GUJARAT
- Gujarat slips to 3rd rank in spice output.
- Gujarat, which was the biggest producer of spices in the country, has slipped to third rank. Now, Andhra Pradesh tops in spice production with Rajasthan ranked second. In 2016-17, spice production in Gujarat was 8.68 lakh MT (metric tonnes) as against 10.77 lakh MT in 2015-16. Spice output, including that of coriander and cumin seeds, has dropped by 20% in Gujarat.
- The second advance estimate for the year 2016-17 reveals that spice production in Gujarat had fallen to 8.68 lakh MT.
- Data released indicate that Andhra Pradesh has surged to the top with 190.51 lakh MT production. Rajasthan is second with 9.37 MT spice production in 2016-17.
- Senior government officials say that insufficiet rainfall last year and less water in the dams were to blame for the drop in spice production in Gujarat.
- Further, officials said that in 2015-16 a disease had hit production of cumin and coriander in the state. Hence, farmers have shifted to other crops such as groundnut and potato.
- Many farmers had shifted to cotton and groundnut cultivation. Spice cultivation had dropped in acreage. Climate change is also affecting jeera production as the crop is weather sensitive
INTERNATIONAL
- European Commission’s fine on Google.
- The long arm of the European Commission has once again struck the technology world with the imposition of a €2.42 billion ($2.7 billion) fine on Google for the company’s abuse of its market position.
- The Commission found that Google abused its dominance in the Internet search market to give itself an unfair advantage in another market — comparison shopping services. Google’s comparison shopping service disadvantaged competitors by placing them lower in its search results, systematically giving Google’s own services higher placement and greater visibility, leading to more clicks. Google, which is required to pay the fine within 90 days, may appeal the decision.
Gk byte – EU
- European Union is as an economic and political partnership consisting of 28 member countries. A law made in European Parliament is applicable and binding on all Member States directly. It is a single market allowing the free movement of goods and people. The union has its own currency, the Euro, which is being used by 19 member countries. The capital of European Union is located in Brussels, Belgium.
- The European Commission (EC) is an institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU
National
- India-Thailand military exercise begins in Himachal.
- A 14-day joint military training exercise Maitree 2017 between India and Thailand started in Himachal Pradesh.
- The joint exercise of the Indian Army with the Royal Thailand Army commenced at Bakloh in Chamba district.
- The previous edition of the exercise was held at Krabi in Thailand in 2016.
· President approves ordinance allowing Kambala in Karnataka.
ð President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the promulgation of The Prevention of cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 by the Governor of Karnataka in pursuance of Article 213 of Constitution. The promulgated ordinance legalises Kambala, bullock cart races and bull runs as traditional sports involving animals and exempt them from The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
ð Kambala is the traditional slush track buffalo race that is held annually in coastal districts of Karnataka to entertain rural people of the area. Slushy/marshy paddy field track is used for Kambala. The sports season generally starts in November and lasts till March. The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, each pair race in two seprate wet rice fields tracks, controlled by a whip-lashing farmer. In the traditional form of Kambala, buffalo racing was non-competitive and buffalo pairs ran one by one in paddy fields. Besides, there was also ritualistic approach as some agriculturists race their buffaloes as a means to thank the god for protecting their animals from disease. But in recent times, Kambala has become an organised rural sport.
· New regulations for teacher training.
ð The blueprint being framed by the National Council For Teacher Education (NCTE), promises action against errant institutions—nearly 3,000 teacher education colleges may be barred from admitting fresh students from the next academic year.
ð By January next year, NCTE will put out a ranking of the top 100 teacher training institutes.
ð While the move could create confusion, the government believes it is essential to curb the growth of poor quality institutions and bring transparency in teacher training.
ð NCTE functions under the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry. It has already collected preliminary data through affidavits and showcause notices it has served to around 12,000 institutions.
ð According to Sources, NCTE is hitting the reset on the grading system, with less emphasis on physical assets. Now, physical assets will get just 10% weightage, 20% weight will go to academic assets, 30% to teacher transactions and 40% to students’ learning outcome. Currently, there is no weightage on learning outcomes for approval or accreditation of such institutions.
Gk byte – NCTE
ð The National Council for Teacher Education, in its previous status since 1973, was an advisory body for the Central and State Governments on all matters pertaining to teacher education, with its Secretariat in the Department of Teacher Education of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
ð Despite its commendable work in the academic fields, it could not perform essential regulatory functions, to ensure maintenance of standards in teacher education and preventing proliferation of substandard teacher education institutions. The National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986 and the Programme of Action thereunder, envisaged a National Council for Teacher Education with statutory status and necessary resources as a first step for overhauling the system of teacher education.
ð The National Council for Teacher Education as a statutory body came into existence in pursuance of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 (No. 73 of 1993) on the 17th August,1995.
ð The main objective of the NCTE is to achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system throughout the country, the regulation and proper maintenance of Norms and Standards in the teacher education system and for matters connected therewith.
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