GUJARAT
Gujarat: Groundnut oil export to cross 2 lakh tonnes this year
The dragon is literally guzzling groundnut oil from Gujarat!.
The total exports of groundnut oil to China has crossed a massive 1.10 lakh tonnes till the
end of December as against the total export of 40,000 tonnes in the entire previous financial
year.
According to exporters, they already have confirmed orders of 70,000 tonnes for January
and February and total export of the season is expected to cross 2 lakh tonnes.
China’s total production of groundnut is around 1.5 million tonnes, but the floods last year
ravaged nearly 35% of the standing crop. To fulfil the demand gap of 50 lakh tonnes, the
country is importing the oil in huge quantities.
Rajasthan’s produce is available at Rs 4,800 per quintal while Saurashtra’s groundnut costs
Rs 5,300 -Rs 5,400 per quintal.
On an average, the millers crush 10 lakh tonnes ground and extract three lakh tonn oil.
INTERNATIONAL
India begins its two-year tenure as a Non-Permanent Member of the UNSC
India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the powerful organ of the
world body.
India will sit in the 15-nation United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2021-22 term as
a non-permanent member.
This is the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the powerful horseshoe table.
In 2021, India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico join non-permanent members Estonia,
Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam and the five permanent
members China, France, Russia, UK and the US in the Council.
India will be UNSC President in August 2021 and will preside over the Council again for a
month in 2022.
NATIONAL
National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Inaugurated
The Prime Minister of India launched a fully operational national universal travel card
service on the Airport Express of the Delhi Metro. The Card services started in Ahmedabad
in 2019.
A pass card will allow them to enter through integrated channels no matter they take public
transportation or where they travel.
The idea of NCMC was put forward by the Nandan Nilekani Committee established by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
NCMC will allow passengers who use the RuPay debit card to swipe the card, which has
been issued by 23 banks in the past 18 months and can be used for subway travel.
By 2022, the facility will be available on the entire Delhi Metro network. NCMC is an
automatic fare collection system.
It turns smartphones into interoperable transportation cards that commuters can use to
pay for subway, bus, and suburban rail services.
It will use smartphones (called the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system) to help subway
stations get in and out.
Ministry Of Housing And Urban Affairs Has Launched E-Sampada
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched E-Sampada, a new web portal and
mobile application. The new application provides a single-window for all services.
The new application provides a single-window for all services, including allocating more than
100,000 government residences, allocating office space to government organizations in 45
office buildings in 28 cities, and booking 1,176 holiday homes.
The portal provides online facilities for users across India to make complaints, submit
documents and conduct virtual hearings.
This is an important step towards e-government to increase transparency and
accountability, and provide various real estates services such as allotment, retention,
regularization and no membership fee certification.
BBX11 Gene: Greening Of Plants Was Recognized
The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) has recognized the BBX11
gene can promote the greening of crops. This gene plays a crucial role in regulating
protochlorophyllide levels, which is an intermediate product of the green pigment
chlorophyll biosynthesis.
IISER scientists have identified the gene 'BBX11'. The research was recently published in the
British journal "New Phytologist". The synthesis of chlorophyll in plants is a long, multi-step
process.
When the seedling emerges from under the soil, it must synthesize chlorophyll quickly to
support its growth.
To promote chlorophyll's rapid synthesis, plants make a chlorophyll precursor called
"protochlorophyllide" in the dark, which glows red when blue light is shone on the plant.
After plants enter the light from below the soil, light-dependent enzymes convert
protochlorophyllide to chlorophyll.
The amount of protochlorophyllide synthesized must be proportional to the number of
enzymes available to convert it into chlorophyll.
New Species of Wild Sun Rose Was Discovered
Scientists have discovered a new species called Portulaca laljii. This is a wild sun rose found
in the Eastern Ghats. Portulaca lajii was found in the Prakasam area of Andhra Pradesh.
The unique characteristics are as follows:
Tuberous root. The root is the storage root. It is enlarged and serves as a storage organ, No
hair in its leaf axis, Reddish Pink flowers, Prolate-shaped fruits, Copper brown seeds, matt
(soft light)
It is named after Lal Ji Singh. He is a well-known botanist from the Botanical Survey of India.
This species has been included in the "Insufficient Data" category of the IUCN Endangered
Species List.
The flowers of Portulaca lajii are pinkish-red, about 0.5 mm per minute. These plants were
found in crevices in rocks at an altitude of 1800 meters. Because they bloom in bright
sunshine, they are classified as "the sun rose".
Digital Ocean Application Launched By the Ministry Of Earth Sciences
The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched the "Digital Ocean Application" to share ocean data
and forecast services. These applications were launched under the digital ocean platform
developed by INCOIS.
The Indian National Oceanic Information Center (INCOIS) provides consulting services and
information to various stakeholders. This includes data based on oceanographic research,
ocean state forecasting, and consulting services (such as fishing area consultation, high
wave warning, storm surge, tsunami warning, and oil spill).
The digital ocean platform includes a set of applications developed through the rapid
development of geospatial technology for organizing heterogeneous oceanographic data.
It can be used as a one-stop solution to meet all data-related needs of a wide range of
users. This includes research institutions, strategic users, operating institutions, academia,
policymakers, the maritime industry and the public.
