ADB, India sign $200 mn loan to upgrade urban mobility in Uttarakhand

• The government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $200 million (about Rs 1,680 crore) loan to help upgrade urban mobility, flood management and integrated public services in Uttarakhand.

• The European Investment Bank is co-financing the project with $191 million on a parallel basis. 

Highlights of the project:

• The project aligns with the government of India’s urban development agenda as well as the Uttarakhand government’s initiatives to enhance urban services, aiming to boost livability and sustainability in cities.

• It aims to create urban infrastructure that is resilient to climate and environmental risks such as floods and landslides, ensuring the safety and health of Uttarakhand’s population.

• It will also build the capacity of the state agencies in project management, climate and disaster-resilient planning, own-source revenue generation, and gender mainstreaming.

• The project will enhance transportation, urban mobility, drainage, flood management, and overall public services in Haldwani, the economic hub of the state.

• Additionally, it will improve water supply delivery in four towns — Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar — by developing efficient and climate-resilient water supply systems.

• In Haldwani, the project will develop 16 km of climate-resilient roads, establish an intelligent traffic management system, deploy compressed natural gas buses, and pilot electric buses. To prepare the city against disasters, the project will construct 36 km of stormwater and roadside drains to improve flood management and implement an early warning system. 

Asian Development Bank

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.

• From 31 members at its establishment in 1966, ADB has grown to encompass 68 members — of which 49 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.

• ADB assists its members, and partners, by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.

• ADB maximises the development impact of its assistance by facilitating policy dialogues, providing advisory services, and mobilising financial resources through co-financing operations that tap official, commercial, and export credit sources.

• Committed to pursue a differentiated approach for states at different stages of development, ADB prioritises projects on basic services, critical infrastructure and services, institutional strength, and private sector development through sovereign operations in low-income states.

• Support for more developed states focuses on transformational programmes with policy and knowledge advice, combined with non-sovereign operations.

History of ADB

• ADB was conceived in the early 1960s as a financial institution that would be Asian in character and foster economic growth and cooperation in one of the poorest regions in the world.

• A resolution passed at the first Ministerial Conference on Asian Economic Cooperation held by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in 1963 set that vision on the way to becoming reality.

• The Philippines capital of Manila was chosen to host the new institution, which opened on December 19, 1966, with 31 members that came together to serve a predominantly agricultural region. Takeshi Watanabe from Japan was ADB’s first president.

ADB and India

• India was a founding member of ADB in 1966 and fourth largest shareholder.

• ADB started operations in India in 1986.

• As of December 31, 2023, ADB has committed 623 public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $55.3 billion to India. ADB’s current sovereign portfolio in India includes 67 loans worth $14.15 billion.

• Cumulative sovereign and non-sovereign loan and grant disbursements to India amount to $43.45 billion. These were financed by regular ordinary capital resources and other special funds.

• ADB has said that it will continue to focus on projects and programmes that accelerate India’s structural transformation, create jobs, address infrastructure gaps, promote green growth, and foster social and economic inclusiveness while deploying smart technologies and innovations.

• In 2023, ADB approved additional funding to support India’s national industrial corridor development programme to enhance its manufacturing competitiveness along with a loan for Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor Development.

• Two policy-based loans were committed to support the government’s urban reforms agenda at the state level and power sector reforms to facilitate the shift to renewable energy

Gravity Energy Storage  

• Gravity energy storage is emerging as a viable solution to address a major challenge of solar and wind power which is intermittent supply.

How it is Solving the Global Problems?

India re-elected as president of International Solar Alliance

• India has been re-elected as the president of Indian Solar Alliance (ISA) from 2024 to 2026 during the 7th Session of the ISA Assembly, which was held in New Delhi from November 3 to 6. France has been re-elected as co-president of the ISA.
• Ashish Khanna will be the new Director General of the alliance and will assume office in March 2025, when the tenure of the incumbent Director General, Ajay Mathur, comes to a close. 

 International Solar Alliance

• International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an inter-governmental treaty-based organisation with a global mandate to catalyse solar growth by helping to reduce the cost of financing and technology.
• The ISA was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande on November 30, 2015, in Paris on the sidelines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the UNFCCC.
• The ISA Framework Agreement was opened for signature on November 15, 2016, in Marrakech, Morocco, on the sidelines of COP22.
• With the signing and ratification of the ISA Framework Agreement by 15 countries on December 6, 2017, ISA became the first international inter-governmental organisation to be headquartered in India.  
• On March 11, 2018, Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron co-hosted the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• Membership is open to those solar resource-rich states that lie fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, and are members of the UN.
• ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs. 
• The vision and mission of the ISA is to provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar-resource-rich countries, through which the global community, including governments, bilateral and multilateral organisations, corporates, industry, and other stakeholders, can contribute to help achieve the common goal of increasing the use and quality of solar energy in meeting energy needs of prospective ISA member countries in a safe, convenient, affordable, equitable and sustainable manner.
• At present, 120 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement, of which 100 countries have submitted the necessary instruments of ratification to become full members of the ISA.
• ISA has been positioned to help create the conditions that would make funding, developing and deploying solar applications on a large scale a reality. 
• ISA is now perceived as key to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
• ISA is partnering with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organisations, civil society, and other international institutions to deploy cost-effective and transformational solutions through solar energy, especially in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Objectives of ISA:

• To address obstacles that stand in the way of rapid and massive scale-up of solar energy.
• To undertake innovative and concerted efforts for reducing the cost of finance and cost of technology for immediate deployment of competitive solar generation.
• To mobilise more than $1,000 billion of investments by 2030. 
• Reduce the cost of finance to increase investments in solar energy in member countries by promoting innovative financial mechanisms and mobilising finance from institutions.
• Scale up applications of solar technologies in member countries.
• Facilitate collaborative research and development (R&D) activities in solar energy technologies among member countries.
• Promote a common cyber platform for networking, cooperation and exchange of ideas among member countries.

Assembly of the ISA

• The Assembly of the ISA is the apex decision-making body which deliberates on critical matters like ISA objectives, its functioning, approval of operating budget, assessment of the implementation of various initiatives, programmes and activities of ISA and others. 
• The First Assembly of the ISA, held on October 3, 2018, adopted the amendment to the Framework Agreement to expand the scope of ISA membership to all member countries of the United Nations.
• The Assembly meets annually at the ministerial level at the ISA’s seat.

Highlights of the 7th Session of ISA Assembly:

• It focused on accelerating solar energy deployment across its Member Countries, particularly in regions with limited energy access. 
• Several significant initiatives, programmes, and funding schemes aimed at supporting solar energy projects and fostering global cooperation were presented and discussed.
• The ISA launched several key initiatives to advance global solar energy adoption. The SolarX Startup Challenge, introduced at COP27, supported innovative solar businesses in ISA Member Countries. 
• The STAR-C Initiative strengthened solar technology skills in developing economies, while the Global Solar Facility catalysed investment in underserved regions, particularly Africa. 
• The Viability Gap Funding Scheme provided grants to solar projects in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, easing financial barriers. 
• The Solar Data Portal offered real-time data to inform investment decisions, and the International Solar Festival fostered global collaboration on solar solutions. 
• Additionally, the Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre explored synergies between solar energy and hydrogen, and the ISA Knowledge Series and World Solar Reports promoted research, insights, and market trends, positioning ISA as a leading advocate for solar energy worldwide. 

Election of vice presidents of the Standing Committee

• Eight vice presidents of the Standing Committee, two from each of the four ISA geographical regions, were also selected by the Assembly.
• From the Africa Region, Ghana and Seychelles have been selected as the vice presidents, while South Sudan and the Comoros will support the vice presidents as vice-chairs of Africa.
• From the Asia and the Pacific Region, Australia and Sri Lanka have been selected as vice presidents, with the United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea as the vice-chairs.
• Germany and Italy have been selected as vice presidents from the Europe and the Others Region, along with Greece and Norway as vice-chair.
• Leading the Regional Committee of the Latin America and the Caribbean region will be Grenada and Suriname, Jamaica and Haiti as vice-chairs.

India’s Palm Oil Consumptions rises

•  India''s palm oil imports increased by 59% In October 2024 high due to strong festive demand.

Integrated Farming System is a promising approach

•  Farmers in Maharashtra are adopting integrated farming practices for better profits.

What is an Integrated Farming System (IFS)?

• An integrated farming system is a sustainable agricultural system that integrates livestock, crop production, fish, poultry, tree crops, plantation crops, and other systems that benefit each other. It is based on the concept that ‘there is no waste’ and ‘waste is only a misplaced resource’ which means waste from one component becomes an input for another part of the system. The IFS approach is considered to be the most powerful tool for enhancing the profitability of farming systems especially for small and marginal farmers to make them bountiful.

Goals of Integrated Farming System

• Enhancing productivity per unit area
• Proper waste management
• Generation of continuous income round the year
• Reducing use of chemicals
• Maximization of yield of all component enterprises
• Soil health management

Components of IFS

IFS model for sustainable agriculture

Advantages of Integrated Farming System

• Higher food production to equate the demand of the exploding population of our nation.
• Increased farm income through proper residue recycling and allied components.
• Sustainable soil fertility and productivity through organic waste recycling.
• Integration of allied activities will result in the availability of nutritious food enriched with protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals and vitamins.
• Integrated farming will help in environmental protection through effective recycling of waste from animal activities like piggery, poultry and pigeon rearing.
• Reduced production cost of components through input recycling from the byproducts of allied enterprises.

Sustainable Integrated Farming System

• Integrated Farming System is a promising approach for increasing productivity and profitability through recycling the farm by-products and efficient utilization of available resources. Further, it generates employment opportunities to farming communities around the year and provides better economic and nutritional security. It also maintains environmental quality and ecological stability.

MINUTEMAN III

The US Army would be carrying out a test launch of a hypersonic nuclear missile Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) hours after voting closed on Election Day in California.

• Operational Since: Early 1970s.
• Component of U.S. Nuclear Triad Sole land-based component.
• Manufacturer: Boeing Corporation.
• Replacement  Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), expected to be available in 2029.
• First U.S. missile fitted with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs).
• Missile Type: Three-stage, solid-fuel missile.
• Range: Maximum range of 13,000 km.
• Payload Capacity : Capable of carrying three re-entry vehicles but currently carries a single nuclear warhead (as per arms control agreements with Russia).
• Deployment: Dispersed in hardened silos and connected to an underground launch control center via hardened cables.
• Launch Characteristics:Fast launch time, nearly 100 percent testing reliability, and backup airborne launch controllers to preserve retaliatory capabilities.

Hypersonic Missiles

• A hypersonic weapon is a weapon capable of travelling at hypersonic speed, defined as between 5 and 25 times the speed of sound or about 1 to 5 miles per second (1.6 to 8.0 km/s).
• Below such speeds, weapons would be characterized as subsonic or supersonic, while above such speeds, the molecules of the atmosphere disassociate into a plasma which makes control and communication difficult.

There are multiple types of hypersonic weapons:

• Hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV): missile warheads which maneuver and glide through the atmosphere at high speeds after an initial ballistic launch phase.
• Hypersonic cruise missile: cruise missiles which use air-breathing engines such as scramjets to reach high speeds.
• Hypersonic aircraft: using air-breathing engines such as scramjets to reach high speeds.
• Guns that fire cannon: launched guided projectiles. These may be developments of traditional artillery or novel technologies such as railguns.

What is the role of Principal Scientific Adviser?

• Ajay Kumar Sood, The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the government of India, chaired a stakeholders’ meeting to address the issue of air pollution and its interplay with climate change.
• Senior officials from key ministries and environmental bodies attended the meeting, which focused on advancing science-based frameworks to manage air quality and mitigate climate impacts.
• The meeting discussed ongoing efforts under the National Air Quality Resource Framework of India (NARFI), developed by the Office of the PSA in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).

Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser

• The government established the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) in November 1999. 
• The PSA’s office aims to provide pragmatic and objective advice to the PM and Cabinet on matters related to science, technology and innovation with a focus on application of science and technology in critical infrastructure, economic and social sectors in partnership with government departments, institutions and industry. 
• The Office of PSA was placed under the Cabinet Secretariat in August 2018.

Functions of office of the PSA:

• i) Science and technology fundamentals with applied research in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, both in central and state governments.
• ii) Enabling future preparedness in emerging domains of science and technology.
• iii) Formulating and coordinating major inter-ministerial science and technology missions.
• iv) Providing an enabling ecosystem for technology led innovations and techno-entrepreneurship.
• v) Driving innovation and technology delivery towards solving socio-economic challenges for sustainable growth.
• vi) Fostering effective public-private linkages for driving research and innovation.

Former Principal Scientific Advisers:

• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (November 1999 - November 2001)
• Dr. R. Chidambaram (November 2001 to March 2018)
• Prof. K. VijayRaghavan (April 2018 - April 2022).

Key initiatives of the Office of the PSA

PM-STIAC

• The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) is an overarching council that expedite the PSA’s Office to appraise the status in specific science and technology domains, comprehend challenges, formulate interventions, develop a futuristic roadmap and advise the Prime Minister accordingly.
• The PM-STIAC aims to facilitate, through its missions, the process of collaboration and focus needed to solve complex problems in a reasonable time-frame.

Empowered Technology Group (ETG)

• Established with the approval of the Union Cabinet, the Empowered Technology Group (ETG) aims to proactively lay down, coordinate, and oversee national-level policies relating to:
• i) Procurement and induction of technologies.
• ii) Research & Development (R&D) in technologies that require large outlays in resources, both financial and human.
• iii) Render sound and timely advice for determining direction and trajectory of government''s R&D and technology development programmes.
• ETG is supported by Technology Advisory Group comprising members from academia, industry and other important sectors.

Millimeter Wave

• Recently, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee) for have signed an agreement under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the DoT with the development of a “millimeter wave transceiver for 5G rural connectivity”.
• About Millimeter Wave: 
• It refers to electromagnetic waves with frequency between 30-300 GHz and wavelength between 10 mm and 1 mm.
• Its frequency spectrum is used for wireless high-speed communications. It is also known as the extremely high frequency, or EHF, band by the International Telecommunication Union.
• Advantages
• It enables higher data rates compared with lower frequencies when used in telecommunications, such as those used for Wi-Fi and current cellular networks.
• The higher frequency range has a high tolerance for bandwidth.
• It offers less latency due to its higher speeds and bandwidth.
• There is less interference, as mmWaves don't propagate and interfere with other neighboring cellular systems.

Significance of recent agreement

• It will also encourage small and medium scale industries to setup their manufacturing units in India which will create job opportunities to our own engineering graduates, due to the use of polymer-based structure in conjunction with metals.
• This will also reduce our over dependence on semiconductor fabrication industries. The proposed cost for the development of technology is extremely small as against the opportunities it would create.
• Additionally, the project also aims to contribute to generate Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and develop a skilled workforce to support the emerging millimetre wave/Sub-THz technology for 5G/6G.

Bran

• A recent study highlights that keeping bran on millets improves the health benefits and should be promoted in Indian diets to improve diet quality.
• About Bran:
• It is the edible broken seed coat, or protective outer layer, of wheat, rye, or other cereal grains, separated from the kernel.
• In flour processing, the coarse chaff, or bran, is removed from the ground kernels by sifting or bolting in a rotating, meshed, cylindrical frame. 
• It provides dietary fiber and many different bioactive substances, including phenolic compounds, which can exert a beneficial effect on human health. 
• Removing the bran from millets results in decreasing the protein, dietary fibre, fat, mineral and phytate content in them while increasing the carbohydrates and amylose content.
• Dehusked millets are nutritious and should be promoted in Indian diets to improve diet quality, debranned millets are nutritionally inferior, can increase the glycemic load of Indian diets.

What are Millets?

• Millets are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. 
• This crop is favoured due to its productivity and short growing season under dry, high-temperature conditions (hardy and drought-resistant crops).
• Millets are a powerhouse of nutrients, which score over rice and wheat in terms of minerals, vitamins, and dietary fibre content, as well as amino acid profile. 
• Though rich in both iron and zinc, wheat’s protein content comprises glutens, known to trigger gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders in many people.
• Millets are high in minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium, and they are an excellent source of phyto-chemicals such as phenolic compounds when compared to other major cereals (rice, wheat, maize),
• Millets provide a range of health benefits such as antiaging, anticarcinogenic, anti-atherosclerogenic, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects.

Tuna Fish

• The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has notified the Development of Tuna Cluster in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• They are pelagic marine fish, spending their entire lives relatively near the surface of tropical, subtropical and temperate oceans and seas.
• There are seven main species of tuna consumed by humans including albacore, skipjack, yellowfin and three species of bluefin tuna.
• Habitat: They can be found in tropical and temperate regions of all oceans.
• Unlike other fish, tuna are warm blooded. Their body temperatures are as much as 12 degrees C higher than the water they swim in.
• Tuna swim incredible distances as they migrate. 
• Significance of Tuna Cluster: It is expected to generate economies of scale, increase incomes, and accelerate organized growth in fisheries across the country. 

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

• It was launched in September 2020 with an aim to double the income of fish farmers and fishers in the country.
• It focuses on activities with potential to generate employment such as seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation. It also emphasises on the breeding technique for quality brood, seed & feed and species diversification.
• It is an umbrella scheme with two separate Components namely (a) Central Sector Scheme (CS) and (b) Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
• The CSS Component is further segregated into Non-beneficiary oriented and beneficiary orientated subcomponents/activities under the following three broad heads:
• Enhancement of Production and Productivity
• Infrastructure and Post-harvest Management
• Fisheries Management and Regulatory Framework
• PMMSY will be implemented in all the States and Union Territories for a period of 5 (five) years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

• In a departure from the government’s stated position, the top official from the Niti Aayog on said India should be part of the China-backed Regional Economic partnership (RCEP) trade bloc.
• It is a proposed agreement between the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and its free trade agreement (FTA) partners.
• The pact aims to cover trade in goods and services, intellectual property, etc.
• Member Countries: The RCEP bloc comprises 10 ASEAN group members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners - China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
• RCEP negotiations were launched in November 2012 and entered into force on 1 January 2022
• Objective
• RCEP aims to create an integrated market with 16 countries, making it easier for products and services of each of these countries to be available across this region.
• The negotiations are focused on the following: Trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, dispute settlement, e-commerce, small and medium enterprises, and economic cooperation.

Black-Footed Ferret

• Antonia, a cloned black-footed ferret at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, has produced two healthy offspring that will help build genetic diversity in their recovering population.
• It belongs to the weasel family and is the only ferret that is native to North America.
• These are considered an alert, agile, and curious mammal, and are known to exhibit keen senses of smell, sight, and hearing.
• Distribution: It is ranged throughout the interior regions of North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico.
• Habitat: It can be found in the short or middle grass prairies and rolling hills of North America.
• They live within the abandoned burrows of prairie dogs and use these complex underground tunnels for shelter and hunting.
• It is nocturnal and is active mostly during the night, with peak hours around dusk.
• Ferrets reduce their activity levels in the winter, sometimes remaining underground for up to a week.
• These are carnivores; they mostly eat prairie dogs, also sometimes mice, ground squirrels, or other small animals.
• Reproduction: They exhibit a phenomenon known as "delayed implantation," in which the fertilized egg does not start developing until conditions are appropriate for gestation.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Threats: It is believed that the loss of natural habitat and rise in the incidence of diseases are the biggest reasons behind the decline in their population.

Agrivoltaic Farming

• The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) culminated New Delhi. During the site visit, the practical implementation of agrivoltaic systems was showcased to the delegates of various countries.

Agrivoltaic Farming:

• It is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels.
• The panels are positioned 2-3 metres off the ground and sit at an angle of 30 degrees, providing shade and offering crops protection from the weather.
• This farming primarily focuses on the simultaneous use of land for both agriculture and solar energy generation. 
• It’s also sometimes referred to as agrisolar, dual use solar, low impact solar. 
• Solar panels have to sometimes be elevated or suspended to allow plants to grow beneath them.
• Another option is putting them on the roofs of greenhouses. This allows enough light and rainwater to reach the crops, as well as providing access for farm machinery.
• It uses poles or frames to mount solar panels on the ground, leaving space for crops to grow under or around them. Some solar panels can also rotate or form a canopy to adjust the amount of sunlight and shade on the crops.
• Advantages
• This increases land-use efficiency, as it lets solar farms and agriculture share ground, rather than making them compete against one another.
• And certain crops appear to thrive when grown in such environments, according to a number of recent studies.
• The shade from the panels protects vegetables from heat stress and water loss.

What are Airships?

• Recently, a few companies are attempting to control the buoyancy of airships — a longstanding challenge that has prevented their use for cargo transportation.
• Airships are lighter-than-air, vertical-lift vehicles that achieve flight by using buoyant gasses that are less dense than surrounding air.
• There are three main types of airships: non-rigid (or blimps), semi-rigid and rigid.
• Typically, these bullet-shaped craft are filled with helium or hydrogen, and composed of three main parts: a balloon-like hull, a gondola and a propulsion system.
• Airships were the first aircraft capable of controlled powered flight and were thought to be the future of travel for some years in the early 20th century.

How do airships work?

• Airships are lighter-than-air aircraft that are lifted by gas with a density lower than atmospheric gases. This principle also operates in helium balloons.
• Early airships used hydrogen as the lifting gas since it was cheap, easy to produce, and the lightest existing gas. But hydrogen was also extremely flammable.
• Most modern airships use helium, which is non-combustible.
• Uses: They see limited use today as advertising platforms, for aerial observation by scientists and militaries, and in the tourism industry.
• Advantages: Airships are significantly less polluting than aeroplanes as they do not burn fossil fuels to achieve lift. They can also reach more places than ships or trucks.

Allulose

• Recently, South Korea has become a top testing ground for the sweetener allulose.

Allulose:

• It is also known as D-allulose and d-psicose, and is naturally present in only certain foods like wheat, raisins, figs, molasses.
• It is also commercially produced from beet sugar or corn using specific enzymes.
• It’s also available as a sugar substitute and can be used in recipes for people who want to cut back (or cut out) sugar, including people with diabetes.
• Manufacturers and researchers say it is 70% as sweet as sugar and almost calorie-free.
• Side effects: High doses may cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
• It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which considers it “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). It’s also approved in some other countries, including Japan, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea.

What is Chhath Puja?

• Recently, the Prime Minister of India extended his greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja:

• It is an important Hindu festival celebrated in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• This festival is dedicated to God Surya and his sister Shashti Devi, often referred to as Chhathi Maiya, and it involves religious rituals.
• The most unique feature of this Chhath Puja is that there is no Murti Pujan or Idol Worshipping.
• The festival is celebrated between the months of October and November.
• The Chhath festival begins as the Diwali festival ends.
• It is celebrated for four consecutive days and celebrated with great reverence and dedication.
• The first day of the Chhath Puja includes taking a dip in the holy river/any water body. People also take the Ganges water to their homes to perform special offerings and rituals. Houses are thoroughly cleaned on this day. 
• The second day of Chhath, also known as Kharna, involves devotees observing a day-long fast, which is broken in the late evening after performing the worship of Mother Earth.
• The third day of Chhath goes into the preparation of the prasad (offerings) for the evening offerings, also known as Sanjhiya Arghya. In the evening, large numbers of devotees gather on the banks of rivers and make offerings (Arghya) to the setting sun. The night of the third day witnesses a colorful event known as Kosi.
• On the fourth and final day of Chhath, family members and friends go to the banks of rivers before sunrise and make offerings (Arghya) to the rising sun. After this ritual, devotees break their fast and distribute Prasad to neighbors and relatives.

What is CARICOM?

• Recently, India and CARICOM held their second Joint Commission meeting, an important event that reviewed and charted the future of their multifaceted relationship.
• CARICOM, which stands for Caribbean Community, is the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world.
• It is an organization of Caribbean countries and dependencies originally established as the Caribbean Community and Commons Market in 1973 by the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
• Main Purposes:
• Promote economic integration and cooperation among its members;
• To ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared;
• To coordinate foreign policy;
• Members:
• It has 15 members; Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have associate member status, and Aruba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela maintain observer status. 
• The Chairmanship of the Community is rotated every six months among the member countries' Heads.
• Secretariat: The CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, is the principal administrative organ of the Community and is headed by a Secretary General who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community. 
• In 2007, CARICOM officially inaugurated the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which serves as the final court of appeal for CARICOM members and also handles regional trade disputes.