30-12-21 Daily-Punjab-PPSC Current Affairs

The importers of Afghanistan dry fruit, who were worried that their consignments would be dumped at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari for want of fumigation, were relieved after the Ministry of <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Farmers Welfare extended a temporary relaxation in the norms.

Dry fruit, an agricultural product imported from Afghanistan, was earlier required to undergo fumigation with methyl bromide, only as stipulated by the Plant Quarantine wing (Regulation of Import into India), before clearance through the Attari-Wagah land route. Since this chemical was not available with Afghanistan, the dry fruit received here was being treated with aluminium phosphide at the checkpost. As the process did not comply with the stipulated norms, it was not acceptable, resulting in dumping of large consignments worth crores, hampering the import.

Aluminium phosphide, a toxic substance, is not meant for human consumption. However, in more than 100 countries, it is used as an approved fumigant to protect certain substances from rodents and insects. Its ethical use help in the storage of food items for a longer period.

Indias first indigenously built missile corvettes, INS Khukri (P49), was decommissioned after 32 years of service at Visakhapatnam on December 24, 2021.

During the decommissioning ceremony, the , the decommissioning pennant and naval ensign were lowered at sunset.

INS Khukri was built by the Mazagon Dock shipbuilders on August 23, 1989.

It had the distinction of being part of Western as well as Eastern Fleets.

In her service to INDIAN NAVY, the ship was commanded by 28 commanding officers.

It traversed a distance of more than 6,44,897 nautical miles, equivalent to navigating across the world 30 times or three times the distance between the Moon and the Earth.

The ship was affiliated with the Gorkha Brigade of the Indian Army.

The National Breed Conservation Award for 2021 was presented, recently.

The award has been bagged by All-India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on breeding, Mannuthy, which carried under the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University (KVASU).

It received the prestigious award from ICAR the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) for the cause of conservation and research activities on Tellicherry breed.

Tellicherry breed is the only registered native chicken breed in the state of Kerala.

The award carries a prize Money of Rs 10,000 and a citation.

Award was presented at the Kisan Divas celebrations, which was organised by ICAR-NBAGR recently.

The National Breed Conservation Award was established by ICAR NBAGR. It was established for centres or projects which contribute towards conservation and improvement of registered Indian breeds of domestic poultry and Livestock.

Under the Flagship Gram Ujala Programme, the state-owned CESL has achieved a milestone to distribute 50 lakh LED bulb. This milestone was achieved under the Project Crore of the Gram Ujala Programme.

CESL started this programme under the Leadership of Union Minister for Power and New & R K Singh, in March 2021.

It achieved the milestone of distributing 10 lakh bulbs in a single day, on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day 2021 in December.

Under the programme, CESL is providing high-quality 7-watt and 12-watt LED bulbs at the cost of Rs 10 per bulb, in exchange of working incandescent bulbs. It also provides a 3-year guarantee on it.

Every household is entitled to exchange a maximum of five bulbs.

The distribution of CESL has resulted in energy Savings of 71,99,68,373.28 units per year and the cost savings of Rs 250 crore per year across rural areas of the states covered under the scheme.

Gram Ujalas scheme is being implemented in rural households across the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. The programme will be run till March 31, 2022.

IndianDefence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated 24 bridges and three roads, which have been constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

These bridges and roads have been constructed across four States and two Union Territories in India

On the occasion, DEFENCE Minister commended BRO for completing these projects, despite the challenges of high altitudes and sub-zero temperatures.

Minister also announced to set upof BRO Cafes at 75 places, under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsavcelebrations.

Ratings agency ICRA revised its Indian GDP Growth estimate, recently.

According to ICRAs estimate, there was an upward growth of 7.9 % in the second quarter of financial year 2021-22.

An increase in government spending in September resulted to an upgrade of GDP growth estimate in the second quarter.

As per earlier estimate, growth for the July-September period was 7.7%.

GDP of India had surged by over 20% in the first quarter, because of a low base as the first wave of covid-19 pandemic raged.

As per agency, there was a growth of 8.5%, 7.9% and 3% respectively across Industry, Services & <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Forestry & fishing for the same quarter.