• The Prime Minister has launched the distribution of e-property cards under the SWAMITVA scheme on the Day.
  • The first National Panchayati Raj Day was celebrated in 2010. Since then, the National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on 24^th April every year in India.
  • Awards Presented on the Day:
    • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been awarding the best performing Panchayats/States/UTs across the country in recognition of their good work.
    • Awards are given under various categories namely,
      • Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar,
      • Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar,
      • Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award,
      • Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award and
      • e-Panchayat Puraskar (given to States/UTs only).
    • For the first time, the Prime Minister will transfer the award money (as Grants-in-Aid) directly to the bank account of the Panchayats concerned in real time.
• Panchayati Raj:
  • After the Constitution came into force, Article 40 made a mention of panchayats and Article 246 empowered the state legislature to legislate with respect to any subject relating to local self-government.
  • Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) was constitutionalized through the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 to build democracy at the grass roots level and was entrusted with the task of rural development in the country.
  • PRI is a system of rural local self-government in India.
    • Local Self Government is the management of local affairs by such local bodies who have been elected by the local people.
  • To strengthen e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched eGramSwaraj, a user friendly web-based portal.
    • It unifies the planning, accounting and monitoring functions of Gram Panchayats. It’s combination with the Area Profiler application, Local Government Directory (LGD) and the Public Financial Management System (PFMS)renders easier reporting and tracking of Gram Panchayat’s activities.
• SVAMITVA Scheme:
  • SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Departments, State Revenue Departments and Survey of India.
  • Aim: To provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
    • It is a scheme for mapping the land parcels in rural inhabited areas using drone technology and Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS).
    • The mapping will be done across the country in a phase-wise manner over a period of four years - from 2020 to 2024.

• The 73^rd Constitutional Amendment added Part IX titled “The Panchayats” to the Constitution.
• Basic unit of democratic system-Gram Sabhas (villages) comprising all the adult members registered as voters.
• Three-tier system of panchayats at village, intermediate block/taluk/mandal and district levels except in States with population is below 20 lakhs (Article 243B).
• Seats at all levels to be filled by direct elections (Article 243C (2)).
• Reservation of Seats:
  • Seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the chairpersons of the Panchayats at all levels also shall be reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
  • One-third of the total number of seats to be reserved for women.
  • One-third offices of chairpersons at all levels reserved for women (Article 243D).
• Duration:
  • Uniform five year term and elections to constitute new bodies to be completed before the expiry of the term.
  • In the event of dissolution, elections compulsorily within six months (Article 243E).
• Independent Election Commission in each State for superintendence, direction and control of the electoral rolls (Article 243K).
• Power of Panchayats: Panchayats have been authorised to prepare plans for economic development and social justice in respect of subjects illustrated in Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G).
• Source of Revenue (Article 243H): State legislature may authorise the Panchayats with
  • Budgetary allocation from State Revenue.
  • Share of revenue of certain taxes.
  • Collection and retention of the revenue it raises.
• Establish a Finance Commission in each State to determine the principles on the basis of which adequate financial resources would be ensured for panchayats and municipalities (Article 243I).
• Exemptions:
  • The Act does not apply to the states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram and certain other areas because of socio-cultural and administrative considerations. These areas include:
    • the Scheduled areas and the tribal areas (under Schedule VI of the Constitution) in the states.
    • the hill areas of Manipur for which district councils exist,
    • Darjeeling district of West Bengal for which Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council exists.
  • However, the Parliament has extended the provisions of Part IX to V^th schedule areas through an Act called the Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
    • At present, 10 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana have Fifth Schedule Area.

Recently, Kerala launched preventive measures after a few cases of brucellosis, a zoonotic infection, have been detected in some dairy animals.

• Earlier in September 2020 Brucella abortus S19Δ per vaccine” was developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s -Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI) for brucellosis prevention in the dairy sector.

• Infection to Humans:
  • Infection:
    • Brucellosis has infected over 3000 people in China.
    • Humans generally acquire the disease through:
      • Direct contact with infected animals.
      • Eating, drinking contaminated animal products, unpasteurized milk.
      • Inhaling airborne agents.
    • The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that person-to-person transmission of brucellosis is “extremely rare” but some symptoms may reoccur or never go away.
  • Symptoms:
    • Fever, sweats, malaise, anorexia (psychological disorder in which one eats less due to fear of weight gain), headache and muscle pain.
  • Treatment and prevention:
    • It is usually treated with antibiotics, including rifampin and doxycycline.
    • Avoiding unpasteurised dairy products and taking safety precautions such as wearing rubber gloves, gowns or aprons, when handling animals or working in a laboratory can help prevent or reduce the risk of getting brucellosis.
    • Other preventive measures include cooking meat properly, vaccinating domestic animals, etc.

• Odisha planned to develop five more beaches in three districts to meet international standards after receiving the certification for Puri’s Golden Beach in 2020.
• Fishermen’s Demands:
  • The proposed land for the certification is used by the fishermen to anchor their boats.
    • They want a permanent sea mouth to anchor the fishing boats.
  • Protection of livelihood should be ensured and protected.
  • Reopening of a new fishing jetty.
• Blue Flag Certification:
  • Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.
  • The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.
  • Criteria for Certification:
    • In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
    • There are around 33 criteria that are to be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification,
      • Such as the water meeting certain quality standards, having waste disposal facilities, being disabled- friendly, having first aid equipment, and no access to pets in the main areas of the beach.
    • Some criteria are voluntary and some compulsory.
  • Organisations:
    • The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education).
      • FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education) was established in France in 1985.
  • On the lines of Blue Flag certification, India has also launched its own eco-label BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services).

• Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services that comes under ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project.
• This was launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The objectives of BEAMS program is to:
  • Abate pollution in coastal waters,
  • Promote sustainable development of beach facilities,
  • Protect & conserve coastal ecosystems & natural resources,
  • Strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness,
  • Hygiene & safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment & regulations.

• There are eight beaches in India which have received Blue Flag Certification:
  • Shivrajpur in Gujarat,
  • Ghoghla in Daman & Diu,
  • Kasarkod in Karnataka and,
  • Padubidri beach in Karnataka,
  • Kappad in Kerala,
  • Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh,
  • Golden beach of Odisha,
  • Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar.

Govt approves subsidy policy for urea produced through coal gasification

The Cabinet has approved an exclusive subsidy policy for urea produced through coal gasification by Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL).

• Urea is a widely used fertiliser in India.
• TFL Urea Project:
  • Capacity and Location: TFL is setting up the 1.27 million tonne per annum capacity urea plant based on coal gasification technology in Odisha with an estimated investment of Rs. 13,277 crore.
    • This will be the only plant to produce the nitrogenous soil nutrient (urea) through coal gasification route.
    • Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. (TFL) is a Joint Venture Company of four PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) namely Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF), GAIL (India) Ltd. (GAIL), Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL).
  • Expected Benefits:
    • The project will improve availability of fertilizer to farmers thereby boosting development of eastern region and will save transport subsidy for supply of urea in eastern part of the country.
    • It would assist in reducing Urea imports to the tune of 12.7 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) per annum leading to savings in foreign exchange.
    • It will also give a boost to the 'Make in India' initiative and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign and would help development of infrastructure like roads, railways etc.
    • It will also provide new business opportunities in the form of ancillary industries in the catchment area of the project.
• Coal Gasification:
  • Coal gasification is the process of converting coal into synthesis gas (also called syngas), which is a mixture of hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
    • The syngas can be used in a variety of applications such as in the production of electricity and making chemical products, such as fertilisers.
    • The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia, powering a hydrogen economy.
  • The ammonia is reacted with the carbon dioxide to produce urea melt.
  • In-situ gasification of coal–or Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)–is the technique of converting coal into gas while it is still in the seam and then extracting it through wells.
  • India has set the target that by 2030 it will gasify 100 million tonne of coal under four major projects with an overall investment of Rs. 20,000 crore.
• Fertilizer Consumption in India:
  • India’s fertiliser consumption in FY20 was about 61 million tonne — of which 55% was urea—and is estimated to have increased by 5 million tonne in FY21.
    • Since non-urea (MoP, DAP, complex) varieties cost higher, many farmers prefer to use more urea than actually needed.
    • The government has taken a number of measures to reduce urea consumption. It introduced neem-coated urea to reduce illegal diversion of urea for non-agricultural uses. It also stepped up the promotion of organic and zero-budget farming.
  • Subsidy on Urea: The Centre pays subsidy on urea to fertiliser manufacturers on the basis of cost of production at each plant and the units are required to sell the fertiliser at the government-set Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
  • Subsidy on Non-Urea Fertilisers: The MRPs of non-urea fertilisers are decontrolled or fixed by the companies. The Centre, however, pays a flat per-tonne subsidy on these nutrients to ensure they are priced at “reasonable levels”.
    • Examples of non-urea fertilisers: Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP)

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) inaugurated the fifth session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) established under Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

• Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH):
  • Establishment: It was formed in 2013.
  • Terms of Reference:
    • To elaborate worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs in their dried and dehydrated state in whole, ground, and cracked or crushed form.
    • To consult, as necessary, with other international organizations in the standards development process to avoid duplication.
  • Host:
    • India is the host country and Spices Board India is the Secretariat for organising the sessions of the committee.
      • Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) is the flagship organization for the development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices.
• Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC):
  • It is an intergovernmental body established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and theWorld Health Organisation (WHO) in 1963, within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme.
    • The Secretariat of the CAC is hosted at FAO headquarters in Rome.
  • It was established to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
  • It meets in regular session once a year alternating between Geneva and Rome.
  • Members:
    • Currently, it has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union).
    • India is a member.
  • Food Standards:
    • The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards that have been adopted by the CAC.
    • Codex Standards cover all the main foods, whether processed, semi-processed or raw.
      • In addition, materials used in the further processing of food products are included to the extent necessary for achieving the principal objectives of the code.
    • Codex provisions concern the hygienic and nutritional quality of food, including microbiological norms, food additives, pesticide and veterinary drug residues, contaminants, labelling and presentation, and methods of sampling and risk analysis.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) :
  • Establishment:
    • FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). It is headquartered in Delhi.
  • Administrative Ministry:
    • Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  • Functions:
    • Framing of regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines of food safety.
    • Granting FSSAI food safety license and certification for food businesses.
    • Laying down procedure and guidelines for laboratories in food businesses.
    • To provide suggestions to the government in framing the policies.
    • To collect data regarding contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of a rapid alert system.
    • Creating an information network across the country about food safety.
    • Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

Civil Services Day - April 21

• • It is celebrated as an occasion for the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the causes of citizens and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
  • The date is chosen to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.
    • He referred to civil servants as the ‘Steel Frame of India’.
• Civil Services Day Function:
  • The first function on civil services day was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in 2006.
  • On this day, the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of Priority programme and innovation categories.

• He was born on 31^st October, 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
  • National Unity Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India.
• He played an important role in the integration of many Indian princely states to make an Indian federation.
• Women of Bardoli bestowed the title ‘Sardar’ on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means ‘a Chief or a Leader’.
• He is recognized as the real unifier of India for his colossal contribution to integrate and make India a united (Ek Bharat) and an independent nation.
• He requested the people of India to live together by uniting in order to create Shresth Bharat (Foremost India).
  • Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was announced by the Prime Minister in 2015 on the occasion of the 140^th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• He is also remembered as the ‘Patron saint of India’s civil servants’ as he established the modern all-India services system.
• The Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat was built in his honour.

• The theme for the year 2021 ‘Restore Our Earth’ examines natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems.
  • Earth Day was first observed in 1970, when 20 million took to the streets to protest against environmental degradation on the call of US Senator Gaylord Nelson.
    • The event was triggered by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, as well as other issues such as smog and polluted rivers.
  • In 2009, the United Nations designated 22^nd April as ‘International Mother Earth Day’.
    • Earth Day is now globally coordinated by EARTHDAY.ORG, which is a non profit organisation. It was formerly known as Earth Day Network.
    • It aims to “build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and the planet.”
    • It recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration (Earth Summit), to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.
    • The landmark Paris Agreement, which brings almost 200 countries together in setting a common target to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was also signed on Earth Day 2016.

• 22^nd March: World Water Day
• 22^nd April: Earth Day
• 22^nd May : World Biodiversity Day
• 5^th June: World Environment Day
• Earth Overshoot Day

• Earth Hour is the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)’s annual initiative that began in 2007. It is held every year on the last Saturday of March.
• It encourages people from more than 180 countries to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.

The 19^th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea.

• Earlier this year, the Indian Navy took part for the first time in the France-led naval exercise “La Pérouse" with the navies of the US, Australia and Japan.
  • The Indian and French Navies have been conducting bilateral maritime exercises since 1993. Since 2001, these exercises have been called ‘VARUNA’.
  • These interactions further underscore the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.
  • 2021 Exercise:
    • This is the first time that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is participating in the Varuna maritime exercise.
    • The ‘Varuna’ joint exercise is part of the French carrier strike group’s ‘CLEMENCEAU 21’ deployment, which the French Navy is conducting in the eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf and the Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea).
      • Its goal is to contribute to the stabilization of these strategic zones and strengthening cooperation with the navies of partner countries, in particular India for the Indian Ocean component.
      • As part of this deployment, the Carrier Strike Group is also taking part in anti-ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) operations.
    • The exercise will see high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, underway replenishment and other maritime security operations. Other Indo-French Joint Exercises:
      • Desert Knight-21 and Garuda (Air exercise)
      • Varuna (Naval exercise)
      • Shakti (Army exercise)