GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

The government's launch of CDP-SURAKSHA aims to streamline subsidy disbursement to horticulture farmers, fostering growth in the sector. This digital platform seeks to enhance efficiency and transparency in subsidy allocation under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP), contributing to the development of India's horticulture sector.

1: Dimension- What is CDP-SURAKSHA?

• Introduction: CDP-SURAKSHA, acronym for "System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance," is a digital platform initiated by the government. It facilitates instant subsidy disbursal to horticulture farmers, leveraging e-RUPI vouchers from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• Key Features: The platform integrates various databases, including PM-KISAN and UIDAI validation, ensuring seamless subsidy allocation. It enables farmers to place orders for planting material, contributes their share of costs, generates e-RUPI vouchers, and verifies delivery through geo-tagging, enhancing accountability and efficiency.
• Operational Process: Farmers access the platform to order planting material, contribute their share of costs, and receive subsidies upfront. Vendors supply materials upon verification, and payments are released only post-verification, ensuring transparency and adherence to guidelines.

2: Dimension- How does CDP-SURAKSHA work?

• Farmer Engagement: Farmers register on the platform using their mobile numbers, place orders for planting material, and contribute their share of costs.
• Subsidy Disbursement: Upon placing orders, farmers receive subsidies upfront through e-RUPI vouchers, facilitating seamless transactions.
• Vendor Verification: Vendors deliver planting material, which farmers verify through geo-tagged media, ensuring transparency in delivery and payment release.
• Subsidy Release: After verification, implementing agencies (IAs) validate documents and release subsidies to vendors, promoting accountability and adherence to guidelines.

3: Dimension- Comparison with the old system

• Upfront Subsidy: Unlike the previous system, CDP-SURAKSHA provides subsidies upfront at the time of purchasing planting material, streamlining the subsidy disbursal process.
• Verification Mechanism: The platform incorporates geo-tagging verification, ensuring accountability and transparency in delivery and payment release, unlike the traditional system.

Government's Cluster Development Program (CDP):

• Objective: CDP aims to promote integrated and market-led development of horticulture clusters, fostering pre-production, production, post-harvest, and marketing activities.
• Implementation: NHB identifies and develops horticulture clusters, providing financial assistance based on cluster size, attracting private investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the sector.
• Impact: With 55 identified clusters covering 10 lakh farmers, CDP is expected to catalyze private investment of Rs 8,250 crore, contributing to the holistic development of the horticulture sector.

Mains Practice Question

Q. Evaluate the role of digital platforms like CDP-SURAKSHA in promoting inclusive growth in the agricultural sector. What are the key features that distinguish it from the traditional subsidy disbursal system?

India grapples with a significant challenge of human-animal conflict, especially concerning encounters with tigers and elephants. Understanding and mitigating this conflict are crucial for fostering coexistence and preserving India's rich biodiversity.

1: Dimension - Complexities of the Conflict

• Population Dynamics: India hosts significant populations of wild elephants and tigers, leading to frequent encounters with humans, resulting in fatalities on both sides.
• Habitat Fragmentation: Urbanization, agricultural expansion, and infrastructural development fragment natural habitats, forcing wildlife to encroach upon human settlements.
• Economic Impacts: Crop depredation and livestock predation lead to economic losses for farmers, exacerbating tensions between communities and wildlife.

2: Dimension - Impacts and Challenges

• Economic Hardships: Crop damage and loss of livestock affect the livelihoods of communities living near wildlife habitats.
• Psychological Distress: Fear and anxiety prevail among affected communities, perpetuating animosity towards wildlife.
• Conservation Dilemma: Balancing conservation efforts with human livelihood needs presents a complex dilemma, often leading to conflicts of interest.

3: Dimension - Required Strategies

• Comprehensive Approach: Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts requires a multi-pronged strategy involving proactive measures and community involvement.
• Sustainable Solutions: Innovative deterrent methods such as electric fencing and beehive fences can mitigate conflicts without harming wildlife.
• Community Empowerment: Investing in community-based conservation initiatives and alternative livelihood options can foster tolerance towards wildlife and alleviate socio-economic burdens.

Mains Practice Question

Q: Human-wildlife conflict poses a significant threat to both human livelihoods and biodiversity conservation efforts. Discuss the key dimensions of this conflict in India and suggest holistic strategies to address it.

The urgency of the climate crisis has been underscored by Simon Steill, the UN climate chief, who emphasized the need for immediate action to avert a climate catastrophe. The upcoming COP29 international climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, presents a crucial opportunity for nations to strengthen their commitments to mitigate climate change.

1: Dimension - Urgent Need for Decisive Action

• Stark Reality of Climate Crisis: The current trajectory of climate change presents a dire situation, with global temperature records consistently being broken and carbon emissions continuing unabated. Scientists warn that the world is at risk of surpassing critical climate tipping points, leading to irreversible consequences.
• Inadequacy of Current Commitments: Despite international efforts, the current commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions fall significantly short of what is required to limit global warming to safe levels. The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) set forth by nations are insufficient to meet the targets outlined by the IPCC.
• Role of G20 Nations: Steill emphasizes the pivotal role of G20 countries, particularly the US, EU, China, and India, in accelerating decarbonization efforts. These nations account for the majority of global emissions and must lead the way in adopting stringent emission reduction measures.

2: Dimension - Escalating Climate Impacts

• Rising Global Temperatures: The past decade has seen a relentless increase in global temperatures, with records being shattered month after month. This trend not only threatens ecosystems but also exacerbates extreme weather events and disrupts livelihoods.
• India's Heatwave Crisis: India, in particular, is experiencing the severe consequences of climate change, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense. The India Meteorological Department reports alarming trends, including a significant rise in the average number of heatwave days per year.
• Antarctic Tipping Point: Scientists warn of potential tipping points, such as the destabilization of Antarctica's ice sheets, which could lead to catastrophic sea level rise. Recent research indicates rapid changes in Antarctica, signaling the urgency of addressing climate change before irreversible damage occurs.

3: Dimension - Imperative for Immediate Action

• Enhanced Climate Commitments: The upcoming COP29 summit provides a crucial opportunity for nations to enhance their climate commitments and align with the IPCC's targets. This includes ambitious targets for emission reduction, investment in renewable energy, and adaptation measures.
• Global Cooperation and Climate Finance: Addressing climate change requires coordinated efforts and substantial financial resources. Wealthier nations must fulfill their commitments to provide climate finance to developing countries, enabling them to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts.
• Public Awareness and Political Will: It is essential to raise public awareness about the urgency of climate action and hold political leaders accountable for implementing effective policies. The absence of climate issues from electoral agendas highlights the need for greater advocacy and mobilization at all levels of society.

Mains Practice Question

Q: “The urgency of the climate crisis demands immediate and decisive action from the global community”. Discuss the key dimensions of the climate crisis and propose strategies to mitigate its impacts.

Retail inflation declined to a five-month low of 4.85 per cent in March mainly due to cooling food prices.

Understanding Inflation

• As prices rise, a single unit of currency loses value as it buys fewer goods and services. This loss of purchasing power impacts the general cost of living for the common public which ultimately leads to a deceleration in economic growth. The consensus view among economists is that sustained inflation occurs when a nation's money supply growth outpaces economic growth.
• To combat this, a country's appropriate monetary authority, like the central bank, then takes the necessary measures to keep inflation within permissible limits and keep the economy running smoothly.
• Inflation is measured in a variety of ways depending upon the types of goods and a service considered and is the opposite of deflation which indicates a general decline occurring in prices for goods and services when the inflation rate falls below 0%.

Turtle mascot ‘Mohan Babu’ adopted for Cooch Behar election to symbolise cultural significance and encourage voter turnout.

• The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), or Ganges softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle found in South Asia in rivers such as the Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi.
• It feeds mostly on fish, amphibians, carrion and other animal matter, but also takes aquatic plants.
• This turtle is listed in part II of Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Mount Etna is spewing volcanic vortex rings

• It is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Etna’s summit has five craters, which are responsible for most of the volcano’s eruptions; there are also “flank” eruptions that occur out of 300-odd vents of varying sizes along the slopes of the mountain.
• Etna has been a World Heritage Site since 2013

Recently, Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, is celebrated, which is the Assamese New Year wherein farmers thank the lord for the successful harvest and welcome the spring season.

• The “Bihu” is derived from the Sanskrit word bishu, which means ‘to ask for prosperity from the Gods during the harvest season’. it is celebrated for seven days, wherein each day holds a special significance.
• The first pinnacle phase is called Raati Bihu wherein women gather beneath an ancient tree or an open field, surrounded by burning torches. The participation of men is mostly ceremonial wherein they play Pepa (buffalo hornpipe) or Bholuka Baanhor Toka (a musical instrument made of split bamboo). This is followed by Bali Husori, where Bihu dances are organised by the young.
• The main celebration starts on the day of Goru (cow) Bihu, where livestock is washed with a combination of symbolic herbs like black gram and turmeric paste, whipped litsea salicifolia, and pieces of bottle gourd and brinjal. After the bath, they are decorated with new harnesses and garlands.
• The second day is known as Manuh (human) Bihu where people take a bath with black gram and turmeric paste, wear new clothes, seek blessings from the elders and exchange gifts. A Gamusa (an indispensable and symbolic piece of cloth) is presented to each other as a token of friendship, love, and warmth with each other. A traditional Bihu dance is performed by both men and women, which is the high point of the festival.
• The third day is called Gosai (God’s) Bihu. People worship idols after cleaning their homes.
• The rest of the celebrations take place on Kutum Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Chera Bihu and Mela Bihu. Sweet dishes that include pitha (rice cake), laru/ladoo (made of rice and coconut or black sesame seeds), and savoury dishes like khaar and xaak make for an essential part of the festivity.

Notably, there are three Bihu festivals in year namely – Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, Bhugali (Magh Bihu) and Kangali (Kati Bihu) marking the distinctive phase in the farming calendar.