Agri-Food Exports
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APEDA successfully completed India’s first commercial pomegranate exports to Australia, showcasing its role in facilitating international trade.
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APEDA is a government body established in 1985 under the APEDA Act, replacing the PFEPC.
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It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
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APEDA’s main objective is to develop and promote exports of scheduled agricultural and processed food products.
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Scheduled products include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, confectionery, and more. Exporters of these products must register with APEDA.
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APEDA provides financial assistance, information, and guidelines to exporters.
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APEDA sets standards and specifications for scheduled products, improves packaging and marketing, and inspects products to ensure quality.
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APEDA also acts as the secretariat to the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for organic exports.
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APEDA’s activities include training, industry development, surveys, feasibility studies, and statistical data collection and publication.
Javelin Missile
- India and the US are planning to procure and co-produce Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.
- The Javelin is a man-portable, fire-and-forget missile.
- It’s jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
- Designed to destroy heavily armored vehicles like main battle tanks.
- Also effective against fortifications, bunkers, and helicopters.
- Has a range of 2.5 km.
- Uses lock-on before launch and automatic infrared guidance.
- Its “fire-and-forget” capability allows immediate user cover after launch.
- The Javelin’s HEAT warhead attacks tanks from above, exploiting weaker armor.
- India currently does not possess Javelin missiles. This planned procurement is newsworthy.
- Infrared guidance passively tracks the target’s heat signature.
Sowparnika River
- Sowparnika River, located in Udupi district of Karnataka, is facing severe pollution.
- Pollution is exacerbated by sewage discharge from approximately 49 lodges near Kollur Mookambika Temple, many built on government property.
- The temple attracts lakhs of devotees annually, contributing to increased waste generation.
- The existing underground drainage (UGD) system and sewage treatment plant (STP) are malfunctioning, leading to untreated sewage being discharged into the river and its tributaries (Agnithirtha and Kashithirtha).
- Environmental groups, including the National Environment Care Federation (NECF) and Aranya, Parisara Mattu Havamana Badalavane Sangha, have raised concerns and demand action.
- A case regarding the pollution is pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
- The Byndoor MLA supports environmentalists’ concerns and proposes a development corridor project to address the issue and improve water quality.
- The river’s unique geographical feature near Maravanthe Beach, where it runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, is threatened by pollution.
- The Sowparnika River holds mythological significance, associated with Garuda’s penance.
- The river originates from the Kodachadri Hills in the Western Ghats and flows through lush green forests before merging with the Arabian Sea.
Swarm Quakes
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An earthquake swarm, a series of many low-intensity earthquakes without a main shock, hit Santorini and nearby Greek islands.
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A state of emergency was declared, prompting thousands to evacuate.
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The swarm involved numerous tremors, sometimes occurring every few minutes.
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Seismic activity has lessened recently, but uncertainty remains regarding future tremors.
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The cause is a combination of tectonic and magmatic processes; magma movement is influencing the tremors, but a volcanic eruption isn’t currently anticipated.
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Earthquake swarms differ from aftershocks; aftershocks decrease in frequency over time, while swarms have no identifiable main shock.
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Swarms can be caused by fluid movement (e.g., water seeping into rock fractures) and magma movement within the Earth’s crust. Magma pushes through cracks, causing earthquakes near the crack tip.
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Slow-slip events, essentially slow-motion earthquakes, are another potential cause, though not explicitly mentioned in relation to this event.
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Similar swarms have been observed in other locations, including peninsular India, often linked to water pressure changes.
Green Sovereign Bonds
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India issued Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) to fund environmentally friendly projects, but investor demand is low.
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SGrBs are debt securities issued by the government, exclusively funding green initiatives like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management.
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The SGrB framework aligns with ICMA principles, focusing on use of proceeds, project evaluation, management, and reporting. Eligible projects include renewables, urban transport, and green buildings; fossil fuels and nuclear power are excluded.
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Funds must be allocated within 24 months of issuance; a Green Finance Working Committee oversees project selection.
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Weak investor interest results in low greenium (yield difference), limiting SGrB funding. Liquidity issues and a lack of a robust social impact investment ecosystem contribute to this.
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The government is supplementing SGrB shortfalls with general revenue. Revised allocations reflect this reduced funding.
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To improve investor interest, India could explore sustainability bonds (combining green and social projects), improve reporting transparency and timeliness, and seek partnerships with multilateral development banks for credit rating support.
