Governance
Ministry of Cooperation
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the role of new ministry - Ministry of cooperation) + Mains ( GS II governance)
What's the NEWS

• The government has created a new Ministry of Cooperation with an aim to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country

Know! about the Ministry

• The statement issued by the Cabinet Secretariat said the new ministry has been created for realising the vision of 'sahkar se samriddhi' (through cooperation to prosperity).
• The ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
• The ministry will help deepen cooperatives as a true people-based movement reaching up to the grassroots.
• The ministry will work to streamline processes for 'ease of doing business' for cooperatives and enable development of multi-state cooperatives (MSCS)
• The central government has signalled its deep commitment to community-based developmental partnership
• Creation of a separate Ministry for Cooperation also fulfils the budget announcement made by the finance minister

Government Schemes
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying launches the Online Course Mobile App "Matsya Setu" for Fish Farmers

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the Matsya Setu app) + Mains ( GS III e-technology in the aid of farmers
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the Online Course Mobile App "Matsya Setu".
• The app was developed by the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar, with the funding support of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad.
• The online course app aims to disseminate the latest freshwater aquaculture technologies to the aqua farmers of the country.

Know! all about the app and the online courses

• Matsya Setu app has species-wise/ subject-wise self-learning online course modules, where renowned aquaculture experts explain the basic concepts and practical demonstrations on breeding, seed production and grow-out culture of commercially important fishes like carp, catfish, scampi, murrel, ornamental fish, pearl farming etc.
• Better Management Practices to be followed in maintaining the soil & water quality, feeding and health management in aquaculture operations were also provided in the course platform.
• The modules are divided into small video chapters for the convenience of the learners, along with additional learning materials.
• In order to motivate the learners and provide a lively learning experience, Quiz/Test options were also provided for self-assessment.
• Upon successful completion of each course module, an e-Certificate can be auto-generated. Farmers can also ask their doubts through the app and get specific advisories from experts.
• Trainings should be provided on various activities including ornamental fisheries, seaweed culture, module on feed preparation, post harvest value addition.

Benefits

• The app will helpful for the farmers to learn the advancements in the technologies and Better Management Practices at their convenience.
• Learning the advanced technologies will certainly influence the adoption of scientific methods in fish farming; hence the productivity will be enhanced, and the income will be improved.
• This app can also be an important tool to disseminate the latest information on different schemes among the stakeholders, especially fishers, fish farmers, youth and entrepreneurs across the country, assist them and facilitate ease of doing business.

Prelims Factoids
Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project - location)
What's the NEWS

• SJVN, a CPSE under Ministry of Power has completed the Tunnel Excavation work of its Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project in Uttarakhand.
• SJVN triggered the last blast to mark the completion of heading excavation of 4.3-kilometer-long Head Race Tunnel of 60 MW Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project.
• Naitwar Mori HEP has the potential to generate 265.5 million units of electricity every year and the State of Uttarakhand will get 12% free Power as a Royalty.

Know! about Naitwar Mori HEP

• In 2018 the Government officials have laid the foundation stone for the 60-MW Naitwar Mori hydro project on the Tons River in Mori, Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India.
• The Tons River is a major tributary of the Yamuna River in the Ganga basin. The run-of-river Naitwar Mori hydroelectric plant is being developed by SJVN Limited
• This project is expected to be commissioned in a "record period of 48 months
• After the project is commissioned, 12% free electricity will be supplied to Uttarakhand as a royalty
• In addition, each project-affected family will be provided with an amount equivalent to the cost of 100 units of electricity per month for ten years.
• Naitwar Mori "has the potential to generate 265.5 million units of electricity every year
• Other hydro plants SJVN owns and operates include 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri and 412-MW Rampur, both in the Satluj basin.
• SJVN is a mini ratna, Category-I and Schedule-A CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power of the government of India.
• SJVN was incorporated in May 1988 as a joint venture of the government of India and the government if Himachal Pradesh.

Prelims Factoids
Mishri variety of cherries

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Mishri variety of cherries - location)
What's the NEWS

• In a step towards boosting horticultural crops exports, a first commercial shipment of Mishri variety of luscious cherries from Kashmir valley has been exported to Dubai from Srinagar.

Mishri variety of Cherries

• Mishri variety of Cherries are not only taste delicious but also contain vitamins, minerals and plant compound with health benefits.
• The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir produces more than 95% of the total country's production of commercial varieties of cherries in the country. It produces four varieties of cherry - Double, Makhmali, Mishri and Italy.

Role of APEDA

• The commencement of commercial shipment of cherries would provide huge opportunities for exports of several temperate fruits like plums, pears, apricot and apples from Kashmir to especially to middle east countries in the forthcoming seasons.
• APEDA has been conducting interactions with farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), government officials and other stakeholders for boosting exports potential of agricultural produce from Kashmir such as apples, almonds, walnuts, saffron, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables and certified organic products.
• For ensuring exports of quality agricultural produce which adhere to global standards, APEDA has also initiated awareness programme on National Programme on Organic Production and ISO-17065 requirements for the officials of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The purpose of such programme was to acquaint officials of the UTs with the third-party certification system for organic products as well as international trade of organic products.

Education
8^th BRICS Education Ministers virtual meeting
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the education minister's meeting - highlights) + Mains ( GS II regional grouping + Education
What's the NEWS

• Education Ministers from the five BRICS countries virtually signed a joint declaration with the resolve to further strengthen their academic and research collaboration in higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
• In the 8^th meeting of BRICS education Ministers that was held as part of the 13^th BRICS Summit being hosted by India, ministers deliberated on two themes - Leveraging digital and technological solutions for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and enhancing research and academic collaboration.

Know! the meeting highlights

• Regarding the need to leverage digital and technological solutions for ensuring quality inclusive education, the member states agreed to generate and expand their knowledge base that would help formulate initiatives in this regard.
• They also agreed to facilitate creation of mechanisms that would allow sharing of knowledge and best practices with each other.
• In order to enhance their collaboration in academics and research, the ministers agreed on facilitating the mobility of students and faculty among BRICS partner states, besides encouraging joint and dual degrees between higher education institutions in BRICS countries.
• They also recognized Technical and Vocational Training and Education as a priority area for every BRICS country and expressed their commitment to promoting collaboration in this area.

Bilateral Relations
Maitree Power project.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Maitree Power project) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• Secretary (Power) Govt of India met Secretary (Power) Govt of Bangladesh through video conferencing for the issues related to 1320MW Maitree Power project.
• The meeting was attended by senior officials including the officials from Ministry of Power (MoP), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh, Department of Heavy Industries (DHI), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), NTPC Ltd. BHEL and BIFPCL.

Know! about the Maitree Project

• The project is an environmentally friendly supercritical technology based thermal power plant, and the first unit of this project would be commissioned in December'2021 i.e. coinciding with Golden Jubilee celebration of Victory Day of Bangladesh and Unit#2 is expected to be commissioned matching with the implementation of associated transmission system.

Maitree Super Thermal Power Project

• It is a 2x660 MW coal-fired power station project being developed by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (BIFPCL), a 50-50 joint project of the governments of Bangladesh and India. The power station will be located in Rampal, Bangladesh.
• The first unit of the Maitree power project at Rampal in Bangladesh will be commissioned in December 2021 coinciding with the Golden jubilee celebration of the liberation of Bangladesh.
• The second unit is expected to be commissioned matching with the implementation of the associated transmission system
• The Rampal Power Station is a 1320 megawatt coal-fired power station currently under construction at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District in Khulna, Bangladesh.
• The power plant is being constructed on an area of over 1834 acres of land, is situated 14 kilometres north of the world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbans which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
• It will be the country's largest power plant.
• It is being setup by BIFPCL (Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Limited) which is 50:50 joint venture between India's state owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bangladesh's Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
• In August 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and India's state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) where they designated to implement the project
• On 29 January 2012, the Bangladesh Power Development Board signed an agreement with NTPC to build the plant.
• The joint venture company is known as Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (BIFPC).
• The BPDB and the NTPC agreed to implement the project on a 50:50 equity basis.
• The NTPC will set up and operate the plant. Bangladesh and India will equally share up to 30 per cent of the capital of this project as equity.

Bilateral Relations
India to divert excess waters under Indus treaty to irrigate own land
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the Indus water treaty) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• India is working on exercising its rights to stop excess water flowing to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 to irrigate its own lands

Indus Waters Treaty

• After nine years of negotiations, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960, with the World Bank also being a signatory.
• The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of six rivers-Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
• The move to harvest excess water comes against the backdrop of India working on a plan to divert the waters of Ujh, which is one of the main tributaries of the Ravi river that flows into Pakistan.
• This is also of strategic importance to India, given that control over river water flow acts as a force multiplier during times of aggression.

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