• Port Blair and another 7 islands in Andaman & Nicobar would get digitally connected through submarine optical fibre cable by June, 2020.
• The Naval air station at Shibpur near Diglipur in northern Andaman & Nicobar Islands would be co-used as Joint User Airport.
• It was also decided to develop a PPP package including a airport (Joint User Airport) at Minicoy Island, to unlock the tourism potential.
• The meeting was attended by Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Admiral D. K. Joshi (retd); Administrator of Lakshadweep ShriDineshwar Sharma,Shri Rajiv GaubaCabinet Secretary, Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog,

• The IDA was set up on June 01, 2017 following the Prime Minister's review meeting for the holistic development of islandsunder the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs
• Objective - to look into the holistic development of 09 islands (four in A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis) and (five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli).
• The project being steered by NITI Aayog aims at promoting and implementing development based on sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.
• Home Minister of India is its chairman and CEO of NITI Aayog (Amitabh Kant at present) acts as its convener.
• Other members of IDA include Secretary- Tourism, Tribal affairs, Home secretary, Secretary Ministry of Environment and Cabinet secretary.
• NITI Aayog has been mandated with the task to steer the holistic development of the islands in sustainable manner.

Defence
Indian Navy to Get Upgraded Fuel HFHSD - IN 512
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the upgraded fuel)
What's the NEWS

• The Indian Navy in collaboration with M/s IOCL carried out an extensive and thorough study and a comparative evaluation of existing international regulations (ISO, MARPOL, NATO etc).
• As an outcome, a revised technical specification was arrived The new specification will not only ensure a better quality fuel but also result in a reduced carbon footprint.
• Given the positive results, the new fuel was therefore decided for pan Navy implementation.
• On 13 January 2020, the launch of the new fuel (High Flash High Speed Diesel) HFHSD - IN 512, with revised technical specifications was undertaken.

Know! the benefits of using new fuel

• With this, the country will be able to ensure interoperability amongst foreign navies during fleet exercises and provide fuel of quality better than that mandated to all foreign navies under bilateral/ multi-national logistics support pacts including LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement).

Defence
Two Coast Guard ships commissioned at Kolkata
'Annie Besant' and 'Amrit Kaur' during the commissioning

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the ships) + Mains ( GS III security challenges and their management)
What's the NEWS

• Two Indian Coast Guard Ships (ICGS) - Annie Besant and Amrit Kaur - were commissioned by Defence Secretary at Kolkata

Know! more about it (Annie besant and Amrit Kaur)

• ICGS Annie Besant was named in honour of Annie Besant, philanthropist, theosophist, prolific author and supporter of the Indian freedom struggle.
• The ship will be based at Chennai under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).
• ICGS Amrit Kaur derives the name from Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, who belonged to the ruling family of Kapurthala, Punjab.
• She took active part in the ‘Salt Satyagraha' and ‘Quit India Movement', and served Independent India as its first Health Minister.
• She worked towards uplift of the less privileged, the progress of women, and was a founder-member of All India Women's Conference and founder-President of Indian Council for Child Welfare.
• The ship will be based at Haldia under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East).

Know! about the ships

• The ships are capable of achieving a maximum speed of 34 knots, powered with MTU 4000 series engines and propelled by three 71S type III Kamewa water jets by Rolls Royce.
• The ships are also capable of undertaking multi-faceted tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.
• ICGS Annie Besant and ICGS Amrit Kaur are fitted with state-of-the-art technology, navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.
• The ships are also equipped with Bofors 40/60 guns and 12.7 mm SRCGs (Stabilised Remote Controlled Gun) for enhancing the fighting efficiency of the ship.

International Relations
Raisina Dialogue 2020
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Raisina Dialogue and its objective) + Mains ( GS II international relations and regional grouping)
What's the NEWS

• The Raisina Dialogue 2020 to be held in New Delhi, India between January 14 and 16, 2020 promises to be a mega show amid presence of foreign ministers from across the globe.

Know! more about the event

• The three-day event, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), will also witness the participation of many Deputy Foreign Ministers, former Prime Ministers, former Presidents, National Security Advisers, military chiefs and other high level policy-makers, scholars and officials
• Over 180 delegates from 105 countries are taking part in this edition, themed ‘21@20: Navigating the Alpha Century

Know! about Raisina Dialogue

• The Raisina Dialogue is a multilateral conference committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community.
• Every year, global leaders in policy, business, media and civil society are hosted in New Delhi to discuss cooperation on a wide range of pertinent international policy matters.
• The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of state, cabinet ministers and local government officials, as well as major private sector executives, members of the media and academics.
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs
• This year's Dialogue titled ‘Navigating the Alpha Century' is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of states, Cabinet ministers and local government officials as well as major private sector executives, members of the media and academics.

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